SGI and maddog
Hi, I have received several email messages about my becoming an SGI employee. As some of you know, Linux International has never paid me a salary. I have always been a "volunteer", whether it be as an employee of Digital, Compaq, VA Linux Systems or through other funding resources. I believe that I have maintained a neutral balance through all of these vendors' funding. For the past ten months I have received no salary at all. I was hoping that the economy would turn around and we could get more funding through LI, but the reality is that my bank account has run out. I had recently made a decision to do some consulting, and put out a feeler to some of the LI companies. SGI was one of the few to come back and hire my time. Consulting, however, means that you expend some of your time looking for contracts. And there are "good months" and "bad months". Quite frankly I have put about 250,000 USD of my own money into LI, and I was a little tired of the "bad months". I also was tired of the benefit battle, being passed from benefit group to benefit group, not knowing if I was covered. When you get to be "my age", you think about such things. Therefore I was really interested in being an "employee" once more, not just a contractor or consultant. Paul McNamara, VP of Marketing at SGI and formerly a marketing person at Red Hat Software heard of my plight and offered to fund me as Executive Director of LI. In return he also asked that I spend some time doing three things: o help create some excitement around using Linux with supercomputers o help grow the Linux supercomputer marketplace o help SGI better understand and meet the Linux and Open Source market Now SGI is a member of LI, and I have often helped member companies do exactly these type of things "for free". In fact I have an appointment to speak at two other company's events in the near future. As always, I will be speaking as "Jon 'maddog' Hall" of LI, not SGI. Paul understands that, I understand that, and I hope the rest of you understand that. SGI and I have hand-crafted a contract that states (effectively) that builds a legal firewall between what I do for SGI and what I do for LI and the rest of its member companies. One of the reasons why I accepted this particular job is that I have always been an advocate of Linux on Beowulf systems and supercomputers, always believed that the world needs more computing and I want to spread the use of both Beowulf, NUMA machines and the GRID. Recently I addressed the Board of Directors of LI on this issue, and they indicated that they would feel comfortable with whatever I did. I feel that the company and the agreement will allow me to meet the needs of LI, and with a steady income (rather than being in "scramble mode", I will be able to concentrate on moving LI forward. Thanks for your time, md ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: SGI and maddog
One thing that I have always believed, regardless of what people think, is that no matter where your loyalties may lie, you have to provide for your family and self first. Nobody is immune to the effects of the present economy, and that is proven just be seeing some of the companies that have filed bankruptcy. It really wasn't stated by Jon as to whether or not people were giving him a hard time in the email messages, but I don't see where they would have any right to do so. Maddog is still a supporter of Linux, and from the sounds of his new job description, he will continue to support and further Linux in his described duties. I say "Congratulations on the new job!" and see you at the LUG meetings. > Hi, > > I have received several email messages about my becoming an SGI employee. > > As some of you know, Linux International has never paid me a salary. I have > always been a "volunteer", whether it be as an employee of Digital, > Compaq, VA Linux Systems or through other funding resources. I believe > that I have maintained a neutral balance through all of these vendors' > funding. > > For the past ten months I have received no salary at all. I was hoping that > the economy would turn around and we could get more funding through LI, but > the reality is that my bank account has run out. I had recently made a > decision to do some consulting, and put out a feeler to some of the LI > companies. SGI was one of the few to come back and hire my time. > > Consulting, however, means that you expend some of your time looking for > contracts. And there are "good months" and "bad months". Quite frankly > I have put about 250,000 USD of my own money into LI, and I was a little > tired of the "bad months". I also was tired of the benefit battle, being > passed from benefit group to benefit group, not knowing if I was covered. > When you get to be "my age", you think about such things. Therefore I was > really interested in being an "employee" once more, not just a contractor > or consultant. > > Paul McNamara, VP of Marketing at SGI and formerly a marketing person at > Red Hat Software heard of my plight and offered to fund me as Executive > Director of LI. In return he also asked that I spend some time doing three > things: > > o help create some excitement around using Linux with supercomputers > o help grow the Linux supercomputer marketplace > o help SGI better understand and meet the Linux and Open Source market > > Now SGI is a member of LI, and I have often helped member companies do exactly > these type of things "for free". In fact I have an appointment to speak > at two other company's events in the near future. As always, I will > be speaking as "Jon 'maddog' Hall" of LI, not SGI. Paul understands > that, I understand that, and I hope the rest of you understand that. > > SGI and I have hand-crafted a contract that states (effectively) that > builds a legal firewall between what I do for SGI and what I do for LI and > the rest of its member companies. > > One of the reasons why I accepted this particular job is that I have > always been an advocate of Linux on Beowulf systems and supercomputers, > always believed that the world needs more computing and I want to spread the > use of both Beowulf, NUMA machines and the GRID. > > Recently I addressed the Board of Directors of LI on this issue, and they > indicated that they would feel comfortable with whatever I did. I feel > that the company and the agreement will allow me to meet the needs of LI, > and with a steady income (rather than being in "scramble mode", I will > be able to concentrate on moving LI forward. > > Thanks for your time, > > md > ___ > gnhlug-discuss mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: SGI and maddog
Jon, I think I speak for most of GNHLUG when I say: Thank *you* and Good Luck with your new venture! There aren't too many LUGs who can claim to have had 'maddog' as their "Reluctant Chairman". We've seen you through as a DEC employee, a VA Systems/Linux/Software employee, and as whatever you've most recently been :) However, to all of us, where you got your personal funding from has never really been a concern to any of us (at least that I know of). I believe that to be a result of your overall professionalism and ability to put "Linux first" over the financial/political agendas of whichever company you worked for. Many of us have worked for Linux related companies over the past few years, and I know for I one, have tried to follow your leadership in this respect. Everyone in GNHLUG knows you as 'maddog'. Some of us know who you've worked for at different times, and some are probably aware of your role with Linux International. For the most part, that doesn't matter, just as long as you continue to "put Linux first" and lift a pint or three with us on occasion :) I have no fears that you'll be able to very successfully work for SGI and continue your roles as Executive Director of Linux Internation and Former Reluctant Chairman of GNHLUG. Best wishes to you and SGI, and thank you for everything you've done over the past 10+ years to get Linux where it is today and where it's going tomorrow, from all of us in GNHLUG! -- Seeya, Paul Reluctant Co-Chairman, Greater New Hampshire Linux User's Group (GNHLUG) Reluctant Chairman, Nashua Chapter GNHLUG http://www.gnhlug.org Events: http://md.appropriatesolutions.com/gnhlug/lug_cal/month.php ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: SGI and maddog
Jon, I think I speak for most of GNHLUG when I say: Thank *you* and Good Luck with your new venture! There aren't too many LUGs who can claim to have had 'maddog' as their "Reluctant Chairman". We've seen you through as a DEC employee, a VA Systems/Linux/Software employee, and as whatever you've most recently been :) However, to all of us, where you got your personal funding from has never really been a concern to any of us (at least that I know of). I believe that to be a result of your overall professionalism and ability to put "Linux first" over the financial/political agendas of whichever company you worked for. Many of us have worked for Linux related companies over the past few years, and I know for I one, have tried to follow your leadership in this respect. Everyone in GNHLUG knows you as 'maddog'. Some of us know who you've worked for at different times, and some are probably aware of your role with Linux International. For the most part, that doesn't matter, just as long as you continue to "put Linux first" and lift a pint or three with us on occasion :) I have no fears that you'll be able to very successfully work for SGI and continue your roles as Executive Director of Linux Internation and Former Reluctant Chairman of GNHLUG. Best wishes to you and SGI, and thank you for everything you've done over the past 10+ years to get Linux where it is today and where it's going tomorrow, from all of us in GNHLUG! -- Seeya, Paul Reluctant Co-Chairman, Greater New Hampshire Linux User's Group (GNHLUG) Reluctant Chairman, Nashua Chapter GNHLUG http://www.gnhlug.org Events: http://md.appropriatesolutions.com/gnhlug/lug_cal/month.php ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: SGI and maddog
On Thu, 3 Oct 2002, at 10:38am, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > I think I speak for most of GNHLUG when I say: > > Thank *you* and Good Luck with your new venture! Me too! (I would also like to thank Paul, for writing exactly what I wanted to say, and thus saving me the trouble of doing so. ) -- Ben Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> | The opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not | | necessarily represent the views or policy of any other person, entity or | | organization. All information is provided without warranty of any kind. | ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
