Clarification, ESR didn't originate the jargon file. He edited and published an edition of it, but he wasn't the first to do so.

"The Story of Mel" and "Sussman Attains Enlightenment" are stories I come back to every so often.

There's similar stuff here: http://www.thecodelesscode.com/contents

I sure hope the jargon file isn't the pinnacle. Not because of any problem with it, I just hope we will surpass a collection last majorly edited 30 years ago.