Community Update
As you may have heard via the Modern Geek podcast, after the recent GWC meetup we experienced a significant multiple-item gear failure in the GWC studio. It disappoints us, of course, but we can’t complain. Some of the gear we’ve been using to produce the network’s podcasts is over 10 years old, and we’ve been using the living crap out of it for six years now.
What you may not have heard, though, is that we’re currently affected by lot of other issues as well. I’ve had to take on some additional work to meet past financial obligations, leading to some very long hours. Audra is pushing through the end of a semester in which she’s working multiple high-work-load committees as well as her normally-huge grading tasks. And on the positive side: I graduate from college soon (having just finished up a hellacious honors thesis) and Sean will shortly welcome a new baby girl into the family. In the past we’ve cruised right through issues similar to these. But with them all stacked on top of each other like some perfect storm of podcast-life-sucking difficulty, we decided that taking a short break would prove smarter (and better for GWC) than just blindly soldiering on. So we’re going to pause production for a couple of months. You’ll probably continue to see a podcast here and there, especially Modern Geek. (Hey, Juan and I get antsy if we don’t get our fix.) But rest assured that we’re not going anywhere. We’re just hunkering down to take care of some important stuff, then catching our breath briefly to come back stronger, with working equipment, and a better plan of attack for providing the content we love.
The forum and other GWC activities will remain active throughout, and we’ll be around. You’re as important to us as we are to you, and your support (both direct and indirect) is greatly appreciated. Obviously we hope you’ll stick around, because we’re excited to have an opportunity to finally take care of some technical and organizational needs that have always come second to pushing out the ‘cast weekly. And we’re excited for what they mean for the future of GWC.
I’d say “see you on the other side,” but honestly we’ll still all be here, just a bit busier than normal and maybe a little tired. So: see you on the forums, FB, Twitter, hangouts, and everywhere else GWC lives and breathes.
Chuck
Galactic Watercooler 
Modern Geek 
Save Eureka 
Eff This Week 
FitSmart
Never a need to worry about us sticking around. If time, trials and tribulations have taught us anything (other than alliteration), it’s that this community persists. Your priorities are wholeheartedly valid and true, and the fact hat you took the time to lay this all out publicly for us just shows that we (the royal “we”) still matter in similar fashion to how the Crüe matters to us.
Plug away at that quirky task-list called “responsible adult life”, and let us know if we can assist in any capacity. After all, we’re family, dong ma?
So say we all.
Chuck,
Thank you for the update. I know how hard it is to admit that there are limits to one’s capacity. You guys haven’t had this level of noise and craaap at the same time evah. We know it kills you to not be able to it all and be forced to make choices.
You’ve made the right one. The point of the ‘cast was never the ‘cast, it is the community. You three have created something out of nothing through dedicating yourself every week for five years and never asking for anything in return that wouldn’t directly help or improve the ‘cast itself.
You can’t stop the signal. Not if you tried. In the meantime if you don’t mind I’m going to hijack the podcast feed and finally start my scifi discussion group called “Geeks without Pants”
Thank you for the update, Chuck. I have been missing my weekly fixes and eagerly awaiting new casts, so knowing that you’re giving yourselves the break you need and coming back refreshed will make it all the sweeter next time I have a GWC Network cast for my morning commute. Huge congrats are in order for you (honors thesis! graduation!!!), Audra (I have a whole new appreciation for Humanities teachers these days), and Sean (if New Baby O’Hara is half as cute as Squeak…)
I’ve learned two things the hard way in the past few months:
1. We all have limits as individuals, and sometimes we hit those limits like we’re express trains and they’re brick walls on the tracks.
2. There are virtually no limits on what the GWC community will do to support its own.
If you need something other than time to reboot and new gear to make it all work, let us know. We’ll be on it.
Thanks for the update, Chuck. I completely understand how crazy life can get.
Any chance for one of those mini-casts with your thoughts on Iron Man 3? Modern Geek is cool, but some small GWC episodes (even if Sean can’t make it) would be awesome.
Thanks for letting us know what’s going on with you 3! Do we need to start a gear fund drive?
Kinda figured you guys had alot on your plates; no new GWC ‘casts usually = RL rearing its ugly head. No worries – we’ll all still be here ready to listen to your melodious voices when that stuff’s been taken care of. (Congrats to the three of you, btw – you should all be proud.)
A long and sustained round of applause for the GWC Crue’s long-term performance. I think they might have maybe missed a week or two, but I feel more sure that they haven’t.
For the last six years, every week has been an opportunity for them to not deliver a ‘cast. And they have stubbornly and admirably refused to take a break, instead providing one of the best-sounding podcasts on the ‘net every week, in rain and shine, sickness and health, holiday or no.
Enjoy your hard-earned downtime. Thank you again for making time for GWC every week. When you can put the machine back together, you’ll find us here.
So say we all?
– ferris
And CONGRATULATIONS on achieving these circumstances!
Understandable and fascinating.
Congratulations on all the events immense, small and in between.
You may want to leave an open mike roll –> ( just let the unwashed, slovenly, drunken (allegedly) GWC masses call into the phone message line).
Splice their calls together (clip show) for the audience to enjoy the ramblings. The peanut gallery is nothing but vocal 🙂
Go easy folks ..
OB
P.S. Chuck ( ex luna scientia )
P.S. Sean ( ex glande quercus )
Take all the time you need. We’ll be here. I’m sure we can find something to do while we eagerly awaiting your return…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FuwU3pQt7U
I am in awe of how many podcasts over the years you all have given to us. I can barely keep up with listening to all of them! Enjoy your break, as you all definitely deserve it. We will still be here when you return. Thank you for all that you have done to create this community. In the meantime it has been nice to see all the activity on the Forum again. I can lurk for hours again, just like back in the good old days when I would anxiously await for a Monday morning BSG podcast. With two of my favorite shows on right now- Who and GOT, I am enjoying reading all the comments.
I vote for an emergency podcast by whoever and whatever can be scrapped together as a stopgap (including phone messages of support and information by listeners) and we shall call it ‘Emergency broadcast one’ for all us addicts who can’t go for more than 2 weeks without our fix. I’ll start with Daft Punks new album being a pretty solid 8/10 on the mellifluous meter. Chris Hadfield – David Bowie, Star Trek into Darkness 3D was better than Iron man 3 3D. Warm Bodies was a good RomZomCom. Dr Who, Defiance, Arrow, Continuum, Planet Earth on Bluray WOW, yelling at people on game of Thrones, Oblivion was so obvious AGHHHH!
Chuck
Thanks for the update! I am so glad to hear that the reasons you are taking a break is graduation and Sean having another baby. Audra, good luck with all the teaching and grading. I have been an avid listener for 5 years, and I have been so impressed by your determination and diligence in putting out great podcasts. If any crew deserves a well earned rest, its you three (and Juan!)
Dear Chuck, Audra and Sean, a big Thank You from me! I can’t wait to hear your podcasts each week. It helps me get through my work day. Life happens and we all need a break or a well deserved vacation. Don’t worry, when you’re ready to get behind the mic we still be here for you all.
Thanks again for everything!
Renee
As you surely know, I rejoice in your collective achievements and blessings even as my ear veins are a-poppin’ for my beloved GWC fix!
okay… ewww. sorry. ahem.
*GLITTER CANNON*
love you, miss you, wish you well and offer any assistance I can give!
Hi Chuck, Audra, and Sean,
I hope all is well. I too miss the podcast. Quick question for you, when you say “a couple months”, are you talking from March (which would be about now) or are you thinking towards the end of summer? There’s a lot going on in the galaxy at the moment (i.e., Star Trek, Ironman), so I wasn’t sure if we should get our hopes up anytime soon.
Thanks,
John
Guys, I’ll miss you, but I think I’m done with GWC. Frankly, this situation could have been handled much more professionally, both before and after the equipment snafu.
Take care.
Hey guys,
Absolutely fair enough. I can see where you’re coming from, facing a veritable sh!tstorm of life issues coming all at the same time. So…take some time. You’ll know when to come back and that we’ll be here.
Cheers,
Dean
Thank you for the update. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with my podcatcher.
Glad to hear that no one has died. Bless you for prioritizing the important stuff.
I eagerly await the sinking of the river of stress that will allow you to progress.
Thank you for the update! Checked here and on itunes a couple times and didn’t see anything. I’ve been listening since the start. Was a little behind, caught up then thought something bad might have happened. So glad it’s only good stuff. Have a great summer. Looking forward to more entertaining listening in the future.
Thanks so much for the update. Kind of a long time coming, unless I missed something. 😛
Just got back from watching Man of Steel. Saw Sean’s name in the credits. Is this the same Sean? Copious compliments if this is the same you, dude.
Do what you gotta do. We can wait.
Though, you could always release a two-hour remix of Nyan Cat.
So, is GWC dead? Can I safely unsubscribe now?