Let The "Newbies" Introduce Themselves... Including Me

[Intelsucks]

I will start this off since I seem to be fearless of making a spectacle of myself in front of this group.

I am a 34 year old male, single (ladies take note) living in Austin, Texas for the last 13.5 years. I have been employed at Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) for the entire time that I've lived in Austin.

Why does Intel suck you may ask? AMD gave the world the first >$1000 personal computer. If it wasn't for AMD, Intel would still be charging whatever they wanted for everything they make. AMD also gave the world the first 1GHz processor. There may be some out there who dispute this, but we were cranking them out (1GHz) in volume, while Intel could only SAY they had one. The truth is, they didn't have one at that time.

Politically, I am somewhat of a novice. I just don't think that dropping bombs is the answer to every problem in the world. I also think shrubya is leading this country on a collision course that we may never be able to reverse.

I probably told you more than you wanted to hear. :hi:

[GOPisEvil]

1. Great, ANOTHER single man in Austin!

:hi: to another Austinite.

[Intelsucks]

10. I saw you in some of the music threads.

I suspected that you might be in Austin or at least somewhere nearby.

[GOPisEvil]

11. Heh...yep. If it weren't for music, I'd almost never go out.

I can't wait for SXSW.

[JohnLocke]

2. Welcome to DU!

You'll like it here. :toast: :kick: :kick:

[La_Serpiente]

3. yeahhhh

welcome to DU :hi:

When did you get involved in politics?

[Intelsucks]

5. September 11, 2001 like many who were apolitical until then

n/t

[Breezy du Nord]

17. Weird, me too

nt

[the_boxer_]

48. I did also...

:eyes:

[Breezy du Nord]

4. Yo

Welcome to DU! :hi:

:toast:

[xJlM]

6. Welcome!

Yeah, most of us know Intel sucks. I remember buying a Thunderbird 1200 back in early 2001, which was faster than the P4 at that time. Of course Intel had to make some changes to the P4, since the early ones were junk anyway. When I moved up, though, I got into the XPs and I'm still faster than anyone else in my family.

We need democrats registered to vote in Texas, so you're more than welcome here. This country is due for a major shakeup in the folks governing it.

If you don't think bombing the shit out of people is a good thing, you might want to look at the candidacy of Dennis Kucinich. His site is at http://www.kucinich.us/ , and he is proposing an entirely different outlook than what we have seen here recently from our government.

[wysi]

7. I'll join you...

I'm nearly 37 ('I'm 37, I'm not old'... 'Well I couldn't just call you "man" now could I?'). I live in New Zealand, but before that I lived in Australia, and before that the UK, but I am from Massachusetts. I haven't been in the USA for more than five years. I'm married to a Kiwi and we have two daughters. I work as a Teaching and Learning Consultant at a University.

I've been interested and involved (not very heavily though) in politics my whole life. My dad was a union rep which more or less cemented my hatred of the corporate world, and I suppose he's the source of most of my politics. In my last year of high school (1984) I was a finalist for a $2000/year scholarship from my father's company. He said I'd never get it because he worked in the 'shop'. Sure enough he was right; the winner was the daughter of a corporate type who dropped out first semester... I went on and got a PhD. My father said that Reagan and people like him didn't want people like us getting an education and moving ahead in the world, because it was a threat to them and their power. I believed it then and I still believe it now.

My great grandfather actually once ran for city council as a Republican but had an epiphany and repudiated the party (and spoke ill of them until his death at age 92). I've voted Republican twice; for Weld as MA gov in 1990 (I went to BU and I knew how evil Silber was, and is) and Malone as treasurer (he didn't turn out too good). I'd never do it again, not even at gunpoint (but they wouldn't need a gun now; they'll just not count my vote).

[nickgutierrez]

15. Thirty-seven?!??

Sorry, had to do it. :D

[Kanary]

24. Hi wysi!

Welcome to DU!!

:hi: :hi: :hi:

:toast:


hmmm, how are you as a matchmaker?

Any chance you could match me up with a fine guy there?

I'm *really* wanting out of this country... BAD!

^_^


Kanary

[the_boxer_]

50. I'll go with you Kanary!!!

I'm reasonably decent looking!

;-)

[wysi]

54. I shall have to ask around for you...

... I'm not in a hurry to get back myself! :-)

[the_boxer_]

49. Hey wysi...

Great post!

:toast:

[wysi]

53. Cheers!

[amandae]

8. Welcome to DU!!!!

Look forward to reading your posts :-)

:hi:

[number6]

9. Welcome

Hello from Utah :hi: :hi:

[sbj405]

12. oooh oooh, me too. . .

I've been lurking for awhile, so this is the perfect chance to introduce myself. I'm a 27 y/o female living outside DC working for the government (lots of good stories to be had there). Looking forward to posting more . . .

[xJlM]

14. Welcome!

If you're living outside, where do you plug your computer in?

[MrScorpio]

25. Welcome

;)

[hyphenate]

13. I'm not really a newbie

Been haunting the DU boards for a few years, but rarely posted much. I'm in my mid forties, female, single (I'm that "cat lady" that people whisper about!), a Bostonian by birth, and liberal by nature. I left Massachusetts for 15 years and spent those years in Southern California, but I'm glad to be home in Massachusetts again, moving back here last February, and arriving two days before the blizzard of Feb. 17, 2003. I might freeze my ass off this winter, but at least I'm among friends. :)

Currently unemployed, but doing some looking, though pickins are slim. (At least Mass. has some decent social programs, of which I am currently partaking)

Been involved in politics in one form or another over the years, but only really intensely since about 1988 when Mike Dukakis lost to Poppy.

I am a writer, webmaster and photographer, and tired of working as an administrative assistant instead of in my chosen professions. (Another reason I'm unemployed!)

I'm also a bit of a geek, though my buying has stalled out, leaving me with a slightly old machine that's been tweaked as far as I can get it.

I'm an animal rights activist, environmentalist, pro-choice advocate, human and civil rights activist and have many issues with the far right and religious right.

I'm a science fiction fan--TV, movies, books, conventions. I've run a few conventions myself in the past, and have been attending cons since I was 15.

That pretty much is it--I usually answer email if it's not spam, and I can be either tactful or tactless depending on the post I'm responding to. ;-)

[prole_for_peace]

16. now me...

i am 38, live in beaumont, texas and am an accountant. i have a cat named molly that rules the house as all cats do

i started coming to du for the 10 conservative idiots and then wandered into the message boards. i eavesdropped for a while before i joined.

regarding political stance: i have always been a very liberal person. this adminstration makes me so angry that sometimes i have to avoid the news and du so i don't crack up

[populistmom]

18. Welcome to DU (hey VelmaD- look here!!!)

:)

Sarah/populistmom/matchmaker

[Wonk]

19. Hi. The fishey eats the bigger number, btw.

$999<$1000

:hi:

[Intelsucks]

32. Correct. I got it totally backwards.

I meant <$1000. Thanks for pointing that out.

[Blue_Tires]

20. hi

I'm 27, single (straight), black, male, from VA originally and currently living in MD...I'm currently working as a newspaper reporter at a weekly paper, but i'm looking to leave the job asap.

I found this site through bartcop.com, whom i had started reading after a depressing showing in the 02 elections (the only election i missed because i had just moved here at the time) I had a chance to meet several DUers at the antiwar march in Oct. Politically, I'm pretty jaded and am convinced things took a turn for the worst when bush got into office...I do believe in a couple of traditionally conservative viewpoints (dealth penalty), but ultimately, I am FAR left of center, with some very radical ideas (most of the people who post here are 'moderates' to me).

I do feel the dems have gotten too soft the past several years, and i had voted for Nader in '00 (Before you jump on me, I was living in Kansas at the time, where Bush won with 65%. A lost vote for gore didn't make a difference, and someone please explain to me why so many people on the board hate nader/greens)...

My true hot-button issues deal with the environment, and corporate malfeasance (i have a serious distrust of big business and the things they get away with.) the rest about me we'll pick up as we go along

[Padraig18]

21. Oh, foo!

Why must all the newbies be straight? :evilgrin:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

31. I'm not straight

I'm 21 and a lesbian. I consider myself left of the mainstream democrats, but that's not a shock. Currently, I'm slowly working my way through college. My jobs are for a independent health food store and a small professional women's theater company. I'm located in Northern NJ and anxiously awaiting escaping to NYC. I've been around DU since it started but I almost never post. Um...what else...I'm almost a vegetarian. I eat fish and have a weakness for leather. I'm pierced & tattooed. I have two or three cats, 3 geckos, a 55 gallon African Cichlid aquarium and a decrepit German Shepherd.

Now for the shallow part...I'm about 5'1" with an athletic type build. Karate and a job lifting boxes will do that to you. Short hair. I'm what Elvira Kurt would describe as a fellagirly. I think I'm very cute.

[never cry wolf]

22. WELCOME ALL YOU NEWBIES!!!!!

I only discovered DU last july so despite my post count I am relatively new as well. I must warn you, this place can be addicting!!! I nailed 1000 posts in 6 weeks and 8 days of that was spent on an island with no electricity or phone.

Hi populistmom/sarah.

:hi: all!! enjoy your stay!!

on edit: acute 10 thumbs disease

[Ernesto]

23. FUCK all that newbie crap

If you're a pissed off DEMOCRAT, you belong right here. I ain't gonna say "welcome" cause just by posting here, YOU are US, Amigo!.. Nice to hear from ya tho!

[Swede]

26. Greetings one and all.

Hope you enjoy the ride.

[GH0ST]

27. Boo!

I am GH0ST, child of a Duer, child of a saint. I'm single and have never sat still this long since infancy. My ankle is broken. DU was in the favorites in this hand-me-down computer. One of the few good sites in a language I can read.
I am all alone in this creepy old house in the middle of truly nowhere.
My shoe size is 6 and I can't get it on.

Mankind was my business.

[corarose]

28. Welcome to DU

Great description!

[Kerridwyn]

29. Newbie / lurker

I'm a semi-newbie. More a lurker who goes through occassional phases of posting. I'm 29, live in Los Angeles, British by birth. Moving to America has led me from a conservative youth through becoming progressively more liberal, to being an admirer of Noam Chomsky.

Artist, poet, activist. I design political/alternative buttons and t-shirts with a friend, which we sell online and at events and protests. I also babysit, do occassional bits of web design (used to do it full-time, got sick of it), read endlessly, and have suffered from clinical depression since I was about 11.

[Wonk]

30. Hi :-)

:hi:

[the_boxer_]

51. Chomsky rocks nuts!

[Le Taz Hot]

33. Hugs & Kissies

and a BIG welcome to all our "newbies!"

:hi: :toast: B-)

[kitkatrose]

34. Hello!

:hi: I'm an 18 year old female in DC for college. I'm on scholarship and really poor. I got into politics before the selection, thinking nobody would vote for Mr. I'm too dumb to be president. I've lurked here for about 2 years, just recently started posting. I'm glad to be here!

[Pax Hayden]

35. My introductory Hiaku

I am a mammal.

I am also a poet.

Simplicity rocks!

---

[KCDem]

37. you'll love the occasional haiku threads

They pop up now and then!

:hi:

[Lisa0825]

36. Great Idea for a post!

I was wondering if they ever do intros around here, but I didn't wanna be the one to do it!:-)

My name is Lisa. I am 35, single, and live in the bustling metropololis of Texas City, about 35 miles south of Houston. I have been in the greater Houston area most of the last 22 years, with brief stops in Dallas and OKC. I am an employment counselor at a workforce office.

I am a volunteer ESL tutor for Literacy Advance of Houston. We need a lot more tutors, so if anyone out there has some free time, please consider signing up! www.literacyadvancehouston.org . I will also be taking a spanish class in the spring, and I hope to move there at least for a while someday. I had a boyfriend in Mexico for a couple years, so I spent as much time visiting as I could, and I really love it there.

I have one cat, a fat Russian Blue mix, who is spoiled as hell, and I was recently adopted by a local stray, a sweet orange tabby with a white belly and socks. I took him in a couple nights when the weather was bad, and now he wants to stay, but my baby doesn't play well with others.

I am another political newbie. I have always voted, and once did phone banking for Ann Richards, but I have never really been involved before. Now, I have sworn to work and give whatever I can to help evict George Bush. I attended my first county Democratic club meeting, and have been actively participating in many events.

I used to hesitate to state my party affiliation, but I am pissed off at the trash-talking Republicans who have turned liberal and Democrat into dirty words, so I am using the terms proudly as often as I can, and I hope it sounds like nails on a chalkboard to them! ha! :-)

[GOPisEvil]

38. Welcome from another Texas resident.

I live in the capital of Occupied Texas. :hi:

Houston is actually the home area of lots of DUers. You are not alone!

[Lisa0825]

39. I actually saw someone in a silver pickup truck

with a Democratic Underground bumper sticker fly by me yesterday. I wanted to be a dork, and catch up and wave, but traffic wouldn't let me!

[GOPisEvil]

40. Stupid traffic!

We occasionally get the Texas folks together for meet-ups. Check the lounge for postings. There's talk of a Super Bowl party and maybe some function around the holidays.

[catmandu57]

43. Welcome to each and everyone of you

we need everyone to stand up in the fight coming next year, if we show up in overwhelming numbers there's no friggin way to steal the election, enjoy yourselves and pass it on.

[velocity]

41. I hate Intel

I have an Athlon 1.2. And while IF I was working I would have a bigger and better AMD, this will do for now.

You are so true, if it wasn't for AMD, we would be paying $600 for the fastest 1.8 Pent. Not only did AMD push down the price but also push up the speed.

[Intelsucks]

44. We snuck up from behind while they weren't looking

while they were trying to smoke us out of the low end market, we were developing a processor that was better than their best, and faster. We really had 'em on the ropes for a while. I loved those days. The overtime was almost unlimited.

[underpants]

42. Hi I'm underpants and I am new here

I just clicked on this thread about a minute ago.

:evilgrin:

Welcome to all the New DU'ers. :hi:

Now about the language here....

[Lisa0825]

45. eeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!

;-)

[Race4Peace]

46. MAN!!!

I've been on DU for more than a month and you have more posts.

[the_boxer_]

47. I'm 31, single (ladies)...

From Dallas, TX. but live in Duram, NC.

Anything else...just ask. ;-)

I welcome all the other newbies. I've enjoyed being here so far!

:toast:

[silverlib]

52. Not really that new

but from Texas - this gives me hope that things may be brighter here than expected!

I've lurked for years, too, and recently started posting. I work at home now, so have enjoyed being able to lurk more. The nice thing about not working for the State anymore is that I can choose who I hang out with and don't have to be careful about the thoughts I choose to express. DU gives me information and hope.

Welcome to all the newbies! This is a great place and Skinner just makes it better and better. I love William Pitt, among lots of others, and was lucky to get an autographed book from Monkeywrench Books, even if he didn't autograph it for me personally.

I'm originally from a small town in Texas - Ingleside. I'm now in Austin and have a democraticunderground.com sticker on my silver van. You can find me at the peace marches and other events that I can make between having a fourteen year-old and six wonderful grandchildren. I also belong to a Peace and Justice group. My uncle was the first white officer in a chapter of the NAACP in Tyler, TX. in the sixties and actually had crosses burned in his front yard. My great grandfather was secretary to the Secretary of State and my grandfather was an architect for the federal govt. and in the Secret Service area when he designed prisons. He also designed post offices when the federal government owned the buildings. He had an office in the White House and my father was born in D.C. Long, long line of democrats.

Proud liberal Texan - and a religious left winger.

[dawn]

55. I'm pretty new

I'm a married female, 32, living in the Republican bastion of Orange County, California. I was born in the L.A. area to conservative parents that moved down here. I won't leave because it is beautiful here. There is no way am I going to cede all of this area's beautiful beaches to the Repugs.

I'm currently between jobs, doing freelance copywriting and web design for a software company. I was laid off from Prudential in the summer, where I was a Web Content Developer. I took some time off to travel to my dream destination of Thailand during June and July. I've been looking for jobs ever since, and had some great interviews last week. I hope to land one of them. Keep your fingers crossed for me, because freelancing doesn't pay enough of the bills!

My husband is employed as a Web Designer at a local mortgage company.

I am definitely left-leaning politically, but actually have quite a few conservative friends. (Can't help it where I live! I'd be friendless if I didn't!) I like to hear the other side, and sometimes (don't shoot me!) even agree with social views of the more libertarian-leaning right-wingers, but I usually find that most Republicans' hypocrisy turns me off. The Christian Right scares me. I consider myself a Buddhist, and have been for many years, so I do respect Christians as well as others of all faiths. But the Christian Right would tell me that I'm gonna burn in hell for my views, so that's why they scare me.

I believe the government needs to keep religion out of public policy decisions, and needs to focus more on providing a country where workers, as well as business owners, prosper. The current administration frightens me as a worker.

My brother is also a Democrat. My husband is undeclared, but has never voted for a Repug. He wishes Gore had won the last election, and can't stand Bush. I just don't think he likes labeling himself.

[Breezy du Nord]

57. Hi

Welcome to DU :hi::toast:

[Liberal Christian]

56. Not a total newbie

I've been reading and posting here for many months, but I read much more than I post. Rabrrrrrr is a pal of mine for the last 15 years or so, and he keeps luring me to DU.

I'm 49, single so far, live in Wisconsin where it's been snowing off and on for the last few days. I must have signed onto DU at least a year and a half ago when I was still living in Wyoming, or I probably wouldn't have used the WyoMee name. Now, it's a tribute to that state I loved.

I worked in my first political campaign when I was 14 and Humphrey was running for president. Our family had lived abroad during the primaries, and I recall being in Yugoslavia that summer when Bobbie Kennedy was assassinated. People were weeping in the streets. I came home and got political.

Mom raised a passel of feminists and was herself instrumental in forming NOW in Wisconsin in the early 1970s. I'm privileged to have three of the coolest brothers I can imagine and keep wondering if they completely broke the mold or if there are any of their ilk still out there looking for a gal like me :)

I love to cook, write with fountain pens (which I accumulate with somewhat less care and study than a "collector" might), read mysteries and theology, and hang out online.

[Rabrrrrrr]

59. Welcome to DU WyoMee!!

And welcome to all the other new newbies, not just the old-time newbies, like WyoMee, who's been here a long time, though has posted only minimally, which might lead me to think she's actually a Steve Reich fan. Nyah. :evilgrin:

[Liberal Christian]

60. Steve Reich fan?

Rabrrrrrr, and here I thought we were pals! How you could go about wishing such anxiety on the world is totally beyond me.

But I'll make a martini for you this weekend, anyway.

[Seldona]

58. Hello

New to DU myself.

I am a 33 year old cafe owner from Wisconsin.

I am married with with 2 daughters.

Politicaly I am leaning towards Clark, though I will definately support whomever wins the primary.

Oh and I only use AMD, and we only use AMD when building systems at work.

We are an interenet cafe and build custom systems as well.

Anyway just saying hi.

[silverlib]

61. Welcome!