On July 5 , 2017 , Stephens announced that he was effectively blind due to cataracts . Although he suggested that his eyesight would be restored in 10 days , as of August 14 , 2017 , he claimed he was still blind . On January 2 , 2018 , Stephens reported that his eye surgery was complete and that he could see again . On October 13 , 2017 , Stephens posted a photo of his home taken as he and his family fled the October 2017 Northern California wildfires . It is presumed that the home burned along with thousands of other homes
October 2017 Northern California wildfires
October 2017 Northern California wildfires
Robert X. Cringely