skysight-inc/HackerNews huggingface dataset:
But it means you have the floor. An maybe some incentive to find something to say.
Jerry Yang, Ruppert Murdoch, Shai Agassi, Miguel de Icaza, Loic Lemur, ... Paul Graham. :-)

...and that's just off the top of my head.
"If you use a credit card, you dont want to be rich"

That is such an over-statement. You've got to spend money to make money. Using credit wisely might be the only way for some people to break out of their financial status.
Where Are The Profitable VC Funded Web 2.0 Startups?
Are these founders trying to screw me?
I've been working for a startup for about a year now. I've written many thousands of lines of code for them. The founder has lied to me several times, gone ballistic on me and is one of those ultra paranoid crazies. If I knew this about him when I started I would never have worked for him. I've been promised a large amount of stock months ago and haven't received my stock agreement yet. We now have a well known investor that has just agreed to invest. Over the past few months I've been told "hey your stock agreement is coming". Then the other day I get handed some paperwork to sign: NDA and contract. They say "sign these and you'll get your stock agreement". The problem is that the contract is outrageous and takes away every right I have. Clearly I'm not going to sign it. I just want to know what's in my stock agreement and they're telling me "hey that's up to the investor and his law firm". My lawyer is saying "don't sign anything until we see what's going to be in that stock agreement". So we're kind of at a deadlock. Advice?
I guess that is my experience, also. One of the reasons I left Cambridge was because I found the snobbery alien and slightly revolting. People who go to Philips Andover and then onto Harvard may be liberal in their politics but are very neo-con in their classism, even if they didn't start out that way. I don't remember what essay it was, but I vaguely remember PG writing about people in Boston trying to become "Thurston Howell III" and this unfortunately transfered over to much of Cambridge.
Embodied in the books "A Pattern Language" and "The Oregon Experiment", pattern theory inspired many, but also failed to consistently lead to beautiful buildings. [...] Although most of his buildings have effectively supported his theories, Alexander has mainly influenced the architectural profession through his writings and teaching rather than through his completed buildings.
http://www.archiplanet.org/architects/Christopher_Alexander....

It may be that he's a brilliant/inspiring communicator and a competent practitioner. Others like this (to my mind) are Douglas R Hofstadner and David Flanagan. We need inspiring writers; it's a good thing.
My dad got an engineering degree from UCD (the Dublin, Ireland working class alternative to the "elite" Trinity College). My degrees (3 of them and an ABD) are generally from working class type schools. I went to a private high school (almost entirely because the public school system failed me miserably) which was classed as a "hockey school" (Loyola High School, Montreal) and the neighborhood rival to a high school that educated Canadian prime ministers (Lower Canada College). Somehow I got a pretty good education - I think that it was at every stage, better than the elitist track. Like the old Hertz commercials - "we're second, so we try harder"
I can't escape the feeling that while seventeen bucks an hour is pretty good for a retail position, it's pretty lousy for anyone with the word "Genius" in their job title.
first and foremost, is this really still worth it to pursue for you? sounds like its a stressful, difficult situation.

ask to see if you can sign a NDA specifically with respect to the stock agreement, maybe?

i'd also find out from your lawyer, if you can, exactly what your rights are. have you been officially working for them? is that code technically still yours? what other things have you signed? etc..
You're right, that's probably still going to be an option.

I'd forgotten about it, but I used to share an office with a guy who went into management consulting at the end of his PhD.

Last time I saw him, he was trying to figure out whether one insanely large number in Hong Kong dollars was worth more or less than some other insanely large number in pounds sterling, because those were the salaries he'd been offered.
You're right it is very stressful and difficult. I've thought of walking away many times since in my opinion dealing with dishonest people is not worth it. I haven't signed anything ever with them. It's all been on good faith. I've been doing work on their servers and checking it into their repository I'm not sure what that means. Up here in the north east where there isn't a large pool of investors / firms like silicon valley I feel pressure to comply so this investor doesn't vanish.
From past experience, if it is a good idea for a company, and the sole problem is that the founder is a psychopath, I'd just steal all the code you've written and form your own company and poach the investors. Worked for Zuckerberg. Of course, YMMV.
Two generations ago, a couple married to share production. Today, they choose one another because they have similar tastes in consumption.
it is a good idea ... in a perfect world this sounds ideal :)
A JavaScript implementation of the RSA Data Security, Inc. MD5 Message Digest Algorithm
‘Unbreakable’ quantum cryptography hacked without detection using lasers
There is: "credible startup".
Practical Common Lisp (PCL) to Clojure
I definitely agree about the right and wrong thing - but what's the most effective way to deal with it? I've been in this kind of situation before, and it was profoundly upsetting for about 6 months, and it's still a negative thing, years later. I did not deal with it well. My interest is in learning how I could deal with these issues better next time - without people hating me, and me becoming bitter (er, more bitter).

It's easier to see it in another person (e.g. Thom) and therefore learn about it, than in oneself. So...

The only way I can see for Thom to have gotten through this, was to have made similar speed improvements to his own code (even if it meant getting someone else to do it for him, if he wasn't an assembly hacker). Then, whether he sued Katz or not, he would have won, and been happy. If you stop users from getting a better product, and you won't supply it yourself, they won't like you one bit. I don't think people's good opinion should matter to me, but it really, really does. I really don't like it when people are angry with me, even when it's their misunderstanding. I like fan mail.

There's a tendency in everyone to think that because you were the first to do or find something, that it somehow belongs to you... Many people think of Microsoft as inventing the computer and the internet - because Microsoft brought it to them. It's as if the delivery guy somehow created it! Prometheus gets credit for fire (but he stole it!) I strongly have these feelings myself, and there are good justifications for them (in motivating people to find stuff, do stuff, be first) - but it's just not true, in a philosophical sense. When you're first, it's partly a blessing. You can't claim 100% responsibility for the opportunity that came to you, or for the existence of the thing that you found. You can claim preparedness, recognition and acting on it. Thom had an opportunity to create Arc - and he did. Then Katz came along with speed improvements - round 2.

I believe that thinking purely in moral terms doesn't always give you the best outcomes, as in that saying "would you rather be happy or right?"

We can't stop people from abusing our trust - but do we have to become victims to it, so we have no choices in our response to it? Or does our universe of options contain paths that lead to outcomes we'd be happier with?

I'd like to learn how to handle this kind of situation better next time - so I'm also interested in how Google will handle that open source copy of their PageRank patent... I think they'll handle it adroitly, in a way I could learn from... (maybe offer to employ the guys? or maybe just ignore them, if they don't get anywhere?)

BTW: I think PKarc was the copy + improvement; PKzip was a complete rewrite, and non-infringing. Not just alleged, but "proven" in court.

(I hope the different threads of morality, ownership and how to best handle it are not too intertwined in this rambling comment - I've tried my best to untwine them, but I'm very tired, and don't think I've succeeded).
what do you mean 'build their own stadium'?
How to improve your self-control
thanks! =)
you too!
if you didn't sign anything at all, you might want to talk to your lawyer about IP laws and also talk to this investor in a one-on-one meeting, talking about whats happening.

just because they have and are using your code might not necessarily mean that they can continue to do so without your permission, if you didn't sign anything.

/not a lawyer
thanks - I do feel much better when I exercise, and also much clearer (which, for me, equals more intelligence in practice).

I've been getting back into exercise over the past few weeks, but I've found I have to ease into it gradually, or I get sick. I'm up to 20mins, 3 times pw. I'll keep in mind that level you you mention, of 30mins, 3-5 pw
Bank Loans Have Not 'Dried Up'
[images] Kenny Chesney Height Biography
If you have the remotest way to get someone he knows to tell him about your idea, do that instead. Generally, cold emails & calls mean much, much less than a personal introduction.
Am I correct that CO is one of those states that can divide their electoral votes between candidates, and if so, did you take this into account?
absolutely brilliant stuff. Nicely summarized.

A first time entrepreneur is most definitely bound to go through. Stages -

1. Up: Uninformed Optimism

2. Down: Informed Pessimism

3. Further Down: Crisis of meaning (Critical juncture)

4. a) Crash: Crash & Burn

OR

b) Rise up: Informed Optimism

Really useful tips on Capitalizing on All Emotional Phases (Activity Pairing)
Are you getting paid a salary for this work?
Microsoft's takeover attempt of ODF
There is not anything particularly remarkable about this interview process or offer letter. I am not sure why the author would even write about this. If anything, I think it only makes him seem like a jerk. This guy applied and interviewed for a position he had no intention of accepting just so he could blog about it. This not only wastes an employer's time and money, but also robs another potential candidate of the opportunity for consideration.
The first half is a downer, but the second half blew my mind - good to know there are others out there who think this way.
I kind of see Fermat's Last Theorem as an idea without an execution plan.
I've struggled with deciding which job I would abhor more.

A) Apple store genius
B) Geek Squad member

Sounds like a fun poll opportunity.
Are you angry enough? - The Bing Blog
Yeah, I'd always considered Alexander more of an academic than a practitioner, but it's interesting to look at what he and his colleagues actually produce. His buildings don't look amazing, but perhaps they work really well for their intended audience?

http://www.katarxis3.com/Gallery/community/community.htm

http://www.patternlanguage.com/pbrochure/purplebrochurehead....

Ha, this is my first time to the Pattern Language website... It's clear that while Alexander may understand patterns in architecture, he has very little understanding of patterns in web design.
3 Teams, 3 Startups, 1 Weekend
StartupCamp Melbourne: 3 startups, 1 weekend
"The 2nd rule for getting rich is getting smart. Investing your time in yourself and becoming knowledgeable about the business of something you really love to do"

and

"Before or after work and on weekends, every single day, read everything there is to read about the business. Go to trade shows, read the trade magazines, spend a lot of time talking to the people you do business with about their business and the people they buy from.

This is not a short term project. We aren’t talking days. We aren’t talking months. We are talking years. Lots of years and maybe decades. I didn’t say this was a get rich quick scheme. This is a get rich path"

That's what I have been constantly telling everyone. Be passionate about what you do and don't waste your time on anything else than your passion.
Well, I'm certainly not arguing that these odds are correct overall. I figure there's a 10% chance we'll find out that either candidate once murdered a hooker at a party of Ted Kennedy's.

I see now what is meant though by Eliezer's comment, I think I missed it at first. I'll have to think about the effect on the outcome though. Luckily I have lots of friends with math PhDs.
The word "genius" falls into the "if it's in your job title, you're not it" category.
The Tariff Act is in the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off, with the teacher's "This act... anyone, anyone? - Raised...", except there's a line where he's taking class attendance register and goes "Bueller - Bueller". So I mixed both references. It's definitely an in-joke for viewers of the film. :-|
The keyboard is useful for:

* taking notes

* using experimental web browser over free evdo

* accessing the boot loader and linux shell

http://igorsk.blogspot.com/
I thought this article was going to be about my cofounder's MBP. It, too, has been nicknamed the Macbook Brick, but for a much different reason.
i hope this guy is planning on launching his own start-up.

he'd be wise to read Paul Bucheit's oft-quoted advice = limited life experience + over-generalization.

while 'inspirational' it lacks the quality of reading someone who's been there and done it...
Email promotes workplace lying, study finds
$9.72
A, firstly, because your a genius, secondly because you use OSX all day, as apposed to Windows, and lastly you get store discounts.

As you may have guessed, I'm an Apple fanboy, so fixing adware/spyware/malware infested windows machines all day at geek squad would likely give me nightmares! ;)
Dupe: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=323724

flagged
Yahoo's Promises vs Yahoo's Reality: Congress finally gets it.
New Jersey Grants Rights to Build a Wind Farm About 20 Miles Offshore
Spermicide Coke, stale chips research wins Ig Nobels
Nope. Maine and Nebraska are the two that do this.
I used to use LiveJournal, as did a number of people that I know and whilst it was never perfect, we all agree that it experienced a significant decline once it was bought by SixApart.
Damn right they are :)
Almost certainly either:

a) Complete BS, or

b) Not what it sounds like, but

it's not possible to figure out which from this article, which provides no information. If anyone has a link to a better explanation, I'd love to read it.

The closest thing to a clue is this vague statement:

The intruder simply hooks into what the receiver is receiving (which is actually very complex).

which sounds to me like the intruder is, in essence, looking over the receiver's shoulder.
Wow that was A+ submarine.

It was also rather inspirational. I want my own Bloom box. It would be interesting to see cost details on that compared to the grid... pretty sure there is no way it is cheaper, but it might be a brilliant way to replace all those diesel generators that hospitals and hurricane victims keep around.
Sooo how exactly does this work? The article seems to be a bunch of handwaving.
Wait, so as an Apple fanboy you abhor working at the Apple store more?
Weird, both have the same URL. How did that happen?
I'm astounded it pays that well. That's $34k a year plus benefits to tell people which iPod they should pick. I wish they had Apple stores when I was in college.
I'd bet the Geek Squad doesn't pay $17/hr. Also, Apple doesn't make you drive around in a VW Bug painted in such a way as to somehow be even more emasculating than that car is normally. I always wonder what those cars burn faster, gasoline, or the self-esteem of the man behind the wheel.

Plus, I know the number 1 question people ask me when they find out I "work in computers", as they say, is "how do I make this Dell I got 7 years ago run faster?" At least with Apple, nobody owns one that's over 2 years old.

Even though I loathe the fanboys, I think I'd take the Apple store hands down.
Geek squad employees get discounts at Best Buy, which is arguably better than an Apple Store discount in the variety of things you could get. At any rate, both are typically overpriced to begin with for accessories, and just how many times are you going to buy a computer? I'd rather spend the time getting to know an Apple employee to buy me hardware, or to get an ADC membership with a hardware discount.

One thing you haven't mentioned is pay though, as far as I know, geniuses are paid higher than the geek squad you usually see in best buy stores and the like (http://tr.im/7mo which afaik is one of the better paying geek squad jobs, although if I remember correctly it's also the one involving off-site jobs). Job satisfaction is quite lower than you'd expect though (as a genius). I hear nothing but horror stories from my genius friends who bitch that the pay is very low and the scheduling is awful and they'd rather go work elsewhere (and, true to their word, many of them have quit and moved on to better-paying less stressful jobs).

edit: Ugh, excuse the link. I think it's checking referrers to decide what to display. The average Geek Squad Double Agent hourly pay is $17.23/hour, with $7000-10000 in bonuses. If I remember, it's possibly the "highest" ranked Geek Squad job and one of the better paying tech-related Geek Squad jobs as well.
Washington Is Quietly Repudiating Its Debts
We should make a post with collection of advices on 'how to get rich' from people who actually are rich, like Cuban.

Maybe a collection of blog posts?
How Free Should a Free Market Be?
Could you make a short summary? I looked at the first 10 minutes and it just seemed like a pathetic propaganda-movie full of short manipulative clips.
The double agents that do drive around in the VW bugs get paid around that much. But yes, the geek squad jobs generally suck.

And, well, I have seen ones over 2 years old hanging around the genius bar waiting for an appointment. At least a few iMacs (most of them serious), someone brought in some ancient Apple ][ (I think) as a joke...
Aha, I found the paper:

http://arxiv.org/abs/0809.3408

It's all about exploiting vulnerabilities in the type of single-photon detectors that are used in real systems. Looks like pretty clever stuff.
I have been in this same position, I relied on promises for 2 years and what it got me was 6 day workweeks and 14 hour days for a small salary with no upside. All I had to do was ask for a raise, but I never did because I thought I would make the money later. Given the chance again I would have worked 5 day workweeks and regular days. I have nothing to show for that period of my life.

Personally I feel you still own this situation. You can either rip up there paperwork for dramatic effect or ask for (and get) a raise.
It's been my experience that for every entrepreneur who realizes that it's better to have a smaller share of a bigger pie, there are three who would rather give up a kidney than stock. And, frankly, your chances of getting anything don't improve as the company becomes more secure and established.
Sounds just like the hiring process to become anything else. Send in a resume, go to an interview, get job offer. Cool?
Have they lifted the DRM? Can it display PDF's? Can I load whatever I want on it from whatever source I want?

The biggest shortcomings of the first Kindle were not its physical limitations.
I am surprised you've been waiting for a year. You should
already agree and demand they give you the percentage they promissed.

It's OBVIOUS they are trying to screw you.

"I've been working for a startup"

Did you get paid for the work you did? If no, then probably you still own the code. Check that with your lawyer.

In case you decide to leave now will you still own the code?
If yes, then you know what to do.
Best books about the Software Business / Industry
What are the best books / magazines / online resources out there to learn about the Software Business / Industry?
Suppose I wanted to write a C++ based web application...
What should I use? Ideally I would either have a Python or Ruby application with all its bottlenecks coded as external libraries in C. But what if I just wanted to write plain C++? How can I run it without having to resort to CGI or running it on top of a webserver library (eg. the app is the server)? Are there any event-driven servers that allow for easy plugging in of C++ applications?
They're screwing you already. I would take this as sunken losses and quit; they're not ethical, and can't be trusted even if they do give you a stock agreement; and you're technical, meaning you can get a job somewhere else.

The "hey that's up to the investor and his law firm" part is a negotiating tactic where you appeal to lack of authority (I forgot its real name). It's bullshit. They're the founders. They can make things happen. Do you think if they would say this to Richard Stallman? No. They're just pretending something's impossible so they don't have to give in in negotiations.

On a final note: Everyone here is going to give you advice that, on the whole, is aggressive. "Tell them to fuck themselves." "Sabotage them." They're saying stuff that amounts to "You go, girlfriend! Tell that man he ain't good enough for you!" and they're not necessarily the best course of action. Especially when a recession looms.

I've been doing work on their servers and checking it into their repository I'm not sure what that means. Up here in the north east where there isn't a large pool of investors / firms like silicon valley I feel pressure to comply so this investor doesn't vanish.

You obviously have them by the balls. The fact you've touched a server and even operated it tells me you're probably a nerd, like myself and everyone on this site. You don't really have a lot of experience with this sort of thing because you probably had no social currency growing up. Now you have a lot of currency. Enough to kill their startup. If you can't work up the courage (not a trivial process) have someone negotiate on your behalf. Alternatively, move to another startup, or to California. You're technical. You can find something better.

As always, I am not a lawyer.
A 12" x 12" x 1.5" block of aluminum costs more than $200.

Not a very efficient method of making a computer case. I think maybe the article might be missing a few details!
http://www.paulgraham.com/inequality.html
Yeah. It's a pretty trashy blog, judging by this article. And here I expected something really interesting.
No. Note how he said "geek squad" would give him nightmares.
I find that PDF conversion is easy enough to make it worth it. As an avid reader, I think this is close to my most-loved possession ever.

Also, I worry that a color screen would drain batteries too much.
Did you get paid for the work?
I.P.O. Crisis Could Have Lingering Effect on Start-Ups
The browser is a BIG part of the Kindle. And, to be honest, this is not meant to be such a casual product. The interface doesn't matter so long as when you're reading text, you don't have to look to know what button to press.

I don't think this will kill the book, but I think it's great for people who read a ton and can't afford to buy every book. And libraries are good stopgaps, but they've got a much more limited selection and library books always feel skeevy to me.
You could write an Apache module. Or use FastCGI. Or libasync: http://pdos.csail.mit.edu/6.824-2004/async/6.html

Let me know what you end up doing.
Umm .. why does this list only contain clones of commercial softwares? I would rather say that high priority projects are the linux kernel, git, myriad python and ruby interpreters etc which are widely used and do contain some design innovations.
CNC 5-axis machining of V8 engine block