[vsnet-chat 7201] Re: CVnet Circular

[Christopher Watson]

All,

I would be remiss if 1) I didn't express my gratitude to Mike for his 
(completely unsolicited) kind words, and 2) if I didn't express my most 
heartfelt thanks to Aaron for all he has done, and is doing, to support 
the technical efforts of CVnet (and other up-and-coming SuperCool things).

Mike, you didn't need to do that.  But thanks anyway, man.  Aaron, I 
hear you, and I understand.  I get it.  You are both "dudes" in my book, 
and I avert my eyes in reverence. |-/

However, I have to make it perfectly clear that generally, I don't 
complain.  At least openly, I don't.  I don't appreciate complainers, 
and so I am, for the most part, able to rule that trait out of me.  In 
rare fashion, I vented (privately) in Mike's direction this evening 
after spending an hour trawling the QuickLook file with my code, 
programatically excising (or, then, manually correcting) the shifted 
columns, invalid JDs, munged observer codes, unintelligible formatting, etc.

To be honest, my grumbling was less about the work I had to do than it 
was about the data I have to expel, and the ugly holes I have to punch 
in the 'continuum' of the CVnet Circular.  It's painful to have to strip 
out thousands of potentially useful observations that I nor my code can 
make heads or tails of.  The original vision for the CVnet circular 
application was one of complete automation.  For the time being, that 
has unfortunately proved to be not possible.  For now, it is a very 
hands-on process.  But, you know, it is a very hands-on process for 
AAVSO staff, too.

I am in complete agreement with Aaron as to the purpose, intent, and 
commensurate outward technical impediments of the QuickLook file.  This 
is the way it has to be, and I know that.  I am in NO position to berate 
this vital collection of data, the reasons why it is as it is, nor the 
hundreds of dedicated individuals around the world who selflessly 
contribute to it.  And the fact that the AAVSO made it directly 
available to CVnet for data mining is Above and Beyond, to be sure. 
Make no mistake, the CVnet Circular is possible only because the AAVSO 
is collectively astute enough to see the value in it, and because they 
really like us, and want to help us.  T H A N K S !!!

We all know what we're trying to do here.  And we're doing 
it...together.  I enjoy doing it (in spite of my sporadic grousing).  I 
know things will get better, and my original vision will be fully 
implementable at some point in the future.  I know Aaron and the AAVSO 
will continue to do whatever they can to support and facilitate this 
effort.  I am indebted to all who have put their faith in me to make the 
Circular happen (as well as CHET/PET), and have bent over backward to 
see that I have what I need.  What a community!  Priceless.

(Aaron, by the way, is currently in a perpetual back-bend pose as he 
works ever-so-patiently with me to breath life into a new AAVSO web 
application that we hope will make some serious hay.  There is NO WAY I 
want to put this partnership in jeopardy!)

So, the thrust of this post is: please don't get me wrong.  I respect 
and appreciate everyone who, and everything that is a part of this 
endeavor, and I am deeply humbled by the responsibility given me.  If I 
happen to mouth off once in blue moon, it's really only because I care.

-Christopher