Cap Ybarra18h ago
nearly thirty years ago i saw a guy stand up in an all hands staff meeting, declare "this is stupid", walk out and never come back, and friends, there's not a single day of 2026 I haven't thought of him
Show threadCharlie Stross16h ago

@cap_ybarra

I haven't *precisely* done that, but there was one all-hands at a company I worked for until March 1995 that made me quit my job a week or so later.

What did it was the music when the board of directors ran on stage, punching the air, to announce the old CEO's retirement and replacement by the CFO.

They played "Things can only get better".

Reader: they did not.

(Luckily I read the writing on the wall and got out in time.)

Show threadCap Ybarra16h ago
@cstross i heard of some ballmer pep rallys at msft that went similarly
Show threadCharlie Stross16h ago
@cap_ybarra This was at SCO, during its final years as an actual UNIX VAR doing software development rather than a set of trademarks sold to a litigation mill. Which is kind of the point.
Show threadgeolaw14h ago
@cstross @cap_ybarra Do you remember GrokLaw? For years I read every GrokLaw post I could. Then it just stopped...
Show threadSimon B
@geolaw @cstross @cap_ybarra this is why it stopped. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/aug/20/groklaw-shuts-nsa-surveillance
Groklaw legal site shuts over fears of NSA email snooping

Pamela Jones shuts award-winning site, saying concerns that messages could be read mean that 'there is now no shield from forced exposure'. By Charles Arthur

The Guardian
6:03amTusky