Personal

 by Brendon J. Wilson

Déjà Déjà Vu

Nothing pisses me off like a rip-off artist. Waitaminute, haven’t I said this before?

Why yes I have.

This is second time I’ve found some blatant rip-off artist while perusing my server’s logs. I’m the first to admit that I have a nice site, but a web site is a form of personal expression.

What does it say about you when you dress yourself up in another person’s web site?

It says you’re a jackass, that’s what it says.

These are the kind of vacuous bubbleheads that dress up in clothes with huge brand name logos plastered all over them. Psst! Guess what? You’re not fooling anyone! Nobody thinks you’re a completely different person just because you changed your packaging. People can always strip away the wrapping, discarding the superficial exterior to get at the truth within. And when they get there, what would you prefer they see? A creative individual with a strong work ethic and original ideas, or some copycat who’s too lazy or uncreative to even create their own web site?

I think the choice is clear. Let’s just hope I don’t have to revisit this issue yet again.

in Personal 0 comments
 by Brendon J. Wilson

And You Are…?

I was walking back from the office this evening, after I decided I needed to upload a file from work so I could continue working on my follow-up to last year’s MP Survey. As I walked down the alley, I spotted a man walking towards me that looked eerily familiar, but not so familiar that I could figure out where I’d seen him before. Then I realized who it was: William Gibson. I didn’t even realize that he still lived in Vancouver, so I was a little surprised. It’s only once I had successfully completed Stage One, recognizing him, that I proceeded directly onto Stage Two: Operation “Make A Complete Ass Out Of Myself.”

Here was my opportunity to ask the author of several highly regarded sci-fi books, such as Neuromancer, Idoru, and The Difference Engine some insightful questions. Of course, that would be somewhat out of character. Instead, the conversation went something like this:

Me: <incredulous>”William Gibson?!??”</incredulous>

Him: <hesitant>”Uh, yes?”</hesitant>

Me: <idiotic>”What are you doing here?”</idiotic>

Him (shaking my hand): <amused>”Well, I just went for dinner with a friend, and now I’m going home.”</amused>

Me: <idiotic>”Oh. I was just uploading some files from work to my home machine and here you are. Well…see ya!”</idiotic>

Him: <confused>”Uh, okay. See ya.”</confused>

I know what you’re thinking: you &%$*’n idiot. Then again, this isn’t the first time I’ve embarrassed myself in front of a first class science-fiction author, so you shouldn’t be that surprised.

Two years ago, I attended a Neal Stephenson reading where he read from Cryptonomicon, his newest book at the time. During the reading, Stephenson revealed that the Electric Till Company in his book was based loosely on IBM. I worked for IBM at the time and so when I went to get my copy signed I flashed my IBM badge and asked when the company could expect residuals. Dumbass. At least I managed to get an autograph that time.

So, long story short: if you’re out there Mr. Gibson, feel free to contact me so I can redeem myself. Or at the very least, make a dumbass out of myself again, but this time with a little more preparation.

in Personal 0 comments