Recent submissions

Comment · 15 years ago
I tend to agree with you. When I write scripts, I target sh, not bash. If it doesn't fit in sh, then I look at a dedicated scripting language (perl/ruby/python) that will almost certainly be a better fit.
Comment · 15 years ago
This makes a lot of sense, and meshes with my own experience. I've created a lot of programs that collect data using Python/Ruby/similar and then use R for the analysis.

While using two languages is an overhead, it feels like it plays to the strengths of both sides.

Comment · 15 years ago
Congrats to the Zite team. You made one of my favorite apps, and whether you continue development at CNN or move on to other ventures, I wish you the best and look forward to seeing what you do next.

Zite is one of the most used apps on my iPad, and has been for ages. I would've happily given you a few dollars for it, but I guess this worked out well for everyone.

Comment · 15 years ago
If you're on FreeBSD you can use dummynet to simulate packet delay and loss.

It's quite handy. My partner has slow, unreliable, high-latency Internet in his house and there are an entire class of performance problems that are extremely obvious when I work from his place that are barely measurable when I work from a 100mb line that's only a few milliseconds away from a major datacenter.

Comment · 15 years ago
You know nothing about the people you judged except that they threw a coffee into a virtual 'give a coffee / take a coffee' tray. And from that, you've extrapolated that they care more about art than world hunger.

That's as illogical as it is self-righteous.

Comment · 15 years ago
Being a fast-follower is often an excellent strategy.

I've long thought that somebody will make a fortune by setting up a company that clones successful America-centric startups into Europe, Asia and/or Brazil; using a fast-follower strategy to test core ideas, but then implementing them in untapped markets.

Comment · 15 years ago
I don't agree that ACSOI makes sense. Marketing isn't just the initial customer acquisition cost. It's also a substantial expense that keeps existing customers active, engaged and profitable. If it was just about customer acquisition then we'd never see an ad for Tylonel, Coke or Budweiser.

Fortunately Groupon is issuing a new S-1 tomorrow, so it's likely that those who are looking for more information will get it.

Comment · 15 years ago
It'd be trivial to sort the calls by listening to a few seconds of each to identify potential high value phone numbers (banks, florists, catalogue ordering lines, etc), then listen to every call to the high-value numbers.
Comment · 15 years ago
What's the point of an apology?

Homeaway.com, VRBO.com, and roomarama.com all offer similar products, and they built their businesses without dishonesty or spam.

Comment · 15 years ago
If my business could borrow at the same rates as the US government I would take on as much debt as possible, in perpetuity.

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