Don't mean to hijack this thread (but, hey, I guess I do), but did anyone catch last night's SCG with guest David Pogue? I knew David in the late '80s when he lived around 10 blocks from me. We had become sort of "computer buddies" rather than social friends. Once we both went to a music store where he purchased a synth and I helped him get it into his place via a cab ride home.
In 1990 we collaborated on his Finale 2.0 manual: I provided the graphics to complement his text. I think this was his first job writing a major, big-deal software manual. I was at his place many times during that project, and we'd chat about all things music and computer. He'd play me some songs he was writing for a prospective theater production. I listened and told him honestly what I thought: that they were unnecessarily overblown with every musical trick and cliche in the book, as if he were trying to impress everyone with his composing and lyrical prowess. I suggested he economize, tone it down, keep within a stylistic boundary, don't overdo it, and above all, don't try to persuade everybody that you're the smartest person in the room. After the project was over we then went our separate trajectories, he to much greater heights. And I'm amazed and pleased how far he's gotten since those more humble days: first as a prominent personal computer consultant to the stars (this was while we were working together; he used to tell me stories about helping set up Sondheim's computer; he dropped other names that I forget at the moment), then occasional article-writer, then monthly columnist for MacWorld, then creator of the wildly-successful Missing Manual series (and, before that, the ___ For Dummies franchise), the television appearances on 60 Minutes and Newshour, his gig at the NY Times, his current Nova series. Finding the woman of his dreams, buying a home in Connecticut, raising a family of three children. Just outstanding growth. Though he had some misses -- I think it was during our Finale project when he was writing a "computer thriller" called "Hard Drive" that he wanted to turn into a screenplay and break into motion pictures. Didn't quite pan out as he hoped. But he was always on the move, always looking ahead to that next contact, that next break, and he always took advantage of what was offered. More power to him, I say. And so there was the David Pogue that I knew 20 years ago on SCG last night. He really wanted to play that mouth organ to show everyone just how talented he truly was. Right before the break after his first segment, when he was done as a guest, you could hear him ask Craig about wanting to participate in the awkward pause/mouth organ dance and somewhat disappointed that he hadn't been accorded the privilege. So Craig, the proper host that he was, kept David on for the closing segment and, WOW! LO AND BEHOLD, he can play the harmonica! Who knew!!?? Get that man the Golden Harmonica! He has surprised us with a talent we never knew he had!! What a moment!! And I'm shaking my head laughing, knowing that that was just David being David, that need to impress, that security-driven ego that required that the world appreciate how special he was in his always aw- shucks manner, that brought me back to our Finale 2.0 days. -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
