I’ve noticed that topics often get off-topic as they progress. For instance, a discussion often digresses into an extended exchange between two or more people about some detail that has very little to do with the original post or question.
This is inevitable, and often very entertaining. But I’m curious. Now that I have posted a topic on this topic of topics getting off-topic, I’m wondering how many replies it will take for it to get off topic. Can anyone help?
Martin Hayes if my favorite fiddler.
Tony
You aren’t, by any chance, into astronomy ? I mean, whistle and telescopes -long thin tubes…never mind.
Actually, one of my favorite aspectts of Chiff and Fipple: The Poststructural Tinwhistle Internet Community is the “community” part. Whistle are what binds us together, but it is only natural to find ourselves digressing, with a thread sometimes digressing off onto various other topics, just like any normal conversation between friends. Besides, all whistles and no play makes Jack a very dull felow.
Or was it Joe? Has anybody heard from Joe? What about his whistles?
Blaine
Seriously, though…
Like Blaine said, it’s the outside-the-whistle conversations that give personality to the posters and make everyone seem real (that indulge in drifting off topic). If all the posts were strictly whistle reviews, advice on cuts and rolls, your favorite whistle, etc, well, I’ve heard those a few times. I come back for the humor, the personal interest, the oddball anecdotes and theories (airbags and car playing). And, of course, it doesn’t pain me to dole out sage advice on whistle practice strategems. CD recommendations are always welcome. The only problem with getting off the topic heading is it’s hard to remember where to find something you may have been following. It was advice from this board that got me in touch with my session group, which has been a great blessing. If I’m not entertained or uplifted in some way, what’s the point of visiting. I’m not being paid to do this. Now, what were we talking about? (Steve, I couldn’t resist that poke in the ribs. All in fun.) Aren’t we such a nice bunch of people?? Everyone, pat yourself on the head. ps: Don’t you boys have jobs. What’s with posting this hour of the day?
Tony
Clips](http://mchaffiewhistles.com/clipsnip/newspage.html%22%3EClips) and Snips Newspage
“When you make it to the top of the mountain, keep on climbing.” -Zen saying
[ This Message was edited by: TonyHiggins on 2001-08-10 11:47 ]
You know what they say about real musicians and day jobs… well, I’m not a real musician 
(shift change coming up real soon - bosses can be such a pain. I like to think of this place as therapuetic - it contribute to job efficiency…)
I have notice that “most” of the technical oriented posts and questions do tend to stay pretty much on topic.
Baine
Tony, the Martin Hayes comment was hilarious. But your last reply is too on-topic.
Now, about that whistling dog of yours…
Nice one Tony. LOL !! 
The obvious question, then, is how do you get “off” topic on this particular topic?
Blaine,
This is Joe, No whistles for you, 1 Year.
Dear Everybody,
You know, this thread reminds me of something my father once told me after I had broken up with my first girlfriend.
“Thomas,” he said, "You should always avoid looking directly at the sun, because it can damage your eyes.
“But if you do happen to be struck blind,” he went on thoughtfully, placing a hand on my shoulder, “at least you can take comfort knowing that drive-up ATM’s have braile on the buttons.”
My dad…he always knew just the right thing to say at times like that.
Tom
On 2001-08-10 12:48, WyoBadger wrote:
…“Thomas,” he said, “You should always avoid looking directly at the sun, because it can…”
I believe the process of canning was started by one of Napoleons cooks in preparation for a march that culminated in a battle in an Italian city that I cant think of the name of it, but I believe that there is a recipe for chicken that uses it in its name. I hope this helps.
You know my fingure hurts from tapping it too much. One of the advanced dancers in my dance class is helping me working on my tip/treble reel timing and she is making me tap my fingure in time to the beats:
tap and say:
"back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop
back tre ble hop"
And so on…oh well, I am glad for the help because tip reel is my favorest dance, hmm…I wonder what’s for breakfast??? Oh mother dearest???
Caryn
PS off topic? I think not, well maybe just alittle…
Speaking of Joe…whatever became of Dave Parkhurst, Jon Murphy, John Palmer and Larry Madden…just to name a few…???
Getting back on topic, if I can, is there a record for longest Internet thread?
Damn (sorry, I don’t usually swear) After reading Tony’s comment above I swore I wasn’t going to check the board out again unit I got home. But here I am again.
What I want to know is what is the record for the most number of posts responded to by a single person at one time. You know, when you look at the date column and see the name of the person who last responded to any given post.
Rich, I think we need a statistics forum.
Blaine
Hi All:
You are not alone in your curiousity as to how things get off the subject. Anyway, for a good yet simple Bar-B-Que sauce, combine the following:
2 cups ketchup
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce (Note Celtic reference here)
2 Tbsp Honey
2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
2 Tbsp Chinese Chili Paste (or other chili sauce to taste).
This will spice any meat nicely; and you can whistle between basting.
-Mark Sackett
Poem… OT… who cares
READ MY QUIPS
It wouldn’t be fit for paper and ink
If I were to say what really I think.
But poems reword the grissle and grit,
Pleasing the palate with wisdom and wit.
So I’ll clean up my thoughts with rhyme and a wink;
And you’ll think what I’m thinking
Is what you think that I think.
—Mack Hoover 8/8/01
[ This Message was edited by: Loren on 2001-08-11 13:30 ]
I’m waiting for Steve to go in and edit the original post for the topic on off topic, making all our topical off topic posts off topic too. Then we’ll be scanning the topics to find the new off topic topic to which we had previous made our topical off topic posts so we can edit them for topical purposes.
Any one who can roll his tongue around the above phrases sensibly; has not had enough guiness topically applied to said tongue.
So just …
Hey, speaking of…
Did you know that you can see the International Space Station from Earth (if that's where you happen to live) with the naked eye?
Ignore the pop-up screen at first, and read the info on the right side of your browser first. The whole thing's a little confusing until you get used to it, but basically you're trying to find a time that the Station is overhead when it's dark out (duh...), but the Station is in the sunlight (it will show as a little green square on the chart). If you double-click on the little square, it brings up a star chart with details. Just go through different days until you find one that's at a time that you're going to be up.
It's pretty neat to see. It streaks across the entire sky in only a few minutes - it looks similar to a bright star that's moving very fast.