I don't recall when I first heard of Jef Raskin. It could have been when, in the early 90's, I was trying to look into the history of the PC market, the wars between Microsoft and all those who wanted to beat them, even if it was temporarily. I read about Netscape, I read about Apple, and I read about Linux. Apple was the first to take on Microsoft. They tried to work with them, and failed. Those old arguments are not for this, though. In those days, when that battle began, the Macintosh was beginning, and Jef Raskin began to be a name in computers. The first time I recall seeing Jef Raskin was a year or two ago when some of the members of the old Homebrew Computer Club went on the air on TechTV(BC) and talked about the beginning.
Jef Raskin is credited with naming the Macintosh, and with dedicating his life to improving the user interface. This is something that those of us who bow graciously to those who preceded us will have to accept, that our heroes and our predecessors will pass one by one. Woz will one day pass, as will Jobs, Gates, Allen, and many of the lesser known names like some of those in the Homebrew that while some may not know of them, their names are part of the history of the technology we use. Jef Raskin will forever be well known, though his accomplishments were overshadowed by the bigger names around him. I hope his passing will allow him, and his vision, to shine for a little while longer, so that maybe people might one day bring his dreams to life.
This might not be the appropriate place but I would like to convey my condolences on the loss of your four mounties.
Drug money brings violence and good people die. The late sixties and early seventies, in America, were the years the American middle class became enamored with drugs. The middle class youth became involved and their parents forced the legislators to change felony laws that imprisoned anyone with marijuana. No one cared when ghetto kids got hooked.
Have you ever wondered why we can't use the same tactics in the drug war that we use in the terrorist war? Could it be, money prevents justice?
Let us, Canada and the U.S., band together to stop the killing of police officers.