WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996)
Jim Fox was a key programmer for WordStar.  He never got much credit.  I guess because he was just an employee.<p>Jim thought, and talked about WordStar up until his death a few years ago on the streets of San Rafael.<p>I’m posting this because he would want it.  Jim was so proud of his contributions to WordStar, and told anyone who was within speaking distance.  Jim was pretty happy guy, but couldn’t find work, and wasn’t near crazy enough to get SSI.      He was just a bit different (only different after being on the streets.  He once told me, a year on the street, and the mind goes. (I didn’t see anything wrong with his mind though), and getting a programming job after 45 is difficult?<p>He told me a a small company (called a Startup now) hired him, but they didn’t give him time catch up.  He was homeless for years, and his skills were rusty, and his suit was from a Goodwill drop box.  He told me, “I was almost up to speed, and feel like I will be contributing soon.”  A week later he was back in his Penguin Suit doing dances for change in downtown San Rafael.  He was also the Webmaster for the Coastal Post in Bolinas.  They couldn’t pay him, and he was fine with that.  He also had some good ideas, but people didn’t take him serious?  He had a website called Cyberthings.<p>I’m writing this because I heard about WordStar so much, and I like Jim.  People called him eccentric, but he just didn’t have a home.  Jim knew a lot of people. A couple of wealthy guys let Jim sleep on their property, but the wives didn’t like him there.  I get it.  It’s still a responsibility to have a homeless guy camping on your property.  Jim always graciously left if asked, and never held a grudge.  He used to say to me, “I just don’t want to die of pneumonia on one of these cold side streets.”  I never knew what to say.<p>I writing this because I read he died a few years ago, and miss the guy.  The San Rafael police went out of their way to mess with him.  Instead of helping, they just wanted to nail him for anything.  He once got a Jaywalking ticket after asking a cop to retrieve his stolen laptop.  The cop said no, so Jim walked across the street.  The cop crossed the street, and gave him a ticket.<p>Sorry for rambling.  Not in a great mood.