31–40 of 69 posts
I certainly hope that working Sunday nights and traditional corporate structures where we refer to co-workers below us as "minions" is not something the new generation of engineers aspire to. This sounds like the typical toxic corporate work environment of people grabbing for "power."
Slightly off topic:
Is there such a thing as an ex-programmer? Do you know any previously dedicated programmer that went cold turkey on any programming whatsoever?
"But if there’s anything I do aspire to, it’s being a writer. ... I’m not vain enough to think it’s my snappy prose that drew the visitors. It was the subject matter." Don (if you're out there reading this), your blog has almost single-handedly returned me to using an RSS reader. Yes, initially this was for your Safari/WebKit war stories, but please stop being so humble. You've won the technical-yet-engaging lottery…
Thank you so much. I am humbled by that, sir. I will take your advice to heart.
Don, I'd recommend you read 'On Writing' by Stephen King, if you haven't already. It's one of the single best sources of advice for writers. Truly dynamite.
Ouch. Not sure this sort of public comment would help matters any.
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Parent said to stop being so humble.
Not reflecting on Don who I don't know but I've always wondered if people who go out of their way in trying to appear to be humble are reacting to the disgust that they feel when others aren't appearing humble. Stuff like this: "I think it was a shock to my son to see how I was regarded at work. Of course, that didn’t mean he started respecting me at home but, hey, a man can dream." and this: "At my core, I’m just a…
I can’t speak for Don, but for me it’s always been an attempt to communicate three things:
1. I am not inherently smarter or more talented or in any way “better” than you 2. My accomplishments come from long hours and hard work 3. Even after taking #2 into consideration, I probably wouldn’t be where I am without all of the dumb luck I’ve stumbled upon over the years
> in other words I'm no different then you are we are all equal but I got lucky so don't hate me..
It’s the opposite for me: don’t make me a hero! I’m just a guy who had some ideas and saw them through to the best of my abilities- something you can do too.
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Thank you so much. I am humbled by that, sir. I will take your advice to heart.
This, I think, is what drives writers to drink. It helps them push through potentially crippling doubt in the quality of their work. Don, I'd recommend you read 'On Writing' by Stephen King, if you haven't already. It's one of the single best sources of advice for writers. Truly dynamite.
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I would hazard a guess that if they were all paid as well as him, they would retire too.
I didn't work for Don, but as an engineer in another part of the company. I too was able to retire (at age 49). It makes me sad that the stock options that made my retirement possible won't be available to the next generation of engineers because of bad tax law (Sarbanes-Oxley).
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I would hazard a guess that if they were all paid as well as him, they would retire too.
I didn't work for Don, but as an engineer in another part of the company. I too was able to retire (at age 49). It makes me sad that the stock options that made my retirement possible won't be available to the next generation of engineers because of bad tax law (Sarbanes-Oxley).
I certainly hope that working Sunday nights and traditional corporate structures where we refer to co-workers below us as "minions" is not something the new generation of engineers aspire to. This sounds like the typical toxic corporate work environment of people grabbing for "power."
I'm pretty sure his use of the word 'minions' is meant to be ironic.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I didn't work for Don, but as an engineer in another part of the company. I too was able to retire (at age 49). It makes me sad that the stock options that made my retirement possible won't be available to the next generation of engineers because of bad tax law (Sarbanes-Oxley).
I'm not too familiar with the implications of Sarbanes-Oxley-- is this a dig at the SJobs options backdating scandal?