smug arrogant bastards

in 1994 i worked for a company called general magic that was essentially a spin-off of apple computer. we worked on one of the world's first handheld p.d.a.'s, and although the company itself was filled with egos the size of macy's parade balloons, the product was cutting-edge, all-consuming and fun.

i would occasionally be included in the dog & pony marketing show for magic, which was good when i'd get to actually demo the product, and awful when i'd have to simply talk to a room full of suited zombies who would rather be anywhere but there with me.

i still remember the patter that went with the second bullet point on the first slide of the presentation oh-so well ...

"in the future, we believe email will become ubiquitous. most people will have an email address; many people may have multiple email addresses."

probably two dozen times in my life, just a mere 11 years ago, this comment invoked smirks, snickers and sneers from rooms full of people i was presenting to. one guy, full of testosterone and self-importance actually openly asked me, in a very mocking tone, "do you mean to tell me that you think my mother will have an email address?"

"yes, she will."

he laughed, openly and menacingly, in my face.

how much do you want to bet his mom has an email address now? how much more do you want to bet that he wouldn't even remember this interaction and would deny it like peter to the romans if approached?

albert einstein said, "great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." i wouldn't call magic a "great spirit," but i sure as hell know who i'd color with my "mediocre minds" crayon.