Hacker News Reader

joedevon From Consulting to Employee #1 at a YC Startup

Congrats. I would love to see a piece about why consultancies don't run client projects in a way similar to what's been working for you at Kicksend.

They sound like great approaches to take to any project, so why don't consultancies do this for their clients?

joedevon Facebook claims you're playing games you aren't playing

We've really reached a sad point in the development of civilization when accurately tracking which games your friends play is a pressing issue. (p.s. Considering how I spend my time and attention, I'm including myself in this indictment.)

joedevon Why I Don't Do Unpaid Overtime and Neither Should You

Work does, quite literally, kill us - http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-22/the-worse-the-econo...

joedevon Why I Don't Do Unpaid Overtime and Neither Should You

"Work hard and go home!" - Amen, amen, amen!

joedevon Dear Github, please fix the Watch-Button

This is what happens when collaboration tools are turned on their head and used as as popularity contest.

joedevon Amazon Prime members buy twice as much, don't compare on price

I will only shop on Amazon Prime, and only buy Prime eligible items.

Compared to online alternatives: * Even if less elsewhere online I stick with Amazon because the Amazon experience is known and reliable.

Compared to a local shop:

* Customer reviews are much better, broader, and more in depth than getting input from a local shop owner. * Selection much larger.

joedevon A Classic Startup Horror Story

That's not a classic "Startup" horror story. That's a classic "Built to Flip" horror story. One of many reasons why selling is not an desireable business-model strategy.

joedevon Google and Microsoft Cheat on Slow-Start. Should You?

Maybe I'm not reading rfc3390 right? This:

"This increased initial window is optional: a TCP MAY start with a larger initial window."

And specifically this: "MAY start with a larger initial window". "larger" than what?

a.) larger than that proposed?

b.) larger than was standard before this proposal?

joedevon Google and Microsoft Cheat on Slow-Start. Should You?

Ben fails to mention that the equation he proposed is "violated" is expressly "optional" and in fact the standard allows that "a TCP MAY start with a larger initial window".

joedevon Microsoft to Google: Please Don’t Use Patents to Kill Video on the Web

Hey, at least they said "Please".

joedevon Did You Hear We Got Osama?

In "The Four Hour Work Week", Timothy Ferriss claims to not have read a newspaper for years. It's all about maximum output. Minimizing input is one great way to free up time and energy to drastically increase output.

joedevon Redesigning the Windows Logo

The GAP one is especially funny.

joedevon Groupon manager attacks “slavedriver” CEO Daniel Glasner with two leaked emails

I've always imagined a sweatshop, boiler-room operation when I think of a Groupon office.

joedevon Why To-Do Lists Don’t Work and Done Lists Do

Very interesting find pknight: "4 studies show that emphasizing to-date information increases goal adherence when commitment is uncertain—that is, when participants study for a relatively unim- portant exam, consume luxuries, fulfill a desire, and make first-time contributions to a charity. Con- versely, emphasizing to-go information increases goal adherence when commitment is certain—that is, when participants study for an important exam, consume necessities, fulfill a need, and make repeated contributions to a charity."

joedevon Basecamp Next: UI Preview

I doubt it is patented. http://twitter.com/#!/dhh/status/168725102538661891

joedevon Basecamp Next: UI Preview

Nice job.

joedevon When a few hundred lines of javascript could equal $100 MM

http://www.google.com/flights

Select: departure airport, departure date, and return date (optionally price range). Do not choose a destination.

See: a map of destinations with price labels shown for major cities.

Set: the max price and see possible destinations fade away.

Click: on a destination dot on the map and instantly get details of available flights.

All without pressing a single "submit" button and without entering a single destination.

joedevon Jotform domain seized by US due to user generated content

You could be right: http://www.jotform.net/answers/72220-Fraudulent-site-please-...

And JotForm appears to respond quickly and take action, at least to that request.

joedevon Jotform domain seized by US due to user generated content

This can happen to any web site that allows user generated content. Yes, that's true that it can happen just as almost anything can happen. But to act as if this comes as a surprise for which such a company should not be prepared is either ill-informed or disingenuous, and somewhat unbelievable in light of all the publicity around DMCA law recently. A company like Jotform, or any company hosting user-generated content (not just to pick on Jotform), can do a lot to help prevent it and protect their legitimate customers.

DMCA lays out several things which can be done to at least attempt to have the appearance of qualifying for safe harbor. If you host user-generated content, do you do one or more of these?

- adopt and reasonably implement a policy of addressing and terminating accounts of users who are found to be “repeat infringers?

- remove or disable access to the allegedly infringing material upon notice?

- implement any sort of "red flag" process?

joedevon Responsive Text

Excellent idea. Especially in regard to shortening the titles on navigation elements, buttons, and links. Longer, more descriptive labels when screen real-estate allows. Shorter, perhaps more cryptic but made-to-fit, labels when screen real estate is limited.

joedevon Can’t monetize free users? Try threatening them with legal action

I act with the belief that notice by email is not enforceable and I ignore any emails with claims of legal action. I am under no obligation to read email. If it were true that an email serves as legal notice, then process servers would be out of work.

joedevon SOCA has taken control of this domain name.

Why the concern for "young" artists? I guess once you hit a certain age, your value as a propaganda pawn diminishes?

joedevon Simplified Sign-Up and Log-In Flows

Innovation for the sake of innovation is no good.

joedevon Inbound.org: Community-curated Marketing News

What are so many inbound marketers doing hanging out on HN?

joedevon 99 Problems But Money Ain't One

Isn't high risk by definition what a VC investment is? I'm asking, not stating because maybe my assumption is wrong. I thought VC's look for the high returns which come along with high risk (vs. banks looking to make low risk loans).

joedevon 17 Year Old Developer Goes Up Against 19/yo with $1.1 Million

Keep on looking at it the "right way". Look, you'll rarely find a space where there are no competitors. As you eluded to, competitors serve as validation of your product.

joedevon Startup dudes: Cut the sexist crap

No one ever says that which is what makes it sexist when it is said of women.

joedevon Startup dudes: Cut the sexist crap

Terrible introduction. Gives insight into how that man's brain works around women, causing him to trip over his tongue and mention what he saw - "sexy" - vs. what qualifications she had for moderating.

joedevon Rich Dad Poor Dad... Worst Personal Finance Book of All Time?

"Worst of All Time"? I would have thought one of these would at least be a contender for that title.

"Turning Your Ordinary Photos into Your Lifetime Employees" - http://www.amazon.com/Automated-Income-Ordinary-Employees-eb...

"Getting Started in Property Flipping" - http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Started-Property-Flipping-Thom...

or even: "Watch TV, Get Rich" - http://www.amazon.com/Jim-Cramers-Mad-Money-Watch/dp/1416537...

joedevon It’s not a secret. We do monetize social discovery, and it’s great

Do I care that Pinterest is modifying pins? - No

Do I think they should disclose it to users? - Not any further than they already do by the TOS which pretty much say they have irrevocable and royalty-free license to do anything with the content you post.

If Pinterest really wanted to keep it a "secret", they could have gone through a couple steps to make the linked to url less obvious.