Blogger and “podsafe” music pioneer Derek K. Miller (41) passed away in Burnaby, Canada, on May 3 due to complications with stage 4 metastatic colorectal cancer.
Many in the web publishing community, especially those who have worked in podcasting and audio production, are very familiar with Derek’s work, published on his website, Penmachine.
Online since the earliest days of blogging, Derek helped shape what we know to be web publishing. A prolific musician, he released a great deal of work under Creative Commons licenses for podcasters and multimedia producers. These pieces are now known as “podsafe” music, safe to use in podcasts. We are honored to note that he wrote the theme music for all of WordCast’s podcasts.
In 2007, Derek wrote about his diagnosis with stage 4 metastatic colorectal cancer, and discovered last year that the cancer was terminal.
Derek’s family has published his prepared “last post”, discussing life, family, friends and final thoughts.
The world, indeed the whole universe, is a beautiful, astonishing, wondrous place. There is always more to find out. I don’t look back and regret anything, and I hope my family can find a way to do the same.
His family and friends will now turn the site into an archive of his work. The entire WordCast team is thankful for Derek’s contributions and the examples he set for the web, and sends the warmest regards to his family and friends.
The 
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