Members nat whilk II Posted June 13, 2012 Members Share Posted June 13, 2012 The internet boards are the place for smoke-blowers - we all know that, and once you learn to navigate between the dead air, it's ok. But tell me - and I'll take your word for it at least till I know better - what are you really knowledgeable about? By really knowledgeable I mean you feel like you can hold your own in any company on some topic - among the Phd.s, Experts, the Famous and Followed, Authors That Sell, and other various Talking Heads, or Craig Anderton.... You don't have to have ANY official qualifications - I don't care about that - I just want to know who really knows their {censored}...or thinks they do;) C'mon - tell us if you're really on top of some topic or other....the history of Estonia or Pop Culture or String Theory or The Life of Edgar Allen Poe or The Best Amplifiers or Statistical Modeling of Hurricanes or Renaissance Motet Theory or Shakespeare or Hockey Statistics or How The Endocrine System Works or Restoration Poetry or Alternate Medicine or Mystics of Magic Mushrooms or Marxist Economics or How To Grow Tomatoes in Texas or The Great War or How To Process a Whale Freshly Caught or Why Intuition Was Central To Einstein's Scientific Method....I respect your smarts!! Brag to us!!! Me? Aw shucks...I'm a jack of a thousand trades, master of precious little. I know a bit about the western philosophical tradition, about pop music, about the western classical music tradition and theory, about US tax law, about programming synthesizers, about western visual art and music, about the Christian religion, and Iris Murdoch and Rainer Maria Rilke and The Difference between Grilling and Barbeque and How To Build A DIY Computer....but I want to hear about you guys.... I only ask this because I already know how deep some of you are into this and that...advertise a bit! This is a BBS with a lot of smart people, most visitors here have no idea... nat whilk ii Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members A. Einstein Posted June 13, 2012 Members Share Posted June 13, 2012 I know that what I know I can not sell on eBay. I recorded six acoustic guitar tracks for one song played on a Martin acoustic with a session musician from London. The guitarist is that guy who plays on about a thousand British albums, toured with Elton John and produced many albums himself, including for Elton John... ... so first we recorded the main track on a standard tuning. I thought that's it, until I said to to him that it is not big enough, that it doesn't chorus, that we need a larger, more orchestral strumming. So he loosened the string and tuned up again and we recorded a 2nd track with the same guitar, he playing slightly different inversions but still in the same position. Then same procedure for another four track but each track with a different capo tasto position up the neck. Now it has an 'orchestral' sound not unsimilar to a track in the movie "More" (1969) by Barbet Schroeder. 'His (Barbet Schroeder's) feeling about music for movies was, in those days, that he didn't want a soundtrack to go behind the movie. All he wanted was, literally, if the radio was switched on in the car, for example, he wanted something to come out of the car. Or someone goes and switches the TV on, or whatever it is. He wanted the soundtrack to relate exactly to what was happening in the movie, rather than a film score backing the visuals.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members scarecrowbob Posted June 13, 2012 Members Share Posted June 13, 2012 I quit a PhD about 200 pages into my dissertation, which was mostly about Lacan and slasher films. It was a dumb thesis, but I am pretty knowledgeable about several subjects after my long slow dance with the university, ranging from how things work in higher ed to intimate knowledge at a shot-by-shot level of the first six Friday the 13th films. That degree rounded out my masters in English (I used to have a pretty good handle on rhetorical theory and how various folks understand the creation of meaning via language) and an undergrad degree in Philosophy. All that: BS! So now I make my living as a web developer, doing mostly front-end UI/UX work (ranging from markup to javascript) and easy programming tasks (using php, mysql, and a lot of wordpress as a cms). It pays a lot better and since people like my work it feels a lot less like bus{censored} . Anyhow, I am pretty sure that I can "hold my own" on of those topics even with specialists in those fields, at least insofar as we could have an interesting conversation in which we both learn something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted June 13, 2012 Moderators Share Posted June 13, 2012 Telephony Audio That's what I do. I make telephone systems sound great. 300-3K. And songwriting. Though it is a travesty to suggest I know anything about it, I can say I've invested more time into it than any other endeavor. Writing is a constant pursuit, ending only in the unwilling concession that a particular piece has reached the point of diminishing returns. Then it's done. Rinse, repeat, with an intention of better results next time. And better the next. OK, I don't know anything about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members philbo Posted June 13, 2012 Members Share Posted June 13, 2012 i'm a professional in avionics, electronics, microwaves, photonics and designing software; it's what i do to pay for gas to make it to gigs. i'm an experienced enthusiast in composing, singing, playing, recording, mixing (both FOH and studio); these are where my heart lives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members A. Einstein Posted June 13, 2012 Members Share Posted June 13, 2012 as you all know, I am an expert on {censored}ting on peoples dome, unfortunately that is a must in my job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Johnny-Boy Posted June 13, 2012 Members Share Posted June 13, 2012 "I recorded six acoustic guitar tracks for one song played on a Martin acoustic with a session musician from London. The guitarist is that guy who plays on about a thousand British albums, toured with Elton John and produced many albums himself, including for Elton John..." - A. Einstein Davey Johnstone? John:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bookumdano2 Posted June 13, 2012 Members Share Posted June 13, 2012 I know the secret to a great life. And I've lived it since I was 17. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jimbroni Posted June 13, 2012 Members Share Posted June 13, 2012 Automotive Noise and Vibrations But my love is playing bass, and recently martial arts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mister natural Posted June 13, 2012 Members Share Posted June 13, 2012 Wine I'm a certified Sommelier & a certified wine educator I know a fair amount about beer and spirits, as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members A. Einstein Posted June 14, 2012 Members Share Posted June 14, 2012 I know a fair amount about beer and spirits, as well our spirits http://www.arctic-velvet.com/ forgot to mention that I must drink for professional reasons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators MrKnobs Posted June 14, 2012 Moderators Share Posted June 14, 2012 I'm published by the National Academy of Science on environmental noise, concrete, pavement design, quiet pavement, database design, ice detection, aggregate mineral properties, statistical analysis, expansive clays, Geographical Information Systems, self-deicing bridges, and what happens if a terrorist runs a chemical barge into a bridge abutment. I used to help design radioisotope implants for pregnant women with cervical cancer but that was a long time ago. Probably also half a dozen other areas related to material science and engineering (I'm a materials scientist) that I've long ago forgotten and I'm too lazy to look for a copy of my CV. I'd say I'm an expert on these things as various universities paid me a ridiculous sum of money for 30+ years. Who am I to argue with them? I have a great deal of experience running tour sound for various country and rock stars, and I'm a crappy musician and recordist. I'm an avid backpacker, hiker, and photographer. No one would pay me for those things, however. A girl who knows me asked me the other night to tell her something amazing and surprising about myself that she didn't already know. I thought for a while and said, "By sheer chance I'm one of the most published grizzly bear photographers in the world." For this I make not one cent (as Rudy would say). That surprised her. Terry D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rjt Posted June 14, 2012 Members Share Posted June 14, 2012 Well, I get paid a fair amount to know about behavioral treatments of chronic pain. Prior to that, I worked mostly with the chronically mentally ill. In broader brush strokes, I am pretty good with clinical psychology in general. I've worked in areas such as forensics, substance abuse and dual diagnosis. As a hobby, there are areas of interest I have in several historical eras. Not sure I could go toe to toe with PhDs, but hold my own pretty well in discussions. There are a couple of things I think I know more about than the average guy walking down the street, but I'm not sure it would qualify for what the OP asked. I suppose I know more about chess, Philadelphia Eagle's football, photography and making music than most people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rasputin1963 Posted June 14, 2012 Members Share Posted June 14, 2012 I know a good deal about perfume. About international film. Color Theory. Fine Art. Human sexuality. Acting and Comedy. About the cultural changes wrought by the 1960's. Recently, though, at age 49, I've started doubting much of what I think I know. The old saw of: "The more you know, the more you realize you know nothing." (Socrates? Plato?) I've come to learn that many of the things I know... are things demanded of me by a bourgeois capitalistic society. Can one know things... that aren't part of propelling our socio-sexual-economic juggernaut... towards who-knows-whither it may be going? Can one know things... about that which one cannot perceive with his five senses? How much of Reality does the network of my brain allow me to perceive? And what does its very material existence DENY me from perceiving? It has been shown that ALL FIVE of a woman's bodily senses... are ratcheted more sensitively than a man's: She sees more, hears more, feels more, smells more, tastes more. It is not fabulous to assert that women literally live in different worlds than men do. How much of what I know is due to having a man's brain? How much of what I know is GENETICALLY predetermined? Can I evince talents not encoded by my progenitors? Isaac Asimov wondered: "How do we know that machines have no feelings?" I've come to realize the veracity of Einstein's statements: 1). "Imagination is more important than knowledge." AND: 2). "I want to know God's thoughts... All else is details." I am terribly aware, these days, of my Ego and its hungers. "What does my Ego demand?" versus "What does my Soul suspect?" At my age, I am convinced that all of our problems.... are due to a lack of creative ingenuity. When humans put their minds to things, they can move mountains. But pettier questions such as class, ego, racism, mindless consumerism, homophobia, xenophobia, and religion keep us from it. "We can never make De-Sal a viable form of water supply." "An electric car will never have the power a fossil fuel car does." "War is inevitable." "If we American Christians just try hard enough, proselytize enough, pray hard enough, we'll convert every Muslim and Shinto and Buddhist and Hindu and Jew on earth to our way of thinking." "Digital music can never sound as good as vinyl." "If changes are needed in the way we humans use earthly resources-- and they are--- we are hamstrung by the fact that humans cannot mobilize themselves quickly enough to make significant changes." "Young people no longer need cursive writing, music or arts in school... Math and science are the only desirable skills in society today." Enrico Caruso, before each of his concerts would say to himself: "Move over, Little Me!! The Big Me wants to come out!" Look at this diagram of the Electromagnetic spectrum...[ATTACH=CONFIG]346313[/ATTACH] then marvel, as I do, at what a miniscule fraction of it we humans can perceive. Given this, what CAN any of us know, with certainty? HERE'S something I know: The moment you jettison organized religion from your thoughts... your intelligence will skyrocket: Religion is the #1 thing standing in the way of human progress and well-being. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted June 14, 2012 Members Share Posted June 14, 2012 I'm an expert on what it feels like to be me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members A. Einstein Posted June 14, 2012 Members Share Posted June 14, 2012 For this I make not one cent (as Rudy would say). doesn't matter when you're a millionaire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MarkBastable Posted June 14, 2012 Members Share Posted June 14, 2012 The English language. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members A. Einstein Posted June 14, 2012 Members Share Posted June 14, 2012 I'm an expert on what it feels like to be me. you are not yourself you're the next Dalay Lama, just wait until some strange dudes knock on your door and take you with them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JeffLearman Posted June 14, 2012 Members Share Posted June 14, 2012 A while back I was a leading expert on OSI network layer data communications and routing protocols, and their implementation in embedded systems. Technology moves so fast, though, that today, while I could enjoy the conversation, I'd mostly do the listening or asking. That was all before the integration of MLPS and Traffic Engineering, and things have gotten amazingly complicated since then! I no longer work in that specific field. Today, I can still hold my own regarding real-time embedded systems programming and operating systems. What I do at work is too specialized, and we're not supposed to talk about it anyway, in case someone from Juniper or Huawei is listening. At my previous job, it was a small company, and I had to be an expert for us to have a business. Now I'm one of thousands of engineers, and focus on a very specific area. I do miss the old days a bit. I'm pretty knowledgeable about Rhodes electric pianos and soundfonts. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chevybusa Posted June 14, 2012 Members Share Posted June 14, 2012 Chevy muscle cars 62- 72 and 55-57, ALL years of the Chevy Monte Carlo, and I'd say I have a pretty good knowledge of all GM muscle cars 64-72, also I'd say I'm pretty knowledgeble when it comes to engines and drivetrains (have done pretty much everything you can do in that area at one point or another in my life, a lot of it when I was younger with my dad and my brother) but am USELESS when it comes to paint and body work LOL I also know music theory pretty well, and definitely know keys pretty well, from classical to ragtime to jazz to fusion to pop, and I think I can improvise really well...I'd also say I have a pretty decent knowledge of most types of synthesis.... I also think I have a better knowledge of 1900's history than most, if only cuz I;ve watched so many {censored}ing shows on the history channel and nat geo LOL Lastly I think I know more about astrophysics than most...I'm no {censored}ing genuis or anything, it's just that I was TOTALLY lost when I took physics in high school, just didn't get it at all, so in my early 20's I became OBSESSED with learning about it, and got a FANTASTIC book called "The Elegant Universe" by Brian Greene...it was great cuz it broke down all these really complex things that I never could understand into common language...I had to reread many parts before I understod them (like how space and time are part of the same fabric) but I;d definitely say I know more than most when it comes to the topic, including black holes (i.e. what happens within the event horizon and the singularity), star formation, the big bang, galaxy formation, gravity, and string theory...again, I'm no expert or anything, but I definitely think I know more than most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted June 14, 2012 Members Share Posted June 14, 2012 you are not yourselfyou're the next Dalay Lama, just wait until some strange dudes knock on your door and take you with them Well, they're a bit late. Okay then, I'm an expert on nothing. I'm still a student of everything. And that's okay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted June 14, 2012 Members Share Posted June 14, 2012 In all seriousness, I really don't consider myself an expert on anything, but I do these things competently: record music, play keyboards, teach sp. ed., take photos, travel (it is a skill, after all), get along with most people, show respect, love, brainstorm, find really good restaurants (I seem to have a knack for this), pick up languages reasonably well, and probably a few other things. Also, while I'm not a very good guitar player technically, I am a good musician and listener, and for this reason, I can still sound quite good playing guitar in rock bands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators MrKnobs Posted June 14, 2012 Moderators Share Posted June 14, 2012 doesn't matter when you're a millionaire When you're a millionaire the two things you MUST become an expert at are (1) investments and (2) spouse management. Both areas of study are dreadful. Terry D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted June 14, 2012 Members Share Posted June 14, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members A. Einstein Posted June 14, 2012 Members Share Posted June 14, 2012 When you're a millionaire the two things you MUST become an expert at are (1) investments and (2) spouse management. Both areas of study are dreadful. Terry D. all that is managed by wife, I don't give a {censored} about money, and certainly waste no time at the bourse, vacuum cleaning, shopping, cooking... but funny wise 350 million Swiss Francs dispeared at the bourse when my co-producer H. went on the stock market with his smokeless electronic cigarette, the money hasn't been found yet and he still walks around free, even thus many don't like that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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