Retiring at 70
By Randal L. Schwartz
Having been in these pages since the beginning, it's now the beginning of the end. Next month, the magazine will change to a new format, and after 70 installments, this is the last column I'll be writing for Web Techniques. Rather than following my regular format this month, the editors and I thought it would be appropriate to give all of you loyal fans a peek at the inner workings of our six-year relationship.
How It All Started
In the latter part of 1995, Ray Valdes approached me. At the time, he was senior technical editor at Dr. Dobb's Journal. He had read the bi-monthly columns that I was writing for Unix Review, and asked whether I'd like to do a monthly Perl column for a new (and as-yet to be named) Web technology magazine that was being spun off from Dr. Dobb's. I recall telling him that I'd never been a "Webmaster" anywhere, except on my own smallish site at stonehenge.com. But I did know Perl, so as long as I could stay inside the areas with which I was familiar (or perhaps press outside them just a bit), I could probably write a few columns and see how it went.
Seventy columns later, I'm still on the payroll.
I'd like to thank the people who have edited my columns or worked with me to start the process, including (in approximate chronological order): Ray Valdes (whom I just mentioned), Jon Erickson, Mike Floyd, Bob Kaehms, Tami Zemel, Keri Hayes, Dale Dougherty, Elisa Welch, Rusa Vuong, Alan Zeichick (for one column while Bob was out on paternity leave), Amit Asaravala, Maggie Berry, Allison Post, and finally Neil McAllister.
