2008 has definitely been something to behold. IRB started out the year pretty darn slow, probably the slowest the website has ever been, but it has picked up a lot... this December being one of the busiest months in posting in almost 4 years. There's been a lot of craziness... Let's look back and see some of the high points of 2008.
Dexter,the polo wearing hipster from Indiana The first big shot of entertainment this year came at the latter part of February when Dexter joined the party. Dexter was a friend of one of our most beloved IRB members. And he came on IRB to have a little fun... if that's what you want to call it. Dexter enjoyed the finer things in life. Pastel colored abercrombie polo shirts and express jeans were just one of his many interests (others included doodling, being bored by people, and being easily irritated... for more check out his first post). Dexter was a happy sort of guy. Quite the attempted post whore. His welcome thread was (at the time) the longest running newbie thread in the history of IRB. It held for a while, until Guido came along.
Dexter eventually became the only winner of the not so coveted IRB BEER Badge of Courage award. He seemed proud by the fact, and I was happy to give it to him. After a few days however, the fun ended with Dexter, and he moved on. But in commemoration of his hard work in keeping IRB entertaining, a memorial forum was created in his honor.
Kerri...what more can you say? One could say that Kerri was one of the most... under appreciated members of IRB. To me she's always been somewhat amicable. To others, well... it wasnt always such smooth sailing. Kerri definitely had a way of making her kidney problems (12345) seem way more extreme than yours. But to Kerri's plus... she made us all realize that one should never talk about tattoos on IRB. It can be hazardous to your health. At least in the end... she thanked some of us, so she isnt that bad right?
Either way, I honestly hope that things are better with Kerri. She did have many, many issues. Hopefully those things will be resolved for her one of these days, and she will finally find that happiness she's been searching for.
Evil Lougan...a joke turned ugly turned happy? Who is Evil Lougan? Did he come from the evil parallel universe where everyone has a goatee? Evil Lougan has been both a controversial member who posts about winners in the Arcade... as well as the evil alter ego of "The One". Lately, he has been the secret profile of a past member of IRB, who still shall remain anonymous. Its been a while since IRB had a fake plucky comedic character. Which makes me wonder... what ever happened to Mr. Woot? A better question... what ever happened to Bwian? Either way, thanks Evil Lougan for being such a great non-member member.
IRBville...all hail the MINICITY!? Oh the minicity. Where did it go? Is it still growing? Who knows, but the members of IRB had a great time keeping those hippies from taking over. What was the point of the minicity? To make it grow of course... its like SimCity... except nothing like it. If your curious, its still there. There is no crime, no traffic, and hardly any pollution, and its population sits at about 776 people. Could the minicity make a come back, out of its 4 month recession? Only time will tell...
_anonymous_...talk about a crazy poster! Whoa. This kid is intense. He's stuck around, even though he got banned for a few hours. Pretty crazy... not many members get their own topic in the staff forums. But this kid... yeah he got one. He's been a pretty prolific poster, massing a massive 221 posts in his short time here so far. Pretty crazy. I will give him this much though, he can take an insult and completely ignore it... at least I hope he's ignoring it. Otherwise, i dunno... but I'll give him some props. Dude, you've got a long way to go before you are a true postwhore.
Lougan's favorite "Anonymous" Quotes: "Rena, Denial is not just a river in Egypt" "If at first you don't suceed, THEN YOU SUCK!!!"
Confessions IVthe thread that ruined Christmas! It started out innocently enough... People were making their normal oddball confessions. By the 26th page... who knows what it was. Everyone got up in arms. Posts were moved... insults were thrown. Feelings were hurt. You know... the usual IRB drama garbage. All I know is, I was up till 4am in the morning... a few hours before I had to drive 500 miles back to TN. In the end, I don't think it really ruined Christmas as much as it turned out to be your typical IRB drama fest. You know... the kind where everyone ends up yelling at everyone and I end up apologizing for it. All I know is that since its over, it seems pretty funny when you go back and read it all. With that said, this topic and its sister topics ( topic 1, topic 2) will be placed in the Historical IRB vault for future enjoyment, once they reach their maximum post limits.
All in all... this year has had its ups... and its downs. Obviously things are picking up around here, and we have alot of people to thank for that. It's been an interesting year. Let's hope next year is a little less... bleh.
I just wanted to say a few things. I really don't like pushing down a post about one of the greats of modern science fiction, and someone I'm a big fan of. But I there are some things I want to say. Some things that I've should have said for a long time.
I know, I've been missing from IRB for a really long time. This year has been a really tough year for me. It's pretty much been a transition from my old life... to a new life. There have been a lot of changes. The loss of my job at Dell was probably one of the hardest things for me to deal with. As many of you know, I'm a pretty competitive and ambitious person. I have this intense need to be the best at everything I do. When that happened to me, I literally felt worthless. What was all my hard work for. Its like all the love and joy in my life was completely sucked out of me. I took that pain, and I buried it deep, where no one could see. And I pretended that it didn't bother me. Some people saw that it did I'm sure. It manifested itself in different ways, the biggest way was my apathy towards IRB. I was already burned out from playing the role of "the one" for so long. And really, what did it mean... did anything I do on IRB really matter to anyone when it all came down to it. So I pretty much gave up.
I spent many nights, just sitting around, staring at IRB. Wanting to do something, to say something, to join in on the conversations. But I always put it off till tomorrow. To all of you, I'm so incredibly sorry. I know I don't deserve really to be considered the leader of anyone, considering all the mistakes I've made over the years. I've put alot of you in weird and uncomfortable positions with some of those decisions I've made. I hope that one day I can make it up to all of you. I supposed I could have messed things up alot worse, so I consider myself at least somewhat lucky because things aren't more fucked up than they could be.
When I started IRB, I was a very timid, quiet person. I really didn't express myself in the ways that I can. IRB changed me into someone who knows its not so scary to just talk to someone, to make friends, to really be an outgoing person who strives for the best. So I thank you all for everything. Many of you have watched me change, many of you have helped me through the darker times of my life. I wish I could take the credit for making IRB what it is, which is still a great place for people to make friends... and develop relationships that last a life time. I think that the members of IRB have changed me more than I have changed them. To me, IRB has become more than just a smattering of PHP and HTML thrown together with a database as glue. IRB is a place where we all escape. Its an old friend that is always there when you need it.
So with that said, it has been the tradition around the turn of the new year, that IRB chooses the member that has made the biggest difference. I've always found it hard to choose someone that can be considered "the best member". Everyone is amazing and awesome in their own way. It seems absurd that we would crown such a person, "The Noodle Champ of the Year". But we do have a funny way of doing things around here. How can you seriously compare someone to Instant Ramen?
Usually when IRB chooses its Noodle Champ. There is a nomination process, then a vote by secret ballot. Sometimes there is campaigning, sometimes there isnt. It just depends on the mood on the website at the time. This year (which is the seventh year of the Noodle Champ of the Year), I'm going to do something a little different. Alot of people have worked hard to keep IRB going, even in my absence. These people, I haven't formally recognized. So I'd like to take the time to do so.
Carly: You have been that crazy glue that keeps people coming back to IRB. You are on the forums every day. I never know what to expect. Your posts can be so incredibly deep, or at the same time be pot-induced randomness. Whatever, it is you do. Please keep doing it. I just recently promoted you to IRB staff, I never really told you why.... So I guess now you know. I have alot of respect for you, and the things you have been through. Thanks so much.
Ashe: What can I say. You own threads of a completely... shall we say... controversal nature. But somehow you manage to make those forums at least somewhat more tasteful than others can. You have helped me tremendously with your subtle hints and nudges. You've been a good friend to alot of people on IRB. I can't thank you enough for the things you've done.
Largo: You aren't here at the moment. But I wanted to thank you as well, for always being the person there posting. You have a knack at keeping IRB interesting with your random thoughts on porksword testing. You are a past noodle champ, but really, you have gone beyond that. So thanks.
Adina: You are sarcastic. You beat up on people who give you trouble. Hell, you've been known for putting me in my place on many an occasion. I have alot of respect for you as a Staff member of IRB, and as a person. I'm glad that Zach dragged you here. It seems like it was decades ago, and I just can't imagine IRB without you.
Zach: You and I have had so many arguments. We have fought over the stupidest things. You left IRB for a good while. Even though I pretended that it didn't bother me. It really did. I left IRB on your shoulders, and expected you to be able to handle it. You ran IRB better than I did, and I'm not afraid to admit it. You are one of my most trusted friends, and I'm incredibly glad you came back. Its good to know I always have someone to count on.
Red: Wow, have you been completely awesome. You and I haven't always been particularly close. But when I or anyone else on IRB has needed someone to talk to, you have been there. You've never gotten involved in many fights, even when one of the fights involved someone that was really close to you. But pastel polo shirts aside, you are just freaking awesome.
Sarah: What can I say kid. We've been through so fucking much. I can honestly say, only one or two people have touched my life like you have. I've watched you grow up so much. You have been through so much on your own. Over the past 7 years, you have always been one of the top members of IRB. You have put up with me. You have put up with the issues in your own life. And you still have shown tremendous service to IRB, first as a regular staff member and later as an exec staff member.
With all of that said, I would like to announce that Red and Sarah are the Noodle Champs of the Year for 2008. Thank you both, for everything you have done for IRB over the past 7 years, and for this year especially.
Wow, that was long. I hope everyone has a Happy Holidays!
Majel Barrett-Roddenberry--who died on Dec. 18 at the age of 76--was more than just an actress, producer and wife of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry: She was the keeper of the Trek flame and of Gene's creative legacy long after he himself passed on in 1991.
Often referred to in fan circles as the "First Lady of Star Trek," Barrett-Roddenberry was best known for appearing in or giving voice to roles in every incarnation of Trek, from the unaired pilot for the original series straight through to J.J. Abrams' upcoming reboot Star Trek movie--the only thespian with such a Trek lineage.
More than that, though, Barrett-Roddenberry took it upon herself to further and protect the legacy of her late husband. She oversaw the operations of Lincoln Enterprises, a company that produced, sold and licensed Star Trek memorabilia. And she served as an executive producer of Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict and Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda, long-running syndicated SF series based on ideas Gene left behind. She helped shepherd and develop Gene's notes and other writings into the successful shows, passing his vision of the universe on to future generations.
Majel frequently attended Star Trek conventions around the globe, accepted posthumous awards on her husband's behalf and acted as an ambassador for Trek with great humor and grace.
Following his mother's passing, her son, Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry Jr., issued the following statement: "My mother truly acknowledged and appreciated the fact that Star Trek fans played a vital role in keeping the Roddenberry dream alive for the past 42 years. It was her love for the fans, and their love in return, that kept her going for so long after my father passed away."
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YouTube.com video by "SuperTrekNerd" with examples of Majel Barrett-Roddenberry's appearances and computer voices in various Trek series and movies.
Majel Barrett was already a working actress when she met Gene Roddenberry, who cast her as Number One in his original 1966 Star Trek pilot, "The Cage." NBC executives, who already detested the character of Spock (Leonard Nimoy), insisted that audiences would not accept a woman in a role of such power and compelled Roddenberry to drop Number One and give Barrett a different role.
As a result, she was cast as Nurse Christine Chapel, a minor role that Barrett-Roddenberry played in the ensuing Star Trek series and in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home; for the movies, the character was promoted to Dr. Chapel.
Later, when Gene Roddenberry launched Star Trek: The Next Generation, Majel beamed aboard as Lwaxana Troi, the Betazoid mother of Deanna Troi, and a tough, egocentric, opinionated and argumentative woman. Lwaxana was introduced as a broad comedic figure, but over the years the recurring character gained depth and factored into increasingly dramatic storylines. Majel also appeared as Lwaxana on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
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Majel Barrett-Roddenberry as Lwaxana Troi on the set of Star Trek: The Next Generation with her husband, Trek creator Geen Roddenberry. (StarTrek.com)
But it was as the voice of the compuers on all Federation starships--most notably the U.S.S. Enterprise--for which Majel may best be remembered. She did this for the original series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and the prequel series Enterprise, as well as in most of the Trek feature films.
Just before her death, it was announced that Majel would provide the computer voice in Abrams' Star Trek, which will be released in May, 2009.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Barrett-Roddenberry's name to the C.A.R.E. or Precious Paw, charities that share Barrett-Roddenberry's love for animals and dedication to animal rescue. --Ian Spelling
Samurai_Goat: Yes, take away the G.I. Joe's' weapon, for the sake of all that is Holy.Samurai_Goat: Especially if it's a glorified fishhook. (Samurai_Goat)
The first big shot of entertainment this year came at the latter part of February when 
One could say that Kerri was one of the most... under appreciated members of IRB. To me she's always been somewhat amicable. To others, well... it wasnt always such smooth sailing. Kerri definitely had a way of making her kidney problems (
Who is 
Oh the minicity. Where did it go? Is it still growing? Who knows, but the members of IRB had a great time keeping those hippies from taking over. What was the point of the minicity? To make it grow of course... its like SimCity... except nothing like it. If your curious, its still there. There is no crime, no traffic, and hardly any pollution, and its population sits at about 776 people. Could the minicity make a come back, out of its 4 month recession? Only time will tell...
Whoa. This kid is intense. He's stuck around, even though he got banned for a few hours. Pretty crazy... not many members get their own topic in the staff forums. But this kid... yeah he got one. He's been a pretty prolific poster, massing a massive 221 posts in his short time here so far. Pretty crazy. I will give him this much though, he can take an insult and completely ignore it... at least I hope he's ignoring it. Otherwise, i dunno... but I'll give him some props. Dude, you've got a long way to go before you are a true postwhore. 
It started out 
