This was an incredible piece. His earnestness and clarity is very evident, and you can tell he was once just a very curious kid with a sharp ability to focus. I'm grateful to have read it.<p>At the same time, I can't help but feel like he's talking directly to me. This is the kind of person who impacts you just through the sheer fact that he -lived-. As for the people harping about the notion of stress that he mentions at the end, I think it's meant differently. I think he means he's happy to have achieved what he has.<p>I also just watched his talk "How we stopped SOPA", and his speaking style echoed this article.<p>There is a quote that I've always tried to live by, which I think sums up Aaron's spirit.<p><i>"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars."</i>