Go getem Bill!

Did I miss the job posting on here and on Darcy's list? Either place would

sure seem to offer a high probability of finding someone who would meet the

requirements for a Fox Program Manager, eh?

And to think, Fox just died again.......

I wish you success in this endeavor.

Carl Lindner

----- Original Message -----

From: Bill Arnold <bill@wjarnold.com>

To: Multiple recipients of ProFox <profox@leafe.com>

Sent: Friday, September 03, 1999 9:45 AM

Subject: RE: VFP future

> I just made a real effort to do something positive about FoxPro: I applied

> for a Program Manager position at MS in the FoxPro area.

>

> I'm self-employed at least partly because I've never been able to find a

job

> that really fit me, but this one would do it. I am highly motivated to

> improve FoxPro's position.

>

> If I don't get it, at least MS will have a chuckle for the day (I named

> Robert Green as a contact within MS).

>

> If I do get it ... let's talk about it then <g>

>

>

> Bill

>

>

>

>

>

>Go getem Bill!

>

>Did I miss the job posting on here and on Darcy's list? Either place would

>sure seem to offer a high probability of finding someone who would meet the

>requirements for a Fox Program Manager, eh?

Or a very low probability. It depends what they are looking for.

I'd like to be Robert Green's towel attendant:

<FX: whack> "Where's the support?"

<FX: snap> "Stomp out that bug NOW!"

<FX: choke> "Spend more money on marketing!"

<FX: whack> "No, that isn't a feature that is needed!"

<FX: choke> "Why are you changing something that works?"

<FX: snarl> "I need better towels! These are worn out already!"

>And to think, Fox just died again.......

"App of the Living Dead": coming to a sever, oops, server near you!

>I wish you success in this endeavor.

[snipped previous]

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

genew@shuswap.net

Computerese Irregular Verb Conjugation:

I have preferences.

You have biases.

He/She has prejudices.

Gene,

We gotta see....

Often a position is advertised and the "advertiser" has the objective of

hiring someone less qualified than they are. That is, minimize threats from

subordinates. It is a real philosophy......

On the other hand, a strong manager is not afraid and hires the best they

can find. It is called developing a team.

So, let's see what happens. Bill Arnold has been around the block a couple

of times. He is not a towel boy.

I would love Bill to keep us informed.... If I were applying for a job I

would not announce the position to possible competitors. He obviously did

not find it here. Once again, the strong or confident thing.

Bill Gates made a few bucks this way.... more than I ever will.

Carl Lindner

carl@bdos.com

----- Original Message -----

From: Gene Wirchenko <genew@shuswap.net>

To: Multiple recipients of ProFox <profox@leafe.com>

Sent: Friday, September 03, 1999 3:20 PM

Subject: Re: Bill Arnold @MSFT, What a hoot!

> >Go getem Bill!

> >

> >Did I miss the job posting on here and on Darcy's list? Either place

would

> >sure seem to offer a high probability of finding someone who would meet

the

> >requirements for a Fox Program Manager, eh?

>

> Or a very low probability. It depends what they are looking for.

>

> I'd like to be Robert Green's towel attendant:

> <FX: whack> "Where's the support?"

> <FX: snap> "Stomp out that bug NOW!"

> <FX: choke> "Spend more money on marketing!"

> <FX: whack> "No, that isn't a feature that is needed!"

> <FX: choke> "Why are you changing something that works?"

> <FX: snarl> "I need better towels! These are worn out already!"

>

> >And to think, Fox just died again.......

>

> "App of the Living Dead": coming to a sever, oops, server near you!

>

> >I wish you success in this endeavor.

>

> [snipped previous]

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Gene Wirchenko

> genew@shuswap.net

>

> Computerese Irregular Verb Conjugation:

> I have preferences.

> You have biases.

> He/She has prejudices.

>

>

>

Carl, I searched the MS job listings for a FoxPro related position.

I found three. One was for a sadomasochist that would be tied to a cross on

the front lawn of the MS campus; another was for a tunnel-rat to bring water

to the development team, and the last was for a stubborn SOB who wouldn't be

intimidated by Big Bill's tirades.

I'm not into pain, and I can't carry water too well, but one thing I can do

is explain to Mr. Gates why he has to give FoxPro a better deal.

Bill

Go getem Bill!

Did I miss the job posting on here and on Darcy's list? Either place would

sure seem to offer a high probability of finding someone who would meet the

requirements for a Fox Program Manager, eh?

And to think, Fox just died again.......

I wish you success in this endeavor.

Carl Lindner

>Gene,

>

>We gotta see....

>

>Often a position is advertised and the "advertiser" has the objective of

>hiring someone less qualified than they are. That is, minimize threats from

>subordinates. It is a real philosophy......

Yes, I know: a "real"ly sick one.

>On the other hand, a strong manager is not afraid and hires the best they

>can find. It is called developing a team.

I try to do that myself. It saddens me that this is so unusual.

>So, let's see what happens. Bill Arnold has been around the block a couple

>of times. He is not a towel boy.

You missed the point. *I* would be the towel attendant and I'd be mean

with my towels!

>I would love Bill to keep us informed.... If I were applying for a job I

>would not announce the position to possible competitors. He obviously did

>not find it here. Once again, the strong or confident thing.

>

>Bill Gates made a few bucks this way.... more than I ever will.

[snipped previous]

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

genew@shuswap.net

Computerese Irregular Verb Conjugation:

I have preferences.

You have biases.

He/She has prejudices.

>Carl, I searched the MS job listings for a FoxPro related position.

>

>I found three. One was for a sadomasochist that would be tied to a cross on

^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^

Don't you just hate how qualification requirements get inflated? A

masochist would suffice. And *tie* one to a cross? You use spikes! OTOH,

there is the problem of finding someone, ah, mount the victim. Maybe MS

should get two S/Ms and they can work shifts and even help out in QA.

>the front lawn of the MS campus; another was for a tunnel-rat to bring water

>to the development team, and the last was for a stubborn SOB who wouldn't be

So that's what happened to the VFP 4 team! They died of thirst!

>intimidated by Big Bill's tirades.

^^^

"Micro".

I'd like this one. Bilge might not.

>I'm not into pain, and I can't carry water too well, but one thing I can do

>is explain to Mr. Gates why he has to give FoxPro a better deal.

"Towels. Fresh towels. Get your fresh towels!"

[snipped previous]

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

genew@shuswap.net

Computerese Irregular Verb Conjugation:

I have preferences.

You have biases.

He/She has prejudices.

In a message dated 09/03/1999 1:20:05 PM US Mountain Standard Time,

bill@wjarnold.com writes:

>I'm not into pain, and I can't carry water too well, but one thing I can do

> is explain to Mr. Gates why he has to give FoxPro a better deal.

>

Bill

...and to give FoxPro a native compilier!

Brent

"Computerizing Ideas" (SM)

Bill-

I know you mean well, but I've got seven words for you:

"Resistance is Futile - You will be Assimilated..."

mj

At 01:00 AM 9/4/99 EDT, you wrote:

>In a message dated 09/03/1999 1:20:05 PM US Mountain Standard Time,

>bill@wjarnold.com writes:

>

>>I'm not into pain, and I can't carry water too well, but one thing I can do

>> is explain to Mr. Gates why he has to give FoxPro a better deal.

>>

>Bill

>

>...and to give FoxPro a native compilier!

>

>Brent

>"Computerizing Ideas" (SM)

>

>

>

>

Matt, that was my chuckle for the day <g>

I don't think anyone can go against the fundamental nature of what a

software company has to be, so in that sense I agree with you; but there are

shifts and 'course corrections' that growing companies have to make along

the way, and to my way of seeing it, FoxPro is an ideal candidate for

'revitalization'.

There are more small business in the US today then ever before, and the same

is true for the world at large. These folks have to keep things simple, but

want power at the same time. FoxPro is the simplest solution of it's breed

because you don't need to buy, learn, hook together, coordinate and support

multiple "parts" to get the results you want. And when you're done with your

project, you can sell or share it with others - who wouldn't need multiple

parts to get it to work.

And - using FoxPro as a server, you can grow your application on a

substantial network, like the Internet.

Does this dent MS sales? Sure it does, but, again, as Sam Wiley noted "the

pie just gets bigger and bigger". The key to staying on top of it is to have

the hearts and minds of your users, and MS needs an adjustment in this area.

Bill-

I know you mean well, but I've got seven words for you:

"Resistance is Futile - You will be Assimilated..."

mj

Another thought and then I'll shut up for a (little <g>) while:

Advancing FoxPro would be the easiest assignment of my life, because there

are some obvious things that could be done that would yield great benefit to

Fox developers (and therefore end-users) that wouldn't cost too much to

accomplish.

Things like a Fox developer and product registry on the MS web site ...

ongoing polling of developer opinions and feedback ... some support from MS

for promoting your work ...

... mailing lists such as this one, should be able to tap the MS kbase right

from e-mail notes (the 'dog' with a 'fetch' mechanism that would allow a

person posting a note to include embedded knowledge base searches, with the

kbase constructing a digest of hits and sending them to the poster;

converting Qnnnnnn references in notes to hyperlinks; an editor that gets

involved to cull good stuff to improve the kbase; recognition of

contributes, etc.).

The really BIG thing, of course, is marketing. But that's actually easy too,

because it's almost virgin territory.

Bill