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Joining Apple Computer (2018)

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Re: Joining Apple Computer (2018)

#51
> I left Apple with Marc Porat and Andy Hertzfeld to co-found General Magic and help to invent the personal communicator.

It’s always wild to me how many of the people that are the beginnings of these large prodigy companies and the connection to other powerful rich people. You look up some of these people and see the relationships and it’s wild. Like the name Porat rang a bell so I look up Marc and oh? That’s Ruth Porat’s brother. The ex CFO of Morgan Stanley and current CIO and president of Google. Is it truly talent that drives these leaders to the top of these organizations or is it connections to other crazy powerful people? Maybe both.

Sometimes I feel like I’m over here building cool stuff with talent galore but nothing ever gets what it needs financially. It’d be nice to know these types of people I suppose

Re: Joining Apple Computer (2018)

#52

Surprised he was only at Apple for 12 years. A wild ride, I'm sure. When I moved out to "the Valley" in 1995, the apartment I picked out turned out to be right next to General Magic (on Mary Ave.). I knew it as a "spin off" of Apple but at the time did not know the luminaries that were there. It was just a cute rabbit in a hat logo — lit up when I got home late and was turning off to my apartment.

a wild ride definitely!

Re: Joining Apple Computer (2018)

#53
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't get it. I grew up with green and amber CRTs and I don't miss those days at all. What makes it mean so much, to you kids who never knew those days to miss?

Looks cooler, and you tell yourself that you're saving your eyes as you sit in your blackout-curtained hacker den... but the pitch black hacker den is also part of the desired aesthetic. Real Hackers didn't use rgb dweeb keyboards though

[deleted]

Re: Joining Apple Computer (2018)

#54
post #51

> I left Apple with Marc Porat and Andy Hertzfeld to co-found General Magic and help to invent the personal communicator. It’s always wild to me how many of the people that are the beginnings of these large prodigy companies and the connection to other powerful rich people. You look up some of these people and see the relationships and it’s wild. Like the name Porat rang a bell so I look up Marc and oh? That’s Ruth P…

Access to capital/other's talent and/or access to your market (users) is the primary competitive advantage among those talented enough to design and build a product.

Re: Joining Apple Computer (2018)

#55
post #51

> I left Apple with Marc Porat and Andy Hertzfeld to co-found General Magic and help to invent the personal communicator. It’s always wild to me how many of the people that are the beginnings of these large prodigy companies and the connection to other powerful rich people. You look up some of these people and see the relationships and it’s wild. Like the name Porat rang a bell so I look up Marc and oh? That’s Ruth P…

The General Magic movie/document (2018) is amazing and underrated. Always getting teardrops while watching it (watched it ~3 times). A true old-school startup story. And the soundtrack is also beautiful.

Re: Joining Apple Computer (2018)

#56
post #37
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You had me up until your last clause… If you understand that LSD doesn’t permanently alter the brain, why do you think PY “permanently” alters the brain? It does alter the brain (like LSD; see the plethora of research on PY altering neurogenesis and functional connectivity [0]), I’m unsure of what you mean by “permanent”. [0] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07624-5

AFAICT there exists no conclusive biomedical evidence of permanent physiological effects of LSD. This may mean we're just not looking hard enough, but there's no certainty. For psilocybin, there is plenty, e.g.: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8376772/

First, you’re cutting an in vitro study. Second, “permanent” is a serious claim that bears a large burden of proof.

I think defining “permanent” would first be useful. The brain is extremely plastic.

Beyond that, OP comment was referring to psychosis effects. See his comment below.

Re: Joining Apple Computer (2018)

#57
post #55
post #51

> I left Apple with Marc Porat and Andy Hertzfeld to co-found General Magic and help to invent the personal communicator. It’s always wild to me how many of the people that are the beginnings of these large prodigy companies and the connection to other powerful rich people. You look up some of these people and see the relationships and it’s wild. Like the name Porat rang a bell so I look up Marc and oh? That’s Ruth P…

The General Magic movie/document (2018) is amazing and underrated. Always getting teardrops while watching it (watched it ~3 times). A true old-school startup story. And the soundtrack is also beautiful.

I totally agree. I watched it 3 times as well. One in London with a panel of the general magic employees. It was an amazing experience

Re: Joining Apple Computer (2018)

#58
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't get it. I grew up with green and amber CRTs and I don't miss those days at all. What makes it mean so much, to you kids who never knew those days to miss?

Looks cooler, and you tell yourself that you're saving your eyes as you sit in your blackout-curtained hacker den... but the pitch black hacker den is also part of the desired aesthetic. Real Hackers didn't use rgb dweeb keyboards though

Oh, I see. In my day we smoked cigarettes, compared with which RGB keyboards seem like a pretty clean win. Literally a clean win; the main reason for keeping the lights off and the windows covered, as I recall it, was to hide all the filth that constantly accumulates in such an environment. Not to say I don't look back on it fondly, but when I actually look back on the photos I still have of how I lived then, it sort of makes my teeth itch, if you know what I mean.

Re: Joining Apple Computer (2018)

#60
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The General Magic movie/document (2018) is amazing and underrated. Always getting teardrops while watching it (watched it ~3 times). A true old-school startup story. And the soundtrack is also beautiful.

I totally agree. I watched it 3 times as well. One in London with a panel of the general magic employees. It was an amazing experience

Oh wow, that must have been magical. Have you seen "Halt and Catch Fire"? These two masterpieces are my top 2 watchings. Both so amazing but generally unknown/underrated.
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