One year ago today, I lost my job because of a photo I took, and began my fifteen minutes of fame.
My, how time flies.
“Crying” by Björk from the album Debut (1993, 4:52).
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mano: i want to see my picture after 15 years please 
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October 28th, 2004 at 5:12 am
A year ! Wow…Are your 15 minutes up yet?
October 28th, 2004 at 5:36 am
Sweet baby jesus, that was a YEAR ago?
October 28th, 2004 at 8:10 am
Wow.. I read you almost daily since that 15 minutes of fame of yours… (but very rarely comment)
I also can’t believe, it is a year I have been reading your non-sense =P …
October 28th, 2004 at 9:54 am
I’ve gotta echo what romm said. I check the site about 4 times a day to see if you’ve updated. This is the first time in my life I’ve been able to blame Microsoft for doing something good and interesting for me.
October 28th, 2004 at 1:39 pm
Yeah. I heard about it from someone when it happened, but did not know about blogs at that time.
I was spending so much time (10-14 hour/day) looking for work, posting resumes, answering stupid questions on job sites, etc. (they still ask even when everything is on the resume!), that I just considered it a hoax (there are so many).
I had been let go from a government contractor when Bush decided he needed my wages to send troops to Iraq. I was beginning to feel pretty low by October and wasn’t paying much attention to anything but my depression.
Looks like you did find a job, though, after Microsoft. I haven’t yet. Every time I find a job I KNOW I can do, they present a requirement that is so far away from the position we are discussing, that it is rediculous. Makes me think they don’t REALLY want to find anyone. Of course, they may take one look at me and decide that I am too old. The hiring managers shoud realize that it COST me to go to that interview!
(Sigh…) Sorry, but I am in the anger-stage now, I guess.
Back to the subject of your anniversary. I hope you weren’t out of work long. I would have checked into the state employment laws concerning your rights and what you could reasonably expect from your employer. Did it say anywhere in the Microsoft Employee Handbook anything at all about you not having the right of free-speech? Especially when you were off campus? Did they provide any form of arbitration? Was your right to confront your accuser(s) violated?
Just a few points to consider. You should have at least 6 more years to consider what to do about it.
Just a few thoughts.
October 28th, 2004 at 3:32 pm
a year?! Wow, time does fly. I also started reading you at that time, and just as Romm, very rarely make comments.
Let’s go for another year of reading then. ^_^
October 28th, 2004 at 11:54 pm
I also find it sort of amazing it has been a year since I started reading here. Happy Anniversery!
October 29th, 2004 at 7:14 am
Thanks, everyone — apparently I picked up a few more readers than I realized! Always flattering to know that people find my ramblings worth paying attention to.
James — answers to some of your questions re: rights, free speech, etc. can be found in this followup post I made after the story broke big.
I did indeed find another job, and I was lucky, it only took me about a month. It’s no “dream job”, but it’s not too bad, either…I just don’t talk about it terribly much. Imagine that.
Good luck on your search. I’ve heard from a lot of people just how horrid the job search can be these days. Hopefully something comes along before too much longer!
October 30th, 2004 at 11:37 pm
Like the others I have been reading you since those delightful 15 minutes and have loved every minute of it.
This site always keep me on top and pretty much introduced me into the wonderful world of blogs. (they really do exist outside of angst filled teen journals.)
Have been working for sometime to get my site up and running and have been kept behind by time restraints and design flaws. (can’t seem to fall in love with a design)
Long story short, not sure what the etiquette is on linking to others blogs and thought i would ask permission before including you.
I’d be more than happy to send other readers your way.
Great stuff.
Photo