Ferrari Mailing List: Re: So long, and thanks for all the fish

[coyote (coyote]

   Dennis -



   I've been here about as long, I found the list sometime in 1999 or so,
   shortly after buying my QV when I was looking for the answers to some
   technical questions. As I recall Doc Fung was still on the list at
   that time and was a great help to me.



   I haven't met many listers (The powers that be tend to keep me locked
   in my shop these days in my own little corner of the universe), nor do
   I post here all that much these days as the technical content is
   minimal at best. I don't care about guns, watches, and a lot of other
   stuff that is discussed here and yet I feel like most of the regulars
   here are my friends. I've always enjoyed your well written and
   knowledgable (even if somewhat verbose) posts on all sorts of topics.



   Besides that, I know that if I need a quick answer on a variety of
   topics I can always post a question here and will usually get either
   an answer directly or pointed to a link somewhere on the net that does
   have the answer without getting flamed. And yes I know how to use
   Google, but sometimes other people will use slightly different search
   phrases or logic that will elude me from finding the answer on my own.



   Yes, I use my delete key a lot, and have not worn it out yet.



   I wish you'd stay, or come back in awhile, but if not you will be
   missed here by me and many others.



   I'll now go back under my rock ...



   Jeff

     -------- Original Message --------
     Subject: So long, and thanks for all the fish
     From: Dennis Liu <bigheaddennis [at] gmail.com>
     Date: Wed, January 16, 2008 4:32 pm
     To: "Ferrari List" <Ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
     I can't believe I've been on the Ferrari List for so long. Since
     1998, at
     least, so quite possibly a decade. While I'm not one of the
     original-original folks, I've still stuck around for some time.
     Until now.
     It's been on my mind for a few months, but I've finally pulled the
     trigger.
     I'm done, I'm out. I tried to unsubscribe last week, but failed
     because
     I've been around so long that I thought that majordomo was still
     the mail
     server for this (I've since found the unsubscribe procedure, and
     will follow
     it after this last message gets posted).
     While I still have many friends out here, the signal-to-noise ratio
     has just
     made it way too difficult to maintain my membership. I do love the
     convivial atmosphere of the Flist, but it's just too soul-sucking
     wading
     through the ridiculous crap that seems to make up 97% of the posts.
     I'm sending this email just to thank the friends I've made out
     here. I've
     met a few dozen listers over the years, and am delighted to be able
     to call
     many of you my close and dear friends. I am grateful to the FList
     and Steve
     Cook for enabling these friendships, as well as the invaluable
     Ferrari and
     automotive knowledge passed down through the years. I still wear my
     One-Lap
     t-shirt, my Hallet shirt, use my Chairman clyDe mug,
     I just wanted to share a few parting memories and thoughts with
     you. Hope
     it doesn't sound too much like memories inscribed in a high school
     yearbook.
     =======================
     I have lots of fond memories. Just a few:
     Hanging out with Lashdeep and Creampuff and the Mid-Atlantic crew
     (Nick
     Thompson, Burdette, Passori, Boyd, Parker, the girls).
     Touring Seattle and hanging with Jenkins, Handa, and the rest of
     the Sea-Tac
     crew.
     Blasting round SC with Charles.
     Buying cars in a frenzy with Michael "Scallion".
     Bombing to Montreal with a phalanx of listers, like Lou Menditto,
     Ben Kao,
     Lash, Creamy and Chuckles, and watching clyDe almost start up
     another war
     with Canadians.
     Participating in the Flist One-Lap charity run with Alex Leventhal,
     Bill
     Shaw and Mini-Michael.
     Attending the FList gathering in Indy in 2000, with a bunch of
     Midwesterners, like Dave Craig (Lindsay?) and witnessing the
     legendary
     "hug."
     Watching Pless and AJ go at it over stickergate, again and again
     (Peter, god
     bless ya, let go it! AJ *may* have screwed up a decade ago, but
     he's turned
     out to be a heckuva good guy. :-)
     Watching Dr. Ken change a flat tire on his truck in the Tx heat
     right before
     he was going to operate on my eyes (he insisted that a Texan ought
     to change
     his own G-D tire).
     In Corning, NY for the FCA Meet, laughing at the ongoing antics of
     Keegan,
     socializing with Therese and working with Scopelliti.
     Witnessing the flaming star that was Peter Halpern.
     Laughing my ass off whenever the awesome clyDe (he's not real, we
     made him
     up!) managed to get someone's panties in a knot.
     Meeting some "locals", like Stark, Murray, Ashburne, Shaw and
     others - you
     know who you are.
     Always impressed by the lore and knowledge of Messrs. Rainbolt and
     Nielsen.
     Todd Walke - I've always been impressed by your logic, writing,
     erudition
     and common sense. I hope we will meet one day. You too, Mr. D&T
     Anderson.
     And you fall into this category, too, "Mr. Clean" (hanging out with
     Lashdeep
     in DC was too short).
     Conforti - fight the good fight, bro.
     =======================
     There are those who have already passed from this list, and whom I
     miss and
     hope they are doing well: Al Chelini, Alex Leventhal, Ted Arneson,
     Dave
     Quick, Doc Fung, the Millers Steve & Elizabeth, Graham Welland, Jim
     Dunne,
     Jon Ward, Jonathan Haines, Larry Kingsland, Marci Haas, Margaret
     Gailey,
     Marty Loughlin, Michael Charness, Mike Fleischer, Paul Bennett,
     Peter Sward,
     Robert Ziino, John Rosevear, Tom Swift, Tom Buckley, and many
     others.
     =======================
     And who can forget some of the inane, stupid, unproductive,
     immature flame
     wars that I, looking back, can't believe I jumped into? Ken Ross
     and his "I
     swear, I average 150 mph *by my GPS* in my 308 on my commute to
     work in NJ
     every day!". Nate Aldous. DG Shreeves. I even got into it a few
     times
     with Scottie - lord, that was stupid, and glad we've both grown up.
     :-)
     And Brian, while we will always disagree on some elements, I wish
     you
     ongoing success with your many automotive ventures.
     That's about it. I'm sure there are a few that I've inadvertently
     left out;
     apologies. And, admittedly, there are a few that I will be glad to
     be free
     from (woo-hoo!). I hope that those that are still friends will keep
     in
     touch privately. Who knows, I may be back like fellow prodigal son
     Lindsay.
     Or not. But not anytime soon.
     In any event, I am outta here....
     vty,
     --Dennis