Date:         Thu, 28 Dec 2006 14:23:08 -0800
Reply-To:     "Terjeson, Mark" <Mterjeson@RUSSELL.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         "Terjeson, Mark" <Mterjeson@RUSSELL.COM>
Subject:      The Post From SAS-L
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The Post From SAS-L
===================
(to The Night Before Christmas)



<c/o Peter Flom>
'Twas the week before new year's and all 'cross SAS-L,
not a person was posting, not even Cassell,

Toby was silent, the year almost Dunn,
Almost no one was present, were they out having fun?

A few lonely missives let me know the list worked,
That posters still posted

<c/o Mark Terjeson>
                           and readers still lurked.

When at the year end SAS-L voting does matter,
to see who spewed out the Most Vociferous chatter.

Away to the keyboard they flew with their fingers,
adding all to posterity as the archive lingers.

The SUGIs and regionals are where 'L'ers go,
Giving lustre of prowess in papers they show.

When, what on the SASware Ballots was there,
But adding %SELECT/%WHEN, and enhancing the WHERE,

Whether expert or novice, guru or sage,
Is available to everyone on the list server page.

While Most Postings in last 12 months, was Toby Dunn
The Most Postings since '86, was Jack Ham-il-ton;

"Now, Dorfman! now, Whitlock! now, Crawford and Fehd!
On, Schreier! on McLerran! or DeVenezia instead!

To the Hall Of Fame'rs! to the SPORTY and LROY!
Now peek away! poke away! SAS array all!"

As birdies become FOSLs at BOFs with much dread,
some posters get crazy to be the longest thread,

So up on your skills from the courses you took,
With your code from a posting, or just from a book.

And then, with an inkling, you try with a hash
To index your data to save your firms cash.

As you drew a new model, of data relational,
You wow your new manager with something sensational.

In a hat with a plume, or in shorts all Hawaiian,
in an office or cubical, your fingers are flyin',

From Cary to London, you avoid times of terror,
By checking your log and that syntax error.

Your eyes -- how wrinkled! your rump how dimpled!
Trying all you can to keep sophistication simple!

When the bug shows up Friday, and the weekend you've plans,
Away to the keyboard and mouse go your hands;

The pencil you chew and hold tight in your teeth,
You check all the UIs and code underneath;

With coffee from Starbucks, to keep up your head,
Your body knows better and is hopeful for bed.

You posted a question, to SAS-L with care,
Hoping some late night compadre, still will be there;

With a quick post they render in sympathy and feeling,
They try to assist you with what you are dealing;

You code for a word, or a byte in your work,
We try to answer well as a sage not a jerk,

And laying your fingers astride of your keycaps,
The 11th hour nod, is your head taking catnaps;

You spring to your mouse, add statements with style,
And away the code flew, from SUBMIT to compile,

<c/o Mike Rhoads>
And those who remained, raised a cheer of delight,
Happy SAS-L to all!  (And to all a Goodnight!)







Hope this is cheerful.


Mark Terjeson
Senior Programmer Analyst, IM&R
Russell Investment Group