My Last Day on the Job

Folks,

I just wanted to let you know that today is my last day
on the job as an IDL consultant. Next week I start a
full-time job elsewhere.

I will still be doing a bit of IDL programming, but
my plan is to re-invent myself as a JAVA programmer,
eventually. :-)

It will be nearly impossible, I am sure, to get out of
the habit of reading this newsgroup every 10 minutes or
so, but gradually, over time I plan to learn to do so
and to leave the answering to the young hotshots who can
actually understand the questions that are being asked
these days.

I'll continue to maintain Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming
for as long as it supports itself. And I might even add an
article from time to time if I encounter something that
I know I better write down if I don't want to forget it.
But this will no longer be the focus of my professional life.

It has been a wonderful 15 years here. It has been my
joy and privilege to participate with and learn from so
many knowledgeable people. (I won't name names, because it
would just never end, but I hope all of you know who you
are.) I have always believed this was THE best newsgroup
in the Usenet universe. Your capacity to share your knowledge
and good humor is unsurpassed. In 15 years, I'll bet I
can count the number of flames in this newsgroup on one
hand. And most of those were written by me in one of my
cranky moods when the dog wasn't easily available to kick.

Thank you for all the wonderful times. You were my joy and
passion for a long, long time. I will never forget you or
how much I always looked forward to waking up and checking
this newsgroup as the first official act of every morning.

Vaya con Dios,

David

P.S. Let's just say Coyote is paying 10 to 1 on any bet that
says this new job will last longer than two weeks. :-(

--
David Fanning, Ph.D.
Fanning Software Consulting, Inc.
Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming: http://www.dfanning.com/
Sepore ma de ni thui. ("Perhaps thou speakest truth.")

Wow, the end of an era. I guess that leaves the rest of us up a
certain creek with a squishy brown paddle

David, from me thanks for an amazing amount of help on this usenet
group as well as maybe the best programming website (any language) I
have ever used.

Enjoy the change.


Cheers,

Brian

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brian Larsen
Boston University
Center for Space Physics
http://people.bu.edu/balarsen/Home/IDL

David Fanning wrote:
> Folks,
>
> I just wanted to let you know that today is my last day
> on the job as an IDL consultant. Next week I start a
> full-time job elsewhere.

I have obviously passed through some sort of time-space nexus and entered an alternate
universe on April 1.

Now how to get back to my regularly scheduled programming, where the ground doesn't drop
away from below one's feet.....?

On Aug 29, 12:30*pm, David Fanning <n...@dfanning.com> wrote:
> Folks,
>
> I just wanted to let you know that today is my last day
> on the job as an IDL consultant. Next week I start a
> full-time job elsewhere.

Wow. This sounds for real and not just one of David's dreams to
become a tennis pro, or a college student, or a permanent world
traveler. The reality is that we never see that 3rd edition.

> are.) I have always believed this was THE best newsgroup
> in the Usenet universe.

The tone of a newsgroup is set by its most frequent posters and David
deserves most of the credit for setting the tone of comp.lang.idl-
pvwave.

David doesn't tell us the reason for the decision but my guess is that
is based mostly on a need for more income, but also in part on the
direction of IDL development, and also partly on a desire to try
something different. In any case, thanks David for the 15 years of
instruction, wit, and decorum. --Wayne

> I have obviously passed through some sort of time-space nexus and
> entered an alternate universe on April 1.

That was my first thought too! I had to double-check to be sure that it
is actually August and not April.

Thank You David for all your help, on many topics. This group will not
be the same without the occasional humorous ranting about computer
crankiness. =)

Ryan.

"David Fanning" <news@dfanning.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.2321d1ffc9feed3c98a479@news.giganews.com. ..
> Folks,
>
> I just wanted to let you know that today is my last day
> on the job as an IDL consultant. Next week I start a
> full-time job elsewhere.

Wow, huge news! Best of luck in the new endeavour,
and thanks for all the help you have given over the years.

Cheers,
bob

David Fanning schrieb:
> Folks,
>
> I just wanted to let you know that today is my last day
> on the job as an IDL consultant. Next week I start a
> full-time job elsewhere.
>
> I will still be doing a bit of IDL programming, but
> my plan is to re-invent myself as a JAVA programmer,
> eventually. :-)
>
> It will be nearly impossible, I am sure, to get out of
> the habit of reading this newsgroup every 10 minutes or
> so, but gradually, over time I plan to learn to do so
> and to leave the answering to the young hotshots who can
> actually understand the questions that are being asked
> these days.
>
> I'll continue to maintain Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming
> for as long as it supports itself. And I might even add an
> article from time to time if I encounter something that
> I know I better write down if I don't want to forget it.
> But this will no longer be the focus of my professional life.
>
> It has been a wonderful 15 years here. It has been my
> joy and privilege to participate with and learn from so
> many knowledgeable people. (I won't name names, because it
> would just never end, but I hope all of you know who you
> are.) I have always believed this was THE best newsgroup
> in the Usenet universe. Your capacity to share your knowledge
> and good humor is unsurpassed. In 15 years, I'll bet I
> can count the number of flames in this newsgroup on one
> hand. And most of those were written by me in one of my
> cranky moods when the dog wasn't easily available to kick.
>
> Thank you for all the wonderful times. You were my joy and
> passion for a long, long time. I will never forget you or
> how much I always looked forward to waking up and checking
> this newsgroup as the first official act of every morning.
>
> Vaya con Dios,
>
> David
>
> P.S. Let's just say Coyote is paying 10 to 1 on any bet that
> says this new job will last longer than two weeks. :-(
>

That's a shame, David. I hope this great newsgroup can hold together
without the glue.

Good luck!

Mort

Your contribution was highly appreciated! Thanks for all those useful
posts that saved me LOTS of time!!!

All the best for your projects!

Jean

AHHHH!!! NOOOOO!!!
I feel my productivity levels dropping already.

How can this be? I bought your book. Do I need to buy more copies?
I'll teach an undergraduate course and make it required reading. "Mr.
Winter, What does this IDL book have to do with astronomy 101?"
"Everything, my dear. Everything."

I'm going to have to figure things out for myself now.

<In my best Blair Witch Project voice.> I am so scared...

Thanks so much for all of the help over the years. I've learned a
ton. Please don't take down the website until I can download it and
replace your name with mine.

Best of luck,
-Trae

Ooh! Maybe I'll learn Java now!







On Aug 29, 12:30 pm, David Fanning <n...@dfanning.com> wrote:
> Folks,
>
> I just wanted to let you know that today is my last day
> on the job as an IDL consultant. Next week I start a
> full-time job elsewhere.
>
> I will still be doing a bit of IDL programming, but
> my plan is to re-invent myself as a JAVA programmer,
> eventually. :-)
>
> It will be nearly impossible, I am sure, to get out of
> the habit of reading this newsgroup every 10 minutes or
> so, but gradually, over time I plan to learn to do so
> and to leave the answering to the young hotshots who can
> actually understand the questions that are being asked
> these days.
>
> I'll continue to maintain Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming
> for as long as it supports itself. And I might even add an
> article from time to time if I encounter something that
> I know I better write down if I don't want to forget it.
> But this will no longer be the focus of my professional life.
>
> It has been a wonderful 15 years here. It has been my
> joy and privilege to participate with and learn from so
> many knowledgeable people. (I won't name names, because it
> would just never end, but I hope all of you know who you
> are.) I have always believed this was THE best newsgroup
> in the Usenet universe. Your capacity to share your knowledge
> and good humor is unsurpassed. In 15 years, I'll bet I
> can count the number of flames in this newsgroup on one
> hand. And most of those were written by me in one of my
> cranky moods when the dog wasn't easily available to kick.
>
> Thank you for all the wonderful times. You were my joy and
> passion for a long, long time. I will never forget you or
> how much I always looked forward to waking up and checking
> this newsgroup as the first official act of every morning.
>
> Vaya con Dios,
>
> David
>
> P.S. Let's just say Coyote is paying 10 to 1 on any bet that
> says this new job will last longer than two weeks. :-(
>
> --
> David Fanning, Ph.D.
> Fanning Software Consulting, Inc.
> Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming:http://www.dfanning.com/
> Sepore ma de ni thui. ("Perhaps thou speakest truth.")

Well, when I am training people in IDL, I tell them that
IDL programming is a very useful skill and they can
always have a brilliant career in IDL consulting, citing
David as an example. Now what should I tell them?

Cheers,
Paolo

David Fanning wrote:
> Folks,
>
> I just wanted to let you know that today is my last day
> on the job as an IDL consultant. Next week I start a
> full-time job elsewhere.
>
> I will still be doing a bit of IDL programming, but
> my plan is to re-invent myself as a JAVA programmer,
> eventually. :-)
>
> It will be nearly impossible, I am sure, to get out of
> the habit of reading this newsgroup every 10 minutes or
> so, but gradually, over time I plan to learn to do so
> and to leave the answering to the young hotshots who can
> actually understand the questions that are being asked
> these days.
>
> I'll continue to maintain Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming
> for as long as it supports itself. And I might even add an
> article from time to time if I encounter something that
> I know I better write down if I don't want to forget it.
> But this will no longer be the focus of my professional life.
>
> It has been a wonderful 15 years here. It has been my
> joy and privilege to participate with and learn from so
> many knowledgeable people. (I won't name names, because it
> would just never end, but I hope all of you know who you
> are.) I have always believed this was THE best newsgroup
> in the Usenet universe. Your capacity to share your knowledge
> and good humor is unsurpassed. In 15 years, I'll bet I
> can count the number of flames in this newsgroup on one
> hand. And most of those were written by me in one of my
> cranky moods when the dog wasn't easily available to kick.
>
> Thank you for all the wonderful times. You were my joy and
> passion for a long, long time. I will never forget you or
> how much I always looked forward to waking up and checking
> this newsgroup as the first official act of every morning.
>
> Vaya con Dios,
>
> David
>
> P.S. Let's just say Coyote is paying 10 to 1 on any bet that
> says this new job will last longer than two weeks. :-(
>
> --
> David Fanning, Ph.D.
> Fanning Software Consulting, Inc.
> Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming: http://www.dfanning.com/
> Sepore ma de ni thui. ("Perhaps thou speakest truth.")