Stuffleufagus

I “met” Major Hayden on Twitter.  I think it was after the Scoble visit to Rackspace.  I invited Major to lunch, and we met a couple of months ago.  I also started reading his blog.  His posts are pretty technical, so I had to really study them (I am NOT a developer).

What I learned was that Major is a really smart guy!  We met again once since then, at a Tweet-up.  And we have chatted online fairly often.

It is people like him – smart and passionate people - (and him in particular) that convinced me that Rackspace/Mosso was where I needed to be.

Thanks, Major

From his “About” page:

I’ve been a Linux system administrator for about 6 years, and along the way, there have been many influential people who have taught me best practices, problem solving skills, and patience. I feel that this blog is a way to give back to those who have helped me, and to those who are still learning.

Currently, I’m a Linux Senior Systems Engineer for Rackspace Managed Hosting, a full-service dedicated hosting provider in Texas. I am a Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) and a Certified MySQL Database Administrator (CMDBA) (#6520).

written by rob

Mr. Gates,

  We have met on two occasions, although I do not expect you to remember me.  You spent both opportunities to ask me what I thought about Microsoft, and what I thought you could improve on.

You have provided me with a method to make a living for over 20 years – you built the foundation that I built off of.  You did so willingly, and you encouraged me to contribute, and to profit.

You forced me to help build Windows drivers that worked without interrupting the user experience – you forced excellence even though it took great effort and expense on our part (and yours).  You were right to be strict.  You were right to be demanding.

I have been a beta tester of every version of Windows since “Windows for Pen Computing”.  We have not always agreed, but we have gotten along.  You have always built products that included tools I could use to profit from.  I appreciate that.

And now your tools are finally almost free – and I think Microsoft will benefit from that move greatly.  I know many young programmers, especially in emerging nations that are already benefiting from that.

More importantly, you have demonstrated the value of giving back – and I have tried to follow that example.  I help people when and where I can – and even though I know I cannot ever have the level of charitable contribution that you have – I strive to do my part.

I have never been a “fanboy” – not of Apple, or Microsoft, or anything else – I have always been a realist – I use the right tool for the right job.  For 20+ years the right tool has often been a Microsoft tool.  Not always, but often.

Although I use a lot of Microsoft products, I also use Linux and Mac OS.  Again – the right tool for the job.

I also met Ray Ozzie at “When 2.0” at Stanford in 2005 – I am confident that the intellectual path for Microsoft is in good hands.  Ray is an amazingly low-key guy.  He hides his brain-power behind a stand-offish grin that is both friendly and challenging at the same time.

I think you leave Microsoft in good hands, and honestly, I think people have (and will continue to) under-estimate what Microsoft is doing.  XBOX, Microsoft Points, Media Center – all wonderful products that make my life just a bit more “fun”.  Fun is important.

  Go and do great things for charity, Bill.  Let that be your legacy.  Microsoft was your “Bill 1.0”.  I firmly believe “Bill 2.0” will have an even greater impact on the world.

Don’t look back – you’ve left things in good hands.  Help the children.  Inspire the world.  Change things, yet again.

I have been glad to have met you – but I imagine I would rather meet you ten years from now – when you have helped change the world again – not just the computer world, but the real world, for real people.  The ones that most need your help.

Rob

written by rob

I am posting this now because I want to see how the numbers might be different next month - 30 days after FireFox 3 was released.

Right now FireFox 3 accounts for 7% of the browsers used here. Internet Explorer 7 accounts for 51%

Combined, IE accounts for 62% and FF 32%, as you can see on the chart.

written by rob

This kid has an amazing singing voice – he certainly doesn’t look like he could produce this sound!

written by rob

PhotoCycle is a new Video Show with Robert Scoble, Thomas Hawk and Marc Silber.

It hasn’t launched yet, but here is a little teaser.  This is one show I am really looking forward to!

If the video embed below doesn’t work, here is the direct link. 

First, we’ll, be taking you to meet some of the true masters of photography such as our walk with Annie Leibovitz through her show. She told us how she got some of her remarkable shots, for example her nude Vanity Fair cover of Demi Moore.  As Annie told it “Demi led the shoot and dropped her dress”

We’ll also be checking in with the family of photography masters such as our trip  to Yosemite with Michael Adams, Ansel’s son where he told us stories such as how Ansel got his famous shot of the moon over half dome, taken on his way to happy hour—just like you or I could have!

We’ll stop at Wildcat Hill, Edward Weston’s home and stand where he shot many of his famous images and talk with his grandson Kim, who by the way also shoots nudes—should be interesting.

We’ll be going on classic PhotoWalks where we strike out to accessible, photo-rich locations to see shots, discuss how to get them and again learn from these experiences.

We’ll also be exploring the business side of photography to get an inside view of making a living with photography.

Finally we’ll be passing along weekly tips and tricks to better your craft. We’ll learn from those who have mastered digital photography.

PhotoCycle will take you to meet some of the world’s top innovators in photography, yet I’ll be tailoring the show to you and your interests.

written by rob