Robert X. Cringely, redux.

I Find Karma (adam@cs.caltech.edu)
Tue, 15 Apr 97 18:42:05 PDT


Wow, this IS good reading.

http://xent.w3.org/FoRK-archive/summer96/0088.html

> the tale is testimony to the opportunistic traits of Mr. Stephens, who
> came to realize that the Cringely persona was more valuable than his
> own, to the point that some people wonder where Cringely ends and
> Stephens begins.

*evil grin*

> He is working on another Cringely book and a possible TV series, and
> commands up to $5,000 for Cringely speeches.

For the Canon talks, you could say *we* command $5000 each for speeches,
too.

> Cringely has been an affliction to computer companies since 1986.

What a great line.

> "Accidental Empires," which helped make Cringely a high-priced pundit,
> argues that the industry was shaped by lucky nerds out to impress
> their friends. That thesis grates on executives like Mr. Gates, chief
> of Microsoft Corp., who also disputes an anecdote in the book that
> describes the billionaire as scrounging in his pockets for coupons at
> a checkout counter.

See, Rohit, anecdotes don't even have to be real. Just start making
stuff up, and the bits will flow.

> "He claims a doctorate in communications from Stanford University; it
> says its records show only a master's degree."

And you don't even need to get a PhD. Just tell everyone you have one;
who's gonna bother to doublecheck anyway?

----
adam@cs.caltech.edu

Did any of them offer suggestions how to rewrite the sentences without
semicolons or did they just sit there counting semicolons like apes
picking lice off each other??
-- Richard Goodman