Ethan Bauley

"I'm just trying to echo the point I've heard you make re: people game systems, that's just how it is. I'm going to have to stop speculating about this product until I've had some time to use it and see others use it. What I can say, though, is that having read all the use cases they talk about at their event and in their big media interviews with Steven Levy etc etc, they don't amount to some PageRank-esque paradigm shift, but it does amount to a really huge and interesting improvement to a Facebook search function that currently is a total fucking piece of shit. Google has set a ridiculously high bar in terms of utility. I'm being diplomatic by saying it remains to be seen whether Facebook search is nearly as useful." - Ethan Bauley

"It's so interesting because on one hand, it's theoretically this perfect little system with all these built-in little games.  But on the other hand, we know that doesn't work." - Ethan Bauley

"I am thrilled to see all this feedback from the music nerd/DJ users -- I pretty much agree with everything here so far. One feature that would be a real time saver would be the ability to import iTunes playlists into your queue. I'm sure it's possible, iTunes has an "export playlist" option that's pretty easy to use. Would be a huge convenience for all the folks that have playlists built for iTunes and their various digital DJ rigs (e.g. Traktor, et al). In general, I just need to go on the record saying that Turntable is one of my favorite services ever and I am really thrilled to see that they are still working hard on improving it. There's nothing else like it...if they can keep walking down the path they're on and keep the marketing channels alive, I think it will be really successful in time. These latest changes are a really strong signal that they have the right vision. Said differently, consider this my "opt in" to your uberfan marketing ambassador program ;-) All the best!..." - Ethan Bauley

"The "social channels" aspect of this is interesting, but regardless of whether Twitter/Facebook/et al have an opinion, IDF can report this live on their blog all day long and get roughly the same effect (e.g. they can tweet links to the blog vs making specific threats, etc etc). IDF has been doing similar activities for a while (since roughly 2010), but today appears to be a particularly well executed (no pun intended) program: coordinating the actual attacks and storytelling is not easy. I dug up a little more on the background of the IDF blog/social operation here: http://www.ethanbauley.com/pos... I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the U.S. taking a page from the IDF some time in the future. The Army (among other armed services using social) in particular has shown sophisticated understanding of how to use these tools, e.g. http://armystrongstories.com/" - Ethan Bauley

"The "social channels" aspect of this is interesting, but regardless of whether Twitter/Facebook/et al have an opinion, IDF can report this live on their blog all day long and get roughly the same effect (e.g. they can tweet links to the blog vs making specific threats, etc etc). IDF has been doing similar activities for a while (since roughly 2010), but today appears to be a particularly well executed (no pun intended) program: coordinating the actual attacks and storytelling is not easy. I dug up a little more on the background of the IDF blog/social operation here: http://www.ethanbauley.com/pos... I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the U.S. taking a page from the IDF some time in the future. The Army (among other armed services using social) in particular has shown sophisticated understanding of how to use these tools, e.g. http://armystrongstories.com/" - Ethan Bauley

"Hey Caroline -- we met at a dinner via Jackie Danicki last summer, not sure if you remember me (was working at HP at the time).   Anyways, just moved to Carroll Gardens from SF -- equally lovely if I do say so myself and Airbnb guide appears to agree ;-)  Holler if you want to get a drink at Henry Public or something!BestEthan ethanbauley//gmail" - Ethan Bauley

"Fred, don't forget Yochai Benkler's "Coase's Penguin, or Linux and the Nature of the Firm," too! http://www.benkler.org/CoasesP... Kind of the next step from firms and markets to pure collaboration without monetary exchange, which "has systematic advantages over markets and managerial hierarchies when the object of production is information or culture" (from the abstract). I completely agree! Could be useful in framing thinking about specific verticals that will make a good fit for these kinds of investments. Yale Law Journal in 2002.  Yikes. Ethan" - Ethan Bauley

"Great comment, thanks Mike! There's a duality to how I used "lowest common denominator." On one hand, it's to connote the "average person" but I'm also thinking of it in terms about the actual practice of composing certain text messages.  In the latter case, "lcd" to me means a message/sentence that can't be reduced further.  So we're getting into real talk about fractions here. (Obviously, I am spending a fair bit of time helping my wife put compose word problems for her 3rd graders.) The construct of "lcd" is also directed towards for senior execs, management consultants, and corporate communications-types, who frequently (mostly?) only speak directly to other business-types, lawyers, investors, and journalists. Anyways, #justsayin.  Your comment is a wealth of knowledge and inspiration of its own! (Sorry it took a minute to respond...my Disqus settings are messed up and I didn't receive notice that you posted!)" - Ethan Bauley

"Thanks, Chris! Just saw this comment...something in my Disqus settings is awry." - Ethan Bauley