skysight-inc/HackerNews huggingface dataset:
I am just as skeptical as you and am waiting for an official press release. This was posted on the 15th of March and claims there will be an official announcement on the 17th of April.

http://www.techvibes.com/blog/royal-canadian-mint-developing...
Anytime someone emphasizes free, I instantly start to think where's the catch. Something like: "FREE TRIAL!!" - "wanna spam me with email?"
http://techcrunch.com/2010/10/09/google-automated-cars/

Says that they do have the occasional human intervention. So even if it has never been in an accident up to that point there had only been 7 cars that had driven 1,000 miles without any human intervention.

You'd have to have a lot more data (such as a much higher number of miles logged without human intervention and 'all weather' exposure) before you could make such a grand claim.
> This strikes me as an attempt by the Royal Canadian Mint to disintermediate credit card companies by offering a new, low-cost, "irrevocable," centrally-controlled payment system.

This seems to be exactly what they're doing. From the Developer Guide, Background page: "The emerging digital economy must be able to accommodate small-value transactions, such as micro transactions (under $10) and nano-transactions (under $1). The Mint hopes that software developers and entrepreneurs will use MintChip to ignite trade and commerce for these very-low-value markets."

The title of this post equates MintChip to BitCoin, but the two appear to have significantly different goals. MintChip may end up being the digital equivalent of pocket change.
Here's a screenshot: http://i.imgur.com/eSZfc.png

The difference is more obvious in Cyrillic text on the bottom -- there's something wrong with hinting in Firefox.

And another one: http://i.imgur.com/op1bj.png
Simply stating it is not a ponzi scheme doesn't advance the conversation in a meaningful way in my opinion.

It's really just semantics at this point. There is a lot of evidence here that suggests systematic misleading (if not out-right defrauding) of investors. So you while you are technically correct, I think what Groupon has done is in the spirit of Ponzi even if it is executed differently. What's happened here is more than just a bad business plan executed honestly producing poor results. Just because we don't have the exact word for it doesn't make it any more ethical.
Not if you also wear a Google self-driving beanie.
the EVE online denizens are going to have a field day w/ this...
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/dcpu-16
Interesting that that the intro video also seems to be a subtle demonstration of new natural language commands. Kind of a clever way of minimizing "Siri" by packaging it into something much bigger. I'm curious how some of the actions are initiated - the video implies that visual recognition/location awareness/voice commands initiate the search, but I wonder if a button is also pressed.
Not to disagree with you, more thinking out loud. Shouldn't teachers provide the primary role model? In stead, teaching has become a profession for losers. The status and quality of teaches have all gone down consistently during the last 20-30 years. Children's first role-models should be the best of the best.

And, to disagree with you a bit anyway. I have the feeling that the example set by start-up role-models is more of the make-lotsa-money-fast kind, than the technical kind. Maybe that's not mutually exclusive, but I remain sceptical.
If you're into this stuff, check out Steve Mann, who's been doing wearable tech since the 80's:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Mann
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiFtmrpuwNY
after all the idea was good.I liked it pretty much
> And skiers/snowborders would enjoy them for other information (How many Gs am I pulling in this turn? How fast am I descending? Where am I?)

http://www.reconinstruments.com/products/mod
thanks! we've gotten a few really good applicants and hosted some passerbys including some YC alums :)
Amazon is tesing in-app purchase service to chanllenge Apple and Google
I use kippt.com. This allows me to save the URL, add comments, etc.
(Mostly) full list of all of them: http://arewemetayet.com/
I guess someone will have to follow up and see if he does jail time. He might if he is on probation for car theft, otherwise it seems unlikely.
Sounds like it can only catch some % of double-spends, which might be good enough (assuming the coins are small enough, odds of missing anything important are tiny).

Now I'm interested in how step 1 is accomplished, but that's probably too involved for a comment - I have the paper, I'll see if I can figure it out.

Thanks! That was very helpful. A quick skim of the paper backs up what I could find, so it looks like you remembered well enough :)
Comodo launches free Malware Scanning Service for sites
And there's this:

http://css-tricks.com/examples/ShapesOfCSS/

Includes the infinity symbol, an egg, Pac-man, and the ever fun Yin-Yang symbol.
Coffescript based interpreter:

https://github.com/Janiczek/cfs-dcpu16
15 years or more behind other similar products in terms of features, XCode 4.3 is the throwback IDE from yesteryear.
Bitcoins don't have IDs - it's only amounts being transferred between addresses. If I have 5BTC in my wallet, I have no way to differentiate between let's say the 0.01 "canadian" and the 4.99 ordinary BTC. i could not specify which ones to send in a transaction.

That said, if MintCoin gains momentum I'm sure there will be plenty of MC-BTC exchanges popping up.
I am frustrated to see a great company get destroyed like this.

Scott Thompson, CEO of Yahoo! says:

"We are intensifying our efforts on our core businesses and redeploying resources to our most urgent priorities. "

In the background, unstated but assumed, is the theory of business "core competence". I believe the phrase was invented by by C.K. Prahalad and Gary Hamel in this May, 1990 issue of the Harvard Business Review:

http://hbr.org/1990/05/the-core-competence-of-the-corporatio...

Sometimes a great essay gets badly misinterpreted.

Since that time, there have been many, many books that have developed this idea. See "Strategic Management and Core Competencies: Theory and Application" by Anders Drejer.

Inspirational for this concept was what Jack Welch argued for while he was CEO of GE, during the 80s and 90s: the company must be in the #1 or #2 spot in any industry, otherwise they will leave that industry. This is taught to MBAs. I have the sense that most of them draw this lesson: shrink the company down and focus on whatever currently works. My concern is that this frequently means focusing on what works in the short-term, without much thinking about where growth will come from over the long-term.

The original essay by C.K. Prahalad and Gary Hamel can be interpreted in another way. This sentence sounds like it is describing Amazon.com, constantly inventing new services:

"A few companies have proven themselves adept at inventing new markets, quickly entering emerging markets, and dramatically shifting patterns of customer choice in established markets."

When CEOs have no idea what a company should do in the long-term, they claim that the company is going to focus "our efforts on our core businesses". There is absolutely no hope for a company that follows that strategy. Especially in technology, where things change quickly, one needs to be inventing the new, new thing, or one is dead.
Ask HN: Tips for Third-party Javascript as a Service?
I've just read Olark's post on the subject[1]. Any good tips?

* How do you make sure your CSS doesn't interfere with the site's css and vice versa? Do you append a style element or another file?

* Do you start executing on DOM ready? Do you defer animations?

* How do you namespace your code? (for example, disqus expects you to just throw variables on the global scope)

* Have you used socket.io? How do you authenticate the connection? (since no cookies are sent)

* Any other hard earned advice?

http://www.olark.com/spw/2012/03/dont-break-the-internet-with-your-javascript/
If you saved all the money you spent on your kid(s), you'd probably have a pretty decent safety net.
http://www.techvibes.com/blog/royal-canadian-mint-developing...

"...will be formally unveiled on April 17 by Chief Financial Officer Marc Brulé in a keynote at The Canadian Institute's Forum on Canadian Payment Innovations.

The digital payments space has been booming recently. Canadian-born companies like PayFirma and NetSecure are already active in the mobile payments industry, not to mention American counterparts such as Square, as well as some failed ideas such as the Bitcoin."

Doesn't necessarily mean it is real but it does seem to be.
This is a ceramic furnace as large as a washing machine, as heavy as a Honda Civic, that needs to be 6 times hotter inside than their home stove/oven/range, and the fuel (ZnO) is safe to eat in small quantities (breakfast cereal) but is toxic(?) to breathe.

I'm having trouble seeing why it would take long for a startup to start baking the clay for one of these in every home.
No, the issue has nothing to do with differences between Windows and OS X rendering. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3798667
I know it's a little belated, but here's the code. I haven't written the blog post yet.

https://github.com/xentac/colorwar
Don't worry about the '10000 suns' requirement...

The High-Flux Solar Furnace "can nominally provide flux at 2,000 suns but, when required, can use specialized secondary optics to generate concentrations greater than 20,000 suns."

-- http://www.nrel.gov/docs/legosti/fy97/23377.pdf
This looks ridiculous.
I'm not sure if they actually could have sold the company to google even if they wanted to. My understanding is that you must open your books to the prospective buyer after a certain stage and it is likely that once the google accountants had a look at Groupons books the deal would have fallen through.

That could have created negative press and damaged their pump-and-dump strategy for the IPO.
I'm not so sure. I don't think success (whatever that is) depends on a critical mass. In particular, while AnnotateIt has a bookmarklet (and soon browser plugin) use case, it's also possible for it to be useful to individual sites who can use AnnotateIt in the same way that they currently use Disqus.

To address your second point --- well, yes, that's kind of the point. Not to piss people off, of course, but to provide a commentary layer that doesn't necessarily require the consent of the site owners. I don't think that should be seen as a downside of the software.
Off topic but I'm a little disappointed in their choice of the Strand. Alabaster Bookshop is right around the corner and has loads of stuff you wouldn't find at a Barnes & Noble.
I dunno, maybe I'm a Luddite but I don't think the tendency to never be disconnected is good for the human psyche. I know that personally my own mental well being tends to suffer if I don't let myself have considerable stretches of time where I'm not consuming any information.

Also, though cool, the video is probably a pretty inaccurate representation of what that tech would actually get used for. It shows some guy getting directions, scheduling events, and meeting friends. Nice enough, but the reality is that, like most mobiles, it's probably more likely to be used for Facebook addiction and sending pointless text messages.

[I guess the answer is "yes", I'm becoming a Luddite.]
It is when you need new sales to pay for the cost of maintaining existing client base: 1) client #1 pays you, but you have to give him back half at a future date, 2) while his money sits in your account, you spend it on operating costs, 3) get new client money in order to pay client #1 back.

It is that money sitting in the account that gives Groupon the cash flow it needs to hire more sales people to grow the revenues further, but remember always that a % of that must be returned to the customer at a future date. Where it falls apart is when your new sales can no longer replenish the client account (no it does not sit in a trust or escrow, but in company's general operating account).

So what happens when Groupon declares Bankruptcy? All that money sitting in the account is gone, customers get NOTHING back. Yes, this is indeed a Ponzi scheme because the last customers in get nothing, even though they are owed the %.
"Anything that gets drivers' eyes back in the general direction of the road is a good thing."

On that note, it's technologically possible these days to mount a tiny camera that would keep track of your eye movements and orientation, and would activate a danger signal -- or something to that effect -- when your eyes have been taken off the road for more than X consecutive seconds (i.e., if they're staring at a cell phone screen while you're texting).

So as not to be super-annoying, the X second interval would be ratcheted high enough not to freak out everytime you checked a side mirror or looked out the window, or at the radio dial, etc.

Seems to me that this sort of thing would save at least as many lives as the incessant beeping that new cars activate when you turn on the ignition without fastening your seatbelt.

Then again, maybe this is a terrible idea, bound to plague millions of drivers the way the seatbelt beeping does. I dunno. I'm just really sick of near-misses with idiots who are texting while driving.
Apple’s New iPad – Cook’s other big announcement
Switched to Pry and probably will not look back in a near future...am I missing something here?
Check out the HUD in the second picture. It reads 77 kmh but the needle is reading about 68khm. I wish they'd use actual pictures. These poor Photoshops don't do any justice.
I could name you dozen of IT companies that unveiled concept for a product that's basically same as this.
The only and real question is - can Google pull it off?
Why is there no public announcement of this? Why does the actual Canadian Mint website have no links or mentions of this project?

Government bodies move slow as all hell. Even when a specific department of the Mint authorises something, it'll have to pass through about six other departments before a blog post is signed off.

(the goats thing is a timeline of currency, seems relatively self-explanatory to me)
BmoreFail: A Conference Celebrating Failure
I'd like to warn people about cheesy customer testimonials. Nothing says "scam" just like testimonials can.
http://www.nuratrim.com/before-and-after-photos-21-c.asp
I'm the author. Sorry I'm late in seeing this! If you happen to check back, feel free to email me any questions at hello@bootstrappingdesign.com.

I can also point you to reviews and feedback from customers.
That was what CRM usually means to me and I still didn't make the connection, that's a really cool thought!

I really like it when we can tie modern techy/businessy practices back to how someone would do things before the jargon those practices are often built on came into usage. I think it strengthens both the long term viability of the practice and our understanding of people who lived in the past.

I think your idea shows how CRM can be down-home and warm, which is a real drawback to the way it's generally approached. If relationships can be approached within a framework that makes it easier to manage them more productively without the "systemitization" swelling into the foreground, that's a win for everybody. I'm sure that's a big concern for SalesForce researchers.
Mail can't load due to a temporary error. You can try back again shortly, or visit our help pages for ways to troubleshoot the issue.
Or an easy way to reference readers of your own material to any quotes you may use from him. This makes it a lot less time-consuming to link to his articles. Does this actually bring him more traffic? I don't know, but it's interesting to know that it's actually hurting his traffic from what you're saying.

Personally, I'd be more inclined to link to his article in my own because it's that much easier.
Presenteer.js - A Very Flexible HTML5 jQuery Plugin Presentation Library
What this will provide for disabled and autistic people is amazing. It's too easy to get caught up in the "social sharing" part of this and forget that something like this can really help change people's lives.

Edit: To expand a bit, take an autistic adult that wants to do something, like go to the movies. It's simple for us, we wash up, get dressed, go outside, go down the straight, hope on the 132 Bus for 3 stops, get off, walk 2 blocks, pay for tickets, and go into theater number 5. For someone with autism, they can struggle with things like this. These glasses provide them with visual cues base upon their location, so when they finally do get to the theater, the glasses can show them what to do next, and give them that visual cue.

Currently working on an app for tablets for this sort of things, but having it work in glasses would be simply amazing. God, what I wouldn't give to be apart of this.
Why not just buy puts on it?
I believe the paper specifies the challenge from the merchant as possibly random or based on the merchant's identity. Random most likely means that n becomes a bit-security parameter that has to become reasonably large so the chance of collision is extremely low (as I think the spender can always walk away after receiving the challenge).

I think setting n = log_2(maximumNumberOfMerchants) and hardcoding which merchants ask for which pieces is a straightforward way of preventing all unpunished double spends while keeping n relatively small. BTW, with general progress of zero-knowledge techniques I'd be surprised if there weren't a more modern and concise paper in the same vein.
http://www.apievangelist.com/events/
Ask HN: Feedback for a new local business review website: MamaAlwaysSays.com
Our website is in Beta but we are looking for feedback on our business concept, UI, features, etc.

We're looking to change the way business review websites work by featuring "the best of the best" when it comes to local businesses. Our goal is to create a review site that actually helps small business owners manage their online reputation.

You can check out our video to get a better idea at: http://youtu.be/nocoJxmcBnw

You can view the website at http://www.mamaalwayssays.com

Thanks!
I suspect our differences are mostly semantic. I consider all entrepreneurs to be businessmen (although not the reverse, of course). You may have a different definition. That's ok!

Here's the way I view it:

- Look at YC as a transfer function. In go individuals who want to learn how to successfully start a business. Out go many individuals who do indeed succeed starting a business.

- Look at HBS at a transfer function. Difference is that the individuals spend a lot more time inside the black box, do a lot more "makework", usually end up with debt not equity, and fewer of them succeed at starting a business. Still a great institution! And clearly many HBS students want to go work for Goldman Sachs, and go on to have great careers doing so.

I'm just saying that higher ed needs to be reinvented, and that reinvention will necessarily happen in ways that dont look like conventional education. Like YC.
I, Luddite
I'd think just a simple standard for 80x25 text would be a great start...
Groupon is a large part of the tech scene here in Chicago, contributing a lot to the scene.

But they're not our sole pillar any more. I think we all know that pillar is going to come crashing down in the near future, and we're ready.

Groupon helped propel us to where we are, and we're standing on our own now. In my opinion, the future of tech in Chicago will not solely depend on Groupon's activity.
The problem with Groupon and other local deal companies is that they have to manage fluctuations on both the consumer as well as the merchant side. Even if one side of the equation wobbles a little, Groupon will feel the impact. I think at this stage, Groupon is fighting a dual (losing) battle:

1) Merchants perception of the whole daily deal market is very negative. Repeat business is quite low and it mainly attracts the spendthrifts who are looking for a deal. Given the margins that most local businesses have, running a daily deal means taking a hit on those margins.

2) From a consumer perspective, the novelty of the daily deals market has really worn off. Consumer fatigue has set in and more and more people are tired of having their inboxes flooded with emails. Personalization is still a joke and ticks people off even further.

It wont be long before the whole local deal market implodes (think of it -- the 2nd largest player - LivingSocial is not yet profitable). Groupon is well aware of this and so is trying to ramp up its technology platform via acquisitions to eventually evolve into something more. Its just a matter of time that the whole thing comes crashing down.
Jason, your gut instinct is correct. Groupon is a Ponzi scheme in every way: last customer in gets no money out. I feel sorry for that Mom & Pop pizza that paid $1,000 to run a Groupon deal, and expecting $300 back in 60 days, only to see Groupon go belly up and get nothing but a letter that says "Please send your creditor claim to the bankruptcy trustee listed below".
Nav systems are still $1000+ options in many cars, when a superior Garmin costs $100. I'd be surprised if it didn't have a huge profit margin, like most optional upgrades on new cars.
I think you need to read the Wikipedia entry on Argument from Authority.
> Is there an Android tablet you’re happy with?

> I really like using my Samsung tablet. I previously used the Motorola Xoom for a while and liked that.

He liked the Xoom? It's sad. Like Bill Gates before him, for all his success, all his money and all of his intelligence, he can't use an iPad in public.
That would be a useless law. For comparison: once murder is illegal, there is no need to have separate laws forbidding using a gun/screwdriver/BIC pen to kill somebody, is there?

Similarly, why would it make a difference whether someone usd hacking tools to commit a crime?
A TV network is going to Pilot with a new fictional sitcom -- called "Friend Me" I believe. It's about a man who packs-up and moves so he can work at Groupon (not made-up). Perhaps making it a comedy isn't such a good idea. ;-)
Uh... it isn't a web site about the MintChip. It's a competition to get people using the MintChip. The title of this post is badly phrased as it might lead you to think you're getting something different.
The first two shareholder lawsuits were filed Tuesday in federal court in Chicago after the markets closed, seeking class-action status for people who bought stock before the company restated fourth-quarter financial results on Friday.

Perhaps those people should have been reading Hacker News:

http://www.hnsearch.com/search#request/all&q=groupon&...

(The first post is rather long and fairly neutral, but check out some of the posts (and their dates) right after that.)
I believe the original name for them is Purple Numbers[1], though as Dave Winer mentions, the NYTs implementation doesn't appear to create the links properly.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Numbers
Agreed, but even some ORMs (like Yii's ActiveRecord) don't validate the field name in the WHERE part in certain functions.
AP turns to citizen reporters for live video news
That compulses me to take Compiler class next semester, and write a C compiler for this precious fictional CPU.

And what about creating this cpu?
It's a web site about the Mint, not a web site by the Mint.
Breaking the Chains of Political Groupthink
I don't think it makes sense to use block chain technology for backed currencies; if you're going to have a central mint anyway you might as well use a Chaum-style system like Lucre or Open-Transactions.
How would they get the 17K in Gold to you? Is it delivered via FedEx?
Facebook Users Targeted by Credit Card Stealing Malware
Looking forward to hacking on these. Hopefully they can redesign them to not look like Geordi from Star Trek.