This is the five thousandth published post on WUWT, since this is a computer written blog, publishing the number in binary seemed appropos. 1388 for you hexadecimal fans.
I don’t have anything profound to say. It is just a number, and other blogs have reached and exceeded this number, so it is no biggie. But, I will share a few thoughts.
- I find myself running the most visited climate related website in the world. I never set out to do that, it just happened to turn out that way. WUWT has been a part of climate history, partly by skill, partly by persistence, partly by luck.
- I think of blogging much like I did my days of broadcast TV, it is a 24/7 occupation. I’m always “on”.
- I’m proud of what this blog has achieved. I’m proud of the reach we have.
- OTOH there are things I’m not proud of. I’ve made some stupid mistakes, said some things I regret, and sometimes I’ve let my emotions get the better of me. I’m human. That said, I’ve learned much too. I’d like to think I’ve learned from mistakes and that I’m better at this job now than when I started.
- I’m thankful for the supportive community we have here. I was stunned and gratified that you all came to my aid in getting funds to publish the surfacestations paper. Know that all of you have my sincere gratitude.
- Some days it is a struggle to post something new. From that I realize that I’m tired, probably I need a vacation. I haven’t really had one in several years where I can “disconnect”. Every business trip or even trips with the family inevitably turn into another station survey. My kids know what an MMTS and Stevenson Screen is. They shouldn’t.
- I get more email every day than I can respond to. For those of you that have sent inquires and never got an answer, know that I’m sorry for that. I have to choose what time I have.
- I’ve made thousands of friends, and probably an equal number of enemies. Some days it is a sobering thought. As a result, I have had to be more diligent with my home and business security than I did before.
- I wish I was thirty pounds lighter. I spend way too much time in front of a PC.
- I worry more than I used to. Life seems far more complex than it was 4.5 years ago when I first started doing this. Getting things done seems harder than it used to be.
- Living in California has become depressing. Owning a business in California even more so. The regulation and business climate here is insane. Just today I learned our electricity rates would be going up to pay for Smartmeters. Pissed I am.
- I thank Steve McIntyre, who has always been an inspiration. He set the standard. I’m sure he feels many of the same things I do.
- I’m doubly grateful to the volunteer moderators and guest authors. Without you, I’d be toastier than I am now.
- We live in interesting times, times get more interesting with each passing day.
We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.
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Thank you.
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As a result, I have had to be more diligent with my home and business security than I did before.
Oh, my. 🙁
aye. thank you. you’ve done well and good.
Thank YOU. I follow you on Twitter. Always will. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. -Paul
Yes, Anthony, thanks for all your good work – lang may yer lum reek.
Wish I had your guts, energy, and staying power. Love the blog, and look forward to every new post.
Thanks to you and all those that help you make it possible.
You are not alone Mr Watt
Thanks Anthony and thanks to the mods, guest authors and reader comments. I’ve learned much here and hope to learn more.
Dave Aschim
Watts, you are a seminal point, an intersection, of historical battlles of ideology; this isn’t just about climate. This is about the struggle between frustrated totalitarian ideologues and sensible people.
You are, Anthony, an unwilling soldier in a really big ideological war. The Communists died, and their spirits went green. Seriously.
OK Guys’n’girls, lets celebrate this moment with a $5 donation
REPLY: No please, don’t send money. Write a letter to the editor instead. – Anthony
Anthony, You have been a great inspiration. Thanks very much. Jim
REPLY: Actually no, Jim you are the inspiration. You set me on the path of discovery. – Anthony
Your blog is a great resource. As a geologist it provides invaluable links to new, peer reviewed papers that saves me incredible amounts of time. These papers often raise interesting and different perspectives with relation to climate science and other earth science related issues.
All of the other typical AGW papers are easy to find but become the same old, same old. An example of a very interesting paper is Woodworth, et al, 2009.
The information is top notch with the occasional `nut bar comment’ thrown in from both sides of the debate.
Keep up the great job.
We live in interesting times …
True, but at least we have interesting blogs, like Watts Up With That.
Keep up the good work.
Well done!
Just think how many comments have been generated by those 5000 posts and even that does not give the full picture of the interest stimulated by this site.
Thanks Anthony.
I find sanity here; if only in the exposure of insanity.
Thanks, pal.
The success of this enterprise is a great testimony to you, Anthony. You deserve every bit of that success, and all of us thank you for the time and thought you devote to this. You have made a great difference.
I have been devoting energy to the cause for about 15 years myself. To me, it seemed for many of those years to be a never-ending situation of cutting off yet another head of the hydra, but it is starting to look as if they are growing back less rapidly. I’m looking forward to the next 5,000 posts here, and hope that by that time it is clear we have finally managed to drive the wooden stake into the heart of this beast.
Well and humbly done. Both attributes are missing in your critics. Thanks
We are full of admiration at your achievement and your manner of reaching it.
lapogus says:
May 10, 2011 at 4:14 pm
“Yes, Anthony, thanks for all your good work – lang may yer lum reek.”
Can I second lapogus’ comment?
And lapogus – I’ll be in the Black Watch on the 4th June – say 8PM? We can raise a glass to WUWT!
1001110001000
I know from my work, that there are 10 different viewpoints on binary,
those who love it
those who just dont get it
EO
Yes, thank you Anthony. You have inspired me to be better blogger and both Ellen and I have really enjoyed working with you on climate projects.
Anthony writes:
“I find myself running the most visited climate related website in the world. I never set out to do that, it just happened to turn out that way. WUWT has been a part of climate history, partly by skill, partly by persistence, partly by luck.”
In light of this, what can one say? You are the most modest and humble human being I have encountered. The following are a few things you are too modest to mention:
1. Organizational skills. You have the best organized website in existence. Organization includes not just formal matters but the day to day efforts to freshen up things. This site is fresh every day. Unbelievable.
2. A gift for organizing information in a way that makes reading not just a pleasure but a real treat. My favorite example is the Sea Ice page. It is like a masterfully written book on sea ice phenomena that contains bits and snippets of a world traveling Naturalist’s photos, drawings, and stories. Of course, surfacestations.org is a down home masterpiece along the same lines.
3. An excellent eye for important new articles and newsworthy developments. The information provided on this site is far superior to the information that can be found on all the other sites. Your comments are extremely helpful when it comes to putting things into perspective.
4. Superb archives. Not just the site archives, but the archives found in the specialty pages.
5. An updated, relatively cumulative critique of climate science and climate policy. Where else can one find that?
6. This site is the best tool for teaching and learning about climate science that has been created. It is a model for what education should be.
I could list many other items. Maybe someday I will, but the Day Job continues to beckon. In summary, you deserve a Nobel Prize for Letters and a Pulitzer Prize for Journalism and some more things along those lines. Of course, we all know that modern civilization is greatly indebted to you for its defense in the face of battalions of religious fanatics. Thank You, Sir.
And if California becomes intolerable, there’s always Texas. We have lots of weather here 🙂 and, if you wish, you can live in or near Austin, at whatever range from the nearest liberal enclave makes you comfortable.
Clever title.
d(^_^)b
http://libertyatstake.blogspot.com/
“Because the Only Good Progressive is a Failed Progressive”
As someone who was one of the very first visitors to your blog, you have my utmost admiration.