What is it They Say About All Good Things?

[Vincent Ferrari]

<p><img height="327" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1249960562.usr18053.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" width="475" /></p><p>When I got the e-mail, I couldn't believe it.&nbsp; Jason Dunn e-mailed me and told me he wanted me to run his new venture.&nbsp; An Apple web site.&nbsp; From the master of all things Microsoft.&nbsp; No one I know knows Microsoft products the way Jason does, and I maintain that to this day.&nbsp; Because of him, I was roped into the PocketPC community many many years ago, and on my first trip to Vegas for CES a few years ago, I made sure I said hello.&nbsp; Jason is an awesome guy and I'm glad to have met him.</p><p>But admittedly, there was some trepidation.&nbsp; To say Jason isn't an Apple fan is an understatement, and yet here I was on the verge of starting up the first franchised Thoughts Media site.&nbsp; Talk about walking into the lions' den, huh?&nbsp; Hell, just read some of the comments Jason got the day we launched.&nbsp; I don't know how he held his temper!</p><p>Anyway, it's been a fun ride.&nbsp; It pains me to do this, but I have to.</p><p>As of today, I'm no longer going to be part of the day to day operations at Apple Thoughts. <MORE /></p><p>Suffice it to say, there are many personal reasons.&nbsp; No, this isn't one of those "I need to spend more time with my family" retirement speeches.&nbsp; The day job, the one that pays the bill and allows me to mindlessly buy Steve Jobs products, is a bit intense at the moment and I need to focus on that.&nbsp; When the main source of your income requires your attention, you don't have a choice.&nbsp; I can only maintain so much attention to Apple Thoughts and the amount seems to be dwindling more and more.&nbsp; I really don't want to do a half-you-know-what job here because I believe Jason and you all reading are owed more than that.</p><p>We've had our moments.&nbsp; My style is very simple.&nbsp; I'm blunt, honest, and to the point.&nbsp; I accept that because of that, people will either love me or hate me.&nbsp; I'd like you to love me, but I don't lose any sleep over it.&nbsp; If you hate me, sorry, but I'm not changing.&nbsp; I'm passionate about what I believe in, and I like to think I bring that passion to what I write about.&nbsp; Love me or hate me, it's me.&nbsp; I don't put on my editorial voice, mainly because I don't have one.&nbsp; I have one voice, and it starts at my heart and works its way out to the keyboard.</p><p>A few thanks are in order:</p><p>To Joe, Lita, and Michael: thanks for joining at the beginning.&nbsp; I couldn't have started the site without you guys.</p><p>To Jeff, the new Executive Editor of Apple Thoughts, what else can I say?&nbsp; Without you, there's no way I could've kept this site going.&nbsp; Essentially, it's been a two-man operation for so long I can't even remember what it was like before you started.&nbsp; You're my right hand man, a great friend, and I know that when I walk away and leave this site in your hands, you'll take good care of it and be a great steward for the community we've started to create here.</p><p>To the readers: Thank you.&nbsp; You didn't let me get away with anything, and no matter how many "spirited" discussions we had, I always knew we shared a common interest.&nbsp; This is Apple Thoughts.&nbsp; We're Apple fans in some form.&nbsp; Writers and Editors make this a news site, but you all make it a community.&nbsp; Without you, there is no us.</p><p>To the Thoughts Media team: You guys kick ass.&nbsp; Seriously.&nbsp; You all don't get enough credit for what you do. Darius, Fabrizio, and all the others I've worked with since starting this gig...&nbsp; You've all made this something I could do.&nbsp; I always knew I had a shoulder to lean on when needed.</p><p>Finally to Jason Dunn, this was a great opportunity.&nbsp; I only wish I could've made more of it and stayed on forever.&nbsp; Sure, you're a Microsoft guy.&nbsp; Sure you hate Apple.&nbsp; Sure you hate Steve Jobs.&nbsp; That's fine.&nbsp; The fact that you let this site even exist in the first place is proof enough for me that you're a more openminded guy than I ever gave you credit for.&nbsp; Thoughts Media is your baby, and you're raising one hell of a kid.&nbsp; Thanks for being a friend for all these years.</p><p>This isn't goodbye, everyone.&nbsp; It's just me walking away from the day to day.&nbsp; The community, though, won't be getting rid of me any time soon.&nbsp; I'll still be around the forums and you can still yell at me as needed!</p><p>Thank you for everything, to all of you.</p><p>Your pal,</p><p>Vincenzo.</p>

[Darius Wey]

What is it they say about all good things?

They come to those who wait? ;)

In all seriousness, thanks for all your contributions over the past 8-9 months, Vincent. Without you, Apple Thoughts never would have got to where it is today. I look forward to reading many more of your passionate posts in the forums.

[encece]

Good Luck...you'll be missed. Hope the site doesnt fall to crap now that you're gone! :D And don't worry about the haters out there...some people just hate for the sake of it! Viva la Apple!

[encece]

And good luck Jeff! :D

[ptyork]

Definitely won't be the same without you. Half the fun is watching (and/or instigating) the controversy that ensues when an Apple bull is let loose in the Microsoft shop. I hope you keep your word and stick around as part of the community. You are needed!

[treestman]

Your bluntness and honesty is just what the Mac community needed. It's what we used to get even as recently as a few years ago, but it's changed.

Too many Mac blogs/bloggers today want to tip-toe around the Apple bashers because they need to keep them coming back. So they call Apple out for BS stuff in a silly attempt to appear unbiased and not be branded as "fanbois". Anything to keep the >90% non-Mac community in play.

Oh well, sorry to see you go, but life goes on and the sun comes up in the morning. Good luck moving on.

[Jason Dunn]

You've done a great job with Apple Thoughts Vinnie - I couldn't have asked for anything more in having someone lead this site. You'll be missed...but I do hope you'll stick around and make your presence felt in the forums. :)

Sure, you're a Microsoft guy.&nbsp; Sure you hate Apple.&nbsp; Sure you hate Steve Jobs.&nbsp; That's fine.&nbsp; The fact that you let this site even exist in the first place is proof enough for me that you're a more openminded guy than I ever gave you credit for.

Hehe. This gave me a chuckle. :D I don't hate Apple, and I don't hate Steve Jobs. I just think he's a douchebag - a visionary, yes, but a douchebag nonetheless. I don't hate the man, though if he was sitting across the table from me at a dinner party I doubt I could tolerate him. Who knows, maybe he's feel the same thing about me! :cool:

At any rate, while I may not chose Apple products for various reasons, I certainly don't begrudge anyone buying Apple products if they do what the person needs them to do. And ultimately that's why this site exists - because I know there's a strong, and growing, market out there for Apple products and I felt it was important to give those people a news and community site.

[crimsonsky]

Thanks for the great job you've done, Vincent. Yeah - no one will ever accuse you of being boring. :)

Yeah, I was kind of rocked when I saw a Thoughts Media site for Apple. I thought maybe Jason had left the planet and someone pulled a fast one on him! :)

At any rate, Vincent, I think you really set a standard here for what a good Apple-focused site should be and I rate this site among my favourites. I am in the way of thinking you're actually way more passionate about Apple than I am (I have serious qualms with both Steve Jobs and Apple the company even though I adore their products). And I love that you're not wishy-washy about your opinions and yet remain open to what others have to say.

Good luck with your day job - I hope it all turns out well. Thanks again for everything you've done here.

[crimsonsky]

I don't hate Apple, and I don't hate Steve Jobs. I just think he's a douchebag - a visionary, yes, but a douchebag nonetheless. I don't hate the man, though if he was sitting across the table from me at a dinner party I doubt I could tolerate him. Who knows, maybe he's feel the same thing about me! :cool:

Yep, I feel pretty much the same way. Nothing I've read about him makes me think I would like him at all.

But it seems a lot of visionaries have personality issues. From what I understand, Bill Gates isn't the most pleasant person either, although he gets huge kudos in my book for his charitable work.

[Macguy59]

Don't know how I missed this Vincent, but your frequent rants will be missed :p I enjoy your passion for all things Apple and your experience with the products. Speaking of douche bags, Ballmer has to be 1b