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project23on Ask HN: Are tech companies becoming more unrealistic in hiring?

Sure. I'm basing mine on Portland, Seattle, and SF (areas I've lived in). I'm sure the housing price jump definitely adds to it more now than ever.

project23on Ask HN: Are tech companies becoming more unrealistic in hiring?

While true, and more so in recent years than a few years ago, I think the cost of salary is way more ridiculous than it needs to be because of the bidding wars. Some are getting above market rate (or what market rate should have been) and stock out the door. That isn't typical for any other place. And college grads from Stanford are getting a premium for entry level salary according to a few TC articles I read that aren't typical for others.

project23on Ask HN: Are tech companies becoming more unrealistic in hiring?

I might be wrong but salaries in the bay (and I suspect other tech hubs) are ridiculous compare to other areas of the US.

project23on Ask HN: Do you stretch before coding?

Nope.

project23on Ask HN: Cracking the Chicken-and-Egg Problem

I think I've encountered a similar app in the past that was working with Twitter API to do something similar (don't even remember who they are). Irrelevant to the point anyway.

Anyway, here's my initial thoughts and PLEASE take it with a massive grain of salt as I don't speak for everyone else...

This idea seems way more appealing to businesses than it would to users i.e. I need to hire a ton of Stanford students, announce job posts, etc... When I was in college, the marketplace argument sounds great in theory but eBay, half.com, and craigslist are not too far away (plus rentals online now that removes reselling problems). If I want to resell, I want to get mass market reach, not just local (whatever is best).

I can also see this as a potential app that rings up too much spam, too many announcements (shouts). I can't find an immediate need for why I would want to make announcements so often and more so, I can't find a reason why I would engage in the app frequently because of such. I can see some power users that may want to do so (for things you've listed), but on a whole, I can't speak for others but I don't see a strong compelling reason why I would want to "shout" anything generally. Particularly to such a niche demographic (unless again, I was a business or something similar in nature where I have a reason to pitch to users, but this doesn't provide a good reason for why users would want to engage).

On the surface, I don't seem to have a problem this app is trying to create a solution for, and there is no strong compelling reason on why (even after the pitch) I would want to use it or continue to engage frequently enough (daily active).

project23on Ask HN: Cracking the Chicken-and-Egg Problem

I'm on the site, and I don't see the reason why I want to engage. Can you give me your elevator pitch?

project23on A New Home for Hacker Dojo

Just wanted to say congrats

project23on Ask HN: Cracking the Chicken-and-Egg Problem

1. Looking at your flyers, I have no clue what its about. I'm most likely going to ignore it.

2. Prize incentivization isn't hugely compelling for me personally although it may for others

3. Since I can't see what you posted on the mailing list, I can't comment on whether or not I find it useful. (I no longer have access to my Stanford email and thus no longer get mailing list emails either way).

4. Same as #3 regarding emails for student organizations (are you guys even tracking their activity?)

5. From what it sounds like, there is no compelling reasons why people feel they should need to use your service (I'm still confuse as to what it does beyond what you describe it as here or why its useful). This might be the biggest issue but since I don't know what feedback you guys have had so far, I can't comment much further.

project23on Why Y Combinator News is so popular?

I can't answer for others but here are my personal reasons (in no particular order):

1. The community. Its better than anything I can find elsewhere at the moment for its size and diversity.

2. The content. This, like the answer above, is the same.

3. Engagement levels are decent.

Please note that better does not mean best, it just means its better that anything else I can find.

project23on Ask HN: Any Skype groups/rooms where startup founders network?

I don't really go on there, I just know there is one that some on here uses.

project23on Ask HN: Any Skype groups/rooms where startup founders network?

Not on Skype but on IRC you can go to #startups on freenode

project23on Ask HN: Got talent overflow

Just a side note but talent isn't just in coding ability. All else being equal, what ig1 said.

project23on A 8GB iPad Mini seems really small to me

I just looked at one of the iPads laying around with a single screen of apps, no photos, and a couple synced videos from iTunes and its definitely already more than the 8GB. And thats on an iPad that has almost nothing relative to average use. I think 8GB is too small.

project23on Ask HN: What hosting do you use for personal projects?

Shared: Bluehost

VPS: Linode

Other: AWS

project23on Show HN: We open sourced Lockitron's crowdfunding app

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1877926324/plenty-a-groc...

It's not the only one...

Kickstarter's new policy is about them not wanting to act as an online store, not about taking away the "fund my new convenience store" vs creative projects. Its more about them not wanting to be used by anyone (creative projects included) as if they are there to basically be a selling platform. At least thats how I viewed it.

project23on How we learned that Stripe alone was costing us customers

Interesting. Have you guys explored other alternatives beyond PayPal? I realize its probably difficult thing to do if credit cards are out of the equation completely but given the problems that could arise (freezes, etc)... It would seem having a backup plan beyond relying on a single source for any country would be smarter. Would be interested in knowing what you guys come up with.

project23on Why is it so hard finding a technical co-founder?

Its not about "why would someone who is technical making $120,000 a year want to join your startup as a CTO for small pay and equity", it's about why would they want to work with YOU. You may think you're qualified, but most non-technical founders (which I assume is what you are) are not.

project23on Ask HN: Online Class or Resources To Learn PHP

How about this: http://thenewboston.org/list.php?cat=11

Disclaimer: I've never gone through his tutorial series but others seem to think highly of him. I've work in PHP previously but most of the tutorials I went through are several years old...

project23on Ask HN: If I threw a technology "science fair" for startups/etc would you come?

How is this different to existing conferences (both hardware and software) where there are a ton of booths and table and people showcasing what they do? Products, services, startups and non-startups alike... Maybe I'm not understanding the difference. Not saying that not differing would affect attendance in any way but I have a hard time answering if I'm not sure I see the personal value proposition. Especially if its just to see what other startups are up to, quite a number of conferences like that around here (probably different for other locations).

project23on Is Three Founders One Too Many?

Its been brought up in the SV circles and on HN several times in the past year or two.

project23on Ask HN: What to do about Pokemonium?

You lawyer up or move on. It sounds to me a part of you wants to get even because Nintendo sent you a C&D and you want justice that Nintendo should do the same for these other guys. Putting aside the merits of right and wrong, its childish if this is actually the case.

You have a right to defend your open source project and if you really want to get these guys to follow the rules, enforce it. But don't expect Nintendo to do anything. If they do, its great. You did your part in reporting this (albeit you probably wouldn't if it wasn't your project specific maybe; I'm totally guessing on this part).

But if it bothers you that much, have an attorney send them a letter.

project23on Ask HN: Learning Hardware Help

Thank you so much. This is exactly what I was looking for.

project23on Poll: Would you pay for an integrated Internet solution to your laptop?

That is true. I admit there are some that has this option. Unfortunately not all does. As a Mac user, this is missing for me. I have had the Sprint Sierra Air Card and the Verizon Mobile Hotspot previously and would rather have something more integrated or close to it.

project23on Ask HN: What are your hobbies?

Learning. Applying. Tech.

project23on Ask HN: Do you sign NDAs up front?

I would never sign an NDA with exception to acquisition talks or something important. Things like this, I'll pass.

project23on What to do now that the iPhone is shit

Apple will do what it does regardless of that article.

project23on Ask HN: Video of Apple Keynote?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KROYfsNl59U