FC: T.J. Rodgers interview: It's all about capitalism

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

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And a sidebar:
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,34969,00.html
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http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,35051,00.html

                      It's All About Capitalism
                      by Declan McCullagh (declan () wired com)
                      3:00 a.m. Mar. 20, 2000 PST


                      T.J. Rodgers is mad about grapes.

                      The outspoken CEO and co-founder of Cypress
                      Semiconductor is on the phone in his San Jose office,
                      berating his supplier for selling someone else a prize
                      collection of Pinot Noir root stocks from France.

                      "I'm sorry," Rodgers says to his visitor as he
                      bends over a topographic map of his hilltop
                      winery. "Grape emergency."

                      Next to the computer-generated rendition is
                      a hefty report listing levels of mangesium,
                      calcium, boron, and phosphorous in the soil,
                      and when delving into the details of his
                      hobby, Rodgers tosses out phrases like "then
                      you start extrapolating your ripeness curve."

                      Rodgers, an engineer by training with a PhD
                      from Stanford University, is almost as intense
                      and methodical about making wine as he is
                      about manufacturing computer chips.

                      His demanding and frugal management style
                      -- Cypress' boardroom is characteristically
                      modest, with scant decoration except a
                      reproduction of the U.S. Declaration of
                      Independence -- is either legendary or
                      notorious, depending on who's describing it.

                      A Business Week cover story once dubbed
                      Rodgers "The Bad Boy of Silicon Valley," and
                      his temperment has been likened to Apple
                      CEO Steve Jobs, whose bullying of
                      subordinates is infamous.

                      But compared to his politics, the way
                      Rodgers runs Cypress is as noncontroversial
                      as the national anthem.

                      [...]

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