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rob
Python 3000 Alpha 1 Released
mattculbreth
If only it was as fast as Ruby.
null
6
26
2007-08-31 21:33:58 UTC
48,985
48,916
wwhchung
Service Oriented Architecture is your Ticket to Hell
nickb
The article's statements on the problems with SOA don't accurately reflect reality. For example, "SOA requires you to do a whole load of up-front design and specification that's very difficult to change after." This is not a problem with SOA, rather than a symptom of poor change management, which can occur in any code base whether you are using SOA or not. Similarly, his "strange loops" issue is really an issue of poor dependency management/mapping. You can easily write a program that exhibits the same problems.One valid issue with SOA is data consistency. Dealing with data consistency across services is a real problem, and this may contribute to extra development time. But by no means does this indicate that SOA is the opposite of agile. There are agile development benefits in SOA, and I don't feel that the drawbacks outweigh these benefits.
null
0
9
2007-08-31 21:34:23 UTC
48,988
48,910
benhoyt
Is it OK to copy terms of service/privacy policy from another site?
picnichouse
It depends on their terms of service.Seriously, though, we wrote ours ourselves, but we did heavily use info we gleaned from other peoples' ToS. If you're just a generic web 2.0 site you can probably get away with using someone else's generic ToS, but if you're doing anything slightly different, you'll have to tailor it anyway.FWIW, for microPledge we ended up with http://micropledge.com/conditions -- we got a lawyer friend to look over it briefly, and he gave us a few good pointers.
What do you think? I see it done all over the place...
5
19
2007-08-31 21:42:13 UTC
48,992
48,770
axod
Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit)
abstractbill
I disagree... users love seeing new features. If they don't work so well, they don't care. Most likely they'll enjoy them and feel privileged they are getting to use them before they are really ready. They'll see the potential. They'll start imagining what it'll be like once it's finished. If it's a cool, innovative feature they haven't seen before, they'll see it as proof you're a cool place to be. Even if half of it doesn't work.Get features out often. Of course make sure they don't break anything else, or reduce the users experience, but users love to see a site evolving and changing with them on board.
null
11
48
2007-08-31 21:46:27 UTC
48,993
48,799
vlad
Are taller people smarter?
luccastera
(The following is an exercise in critical thinking, only shows one side of the issue, and does not reflect my opinion either way.)Tall people don't earn "high" wages, they earn "higher" wages (only about $500 a year more according to recent studies.) And if the person is tall, and their kids are tall, $500 a year is likely not enough to cover the extra costs of food. If there should be a change, it should be that the government should pass a law that tall people should be paid at least $5,000 a year more, to cover bigger, non-entry level, non-Toyota or Honda sedans and SUV's, worse gas mileage, greater car expenses, and the price of size XL-Tall and 2XL-Tall clothing from specialty stores since regular stores don't carry tall sizes.Why don't articles write about that? Everybody wants to point out that tall people earn $500 a year more, on average, but not the fact that shorter people come out on top. That extra $1 a day does not cover the extra food for one person, let alone a family, nor does it cover the greater car, specialty clothing, gas, car repair, car insurance, and other expenses whatsoever for even one tall person, nor their family.A tall person may also use shampoo and soap much faster, and need to use more water in the shower.If anything, the status quo encourages more short people to reproduce.And, if taller people actually are "smarter" or more productive (for whatever reason, be it confidence or something else) then they're _really_ getting the short end of the stick by having to survive with $4,500 less yearly taxable income.(I like to think from both sides of the issue, and I haven't seen that side addressed any time the issue has been brought up.)
null
0
9
2007-08-31 21:50:57 UTC
48,994
48,898
michele
Who uses a CMS to manage their sites?
bmaier
We use Pagety, but we built it, so it's normal we really like it! ;)
Anyone run an open source cms to manage their startup's site? What do you guys use? Drupal? Joomla? something else? any huge downsides to running a cms and not going from scratch?
1
2
2007-08-31 21:52:32 UTC
48,997
48,995
Mistone
The ground-breakingly new PayPal logo
benhoyt
kinda lame if you ask me, wonder what prompted them to change their well recognized logo for a boring rendition like this>
null
0
2
2007-08-31 21:57:30 UTC
48,998
48,642
nanijoe
Rails vs. Django
kyro
A search on amazon.com for 'ruby on rails' yielded 48 books, a search for Django comes up wuth 3 unpublished books.The stats above, made the decision for me.
Just curious, and I want to see which framework I should pursue more aggressively.So, how about pros/cons of each.
4
18
2007-08-31 22:00:43 UTC
49,012
48,910
herdrick
Is it OK to copy terms of service/privacy policy from another site?
picnichouse
MySpace did it: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3775
What do you think? I see it done all over the place...
8
19
2007-08-31 22:35:25 UTC
49,014
48,944
herdrick
If you were to write Wikipedia today...
ph0rque
I would use Scheme. It's a good general-purpose language, suitable for about anything. You can whip up prototypes quickly and whatever you write ends up being pretty succinct. Another option would be to just use WikiMedia's code.
If you were to write Wikipedia today using available languages and frameworks, what language/framework would you use? And why?
2
3
2007-08-31 22:38:41 UTC
49,020
48,876
euccastro
Python 3000 Alpha 1 Released
mattculbreth
The thing that I admire the most about this is how small a change Py3K really is, considering it's the first major compatibility breaking release AFAIK. The change from 1.x to 2.x version numbers was for historical and cosmetic reasons: if you wrote a module in Python 1.5 there's a very good chance you can run it in Python 2.5 with only trivial modifications at worst (e.g., one of your identifiers has become a keyword). This is a testament to the excellent taste of the Python designers, and to their rare mix of restraint and practicality.
null
1
26
2007-08-31 22:50:39 UTC
49,023
48,792
Alex3917
College Drinking Game Spurs Cottage Industry; Mr. Best's Backup Career
nickb
Anecdotally, I've heard that the local Home Depot has started grouping funnels, plastic tubes, and valves next to each other because they're sick of people asking.
null
0
10
2007-08-31 22:54:19 UTC
49,025
48,800
nickb
Troublesome manager.. what would you do?
PStamatiou
Take it from the point from which you left it. Tell your manager that it would take more time trying to fix it tan to scrap these changes. If he says no, why waste your time doing something you hate doing?!
So I'm a senior at top 10 engineering university and since January I have been working as lead webdev on a large, sponsor/government-funded project. I've done everything from focus groups, usability studies, surveys and have been creating a top-notch site. I was away for two weeks in the time between summer semester's end and the beginning of fall semester and got an email from my manager saying essentially "hey, I've been working with someone else on the site". What was created from that was a complete bastardization of the design and was all new code. I had lots of PHP for general ease of dev and the new guy did all 50+ files in html.Fast-forward to yesterday, new guy won't be working on it anymore and my manager wants me to take over. I've looked at this guy's code and it's a horrible mess - I want nothing of it. Deadline is in about a week.Going back to my code is an equally large task as he had been adding other pages, content and "design features".What would you do? I'm sure I am not the only one that has had this problem.
5
8
2007-08-31 22:56:59 UTC
49,030
48,876
palish
Python 3000 Alpha 1 Released
mattculbreth
Sheesh.. Emotions are running hot in this thread.
null
5
26
2007-08-31 23:04:47 UTC
49,032
48,800
omouse
Troublesome manager.. what would you do?
PStamatiou
"Deadline is in about a week."Impossible to do a re-write and he'll shift the blame to you.
So I'm a senior at top 10 engineering university and since January I have been working as lead webdev on a large, sponsor/government-funded project. I've done everything from focus groups, usability studies, surveys and have been creating a top-notch site. I was away for two weeks in the time between summer semester's end and the beginning of fall semester and got an email from my manager saying essentially "hey, I've been working with someone else on the site". What was created from that was a complete bastardization of the design and was all new code. I had lots of PHP for general ease of dev and the new guy did all 50+ files in html.Fast-forward to yesterday, new guy won't be working on it anymore and my manager wants me to take over. I've looked at this guy's code and it's a horrible mess - I want nothing of it. Deadline is in about a week.Going back to my code is an equally large task as he had been adding other pages, content and "design features".What would you do? I'm sure I am not the only one that has had this problem.
8
8
2007-08-31 23:08:14 UTC
49,047
48,901
kingnothing
What is a Hacker?
nickb
So when did the meaning of hacker change from someone who breaks in to computer systems, either as a white hat or black hat, to basically a programmer?Was I mistaken all throughout my youth?
null
2
8
2007-08-31 23:42:51 UTC
49,048
49,029
blored
Interviewee opens for private beta
blored
We went ahead with it anyway. And in all fairness to pg and for the benefit of knowledge of everyone in this forum, ClutterMe isn't the idea that we originally applied with.We'd like to thank you for your patience in my spamming of this forum. I will keep you updated on our progress.~Mark
We went ahead with it anyway. And in all fairness to pg and for the benefit of knowledge of everyone in this forum, ClutterMe isn't the idea that we originally applied with.We'd like to thank you for your patience in my spamming of this forum. I will keep you updated on our progress.~Mark
1
4
2007-08-31 23:43:03 UTC
49,050
49,040
chadboyda
I am thinking of selling my domain name ShareCircle.Com
gscott
Whatever someone is willing to pay you for it. I'll start the bidding at $20.
So I have this great domain name but I don't believe I am going to use it so I have been contemplating that there is some Web 2.0 startup out there that could really use it. What do you think it is worth?
0
1
2007-08-31 23:49:35 UTC
49,051
48,900
_bq
What Google Won't Find: Scott Aaronson on the ultimate physical limits of search
nickb
brilliant article.
null
0
7
2007-08-31 23:49:40 UTC
49,064
48,971
blored
BandsInTown Adds Social Networking to Tracking Service
knewjax
Congrats knewjax, that's an awesome story to have dugg.
null
1
7
2007-09-01 00:11:33 UTC
49,067
48,906
karzeem
Apple slaps back at NBC in iTunes spat (Apple won't sell NBC shows)
nickb
For now, the users lose. Right now, iTunes is probably the best way to get TV shows online and legally (although ABC's free video player is pretty excellent), but it's hard to imagine that the $2 per show model will still be the dominant one a few years from now. It gets pricey quickly.
null
1
4
2007-09-01 00:13:39 UTC
49,068
48,770
vikram
Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit)
abstractbill
people seem to confuse adding features to additions in the interface. Most of the times users are either subconsciously frustrated by a problem or that there isn't a solution for it yet (i.e. why someone else hasn't solved it yet). perfection??? I think most software sucks so much that it doesn't do anything useful. It would be better to try and get your product to do just one thing that is useful for one person. Aiming for perfection is just an excuse for not building something useful.
null
15
48
2007-09-01 00:14:35 UTC
49,070
49,055
epi0Bauqu
What is a day in the life of bugbear like?
aswanson
What is a bugbear? I assume it is not http://images.google.com/images?q=bugbear
Just want to know what post-liquidity life is like.
0
4
2007-09-01 00:17:11 UTC
49,074
49,073
rms
Startup has supposed game changing battery tech, 3 million from Kleiner Perkins
rms
From the comments on that article, it sounds like they don't actually disclose what makes the battery work in the patent, which probably renders the patent worthless. Still, I'm hopeful because game changing energy technology might actually positively benefit all of our lives.They got 3 million investment from Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers, as per http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Story?id=3547157&page=2.
null
0
4
2007-09-01 00:23:30 UTC
49,076
48,799
euccastro
Are taller people smarter?
luccastera
Homo longus raro sapiens, at si sapiens, sapientissimus.Now I wish I could downvote myself..
null
6
9
2007-09-01 00:30:53 UTC
49,078
48,910
epi0Bauqu
Is it OK to copy terms of service/privacy policy from another site?
picnichouse
http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37112
What do you think? I see it done all over the place...
9
19
2007-09-01 00:34:53 UTC
49,079
49,029
marrone
Interviewee opens for private beta
blored
I watched the demo video. Congrats on what looks to be an easy to use user interface. The kind of app you are making is the type where the ui pretty much makes or breaks the entire thing. You seem to have pulled off a fairly good one
We went ahead with it anyway. And in all fairness to pg and for the benefit of knowledge of everyone in this forum, ClutterMe isn't the idea that we originally applied with.We'd like to thank you for your patience in my spamming of this forum. I will keep you updated on our progress.~Mark
0
4
2007-09-01 00:42:22 UTC
49,089
48,944
ph0rque
If you were to write Wikipedia today...
ph0rque
Thanks for all the responses. Curiously, no-one suggested RoR (maybe with instiki) or django/pylons/etc. Why wouldn't one use these languages/frameworks, especially with e.g. RoR claiming 0.1x development time in some articles?
If you were to write Wikipedia today using available languages and frameworks, what language/framework would you use? And why?
3
3
2007-09-01 01:10:54 UTC
49,097
48,294
objectoriented
How Not to Die
subhash
I figured out the part about distractions, because I kept doing it to myself, and I KNEW it. When I was back at the University and had a crusher class I wanted to escape. I caught myself once, and had this little chat "hmm...why do you just HAVE to change the oil NOW?' Now I'm being crushed alive in a startup and I know with absolute certainty that what I am doing is worth a hundred million, AND the only thing that will stop me is ME.
null
21
169
2007-09-01 01:26:20 UTC
49,099
48,971
alex_c
BandsInTown Adds Social Networking to Tracking Service
knewjax
Congrats guys.What kind of increase in traffic do you see after a Mashable article?
null
0
7
2007-09-01 01:27:54 UTC
49,104
48,770
bluishgreen
Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit)
abstractbill
If aaron wants to indulge let him please go ahed. But this post is so insincere when it gives the bit about users loving perfectionism that it makes me dizzy. Its either insincere or is delusional.I don't want to have anything to do with either.PG wants to indulge with arc, he went ahed. But I don't remember him giving some insincere explanation. I am now a strong believer in motherfucker's theory of insincerity http://atomicwang.org/motherfucker/Index/E06C66BF-E7D5-48FF-... (sorry, but that what he calls himself)
null
4
48
2007-09-01 01:35:37 UTC
49,105
49,073
aswanson
Startup has supposed game changing battery tech, 3 million from Kleiner Perkins
rms
In the ever-annoying stealth mode. Sigh.
null
1
4
2007-09-01 01:48:33 UTC
49,112
48,800
menloparkbum
Troublesome manager.. what would you do?
PStamatiou
A week is more than enough time to massage 50+ html files into whatever you were doing before. Just do it in a couple hours and take the rest of the week off.
So I'm a senior at top 10 engineering university and since January I have been working as lead webdev on a large, sponsor/government-funded project. I've done everything from focus groups, usability studies, surveys and have been creating a top-notch site. I was away for two weeks in the time between summer semester's end and the beginning of fall semester and got an email from my manager saying essentially "hey, I've been working with someone else on the site". What was created from that was a complete bastardization of the design and was all new code. I had lots of PHP for general ease of dev and the new guy did all 50+ files in html.Fast-forward to yesterday, new guy won't be working on it anymore and my manager wants me to take over. I've looked at this guy's code and it's a horrible mess - I want nothing of it. Deadline is in about a week.Going back to my code is an equally large task as he had been adding other pages, content and "design features".What would you do? I'm sure I am not the only one that has had this problem.
7
8
2007-09-01 01:59:38 UTC
49,125
48,901
mxh
What is a Hacker?
nickb
Oooh - Brian Harvey. Brings up happy memories of CS60B; C, MIPS ASM, and the SPIM simulator. This guy is one of the best lecturers/speakers I know of.
null
1
8
2007-09-01 02:27:35 UTC
49,129
48,294
e40
How Not to Die
subhash
> I realize this will sound naive, but maybe the linkage works in both directions. Maybe if you can arrange that we keep hearing from you, you won't die.Or, maybe they stop communicating because they know they're going to die.I love it when people take a statistic and try and "cheat" it.For example: a report came out last year that statistically speaking most people that have dogs and cats have children that don't have allergies to dogs and cats. It may be that having dogs and cats around makes children not have the allergy. Or, since allergies to dogs and cats are hereditary, maybe only people that don't have the allergy get dogs and cats, and those people would be more likely to have children without the allergy.That's how I feel about the "communicate you won't die" comment.
null
16
169
2007-09-01 02:44:24 UTC
49,136
48,906
gscott
Apple slaps back at NBC in iTunes spat (Apple won't sell NBC shows)
nickb
If you can buy a season of episodes on DVD for about $40 and there are 24 episodes in a season that is close to $2 per episode. There is packaging and profit from the store so NBC does seem to be unreasonable in this case. Regardless there is content coming from everywhere and networks have a lot of competition, so even so a few will miss the content there will be so much content you wouldn't hardly know a few shows are available, rather then visiting hulu.com people will just buy some other show to watch.
null
0
4
2007-09-01 03:04:39 UTC
49,143
49,142
22alaska22
Will Google release Google branded phone this year?
22alaska22
Google and Samsung are rumored to be building the phone, codenamed "Switch," Simeonov says and his posting includes what he claims is a leaked photo of the device.
Google and Samsung are rumored to be building the phone, codenamed "Switch," Simeonov says and his posting includes what he claims is a leaked photo of the device.I say Google is just helping Samsung with Samsung product and they won't be labeled Google. What do you guys think?
0
1
2007-09-01 03:37:17 UTC
49,146
49,055
champion
What is a day in the life of bugbear like?
aswanson
PG used to go by that in the early days of Reddit more too:http://reddit.com/user/bugbear/
Just want to know what post-liquidity life is like.
1
4
2007-09-01 04:07:59 UTC
49,147
49,084
altay
360 Degree Holographic Display
kashif
I think "holographic" is a bit of a misnomer. But that's splitting hairs -- it's still frikkin' dope.That said, they've had a holographic video display sitting in the basement of the MIT Media Lab for close to two decades. I never understood why the world wasn't more excited about it. Guess it was a bit ahead of its time. The holographic lathe was the coolest: http://www.media.mit.edu/spi/HHlathe.htm . You'd use this pen to shape a hologram of a cylinder, in real-time. The pen was a haptic interface, so you'd feel resistance as you "carved." Basically, you'd sculpt with light. Then you'd send your creation down the hall to the 3D printer.I had the privilege of working in that lab for a little while. It was like living in the future.
null
0
4
2007-09-01 04:08:14 UTC
49,149
48,910
rami
Is it OK to copy terms of service/privacy policy from another site?
picnichouse
If you decide to copy, double check your punctuation. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060806....
What do you think? I see it done all over the place...
6
19
2007-09-01 04:37:20 UTC
49,150
48,294
wcrosby
How Not to Die
subhash
I could hear PG's voice and speech patterns while I was reading this one. I even "heard" the pauses for audience laughter and impact. Nicely done.
null
7
169
2007-09-01 04:43:10 UTC
49,151
48,553
queensnake
Silicon Valley aside, why are Americans more willing to risk a startup?
weebro
Desperation. Lack of security to any in the long haul, unless you make it big. The fire is always below your feet, here. Any given job sucks, until you can make your own, work on something you /want/ to work on and make it. Bleak, but that's behind my own attitude.
I'm based in the UK and am hoping to apply to YC in Oct. We are currently looking for strong hackers to co-found with us, if they like the idea. We cannot, however, find anyone in the UK even remotely interested. The concept of 'it's not what you do but when you do it' simply does not exist here. What does the US have that we don't?
7
10
2007-09-01 04:46:17 UTC
49,156
48,104
psygnisfive
Brilliant hack: Cool demo using an oscilliscope as the display (vid)
nickb
I believe he took inspiration from this:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TelevisionI'll be brutally honest: Not cool. It's old and boring and not in the least difficult. The software is what would've taken a while to make, and even that would theoretically consist of little more that two for loops to scan through each frame of video and output it to the audio jack.
null
1
13
2007-09-01 05:13:59 UTC
49,158
49,122
daniel-cussen
Who Founded Facebook? A New Claim Emerges
rob
...And? Does it matter, really? A lot of people say it isn't really the idea that matters. It's execution. This guy would probably have done a lousy startup anyway.What about Friendster? Didn't Abrams also clue into Social Networking before Facebook?
null
0
18
2007-09-01 05:22:04 UTC
49,160
49,122
kyro
Who Founded Facebook? A New Claim Emerges
rob
What would happen to a site like Facebook if Mark were to lose the ConnectU lawsuit, or to Greenspan if he were to take action?
null
4
18
2007-09-01 05:38:06 UTC
49,162
48,294
sytelus
How Not to Die
subhash
I don't think that million dollars can ever replace those years that you could have rather spent at school. Is money is everything Paul wants everyone to run after. Is there a place for passion for creating things without worrying about money, learning new stuff or just plain old play a better idea to spend your ONE life than to keep worrying about creating something that you would bag a big fat ass beurocratic giant to buy out? Paul seems to think his success is repeatable 50% of the times and looks like he won't hesitate to sacrifice schoole years of these kids for his part of million.
null
33
169
2007-09-01 06:10:22 UTC
49,163
49,144
dfranke
Flight Simulator hidden inside Google Earth
rms
There's precedent for this. Excel 97 had a hidden flight simulator too.
null
1
6
2007-09-01 06:15:56 UTC
49,165
49,122
steve
Who Founded Facebook? A New Claim Emerges
rob
So the lesson is... investors decide who the winner will be.
null
6
18
2007-09-01 06:20:56 UTC
49,168
49,144
rms
Flight Simulator hidden inside Google Earth
rms
This is going to be a hell of a flight simulator in ten years.
null
2
6
2007-09-01 06:36:36 UTC
49,178
49,171
vlad
Notifir.com Public Beta Launched - A Tool for Content Submitters
thinkingserious
What about News.YCombinator, the most useful of them all?
Anyone can sign up for free; however, a Digg.com account is needed. They have a Digg.com style voting system so that the community can decide which are the most important features to implement as well as suggest new features. Soon, they will support StumbleUpon.com, Reddit.com and Netscape.com.
0
1
2007-09-01 07:14:52 UTC
49,185
48,944
chmike
If you were to write Wikipedia today...
ph0rque
Wikipedia is bogus and changing the language wont be of any help.
If you were to write Wikipedia today using available languages and frameworks, what language/framework would you use? And why?
5
3
2007-09-01 08:58:32 UTC
49,188
49,122
mattmaroon
Who Founded Facebook? A New Claim Emerges
rob
I actually founded Facebook. I called it thebookoffaces.com and built it in 1999. Mark Zuckerberg probably saw it when he did some summer school at the University of Akron and ripped it off from me. Did anyone else here found Facebook?
null
2
18
2007-09-01 09:03:31 UTC
49,193
49,122
mynameishere
Who Founded Facebook? A New Claim Emerges
rob
he developed an automated system that generated personalized query letters to more than 800 literary agents nationwideSpamming literary agents? Ouch. Your typical literary agent gets 100s of manuscripts a day, and accepts maybe 10 a year. (Much, much worse odds than applying a yc).Obviously, the facebook idea was old, old, old even when Zuck got to it, so of course he's no innovator. Just threw the dice and won. (Plus, he's probably a good operator, despite his assholism).
null
1
18
2007-09-01 09:57:00 UTC
49,196
48,644
SwellJoe
Squid optimization guide from last.fm of all people
piers
Benchmarks don't backup many of these claims. Search "[email protected] squid performance" for my authority to make such a claim in the face of an extremely well-written blog post from a very smart fellow.But the core bits of ReiserFS, raised file descriptors, and balancing RAM to disk are valid.The aufs threads just aren't useful over about 24 even on the fastest machine--they are disk limited, not CPU bound. Squid is not multi-threaded, but there is a disk IO thread pool option (the aufs bit in the article). Going crazy with threads is counter productive and just eats memory.Most of the configuration and proc options covered are just superstitious from a performance standpoint--they're generally fine at their defaults, and it's usually more productive to figure out what is binding performance and then turn the knobs with that knowledge rather than blindly cranking everything to eleven.So, not a bad article, per se...but one that is rife with superstition. Squid brings it out of people like no other project I've ever seen (aside from maybe filesystems).
null
0
5
2007-09-01 10:17:16 UTC
49,197
48,770
soundsop
Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit)
abstractbill
I played around a little bit on beta.jottit.com. In editing mode, I like the live rendering alongside the marked up text. I haven't seen that before.
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48
2007-09-01 10:23:54 UTC
49,198
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danw
Wanted: technical co-founders for YC application and/or potential VC funding
bsaunder
Whats the idea?
Here's my situation:I'm determined to start a company and I have a "big idea" (IMHO). When I've shared my concept and business model with my friends, I've received very positive feedback (from both technical and business points of view). Unfortunately I'm not your typical YC founder (I'm 36), and most of my friends are far more interested in a "job" than starting a company. Most have said they would love to join me (as an employee) if I had the funding. I intend to submit an application for the YC winter program, but as a sole founder I understand my odds aren't the best they could be (and in general I suspect it's probably good to have a partner or two). Right now I'm concurrently working on the business plan, UI design and a functional prototype (I get bored working one aspect for too long (and as the concepts get more fleshed out, it seems like a more balanced way to work)). Anyhow, I'm looking for one or two free electrons (highly skilled and productive people) to join me on my YC application and/or other VC funding. Without giving out too much information, I will say that it's a web based application (shocker eh?) with a heavy JavaScript component and a distributed server (linux) environment involving a message bus. Ideally one of the free electrons will know the ins and outs of the client side (JavaScript/HTML/CSS, page layout, page flow, graphics design). The other free electron would have a good grasp on distributed server architectures/IPC/networking, database interactions and optimizations, and programming skill in C/C++ and one of the following (in approximate order of preference): Perl, Ruby, Lisp, Python. I'm a bit nervous about giving out a large amount of ownership to an unknown person, but would be willing to consider some sort of vesting arrangement (any advice on how to approach this would appreciated as well). I'm willing to make this work with the right people.Please contact me at: bruce.saunders at occamsoftware . com if interested.
0
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2007-09-01 10:25:02 UTC
49,202
48,770
kashif
Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit)
abstractbill
Wow this discussion has invoked a lot of participation, unfortunately this is useless discussion. Don't you guys have to hack?
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48
2007-09-01 12:20:08 UTC
49,203
49,176
_bq
Playboy Magazine Interviews Google Pre-IPO (full text)
vlad
Wow, us start-ups have something to look forward to...Party's at the playboy mansion to play with boobs and bunny's. Brin and Page, you guys are our idols.
null
0
7
2007-09-01 12:34:03 UTC
49,208
49,122
Tichy
Who Founded Facebook? A New Claim Emerges
rob
The proper way to find closure would probably be to found another billion dollar business. How hard can it be?
null
5
18
2007-09-01 13:10:13 UTC
49,216
48,901
xndk8
What is a Hacker?
nickb
http://buzzboston.wordpress.com/2007/08/14/ben-franklin-was-...
null
3
8
2007-09-01 14:37:59 UTC
49,217
49,144
jsjenkins168
Flight Simulator hidden inside Google Earth
rms
This is really cool. However, it is unrealistic to compare it to MS Flight Simulator X... It is literally not even close in terms of graphics and realism. But, like rms says I'm sure it will continue to get better.
null
0
6
2007-09-01 14:42:08 UTC
49,218
49,073
cellis
Startup has supposed game changing battery tech, 3 million from Kleiner Perkins
rms
heh. I'm still waiting for WiTricity!
null
2
4
2007-09-01 14:46:20 UTC
49,222
49,200
amichail
20 most bizarre experiments - check out #16 (found on octopart news)
Tichy
Malgram's obedience experiment is a bit strange. Why would volunteers be needed to administer shocks? Doesn't that look suspicious?
I found this url on Octopart news, but experiment #16 really surprised me. I wouldn't have thought that possbile yet. Although I have once seen that done to a spider in a TV documentary. But a cat is something else.
2
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2007-09-01 14:56:12 UTC
49,227
48,044
phil
Jessica Alba is Hot, Mathematically Speaking
damien
Here's some fun followup on this steaming pile: http://www.plasticbag.org/archives/2007/09/ben_goldacre_vs_c...
null
0
6
2007-09-01 15:32:54 UTC
49,234
48,294
Deneb
How Not to Die
subhash
What a great article... once again. How inspiring, it comes at a perfect time for us. Kudos Paul!
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169
2007-09-01 16:35:46 UTC
49,236
49,200
nostrademons
20 most bizarre experiments - check out #16 (found on octopart news)
Tichy
#2 (Milgram), #7 (Stanford Prison), and #19 (Shock the Puppy) are all mentioned in Phil Zimbardo's just-published book, The Lucifer Effect. It's fascinating reading - he gives the blow-by-blow on the Stanford Prison Experiment, including some of his notes that didn't make it into the popular press treatment.
I found this url on Octopart news, but experiment #16 really surprised me. I wouldn't have thought that possbile yet. Although I have once seen that done to a spider in a TV documentary. But a cat is something else.
0
12
2007-09-01 16:46:57 UTC
49,250
48,294
fauigerzigerk
How Not to Die
subhash
Paul, you did another startup. It's Y Combinator. And judging by this essay, it won't die ;-) I love your determination.
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169
2007-09-01 18:34:01 UTC
49,254
48,294
BlueSquirrel
How Not to Die
subhash
Excellent!
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169
2007-09-01 19:35:54 UTC
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49,252
steve
How Long Before You Purge? Apparently Never for the Gap
transburgh
I don't understand. He criticizes them for sending a mail because it will cost them money? If he doesn't want to be on their list then he can use the can-spam mandated opt out option that the email offers.Purge? Never if the customer doesn't want to be purged. I don't see the cost justification.
null
1
8
2007-09-01 19:43:32 UTC
49,262
49,246
stoptypingnow
The Jessica Alba sexy walk story was a plant by a PR firm
jyrzyk
...but where is the accompanying picture of Jessica Alba?
null
1
18
2007-09-01 20:09:39 UTC
49,263
48,294
Mistone
How Not to Die
subhash
glad I took the time to chill out today with this talk/paper. I've already felt like crawling away a few times and we are just at the starting line. I love the idea of making it really matter if you fail, making it public to friends and family, risking something of yourself, these are the things you think about when its grim, "what will her mom say?", how will we repay the CC debt?, when it will hurt to fall, your better off holding on tight. very inspiring, thanks pg!
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169
2007-09-01 20:26:39 UTC
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waleedka
Seeking cofounder who can hack and design
cellis
Put an email address so that interested cofounders can reach you.
see profile
5
7
2007-09-01 20:35:02 UTC
49,268
49,251
iamwil
Introspective Robot Learns to Walk
damien
http://ccsl.mae.cornell.edu/research/selfmodels/link to actual research page.The gait looks more like a limp. The idea is neat, but it needs more work with their gait--even undamaged.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehno85yI-sA"Towards the end of the video, the robot conceptualizes itself, determining its own structure using sensors built into each joint. Then, it thinks of different ways that it might move - walk - from place to place. Starfish can also sense damage to any of its legs or joints, and then compensate."
0
1
2007-09-01 20:52:26 UTC
49,270
49,013
waleedka
Founders: Business guys vs Hackers or Entrepreneurs vs Managers?
weebro
If the startup is a consumer-oriented Web site that spreads by word of mouth, then a non-hacker can add little in the early days. A dedicated, entrepreneurial hacker is all it takes. With that said, there are a lot of hackers who are super smart, but lack the entrepreneurial skills and need encouragement. If you do provide what the hacker is missing, the two of you could be a great team. Think: Jobs and Wozniak.Go find that hacker. This is your first challenge. If you succeed, then you're on your way to a successful startup.
As a business/sales guy I was wondering what the general opinion was in having one (or more) of me as a co-founder? In PG's article 'Why Smart People Have Bad Ideas" he seems to suggest a distinction between business guys and hackers and appears to discount the value of business people to a start-up.http://www.paulgraham.com/bronze.htmlAs a 'bus boy' I find myself doing the following things - coming up with business ideas, identifying markets and opportunities, continually raising finance, recruiting and put the team together, problem solving, organising work loads, admin stuff, accounts, networking, bringing in clients, marketing - both push and pull advertising, organising and attending tradeshows, product and market research, website architecture (by looking at what others do and what is successful), having an objective and 'non tech' user opinion on the ease of use/functionality/UI of the website, testing from a non tech perspective (I'm not claiming I speak for the consumer I'm saying I'm sufficiently removed from the technicalities of the development process to have a different perspective of how simpler things should be made for us dumb-dumbs), presentations X inspiring and successfully eliciting money from angels/VC.These are among the many 'hats' I wear and was wondering what PG's opinion is to value of a bus guy as a co-founder to the business. I completely agree with him that (Quoting PG) "Hackers can learn to make things customers want" . He then goes on to suggest business guys are worth nothing to an internet start-up "It seems to me the business guys who did the most for Google were the ones who obligingly flew Altavista into a hillside just as Google was getting started." In doing so he APPEARS to be making an equally unfair generalisation as the guy he quotes about the MIT spin-offs.Programmers/hackers are what they are because they love to do what they do. If they didn't enjoy IT they would be opening sports stores and hotels. And they would, I'm not saying they are not entrepreneurial or business minded X too many examples prove they are. But I would suggest that bus people allow IT boys/gals to get on with doing what they do best, and enjoy most. Again, I am NOT saying hackers can't do business or see what the customer wants, and many may enjoy doing it, but PG himself refers to business tasks in his Viaweb/life experience, like fund raising, as being an enormous time consumer and pain in the ass. (Quoting PG) "some tasks (like raising money and getting incorporated) are an O(1) pain in the ass, whether you're big or small, and others (like selling and promotion) depend more on energy and imagination than any kind of special training."In my opinion there is value in having a business guy who has utter enthusiasm in pursuing these tasks, and not just seeing them as a drag. PG is correct, business is not complex, the issue is whether it is enjoyed and carried out with he same enthusiasm and effort as the coding. Ultimately, I would argue there should be no distinction, there are only those who ad value and those who do not e.g. selling 6% to YC for the value they provide. (But I think PG agree with me on this point (Quoting PG) "That's the essence of a start-up: having brilliant people do work that's beneath them.")PG and others are arguably business boys before they are hackers and time has proven this. YC, for example, say the 6% is for their assistance in direction, legalities, set-up, networking, recruiting, advising, advertising (through the reputation of being funded by the YC Brand) market/ideas suggestion/direction, offices, financing and helping to provide further finance. Damn..........that makes them sound like business guys, doesn't it?GETTING TO THE POINT: Please don't get me wrong, I don't over rate my worth, the business doesn't exist without code but can exist without me, but to whom does society, business and history give the acclaim, the architect or the builder? And so it really comes down to entrepreneurialism, or ideas and vision. I believe PG also agrees with this point? (Quoting pg) "A hacker who has learned what to make, and not just how to make, is extraordinarily powerful."PG's number one rule: release early!! Well having a business guy to enthusiastically pursue these tasks allows for focus and improved productivity in moving forward fast and efficiently. Those who have the ideas, determination and resourcefulness to carry them through are as needed in co-founding as those with the ability to fulfil that direction. Entrepreneurs have vision, ideas, they make things happen and create opportunities, they don't necessarily implement them; managers do.I argue there is no distinction between business guys and hackers, because when well matched (my all important caveat to this entire thread), they compliment one another. Sooo in my opinion it's: Entrepreneurs V Managers NOT Business guys V's Hackers
0
2
2007-09-01 21:03:56 UTC
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rrival
Seeking cofounder who can hack and design
cellis
Is that bold or is it sophomoric? At what point does confidence turn into unfounded arrogance?
see profile
2
7
2007-09-01 21:09:51 UTC
49,276
49,246
mynameishere
The Jessica Alba sexy walk story was a plant by a PR firm
jyrzyk
Jessica Alba sexy boobs a plant by...Oh, hell. Why is this at the top of "Hacker News".
null
0
18
2007-09-01 21:10:47 UTC
49,278
49,266
SwellJoe
Parsing Miss South Carolina's Statement
vuknje
I'm from South Carolina, you insensitive clod.
null
6
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2007-09-01 21:20:58 UTC
49,279
49,233
SwellJoe
Seeking cofounder who can hack and design
cellis
Good luck with that.Maybe you ought to find two co-founders...one that hacks, one that designs. If you're doing a game, you need a lot of design...all of my previous comments, and Harj's comments, about the beauty of a designer that codes or vice versa, are irrelevant when you need a LOT of great design for a long period of time. In fact, you might ought to have two good designers and two good developers. Games are a lot of work. (OK, indie developers do more and more with better libraries and such...so maybe a one or two man show can pull something great together).BTW-YC has never, to my knowledge, funded a straight game company (Matt Maroon has a fantasy sports gaming business...but it's effectively a US-legal gambling business, which is a whole world away from pure computer gaming).
see profile
1
7
2007-09-01 21:25:57 UTC
49,280
49,252
gscott
How Long Before You Purge? Apparently Never for the Gap
transburgh
While purging the mailing list would decrease the number of spam complaints I wouldn't send out messages to past customers with the explicit message (and only message) of opting out because... suprise they WOULD opt-out. Instead email your list on a regular basis which in-turn would allow people plenty of opportunities to opt-out. The Gap, at least they are not pitching Viagra or Cialis. There email shows a lack of saavy about the Internet it speaks more about who is running the company as being out-of-step with the exact market they are trying to attract.
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0
8
2007-09-01 21:30:42 UTC
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dfranke
Original Macintosh User Manual (everything needed an explanation)
nickb
This leaves me curious what proportion of this documentation a. is necessary, b. used to be necessary, but isn't now that computer are a bigger part of everyone's life, or c. was never necessary.
null
1
17
2007-09-01 21:46:09 UTC
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dshah
Seeking cofounder who can hack and design
cellis
Too vague. I'm guessing there are lots of folks looking for co-founders who can hack and design.
see profile
6
7
2007-09-01 21:56:09 UTC
49,294
49,122
gojomo
Who Founded Facebook? A New Claim Emerges
rob
Looks like Greenspan is headed down the path I suggested in a previous thread [1]: fame as Mark Zuckerberg's Gary Kildall [2]. Even reading Greenspan's book account, it's clear that he dawdled while Zuckerberg executed. Greenspan frittered around with committees ("'Maybe we should put more emphasis on the Universal Face Book,' I thought aloud during a board meeting" [3]), kvetched about media unfairness ("'Can we get _The Crimson_ to give us any decent coverage at all?' I kept asking my board, week after week" [3]), worried idly delaying essential features ("I had considered creating detailed user profile pages at houseSYSTEM's inception, but it seemed like the worst idea possible when students began to fret openly about privacy"[4]), and engaged in redundant academic make-work ("'I can write [a version tracking system],' I offered, not wanting to be the only one without code to write" [5]).If tempted to label someone a 'fraud' (as Greenspan did Zuckerberg in a previous HN thread[1]), consider instead that they may be expressing competencies in a dimension you can't readily perceive. Maybe even the very things you're criticizing ("Even though he was clearly smart, he seemed like he had the capacity to go off in a zany direction at any point in time, totally unconcerned about the consequences of his actions. I couldn't figure out any other scenario that would have allowed for the creation of the facemash site." [6]) are, in fact, strengths. --[1] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24742[2] Though, Greenspan would still have to contribue a lot to the computer industry to hold a candle to Kildall -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Kildall[3] http://www.aarongreenspan.com/read/read.html?page=293[4] http://www.aarongreenspan.com/read/read.html?page=299[5] http://www.aarongreenspan.com/read/read.html?page=300[6] http://www.aarongreenspan.com/read/read.html?page=296
null
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2007-09-01 22:17:07 UTC
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walesmd
Seeking cofounder who can hack and design
cellis
Yay - another "Let's make an MMO," where do I signup?</sarcasm>
see profile
9
7
2007-09-01 22:28:33 UTC
49,299
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bluishgreen
20 most bizarre experiments - check out #16 (found on octopart news)
Tichy
Watch "The Heist" performed by Derren Brown - a british hypnotist. The episode appeared in Channel4. I am not sure where to get it in the US or elsewhere.(psst,psst ..torrent). He convinces a group of 4 middle manager types to rob a 100,000 pounds from a bank. He selects his subjects by using the milgram experiment. I was shocked by the results. See it to believe it. (Edit:Earlier I thought it was Stanford prison.expt.Its milgram.expt).
I found this url on Octopart news, but experiment #16 really surprised me. I wouldn't have thought that possbile yet. Although I have once seen that done to a spider in a TV documentary. But a cat is something else.
1
12
2007-09-01 22:33:51 UTC
49,301
49,233
kashif
Seeking cofounder who can hack and design
cellis
Is it possible to be co-founding with someone without knowing them for a while. Anyone here with such experience?
see profile
4
7
2007-09-01 22:51:10 UTC
49,303
49,266
blader
Parsing Miss South Carolina's Statement
vuknje
Sadly, "Who doesn't have maps?" doesn't seem to return any results.My new startup: [http://youtube.com/watch?v=pzDS3i4vv6w] Like Such as Maps!
null
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17
2007-09-01 22:58:11 UTC
49,306
49,134
mynameishere
Google Earth's Hidden Surprise: A Flight Simulator
far33d
I remember the Excel 97 flight simulator Easter Egg. Oh, google, when will you learn to innovate?
null
0
10
2007-09-01 23:12:06 UTC
49,311
48,800
aswanson
Troublesome manager.. what would you do?
PStamatiou
Quit and do a startup.
So I'm a senior at top 10 engineering university and since January I have been working as lead webdev on a large, sponsor/government-funded project. I've done everything from focus groups, usability studies, surveys and have been creating a top-notch site. I was away for two weeks in the time between summer semester's end and the beginning of fall semester and got an email from my manager saying essentially "hey, I've been working with someone else on the site". What was created from that was a complete bastardization of the design and was all new code. I had lots of PHP for general ease of dev and the new guy did all 50+ files in html.Fast-forward to yesterday, new guy won't be working on it anymore and my manager wants me to take over. I've looked at this guy's code and it's a horrible mess - I want nothing of it. Deadline is in about a week.Going back to my code is an equally large task as he had been adding other pages, content and "design features".What would you do? I'm sure I am not the only one that has had this problem.
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2007-09-01 23:50:18 UTC
49,312
49,266
portLAN
Parsing Miss South Carolina's Statement
vuknje
Someone posted a perfect set-up for this and I nailed it:http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48652Apparently there are still some people who haven't seen the clip yet. They must be working harder on their start-ups.
null
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2007-09-02 00:03:18 UTC
49,315
49,176
portLAN
Playboy Magazine Interviews Google Pre-IPO (full text)
vlad
I bought that issue for the articles.
null
1
7
2007-09-02 00:09:29 UTC
49,316
49,233
stuki
Seeking cofounder who can hack and design
cellis
Get a job at a game company. Many have huge turnover of coders, and are 'always' hiring. Unless you're a real superstar, they'll make you do shitty work for shitty pay for a shitty number of hours, hence are unlikely to dent your entrepreneurial aspirations like more cushy jobs have been known to. Stash whatever crumbs they do pay you, and be on the lookout for designers that are both decent and disgruntled.
see profile
0
7
2007-09-02 00:23:06 UTC
49,317
48,294
german
How Not to Die
subhash
I liked it, not because it is (or isn't) technical, but because it is inspiring. That's all I need to start working even harder and tell myself that all the decisions I've taken were the right ones.Another inspiring speech is this one from Steve Jobs:http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-06150...
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2007-09-02 00:35:17 UTC
49,324
49,313
palish
Is envy a good thing?
marrone
6. To make cool things that people enjoy while not caring about money past a house.The only reason I'm pursuing financial security is to be free of the 9-5 so that I can focus on creating interesting things.
A lot of Web 2.0 news circulates around who is getting bought by whom for how much. A lot of people see this and envision the same success for themselves. A lot of these same people are creating startups. My question is this: is envy a good thing? I mean we are talking about the American Dream after all, the web is the new land of opportunity for many people, and a lot of us look to it as our chance to become rich and successful. But is this envy good or bad? Do we focus too much on getting acquired, rather than starting something you love and possibly being able to make a living off of it? The YC application even asks who you think would be the most likely to acquire you.PG has said many times, that during his Viaweb days all he wanted to do was make something good. What are your thoughts?P.S. This blew me away a few months back. In my Mens Health magazine, the results to a survey on the average guy's fantasy profession: 1. Professional athlete, 2. Movie Star, 3. Internet start-up millionaire, 4. Rock and Roll star, 5. Playboy photographer ... in that order! Yes internet start-up made it ahead of taking pictures of hot naked women all day, and being a rock and roll singer! Oh how the times have changed...
3
18
2007-09-02 01:14:16 UTC
49,325
49,239
juanpablo
Original Macintosh User Manual (everything needed an explanation)
nickb
Photos of people using the product are powerful images. But , in order to make a similar manual for a web app today, what demographic you should use? It must be like a Benetton ad?
null
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2007-09-02 01:17:56 UTC
49,328
49,313
jsnx
Is envy a good thing?
marrone
> My question is this: is envy a good thing?Well, envy causes suffering, and suffering is bad; so no, envy is not good. You can not want something so badly that you get it. It's true that chance favors the prepared mind, but not always.What can you do to be happy now? It's not that hard. There is honor and pleasure in cutting an onion well.
A lot of Web 2.0 news circulates around who is getting bought by whom for how much. A lot of people see this and envision the same success for themselves. A lot of these same people are creating startups. My question is this: is envy a good thing? I mean we are talking about the American Dream after all, the web is the new land of opportunity for many people, and a lot of us look to it as our chance to become rich and successful. But is this envy good or bad? Do we focus too much on getting acquired, rather than starting something you love and possibly being able to make a living off of it? The YC application even asks who you think would be the most likely to acquire you.PG has said many times, that during his Viaweb days all he wanted to do was make something good. What are your thoughts?P.S. This blew me away a few months back. In my Mens Health magazine, the results to a survey on the average guy's fantasy profession: 1. Professional athlete, 2. Movie Star, 3. Internet start-up millionaire, 4. Rock and Roll star, 5. Playboy photographer ... in that order! Yes internet start-up made it ahead of taking pictures of hot naked women all day, and being a rock and roll singer! Oh how the times have changed...
5
18
2007-09-02 01:38:53 UTC
49,332
49,331
kashif
Do you still read Slashdot?
kashif
I do.
null
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11
2007-09-02 01:42:09 UTC
49,333
49,313
samson
Is envy a good thing?
marrone
I don't think it matters what your initial spark is to get you started. Whether its envy or inspiration, as long as your doing it and enjoying it. If months after getting your project up, and the first thing you can say to someone who asks you why your doing it? And you respond like "for Google to buy me", then maybe your envy has become a bad thing, or at least its made you kinda shallow.Otherwise there's nothing wrong with reading that youtube buyout article and then choosing the next day to spend the day thinking of an idea you'd be happy with pursuing over the next couple of months.
A lot of Web 2.0 news circulates around who is getting bought by whom for how much. A lot of people see this and envision the same success for themselves. A lot of these same people are creating startups. My question is this: is envy a good thing? I mean we are talking about the American Dream after all, the web is the new land of opportunity for many people, and a lot of us look to it as our chance to become rich and successful. But is this envy good or bad? Do we focus too much on getting acquired, rather than starting something you love and possibly being able to make a living off of it? The YC application even asks who you think would be the most likely to acquire you.PG has said many times, that during his Viaweb days all he wanted to do was make something good. What are your thoughts?P.S. This blew me away a few months back. In my Mens Health magazine, the results to a survey on the average guy's fantasy profession: 1. Professional athlete, 2. Movie Star, 3. Internet start-up millionaire, 4. Rock and Roll star, 5. Playboy photographer ... in that order! Yes internet start-up made it ahead of taking pictures of hot naked women all day, and being a rock and roll singer! Oh how the times have changed...
4
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2007-09-02 01:52:18 UTC
49,338
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rms
Do you still read Slashdot?
kashif
Yes, but I mostly just scan the links, I click a link less than once a day.
null
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2007-09-02 02:13:13 UTC
49,339
49,334
epi0Bauqu
Is it inevitable that wars will be faught by unsuspecting online gamers?
amichail
Is it inevitable that all science fiction premises will come true?
I believe that it will become increasingly difficult to attract people to a volunteer army. One might imagine the creation of online games that manifest themselves in actual combat (e.g., via drones, robots) without revealing their true nature to the online gamer.
1
2
2007-09-02 02:13:20 UTC
49,340
49,331
epi0Bauqu
Do you still read Slashdot?
kashif
Nope. I haven't for several years now.
null
1
11
2007-09-02 02:14:06 UTC