On Alan Kay
In 2000 (if memory serves), I had the privilege of watching Alan Kay present at Microsoft Research.
As a Smalltalker, I had a tremendous amount of respect for his work, but I was completely blown away by him and his presentation (all done in Squeak).
He chastised us (Microsoft and the industry) for all the unfulfilled promise that he had outlined years before. We deserved it.
Alan turned 70 on May 17.
His friends and co-workers (including Gordon Bell, Chuck Thacker, and Butler Lampson) have written him a book.
It is available online (donations welecome) at http://vpri.org/pov/
It is worth reading.
We still have a lot of work to do.