Rest in Peace Steve
It is hard to say how profoundly affected by the death of Steve Jobs both Mike and I have been. You don't realize how much the death of a stranger can affect you until it happens.
But Steve Jobs has very literally changed my life. I know it sounds hyperbolic, but truly, I would not be the same person without him. I would not be in IT if it weren't for both he and Bill Gates. I programmed for the first time in junior high school on an Apple IIe. We programmed a little game called Lander. You have a little space ship and you have to control how fast it falls so it doesn't break and doesn't run into anything. That was my first foray into programming and I honestly wasn't impressed, but I remembered how cool it felt once it worked to know that I made that. And realizing the nifty things you could do with computers. That feeling was what steered me into IT. I studied computer science in high school (with a small stint in graphics design where we used brand new iMacs and OS 8. I loved those iMacs.) I went to Ohio State to study computer science and met wallmalker1 because we were in the same program. Meeting kevinbelt and buckeyeschild is a little more convoluted, but I met them because I was at OSU. And Mike. If I hadn't been in IT, I wouldn't be here at my job, and I'd have never met Mike. Steve's contributions to the world of technology have steered me in ways that would not have been possibly had he not been alive. I will be eternally grateful for that.
So, at the risk of wallowing in my own self pity at the loss of one of my inspirations, I'll leave you with these three things:
Steve Jobs' 2005 Commencement Speech at Stanford. (Full text here for anyone who can't watch the video.)
Bill Gates on the death of Steve Jobs:
I’m truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’ death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work.
Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives.
The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.
For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.
And the end of one of my favorite memes.
But Steve Jobs has very literally changed my life. I know it sounds hyperbolic, but truly, I would not be the same person without him. I would not be in IT if it weren't for both he and Bill Gates. I programmed for the first time in junior high school on an Apple IIe. We programmed a little game called Lander. You have a little space ship and you have to control how fast it falls so it doesn't break and doesn't run into anything. That was my first foray into programming and I honestly wasn't impressed, but I remembered how cool it felt once it worked to know that I made that. And realizing the nifty things you could do with computers. That feeling was what steered me into IT. I studied computer science in high school (with a small stint in graphics design where we used brand new iMacs and OS 8. I loved those iMacs.) I went to Ohio State to study computer science and met wallmalker1 because we were in the same program. Meeting kevinbelt and buckeyeschild is a little more convoluted, but I met them because I was at OSU. And Mike. If I hadn't been in IT, I wouldn't be here at my job, and I'd have never met Mike. Steve's contributions to the world of technology have steered me in ways that would not have been possibly had he not been alive. I will be eternally grateful for that.
So, at the risk of wallowing in my own self pity at the loss of one of my inspirations, I'll leave you with these three things:
Steve Jobs' 2005 Commencement Speech at Stanford. (Full text here for anyone who can't watch the video.)
Bill Gates on the death of Steve Jobs:
I’m truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’ death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work.
Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives.
The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.
For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.
And the end of one of my favorite memes.