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Daring Fireball: Universe Dented, Grass Underfoot

daringfireball.net

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Re: Daring Fireball: Universe Dented, Grass Underfoot

#61
post #44
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Came here to make the same point. I kinda hate his fanboyism, but damn if he can't find the angle nobody else sees.

I hate this admonishment of fanboy-ism that permeates the discussion anytime MG or Gruber are mentioned. We need fanaticism to counter balance apathy. There is nothing more empowering than a belief in what you do, why you do it, or who you do it for. *said as someone who ran a fan site for 16 years

I wish more people could be closer to the middle.

Re: Daring Fireball: Universe Dented, Grass Underfoot

#63
Of all the tributes, this is the one that brought a tear to my eye.

I worry that the long hours and extraordinary commitment to our craft may not be worth the sacrifices we make. The time is now for me, and I'm driving hard to a personal goal. Late nights and early mornings, essentially every waking hour is spent preoccupied by building a great product. And I see it in my son's eyes that he's missing me.

Reading Gruber's final paragraph reminds me that I'm going to regret this lost moment in time with my family, and that any success achieved will be paid for by their commitment to stand by me along the way.

Tonight, I'm going to kick off early and go watch his Hockey practice. And then enjoy a few periods of the Leaf opener tonight with the kid. He deserves it.

Re: Daring Fireball: Universe Dented, Grass Underfoot

#64
post #61
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hate this admonishment of fanboy-ism that permeates the discussion anytime MG or Gruber are mentioned. We need fanaticism to counter balance apathy. There is nothing more empowering than a belief in what you do, why you do it, or who you do it for. *said as someone who ran a fan site for 16 years

I wish more people could be closer to the middle.

Most people are closer to the middle. The middle isn't what we need. Compassion, caring, and humility in our passions are.

Re: Daring Fireball: Universe Dented, Grass Underfoot

#65
post #61
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hate this admonishment of fanboy-ism that permeates the discussion anytime MG or Gruber are mentioned. We need fanaticism to counter balance apathy. There is nothing more empowering than a belief in what you do, why you do it, or who you do it for. *said as someone who ran a fan site for 16 years

I wish more people could be closer to the middle.

The middle is only achieved by meticulously removing all emotion and dissecting the words down to structure only. Passion for anything drives us to the edges.

I guess I would rather have the vibrant edges and a sense of civility that, frankly, has never been there(1) than the gray landscape of the middle.

(1) see various sources on the election of 1800 for a nice historical example

Re: Daring Fireball: Universe Dented, Grass Underfoot

#66
He was a great man. But, he wasn't perfect. He basically took credit for Woz's creation, backed the losing Lisa (and prior to that the Apple III) rather than the Mac and jumped ship to the Mac when the Lisa tanked. The OS X technology was written by NeXT before Apple bought them. iPod (etc.) was a design win and a business win, but Jobs just helped hire good people. He makes a great front-person, was a stellar businessman, and helped make Silicon(e) Valley what it is today. He seems to have been a great father and husband also. My heart goes out to his family and friends for their loss. But seriously- the man was a front man for great technology that people use.

I feel like I'm living in a real-life Simpsons episode: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZGIn9bpALo

Re: Daring Fireball: Universe Dented, Grass Underfoot

#67
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Life is a lot more enjoyable when you accept, as I've just mentioned in a cousin, that people exist for their own purposes and not your pleasure. Some people express their feelings in saccharin ways. Okay. And? Does it make those feelings, or those people, less valid that they're more Hallmark than Bob Dylan? Death is difficult. Cut people a damn break.

I'm human. I judge people and form opinions based on their behaviour. I'm not denying them the right to those behaviours. Sometimes I can't resist voicing my opinions. If you don't, I'm really happy for you. I'm confident 99% of commenters didn't know Steve Jobs personally. If his death is difficult for them, it's a problem they themselves have created.

Nope, didn't know him personally, but his works gave me great joy and changed my career path. It is in some / most people's nature to care about those we will never meet, and I have more reasons for caring about this soul then some killed in various tragedies. I would imagine some on HN also have similar touchstones or perhaps have lost or almost lost people to cancer. Things like this are close to home for many.

Re: Daring Fireball: Universe Dented, Grass Underfoot

#69

"I like to think that in the run-up to his final keynote, Steve made time for a long, peaceful walk. Somewhere beautiful, where there are no footpaths and the grass grows thick. Hand-in-hand with his wife and family, the sun warm on their backs, smiles on their faces, love in their hearts, at peace with their fate." Beautifully written. And I'm glad it took Gruber some time to post this after the news broke yesterday…

I like to think he had mowed grass. That is what a common man does in the U.S., and it would be a sign of his humanity. I also like to think he just wore the shoes because he was sick, in pain, and he needed a comfortable pair of shoes.

Re: Daring Fireball: Universe Dented, Grass Underfoot

#70
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I should track down the actual post in which JMS (the "Babylon Five" guy) pointed out that even Shakespeare has only about a 50% approval rating. Meanwhile, I'm not sure you could conduct a proper tribute to Steve Jobs without throwing in a little kitsch. Have you seen the "1984" ad? The "Think Different" ads? Steve Jobs' taste was not constrained by a self-conscious fear of cheese. ;)

It's only cheesy if it's not sincere.

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