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Who is your Favorite Tech Author??

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by aaron a baker

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Who is your favorite Tech Author. Do you have one? I call them Tech Authors because in my opinion, that's exactly what they are. They post "Articles and their information and research is easily as deep as those of any newspaper or Anchor that I've ever seen. There have been many times that I've stopped to look at what Hal9000 was saying about what, for no other reason than it was Hal, then Jacqui comes on and give's you a slice of razor sharp observational reality, along with Bfilman who in is casual way has let us in on many little gems over time. Then there Maecuff who's come back with some the sharpest and wittiest answers and observation I've seen, followed by our own Geek who has an opinion, {and I might say a good one} on just about everything you can think of. Sgt Shultz ,also not to be taken lightly,The Chas who will bring out an opinion right out of left field and set you thinking in an entirely different direction, dmiles who has saved quite a few hides along the line and boy could I go on.
These then are only a few of the people that make up Tech Republic. It is to these people that I tip my hat.
It's all very well for me to ask a question, but some of the answer that have come fro these individuals have been downright illuminating.
So I thought I would ask you, Who is your favorite Tech Author and even more important, Why?
I've only scratched the surface here, by naming only a few, so please don't get mad at me people.
I just thought it would be interesting to know.
Warmest Regards to all
Aaron :)

67 replies

by apotheon

Me, of course! I'm witty, knowledgeable, helpful, popular, level-headed, good looking, and modest.

It's not easy to come up with a single favorite other than myself, I'm afraid. There are too many good choices. Sadly, a few of the best to pass through TR only stayed notably active for a few discussions, then vanished again. I miss a few of those.

by aaron a baker

I'm sitting here laughing my head off. :^O
The irony, "I think" is that we all feel the same way about ourselves.
Whether it's true or not remains to be seen. This is a great answer, and your right, why not you?
You're certainly one of them on my list, though not mentioned in the original blog, "Sorry".
Excellent response, I'm still laughing as I write this.
Thank you.
Regards
Aaron :)

by hal 9000

Guru of Dos for those who can not remember him.

[b]Bad Boy[/b] apotheon he was the original Raving Lunatic here on TR when I first joined and brought what can only be described as a Pom's sense of wit to the forum, was also responsible for starting the Friday Yuk and has the distinction of being the first to have a discussion pulled because the content while purely Technical upset so many. :)

I never thought a well though out discussion about [b]SPAM[/b] could be so eventful. :p

But as this comes from someone who likes to be known by that Physico Computer who killed everyone on Discovery who's to say. :D

Col ]:)

by aaron a baker

Hi Col;
Apparently I had no idea who I was dealing with here.Nor did I know that he had been here that long. But if he can have that many people riled up with a straight conversation, what damage could he do if he ever got silly? I'm only glad that I don't have to choose a winner or something like that. There are too many , they are all great in their own way and I'd probably get killed by the ones I forgot and rightly so. So I'll just say, "You know who you are" The trick is to tell why your the greatest, and maybe even a short tale of how it was done. I must admit, I'm rather enjoying this.
Thanks Col.
Warmest Regards
Aaron

by maxwell edison

I like your writing style almost as well as I like my own! (Of course, the fact that we generally agree on those "non-technical" issues doesn't hurt.)

I wonder if Aaron was referring to the TR members or the TR staff writers. If it's the TR members for technical advice, I like DKlippert (exclusively Q&A) and TheChas (both Q&A and Discussions).

As far as the TR staff, I like a lot of them, and I'd have to look around to refresh my memory, but one I really like, although I haven't seen him around in a while, is Brian Posey (I hope I got the name right). His articles have always been extremely well written, easy to follow, and supported by examples and/or sources. I've printed out a lot of his articles in the past to implement some of his ideas.

And I don't want to steal your thunder or copy your suggestion by naming myself, but I think I do a pretty good job presenting ideas -- both technical in nature or otherwise.

And "you're my hero" for being bold enough and confidant enough to nominate yourself. Well done!

by hal 9000

So I'll save the censors at TR from doing it #########################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################

See they software even # out the spaces and punctuation. :D

Col ]:)

by apotheon

"[i]And 'you're my hero' for being bold enough and confidant enough to nominate yourself. Well done![/i]"

Thanks!

"Fortune favors the bold."

or, as the British SAS puts it:

"Who dares, wins."

by jamesrl

You ARE Apotheon - has no one else noticed?

My theory is that Apotheon is your "freer", less controlled self. Your alter ego as it were.

Show me where you two have ever disagreed.

James

by apotheon

I think he was referring to the way certain words -- such as one starting with an S, ending with a T, and having the word "hi" in the middle -- get replaced by asterisks when posted here at TR. He just misremembered it as being number/pound/sharp/hash symbols rather than asterisks.

by jdclyde

No matter if they nominate themselves or not, the testament of a truely great is that others will jump forward to agree heartily.

I am only moderate as a tech writer. I am much better at bed time stories!

I do like the tech writings of ESR though.

by apotheon

He's not a TR regular. I think this was meant to be about TR regulars.

Otherwise, I tend to agree.

by jdclyde

I had originally took it as people that write tech articles, and looking for the opinions of us here.

oops!

The rest is still valid though! :D

by jdclyde

Misunderstood that "tech writers" was tech republic and not just people in tech.

ESR, Eric Steven Raymond. googling esr lists him number one. http://www.catb.org/~esr/

Open source advocate.

Has a lot of good things to say.

Saw him speak at the U of M campus in Ann Arbor a few years back. Worth seeing if you ever get a chance.

by apotheon

He's the number one Google hit for [b]esr[/b].

He's the current maintainer of the Jargon File (number one Google hit for [b]jargon file[/b]).

He's the author of [u]The Art Of Unix Programming[/u], one of the best works on programming style and practice in existence. Don't let the name fool you: it's good for all programmers on any platforms. It's also the number one Google hit for [b]taoup[/b] (an acronym derived from the book title), and available there in its entirety for free, online.

He's one of the most prominent advocates for open source software development -- he may even be [b]the[/b] most prominent for "Open Source software" development (beating out RMS, aka Richard Stallman, because Stallman talks about "Free Software" rather than "Open Source software"). He's a gun enthusiast, libertarian, unix lover, and hacker (in the classic sense).

He's also a little bit of a megalomaniac, but I guess that's to be expected. After all, [b]hubris[/b] is one of the three virtues of a programmer. Yes, that does sound like me for a reason. Ahem.

by aaron a baker

Col;
Thought yuo should know.
I wasn't expecting this, you almost killed me, Now I've got coffee all over the place from laughing .I was taking a sip.
This IS a good one.
Regards
Aaron

by hal 9000

I've been trying to get a site rating of 69 since the top 100 hit TR and I haven't managed to fall below 7 even with days away from a computer and no chance at all to drop in on TR and there you are with my desired Site Rating. :(

When I discovered that there was no chance of me getting it I started asking could the Powers That Be at TR hard Code my site rating to 666 out of the top 100 but I haven't got an answer to that one yet. :(

I just can not win at all. :p

Col ]:)

by aaron a baker

If you refer to the meter on the right hand side, your no5. I thought that meant that out of the top 100 techs you were no 5 whereas I on the other hand being at 69 am nowhere this rating.:_|
At least, I think this is what you mean?
So you see, to me, you are WAY above me in the ratings department and well deserved. As for the site ratings themselves, I know nothing of them, where do I go to find out?
Sorry if I stepped on some toes here. ;)
You now where you are in "My Book" Col.
Regards
Aaron

by aaron a baker

Obviously you must inspire him. :)
This is good yes?
When my eyes fell on it I almost chocked and spewed coffee all over the place. He may not have gotten you, but he got me. :^O
Regards
Aaron

by aaron a baker

I had no idea who this person was.
In the blog, I was refering to anybody who is a Tech Republic Member.I'm sure there are a lot of great writers out there, but I meant this to be a:Just for fun and b: for the Tech Republic people such as yourself, HAL, Maxwell,Apotheon etc. I'm not brave at trying to mention names as I'm liable to forget someone and inadvertantly offend, this I would "never" want to do, that's why I only mention a few of us. I chickened out :^O
Hope no one get's offended. :)
Above all don't kill me.
This is too much fun.
Aaron

by jdclyde

Am I the only one to notice that the damn censorship on this site has been like shit hitting the fan? :O

by aaron a baker

Sorry JD, I don't understand. Do you mean that they are being excessively rough and dominating, or that they are not there at all?
I've never been censored, "at least not yet" but have always assumed that they were keeping an eye out. Must be a big job though.
I hear Beth keeping an eye on me, :^O
Regards
Aaron

by jdclyde

bitch and damn would never have gotten through, but they both do now.

I wonder if whore will get through? It didn't during my Divorce discussion.

Just saying it looks like they are allowing more than they were, damn it.... :Dp

by aaron a baker

Don't understand what you mean JD.
Are you saying that "WE" are being censored?.
We being US?
If so, you're right, I haven't noticed.
Man thier good. ;)
Regards
Aaron

by jdclyde

will get astriced out. "swear words".

just to clean it up, which is perfectly valid. There is NEVER a place in a civilized discussion for the most extreme of the shock value words other than to show the person that you are conversing with that you are a complete moron.

An auto thing. So in my Divorce discussion, when I HAD to refer to my ex-wife as and adulterous W H O R E I had to put spaces in or whore would show up like this. As she DID have sex for money, this was entirely valid as a discriptor! :D (how do I know? I am the one that paid, before I got yelled at here and wasn't able to the next time.... :( )

some of the words I see they aren't as strick on anymore. At least they haven't taken away wtf or fubar! :D

by jdclyde

just a part of one of his speaking engagements where he talks about it, not in audio book form.

still worth listening to, especially people new to esr and/or open source.

by Member 25348569

then you can be as insulting as you like without tripping the Post Police sensors or offending any more small children who might frequent this site.

]:)

by aaron a baker

Sound like you? Nah, "However I wonder why?":^O
Thanks for the background Apotheon,I really do appreciate it as I've enever heard of this gentleman and am always "or try to be" on the lookout for information on such people. I Do enjoy reading the different Bios and experiences that these people have and usually enjoy the things they have to say. I learn a great deal from people like the aforementioned Mr Raymond.
So Sicerely I thank you for the info and to be sure, I'll look him up. I've cut & pasted the info already
Thanks again.
Regards
Aaron :)

by apotheon

I hope you enjoy the reading. Check for his excellent book [i]The Art Of Unix Programming[/i]. It's available to read for free, in HTML form, on his website -- as well as being available for sale in major bookstore chains like Barnes & Noble in hardcopy form.

Don't let the title scare you. That book is more about the philosophy of programming in the unix environment than it is about the practice of it. If you're a programmer, it can make you a better one. If you're not, you can learn a lot about the benefits of unix-based OSes and get some deeper metaphysical insights as well (as long as you're good with metaphor).

It's written in mostly plain technically literate English, and is quite engaging.

by aaron a baker

Thanks JD, I used your Url and immediately went over and downloaded it.
Now I can sit back and enjoy.
I thank you for information and the Url.
I look forward to seing what this man has to say.
Thanks for passing this on to me.
Regards
Aaron :)

by jdclyde

you let me know what you think.

A sad thing. I checked his web site, and he isn't traveling anymore. :(

by jdclyde

one per topic and one site wide.

By your name, shows your site wide and if you click on that it takes you to that list.

The per topic is generally off to the right side of the screen. (somewhere in all the ad bars....)

by hal 9000

Than what they are worth. Currently I have someone Peer Mailing me wanting to give them step by step destructions on how to setup a VPN as reading the MS Knowledge Base Link was too difficult. But as they are a Sys Admin or at least claim to be they need me to hold their hand and show them how to set it up. :(

Then just to throw a spanner in the works the last paragraph was what will happen if I use Linux? I'm still trying to work that one out and thinking on how I'll reply. But it honestly sounds like a school assignment to me. :D

On the up side NZ_Justice will be getting most of those now that he is Number 1. :D :D :D

Col ]:)

by jdclyde

and this from the user that hasn't even closed the original Q&A where he got this answer.

Someone needs to tell him to close the first Q&A and open a NEW Q&A on how to setup a VPN using whatever unknown server he is using as his router.

I personally have only done this with Network devices that are MEANT to do it, like routers and firewalls. What MORON would plug their server directly into a WAN port and use that as their rounter (unless it is a linux box that is working as ONLY a firewall/router of course).

by apotheon

I . . . disagree?

Hm. I haven't decided whether to agree with myself or disagree with myself on this one. Check back later. The Magic 8-Ball says "Try Again Later".

by apotheon

Try intellectual property law as a point of disagreement. Seriously, though, don't even go there. Whole cities were levelled.

by maxwell edison

That one was almost as bad as the EL thread. On second thought, since I didn't involve myself in the EL thread.....

by hal 9000

To say that Max. :D

The really scary thing with the EL thread is that I very tongue in cheek suggested that the extinction of the dinosaurs came about from a comet strike igniting all the methane that the dinosaurs had expelled and it was taken seriously. :(

Some people just take things way too seriously for their own good. :D

Col ]:)

by jamesrl

"I'm of two minds on that issue"?

I really think you are both from Colorado, both remarkably similar.

I might even conceded that you don't know that you have an alter ego, he just takes hold and posts as Apotheon.

James

by hal 9000

The wording is just wrong for a real life situation even for someone fresh out of school and thrown into the deep end.

All the talk about Port Forwarding and then if it was real who could rip out a 2003 server and change it to a Nix box in a business?

Here at home I have an old IBM Netfinity Dual P2 acting as a Hardware router works a treat and no work at all to keep running. I only shut it down during thunder storms and then everything is unplugged otherwise it just sits there doing its thing un-thought about. 2 450 CPU's, 512 MEG of RAM and 2 X 13 GIG HDD's do you thing that you could get any form of Windows Server to work anywhere as well on that system? :D

Col ]:)

by apotheon

Are you sure you don't "mind"? Ahem.

If anything, max would be the "alter ego", since "he" is the one that has the mysterious identity. Me, I've even had an article published on TR under my legal name.

by hal 9000

What are you doing?

I know that it is virtually impossible for TR to give you things as your address remains secret. This I thought was just because you wanted some privacy which is hard come by in the US so I respected that. Particularly after a friend of mine jumped on the net and showed me what was available about US Citizens so I held you up as being better then most. :D

Now I find that you've at the very least got a Split Personality and don't know about the other personality which is completely different to you. I feel so bad, but to help put things right I'm enrolling both of you in the latest 21 step program of Aversion Therapy where every time one of you start to loose it you get hit on the head with a [b]Bloody Big Silver Hammer.[/b] I know that it's a thankless job but I'll put my hand up to help you out of this problem and administer the therapy.

Of course I've been known to get carried away and just hit people over the head for the fun of it and tell them that is for some future failure that they will go through but I've found this form of therapy nearly 95% effective of those that it doesn't work on 2% die uncured while undergoing therapy and the remaining 3% I give electric shock therapy to until they either die or are cured. :D

Of course it means that while undergoing the therapy you'll be unable to actually work so you'll need to apply for Social Security so I'd advise you to do it now and I'll start the treatment next month after the Social Security has been approved. :p

Of course once I've cured you of this little problem you'll be unable to charge people twice for the same job as there will only be one of you performing the work after the [b]CURE![/b] But I'm hopeful for a good outcome even if I have to cut off your legs so you can not run away from the therapy. :O

I'll actually miss which ever one of you two disappears and I think TR will be worse for the loss but you do need to be cured so I'll do my best. :p

On the good side as neither of your personalities have directly denied this there is a very good chance of a cure and the first step has been taken which is the hardest although not the most painful. :D

Col ]:)

by maxwell edison

apotheon, I'm jealous. Maybe I'll send them one under MY legal name, Desmond Jones. But what should I write about? And what if they turned me down? Ob La Di, Ob La Da, life goes on.

by hal 9000

That is very bad and will make the therapy last much longer. :D

But lots more fun for me. :p

I hope my arm can hold up to all the usage of the hammer, I'll start practicing now on my son for getting married last week. :)

Col ]:)

by hal 9000

You'll require much more therapy than I first thought and you need it urgently. I'll have to perform an [b]Intervention[/b] and kidnap you and place you in therapy immediately for your own good. :D

Don't worry about the application for Social Security I'll arrange everything from one of the many spam mails that I get offering me money form the US Government to perform the cure. :)

One day you may thank me for what I'm about to do if you live through the treatment. :O

Pity you can not type in with a German accent but for starters are you concerned about the way your Mother treated you when you where younger? You tow can start off by trying to analise the following

http://tinyurl.com/9tf6x :p

Col ]:)

by hal 9000

Julian selecting your nurse would be way too much of a distraction as you would be looking forward to the sponge baths. The Nurse I have in mind uses steel wool instead of a sponge. :D

I don't know if you ever say Auntie Jack but the nurse I have in mind is her twin sister with a worse attitude. :p

http://users.chariot.net.au/~rmiles/ajdisc.html

It's only a pencil drawing as cameras break when pointed at her but I think you'll get the idea. She was also the [b]Golden Glove Champion of Woolongong[/b] so she wears one Golden Boxing glove the other is just a standard boxing glove as she couldn't get the blood stains off her other golden one. :)

Julian is a softie and would have you enjoying yourself and you would never get cured and even worse you would enjoy yourself. You need someone who would mix sand blasting grit with the KY to lube a Urine Cather and that is only the gentle side of her. :O

I can see your eyes watering right now just at the thought of it. :D

Col ]:)

by hal 9000

Just to keep you informed I've made applications to the following places for a US Government Grant to cure your two or more personalities back into one stable personality. :D

https://secure.easyinternetbusiness.com/sites/SBAExpress/?lpID=27869&cpgnid=1289

https://secure.easyinternetbusiness.com/sites/GSA/?lpID=29032&cpgnid=2318

But which ever one of you is Dominate today you might like to try the following URL in an attempt to get funds to cover the costs of your treatment as I believe that the US Health Insurance Companies will not cover my revolutionary new treatment as it is way to new to even be considered as experiential. :(

http://cb.adprofile.net/lrs/11/index.html?OID=7&xid=0&CID=85900&SID=001&ADTBID=206201

I never knew that [b]SPAM[/b] could be so interesting but money is money and who cares where it comes from? :)

After all the one hard working Tax Payer [b]ME[/b] will eventually have to foot the bill. :p

I also could never allow Julian to chose the nurse as I would be unable to get any insurance when all that Silicon falls out of the overstretched A Cup and hits you in the face possibly causing a sensational injury and stopping the treatment until you have recovered from the impact. :D

Col ]:)

by maxwell edison

Let me shake the bats outta' my belfry and put down my security blanket, and I'll get on my little red tricycle, the one that I love, by the way, and ride it down to a place where the nuts hunt the squirrels -- the nuts from my family tree, of course -- and where life is beautiful all the time. I'll flip my lid and flap my jaws and flaunt that I can fly all around my happy home with trees and flowers and chirping birds and basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes, and all the men in their nice white coats can watch us all get high and high and high and high, and then we'll say good bye, so I can go back to my split-level head before I go marching off to bedlam -- where Nurse Ratchet might tuck me in.

(Due credit given to Jerry Samuels, aka Napoleon XIV, for the words, titles, and idea.)

by hal 9000

I'm still laughing and at 6.38 AM after 3 days without sleep I needed that. :)

Col ]:)

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