larrys

"so I wound up making my own mistakes "

I've always thought that it's not entirely good idea to not make your own mistakes. While painful it provides a better gut than simply being told or reading about things and getting quick answers.

You know in traditional businesses there is a reason that even in many cases family members (in family businesses) spend time at the bottom before they are put into higher level positions. It gives you a chance to see exactly why and how things are done and to experience them and fully understand nuance. Things that can't be learned in school or passed by anecdote.

My personal feeling is that the high karma that you are speaking of is not a good use of time (for that reason). I know it has helped tptacek and some others but it takes considerable time (and is a distraction) to comment on HN and essentially if you do it, you do it for fun and to learn. And if something comes from it then that's icing on the cake.

I actually picked up a considerable amount of side consulting by being a regular commenter on a well known blog. While I make money from that side consulting (near 6 figures), it's actually a drain on how I make money in other ways. It almost doesn't pay (but it's fun). [1] However the time it took me to earn enough of a reputation which led (in an indirect way) to the consulting (and contacts) was really a poor use of my time.

A better idea time wise, to jump start reputation, and build a rep (in a community like HN if that is what you are trying to do) would be to attempt to do things that are remarkable and get attention. Then people might talk about you and you will have the reputation that you seek that will bring other things that you need.

[1] I also get to meet many interesting people and contacts as well.

I'd be curious what the equivalent idea of what you are doing (by posting here as AMA) would be if you weren't Eric Ries posting on HN. So for Eric Ries this is "lean" (or what used to be known as "gorilla marketing") but for someone who doesn't have name recognition what is the equivalent? [1]

[1] Simply recognizing that someone without name recognition doing something similar on HN is not assured of getting any attention.

I would love to know exactly what the financial arrangements are with YC "partners". Obviously they aren't all created equal. Curious what the upside is and how it compares to traditional partner arrangements in law, accounting or investment banking. [1] Nobody is given the title of partner in a law firm or accounting firm in a similar way.

[1] Or for that matter, VC's.

"What better way to encourage people to upgrade."

The majority of their user base doesn't know and wouldn't care about this type of thing even if they did.

I guess either the story is missing something or it seems that someone has never seen someone spam with another persons email account.

" I really do kinda hate you people."

Seems you have broken this rule:

http://blog.ycombinator.com/new-hacker-news-guideline

"to prevent people from having locksmiths fix or replace their door locks"

In some places (quick check here, California as one example) locksmiths are required to be licensed:

http://www.bsis.ca.gov/forms_pubs/locksmith_fact.shtml

Also noting that there is a physical limitation to the harm that can be done if locksmith tools are sold. Both geographic and how the tool (which in not digital and has friction in distribution) is able to spread.

Someone using locksmith tools will most certainly operate in one area. They can't work from the comfort of their bedroom and in most cases can't cover their tracks as easily as digital crime can be covered (and done from anywhere in the world).

"There are already laws in place to deter all of the outcomes of these actions."

When have laws ever stopped bad actors?

There are laws against breaking and entering, burglary and so on. Does that mean you don't lock your house or install an alarm system?

I strongly disagree with the eff. Safety trumps all and there simply isn't a compelling need (that I can think of) that requires the need to tinker with the auto software. All of the "arguably restricts vehicle inspection, repair, and modification" is just a red herring.

"The reach of copyright law has expanded so far that it now threatens people's ability to repair their own cars and protect them against malware. Yesterday, EFF launched a legal campaign to fend off that threat."

Can't even think that I have read any stories (so far) about malware having an impact on auto operation. Hard to believe that opening up the software won't result in something bad happening either.

From my experience there is no comparison to the feeling and sensitivity experienced when using this. Almost feels like nothing is there (or close to it).

Women don't seem to mind using it either (and it is actually marketed or was marketed at one point as women taking control).

All in all to me no comparison to a traditional condom for men. Edit: And after using it it's hard for me to understand why it's not more widely known. [2]

The only drawback is the cost, about $2 each at retail. [1] In theory it can be re-used as well since it's not stretchy but simply a large sheath like protection.

[1] Planned parenthood gives them and and sells them. If you are nice to them they will give you a bunch at no cost for a small donation. (Call it $5).

[2] My guess is that it lacks the marketing budget to take off. The local pharmacy used to carry them but then stopped for lack of demand which mystifies me given my personal experience. Not a new product by the way has been around for quite some time but as I said primarily distributed by PP and to women, not men.

Highly recommended:

"Female Condoms"

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/female-...

Don't want to get into a bunch of inappropriate talk but suffice to say much better for both parties.

If you hit the paywall google "In Silicon Valley Frenzy, VCs Create New Inside Track"

And as a matter of fact just watched this on 60 Minutes tonight:

"Every once in a while, a story comes through 60 Minutes that has the potential to change lives. This week, Scott Pelley's report on a new medical treatment using the polio virus to kill cancer is that kind of story."

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/using-polio-to-kill-cancer-60-mi...

"Why is this not in the mainstream news? "

Ironically, you realize of course that if something is mainstream news (or any news at all) then that's a trophy that creates a greater likelihood of future copycat events happening. Notoriety is certainly part of the buzz of doing something like this.

"Uh, I was there at the time"

Can you verify what I was told in business school in the late 70's (Wharton). I remember reading a case study that said that Smith was considering flying passengers on the deadhead by installing seats between freight runs. Was there any discussion of that?

Weather and other logistical issues (cost of labor) played large part in where Fedex located their hub. It's not simply something that you can solve by mathematics alone.

[1] Ditto for Walt Disney World in Florida as another example where in addition to weather and population proximity there was also the cost of land..

I wonder how many people actually want to make happy talk when they are in a cab. I don't as one example.

If you hit the paywall google the title of the post.

If you hit the paywall simply google "Why the SAT Isn’t a ‘Student Affluence Test’"

Also there are little if any "do overs" with hardware. If you manufacture it and you make a mistake and it can't be fixed with software then you have a big problem to deal with.

You will almost certainly find the mentality of people making industrial equipment (or airplanes) different than people who write software where it's just about accepted practice at this point to push products into the channel and fix them later. In a sense your customers become your beta users.

Wasn't always like this (with software). I am getting software updates from Apple it seems every few days. Back in the days of floppy disks and prior to the Internet they had to spend more Q&A time because it would be rather expensive to fix problems with buggy code.

Definitely - startupdomainadvice@gmail.com

Pricing strategies are one of my specialties and I use them in negotiation almost every day.

Here is another one you can add that I have found works with sales that I make (although those are big ticket sales).

Attach some proof of what others payed in higher prices. As in "10 people paid $x for this last week".

I should have said "many registrars have sold businesses on" not "people on".

I agree that it's not desirable to have a home address on whois as a (once again) general rule. Yet many of our customers do that and we've never heard of any particular issues that they have had.

That said, if you are working as a business (and it's unclear if you do any business consulting or programming I did look at your website quickly (very nice btw.)) in my opinion it pays to get a PO Box for $10 per month.

Many registrars have sold people on using whois privacy to "protect yourself against hackers and spammers". [1]

Many end users either buy this argument or simply parrot what they see others doing (or not doing).

There are legitimate reasons for privacy but as a general rule if you are a business it's a big mistake.

On this page [1] it states that you will also "protect yourself from telemarketer". Well I am here to tell you (I also run a registrar that doesn't even offer privacy btw) that with thousands of domains under management we get perhaps 1 or 2 phone calls per week. And if we were to use a google voice number that wouldn't even be an issue. (Yes, thousands of domains ...)

[1] https://www.name.com/whois-privacy

The idea is good but they need to have both an "about" page, contact info, and remove the privacy on their whois. [1] If they aren't willing to disclose who they are I would have a problem with hiring them. [2] There is no reason for the business that they are in that they can't act like a business.

[1] Use a business address, a po box, a relatives address or anything "legitimate". Cloaking in this case is just a turnoff.

[2] I hire people to do things that I could use this for.

"$60 billion is incomprehensible to most people. It's money so big that it is not money anymore, it's the power to make society-level decisions. In a sense it is so big that it becomes an obligation--see Bill Gates and Warren Buffett."

Add to that that not everyone wants to live in a fishbowl. Some do of course, but there is something to be said to having enough money to have a nice life, and some toys, and homes, and be able to do what you want when you want, but not be on everyone's radar and a potential target because of notoriety and wealth.

"Imperative statements tend to evoke more visceral reactions than indicative ones."

Also as a general rule they will get more linkbaity attention.

"move closer to where you work"

My office is about a 3 minute drive from where I live. The biggest improvement isn't the gas cost it's the fact that I pickup an immediate 1.5 to 2 hours a day in time from not having to commute!)

An urban legend for sure, this version also claimed the government was culpable:

(Towards bottom of page)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_saving_device