Creech Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 (edited) I find myself in the odd position of having things to say from two different personas. As such, I will at least for the moment, have two blogs. This one is from the perspective of my official persona as the Community Manager. While most communication from me appears in the Announcement thread, less formal meanderings will be here. I will attempt to share the thoughts behind recent events, some small speculation about future changes where appropriate, and even ask for input on various items. I also welcome any questions and comments about the future of the site, and will address them as I can. One caveat is that some things I either cannot or will not speculate on, although I will at least acknowledge and attempt to share what I can. If you wish to subscribe to this, please click on Thread Tools at the upper right, and then choose "Subscribe to this thread." Table of Contents: Blogging in the forums Mice, Crocodiles and Dragons, oh my! Edited February 22, 2014 by Creech Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creech Posted January 27, 2014 Author Share Posted January 27, 2014 One of the challenges of being the community manager is trying to come up with innovative ways to drive change and new features that don't require coding. We only have one coder, and he supports two very large and busy sites, so the time he has to work on coding things for the forums is not as large as we all would wish (Rx included!) This experiment in blogging was suggested by Grifter Reborn as an intermediate step. With a little imagination using the first post as a table of contents, treating a thread as a blog is actually pretty straightforward. The advantages are two-fold. First, we can implement blogging in this fashion without any code changes, so it merely was a matter of me setting things up in the control panel and the team agreeing on the rules. Second, it lets us measure actual interest. Lots of people have asked for a space to blog over the years, but how many will actually use it? One of the criteria I use when helping Rx prioritize his time is the expected traffic that the new feature will generate. We base this off of expected utilization from current members and expected new traffic driven by the feature. Rolling blogging out in this manner let's us get a pretty good idea of the actual interest in blogging by our active member base. If it turns out that nobody cares, all it cost us was some bandwidth and a little bit of time from volunteers. Obviously, I hope this kicks off well and that it does indeed serve a need in the community. In the meantime, I have even more excuses to post my thoughts on the site as a means of sharing and connecting with the people we serve. Feel free to give me your thoughts below on this approach. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty130 Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I just want to say I think the blogs are a great idea. While I haven't and probably won't create my own. I thoroughly enjoy reading other peoples. I don't comment on many because a lot of the time I haven't really got anything to add. Just enjoy the read Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creech Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 I just want to say I think the blogs are a great idea. While I haven't and probably won't create my own. I thoroughly enjoy reading other peoples. I don't comment on many because a lot of the time I haven't really got anything to add. Just enjoy the read I am glad you enjoy them. It looks like we have 30+ at the moment, so not a bad start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creech Posted February 22, 2014 Author Share Posted February 22, 2014 Let's talk about gestation periods for a moment. If you are not familiar with the phrase, it is a reference to how long it takes for a baby to be born after conception. A mouse has a gestation period of 19-21 days, and typically weighs around 100 grams. A chipmunk has a gestation period of 31 days, and typically weighs around 130 grams. A beaver has a gestation period of 122 days, and typically weighs around 18-27 kg. A porcupine has a gestation period of 210 days, one hell of a brave mate, and typically weighs around 5-16 kg. A human has a gestation period of 266 days and typically weighs 60-100 kg... of course, some are a bit more, especially here in America. An elephant has a gestation period of 617-645 days, and typically weighs 3,000-7,000 kg depending on breed and gender. So while not cut and dry, generally the bigger the animal, the longer the gestation period. But what about dragons? All of the above are mammals, so they give live birth. Dragons are reptiles but also fly like birds, both of which lay eggs, so let's look at those for a moment. Instead of gestation, egg hatching time is referred to as an incubation period. A pigeon has an incubation period of about 10-18 days, and can weigh in anywhere from 22 g to 4 kg. (Hey, did you know that doves and pigeons are the same thing? The internet is amazing! You should totally check it out sometime). A goose has an incubation period of about 22 days, and weighs in at a range of 2.2-6.5 kg. An ostrich has an incubation period of about 36-45 days, and can weigh as much as 156 kg. An anaconda weighs roughly 30-70 kg and has gestation period of about 6 months....that is right, anacondas give birth to live baby snakes, so gestation instead of incubation. Sea turtles can weigh in at 590 kg, and have incubation periods of roughly 60 days. Crocodiles...hey, did you know that they can climb trees? Check this out: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-usa-crocodiles-idUSBREA1D1LC20140214. Anyway, they can weigh in at up to 2,000 kg and have an incubation period of up to six months. Okay, so where is this going? I mean really, what does all of this have to do with Xbox Achievements? Well, I am glad you asked! Let's talk about dragons and baby dragons. Komodo dragons are about 1600 kg, but I want to talk about the dragons of myth. Like my avatar on the site. You know, REAL dragons. Most of this comes from d20srd.org and wikipedia, incidentally, so it isn't just me making stuff up. It is OTHER PEOPLE making stuff up and me quoting them. Totally more reliable that way. First, clearly I am a red dragon as you can tell by the picture. According to wikipedia, that means I am the baddest of the chromatic dragons: Red dragons are the largest, most powerful, and most (in)famous of the classic chromatic dragons. Physically, they are distinguished by their enormous size and wingspan. They have two large horns upon their heads, which point backwards toward their wings. They smell of smoke and sulphur. The eggs of a red dragon must be kept in open flame at all times while incubating. Incubation takes approximately 660 days. After the eggs are laid, the younger of the two parents (either male or female) will remain behind to guard the eggs and keep their nest of flames burning. Once they hatch, the wyrmlings are left to fend for themselves. They usually have little problem in doing so. A red wyrmling is highly dangerous, being approximately the size of a human at hatching. They are fully capable of breathing fire, and revel in wreaking destruction and havoc on almost anything that moves. The latter trait is carried fully into adulthood. Check that out...the eggs are in open flames for 660 days. Those are some pretty bad ass eggs. Anyway, how big are dragons? According to d20srd.org they can be colossal in size, which is listed as over 125 tons, so yeah, pretty freakin' big. That seems to confirm my totally scientific hypothesis that bigger animals take longer to have babies. So, back to babies. See, I am having a baby here on the site, and it feels like it has taken forever. Want to see the latest ultrasound picture? Here it is: http://www.xboxachievements.com/forum/images/awards/cabsbeta64.png I guess his name is Beta, or else the ultrasound technician needs to pay for the imaging software he is using. 660 days though. Wow. So May 24th, 2013 was the actual date of conception. That is only 273 days ago. Damn...I really don't want to wait another 400 days to hug my baby. Anyone have suggestions on how to speed up the birth of a baby dragon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmona Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Let's talk about gestation periods for a moment. If you are not familiar with the phrase, it is a reference to how long it takes for a baby to be born after conception. A mouse has a gestation period of 19-21 days, and typically weighs around 100 grams. A chipmunk has a gestation period of 31 days, and typically weighs around 130 grams. A beaver has a gestation period of 122 days, and typically weighs around 18-27 kg. A porcupine has a gestation period of 210 days, one hell of a brave mate, and typically weighs around 5-16 kg. A human has a gestation period of 266 days and typically weighs 60-100 kg... of course, some are a bit more, especially here in America. An elephant has a gestation period of 617-645 days, and typically weighs 3,000-7,000 kg depending on breed and gender. So while not cut and dry, generally the bigger the animal, the longer the gestation period. But what about dragons? All of the above are mammals, so they give live birth. Dragons are reptiles but also fly like birds, both of which lay eggs, so let's look at those for a moment. Instead of gestation, egg hatching time is referred to as an incubation period. A pigeon has an incubation period of about 10-18 days, and can weigh in anywhere from 22 g to 4 kg. (Hey, did you know that doves and pigeons are the same thing? The internet is amazing! You should totally check it out sometime). A goose has an incubation period of about 22 days, and weighs in at a range of 2.2-6.5 kg. An ostrich has an incubation period of about 36-45 days, and can weigh as much as 156 kg. An anaconda weighs roughly 30-70 kg and has gestation period of about 6 months....that is right, anacondas give birth to live baby snakes, so gestation instead of incubation. Sea turtles can weigh in at 590 kg, and have incubation periods of roughly 60 days. Crocodiles...hey, did you know that they can climb trees? Check this out: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-usa-crocodiles-idUSBREA1D1LC20140214. Anyway, they can weigh in at up to 2,000 kg and have an incubation period of up to six months. Okay, so where is this going? I mean really, what does all of this have to do with Xbox Achievements? Well, I am glad you asked! Let's talk about dragons and baby dragons. Komodo dragons are about 1600 kg, but I want to talk about the dragons of myth. Like my avatar on the site. You know, REAL dragons. Most of this comes from d20srd.org and wikipedia, incidentally, so it isn't just me making stuff up. It is OTHER PEOPLE making stuff up and me quoting them. Totally more reliable that way. First, clearly I am a red dragon as you can tell by the picture. According to wikipedia, that means I am the baddest of the chromatic dragons: Check that out...the eggs are in open flames for 660 days. Those are some pretty bad ass eggs. Anyway, how big are dragons? According to d20srd.org they can be colossal in size, which is listed as over 125 tons, so yeah, pretty freakin' big. That seems to confirm my totally scientific hypothesis that bigger animals take longer to have babies. So, back to babies. See, I am having a baby here on the site, and it feels like it has taken forever. Want to see the latest ultrasound picture? Here it is: http://www.xboxachievements.com/forum/images/awards/cabsbeta64.png I guess his name is Beta, or else the ultrasound technician needs to pay for the imaging software he is using. 660 days though. Wow. So May 24th, 2013 was the actual date of conception. That is only 273 days ago. Damn...I really don't want to wait another 400 days to hug my baby. Anyone have suggestions on how to speed up the birth of a baby dragon? Emergency c-section. I am available Monday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jardinho Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Anyone have suggestions on how to speed up the birth of a baby dragon? Send Rx cocaine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barad Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Drink bourbon, nap it out, wake up and it'll all be done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dante XBA Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Send Rx cocaine. I second this notion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creech Posted February 22, 2014 Author Share Posted February 22, 2014 Emergency c-section. I am available Monday. I think that phrase doesn't apply to an egg... I appreciate your schedule flexibility however! Send Rx cocaine. The man already goes 40 hours without sleeping. I can't imagine him on something like coke. Drink bourbon, nap it out, wake up and it'll all be done? I did pick up a new stout... Campfire Stout by a brewery in California. It tastes kind of like s'mores, but beer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiggD Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Anyone have suggestions on how to speed up the birth of a baby dragon? Bathe it in gold. I thought everyone knew that? Also, are you Smaug or Balrog? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaleido42 Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Great blog post Creech, loved it! As for hatching that dragon, just give it time and let it grow to its potential before hatching, the last thing you want is a runt Bathe it in gold. I thought everyone knew that? Also, are you Smaug or Balrog? Balrogs (of which there were many) were corrupted Maiar, basically spirits in the LotR universe, not dragons... The balrog that was featured in the film was known as Durin's Bane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiggD Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Balrogs (of which there were many) were corrupted Maiar, basically spirits in the LotR universe, not dragons... The balrog that was featured in the film was known as Durin's Bane. It's official…I suck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creech Posted February 22, 2014 Author Share Posted February 22, 2014 It's official…I suck Yes, you do. If I was in Middle Earth I would be Ancalogog the Black. Check your facts, BiggD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmona Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Bathe it in gold. I thought everyone knew that? Also, are you Smaug or Balrog? Nerd fail. I'm about to go Pysch on you: http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID11363/images/psych.jpg I sense....this baby....hatching soon. I sense it will be awesome. I also sense it will make the site that much more powerful and everyone will love it....well ALMOST everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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