Curious Distraction: Explain your username, avatar picture, etc...

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RustyTheGeek

RustyTheGeek

Apr 26, 2011
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#1
Hi everyone. As I reply to some posts, it occurs to me that it would be interesting to get explanations or back stories from many of the user/contributors here on Canon Rumors about why they use/choose the username that they have. For instance, neuro has explained it before but let's hear it again here all in one place!! What does TrumpetPower possibly mean? While we're at it, add some info about the avatar picture you use if you like.

In my case, RustyTheGeek started out many years ago as a domain name people would remember for my IT consulting business when they needed to email me. Eventually it just made sense to start treating it like a brand, esp since it's never taken when choosing a username on forums, etc. So there we go! I still need to get an avatar picture uploaded. Bad me.

Anyone else care to share? Even if it seems self explanatory there might be more than meets the eye. :)
 
#2
I've used my name for various things in the past, mostly on forums but also online games as my avatar username. Not only that, I have registered 'croubie industries' as a business and used it when I subcontracted myself out for various engineering jobs (in a sort of "Vandalay Industries" way, if you don't know what that is then you're too young. Go rent some Seinfeld DVDs).

But the truth of where it came from? Me and a mate, back in high school (so at least 12-14 years ago), were around at his place late one night sampling some 'herbs' that he'd grown in his garden. We started just babbling crap, made up words that sounded cool, and I particularly liked the sound of 'croubie', we even tried to get it to catch on as a slang word for the herbs, it caught on with a few friends (particularly good when discussing nefarious activities around people we shouldn't, like parents).
Then I got a subcontracting job and needed a business name. Well, I didn't need one, but using my actual name sounded less 'business-like', so I made up 'croubie industries' as a sort of 'vandalay industries', but also having a dig at my bosses (who didn't know my other made-up meaning for the words).
13 years later and it's still around, even if it doesn't have the herbal double-meaning anymore (we all grew out of it, as most kids do).
Meanwhile, the global-octopus of croubie industries has stretched into many areas: photography & accessories, hifi/pa/guitar speakers and amps, computers & parts, and I can't think of what else. It's amazing what you can get when you ring up suppliers and say you're from a business (rather than some poor uni student), trade prices and free samples and all the rest.

"And you want to be my latex salesman."
 
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#3
Paulie Walnuts. The best character from the Sopranos. And I'm also a Paul.

The pic is me on my final year project when a student, so 10 years ago this May. In the last year we had to do our projects on the ENG gear, which at the time I resisted (if you go from a camcorder to an ENG camera it's quite a leap - black and white viewfinder - having to remember colour temperatures, setting timecodes, back focus acutally built into your lenses to screw you up) but ultimately led to me making my living today (as all ENG cameras be they Sony, Panasonic, Ikegami, JVC, Grass Valley whatever, have the essential controls in the same place)

In those days I shaved my hair because I could, these days as I look at my thinning temple I have no choice.

My pal Adam took this on my Canon EOS 5 (A2e), and the camera I'm holding is a Panny AJ-200E DVCPRO.
 
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#5
dr croubie said:
I've used my name for various things in the past, mostly on forums but also online games as my avatar username. Not only that, I have registered 'croubie industries' as a business and used it when I subcontracted myself out for various engineering jobs (in a sort of "Vandalay Industries" way, if you don't know what that is then you're too young. Go rent some Seinfeld DVDs).

But the truth of where it came from? Me and a mate, back in high school (so at least 12-14 years ago), were around at his place late one night sampling some 'herbs' that he'd grown in his garden. We started just babbling crap, made up words that sounded cool, and I particularly liked the sound of 'croubie', we even tried to get it to catch on as a slang word for the herbs, it caught on with a few friends (particularly good when discussing nefarious activities around people we shouldn't, like parents).
Then I got a subcontracting job and needed a business name. Well, I didn't need one, but using my actual name sounded less 'business-like', so I made up 'croubie industries' as a sort of 'vandalay industries', but also having a dig at my bosses (who didn't know my other made-up meaning for the words).
13 years later and it's still around, even if it doesn't have the herbal double-meaning anymore (we all grew out of it, as most kids do).
Meanwhile, the global-octopus of croubie industries has stretched into many areas: photography & accessories, hifi/pa/guitar speakers and amps, computers & parts, and I can't think of what else. It's amazing what you can get when you ring up suppliers and say you're from a business (rather than some poor uni student), trade prices and free samples and all the rest.

"And you want to be my latex salesman."
Click to expand...

+1 to so many things here!

Oh, there can be a whole other thread for the made up words for croubie.
 
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#9
dr croubie said:
I've used my name for various things in the past, mostly on forums but also online games as my avatar username. Not only that, I have registered 'croubie industries' as a business and used it when I subcontracted myself out for various engineering jobs (in a sort of "Vandalay Industries" way, if you don't know what that is then you're too young. Go rent some Seinfeld DVDs).

But the truth of where it came from? Me and a mate, back in high school (so at least 12-14 years ago), were around at his place late one night sampling some 'herbs' that he'd grown in his garden. We started just babbling crap, made up words that sounded cool, and I particularly liked the sound of 'croubie', we even tried to get it to catch on as a slang word for the herbs, it caught on with a few friends (particularly good when discussing nefarious activities around people we shouldn't, like parents).
Then I got a subcontracting job and needed a business name. Well, I didn't need one, but using my actual name sounded less 'business-like', so I made up 'croubie industries' as a sort of 'vandalay industries', but also having a dig at my bosses (who didn't know my other made-up meaning for the words).
13 years later and it's still around, even if it doesn't have the herbal double-meaning anymore (we all grew out of it, as most kids do).
Meanwhile, the global-octopus of croubie industries has stretched into many areas: photography & accessories, hifi/pa/guitar speakers and amps, computers & parts, and I can't think of what else. It's amazing what you can get when you ring up suppliers and say you're from a business (rather than some poor uni student), trade prices and free samples and all the rest.

"And you want to be my latex salesman."
Click to expand...

Mine's a much similar story, minus the original origins and 415 associations. I'm really a trumpeter, but you can't make a living playing trumpet. But at ASU a couple decades ago I needed something for which I made up something vaguely resembling a corporate identity, and I've been using it everywhere since.

b&
 
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#10
dr croubie said:
I've used my name for various things in the past, mostly on forums but also online games as my avatar username. Not only that, I have registered 'croubie industries' as a business and used it when I subcontracted myself out for various engineering jobs (in a sort of "Vandalay Industries" way, if you don't know what that is then you're too young. Go rent some Seinfeld DVDs).

But the truth of where it came from? Me and a mate, back in high school (so at least 12-14 years ago), were around at his place late one night sampling some 'herbs' that he'd grown in his garden. We started just babbling crap, made up words that sounded cool, and I particularly liked the sound of 'croubie', we even tried to get it to catch on as a slang word for the herbs, it caught on with a few friends (particularly good when discussing nefarious activities around people we shouldn't, like parents).
Then I got a subcontracting job and needed a business name. Well, I didn't need one, but using my actual name sounded less 'business-like', so I made up 'croubie industries' as a sort of 'vandalay industries', but also having a dig at my bosses (who didn't know my other made-up meaning for the words).
13 years later and it's still around, even if it doesn't have the herbal double-meaning anymore (we all grew out of it, as most kids do).
Meanwhile, the global-octopus of croubie industries has stretched into many areas: photography & accessories, hifi/pa/guitar speakers and amps, computers & parts, and I can't think of what else. It's amazing what you can get when you ring up suppliers and say you're from a business (rather than some poor uni student), trade prices and free samples and all the rest.

"And you want to be my latex salesman."
Click to expand...

I love it! What a great first post! Let's see... The old "RL Co." I used to use. "Robert Nelms" was a made up name we used as code on various things we would receive in the mail way back... it's all in good fun! And many of your "ventures" above I have had a hand in as well, esp things to do with audio, computers, etc. Thanks dude!!
 
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#11
RMC are my Initials, Ryan McMaster and the 33 is sort of an enigma in my life. It pops up all over in my life, for instance, I was born On may 16th in Alaska 16-49=33. My best friend was born on the 17th in Hawaii, same thing (Date-state numerical admission into the Union). Just weird stuff I guess but whenever the number comes up I usually have a spark of brilliance on a Project I am working on or something. My first 3d Printer (I use them for work) Used to give me an error code 33 all the time, which was not a code in the companies DB. Turns out it was related to a software update that had a bug that would cause the extruder to heat beyond the limit set by the operator and could cause a fire. It was supposed to be code 1033 (10 meant error and 33 was the specific type). Weird things like that. Hence my photography is under RMC |33| Photography.
 
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#12
TrumpetPower! said:
dr croubie said:
I've used my name for various things in the past, mostly on forums but also online games as my avatar username. Not only that, I have registered 'croubie industries' as a business and used it when I subcontracted myself out for various engineering jobs (in a sort of "Vandalay Industries" way, if you don't know what that is then you're too young. Go rent some Seinfeld DVDs).

But the truth of where it came from? Me and a mate, back in high school (so at least 12-14 years ago), were around at his place late one night sampling some 'herbs' that he'd grown in his garden. We started just babbling crap, made up words that sounded cool, and I particularly liked the sound of 'croubie', we even tried to get it to catch on as a slang word for the herbs, it caught on with a few friends (particularly good when discussing nefarious activities around people we shouldn't, like parents).
Then I got a subcontracting job and needed a business name. Well, I didn't need one, but using my actual name sounded less 'business-like', so I made up 'croubie industries' as a sort of 'vandalay industries', but also having a dig at my bosses (who didn't know my other made-up meaning for the words).
13 years later and it's still around, even if it doesn't have the herbal double-meaning anymore (we all grew out of it, as most kids do).
Meanwhile, the global-octopus of croubie industries has stretched into many areas: photography & accessories, hifi/pa/guitar speakers and amps, computers & parts, and I can't think of what else. It's amazing what you can get when you ring up suppliers and say you're from a business (rather than some poor uni student), trade prices and free samples and all the rest.

"And you want to be my latex salesman."
Click to expand...

Mine's a much similar story, minus the original origins and 415 associations. I'm really a trumpeter, but you can't make a living playing trumpet. But at ASU a couple decades ago I needed something for which I made up something vaguely resembling a corporate identity, and I've been using it everywhere since.

b&
Click to expand...

I guessed it right! I suspected that meant the musical instrument! And FWIW, it was your username that inspired me to start this thread. ASU = Angelo or Arizona? I'm originally from San Angelo, TX where there is an ASU located. Oh, and from what I know, it's not easy making a living playing a camera either! And around these parts, I think it's 420. ;)
 
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#13
RustyTheGeek said:
I guessed it right! I suspected that meant the musical instrument! And FWIW, it was your username that inspired me to start this thread. ASU = Angelo or Arizona? I'm originally from San Angelo, TX where there is an ASU located. Oh, and from what I know, it's not easy making a living playing a camera either! And around these parts, I think it's 420. ;)
Click to expand...

Arizona State University; I don't make any (significant amounts of) money from photography, either, but from database programming; and I don't partake, so I'm simply impressed with myself that I managed to get within 1% of the right figure....

b&
 
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#16
.
"Distant Star" comes from the Jimmy Webb song "Where Words End" sung by Johnny Rivers on his "Shadows on the Moon" album a few years ago.

Lyrics:

Where Words End (Jimmy Webb)

I sat me down on the highest rock
on the hill at Big Sur
It was dark and all the stars were spread out wide
As wide as my love for her
I was sure that I was falling
I felt time and space extend
and I thought I heard her calling from a place
a place where words end
Where words end...that's where my love begins
And reaches just as far as any distant star
Where words end there will be no might have beens
She'll be waiting..my best friend just across the river
Where all the words end
So I gave some thanks in silence and for all the good it's done
As a brand new constellation bloomed in space in the shape of my mother's face
In that starry dome of silence I could have heard a falling pin
She was smiling in the starry crown of grace and I watched her stars ascend
Where words end that's where my love begins
And reaches just as far as any distant star
Where words end there will be no might have beens
She'll be waiting for me there just across the river
Just across the river, Just across the river
Where all the words....
Where all the words end

And you can hear it here:

Johnny Rivers Where Words End

In addition to it just being beautiful, that's my criteria for good photography -- where words end.

As for the avatar, I just popped it up there a day or two ago. Reminds me of the old railroad crossings that always had a sign saying:

STOP

LOOK

LISTEN

So, it's sort of all aspirational, I guess. One day I'll take a picture as beautiful as that song and as ephemeral as a distant star. And one day, I'll post things where people will stop, look and listen!

Thanks for asking.
 
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#20
Also... My education is in neuroscience, I spent 8 years teaching neuroanatomy to medical students (as well as gross anatomy, histology, etc.). For many years, my 'day job' was quantitative neuroanatomy - assessing gene expression changes in the brain.

My avatar is a self portrait - a sagittal MRI of me.
 
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