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Linus Torvalds: Pearls before swine

torvalds-family.blogspot.com

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Re: Linus Torvalds: Pearls before swine

#73

I live next door to a celebrity chef. When I met him, he comes up to me, introduces himself like he's running for office, then there's this pause because he's waiting for the typical "regular guy meets celebrity" reaction. "Haven't you heard of me?" Nope sorry. As far as I'm concerned you're just my neighbor who doesn't walk his dog and lets the yard fill up with dog poop. I much prefer attitudes like Annie Lennox, w…

I met Billy Bob Thornton in a bar in Minneapolis one night. I'd worked a long day and was walking back to my hotel room, when I looked over to my left and saw Billy Bob sitting at a bar with 2 or 3 other people. Well I went in and grabbed a seat right next to him, ordered some food (wish I hadn't, kind of rude) and eavesdropped on his conversation. They were talking about baby names of all things. I knew a joke about baby names, so I nonchalantly told my joke to a guy whom I later learned was Billy Bob's manager, who told Billy Bob that he had to hear my joke. Billy Bob turned toward me with the biggest grin I've ever seen and all I could think was "Don't screw up. He won an Academy Award!" I somehow nailed my joke and Billy Bob shook my hand as he introduced himself, "I'm Billy." I must have said something boring afterwards because Billy politely returned to his previous conversation. That was ok by me, Billy made my week just sharing a moment of his time and being a nice guy. Glad I met him instead of your celebrity chef neighbor.

Re: Linus Torvalds: Pearls before swine

#74
post #37

I've done stuff that normal people would consider ubercool - doing illegal raves, run one of the hottest bars in Ibiza, throwing parties for the jetset. When seen from the outside it looks amazing - you get to talk to models, you get free booze, get in for free at all the clubs and have sex with models. The thing that nobody tells you is that it's hard work. Most of the actors that go to the oscars aren't there to ge…

run one of the hottest bars in Ibiza

Most of the actors that go to the oscars

Sorry, but isn't it a bit of a stretch to compare "running a bar on Ibiza" to "running for the oscars"?

Yes, chatting up Natalie Portman may be considered "hard work" by some, but then again...

John Cusack gets drunk at one of the clubs he gets into for free he'll be all over the tabloids and he won't get that next role, so he can't do it.

What a cruel world where a poor hollywood millionaire can't even get drunk in public.

Re: Linus Torvalds: Pearls before swine

#75
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Though it's getting easier to explain what he does--Android phones are everywhere these days.

But Android is only a small part of why he is influential and important, it is the most visible I suppose.

"Well, I've created the operating system that runs about every 5th smartphone". "Well, and some other things".

Re: Linus Torvalds: Pearls before swine

#78
post #37

I've done stuff that normal people would consider ubercool - doing illegal raves, run one of the hottest bars in Ibiza, throwing parties for the jetset. When seen from the outside it looks amazing - you get to talk to models, you get free booze, get in for free at all the clubs and have sex with models. The thing that nobody tells you is that it's hard work. Most of the actors that go to the oscars aren't there to ge…

I remember some article about the band Elastica. They were on top of the charts, on the covers of magazines, they were "it." In contrast to the popstar image, they stayed in the hotel room, played Scrabble, went to bed early.

I worked in record stores for a couple of years a long time ago, and we'd have musicians come in to make appearances or shop for music or whatever.

One of the more interesting visits was Winger, a mid-range hair metal band of the era. They were extremely polite, very well informed about the business of their tour when I talked with them, and they bought a good number of 50s era jazz cds to listen to in their bus.

Re: Linus Torvalds: Pearls before swine

#80
post #45
post #37

I've done stuff that normal people would consider ubercool - doing illegal raves, run one of the hottest bars in Ibiza, throwing parties for the jetset. When seen from the outside it looks amazing - you get to talk to models, you get free booze, get in for free at all the clubs and have sex with models. The thing that nobody tells you is that it's hard work. Most of the actors that go to the oscars aren't there to ge…

On the other hand, there is Charlie Sheen

And a variety of other Hollywood or other entertainment supserstars who are definitely not "on the clock" 24x7. A lot of entertainers don't need to kiss ass, and some don't care to.
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