Garrick van Buren

“We believe that [URL shorteners] pose a serious threat to the internet’s integrity. If one of them dies, gets hacked or sells out, millions of links will stop working. Thus we preemptively release backups, because URL shorteners are too busy to make backups themselves.”

“The ‘Great American Novel’ is the concept of a novel that is distinguished in both craft and theme as being the most accurate representative of the zeitgeist in the United States at the time of its writing.” (wikipedia)

“My current theory is that programming is quite literally writing. The vast majority of programming is not conceptually difficult… We only make it difficult because we suck at writing. The vast majority of programmers aren’t fluent, and don’t even have a desire to be fluent. They don’t read other people’s code. They don’t recognise or use idioms. They don’t think *in the programming language*. Most code sucks because we have the fluency equivalent of 3 year olds trying to write a novel.” – wrook

Over the past couple years, I’ve consulting on a number of projects (at least 4) in the same space as Groupon (et al).

This model of providing a heavily discounted coupon on local merchants just doesn’t sit right with me – for two reasons.

• it applies significant downward pressure on the merchant’s overall prices (even more-so when the coupon distributor takes a double-digit percentage off the top.
• it sends the wrong type of people (those only looking for a firesale) into the merchants doors.
• the slashdot-effect this causes it almost always makes the customer-merchant experience less enjoyable.

Groupon’s S-1 filing has exposed the downside remarkable hyper-growth strategy they’ve pursued – $230,000,000 in the red.

With how many competitors on their tail? At least 10 in a mid-sized market like Minneapolis – and that’s not counting the ones that haven’t launched

It’s a hot space. An overheating space running the risk of exhausting everyone – fifteen minutes from now.

Before then, Groupon’s series G investors sure would like to get their return.

Where do you turn when you desperately need a huge infusion of cash just to keep the lights on and you’ve already executed a G-round?
The public market!

And if you’re already a public company?
Congress!

Elsewhere:

“This IPO game isn’t about finding value, it’s about finding a greater fool” – Sucharita Mulpuru

“How do you value a business that could do $3 billion in revenue this year but might not be able to keep the lights on in 12 months?” – Conor Sen

Last autumn, inspired by a conversation with Jamie Thinglestad, I took a couple lunch hours and hacked together a tool that dramatically improves my web browsing experience.

Since then, I hadn’t used it much. Nor have I revisited it to polish it up. Jamie and I have shared it with a small handful of people – maybe you.

This morning, in frustration, I turned it back on. For the rest of the day – it felt like the sun had finally come out after a harsh, bitter winter.

To this day – the Palm Treo, for all it’s flaws, was my favorite phone. The team that designed the phone UI – had experience actually making phone calls. Every phone I’ve had since – including my current one – I’m less confident of that.

Instead, I have a pocket-size computer that always promises to improve my every moment – with all sorts of ‘productivity tools’. When what it really wants to do is distract me from being productive. And compel me with how needy it is. Smart phone? – No. Needy phone? yes.

So, I’m always on the look out for bold devices eschewing complexity.

My favorite part:

“The back of the phone features a small opening with an address book and pen – two unique features you can use even when your phone is switched off.”

Unlocked & €70.

Brilliance in what’s missing.