discourse and notes - Latest Comments

Re: Google searches for an extra hour

Dan — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 09:36:33 -0000

Yes.

Re: Google searches for an extra hour

Ian — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 09:34:31 -0000

By extension, should we now expect to learn that Google is also developing a dream generator/interface, so that users can search and browse while they sleep too?

Re: The value of recommendation tools: foremost in the recognition

Dan — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 14:10:28 -0000

A mirror reflects your own image back. A social network, on the other hand, is a vast sprawl.

Re: The value of recommendation tools: foremost in the recognition

Ryan — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:31:57 -0000

Maybe I'm incredibly obtuse but I really didn't understand what this meant, "In short, this is a social network in reverse: rather than offering to blast a user’s message into an ocean, the ocean is captured in a snapshot, in the background, that is in fact a portrait of the user. Like any portrait, its subject can cherish it as a mirror." Can you simplify?

Re: Millions of exits

Dan — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 08:40:22 -0000

Thanks, Jordan, now let's go change the world.

Re: Millions of exits

Jordan S. — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 07:49:26 -0000

what? business is about making money?

seriously, dan: this is spot on.

Re: Old-fashioned private equity: a new venture framework for a new market

Dan — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:01:49 -0000

Thanks for that, Kuni. I agree all around.

Re: Old-fashioned private equity: a new venture framework for a new market

Kuni Takahashi — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:58:22 -0000

I think bootstrapping is a very important skill for start-ups with many benefits as you mention, the reliable cash machine. However, it also comes with some drawbacks if you ever want to raise substantial capital down the road. For example, growth rate. I've talked to a number of VCs that won't look at a deal if the company is not growing 20% YoY with revenues more than $1M. Obviously, this is a narrow point of view, and like you said, VC investment frameworks may also need to be adjusted.

Re: Why the iPad sells out in a soft economy

Dan — Mon, 03 May 2010 05:30:01 -0000

David, I hear you, but let's be careful with the body extension talk, as this may give rise to a new medical specialization and increase insurance costs! Would have to add that to the price point.

Re: Why the iPad sells out in a soft economy

davidbecker221 — Sun, 02 May 2010 23:39:11 -0000

A stunning product. Those that believe that the iPad is simply a big iPhone haven't actually tried the device. In fact the iPad doesn't feel qualify as a device — more like an extension of your brain and body.

Apple changes everything - again.

Re: The milepost of iPad weekend

davidkpark — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:44:02 -0000

I couldn't agree more with the post. The iPad is truly an everyday (not just an entertainment) device.

Re: The looming exit bubble of 2012

Dan — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 09:32:11 -0000

In a prior post on a different though related subject (http://bit.ly/aWHDkm), I discussed the subject of "bubbles" as follows: "Bubbles don’t happen because valuations are high. Bubbles happen because valuations are in excess of what business fundamentals can reasonably justify. As the word implies, a bubble occurs when that which is solid is supplanted by air. Thus, it is quite possible for bubbles to occur even in a low valuation environment."

But I understand that this is an oversimplification and raises a series of more complex questions.

Re: The looming exit bubble of 2012

davidkpark — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 09:10:48 -0000

Yes, but a lot this revolves around how we define a "bubble" and how we can see prospectively see this bubble. I know in academia how one defines a bubble is very tricky.

Re: The looming exit bubble of 2012

Dan — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:59:23 -0000

Agreed. And the abundance of seed VC capital is arguably itself a bubble, which will require traditional VC to follow on, which will require exits as discussed... so there could be a chain reaction of bubbles that are needed. Not unlike the public market, in some ways.

Re: The looming exit bubble of 2012

davidkpark — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:47:52 -0000

I think that's why there's such a plethora of seed VC's sprouting up because the existing VC structure is broken. The huge funds raised by traditional VCs and the subsequent exits required by them are just unsustainable.

Re: Save the starving content

Dan — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:29:32 -0000

Thank you for the nice note, I wish I could dedicate more of this blog to books. Maybe the other stuff is not that bad either. I look forward to reading more Markson, especially from his parred down series. But I think this has to be spaced out for optimum effect, because the themes are repetitive and one could lose patience. Thanks again for visiting, come back soon.

Re: Save the starving content

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:01:55 -0000

I realize that your discussion on Markson serves mainly as your setup for talking about the quality and content of web-messaging. But I really liked the brief notes you made about Markson! I just finished reading "This is Not a Novel," and have been thinking a lot about Markson's aesthetic, and why his parred down "narratives" are so very moving, despite their attempt to be about nothing.

In any case, I enjoy your writing, especially when you write about books.

Re: A rock’n'roll Super Bowl in which Google is miscast

Dan — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:26:21 -0000

Real turf! Perfect. Case closed.

Re: A rock’n'roll Super Bowl in which Google is miscast

Murray — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:18:10 -0000

This is a good one, Dan…..I’m absolutely onside with it, especially the song lyrics. Just one thing: the turf was real, not artificial (I smell an unintentional metaphor…)!

Re: A rock’n'roll Super Bowl in which Google is miscast

Dan — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:19:13 -0000

David, could Google be turning into Microsoft so soon? I would have thought at least a few more years.

Re: A rock’n'roll Super Bowl in which Google is miscast

David Becker — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:40:36 -0000

Interesting to read that the Google Super Bowl ad just sort of came together. Like the Apple vs. PC campaign, I could see many variations to. Start with a kid learning how to play baseball and ending up in the majors. Or a women searching for cooking classes who eventually gets her own television show.

Here's the post from Eric Schmidt:

"If you watched the Super Bowl this evening you'll have seen a video from Google called "Parisian Love". In fact you might have watched it before, because it's been on YouTube for over three months. We didn't set out to do a Super Bowl ad, or even a TV ad for search. Our goal was simply to create a series of short online videos about our products and our users, and how they interact. But we liked this video so much, and it's had such a positive reaction on YouTube, that we decided to share it with a wider audience."

Re: The possibility of an island

Dan — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:01:20 -0000

Frank, I look forward to checking it out. Hopefully there will be a blackberry app. For some reason Foursquare treated that like an afterthought... but there are lots of us out there.

Re: The possibility of an island

frank — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:23:10 -0000

Great post. If you like foursquare, you'll likely love plotstar.com. Currently only in the UK, but not for long. Rather than just telling people where you are/have been like foursquare and gowalla, plotstar helps you organize and figure out where to go, where to get deals/coupons/discounts, and then let's you share your plans with your friends ahead of time.

Re: One day later, and we need a break

Murray — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:36:13 -0000

Alas, I have an opinion about pretty much everything, and a complete and utter lack of restraint in offering it....
Talk soon Dan

Re: One day later, and we need a break

Dan — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:18:44 -0000

Murray, come back often! Browse around. I have all sorts of schtick already, and there's much more on its way.