Today is my last official day as a full-time Stardock employee; although there will be a transition period of some length where I'll still be around (what I like to refer to as the "Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in" time) but as of Monday I will primarily be a GameStop employee.
I joined Stardock more than a decade ago, in February 2001. During my tenure, I was a part of the release of WindowBlinds for XP (that became WindowBlinds 3) at the Microsoft offices outside Detroit; the creation of the WinCustomize skinning community web site; the integration of skinning technology into applications by major corporations such as GE, ATI, Motorola, T-Mobile and many others; skinning being used to make computers look "futuristic" in movies, including "The Recruit"; and ultimately I was gratified to see the embrace of skinning as a mainstream movement by computer manufacturers like Dell and HP and organizations like the NHL and NBA. Good times indeed.
I have been proud to be a member not only of a company that was committed to "making cool stuff" but to a community that numbered millions of members. I have many friends at WinCustomize and JoeUser and I will, of course, stay in touch. But over the years my posts have become less frequent and my participation greatly diminished. It is not that I love you all any less, it is simply that my focus has shifted.
I was always part of Stardock's PC gaming initiatives, going as far back as The Corporate Machine. As time went on and Stardock published Galactic Civilizations I and II, Sins of a Solar Empire, Demigod and Elemental, I spent more and more time involved in the gaming side of things. Never really on the games themselves (thank goodness! I suxx0rs as a gamer!) but on the business of game publishing, through Drengin.Net to TotalGaming.Net to Impulse. This will now become my principal focus.
As a part of this community, we shared many good times and some bad ones. I remember turning to the WinCustomize boards for relief after the 9/11 attack. Chatting with community members from around the world, we shared the pain and gave each other what comfort we could.
There are too many to thank by name and I fear that I would inadvertently omit someone near and dear. But let me thank my fellow Stardockians past and present ("we few, we happy few, we band of brothers"), all the developers and coders (the smart guys), the skinners, the bloggers and the whole IRC crowd. Thank you all for making my life richer.
Now, having gotten quite maudlin, what are you hanging around here reading this drivel for? Go skin something!
Cya!
I am honored to have worked with you Larry, and I wish you all the best with GameStop. I am also glad we had a chance to meet in person and have dinner together.
Happy to have you as a friend. Best of luck on the new venture.
I am sure you will hear a lot of this, but I am sorry to hear that you are going.
Does this involve a physical move or are you staying in at the same desk?
Larry...if you don't remain in touch I'll personally get back over to the US and hunt you down....and submit you to the death of a 1000 bad puns and age-ist jokes.
The highest accolade an Aussie can give someone is...."you're a great bloke",
...and that you are.
Wishing you well with your new adventures,
Yer [slightly older] mate, Paul.
Good luck Larry!
Good luck on the light side of the force.
good luck and thanks for your work.
The best of luck to you in your future endeavours.
Koop - I'm not a Stardockian, but I always enjoyed our chats.... you're a mensch, Larry. Truly. All the best and please don't lose touch...
How about a card?
And a prayer...(Tfilat HaDerech)
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ וֵא-לֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶתּוֹלִיכֵנוּ לְשָלוֹם וְתַצְעִידֵנוּ לְשָלוֹם. וְתִסְמְכֵנוּ לְשָלוֹם. וְתַדְרִיכֵנוּ לְשָלוֹם. וְתַגִיעֵנוּ לִמְחוֹז חֶפְצֵנוּ לְחַיִּים וּלְשִמְחָה וּלְשָלוֹם וְתַצִּילֵנוּ מִכַּף כָּל אוֹיֵב וְאוֹרֵב וְלִסְטִים וְחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת בַדֶּרֶךְ וּמִכָּל מִינֵי פּוּרְעָנִיּוֹת הַמִתְרַגְּשוֹת לָבוֹא לָעוֹלָם וְתִשְלַח בְּרָכָה בְּכל מַעֲשֵה יָדֵינוּ, וְתִתְּנֵנוּ לְחֵן וּלְחֶסֶד וּלְרַחֲמִים בְעֵינֶיךָ וּבְעֵינֵי כָל רוֹאֵינוּ וְתִשְמַע קוֹל תַּחֲנוּנֵינוּ. כִּי אֵ-ל שוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה וְתַחֲנוּן אתה: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', שוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה.
Now you have done it...you made me cry at work! There are clean spots on my desk....
I have been truly blessed (in a secular sense of course) to have had such good friends.
I will certainly stay in touch, you can't get rid of me that easily.
All the best to you, Larry. Whenever I saw a JU post by you on the list I knew I was in for some good reading. Hope you'll find time to post a bit more once the transition is complete. Either way, thanks for your contributions here & at Stardock.
We'll miss you Koop! Good luck with the new job (company).
Gamestop's lucky to get you.
good luck sir...
As Paul said, you better stay in touch!! I will miss you Larry, the nicest guy I ever met on the internet..........
hey larry, i am going to miss you at wincustomize, good luck on your new job
You have been and always will be my friend.
Thank you for all you have been to me before, during, and after my time with Stardock
Folks, Larry is one of the kindest and nicest gentlemen I've ever met. I am very proud to be able to call him a friend. I, too, have had the pleasure of having a meal or two with Larry. He still has Silver Certificates in his wallet! He's also helped me out in my darkest of times. I owe a lot to Larry and Brad. Neither of them have a clue how much I respect each of them.
Larry, I wish you nothing but the best in your new venture. Gamestop definitely has the best sales guy in the business working for them.
ok, ill go skin now Larry, nice knowing ya mate.. check back often, and thanks for your past help.
Sorry to see you go Larry...but good luck in your new endeavor and make sure you visit us from time to time!
When I, back in 2005, was going through a rough time (divorce) Larry was truely a great support. Always ready to lighten ones mood, which he is absolutely the best at. Always knowing when and how to crack a joke at just the right time.
Larry, you will surely be missed at the Stardock HQ - and IRC.
Stay in touch, my friend.
Damn, will miss you. I can't prove it but have aqlways believed you gave me a hand in my moving up the ladder. We did have fun in the chatroom back when it was lively. Good Luck my friend.
Best of luck to you in your new endeavor.
Larry, I'm honoured to have known and spent time with you - a true friend.
Sorry - that sounds like an obituary! I'm still honoured to know you and wish you all the best in your new adventure.
I'm sure you know, but just to be sure, if you ever need anything (no matter) where you are, you know I'll be here and ready.
Cheers,
Martin
When my mom passed Larry took time to chat with me and joke around, helping ease my pain, one couldn't ask for a better friend, or one with a bigger heart.
Koop, It has been a long Haul down this occasionally bumpy road, and It has been an honor knowing you. I will miss the chats on IRC as well as the lively banter on the forums. You have always been an asset to the skinning community, as well as to the net community in general. Best of luck on your new endeavor and I hope it will lead you to many new great successes ol friend. Remember you will always have a family here.
Heres a slice for the road.
May the path you travel bring you back for a visit once in a while.
HG
Good luck in the next phase of your career, Larry. It has been an honor to work with you over the years. I consider myself fortunate that we not only became friends online, but we actually had the chance to hang out in person. I wish you much success, in every sense of the word. If I can impart any kind of wisdom regarding working from home, it is beware of your fridge. Unlimited access to your entire cache of food can be a dangerous thing.
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