Sorry I should probably know who Ira is but since I am relatively new.......

Who is Ira?
Does he work for fodors?
Where does Ira live?
How old is Ira (if Ira doesn't mind)?
Where does Ira get all the knowledge?
Does Ira have a degree in school of travel?

Ira, I don't know who you are but you should publish Ira's travel guides. Thanks for all the postings, I learn so much....

Hi yoony,

Thank you for the kind words.

I am a wizard, of a certain age, currently residing in the Land of OZ (not Australia).

I have no finacial, commercial or fiduciary interests in Fodor's, or any other person, place, thing or idea that I might recommend at any place or time on this or any other forum.

That wasn't quite right.

I am a retired wizard.

wizard...will you be in the next harry potter movie?

Ira is a very helpful person on this forum, clearly a well traveled individual. He will never scold you for asking a question that you should have searched for.

He represents what this forum is all about: Travelers helping other Travelers. I do get the impression that he is rather modest, and may shy away from the attention on this thread.

Ira (and numerous others) helped me a great deal as I planned a trip to Rome and Positano in September.

My blushes, donnie.

>will you be in the next harry potter movie?<

I am not at liberty to say. However, you might want to look closely at the ghostly figures and/or the pictures on the wall.

I do regret that Mr Potter came along after I escaped from the professor business. He would have been interesting to know.

I think Ira lives in Indiana???

no, no, no!

He is a nice southern gentleman living in Georgia

My dear TA,

Did you have to open the curtain?

HELLO IRA! Any great trips planned for 2005? Happy travels

well... I didn't say WHERE in Georgia

I'll add one to yoonny's list of questions? Any plans to slow down the number of threads each day on which ira posts "something"? (sometimes just "topping"... and for reasons that I cannot always identify)...

On the two year anniversary of registration, I pointed out that it appeared hands down, ira posted on more threads than anyone, by a longshot - - over ten thousand in 2 years (i.e., 730 days, or about 15 times a day). Ira seemed to have been (surprised and?) depressed by this.

But not enough to slow down. Instead, in the first forty days since 1/29/05 - - the pace has picked up! to over 25 a day!

None of this is intended to be judgmental. But I wonder, will it be 100 times a day by the year 2015?

Best wishes,

Rex
(also WAAAYYY too prolific myself)

Thank you, Calamari.

We are visiting the South of France in Sept.

This is our first venture into France Profond, and I would not have ventured it without help from our fellow Fodorites.

Secret hint:

If you ever go to Fort Lauderdale. There is a very good gelato shop, called "Gelato Dream" at the corner of Las Olas Blvd and A1A North.

La Princepessa says that their vagnilia is first rate.

Not judgemental? HA!

When you posted that statistic I was impressed at how Ira blew it off (rather than seemed "depressed" by it). It was so gallant of you to bring it up again, Rex.

I think you're pretty jealous of this attention given to old Ira.

Only 1 hour, and 13 responses already! And well deserved.

"Not that I really care..." (ira's words)...

But ira's post on the two year anniversary post contains the word "depressing". I didn't say it.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34557767

Dear Mr A,

>I was impressed at how Ira blew it off ..<

Thank you for the kind words.

Also, thank you, Faina.

Rex and I were posting at about the same time, so that I did not see his message.

>..sometimes just "topping"... and for reasons that I cannot always identify...<

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Rex, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy".

I think that both of us provide more light than heat.

<<I think that both of us provide more light than heat.>>

Well, my hat is off to you on this scale. In fact, I can't remember you EVER generating any "heat". I can't say the same for myself. But I do think that my "light output" exceeds any (almost always inadvertent) "heat".

Illuminate on, mon ami...

Ira - You are a true gentleman! So helpful in many arenas!!

Rex, same for you too!!

Yoony, you will soon be able to weed out the less than useful posters!!
or trolls as there are called....
Anne

Here's one from someone who constantly disagree with ira's posts here. Nothing personal against ira, just differences in travel style and needs.

I must admit, though, ira does this forum good.