Grooveshark co-founder, 28, found dead in home(gainesville.com)
gainesville.com
Grooveshark co-founder, 28, found dead in home
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20150720/ARTICLES/150729990
162 comments
I'm sorry for the loss of your friend.
Grooveshark was my absolute favourite website for close to a half a decade, I can't even count the hours I spent listening to it.
Grooveshark was my absolute favourite website for close to a half a decade, I can't even count the hours I spent listening to it.
I echo your sentiments. I felt that it was the music service that put its users' experience before all other concerns (which surely lead to its legal issues). When there was a song I wanted to listen to, I came back to it time and time again, rebuffing Spotify and its ilk.
Same here. I was an early adopter and they maintained early adopter pricing until the end. I think I joined in 2009. I lived in 3 different countries and 5 different cities since then, and my playlists on Grooveshark were one of the few constants. I resisted using any other phone besides Android because of the app (which wasn't even on the app store) and only moved to an iPhone after they had been shut down.
I am going to miss it sorely.
I am going to miss it sorely.
This site gave me peace during my lows through music.
Rest in peace my friend.
Absolutely. Spotify be damned. Grooveshark felt like Audiogalaxy done by professionals.
Really glad you got to see Josh, Travis. I too remember "this too shall pass" and all the optimism he shared. I'm a bit jealous you got pitched by Josh to join Grooveshark because by the time I joined, I had to pitch him! And he somehow convinced me that working at Grooveshark was a privilege (it was) and I would be happy being the intern until my employee status was granted. I'm pretty sure I bear hugged Josh the day he told me I was going to receive a paycheck! ha! Among all the lessons Josh taught me, the most important one was that persistence pays off. And without a doubt, Josh had determination in spades.
Such a sad day.
Such a sad day.
My step-sister dated Josh for a while when I was growing up.
My few memories of him consist mostly of Josh explaining technology to me at the dinner table in slow, careful words so that a middle school kid could understand. I remember him laughing with me about the crazy/terrible things I had done to overclock my Android Dev Phone 1 at a time when no one else I knew thought that was interesting. I remember feeling really cool when he hooked me up with free Grooveshark premium to be nice.
It's strange. I haven't seen or heard from him in nearly a decade. He stopped dating my step-sister years ago. He likely wouldn't have remembered my name if you asked him.
Still, I feel like a friend is gone.
My few memories of him consist mostly of Josh explaining technology to me at the dinner table in slow, careful words so that a middle school kid could understand. I remember him laughing with me about the crazy/terrible things I had done to overclock my Android Dev Phone 1 at a time when no one else I knew thought that was interesting. I remember feeling really cool when he hooked me up with free Grooveshark premium to be nice.
It's strange. I haven't seen or heard from him in nearly a decade. He stopped dating my step-sister years ago. He likely wouldn't have remembered my name if you asked him.
Still, I feel like a friend is gone.
I hope this doesn't come off as too selfish, but I hope that I can do things/interact with people that leaves a meaningful bond long after the relationship has "ended" Maybe paying it forward is the best thing to do in his memory.
I think we don't even realise the impact we can have on people, deliberate or otherwise. Years ago, when I finished highschool, this guy came up to me and said "thanks for acting normal to me, it really helped me through the last four years". I kinda knew he got bullied, but I never really realized how much it bothered him or how my interaction with him affected him. He was just this guy, and on occasion I'd talk to him if I saw him in the hallways.
Since then, I've always had the feeling that you don't really have to try hard to have a meaningful impact on other people's lives. Just be nice in general and you'll have more impact than you can imagine.
Since then, I've always had the feeling that you don't really have to try hard to have a meaningful impact on other people's lives. Just be nice in general and you'll have more impact than you can imagine.
I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
I don't think that's selfish. When someone dies, it's very normal and healthy to reflect on how we spend our own time, as we're reminded of how precious it is.
Honestly man, other than money that's all we can leave behind. Strive to do your best so that when you leave this world people miss you. That's how you know you did a good job.
Definitely not selfish man. People can only maintain something like 150 relationships at any given time. But if you leave behind something each person you're no longer in contact with can use... Well that makes a real difference for those people, even if it's in a small way.
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Thank you for sharing this.
I love anecdotes like this. It really proves to me that good people live on in the people's lives they touch. It is like a hidden network of people that all hold a piece of the person.
I went to the same high school; he was two years ahead. I didn't know him well, but he was always pleasant. Our high school generated a lot of talented technical types, and the graduating classes remain a pretty small community. My feeling is that the high school reunions just got a little smaller.
I didn't know Josh, but sent Grooveshark an email when I was starting to hack together something cool using their APIs. Quick response, many thanks for being interested and a free year of Grooveshark Premium. A clear culture of enthusiasm and love.
I interned at Grooveshark two summers ago; Josh incredibly changed my life for the better. The Summer with the Sharks program was transformative and catapulted me out of Louisiana and into the world of tech. He's such a happy and charismatic personality; the company outings, like going to Disneyworld, are some of my best memories.
Talk about a life gone too soon. I'm pouring one out for Josh tonight.
Talk about a life gone too soon. I'm pouring one out for Josh tonight.
what part of Louisiana are you from? I don't meet many others from my neck of the woods in tech
Slidell. I went to school at LaTech for a year and a half. I I recently found a fellow Google intern who's from Slidell as well, but we'd never met previously because we went to rival highschools.
Wow, I never thought I'd run into someone else from Slidell on here. Did you go to Northshore High, by any chance?
I went to Slidell High; the other Google intern went to Northshore. And now one more from Slidell. I love how the internet brought us all together even though we were previously so close but didn't know it.
I'm also from Slidell. What a surprise seeing this thread here on HN today. Went to Slidell High, too. Cheers.
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Never really expected to see LaTech mentioned on HN … I graduated from there back in 95.
This news both both shocking and painful.
When I started my company, Josh was the first person to take a chance with our nacent technology.
When Grooveshark recently shut down, I sent him a note telling him how sad I was to hear about their great service being shut down, and referneced roosevelt's The Man in the Arena poem.
Josh wrote back:
> Thanks man… I appreciate the kind words and also absolutely love that quote. > We’re not done yet… Grooveshark’s chapter is over but I’m at least happy to be free of the dark cloud and excited to move onto new things. > Onward and upward… > This is my personal email address by the way, so please do keep in touch. > Best of luck with everything at Metrical… hang in there. > Josh
Always positive, supportive and kind, he was a mentor to me despite our considerable age difference. I'll miss him.
When I started my company, Josh was the first person to take a chance with our nacent technology.
When Grooveshark recently shut down, I sent him a note telling him how sad I was to hear about their great service being shut down, and referneced roosevelt's The Man in the Arena poem.
Josh wrote back:
> Thanks man… I appreciate the kind words and also absolutely love that quote. > We’re not done yet… Grooveshark’s chapter is over but I’m at least happy to be free of the dark cloud and excited to move onto new things. > Onward and upward… > This is my personal email address by the way, so please do keep in touch. > Best of luck with everything at Metrical… hang in there. > Josh
Always positive, supportive and kind, he was a mentor to me despite our considerable age difference. I'll miss him.
Josh was an incredible man. He was an inspiration, and everybody that knew him admired him. Always friendly and helpful to everyone. He supported me professionally both while I was at Grooveshark and after I left, and I owe so much to him. This is very sad to hear.
To say that Josh had a positive effect on those around him is a severe understatement. I only conversed with him a few times over the last two years, but am left with a heavy heart this morning after seeing the pain of the Gainesville community.
My heart goes out to his girlfriend and all of those with tears running down their cheeks since last night. Rest in peace, and thanks for all you have done.
My heart goes out to his girlfriend and all of those with tears running down their cheeks since last night. Rest in peace, and thanks for all you have done.
When will we realize that as entrepreneurs, founders and creators that we have to support each other?
Let's have an open door policy when a fellow entrepreneur reaches out to us to ask for help, advise or just wants to talk to someone who can relate to what they are going through in starting, running and growing a new business or just life in general.
There are those in our community who wake up and live breathe and are motivated by a mission to make an impact in the world. Its not all about the money. The true leaders of our generation are motivated by being of service to others.
It costs no money to make a friend in your own community and let's not try to be so cut throat. We are the ones fighting giants who are failing every day to adjust their strategies to adopt to a new generation who could care less of "how it's always been done."
RIP Josh. You will be missed by everyone.
Let's have an open door policy when a fellow entrepreneur reaches out to us to ask for help, advise or just wants to talk to someone who can relate to what they are going through in starting, running and growing a new business or just life in general.
There are those in our community who wake up and live breathe and are motivated by a mission to make an impact in the world. Its not all about the money. The true leaders of our generation are motivated by being of service to others.
It costs no money to make a friend in your own community and let's not try to be so cut throat. We are the ones fighting giants who are failing every day to adjust their strategies to adopt to a new generation who could care less of "how it's always been done."
RIP Josh. You will be missed by everyone.
Keep in mind that there are health conditions that can kill seemingly healthy young adults instantly - aneurisms, heart attacks, brain cancers, and others.
I'm reminded of one of my dogs dying of hemangiosarcoma - a cancer of the blood vessel linings that thankfully only happens to dogs, not humans. In many cases, the way we find out a dog has hemangiosarcoma is that the dog suddenly just drops dead. (In Rubu's case, it was three weeks from the first symptoms.) There are similarly fast and deadly cancers in humans.
I'm reminded of one of my dogs dying of hemangiosarcoma - a cancer of the blood vessel linings that thankfully only happens to dogs, not humans. In many cases, the way we find out a dog has hemangiosarcoma is that the dog suddenly just drops dead. (In Rubu's case, it was three weeks from the first symptoms.) There are similarly fast and deadly cancers in humans.
Yeah. Deaths from undiagnosed heart conditions make the news every so often when it happens to young athletes. Sometimes very young. I believe just in the past few years, defibrillators have become standard equipment at football grounds in Spain and England.
Undiagnosed conditions aside, there is also commotio cordis, which I believe has killed a number of high school sportsmen.
Commotio cordis (Latin, "agitation of the heart") is an often lethal disruption of heart rhythm that occurs as a result of a blow to the area directly over the heart (the precordial region), at a critical time during the cycle of a heart beat causing cardiac arrest. It is a form of ventricular fibrillation (V-Fib), not mechanical damage to the heart muscle or surrounding organs, and not the result of heart disease. The fatality rate is about 65%.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commotio_cordis
Yes. A girl in my high school died of a brain aneurysm right in PE class. Perfectly healthy, by all appearances, then... gone, like turning out a light. As I recall, they said that she'd likely had it since birth.
Sad news.
Josh created a service that was a pleasure to use. I discovered so much music using it.
When Grooveshark closed, I moved to Spotify, which, IMO, has a very long way to go before it becomes what Grooveshark was in terms of music diversity.
Josh created a service that was a pleasure to use. I discovered so much music using it.
When Grooveshark closed, I moved to Spotify, which, IMO, has a very long way to go before it becomes what Grooveshark was in terms of music diversity.
As soon as I read the headline I was scared to read Josh's name in the article. I had the opportunity to interview him for a book, and I placed his interview at the very beginning of the book because I personally found it one of the most interesting. At the end of that phone call I thought to myself: if I was in Florida I would love to work with this guy. RIP Josh.
If I were to list all the great bands/music I discovered on Grooveshark, and all the music from my childhood that I rediscovered, I would surely run into some kind of comment length limit here.
RIP man, your work touched lives.
RIP man, your work touched lives.
"toxicology results would be done in two or three months"
This seems like a long time, is it normal?
This seems like a long time, is it normal?
Yes. I had a relative die of morphine OD (needles! were still there next to him). It took months for confirmation from the medical examiner.
Not excessively (it's not excessively long, yes it's normal). Toxicology is usually at least 8 weeks unless we're talking about someone famous enough to have it rushed.
Real life is not a CSI episode, also labs have a limited processing ability
But maybe tests are done in stages? Like, if nothing obvious shows up on first tests then some other ones are done?
But maybe tests are done in stages? Like, if nothing obvious shows up on first tests then some other ones are done?
I don't think anyone is expecting "enhance enhance enhance ah, this person had $SUBSTANCE in their blood", but months does feel a bit long.
It'd be interesting to see what the bottlenecks are and how to improve them.
It'd be interesting to see what the bottlenecks are and how to improve them.
State and local gov't funding level for forensic labs. It costs money to do it correctly, and nobody wants to spend that kind of money, even though we wind up paying more, and imprisoning people wrongly.
http://www.texastribune.org/2013/04/05/commission-looks-misc...
Harris county, Texas just recently got a new one because of similarly disturbing corruption and incompetence.
http://www.harriscountytx.gov/ifs/
http://www.texastribune.org/2013/04/05/commission-looks-misc...
Harris county, Texas just recently got a new one because of similarly disturbing corruption and incompetence.
http://www.harriscountytx.gov/ifs/
Pathetic they can get millions to militarize the police, or a super high tech bomb squad vehicle/robots/xrays to investigate a bunch of abandoned suitcases, but they are suddenly poor when it comes to financing something that could actually save lives.
in the case where, say, a serial rapist/killer hasn't been caught, there can be a backlog of untested DNA from other crime scenes that may identify the suspect, but haven't been tested because of the backlog.
in the case where, say, a serial rapist/killer hasn't been caught, there can be a backlog of untested DNA from other crime scenes that may identify the suspect, but haven't been tested because of the backlog.
Yep. They're currently in the same building as a big medical incucellerbator. The Nabisco building is silly big.
I understand it's mostly volume of requests vs available lab techs.
I used to work at a drug testing facility. Our typical test urine and saliva took 3 major steps.
1) Negative Screening (6hrs) - Figuring out what compounds show up initially. Special dyes were use to identify potential compounds. Not conclusive but narrows down the next steps
2) Extraction (10 - 18 hrs) - Separate the target compounds from the rest of compounds/proteins in the sample fluid.
3) Postive Certification via GCMS (2hrs - 16hrs) - The extracted compounds were ionized (broken into predictable pieces) then sent through the GCMS to where a signal signature determined.
Each step included equipment expensive materials and equipment. The last step is was the most expensive and error prone. The GCMS machines need maintenance and calibration. They cost anywhere from $30,000 to $70,000.
Sometimes we lost samples because the machine would lose it's calibration and wouldn't be enough to start another set. We took in samples on a national scale, but I can see how a smaller non-commercial lab accumulate a large backlog.
This was like 10 years ago but I don't see the technology changing that much.
1) Negative Screening (6hrs) - Figuring out what compounds show up initially. Special dyes were use to identify potential compounds. Not conclusive but narrows down the next steps
2) Extraction (10 - 18 hrs) - Separate the target compounds from the rest of compounds/proteins in the sample fluid.
3) Postive Certification via GCMS (2hrs - 16hrs) - The extracted compounds were ionized (broken into predictable pieces) then sent through the GCMS to where a signal signature determined.
Each step included equipment expensive materials and equipment. The last step is was the most expensive and error prone. The GCMS machines need maintenance and calibration. They cost anywhere from $30,000 to $70,000.
Sometimes we lost samples because the machine would lose it's calibration and wouldn't be enough to start another set. We took in samples on a national scale, but I can see how a smaller non-commercial lab accumulate a large backlog.
This was like 10 years ago but I don't see the technology changing that much.
I wouldn't doubt it. I imagine it's due to a backlog and lack of funding.
Each test runs quickly, but there is likely a huge backup.
It depends on the lab's backlog. When I worked as an evidence technician, it would sometimes be six months or more between dropping off the samples and getting the results. I had one murder case that took nearly two years to get back, longer than my time in that position.
It's sadly pretty typical.
Just awful. My condolences to his family and friends. Josh accomplished more in 28 years than most do in a lifetime, yet he had so much of his life left to live. Life is precious, and we can't waste a second of it.
"Now hurry up and move to the US so you can come hang out and meet the team! ;-)" These were Josh's last words to me on an email.
Sad. Grooveshark always allowed me to find stuff I had a hard time finding otherwise. Good memories with my son when he was between one and two dancing in our little apartment living room to music from grooveshark. Condolences to family and friends. I don't know him, but he made something that has a part of several really good memories.
It's no small understatement to say that I, and countless others, would not be where we are today without Josh, his mentorship, and his kind spirit. The world is a little darker today without him, but his influence will make it shine brighter still. Thanks for everything you taught us Josh, I hope you've found peace.
I only knew Josh through his creation, Grooveshark, and it was truly an excellent company. I was very sad the day it shut down. From those who knew him personally he sounds like a true mensch. I wish I had the opportunity to know you, Josh.
"No man is an island, Entire of itself, Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manor of thy friend's Or of thine own were: Any man's death diminishes me, Because I am involved in mankind..."
I'll be saying a prayer and pouring one out for you tonight.
"No man is an island, Entire of itself, Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manor of thy friend's Or of thine own were: Any man's death diminishes me, Because I am involved in mankind..."
I'll be saying a prayer and pouring one out for you tonight.
Rest in peace, young man.
Grooveshark was a fantastic service and the music brought joy to thousands of music lovers. Thank you.
Grooveshark was a fantastic service and the music brought joy to thousands of music lovers. Thank you.
... toxicology results will take two or three months.
Wow, for people close to him, waiting for the results, that time must feel like an eternity. Why does it take that long?
Wow, for people close to him, waiting for the results, that time must feel like an eternity. Why does it take that long?
"Now hurry up and move to the US so you can come hang out and meet the team! ;-)"
Josh's last words to me on an email.
Josh's last words to me on an email.
Can anyone explained to me that why Grooveshark did not convert into the same model as of Pandora or Spotify?
Maybe this is an explanation: https://medium.com/@492727ZED/steve-jobs-made-warner-music-s...
I've never known him. I'm not from that side of earth and I never knew about Grooveshark. But I feel I've lost him; we've lost him. With teary eyes, my good wishes go to all who share this loss in substance or in spirit.
Rest in peace Josh.
This is really sad. I study in UF while Grooveshark was taking off. I never met Josh but Grooveshark was creating a great startup vibe in Gainesville. I kept using it long after I moved to Seattle. Condolences to family and friends.
So sad. Not just the loss for his family and friends, but to lose an entrepreneur with all that wisdom that comes from the experience he had. We may have also lost the several more great startups that he would have created. RIP.
Ugh :( ... He was one of our favorite customers, and an insanely nice guy. Every time we got new company schwag, we'd swap! We were all a bit floored upon hearing this. My condolences to his family and friends.
Sad day. I'm good friends with Josh's younger brother and study at UF. It was definitely clear that the two of them shared the same sense of wonder and awe when it came to technology.
So sad to hear this, he was a very nice guy and extremely friendly.
Jeez we've lost a lot of good people in the past couple years.
I never knew him and scarcely used GrooveShark. But reading through these comments it is clear we've lost a wonderful guy. Very sad this happened to him. Rest in peace, Josh.
Very sad. My heartfelt condolences go out to the family.
I had the pleasure of talking with Josh on more than one occasion - what a great guy. This is real sad news.
Damn. It really sucks when a death gets clouded with confusion. Such a weird combination of emotion.
"toxicology results will take two or three months."
Did this bother anyone else?
Did this bother anyone else?
Considering that's how about the time period we were told to wait for my brother-in-law's toxicology report, no.
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R.I.P Josh :(
Fuuuuuuck. Sometimes I think I have a good handle on death, and what it means. Sometimes I think I understand it. Sometimes I think I don't fear it.
Then something like this happens and, just, _fuck_. I don't know how to handle it. Someone my age, doing something very similar to me, just dies. That's it. Story's over.
A few weeks ago I told my CEO that I intended to quit and pursue a dream that I've been wanting to pursue for a long time now. My boss seemed pretty surprised -- it's a really good job after all, with good pay, at a good company. I gave him an argument that began with, "I'm going to die. Not like, I'm going to die soon. I don't have a disease or anything. I don't know when it's going to happen, but it could happen soon." And then I went on to talk about pursuing said dream.
At the time it felt like a really silly argument -- like, I'm not even thirty yet and I'm thinking about how I'm going to die someday. Then something like this happens. And death feels so much closer, so much more real. Like a nightmare just waiting around the corner, ending my story before I'm done with it.
Then something like this happens and, just, _fuck_. I don't know how to handle it. Someone my age, doing something very similar to me, just dies. That's it. Story's over.
A few weeks ago I told my CEO that I intended to quit and pursue a dream that I've been wanting to pursue for a long time now. My boss seemed pretty surprised -- it's a really good job after all, with good pay, at a good company. I gave him an argument that began with, "I'm going to die. Not like, I'm going to die soon. I don't have a disease or anything. I don't know when it's going to happen, but it could happen soon." And then I went on to talk about pursuing said dream.
At the time it felt like a really silly argument -- like, I'm not even thirty yet and I'm thinking about how I'm going to die someday. Then something like this happens. And death feels so much closer, so much more real. Like a nightmare just waiting around the corner, ending my story before I'm done with it.
Yes, you are going to die. You are also going to pay your taxes, get a girlfriend, buy a house, travel, have crazy adventures, and do all the other boring, amazing, stupid, wonderful things people do.
I think it's a bit strange how people compare themselves and their lives to some imaginary metric, as if you need to get a certain number of points before the game ends. Sure, you can use strategy guides, wall bugs, and precise timing to win the prize as fast as you can with as high a score as you can. But the most important part of playing a game, much like living life, is not to win - it's to enjoy playing!
It's not silly to want to accomplish things and to work towards your goals right now. But don't let the eventuality of death be the reason you get off your butt. Make it that you just really want to get in the game and play.
I think it's a bit strange how people compare themselves and their lives to some imaginary metric, as if you need to get a certain number of points before the game ends. Sure, you can use strategy guides, wall bugs, and precise timing to win the prize as fast as you can with as high a score as you can. But the most important part of playing a game, much like living life, is not to win - it's to enjoy playing!
It's not silly to want to accomplish things and to work towards your goals right now. But don't let the eventuality of death be the reason you get off your butt. Make it that you just really want to get in the game and play.
I felt like you do now when I was your age. I had a nervous breakdown, in part because of my extreme fear of death. After the breakdown, I knew my life was over. Meaning the life I envisioned for myself was over. I just wasn't the same person. I felt like an alien.
Well, as the years went by, I managed to survive. Dying young is an anomaly. It's rare. Do what you want in your life, but you will probally make it to old age. It does go by quick, so have some fun. In my case, the fear of death lessened as I got older. The lessening of the fear of death might be the only thing that age offers? No--most fear went down with each year that passed. Some of it was learning? For instance, for years, I didn't declair a bankruptcy because I optimistically overstated my income on a credit card application. I talked to a good lawyer, and he said "You along with everyone else!". "Of course--no one admits it though?" (I not stating it's good to lie, but knowledge lessens fear. Along, with a good lawyer? Oh yea, if you live a risky life; get to know the legal system. Know those statute of limitations.) Again went off base, I just saying you will statistically make it old age.
Well, as the years went by, I managed to survive. Dying young is an anomaly. It's rare. Do what you want in your life, but you will probally make it to old age. It does go by quick, so have some fun. In my case, the fear of death lessened as I got older. The lessening of the fear of death might be the only thing that age offers? No--most fear went down with each year that passed. Some of it was learning? For instance, for years, I didn't declair a bankruptcy because I optimistically overstated my income on a credit card application. I talked to a good lawyer, and he said "You along with everyone else!". "Of course--no one admits it though?" (I not stating it's good to lie, but knowledge lessens fear. Along, with a good lawyer? Oh yea, if you live a risky life; get to know the legal system. Know those statute of limitations.) Again went off base, I just saying you will statistically make it old age.
I've spent the past few weeks going through the nervous breakdown you describe in your first paragraph.
A few years worth of stress (life/startup/etc.) managed to explode in a single night thanks to a rather traumatic experience with alcohol and hallucinogenic drugs, and in the weeks that have followed I've come to realize my anxieties come from this extreme fear of death/impermanence.
I'm still taking things day by day, and the panic attacks are passing more easily every day. I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your experience. Reading little things like this from other people has helped me more than I can express :)
A few years worth of stress (life/startup/etc.) managed to explode in a single night thanks to a rather traumatic experience with alcohol and hallucinogenic drugs, and in the weeks that have followed I've come to realize my anxieties come from this extreme fear of death/impermanence.
I'm still taking things day by day, and the panic attacks are passing more easily every day. I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your experience. Reading little things like this from other people has helped me more than I can express :)
Take it easy fellow "extension of this universe"! We are all in this together.
Like Alan Watts said "You are something that the whole universe is doing .... in the same way that a wave is something the whole ocean is doing".
I can't remember anything before I was born. That wasn't painful at all. Why should I assume that it will be different after I'm dead?
I'm sure even Marcus Aurelius got tired of talking about death at some point and simply went out to get a beer or hug a warm body. Let's go do that. :-)
Like Alan Watts said "You are something that the whole universe is doing .... in the same way that a wave is something the whole ocean is doing".
I can't remember anything before I was born. That wasn't painful at all. Why should I assume that it will be different after I'm dead?
I'm sure even Marcus Aurelius got tired of talking about death at some point and simply went out to get a beer or hug a warm body. Let's go do that. :-)
There's no need to perform a speculative autopsy on HN; I request the mods dispense strong guidance to posters in this thread.
Seconded; speculating about a person's demise before they're even in the ground is in stupendously bad taste. Family and friends (and others) don't want to read that crap. Give it a rest, people.
I would have no problem with public speculation about the manner of or motives behind the death of any of my friends or family.
Most speculation is a bunch of hot air, but such threads also provide a place to talk about the deceased and his works, and to talk about other, related things. I, for one, appreciate the vast majority of conversation attached to this HN post.
Most speculation is a bunch of hot air, but such threads also provide a place to talk about the deceased and his works, and to talk about other, related things. I, for one, appreciate the vast majority of conversation attached to this HN post.
On several scuba and climbing sites I visit, there is a strict separation between mourning a death and speculating/analyzing the cause.
It may be a little different here, but the experience with risky sports is that a thread examining the cause may include suggestions that the person was somewhat at fault.
Many of the people mourning someones passing would prefer such discussions not be interleaved with celebrating their accomplishments or friends grieving the loss.
I certainly think both conversations should happen. But humans being human, it isn't always the best thing for them to happen in the same place at the same time.
It may be a little different here, but the experience with risky sports is that a thread examining the cause may include suggestions that the person was somewhat at fault.
Many of the people mourning someones passing would prefer such discussions not be interleaved with celebrating their accomplishments or friends grieving the loss.
I certainly think both conversations should happen. But humans being human, it isn't always the best thing for them to happen in the same place at the same time.
First, my condolences to friends and family. Josh clearly touched a lot of people in his life. And Yes, it's a terrific custom. Remember there will probably be many folks who knew Josh that might stumble into this discussion (I hope so, as the testimonials might provide some comfort.)
I wish that HN was more like Metafilter in its ability to section off condolences and well-wishes threads from speculation threads.
Unfortunately, the method by which posts get to and stay on the front page ensure that HN will never be able to perform this sort of segmentation.
Unfortunately, the method by which posts get to and stay on the front page ensure that HN will never be able to perform this sort of segmentation.
Well that leaves it in the hands of caring individuals, intelligent sentient beings, to refrain from speculation here.
No need to call for a tech-solution, when the solution is simply to be found in human decency and kindness.
Having gone through a quite similar loss myself recently, I view things maybe slightly different and would not have liked reading/hearing speculation about fathers death while mourning his loss and having to deal with the shock of his last farewell.
No need to call for a tech-solution, when the solution is simply to be found in human decency and kindness.
Having gone through a quite similar loss myself recently, I view things maybe slightly different and would not have liked reading/hearing speculation about fathers death while mourning his loss and having to deal with the shock of his last farewell.
Your opening sentence implies that anyone who desires to engage in speculation is not a caring individual. Perhaps this is not what you intended.
I, too have lost enemies, acquaintances, friends, and family. My position regarding public speculation as to any aspect of each one's demise was the same then as it is now.
Metafilter's solution to the desire of some to engage in speculation and of others to not intermingle that speculation with well-wishes and sympathy is first and foremost a social one. Moderators and community participants steer misdirected conversation to the appropriate thread.
It is true that Mefi's software[0] makes this guidance far easier to achieve than HN's software [1]. Frankly, I'm quietly calling for a technical change that will allow the HN community to enact a large cultural change.
The technical change alone is woefully insufficient. Without a corresponding cultural change, speculation and well-wishes will remain intermixed.
[0] Anything posted by a member appears on the front page. The latest X posts are displayed on the front page. Posts fall off of the front page as new ones come in.
[1] Member posts must receive a certain -unknown- number of upvotes to appear on the front page. Posts that appear on the front page require a constant stream of additional votes in order to stay on the front page.
I, too have lost enemies, acquaintances, friends, and family. My position regarding public speculation as to any aspect of each one's demise was the same then as it is now.
Metafilter's solution to the desire of some to engage in speculation and of others to not intermingle that speculation with well-wishes and sympathy is first and foremost a social one. Moderators and community participants steer misdirected conversation to the appropriate thread.
It is true that Mefi's software[0] makes this guidance far easier to achieve than HN's software [1]. Frankly, I'm quietly calling for a technical change that will allow the HN community to enact a large cultural change.
The technical change alone is woefully insufficient. Without a corresponding cultural change, speculation and well-wishes will remain intermixed.
[0] Anything posted by a member appears on the front page. The latest X posts are displayed on the front page. Posts fall off of the front page as new ones come in.
[1] Member posts must receive a certain -unknown- number of upvotes to appear on the front page. Posts that appear on the front page require a constant stream of additional votes in order to stay on the front page.
> I would have no problem with public speculation about the manner of or motives behind the death of any of my friends or family.
Perhaps not, but speculating on cause of death is nonetheless considered in extremely poor taste. Most people _would_ have a problem with it.
Perhaps not, but speculating on cause of death is nonetheless considered in extremely poor taste. Most people _would_ have a problem with it.
> ...speculating on cause of death is nonetheless considered in extremely poor taste.
This feeling is far from universal. Never forget that most of us live in our own social bubble.
It would very be nice if -as braythwayt mentioned a little bit earlier- we could section off speculation from condolences and remembrances. Unfortunately, HN -with its relatively short lived posts, flat posting namespace, and votes-make-topics-stick-on-the-frontpage mechanism- is not able to meet this need.
This feeling is far from universal. Never forget that most of us live in our own social bubble.
It would very be nice if -as braythwayt mentioned a little bit earlier- we could section off speculation from condolences and remembrances. Unfortunately, HN -with its relatively short lived posts, flat posting namespace, and votes-make-topics-stick-on-the-frontpage mechanism- is not able to meet this need.
I know the knee-jerk reaction is to assume foul play, but I knew him a little bit and he was as healthy as an ox. Or at least he was several months ago the last time I saw him.
I don't know, but it would shock me to the bone if someone could truly get angry enough at a man like him, to try and hurt him. He knew like we all knew, Grooveshark was never going to last, but it reinforced the point that Napster proved and I think that was always one of the major goals of the project.
That being said, I wish all the best to the Grooveshark family. It's never easy to lose someone like that, it always is hard.
I don't know, but it would shock me to the bone if someone could truly get angry enough at a man like him, to try and hurt him. He knew like we all knew, Grooveshark was never going to last, but it reinforced the point that Napster proved and I think that was always one of the major goals of the project.
That being said, I wish all the best to the Grooveshark family. It's never easy to lose someone like that, it always is hard.
The article pretty much rules this out, no idea where you got the foul play angle from:
> "Lori Greenberg, his mother, said Monday he had no health problems and she was told by police who investigated Sunday night that there was no evidence of foul play, injuries or drugs."
> "Lori Greenberg, his mother, said Monday he had no health problems and she was told by police who investigated Sunday night that there was no evidence of foul play, injuries or drugs."
Actually, I wouldn't say the article rules out foul play at all. It simply states that the police found no evidence of foul play.
People can be killed in ways that are difficult to trace, especially before there is the benefit of autopsy results.
I am not suggesting that this is what happened in this case, I'm just saying that it is far from entirely ruled out.
People can be killed in ways that are difficult to trace, especially before there is the benefit of autopsy results.
I am not suggesting that this is what happened in this case, I'm just saying that it is far from entirely ruled out.
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That's a bit misleading. It says there was no evidence of drugs but then goes on to say that the toxicology report would take 2-3 months.
They probably just didn't see any drugs lying around. If he didn't have some sort of undiagnosed medical condition, he may have very well OD'd on something. Research chemicals, xanax and opiate combo, etc... It's fairly common for people to OD on those things and they're all readily available.
They probably just didn't see any drugs lying around. If he didn't have some sort of undiagnosed medical condition, he may have very well OD'd on something. Research chemicals, xanax and opiate combo, etc... It's fairly common for people to OD on those things and they're all readily available.
Toxicology results often take that long depending on how extensive the testing. Also people always jump right to the conclusion that drug abuse is suspected when they hear this. In a person his age and health with an unexpected death this type of test can be pretty standard and is often at the discretion of next of kin. These tests can help determine drug interactions and maybe assist someone in the future.
To give an anecdotal story. I use Diazepam to control muscle spasms and cramps caused by a neurological disorder.
I took my kids to an amusement park and took Dramamine (over the counter motion sickness medication) so I wouldn't get sick on the rides. About 20 minutes later I was a complete zombie, so bad I sat down and could not get back up because I was in such a stupor.
Turns out these two drugs have some serious interactions with each other, including sudden death and heart failure. To this day I consider myself lucky.
To give an anecdotal story. I use Diazepam to control muscle spasms and cramps caused by a neurological disorder.
I took my kids to an amusement park and took Dramamine (over the counter motion sickness medication) so I wouldn't get sick on the rides. About 20 minutes later I was a complete zombie, so bad I sat down and could not get back up because I was in such a stupor.
Turns out these two drugs have some serious interactions with each other, including sudden death and heart failure. To this day I consider myself lucky.
I know a lot of startup founders use stimulants like Adderall or modafinil to be more productive. It's not uncommon at all.
> It says there was no evidence of drugs but then goes on to say that the toxicology report would take 2-3 months.
Hard to believe it takes so long in the 21st century. Is that bureaucracy or science?
Hard to believe it takes so long in the 21st century. Is that bureaucracy or science?
Probably just their estimate of the toxicology backlog in Gainesville so bureaucracy.
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He was one of the most genuinely positive people I've ever known. He believed in you, even when you didn't believe in yourself. Everyone whose life he touched is a better person for it.
I'm going to miss him. He, and my years at Grooveshark, changed my life. He changed all of Gainesville.
I'm going to miss him. He, and my years at Grooveshark, changed my life. He changed all of Gainesville.
An unknown congenital heart defect seems more likely than someone killing him and leaving no visible signs. People with congenital defects can appear completely healthy right up until they die.
Coming off of such a stressful period with the lawsuit it may have been too much for a dormant underlying condition to handle.
A brain aneurysm can also do this, my friends mother in law died of one in her sleep while her husband slept next to her.
Yup. I know this all too well. When I was younger, my best friend was a soccer player and in great shape. He woke up one morning, went to take a shower before school, and just dropped dead in the shower. There was nothing anyone could do.
Undiagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Undiagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Well, there will be an autopsy to discover the cause of his death. Unattended deaths generally require them.
It appears to be Florida law, at least (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Displ...).
It appears to be Florida law, at least (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Displ...).
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I know the knee-jerk reaction is to assume foul play
What? Not at all. If I see a report of an untimely and otherwise mysterious death the most likely possibilities are some hidden medical condition or a drug/alcohol mishap. Murder isn't that common, or easy to disguise as an accident.
Sad loss for his family and friends.
What? Not at all. If I see a report of an untimely and otherwise mysterious death the most likely possibilities are some hidden medical condition or a drug/alcohol mishap. Murder isn't that common, or easy to disguise as an accident.
Sad loss for his family and friends.
Josh taught me that people, above everything else, are the most important part of a company. Sage advice that may seem obvious but too many fail to remember.
I only knew him briefly, but I'm grateful for the chance to have known him. The other commenters are right, he was an incredibly positive person, and he did change Gainesville for the better. A great loss. My thoughts are with his friends and his family.
I only knew him briefly, but I'm grateful for the chance to have known him. The other commenters are right, he was an incredibly positive person, and he did change Gainesville for the better. A great loss. My thoughts are with his friends and his family.
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curiousjorge(1)
terrible tragedy.. hopefully it wasn't suicide, grooveshark was a great product
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"Lori Greenberg, his mother, said Monday he had no health problems and she was told by police who investigated Sunday night that there was no evidence of foul play, injuries or drugs."
Then.. what the hell happened?
I don't want to play conspiracy too hard here -- could be she's hiding some health issues? but given the recording industry's links with aggressive legislation (TPP, piracy laws), this makes me wonder:
"Several record companies had sued the online music streaming service over copyright violations."
Then.. what the hell happened?
I don't want to play conspiracy too hard here -- could be she's hiding some health issues? but given the recording industry's links with aggressive legislation (TPP, piracy laws), this makes me wonder:
"Several record companies had sued the online music streaming service over copyright violations."
take it to reddit
From the day I took the job, I watched Josh tirelessly run through his pitch time and time again, always with the same attention to detail, and the same level of genuine interest in getting to know each candidate. He was frenetic and unflinching in his desire to succeed.
Josh cared about his team, and he never let the negative chains of events that plagued Grooveshark over the years get the best of him. He kept a sticker on his desk that said, "this too shall pass", and even in the worst times, he'd give a wry smile and crack a joke to let everyone know that things weren't as bad as they seemed.
I spoke with Josh at a bar downtown about two weeks ago, and he was again in good spirits. He had a new idea for a startup that he was preparing to begin work on in earnest, and he seemed genuinely excited about his path forward. In talking about Grooveshark, it was evident that closing that chapter in his life was a weight off his shoulders.
Needless to say, I'm extremely sad to see Josh go. He was a dear friend and a hell of a human being. He opened countless doors for hundreds of people and helped create a true startup community here in Gainesville. Josh, you will be sorely missed.