psycho

Well, maybe it turned out so that it was the closest available tool and we didn't think about alternatives as we're all Facebook users.

Hm. We had rather quiet lectures in our Russian university and our parliament (or Duma as it is called here) is a complete crap.

Well, for us "Asana + Facebook chat + Email + Dropbox + Google Docs" works right now. Although, I know that we don't have "a process of a dream", in fact. I liked this talk about distributed team in Treehouse - http://vimeo.com/47271938 - of course, it's about rather a big company but has interesting points for anyone, I guess (I also liked 4-day workweek idea).

I agree with the fact that there's lots of opportunity anywhere, although... there maybe more opportunity in US than in Russia, for example. Anyway you got to try and to do something - no matter where you live, that's true.

Would be nice to see more of this for different persons and to compare different people writings on the same subjects.

It's interesting how Alexis talks about the importance of the possibility to "stay home and do great things" for some people. Well, sounds right but isn't startup a thing that's all about change - including lifestyle? Isn't it possible to have some valuable insights when you leave your comfort zone and go some place you didn't know before? I'd rather advice Silicon Valley guys just try and leave their cozy warm place and go and try to make a startup on Alaska, for example - that's the kind of adventure for startup-guys, not for sissies.

Too little article to describe all the social stuff on AirBnb and the article seems unfinished in fact. As far as I know, AirBnB was originally more soical phenomena than any other booking site and that's why it wins them all.

There's a huge difference between the site that looks like some kind of lonely place without people and the one that looks like it's crowded with people you like and the AirBnb certainly looks like the 2nd type.

Saying all this, I have to admit that there are still some things to do in the social part but I guess Airbnb will eventually do it.

What do you see as existing alternatives? I can say, there are Instapaper and Pinterest, for example, but they both differ from this one.

Looks nice - I'll try to use it and share my opinion in a few days.

I guess, billion for Evernote is less "bubblish" than a billion for Instagram.

Well, hardware is really headache for VCs, so Kickstarter now seems the best way to raise money AND promote your idea.

Guess, this video is more actual now than it was in those days. :)

That doesn't by itself mean that the fact that everybody's learning to code will bring to some catastrophe.

"Learning how to program for its own sake is like learning French purely on the off chance that you one day find yourself in Paris".

And I don't think, it's bad or wrong in fact - you may learn anything you want just as a hobby - just for exercising your brain. And it will be great if a business guy, for example, will understand a programmer way of thinking.

I can tell my story - guess, it'll be somehow interesting. I was a "business guy" not long ago and I think, I am still. But when I started to work on Travelatus with my partner, I decided to learn to code - just to be helpful someday and to understand the product better. It was in November 2011 when I started to learn Django and Python, then in 2012 I started Codeacademy courses.

It was interesting to find out that here (in Moscow) there was no strong Django community that could be useful for developers networking. So, as business guy trying to learn I cooperated with 2 partners to build such community. That's how "business thinking" helped me and other developers, I guess.

Em. I have always thought that having 1 mln. $ and more is about earning more - not about spending less. By the way, it doesn't mean you have to "work hard" - it's much better to work smart.

Well, it's right in fact that they are some rules that must be followed in order to build a good app. The bad thing is that these rules are hidden and change constantly. Another thing is that internet seems borderless but it is not - there are different habbits in different countries that are to be taken into account (although there are some apps that fit all but it is again due to following some rules).

So, I guess, building a good app is even harder then creating good TV-channel in some way (if you have enough money for the second, of course :)).

But that makes the whole thing much more interesting. You know we have a song called "Men in front of the monitors". I won't translate it, here's Google Translate variant:

"Those eyes could stare into the distance and look for land on the horizon. They could tear from the cold mountain tops or from the dry dust storm in the desert. Those eyes would go blind from the white snows of the polar dim light or navigation devices. They could, without blinking, pierce the night and see the stars ... But those eyes looking at the screen The man's eyes at the monitor

These hands could compress the steering wheel. These palms can be abraded on the ropes and sails and ropes the front. The fingers could be cut by the rocks and ice. They could turn black from the fires and winds, they can become hard and dry, but relate to women's leather soft and strong, taken by the waist or shoulders as take forever .. But they quickly ran her fingers over the keys .. men are in the monitor

These individuals could be weather-beaten all the winds, they could become peaky and whip wrinkles: fine wrinkles around the eyes, deep forehead. These cheeks can become hollow and unshaven, the lips can become dry and cracked from thirst in the blood, but to be able to kiss her so, so touched his lips to your favorite ... And those lips are stained from coffee, tea and cigarettes these persons in the pale blue light of the screens ... Men have monitors

Those eyes are tired of sleepless ... These fingers are running over the keys ... But it seems that the fingers grip the steering wheel, paddle, or compress or squeeze the shoulders of wonderful ... Men have monitors"

Well, the whole point is that nowadays all discoveries are made near the monitors as they were made in faraway seas and countries. (although song is not exactly about it - it's just my thoughts about it)

I'm just trying to learn using Codeacademy for javascript, MIT online courses for Python and Django Book... of course, for Django. :)

I think, the best "suit" for the pitch is a t-shirt with your project logo. Well, in fact it's a best everyday clothes too. ;)

I guess, it's true in a tech world. Well, in fact, I know that in Russian IT-world it's also so.

Great one. Hope, you'll be in. :) In fact starting to work on startup having a hope to have some valueable stock in the future is like starting to work on your own project with some differences. While you work on your own project, you'll always have a chance to make a pivot and to change something you don't like. If you work for someone, you have to be sure that they're reasonable to pivot when it's necessary and that they will listen to your ideas and appreciate your help etc.

YCombinator turns its sight towards offline with funding of iCracked, I guess.

I'm not sure what Paul Graham is looking for that's why I asked. :)

Well, you got it right - YC is broadening its scope - that means that this investment is really kind of new type for Graham and co. I guess, I should not ask what was so cool in AnyVivo but try to say in another words that it looks like a turn to traditional spheres to me.

I guess, online shops were kind of innovation when Amazon emerged but now they are rather common phenomenon and making them sell live animals is more about right organizational process than about building strong online product.

I guess, it's good business but I never noticed YC backing such "trivial" kind of business.

And what's so cool about AnyVivo?

Well, the kid doesn't have to worry what to answer on a question about the most impressive thing he did if he decides to apply to YC someday.

By the way, service doesn't look like it is still alive. Is it?

There's http://xmarks.com/ that can help you.

Thank you, Pail and co. You're doing great things not only for those who apply and join YC-family but for the startup community all over the world. The great thing is that you've found something that helped you to become more rich and to help the humanity (at least its geek part :)) in some way.