tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30665218.post5562280891918802232..comments2011-10-12T21:19:58.762-04:00Jesse Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06628842413174084374noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30665218.post-1394919713754507062011-10-12T21:19:58.762-04:002011-10-12T21:19:58.762-04:00I knew you&#39;d have something to say on Jobs&#39; passing. I &quot;grew up&quot; with Jobs: learning Basic programing on an Apple II+, passing long afternoons at my friend&#39;s house camped infront of the strange colors of of the Apple monitor, wondering for days if I&#39;d ever figure out the text adventure of Zork. My belief in his vision was cemented when I read his quote about computers being like &quot;bicycles for the mind&quot; (type in the phrase and watch the schooltube video). I&#39;ve never owned anything but an Apple computer. (Well, ok, so there was an Atari 600XL with 16kb of ram...but really.)<br /><br />I&#39;ve not read about Jobs&#39; philanthropy or lack thereof. But then, you don&#39;t read about too many Buddhists and their philanthropy, do you? Additionally, true Catholic Philanthropy is to be anonymous. Not that Jobs was a Catholic, but rather that there are those who give in ways that do not elevate the giver over the gift. This is wholly out of line with American Corporate Philanthropy from Carnegie on up to Gates, et al. So I&#39;m reserving my judgment on that. However, I think this article (http://blogs.hbr.org/pallotta/2011/09/steve-jobs-worlds-greatest-phi.html) is instructive in giving us yet another way to conceive of Philanthropy.<br /><br />I&#39;ve ordered Isaacson&#39;s bio of Jobs, and I anticipate a heavy heart on many pages. At least 1/4 of what I do in my classroom is directly the result of Jobs and Apple&#39;s presence in the world. For me, he stands up there with Richard Feynman as a role model on how living a life of uncompromising truth to one&#39;s ideals can be the single-most important element of making a change in the world. It is not easy, and it can be downright lonely, almost ascetic. But there is a bittersweet beauty in that. I&#39;m reminded of Darren G. here. His ethical code is as rigid as I&#39;ve ever seen.<br /><br /><br />I noticed your &quot;Southern Gothic&quot; reviews. I need to find time to read them. I perused the Sling Blade entry...one of my personal favorites..<br /><br />Keep up the great work.<br /><br />Oh...and um, I think I need to offer you congratulations (at least if I&#39;m reading the pictures I was looking at on Facebook correctly...).<br /><br />All the best to you,<br />GaryGarrethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094759803063892673noreply@blogger.com