MVP Again
I'm delighted to be able to announce that I'm now an MVP again.
Google has reconsidered the situation and worked out a compromise: I now receive no significant gifts from Microsoft, and I'm not under NDA with them. While that precludes me from a lot of MVP activities, it removes any concerns to do with Google's Code of Conduct. Basically my MVP status is truly just a token of Microsoft's recognition of what I've done in the C# community - and that's fine by me.
When I announced that I'd been advised not to seek renewal, I was amazed at the scale of the reaction in the comments, other blog posts, Twitter and personal email. I was touched by the response of the community. I really love working at Google, and the fact that we could figure out a solution to this situation is definitely one of the things that makes Google such an awesome place to work. Oh, and did I mention that we're hiring? :)
Anyway, the basic message of this post is: thanks to the community for caring, thanks to Google for reconsidering, and thanks to Microsoft for renewing my award. And they all lived happily ever after...