After a number of postings (some by me) that have fostered a negative reaction to  various aspects of the community, I declare this post an attempt to redress the balance.

Starting with the Forums :) I for one learnt alot about stuff here and probably wouldn't be able to do half the things I am now capable of.  So a thank you to all those who have helped and encouraged along the way :)  May it long continue, through the next generations of 3Dists.

To the marketplace (Repunzel), I've spent a small fortune in there over the years :) mostly on stuff to help me learn, and to fill the gaps in my runtime that I could not fill.  How many Bald Vistorias would I have redered without it.

To the galleries, and their assortment of works from the commonplace to the most uncommon.  A place where I have posted and commented, and been commented on.  An addiction I went cold turkey on some time back.  Who can deny the heady pleasures of a positive comment, or the soul crushing lows of a negative one.  All part of the rich tapestry.

And to Rendo itself, it may make up rules we don't understand or agree with, but it is here and we keep coming back.  It can't be all so bad ;)

And lastly to the people, who make a community out of a business.  To the resident geniuses, the hopefull learners, the master, journeyman and apprentice renderers, modellers and poserisers.

We may be mad but at least we are mavelous :)

John

I heartily concur!

 And still going STRONG.....!!!!

Quote - I declare a day of celebration

Don't forget that today is D-Day: Normandy landings: The Normandy landings were the landing operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy, also known as Operation Neptune and Operation Overlord, during World War II. The landings commenced on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 (D-Day), beginning at 6:30 AM British Double Summer Time (UTC+2). In planning, D-Day was the term used for the day of actual landing, which was dependent on final approval.

Wonderful place this, peace and goodwill to you all. And happy posering of course.:biggrin:

Quote - > Quote - I declare a day of celebration

Don't forget that today is D-Day: Normandy landings: The Normandy landings were the landing operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy, also known as Operation Neptune and Operation Overlord, during World War II. The landings commenced on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 (D-Day), beginning at 6:30 AM British Double Summer Time (UTC+2). In planning, D-Day was the term used for the day of actual landing, which was dependent on final approval.

Thank you for the reminder DP, I'm feeling moderately ashamed of myself that I had forgotten.

I have visited the Normandy beaches, and personally know a man who has been through a beach landing in wartime (though a little later than WWII, yes there were some since then).  A fact I was not aware of until I watched Saving Private Ryan with my Father.  He was most moved by it and told me of the beach landing he had been in while serving in the British army on National Service.  Apparantly the opening scenes of Private Ryan are quite remarkably accurate.

I am ever grateful for those that have fought and lost their lives or survived to tell the tale, to give us the freedoms we share today.

John

I agree, in my short time here, I have learned tons and been slowly walked through many a crises. I thank all of you with the patience to help me.

My dad was in WWII and it is a good day to remember those vets. As a conincidence my daughter was born 13 years ago today as well. My other daughter was born Aug 6. I like to think he'd appreciate my patriotism in having my kids on these days...lol.

Happy 3-D-Day!

Yup my pop was one of those that made the landing.  Here is a little fact about the landings:

On D-Day, the Allies landed around 156,000 troops in Normandy. The American forces landed numbered 73,000: 23,250 on Utah Beach, 34,250 on Omaha Beach, and 15,500 airborne troops. In the British and Canadian sector, 83,115 troops were landed (61,715 of them British): 24,970 on Gold Beach, 21,400 on Juno Beach, 28,845 on Sword Beach, and 7900 airborne troops. Other armed services involved in the landings included Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Free France, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Poland.

11,590 aircraft were available to support the landings. On D-Day, Allied aircraft flew 14,674 sorties, and 127 were lost. In the airborne landings on both flanks of the beaches, 2395 aircraft and 867 gliders of the RAF and USAAF were used on D-Day.

Operation Neptune involved huge naval forces, including 6939 vessels: 1213 naval combat ships, 4126 landing ships and landing craft, 736 ancillary craft and 864 merchant vessels. Some 195,700 personnel were assigned to Operation Neptune: 52,889 US, 112,824 British, and 4988 from other Allied countries.

By the end of 11 June (D + 5), 326,547 troops, 54,186 vehicles and 104,428 tons of supplies had been landed on the beaches.

As well as the troops who landed in Normandy on D-Day, and those in supporting roles at sea and in the air, millions more men and women in the Allied countries were involved in the preparations for D-Day. They played thousands of different roles, both in the armed forces and as civilians. - Source the Portsmouth Museum and records, Portsmouth UK.

Fascinating, Pagan. Thanks for sharing. My dad was a technical Srgt who put up communication lines behind enemy lines. He was 54 when I was born, and died 13 years later. I didn't get to know him as well as I would have liked.

Happy 3-D day! :laugh: