alfredp

I was in a game theory class and we were learning about auctions. Just don't ask me how much I paid for his $5 bill in his "all-pay" auction - it would have been evil if it didn't go to charity. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-pay_auction)

I was sitting in the back row last year and I watched him prepare the presentation during the afternoon. I didn't know what he looked like at the time but seeing him work the alien on his laptop was a dead giveaway. And yes, I did talk to him and asked about his YC experience. It certainly made the idea of doing startups more real to me. (Sigh... working at a job-job these days, but still dreaming.)

For those of you who are going this year - remember to talk to other people; meeting other like-minded hackers is part of the Startup School experience.

As someone who cares about the quality of the shipped product, I really like to say "my work will be done, when it's done." That line doesn't go over so well with my project managers.

In other areas of my life, having a sense of urgency helps me get things done in a timely manner - like doing grocery shopping or running errands.

I think that urgency artificially introduces stress to the task - which may be beneficial in certain scenarios.

Pairs programming improves efficiency, because I don't want to look like the slacker who has to check his email (or reddit or Hacker News) 4+ times per hour.

I get an sense that a YC rejection is quite a bit different than the average rejection (not getting into Google, not getting into Harvard, not getting into the finals of a competition, not getting a date, etc.). The fact is, getting into YC really _is_ a big deal and really is life changing.

All the reading, obsessing, thinking that we as Hacker News participants do, build up hopes and expectations in an unhealthy way. But then again who can drink the YC kool-aid and not get drawn in?

Anyhow, cheers to you for being brave and making a go at it.

For some reason, I am reminded of this article: Social Software: Stuff that gets you laid http://many.corante.com/archives/2005/02/16/social_software_...

where's the hockey?!?!?

edit: found it - it just wasn't a major category like the other sports at the top of the page

I think that the writer is deliberately being controversial just to get a rise out of the readers. Having said that - he does make some valid points.

The bottom line is that you have to use the right tool for the job: it could mean using what you know, learning something new, or even inventing something totally new and original.