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s_baar

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Dealing with Haters 16 years ago

It is an unfortunate truth that "haters gonna hate" as they would say.

Whenever I have the urge to hate, I try and ask myself first if I have the right to indulge in hate (am I trying as hard as them?). Then I ask if I should get worked up over it, or try and forget about it. Then I make sure that I haven't just spent the whole day being negative. I try not to get caught up on infuriating things for more than a few minutes a day and just refocus my energies. This guy has the right idea.

I would say that she failed this test. But really, I feel that the phone companies are most complicit in this. They're the ones that receive the complaints first and should be able to warn their customers when they're going to get billed at places like these. Is there some type of legal issue, or could the phone companies choose to block those "renew your car insurance" calls from their customers too?

The Startup MBA 17 years ago

As a not-so-famous blogger once said, the government will give you 200k of debt to go to college, but not to start a business. For some people, one might be more beneficial than the other.

YC does look at all the applications. PG has said that the majority of the apps come in in the last day/half-day and that they have accepted people who have applied then.

This title may not be the most supportive for those who get accepted.

It's starting to feel like College Confidential around here...

Unicorn Tears, Eh? 17 years ago

I'm waiting for the Romeo and Juliet ad campaign that focuses on two allegorical star-crossed lovers, with the last ad revealing that the drama has actually taken place at a college campus and not Italy. Also, anyone who buys a computer bathed in unicorn tears is cursed to a half-life.

Sorry for trying to hijack, but I was going to create a similar thread for myself too, and I don't think it would be a good idea to create two. (I got waitlisted at Rice too!) Right now I'm trying to decide between UCLA, UCSD, and Univeristy of Washington. Which one would be best for a CS major?

I don't think it's that crazy, just totally different from what we expect. It would make sure that those who make the risks actually PAY for the risk should it sour. The type of leverage that you talk about is irresponsible when it is associated with bad assets, like sub primes. Don't assume that they could go after all you're worth, either. No one would associate with an investment, that, if gone awry, would ruin them financially. The point is that liability would be determined on the market between individuals, and there wouldn't be a one size fits all LLC.

Upvote for accuracy. This is the best solution to many problems. Liability should only be limited between two parties through a contract. It's ridiculous how by paying the government a higher percentage of your profits you better protect your own assets if your company hurts a third party (ie pollution). This would easily be the easiest way to solve many problems, as the author points out, but it is also the only time I've had to grant credence to the argument it leading to a race to the bottom. Usually you only hear left-wingers say that when they complain about free markets or sweatshop labor abroad, but this is a reform that might actually drive out business abroad. I don't even think America has the economic clout to make this an effective measure when the status quo is so widespread. It's a great idea, but at a time of psuedo-protectionism taking hold in and each territory at local and state level trying to carve out their own economic niche industry, it's as politically nonviable as it will ever be.

One more thing: Don't assume that they could go after all you're worth, either. No one would associate with an investment, that, if gone awry, would ruin them financially. The point is that liability would be determined on the market between individuals, and there wouldn't be a one size fits all LLC. There would probably be enough to discourage irresponsible behavior, but not so much to make investors fearful.

I'm suspicious of the claim that there can be more than one silicon valley. With founders being more mobile and VC in... shrinkage (less willing to take risks setting up in new markets), the likelihood of any such concerted effort being possible is nil. After all, you're not going to get anyone outside the organizers to move from the valley in significant numbers, so I think the prospects for natural growth is limited.

I suppose what you say is true, but I don't see any reason to think such a transplant would ever outstrip the size/clout of the valley. And that's what it comes down to, is that with the big players already entrenched, and the weather so nice, no city will come close, even if the transplants do prove a boon.