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Picture: Adam Patrick Murray / Foundry
My colleague and co-conspirator Gordon Mah Ung handed away this weekend, after a battle with most cancers.
I’m heartbroken. Gordon is the journalist and the individual I need to be once I develop up.
However you possibly can examine why in PCWorld’s obituary for Gordon. I’m right here to have fun my good friend of 15 years, so as an alternative I need to discuss my favourite Full Nerd episode—which isn’t even a Full Nerd episode in any respect. As an alternative, it’s a 2017 episode of CES After Darkish, which, on this case, had a Full Nerd mission and 100% extra liquor.
Each night time of that CES six years in the past, a duo of journalists from our editorial staff streamed from a sofa in a Vegas resort room, interviewed by our then-video lead, Tyler Larsen, who was dressed to the nines in a tuxedo. The present caught to a strict 30-minute time restrict. Till the ultimate night time.
“CES After Darkish Episode 3 masking Day 2”
By this level in CES schedule, most of our fellow reporters have been flying out of Vegas. Gordon and I had one other day on the town as a result of HARDCORE! So, we have been the pair for the ultimate episode, with Adam manning the digital camera offscreen and shouting out questions from viewers.
I can’t bear in mind who got here up with the concept, nevertheless it was genius: It was the tip of an action-packed week in Vegas, and since this was the final night time of the present, we’d get free.
We lined the espresso desk in Doritos baggage and Metamucil. Kyle loosened his collar. Gordon wore a beanie hat lined in hundos. Somebody ran downstairs to seize these scrumptious 3-foot-tall margaritas you’ll find in all places in Vegas. However though the vibe was looser, the 30-minute time restrict was imagined to be the identical.
However not whenever you’ve received Gordon and I slamming gigantic margs and riffing in regards to the cool shit we noticed in Vegas! We saved speaking for damned close to an hour and solely wrapped up as a result of Tyler was wrapping it up (lmao). We utterly derailed all plans by going Full Nerd in the course of the guerrilla livestream. I really like the reminiscence so, a lot.
I re-watched “CES After Darkish Episode 3 masking Day 2” once I heard about Gordon’s passing. And now I’m sharing with you as a result of this episode completely encapsulates how great and splendidly distinctive Gordon was.
Gordon’s household has launched a GoFundMe to assist cowl bills. Please donate to them in the event you can.
Gordon commanded a room higher than anyone else I’ve ever seen—and I’ve seen Gordon in rooms with main CEOs and infinite YouTubers. His attraction completely oozes all through the video, ranting about then-new GeForce Now gaming subscriptions (take a shot, Full Nerd devoted) and tossing off one-liners whereas consuming a ridiculous monstrosity and sporting a beanie lined in $100 payments. You couldn’t assist however be riveted by what the person says!
However a bunch of jokes wouldn’t have taken 57 minutes to inform. And that’s how Gordon labored his magic.
Gordon confirmed PC fans the sunshine. Typically utilizing an enormous honkin’ tactical flashlight.
Adam Patrick Murray / Foundry
Sure, Gordon’s Gordonness saved you enthralled. However his true objective was discovering and talking the reality. And “CES After Darkish Episode 3 masking Day 2” is a masterclass in that.
Watching the video once more, I’m amazed at simply how a lot info Gordon managed to pack into simply 57 minutes, particularly with Tyler and I blabbing a bunch.
Off the bat, Gordon brings actual perception into the Dell XPS he checked out, telling you about its “big-ass battery” and “actual keyboard” in comparison with the Mac. Later, he doesn’t hesitate to carry up that a lot of the debut Ryzen motherboards seemed fairly damned low cost (let the document present they certainly have been in comparison with Intel counterparts).
He relentlessly sprinkles in info reported from firsthand sources—I’ve all the time been jealous of Gordon’s rolodex—and makes use of that together together with his deep-rooted computing experience to ship really insightful evaluation of CES’s infinite highlight reveals. He offers everybody watching not only a regurgitation of the fireplace hydrant of reports, however actual reporting to dig deeper into that information, after which contextualizing it in a manner that will get throughout what really mattered, and why it did.
Gordon refused to let the host get a phrase in edge-wise whereas we have been discussing and debating deeply nerdy materials, as a result of he wasn’t able to wrap it up but. He had extra to say. His focus was on telling the individuals the reality, all the time. Gordon introduced takes, however they have been backed by receipts.
And that’s the reality about Gordon. Positive, he would possibly’ve cranked up his persona a bit for movies, however he wasn’t a persona. The Gordon is the Gordon . He was personable, and humorous, and hard-working, and deeply related, and curmudgeonly, and sensible, and honest, and sincere, and he was totally devoted to being a journalist and presenting the reality as he noticed it.
There’s a purpose he by no means accepted a job in company advertising and marketing regardless of the promise of far extra money than journalism ever might. Gordon was Clark Kent, personified (if Clark Kent was continuously enraged by Microsoft Groups).
Like I stated: I’m heartbroken. Gordon is the journalist and the individual I need to be once I develop up. The world is worse with out him, and I’m higher as a result of I knew him. Relaxation in peace, good friend.
Gordon’s household has launched a GoFundMe to assist cowl bills. Please donate to them in the event you can.
Creator: Brad Chacos, Govt Editor, PCWorld
Brad Chacos spends his days digging by means of desktop PCs and tweeting an excessive amount of. He makes a speciality of graphics playing cards and gaming, however covers all the things from safety to Home windows suggestions and all method of PC {hardware}.
