Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.advocacy,comp.os.os2.misc
Path: sparky!uunet!timbuk.cray.com!hemlock.cray.com!bgm
From: b...@cray.com (Bert Moshier)
Subject: A Martyr to the Cause? Larry's back for an encore.
Message-ID: <1992May29.151041.20446@hemlock.cray.com>
Lines: 142
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 29 May 92 15:10:41 CDT
Many thanks to Bert who made an editing pass to check for readability, and
for posting this for me. The sysadmin was mucking with the vn server and
probably goofed it up, so I can read but not post at this moment.
------------
Dear fellow netters,
I would like to open by reminding everyone of the events of May 1, 1992.
Bert Moshier posted on comp.os.os2.misc an IBM internal "memo" that he
received from an IBM employee. Subsequent to this posting, Bert (with the
advice and consent of Steve Gallagher and myself) posted an apology and
a request that everyone let the issue lie and die. Because of this and the
events that followed, IBM terminated my employment effective Thursday, May 21,
1992, for it was I who sent Bert the "memo."
I am not writing this article to defend my actions or to accuse IBM of any
wrongdoing. IBM management had every right to do what they thought was
necessary to alleviate the situation. While I do not agree with the action
taken, I accept it with a light heart.
Some of you might find this unnerving (that I would "go down" without a fight)
but it is my firm belief that all of the whining in the world isn't going to
help the situation. Why should I waste my breath and IBM's time?
I am writing this article for two reasons:
I feel responsible for everyone in an odd sort of way.
Nary a day went by that I didn't receive one to ten mail
messages from people asking for help. I do not want you
to feel I abandoned you.
I hold Bert, and the entire IBM management staff (that was
involved in this incident), blameless for the outcome.
I *FULLY* expect everyone to do the same.
I will not be posting as frequently (that's a relative term, I realize) as
before, because now I have to pay for the long-distance charges. I can still
be reached at this address, but I will not guarantee a quick turn-around-time.
Finally, if any IBMer would like to post this internally, you have my
permission, and my gratitude. I know of no other way to convey my thanks
to the people below except through the fora.
Yours sincerely,
Larry Salomon, Jr. ('Q') ibm...@gumby.eng.clemson.edu
P.S. Look for me in the computer and/or music industry in the very near
future.
==========================
After a post mortem analysis of my career at IBM, I would like to say "thanks"
to the following people. Please, excuse me if I forgot someone. When
you received as much mail as I did, it becomes very difficult to keep track of
everyone.
First and foremost, Steve Gallagher - for not holding this against me. I know
that your days since then have not exactly been rosy. Again, I am very sorry
for doing what I did.
Bert Moshier - for making reading comp.os.os2.misc enjoyable. You designed
some brilliant marketing and advertising ideas. Maybe IBM will take some of
them to heart and finally start to advertise the many features which make
OS/2 "the platform of choice." Good luck on your VNR book. I will remain
in touch.
Cathie Dager - I was flattered by your invitation to the Rexx Symposium. I'm
sorry that I could not attend. However, I appreciate the *extreme* amount of
effort that you contributed to the idea and to the promotion of the Rexx
language.
Bob Jackowitz (I think that's his name) - for the many notes containing
bug reports about OS/2 beta and product. I'm sure that I speak for those in
Boca, when I say "thank you" for:
- your concern about OS/2 and
- your contributions in making it a better product.
Gordon Letwin - I am sorry that it took us so long to finally become friends.
Surprise everyone! Had I known earlier that I would be writing this so soon
after our becoming friends, I would have started earlier.
Please help reduce the noise in these newsgroups. Help to eliminate *all*
of the FUD spreading around in them, whether pro- or anti-OS/2, for it is
the truth that is important.
The "Enhanced Editor" (a.k.a. EPM) team - while we had our good and bad times,
I am very happy the rest of the world knows about the editor! This is
especially ironic considering the number of times you (JAC) tried to have it
transformed into an official IBM product.
The "CORE" group - we had many laughs together, but whenever I had a question
about LAN administration, you always came through with an answer.
Lee Reiswig - for many things:
- Thanks for your support (I'm sure that you know to what
I am referring)
- Thanks for sometimes answering the notes that I often sent,
for it demonstrated your willingness to listen to the "little guys"
- For getting OS/2 the press it deserves by travelling long distances
and spending much time away from your family to preach the advantages
of OS/2
- For the Blue Ninja t-shirts (now I wish I would have had you autograph
them! :)
You were and still are a role model to me!
John Tiede - for never failing to answer any of my questions or concerns on the
myriad of subjects that I bothered you with. It meant a lot more to me than
you know.
Dave Whittle - also for your marketing ingenuity and your often long-winded
appends in the various internal fora. I am glad that IBM finally recognized you
for this, although of late we saw and heard little from you. To everyone
else, Dave "hangs out" in CompuServe, and is the champion of the "little
people."
Sam Detweiler and Graham Winn - it seems that you both know everything about
OS/2. Although I rarely called upon Sam's wealth of knowledge, neither of you
ever disappointed me.
Irv Spalten, Frank Andress, and Mel Hallerman - your dedication to the success
of OS/2 is amazing! I still cannot imagine how you manage to work 48 hours in
a single day.
The entire "Boca Bunch" (especially Irene Lai, Nick Metaniau, Jim Magnuson and
his entire department, and many others) - congratulations on the release of an
amazing product! I'm glad the shift+control+alt+O combination wasn't removed.
I'm sorry that I will no longer be able to write satires of our favorite TV
themes and other songs. Hey, if there were nothing else that was worth being
excited about, at least we have our OS/2 games!!!
Mike Kogan - for demonstrating how to wear the attire to work that you do and
still command the respect from your peers that you have. :)
Alan Warren - for constantly "checking up" on me (making sure I'm not playing
games, I'll warrant! :) and for the advice that you always gave, whenever I had
a difficult design decision.
For everyone else - for tolerating my foolishness and arrogance when it was
sometimes :) unnecessary. Many times I received thanks from someone that I
had helped, and it was those notes that made it all worthwhile.