skysight-inc/HackerNews huggingface dataset:
I agree that it's probably a lot less than $15. ReadWriteWeb doesn't cite any source for the figure and Blizzard's press release doesn't mention it.
> Maybe not, but a lot of people would, and there is no way you can prove to the cable company that it wasn't you.

Er, in the scenario you describe, it was you. Just sayin'.
Blogging Is Perfect For Independent Consultants
How independent consultants can build a blog using mostly material they already have. Good read.
ummm.... congratulations?
Many people are encouraged to just "go for it" because if they fail they can always go back to an ordinary job and try again. However the risk equation changes when you have young children you care about since (in most cases) you're the only parents they have and they are only young once. Even if your startup is successful you'll never be able to get back the time you miss with them.
I'd love to have one for feature ranking for my startup. Auctomatic has something along these lines which they built themselves... I've always been envious.
WordPress.com Creator Raises $29.5M
Before you go off and say $15 * 12 months * 10 million users and drool yourself to death, take a look at the actual press release.

"World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft, as well as those who have purchased the game and are within their free month of access."

In the first half of 2007, total revenue for Vivendi Games ( Blizzard Entertainment, Sierra Entertainment, Sierra Online and Vivendi Games Mobile) was about $700mm.
True - but what I'm saying is that there is still time to balance it. Only if you try hard enough ....
Good link. Yes, in fact I did pull that number out of my... well, you know.

It was merely to illustrate that such a point exists. After a certain absolute percent, raising taxes will REDUCE tax receipts and wreck your economy at the same time. I'm certain were all the way down the back side of that curve near the "wreck your economy" shoulder. Yes, even though our absolute tax is lower than some smaller countries whos economies have evolved to operate at a greatly reduced rate.

It does also miss many of the 'hidden' taxes we still pay. For example, everyone in this state has to get a silly sticker on their car every year so the mechanic can pretend to look at the breaks and then try to charge you $35 for a $5 light bulb. The sticker costs $25 but I've never made it thru in less than an hour. The price of the silly sticker AND the wasted hour is a tax. There's one $25 fee and at least one wasted hour for every car in the state. This kind of thing is particularly noxious because they could have just had a little courage and added the $25 to the regular car tax, but instead wasted 100's of thousands of man hours a year on what is almost always a fictitious "inspection".

You should see what it takes to be able to build a shed in the back yard for your lawnmower...

Inflation is usually a tax as well. If a government needs money, can't borrow it, and its not politically expedient to raise taxes again, it can simply print up some money and steal a little from each of the other dollars that people already have.

There's also start of and end of life taxes that have to be amortized over the years of the life of a person. If you make a little money or live in a place that sees real estate rise, this is non-trivial.

Even the tax code ITSELF is a tax. The ever increasing burden of compliance is nothing but dead weight for individuals and businesses.

Finally, there's a stack of extra tax and extra man-hour-wasting hassle headed your way if you have the audacity to try to work for yourself and not simply settle into a nice job in an industry with lobbyists and get your w2 like everyone else. This is probably the one that interests the readers of this forum the most.

One slightly other off subject comment on the article. The government using taxation as a vehicle to transfer wealth from the "rich" to the "poor" is a recipe for economic disaster. Ever dollar "robin hooded" is a dollar sucked directly and completely from economic growth. Its a near perfect disincentive for innovators to innovate.

Sorry to slasdot/troll the issue but I am passionate about this particular area! The point of all this is, there are better ways to fix the economy than an interest rate cut!
So, their methodology is to search Google, MSN, Yahoo!, etc. for "XXX programming". In case it's not obvious why this methodology is fatally flawed, here is some evidence:

See that dip in Java in 2004? They claim that is because of a change in Google's indexing. That such a change can affect one language in vastly different ways than the others indicates a methodology problem.

For example, suppose that in 2007, we saw the number of programming job postings on the web go up 2X. That would inflate the numbers for languages that are commonly mentioned in job postings.
I think this will be pretty damaging. The average cost of a magazine goes up if sales go down. A 20% cut of retail sales could lead to greater losses down the road, and if other stores follow suit, magazines start dying out really fast.

The might go the way of the buggy whip; I could see them being obsolete if screen resolutions improve. I wonder how they'll try to resist the change. They'll probably say computers are a nerdy format, it's nicer to read on paper, and it's got better content. I hope they don't start trying to get protection laws passed. It may be tempting for them, given that magazines have a lot of reach. It would be unpleasant to see them try to get protected, and disappointing if they succeed at everyone else's expense.
The Cheat Sheet Cheat Sheet: Top 100 Lists of Web Development Cheat Sheets
With the vast array of web development knowledge available on the Internet, there's certainly no shortage of cheat sheets to be found. This article has come up with a list of some of the best cheat sheet collections out there.
I don't think the divide is as big as you think-- lots and lots of upper-middle class people shop at Walmart because of its convenience. They probably don't buy jeans there because those are status items, but they do buy things like electronics, movies, books, magazines, food, etc.

The business magazines are probably the lowest sellers, but for Walmart that means millions upon millions of purchases. It's still an enormous blow to those magazines. But probably not enough to put them out of business, of course.
The Business of Social Platforms - 1/24/08 U.C Berk
see i think if we all sit down and say SV is the IT and fold our arms it won't work. there needs to be some of us who say "it can be another way". people and money, no matter how abundant in SV, are resources that can and should be distributed in a better manner. before bollywood, first came hollywood. now what if Indians said "we can't compete with the billions of dollars and actors, and connections in CA?" it all starts with "what if?"
I basically agree with all you say, except the idea that all this constitutes being on the verge of massive disaster.

One reason is that, on the whole, a wide variety of things are getting better over time. Including our wealth -- we are getting richer, despite all our taxes.

Another issue is that if we are on the verge, then, for example, the UK is already too far gone. But that doesn't really seem to be the case. Civilization is very resilient.
It's not impossible, however, for a small team of people to make profitable games. Take as an example the Desktop Tower Defense game, which was created by one person. It's the web 2.0 aspects that made the game so successful, namely sharing high scores and seeing opponents solution.
It can work. But it's way less likely.
You and I know different upper middle class people. If you walk into a Walmart, that definitely is not the apparent demographic.

The middle class and up seems to prefer Target.
Steve Blank's Secret History of Silicon Valley
Consider the Dewar & Schonberg article which has been causing so much stir this week: http://www.stsc.hill.af.mil/CrossTalk/2008/01/0801DewarSchon...

They argue that a good theoretical grounding is indispensable for writing good code, and that it inoculates you against future unemployment by making it possible for you to learn any programming model, and even to apply multiple languages to a single system when appropriate. Merely writing applications isn't enough, or maybe it is, but it can take a decade of personal trial and error to discover rules that can be digested in a semester with a qualified teacher.

I take issue with some of their tone. They seem to dismiss all of the cool things people have made using rapid development tools, only valuing the contributions of military grade correctness provers. I think there's room for both in our industry.

However, if you're young, and you can go without sleep, use your energy to lay the groundwork for a lifetime of code writing. It's easier to learn theory now than to unlearn bad habit later.

Finally, don't get tricked into thinking you have to choose one or the other -- you will be coding regularly if you study theory.

And don't get tricked into thinking geniuses don't need to study. Those aren't geniuses pushing that theory.
Out on the User Generated Content limb
I guess that depends on the magnitude of disaster meant by "massive". A 1930's style depression is unlikely at this point because so much of the worlds wealth and means of producing wealth is now located outside of the USA.

The USA is still a major player in the world economy but it is no longer the center. That said this downturn may bust us Americans down a notch or two on the world stage, perhaps even enough that we have to make some serious lifestyle changes. So the question emerges: If I can't drive my hummer down to Mickey-D's and supersize that please... is it a disaster or what?
Your school taught you to "balance" hash tables?
Adding in some practical pointers too. If you're not in a position to enroll in an accredited CompSci program, look at MIT's free online courses:

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/courses/courses/index.htm#Elec...
* Start with 6.001
* Make sure to hit one (or all three) of 6.042J.
* I was about to claim the 6.171 (Software Engineering for Web Applications) was too out of date to bother with, being dated Fall 2003, but scanning the topic list of the course, everything listed there is still a concern in my day to day work.
* Dewar and Schonberg would have you stress compilers. I would have you stress analysis of algorithms.
We're going to have a disaster relative to the rest of the world? I thought most countries had even worse taxes.
Ironic question in light of: http://www.scripting.com/stories/2008/01/19/noOneAskedThisQu...
Way less likely than what? If quitting your job without funding isn't an option because you've got a family and no savings, it would seem that you are way more likely to succeed working on your startup after hours than simply doing nothing, at least to me.

Yes, it's an unfortunate position to be in. You are at a huge disadvantage. But the answer isn't 'don't do it' - which, without other options, roughly equates to 'give up'.
It's worth noting that the professional engineer or doctor is as much an ideal as the professional computer programmer. Doctors actually don't wash their hands as often as they know they should (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/magazine/24wwln_freak.html). Engineering failures occur with sufficient frequency to merit a civil engineering dailywtf (http://www.icivilengineer.com/Failure_Watch/), though thankfully not updated daily.

This is not to say that the failure of those professions to live up to their ideal should excuse us. We equally have a responsibility to the quality of our code. The solution is nothing so easy as an unread code of ethics or a well-it's-just-money justification for sloppiness. A lot of code actually does risk lives -- fly by wire systems, automated storm dams, anything in a nuclear power plant. The risking of lives isn't sufficient to make surgeons follow well known infection prevention protocols. For them as for us there have to be cultural changes which value slow and steady repeatable processes over wunderkind acts of brilliance.
> a lot more people by using your wealth than you can by volunteering your labor

My wife volunteers a hour a week at a local school (about 3 miles away) the school has really low state test scores (about 65% lower then our own kid's school state test scores). By volunteering her time she shows something that is worth more then money could ever, that people care.

Some money is often needed but you really cannot replace volunteering your own time. You can volunteer your time at what you are good at, not the soup kitchen but some other capacity.

With OfficeZilla.com I am able to support charities like MercyShips.com which has 20 gigabytes of files uploaded to the system. Granted they use the materials to seek donations, but if they didn't have 300 volunteers on the ship they would have seek even more donations then they have to do now. So much more in donations they might not be able to continue on.
Porn filters can use facial screening technology to verify age
How does giving money to support a cause fail to demonstrate that you care about that cause? Even a caring letter of support, would demonstrate caring, but giving money seems to go beyond that in proving you mean it.
Is this the actually Max Levchin, or is this a "fake Steve Jobs" version? And if this was the case, would this constitute a milestone of startup celebrity?
FunnyorDie Hangs In There: Good Content Still The Key
I don't have kids, but I do have a fiancee.

The trick has been that she goes to bed early. So I work 9-7, hang out with her 7-10, hack 10-2, rinse and repeat.

It's definitely forced me to improve my work habits. I say as I'm procrastinating on it.
If you're not a 'hacker' now, then the odds are against you becoming one.

On the other hand, you don't really need to be a hacker to make a good living. I know quite a few really excellent programmers / software engineers / designers who can perform all those roles, and who are emphatically not hackers.

For most programming tasks, like billing software, or web-sites, there is a fairly straight-forward way to design something, and a reasonably straight-forward way to implement it. Reliable, predictable timelines and implementations are the high-end of business software consulting.

You can be pretty good at software engineering, and be fairly well-paid, even working regular hours and not letting it consume your life.
Does MacBook Air make too many sacrifices?
Perhaps they know that "Is this a good startup idea?" and "Is it a good time to start a startup?" are two different questions that should be asked in two different discussions.
Take the Entrepreneurship Test
your own startup or working for "a startup own by someone else"?

I've been through the 2nd one and it's just the same as working 9-5 believe it or not.
That's cool... I didn't know Sequoia funded Will Ferrell. That must have been an entertaining pitch meeting.
Have you ever been to Florida?
Burrows-Wheeler Transform maybe?

One of the coolest compression algorithms evar...
Rumor has it, when a user-generated reddit gets popular enough, it'll get its own custom alien...
the link from james hong would appear to give it credibility

http://james.hotornot.com/2008/01/secrets-of-running-social-...
This is how lies get propogated around the web. Let's wait for an official reddit team member to comment first, Alexis...
Perhaps more noteworthy than the technology itself is that anybody would go through that level of effort to keep teenagers from looking at porn.
Only if your definition of success is extremely one-dimensional. It isn't "giving up" to acknowledge the implications of the choices that you've made in life, and to learn to define success within the constraints defined by those choices. It's part of being an adult.
I would agree with dcurtis, Walmart is not exclusively lower class. It's not the lower class buying things like this: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7756623
Giving money only and not considering volunteering is an issue. Money is great but volunteers make things happen. Sometimes lifes situation doesn't allow a person to volunteer at this time, which happens and is fine but to consider money as better then volunteering I believe is in error.

When I was in my early 20's I too thought I should become rich and be able to donate in a big way, maybe enjoy some dinners in my honor for donating so much. Then after working 14+ hour days 6 days a week I found out that working so much was not making me rich and I had done nothing to improve anything not even myself.
I think it's 7K daily in the meantime.
Unfortunately, the phrase "startup" has two meanings. Generally, it means the big, world-changing, swing for the fences type of startups that consume all of your time (and then some). Fail fast or prove your idea so you can get investment to grow it rapidly. It would not be a good idea to try and do one of these while you have a full time job and family.

The other meaning is sometimes called a "lifestyle business" (I dislike this term). The scope is something you can handle in nights and weekends which limits your ceiling somewhat. There's a full-time job providing income which takes away some of the hunger for success that comes with working for free. But the time constraint and income requirement means that you will probably seek profitability sooner and have that in mind from the outset. If it can be comfortably run on the side, then a home run isn't necessary (an extra 40K/yr would be a welcome success for this type of startup). This kind can be done with a family and day job, and I think this is the type of startup he is talking about.
yeah, i kinda felt corporate writing it. Sorry. I wasn't very inspired by the announcement of the MSFT accelerator press release. The press release was pretty much all boiler plate and had to be approved by MSFT.

You should check out the post I wrote right before the accelerator post. It is much more my style. http://www.xobni.com/blog/2008/01/21/celebrating-user-happin...
I should add...

Our involvement in this program is about more than free copies of Visual Studio. MSFT is helping the participating companies develop credibility with large MSFT software consumers. This is particularly valuable outside of Silicon Valley.

I think Loopt is the only other YC-funded company participating in the program.
So how does this work? A user takes a photo of themselves using a webcam or something? What's stopping a kid from holding up a photo of an older person?
Yeah, people are going to allow a PORN site to scan their face. Right...

Interesting technology, silliest application I've heard in a while.
Like the name says, you're either funny, or you die.
Actually, I agree with you - in many circumstances the cost of doing a startup (mostly paid by your family) makes attempting it a bad idea (or even irresponsible).

But what I'm saying is that once an adult has defined success for themselves and decided that they want to start a startup, and are willing to pay the price for it, it's not our place to judge the risk as not worth it.
Ask YC: Suggestions for a hash algorithm?
For a project I'm working on right now (an image server that dynamically generates images based on a URL and caches them on disk), I'm planning to use 20 bits worth of hash as both the directory path and a simple checksum. The string being hashed will be the filename concatenated with a secret key, which will hopefully prevent DOS attacks.

I don't really know anything about hashing... my ideas so far are to use the last 20 bits of MD5, or maybe the first 20 bits of Adler32. Even distribution is more important than speed. Can anyone offer any advice here?
Drawings from an artist on LSD
Why not use CRC32, or even better the MD5 on file, as the base hash, and then do a XOR with your secret key.
Not quite totally with the article but with some modifications Microsoft could build this into Windows, whenever a new MP3 file is on your computer, the computer takes a screenshot of your face and with the file sends it to RIAA for examination to see if the file is legal or not. Maybe use the facial screening to determine if a good enough picture was taken of you before sending it to RIAA.
XOR with the secret key sounds like a good idea... hashing the whole file won't work though, since I want to check the hash before generating the file--I'm hashing the URL to prevent an attacker from asking the server to generate billions of images. Think it will still work well if the input is only 20-30 characters?
Who's to say that Amazon hasn't deployed a "multi-homed, multi-located" setup, or that yours would be any more reliable than theirs?

I don't necessarily care about knowing all the potential points of failure, especially if I believe they employ people who know more about the equipment than I do. You could argue that the only reason to build your own data center is if you believe you can do it better than Amazon, if of course you can match your architecture to their system.
The ideal solution is to take 20 bits (low bits, high bits, middle bits -- it doesn't matter) from HMAC-SHA256(key, URL). An HMAC is considered "broken" if an attacker who doesn't know the key can do significantly better than random chance at guessing what the HMAC of a different URL would be; so until someone breaks HMAC-SHA256 and as long as your secret key remains secret, no attacker will be able to create a denial of service via hash collisions.

Weaker options may or may not be secure; speaking as someone who is professionally paranoid, I suggest not trying to invent your own mechanisms. If you don't have an implementation of HMAC-SHA256 readily available, HMAC-SHA1 or HMAC-MD5 are probably adequate, depending on how paranoid you are. (Or if C code works for you, let me know and I'll point you towards my BSD licensed HMAC-SHA256 code.)
Intel Contest: Suggest a Web 2.0 Parallel Programming App
Real-Estate Search Engine Roost Launches With Full MLS Listings
Really really bad idea -- an attacker wouldn't need the secret key to generate collisions, since collisions in hash(X) are also collisions in hash(X) xor [secret key].
Agree. And that's partly why I blog: http://www.jgc.org/blog/
Societal pressure has been ongoing for a long long time in favor of women being popular and practical - perhaps long enough for there to be actual evolutionary selection in favor of women who are disinterested in abstract thought v/s more people-oriented thinking.

Taking this to a logical (although politically incorrect) conclusion - women would just not be as equipped as men (in the general case) to do stuff like hacking.

Comments?
Huh. And I just moved away from the UK recently due to the high cost of living.

In any case, I wish you success. Having done my time in the UK game industry, I know how backward and tough it is.

~phil
Using Haskell and HAppS for Openomy API v2.0
In other words, 10 million addicted childish people who waster their life playing WOW
I think the gameplay was more important than the web 2.0 aspects. At least, the web 2.0 aspects wouldn't have meant anything if DTD wasn't such a perfect example of tower defense.
Speak for yourself. I stay away from WoW because I know just how incredibly appealing it is. I'm not sure what it says about our existence on Earth when WoW appears to be more pleasurable than existence on the mortal plane.
Using that I should be able to recover your secret key trivially. I submit an image to the site, since I can work out MD5(image) I can just XOR with the hash you've assigned and get the secret key.
Tough Competition
I really hope they're also using this technology in an actually useful way, e.g. attached to a web spider, searching for underage porn pictures.
With laptops increasingly having built-in webcams, I'm surprised that at least one OS doesn't come pre-configured to take a picture every time you type in an incorrect password.