Max's Cool Beans
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one_armed_bandit
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Max the Magnificent
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Do NOT read this blog!
Clive Maxfield
7/22/2011 1:54 PM EDT
It seems that henceforth I may be obliged to include disclaimers right at the beginning of any of my blogs that are on non-programmable-logic-related topics saying…
…well, that such a blog is on a non-programmable-logic-related topic. I must admit to being a tad miffed. I might even go as far as to say that I am a trifle peeved (please excuse my strong language).
And how did this all come to be? Well, here’s the deal…
Deep in the mists of time in the days before the Internet, I used to receive the monthly print version of EDN (Electronic Design News) magazine. Like many of my compatriots, the first thing I would do as soon as the latest issue landed on my desk was to bounce over to the Dilbert Cartoon for a bit of a laugh. Once I’d perused the cartoon, I would return to the contents page to see what technical gems were on offer that month.
Similarly, many readers have been kind enough to email me to say that they enjoy my off-topic blogs; also that they look forward to receiving my weekly Programmable Logic Designline Newsletter (and how often do you hear that?). The readers of the newsletter often go on to say that they begin by checking out my blogs to discover what interesting or fun things I’ve run across. Then, after taking a few minutes to relax and kick back, they proceed to look at the more technical Design, News, and Product articles.
Thus, you can only imagine my surprise while I was at lunch with my father-in-law yesterday when I received a call from my immediate boss at EE Times. It seems that a subscriber to my newsletter had taken exception to my recent blog Am I a racist? Are You?
Rather than add a comment to the blog or send me a private email, this little scamp instead decided to take the time to send an email to the Supreme Commander of the vast EE Times empire. My understanding is that I stand accused of wasting his valuable time on non-EE issues (although he obviously has sufficient time to compose nasty emails [grin]). Also that I’m striding down a social agenda road and of doing nothing to help this guy keep his job or design a better mousetrap.
Now, my knee-jerk reaction was that if I were to see a blog titled “Am I a racist? Are You?” I wouldn’t need to be a rocket scientist to realize that this was probably not going to teach me much about designing with FPGAs. At that point I would make the decision whether or not to check the column out based on whether or not it looked interesting. The thought that someone would actually open such an article, read it, and then say “Hang on, this isn’t about programmable logic! I have been led astray and have wasted my valuable time on an article that has done nothing with regard to my on-going quest to design the definitive 21st Century mousetrap.” But we digress…
As you can imagine, the result of this guy’s email was akin to poking a stick into a hornets nest. The order went up in the secret EE Times underground command and control bunker to “Cry havoc and let loose the dogs of war!” The demand for an accounting (or at least a sound spanking) then proceeded to ripple down the chain of command until it landed in my lap.
Well, to say I was surprised was something of an understatement. With regard to my blogs, I’ve long fought a running battle with those who don the undergarments of authority and stride the corridors of power at EE Times. When I first became editor of Programmable Logic Designline, my initial marching orders were to blog about FPGAs. My response was something along the lines of “Every news article on Programmable Logic Designline is about FPGAs; every product article is about FPGAs; every design article is about FPGAs; do you really think people want to read blogs about FPGAs?”
Of course this is not to say that I won’t blog about programmable logic if there’s something interesting to talk about. Just yesterday, for example, I penned a column about the New Space-Grade Rad-Hard Virtex-5QV FPGAs from Xilinx. However, I see little point in blogging for blogging’s sake. If there’s nothing interesting on the FPGA front to blog about, then I would rather write about whatever is currently drawing my attention (“Oooh, Shiny!”).
I just took a quick look at my most recent blogs to see if I was focusing too much on non-programmable logic topics. The result was as follows (FYI – These are the just the ones that are currently on the Programmable Logic Design landing page; you’ll find all of my off-topic columns in my Max’s Cool Beans blog):
In particular, I revisited my “Am I a Racist? Are You?” column. No matter how many times I read this, I really don’t agree that I was treading a social agenda road or waving any flags or anything. This was just an article about some books I liked and an online test that I had personally found to be of interest.
But as I say, I am now somewhat miffed verging towards peeved. In the future should I blog only about topics of a programmable logic nature? Or if I should happen to post a blog with a title like "Embrace your inner geek!" Do I really need to start that column with a disclaimer saying “This has nothing to do with designing FPGAs”?
What do you think? My future course of action will be based on your feedback to this blog…
If you found this article to be of interest, visit Programmable Logic Designline where – in addition to my blogs on all sorts of "stuff" – you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to programmable logic devices of every flavor and size (FPGAs, CPLDs, CSSPs, PSoCs...).
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for my weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
…well, that such a blog is on a non-programmable-logic-related topic. I must admit to being a tad miffed. I might even go as far as to say that I am a trifle peeved (please excuse my strong language).
And how did this all come to be? Well, here’s the deal…
Deep in the mists of time in the days before the Internet, I used to receive the monthly print version of EDN (Electronic Design News) magazine. Like many of my compatriots, the first thing I would do as soon as the latest issue landed on my desk was to bounce over to the Dilbert Cartoon for a bit of a laugh. Once I’d perused the cartoon, I would return to the contents page to see what technical gems were on offer that month.
Similarly, many readers have been kind enough to email me to say that they enjoy my off-topic blogs; also that they look forward to receiving my weekly Programmable Logic Designline Newsletter (and how often do you hear that?). The readers of the newsletter often go on to say that they begin by checking out my blogs to discover what interesting or fun things I’ve run across. Then, after taking a few minutes to relax and kick back, they proceed to look at the more technical Design, News, and Product articles.
Thus, you can only imagine my surprise while I was at lunch with my father-in-law yesterday when I received a call from my immediate boss at EE Times. It seems that a subscriber to my newsletter had taken exception to my recent blog Am I a racist? Are You?
Rather than add a comment to the blog or send me a private email, this little scamp instead decided to take the time to send an email to the Supreme Commander of the vast EE Times empire. My understanding is that I stand accused of wasting his valuable time on non-EE issues (although he obviously has sufficient time to compose nasty emails [grin]). Also that I’m striding down a social agenda road and of doing nothing to help this guy keep his job or design a better mousetrap.
Now, my knee-jerk reaction was that if I were to see a blog titled “Am I a racist? Are You?” I wouldn’t need to be a rocket scientist to realize that this was probably not going to teach me much about designing with FPGAs. At that point I would make the decision whether or not to check the column out based on whether or not it looked interesting. The thought that someone would actually open such an article, read it, and then say “Hang on, this isn’t about programmable logic! I have been led astray and have wasted my valuable time on an article that has done nothing with regard to my on-going quest to design the definitive 21st Century mousetrap.” But we digress…
As you can imagine, the result of this guy’s email was akin to poking a stick into a hornets nest. The order went up in the secret EE Times underground command and control bunker to “Cry havoc and let loose the dogs of war!” The demand for an accounting (or at least a sound spanking) then proceeded to ripple down the chain of command until it landed in my lap.
The Supreme Commander in his secret underground bunker.
“Go forth and give Max a sound spanking immediately!”
“Go forth and give Max a sound spanking immediately!”
Well, to say I was surprised was something of an understatement. With regard to my blogs, I’ve long fought a running battle with those who don the undergarments of authority and stride the corridors of power at EE Times. When I first became editor of Programmable Logic Designline, my initial marching orders were to blog about FPGAs. My response was something along the lines of “Every news article on Programmable Logic Designline is about FPGAs; every product article is about FPGAs; every design article is about FPGAs; do you really think people want to read blogs about FPGAs?”
Of course this is not to say that I won’t blog about programmable logic if there’s something interesting to talk about. Just yesterday, for example, I penned a column about the New Space-Grade Rad-Hard Virtex-5QV FPGAs from Xilinx. However, I see little point in blogging for blogging’s sake. If there’s nothing interesting on the FPGA front to blog about, then I would rather write about whatever is currently drawing my attention (“Oooh, Shiny!”).
I just took a quick look at my most recent blogs to see if I was focusing too much on non-programmable logic topics. The result was as follows (FYI – These are the just the ones that are currently on the Programmable Logic Design landing page; you’ll find all of my off-topic columns in my Max’s Cool Beans blog):
- GPS Car locator app for droid smartphones
- Xilinx new rad-hard Virtex-5QV FPGAs – what a good idea!
- Introducing a new high-level synthesis tool called HercuLeS
- Free Webinar: Prototyping multi-million-gate ASIC designs
- Xilinx Xcell Journal wins two “Awards of Excellence”
- Am I a racist? Are you?
- I want to build a “Hassler” – does anyone have the circuit?
- Free webinar – Creating high-reliability, high-availability designs using FPGAs
- Embrace your inner geek!
In particular, I revisited my “Am I a Racist? Are You?” column. No matter how many times I read this, I really don’t agree that I was treading a social agenda road or waving any flags or anything. This was just an article about some books I liked and an online test that I had personally found to be of interest.
But as I say, I am now somewhat miffed verging towards peeved. In the future should I blog only about topics of a programmable logic nature? Or if I should happen to post a blog with a title like "Embrace your inner geek!" Do I really need to start that column with a disclaimer saying “This has nothing to do with designing FPGAs”?
What do you think? My future course of action will be based on your feedback to this blog…
If you found this article to be of interest, visit Programmable Logic Designline where – in addition to my blogs on all sorts of "stuff" – you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to programmable logic devices of every flavor and size (FPGAs, CPLDs, CSSPs, PSoCs...).
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for my weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
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GeneB
7/22/2011 2:30 PM EDT
I agree that you a due one sound spanking. To think that you would waste one's time with non-technical blog entries....
Seriously, I look forward to your blog entries (including the sometimes off beat, or at least off subject "Cool Beans" entries).
Carry on, and bring forth many interesting and fun entries.
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Max the Magnificent
7/22/2011 3:17 PM EDT
Thanks Gene -- I appreciate your support.
If I hear that a spanking is in order I always shout (squeal) "Me first!" But that's another story :-)
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TTOWLES
7/22/2011 4:12 PM EDT
This is a blog right? Not something this guy pays $12.95 per year to receive? Anyway, even if it was $12.95.....keep at it...
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Max the Magnificent
7/25/2011 10:39 AM EDT
But you have to understand that this guy is fixated on building "better mousetraps" and he doesn't have the time for anything that sidetracks him from this mission (apart from writing emails to the Supreme Commander, of course)
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FlyByPC
7/22/2011 5:23 PM EDT
Hey, if he doesn't like it, he's free to go read something else. I enjoy your unique mix of humor, insight, and technical commentary. Keep up the good work! (... and EETimes bosses, Max's columns -- FPGA-related or no -- are the major reason why I subscribe.)
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SZA
7/25/2011 6:20 AM EDT
I highly agree with FlyByPC. No one is obliged to read the blog if it is not PLD-based and besides its all free. Although title directly give hint but perhaps a short disclaimer line as Max mentioned might be a further good idea.
To EEtimes bosses, Max has a unique style which makes Max-the magnificent, he is among the top bloggers i often read on EEtimes. It is always a bit of fun sometimes reading his non-PLD adventures/stores. Besides on other side his tech. blogs are really tech.! He mostly mentions only great innovations or products in FPGAs so tech. guys especially love his blogs.
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Max the Magnificent
7/25/2011 10:37 AM EDT
Thanks for the kind words FlyByPC -- I very much appreciate your support
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maryl
7/22/2011 5:36 PM EDT
I enojy the non-tech blogs. You write them, I think you get to choose the subject.
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maryl
7/22/2011 5:39 PM EDT
BTW, many of your non-tech blogs provide at least a giggle for me, if not an out and out laugh. A much needed stress reliever. The tech articles, not so much. :-)
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Max the Magnificent
7/25/2011 10:42 AM EDT
Thanks maryl -- it's great to know that you enjoy my blogs -- I know that I'm immersed in technology for so much of my day that I really enjoy a few minutes here and there looking at something interesting, funny, different...
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Brian @ BDH
7/22/2011 5:42 PM EDT
Hey Max,
This blog entry is the very first depressing entry I have read on "Max’s Cool Beans". If you ~only~ wrote blog entries about FPGAs - well, I for one would stop reading it daily!
"Max’s Cool Beans" is the only blog I read on a daily (okay almost daily) basis. (Likewise, even my 13-year old son follows it on a regular basis! Do you think he visits EETimes.com for the FPGA topics?) And, if the Supreme Commander in his secret underground bunker wants you to only write about FPGAs, well then I think you'll lose visitors/readers (and the Supreme Commander might not be able to make those secret underground bunker payments).
Max - seriously - keep doing what you are doing and don't change a thing - especially the eye-catching and usually humorous titles!
Hang in there and have a great weekend!
Brian
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Max the Magnificent
7/25/2011 10:44 AM EDT
Thanks Brian -- you wouldn't believe how much a secret underground bunker costs these days...
... even the signs outside saying things like "No secret underground bunker here" aren't cheap...
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David Ashton
7/22/2011 8:03 PM EDT
All work and no play makes Jack (and Max) a dull boy. I don't have a lot to do with FPGAs (in fact most of what I know about them I have picked up from your columns) but the offerings I most enjoy from you are your "Cool Beans" blogs. For one thing, I would not have had a very interesting geiger counter fix were it not for them. You are never offensive (except to me :-) so I don't think even the subject of racism should be off-limits.
So (and I moderate my language here because (as pointed out above) this is a family column) - tell the sniveller and the SCihSUB to go put it where the sun don't shine. At the risk of making your head even bigger, you do a great job of keeping the readers of EELife amused.
(I trust that (being engineers) most of your readers can work their way past the nested brackets and cryptic acronyms above... ;-)
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Max the Magnificent
7/25/2011 10:46 AM EDT
Thanks for your support Dave. I remember the rush of excitement when I first realized that you could actually use nested parentheses in regular writing -- I'm looking forward to the day when I can justify three levels of nesting in a blog :-)
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Brian @ BDH
7/25/2011 12:11 PM EDT
Hi Dave,
The geiger counter "saga" is a perfect example and reason why a 13-year-old (my son) can enjoy the column too!
Brian
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David Ashton
7/25/2011 3:50 PM EDT
When I was 13 I was devouring "Practical Electronics" and anything else on electronics I could find. Having the net makes it so much easier to find stuff. Good on your son. I'd recommend Max's "boogie" books on the subject. Max'll give you more info if you need.
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Jack.Olson
7/25/2011 2:43 PM EDT
How did I get dragged into this?
.
(kidding...) I remember back in the olden days of PC Design magazine, I would always open it to the "Back Page" first, because that was where the editorial was, which was likely to contain something witty, trivial, funny and light (Thanks to Pete Waddell).
.
Interesting that we often turn to the "human" side of things before delving into the technical.
.
THANKS, MAX!
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Max the Magnificent
7/25/2011 2:50 PM EDT
I'd forgotten about that -- like you I always used to check out Pete's editorial first.
Also, with the print issue of EE Times, I would check out the caption competition before looking at the technical stuff.
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Earl54
8/11/2011 9:57 AM EDT
I think David subscribes to my motto: I am not easily offended, but I am easily amused.
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seaEE
7/22/2011 10:29 PM EDT
Diversion is good, otherwise all of the symphonies one writes start to sound formulaic and the same.
And of the links listed above, I have to admite I clicked the "I want to build a Hassler". ;)
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Max the Magnificent
7/25/2011 10:47 AM EDT
"...otherwise all of the symphonies one writes start to sound formulaic and the same"
Apart from the ones performed using only a mixture of bagpipes and accordions" (grin)
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Jack.Olson
7/25/2011 2:46 PM EDT
yeah, what a coincidence!
.
I was JUST thinking how all the symphonies I've been composing recently are starting to sound formulaic
(smile)
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Max the Magnificent
7/25/2011 2:57 PM EDT
Evidenced by the fact that so few are scored for the Glockenspiel, Kazoo, and Venezuelan Nose Flute...
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nicolas.mokhoff
7/23/2011 8:41 AM EDT
Max: rock on. Diversity is the spice of life, and I have yet to see you use the wrong ingredients.
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Max the Magnificent
7/25/2011 10:48 AM EDT
Nic -- you are a poet and I never "knew-it" :-)
Thanks for the kind words
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Neo1
7/25/2011 4:46 AM EDT
Or your link to that test really got him on his sore side and who else to rant against now ;)
We need all of human nature together with technology to make it complete, keep your blogging as before.
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Max the Magnificent
7/25/2011 10:56 AM EDT
I must admit that I did wonder if he had taken the test and was unhappy with the result...
Many years ago in England I had a house towards the end of a dead-end road (apart from a footpath that continued on). The wall retaining the garden was starting to lean and I was worried that it might fall on a passerby, so one day I took it down and started to rebuild it.
Of course there were bricks and soil everywhere on the sidewalk -- but as I say this was a dead-end road and there was a sidewalk on the other side also.
Most folks passing by mad encouraging comments. But there was one guy who was walking up the road carrying his shopping. I noticed him out of the corner of my eye. He walked most of the way on the other side of the road... then he crossed over to my side... walked up to me ... and complained as to how I was blocking the sidewalk!
I couldn't believe my ears -- I pointed out that he had crossed the road only to moan. Also that if I had left the wall as it was and it had fallen, he would have moaned about that also.
There are some people who just need to tell everyone how sad it is that their glass is half full...
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Max the Magnificent
7/25/2011 10:58 AM EDT
I meant to sad "made encouraging comments" not "mad encouraging comments" :-)
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Max the Magnificent
7/25/2011 12:14 PM EDT
@#$%!!! What is wrong with me today? I meant to say "I meant to say..." not "I meant to sad..."
Give me strength!!! :-)
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David Ashton
7/25/2011 3:41 PM EDT
I'm glad someone else has fingers like mine. Max, back in the mists of time we probably share a common antediluvian ancestor who (like us) had five thumbs on each hand and was ambidextrous to boot (ie no use with either hand)...
On the subject of half-full glasses, whenever anyone accuses me of being a glass-half-full kind of guy, I reply that the level in the glass doesn't really matter, it's whether the glass is filling or emptying. In your case above it was filing, ie the glass may have been pretty empty (you had bits of wall all over the sidewalk) but was rapidly filling (you were rebuilding a nice wall).
And before I get taken to task by one of the nit-pickers, I just looked up antediluvian and it means "before the flood". If I do share an ancestor with Max, I'd hope it was from before that, but it does alliterate nicely...
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SV Tech Native
7/25/2011 12:02 PM EDT
Max so sorry to hear that "those who don the undergarments of authority" at EETimes gave you a spanking.
I read your fun blogs first - they showcase your wit and compelling personality. (Then I dig into work and focus on FPGAs). There's plenty of dry tech stuff at EETimes and on other sites. You give technology life and energy. Blog on my friend.
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Max the Magnificent
7/25/2011 12:15 PM EDT
I must admit that I am humbled by everyone's support and kind words...
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EDA360 Insider
7/25/2011 12:04 PM EDT
Max, you're not only a racist, you are apparently an off-topic racist. Write from the heart, or risk committing the ultimate editorial sin: being boring.
--Steve Leibson
PS: EDN never stood for "Electronic Design News." It was "Electrical Design News" until a major Texas semiconductor vendor (hope that's oblique enough) forced a name change in the early 1960s.
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Max the Magnificent
7/25/2011 12:17 PM EDT
Hi Steve -- great to hear from you -- re your comment "...you are apparently an off-topic racist"...
...well, you don't see many of those around these days, do you? :-)
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ReneCardenas
7/25/2011 6:11 PM EDT
Max,
Please proceed and embellish my life with some spice and detours from the dry and overblown press announcements.
If you don't mind this contrast, your writing style reminds me of the late Bob Pease (RIP), I enjoy your writing style as much as I did his.
Max please keep reminding us that there are plenty of great topics in life that can be woven into the technical aspects of our profession.
Please keep up your great observations and sharing of wisdom, book reviews are welcome too.
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Max the Magnificent
7/26/2011 10:20 AM EDT
Hi Rene -- thank you for comparing me to Bob (RIP) -- I should only hope to have his knowledge and ability to communicate
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BobC_
7/27/2011 12:39 AM EDT
Mono-topic columnists bore me: Seeing how the mind ticks in other areas adds context/perspective, depth and nuance to the main themes.
Of course, I say this only because I now know that I Am Not A Racist. Had my results turned out any different, I would have blamed you and this comment would have been a flame.
You didn't hack that site, did you?
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Max the Magnificent
7/27/2011 9:54 AM EDT
If I had hacked the site, it would look a lot more professional than it does (grin)
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DanOD
7/28/2011 3:43 AM EDT
Max, continue with the way you do it, I enjoy the non tech stuff too. Keep up the good work.
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Max the Magnificent
7/29/2011 9:41 AM EDT
Thanks Dan
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Tom_nickname
7/28/2011 6:30 AM EDT
I get many bland newsletters stuffed full of vendor supplied technical content. The quirky bits and the engaging writing style is the differentiating factor which means this newsletter gets read and the others do not.
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Max the Magnificent
7/29/2011 9:41 AM EDT
Thanks for the kind words
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rfindley
7/28/2011 12:33 PM EDT
He who appeases all pleases none.
Don't change a thing!!
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Max the Magnificent
7/29/2011 9:43 AM EDT
Thus far I haven't heard anything back from the original complainer (it may be he's returned to his obsession with building better mousetraps :-)
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K1200LT Rider
7/28/2011 3:42 PM EDT
Then he(?) also probably wouldn't want to read your books, either. You know... considering all the wasted space talking about off-topic things like recipes. :-) Now I'm hungry... gotta go.
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Max the Magnificent
7/29/2011 9:44 AM EDT
To the best of my knowledge, Bebop is still the only electronics book with a seafood gumbo recipe (go figure)
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titux
7/28/2011 3:47 PM EDT
Technical articles may get more or less attention, based upon one's current needs and interest, but non-technical stuff has a more general appeal and, if one is too busy at work (AND smart enough to recognize them by the headline) he/she can take a note and get back to it when at home. This just to say that, if the newsletter was strictly technical, it may lose a certain percentage of hits (mine, for sure and for what it's worth): this is something the Supreme Commander may want to have a thought on during the long winter evenings down in the bunker...
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Max the Magnificent
7/29/2011 9:46 AM EDT
Unfortunately it seems that the headline "Am I a racist? Are you?" was too obscure and could be confused for a technical on the design of mousetraps (grin)
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DickQuill
7/29/2011 7:14 AM EDT
On a linguio-historical point "Cry Havoc" means something slightly more than a spanking. In medieval warfare a besieged city would be offered the chance to surrender with honour, and the inhabitants would keep their lives and their possessions. If they declined then the general of the besieging army might “Cry Havoc.” This would be a licence for the soldiers to pillage, kill and rape.
Sorry Max, but you missed out on all that.
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Max the Magnificent
7/29/2011 9:57 AM EDT
I stand corrected (grin).
But I'm not sorry I missed out on that -- when you look back in history, the vast majority of people lived brutish lives -- only the favored few had any level of real comfort.
When my mom was a kid in Sheffield, England, they had only cold water coming into the house and the toilet was in a small outhouse at the bottom of (let's call it a garden). They didn't get electricity until 1943.
When you look at what we have today, we are truly living in a golden age (hot and cold running water, heating and air conditioning, fridges, televisions...).
And, of course, we are still the lucky ones (I'm talking about people living in places like America, Europe, and Scandinavia) -- I dare not even think about what life is like for people in many parts of the world).
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laura.robison
7/29/2011 1:47 PM EDT
Keep on keeping on. I took that online test, and it provided me about a week of self-reflection, forcing me to recognize the assumptions about race I have subconsciously formed, but don’t like to acknowledge.
We all need a reminder to reflect on something other than “what do I want for lunch today?” :)
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WKetel
7/29/2011 11:11 PM EDT
Max, I was going to offer the example of the noble Bob Pease as a very interesting writer who very seldom mentioned FPGAs, and sometimes actually did write about electronics, usually in a brilliant manner. As for your critic, I have had similar experiences, and I would offer that such individuals are both burdened by more fear of almost everything than any sane person, and are also typically devoid of even the most common social skills and graces. The result is that I "write them off", and from then on, mostly, they are treated as nonexistent entities.
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Max the Magnificent
8/1/2011 11:36 AM EDT
Who are we talking about? I've forgotten him already :-)
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SZA
8/1/2011 2:29 PM EDT
Seeing the rain of encouraging comments you have got and indirectly surely the massive amount of pagehits your blog would have got. The Supreme commander picture looks more as if he is calling to EEtimes and pointing out his finger to the potential adverts revenue they are missing by putting very few of them on this page [grin]
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Frank Eory
7/30/2011 12:50 AM EDT
Max, I always enjoy your blogs, even though I'm an old-school chip designer who still hangs onto the theory that FPGAs will never be real chips -- just prototypes of something yet to come.
But in today's PC world (and I don't mean "personal computer") you have to be careful with words like racist. You would actually be a lot safer having one too many bloody mary's at an ACE Awards ceremony and saying something like "that &$!#.!)!! guy from Zimbabwe...I love that guy!"
Cursing isn't so bad, even when it's complimentary to another. But certain PC-charged words should probably be avoided in a published blog, even when they're not said in a way that could be construed as offensive.
Having said that, the "undergarments of authority" should lighten up. It wasn't a big deal, despite one irate reader's email.
And speaking of EDN, I'm pleasantly surprised that it hasn't changed in any noticeable way since UBM picked it up. Like many readers, I always gravitated to Dilbert and the Design Ideas, and then checked to see if maybe there was something else interesting in there :)
I'm glad to see that it hasn't become EE Times/EDN. Both publications have their styles, and they should keep them distinct.
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Max the Magnificent
8/1/2011 11:39 AM EDT
It's funny -- when I started acting as the editor for the Programmable Logic Designline, the first thing I was told was that I could no longer write articles for EDN ... and then UBM purchased EDN and now those who don the undergarments of authority and stride the corridors of power keep on asking me to write articles for EDN ... the world turns and the pendulum swings...
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rpcy
7/30/2011 5:05 PM EDT
Max, just be yourself. You're funny, informative, and interesting, and that basically puts you into an elite class with very few other members. If some reader doesn't like that, the word he's looking for is "unsubscribe."
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Max the Magnificent
8/1/2011 11:41 AM EDT
Maybe he can't spell "unsubscribe" ... which reminds me of a funny story ... Gary Smith once told me that a new junior copy editor at a magazine called him up and asked if he could verify how to spell "EDA" (grin)
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David Ashton
8/1/2011 4:53 PM EDT
If I may go a bit off-topic (well others do...) Google "Spell ACDC". About a guy making an idiot of himself on a radio quiz. Really funny.
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Max the Magnificent
8/1/2011 4:56 PM EDT
Oh Dear -- that's sad :-)
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Dave620
7/31/2011 6:19 PM EDT
Max I too remember those days of a hard copy of EDN. Now instead of looking for the Dilbert cartoon I FIRST check to see what cool things Max has found or done. Keep up the good works and like rpcy said, "Just be yourself." I think it works for the majority of EE readers.
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Max the Magnificent
8/1/2011 11:41 AM EDT
Thanks Dave -- I appreciate the kind words -- Max
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carno
8/1/2011 9:39 AM EDT
Your column is the first one I head for when I see there's something new to read. I don't have anything new to add to the discussion, but I want to add my voice to the list of people who think that getting roughed up over a single complaint is a bit ridiculous. Keep on writing and all but one of us will continue reading!
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Max the Magnificent
8/1/2011 11:43 AM EDT
I must admit that I'm starting to feel sorry for him...
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bfienberg
8/1/2011 12:50 PM EDT
Hi Max - I ignored the headline and read the blog anyway. So you got spanked for being provocative and keeping your readership engaged? How about telling the Supreme Commander, 'thank you sir, may I have another.' Keep up the good work, don't change a thing!
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Max the Magnificent
8/1/2011 12:55 PM EDT
Have you met the Supreme Commander? The problem is that he might say "yes" :-)
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Buck-on-Bass
8/1/2011 2:44 PM EDT
After reading all the replies, I was thinking that any reply would either be piling on with support or inciting a riot by dissenting. Then I happened to think of the Supreme Commander’s bosses – those that write the checks, the advertisers. The advertisers will have the final say. Keep writing like you do and the big bosses will keep the Supreme Commander in line. Oh, the “Not FPGA” columns are useful for looking at things differently, a critical talent when competing in cost and feature competitive markets.
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Max the Magnificent
8/1/2011 2:47 PM EDT
Perhaps I should ask for a pay rise (hollow laughter :-)
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Itinerant Engineer
8/1/2011 9:17 PM EDT
I had not planned on weighing in since I really don't have anything original to to the conversation, but Buck-on-Bass's observation compels me to speak up: I like the variety.
Lance ==)------------
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Max the Magnificent
8/2/2011 10:41 AM EDT
Thanks Lance -- much appreciated -- in fact based on this I think I will write a blog about building your own ukulele (you have only yourself to blame :-)
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M_S
8/3/2011 10:16 AM EDT
My reaction : "oh, give me a break!"
Some people have NO sense of humor!
I really enjoy quite a few of your non-technical articles and I sometimes read technical articles you write.
Keep on keeping on, Max!
Marie :-)
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Max the Magnificent
8/3/2011 10:21 AM EDT
Re your comment "I sometimes read technical articles you write"
High praise indeed (grin)
But seriously, I really appreciate your support.
Following everyone's kind comments to this blog, the Supreme Commander and his lackeys have been strangely quite of late...
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KB3001
8/3/2011 11:27 AM EDT
"Max the Magnificent" is my favourite blogger on this site! Technical or not, I always enjoy reading his blogs. Oh Supereme Leader, be merciful and spare our Max any spanking :-)
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volee68
8/15/2011 8:41 AM EDT
Nothing new to add, just want to increment the "Like Max's non technical blogs" counter.
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Max the Magnificent
8/15/2011 9:31 AM EDT
Thanks VoLee88 - -I really appreciate your support -- Max
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one_armed_bandit
8/25/2011 4:28 PM EDT
Max - just keep doing what you do - you are one of the best at it. The folks with a humor-ectomy will always be around, and the only proper response is "bugger off". (You may want to add "Sir" for the Supreme Commander, but remember the Underpants Of Power have cute little flowers on them.)
As far as a spanking - that is entirely between you and your wife, and none of our business.
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