Valleywag
So, we have a pretty good idea about the identity of the writer who's been writing a spoof diary, sometimes achingly funny, of Apple's narcissistic founder. But let's first throw this to the wisdom of the crowd. The author's blog, Fake Steve Jobs, has been around since last autumn; I know from email correspondence that he's pitching a book deal; and timestamps on the blog show posts in the middle of the night, Pacific Time; and the Britticisms, like "chav" and "friggin", might point to a Brit. So who is it?
Here are some of the candidates, plucked from conversations I've had, and a thread on Rich Karlgaard's blog. David Morgenstern of Eweek; Harry Shearer, the actor and writer; Owen Thomas of Business 2.0, who used to write the snide Ditherati, Mark Stephens (aka Robert Cringely); Charles Jade, the Mac writer; Andy Ihnatko; Steve Jobs himself; Dylan Tweney of Wired; Sarah Lacy, the former Business Week writer. One rumor going around was that a Valleywag writer was moonlighting. Like I say, we have our suspicions, which we'll share. First, your guesses, with reasons why, in email or in the comments. Fire away!
Who is the Steve Jobs impersonator?
So, we have a pretty good idea about the identity of the writer who's been writing a spoof diary, sometimes achingly funny, of Apple's narcissistic founder. But let's first throw this to the wisdom of the crowd. The author's blog, Fake Steve Jobs, has been around since last autumn; I know from email correspondence that he's pitching a book deal; and timestamps on the blog show posts in the middle of the night, Pacific Time; and the Britticisms, like "chav" and "friggin", might point to a Brit. So who is it?
Here are some of the candidates, plucked from conversations I've had, and a thread on Rich Karlgaard's blog. David Morgenstern of Eweek; Harry Shearer, the actor and writer; Owen Thomas of Business 2.0, who used to write the snide Ditherati, Mark Stephens (aka Robert Cringely); Charles Jade, the Mac writer; Andy Ihnatko; Steve Jobs himself; Dylan Tweney of Wired; Sarah Lacy, the former Business Week writer. One rumor going around was that a Valleywag writer was moonlighting. Like I say, we have our suspicions, which we'll share. First, your guesses, with reasons why, in email or in the comments. Fire away!
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5:43 PM on Thu May 10 2007
By Nick Denton
2,451 views
17 comments
Comments
The argument for a Valleywag writer is pretty simple: the mere fact that it took so long before you got around to posting this item.
Hmm, narcissistic, British, blogger, Valleywag ... Denton?
The one person this is NOT is Jobs. A sense of humour about Steve Jobs? Pleeeeeeeze.
two words: bill gates
Konrad Kujau
@Mike Snow: It's only now that I have a good idea who FSJ is. What's your guess, smartass?
from an anonymous tipster...
http://www.wired.com/search?query=beschizza&x=0&y=0
works with tweney, started at wired (sponsors of FSJ) about the time the blog started, british, seems to avoid talking about apple despite being tech blogger, same sense of humor as FSJ.
but see what he says here about apple here:
http://www.bornrich.org/entry/rob-beschizza-cool-geek-of-t...
i suspect.
another tipster:
i saw dt in the wired bathroom wearing an apple thong. let me tell you its no nano.
another:
you're chasing wild geese thinking Fake Steve has a direct Brit connection.
And there are a few people who are close to him. Middle of the night time stamps? Shyte, matey, he doesn't post until about 0600 EST.
In real life FSJ is one of the funniest and most dead pan scribners ever to have ridden a subway.He is a scream and Fake Steve is just one of his outlets.
The back story of FSJ is even funnier than the reality. Lots of people have taken guesses but no one other than two of his former co-workers have ever gotten one in the ghoolies.
Namaste,
A friend of Fake Steve on an Ashram
What sort of contest has no prizes?!
Leander Kahney
Is "friggin" really a bristish term? I've heard it spoken on the East coast many, many times...
@Stephen Sclafani: Hey, so, Kahney's a strong candidate. What's your thinking?
@Nick Denton:
Just the obvious Apple and Wired connections and that the fake Steve has plugged Leander a couple times and he has done the same.
I'm cur
Here's my entry in to this context.
http://www.radioactivecode.com/?p=292
Who guessed Owen Thomas? Owen Thomas?
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