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Nayan › Likes
RT @ecoblips: Very interesting looking at why google.org stumbled. http://www.ssireview.org/article... (via @kenyanpundit) ~ indeed
Nayan liked this
What do you mean there's no more football??
Roberto Bonini, Vicarbott, Marissa and 109 other people liked this
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
- Shey
Best. Pic. Ever.
- Derrick
Hey Shey NBA!!!!
- bcultral
Bob? SpongeBob? :/
- directeur
AWESOME! Oh man...I can't stop laughing. Just brilliant.
- Anika
:D
- Manuela
Go long!
- Josh Haley
I'd respect you more, if you weren't wearing that ridiculous-looking hat. [/Bears fan]
- Steven Perez
You've got arena football, and the UFL on deck....football-lite, sure, but better than nothing bruh!
- .LAG liked that
Welcome to NCAA Basketball and March Madness. It consumes me.
- Mike Nayyar
I don't know what you're talking about. Combines are this week, the draft is in April, and there's plenty to keep your cheesehead high about.
- Pete D
If you get NFL Network on cable, they do replay games from the season every night
- .LAG liked that
NOT THE SAME.
- Steven Perez
I know, but it's better than nothing...especially in HD!
- .LAG liked that
We had arena league season ticks but that folded. So nothing.
- Todd Hoff
@Todd...oh, yeah, that's right, I forgot about arena football going on hiatus for at least one season. is nothing sacred in this economy?
- .LAG liked that
Northing. We are on the border of the profane.
- Todd Hoff
I agree with Steven, not the same. Sorry tho Mr Perez, GO PACKERS!!
- Shey
ROFLMAO! love this pic!
- vijay
HAHAHAHAHAHA
- Anna Haro
there is... :-p
- Live4Emma (L4S)
Yes, sad times right now.. LOL
- Sean
hahahahaha - that's brilliant :)
- Zee.
best_photo_evar
- Mattb4rd
Wow
- orionstarr
@Mohomed.Genieyclo.Gatsby BOOOO to you and your Vikings! I can't believe they won the North. *vom*
- Shey
Hey Shey, you pinched ma hat?!
- Sally Church
@Sally It's totally official, straight from Green Bay!
- Shey
I knew you were a cheeseheads
- orionstarr
This has to be the best friendfeed face ever. I feel sorry for you, Shey, but hey on the bright side, Formula One is about to kick off again soon.
- Scoble, Alex Scoble
My husband sports that same face every year too. Epic photo Shey! :D
- Carmen wBabby
lol
- Kamilah Reed (K. Gill)
Bumping for the silly hat meme.
- Shey
So awesome.
- Akiva
And football's almost ready to start again.
- John (bird whisperer)
Bumping cause there's no more football would have been good too :)
- Mark Krynsky
One more month to go.
- Joel Robert Perez
Whoever bumped this reminded me that it's time for two-a-days. I hate you. :)
- ha3rvey (Hugs 50% off!)
Not soon enough guys, not soon enough
- Shey
HOLY CRAP IT'S ALMOST AUGUST!
- Mike Nayyar
yup, just one more week. Still waiting for summer...
- Shey
Shey ...TRAINING CAMPS opened today!!!! yesssssss!
- .LAG liked that
LOL I just dug up this photo to give to a friend who was lamenting about no football. Even my kids are whining about it.
- Anika
Ah, the classics.
- Steven Perez
love this pic
- Mary Carmen
Whoever bumped this picture is my hero.
- ha3rvey (Hugs 50% off!)
*takes a bow*
- Shey
Lawlz.
- Ayşe E.
...as fresh as the first time you posted it! .LOLz! -- btw, at least there's the scouting combines this week on NFL Network... if you like watching a bunch of college football players run around cones.
- .LAG liked that
For some reason, I read combines as concubines. I've been reading the Bible a lot more lately, LOL.
- Shey
hahaha!..... for some of those players, there will be concubines (and transgressions) too...
- .LAG liked that
dude... EPL, Serie A, La Liga, and Champion's League are going strong, and MLS is just about to get rolling! TONS OF FOOTBALL!!!
- Bren
WIN!
- Rob Michael (Atmos Trio)
Pat daddy - http://www.youtube.com/watch...
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Nayan, Louis Gray, Ruchira S. Datta and 5 other people liked this
That's nice.
- Brent - Yes I am
sweet!
- Myrna
Paul (to Camilla): "You can have another slice of toast with unlimited butter on it once your bowl (of beef stew) is empy." Camilla: "I want to throw it in the garbage." Paul: "No, you have to eat it." Camilla: "I want bread!" (and proceeds to put the whole bowl including her spoon in the garbage)
AJ Kohn, Jimminy, CoG of FF, Laura (hear me raura?) and 21 other people liked this
That's my girl!
- April Buchheit
Paul, then, told her to get her beef stew out of the garbage and eat it.
- April Buchheit
She might enjoy these books: Bread and Jam for Frances, and Gregory the Terrible Eater
- Laura Norvig
We had food problems tonight as well - seems to be a common theme around FriendFeed tonight
- Jesse Stay
Paul reminds me of my dad.
- Daisy
Daisy: LOL! Which one of you would your dad bargain with the most at the dinner table?
- April Buchheit
I could never stand the texture of meat. My parents eventually gave up insisting I eat it. I was middle-aged before I learned that my grandfather had been the same way. Nobody made HIM eat what he didn't want. (I love the gravy,though.)
- m9m, Crone of FriendFeed
It's not that Camilla doesn't like eating meat, it's just that she would rather eat butter (and some toast along with it).
- April Buchheit
Love the "unlimited butter" wording.
- Bruce Lewis
++ Paul.
- Mona Nomura
I bet she would have eaten it if it had more bacon in it!
- Gabe
Why are kids so crazy for butter? There are weird stories of me eating butter straight as a kid, and my kid loves it too. I still love butter, I guess, but at least I pretend I'm eating something else with it, like lobster or artichokes.
- Laura Norvig
She doesn't even like the bread -- it's just a butter delivery device.
- Paul Buchheit
my 4 yr old dotter is like this as well. so far our 2 yr old dotter has more wide-ranging tastes, but i dunno if that will last cos our oldest did at that age as well.
- Joe The Sausage
Tough love. That's the only way to go these days.
- AJ Batac :)
Nerve cells are mostly made of fat. Fat is good.
- Mr. Gunn
So did you give her the bread?
- Gabe
Sounds hauntingly familiar to the dinner conversation at our house...
- Jeff P. Henderson
My little Zoe is into those "butter delivery devices" too. This story is too funny!
- Josh Haley
Hell, who needs butter delivery systems? My younger sister would just pick up the stick of margarine from the table and chow down!
- Ladyepiphanybug
It makes us, uh, I mean them feel better about themselves. It's like the pizza slice diet theory: If you typically eat 8 pieces of pizza, killing the whole thing off, you can feel better about yourself by cutting the pizza into only 4 slices.
- Josh Haley
April: Ernie of course.
- Daisy
LOL!
- April Buchheit
If we would let her, Hailey would eat nothing but pancakes for the rest of her childhood. Sometimes we turn this to our advantage: you can cook a lot of zucchini and potato into a pancake.
- DGentry
Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series [Blu-ray] - http://www.amazon.com/dp...
![Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51vOcFKASRL._SL160_.jpg "Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series [Blu-ray]") |
Alex Hutnik, Maciej Matyjas, Nayan and Bruce Lewis liked this
Thumbthing keeps your book page open. It really is the simple things…Again, genius. - http://thenextweb.com/shareab...
Nayan, Francesco Cugurra, Leandro Ardissone ⍨ and 32 other people liked this
wow i bet my sis and mother would love this they read a lot
- Allen Stern
and cheap as chips! (not implying you're cheap btw Allen...) :)
- Zee.
Somehow this reminds me of www.trongs.com
- Ethan Gahng
ha, never seen that Ethan - interesting
- Zee.
Great idea for when your meatspace books aren't out on Kindle or iTablet. :D :P
- iTad
I need that! The Carpal Tunnel thing makes my hand go numb when I hold open a book.
- m9m, Crone of FriendFeed
i like that!
- Uğur GÖK
Zee - yeah Trongs are interesting, and I actually tried it myself, but the thing is, it was too hard on the fingers. Almost felt like eating while wearing heavy armor on my fingers. You never know how good something is until you actually try it hands on :)
- Ethan Gahng
Sorry, but that is a useless invention. Also, how do you turn the page?
- sjjh
You could also use clipboard clips on both the sides of the book (right and left sides)...
- TrafficBug
Do they make one for e-readers?
- Eivind
Camilla and Paul at Stinson Beach (November 7, 2009) - http://camilla-april.blogspot.com/2010...
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Nayan, Bruce Lewis, MiniMage, enterRUPPted and 2 other people liked this
Aww, that's where this decade dawned for me. Well, we went home before midnight, but that is where we celebrated.
- Clare Dibble
On that note, Uncle Bob finally passed on December 30.
- Clare Dibble
sorry to hear about your loss.
- just ZONED
You were out here on New Year's Clare?
- Paul Buchheit
I think she meant last decade.
- April Buchheit
April is correct, I meant where I ushered in 2000, not 2010.
- Clare Dibble
VAL, we do miss uncle bob, but after more than a decade with Alzheimer's and a peaceful passing, things went as well as could be expected. I guess what I'm saying is we have already been missing him for a while. Thanks for your condolences.
- Clare Dibble
Congratulations, Appjets! - http://ycombinator.posterous.com/congrat...
A. T., Laura Norvig, sirishkumar and 14 other people liked this
"Suddenly, after two years of crashing through the underbrush, the Appjets were in the right place the right time: they had cool real-time technology just at the moment when real-time was what everyone was after. So they had a lot of options; investors and acquirers were all over them. The reason they decided to go with Google was that they were literally overwhelmed by Wave: after meeting the Wave guys, they were so impressed that they (a) wanted to work on Wave themselves, and (b) didn't want to compete with it. After watching the Appjets tough it out for the past two years, I knew they weren't simply being cowards. The technology in Wave must be pretty impressive, and we're happy for the Appjets that they not only managed to land safely after so many ups and downs, but that they landed in a place they actually want to be."
- Paul Buchheit
from Bookmarklet
Great team. Looking forward to working with them again.
- Joel Webber
Tweeting :)
Cy6erBr4in, Alfredo 亜瑠布れっど, gmarketer and 242 other people liked this
Funny!
- Robert Scoble
too true
- James Miao
Hey, I can tell those Mark Zuckerberg prongs haven't started working yet. ;-)
- Robert Scoble
A good reminder that it could have been a lot worse.
- Christopher Galtenberg
Heh
- Charlie Anzman
Hey! I resemble that remark!
- Chris Messina
funny and true :)
- Ali
Very clever.
- Nicholas Kreidberg
LOL
- Steve Chou
from fftogo
apparently you can trade some symbols and numbers for letters and it's FFing
- Katy Barrilleaux
I love that!! :D
- Susan Beebe
from iPhone
ReTweet what the middle one said 4/5 WooHoos
- Steven J. Ram
LOL :D
- zsafwan
That is *exactly* why FF will become more mainstream than twitter.. try explaining how to tweet to your parents (who are finally comfortable with email)!
- Chris Myles
Go Chris!
- Charlie Anzman
Haha! I have this on my facebook :)
- Joe Dawson
from iPhone
Awesome!
- Ladyepiphanybug
Haha!
- muratt
ahahha! brilliant
- Jacque
That's about right.
- Josh Haley
thats funny lol.. where did u find it
- Nicholas Skinner
that's *agent_x* cartoonist from sunny queensland, aus ~ http://twitter.com/agent_x :)
- Peter Renshaw
I just noticed you posted my comic. Thanks. I keep them all here if you are interested - http://www.agent-x.com.au/
- agent x
agent x, I like you. Bookmarked.
- Dennis Jernberg
My Thoughts on the Current State of FriendFeed | Lifestream Blog - http://lifestreamblog.com/my-thou...
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browneyes, Test Information Space, Nayan and 11 other people liked this
"Its now been well over 24 hours since the initial shock that FriendFeed has been acquired by Facebook. I’ve been watching all the reactions originating both by the coverage surrounding the deal as well as the user community on the FriendFeed site itself. It’s been a pretty surreal two days that have included a huge bag of reactions and emotions across the web. Here are my current thoughts on the situation."
- Kol Tregaskes
from Bookmarklet
Great article, thanks for sharing
- Aaman (Clone of FF)
:-)
- Kol Tregaskes
When Your Dad’s a Graphic Designer | FrakinCool.com - http://www.frakincool.com/picture...
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Ivan Bessarabov, Cengiz Akyazı, Alex Scrivener and 44 other people liked this
:-)
- Müjdat Korkmaz
from Bookmarklet
süper :)
- loylum
mom's got the camera, dad's got photoshop......
- Stephanie Segel
@Stephanie Segel, :)
- Müjdat Korkmaz
Its not the dad who did this...
- Aykın Çakaloz
:) Süper.
- yedincisenol
Bu çocuk büyüyünce kesin bu tiplemelerden biri olur :)
- Bora
CEBE, :))
- Müjdat Korkmaz
neye bu kadar kızdı acaba :)
- Erman.Gen.Tr
Sormak lazım, ama yüz ifadesi sormaya bile korkutuyor insanı :P
- Müjdat Korkmaz
Back from a much-needed, week-long, vacation with the family. Need to get caught up, mostly just want to go back to the lake.
Nayan liked this
Tip of the day: "Borrow" your friend's computer and update their favorite bookmark to be the http://www.duckmylife.com/ bookmarklet. Then sit back and enjoy the fun as they get ducks every time they click on their link to Gmail. Mua ha ha...
Ross Miller, Sajida Hina Khan, Kazutaka Ogaki and 21 other people liked this
oh! .. how rackless! .. oh! .. no! .../// but wait, how about to replace the ducks with news scrolling ticker tapes rectangulars ? customizeable, of course .. and by shooting the news pieces, you'd "Like it" .... that'd automatically send it to heaven - to Twitter, of course ... oh!
- pb:
I used to set colleagues computers to the Hampster Dance while they were at lunch and then unplug their keyboards and mouse. Watching them bang on the keys trying to stop the noise was quite fun.
- Andrew Leyden
This needs to be a greasemonky script!
- April
Carrots
@Renchin@, Rob Hoeting, Jay and 20 other people liked this
Looks like a baby to me.
- Yolanda
This. is. Awesome.
- Josh Haley
from iPhone
Should your website have a flash intro? - http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2009...
ahmet bulent, Toma Kazakov, Jannifer @wordsforliving and 73 other people liked this
The flowchart actually applies to use of Flash for most other purposes as well.
- Gabe
This diagram should be teached in schools and universities :-)
- gib
Now if it just worked to tell them exactly that all would be good. Sadly, saying this rarely works.
- Rachel Lea Fox
Reminds me of one we saw a while back: http://friendfeed.com/sethosc...
- Seth
LOL excellent!
- Toby Graham
No. I hate them.
- Svartling
Not a fan of sites with Flash intro... plus it does not display on phones.
- David Lanning
DO NOT WANT. In my opinion, Flash should only be used for things like YouTube.
- John (bird whisperer)
NO, but if you insist don't make it autoplay (for those who have bandwidth limits or additional charges) and DO let us SKIP it. Have you seen my post "The Serious Drawbacks to Using FLASH for Web Design: Usability, SEO, Editability" at http://www.growmap.com/flash/ ? If you're going to use Flash you REALLY need to know the pros and cons!
- Internet Strategist
I can't 'Like' this post enough
- Chieze Okoye
LOL
- Josh Haley
Is this tattoo an AM radio? - http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ul8VgH...
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Charlie Anzman, Selem, Nayan and 3 other people liked this
That's a schematic for a crystal radio: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki...
- Sam Harmon
That's what I thought. It's only AM, right?
- Gabe
Yeah, that one will pretty much only receive AM signals. FM requires a little more circuitry.
- Sam Harmon
I have nothing against God - Fixonomy - http://fixonomy.com/wiki...
Maggie, Abdullah, Niklas Sjostrom and 57 other people liked this
Amen! ;)
- April Buchheit
from Bookmarklet
AMEN!
- AJ Batac :)
hallelujah?
- chrisofspades
Ramen!
- Gabe
I've seen a similar one that says "Dear Lord, please save me from your followers"
- Christian (Simply X)
Some of us on the other hand have something against both. http://books.google.com/books...
- Tanath
I encourage you to check out Jesus, you might like him. He said "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean." - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage...
- τorƍue
He apparently also said, "I come not to bring peace, but a sword" and "but those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me." (Matthew 10:34) & (Luke 19:27). You assume religion is rejected out of ignorance. In fact, on average, those who reject religion are more knowledgeable about it than believers.
- Tanath
Tanath, many who reject Christ do so because of the hypocrisy of those who claim to follow him. As you pointed out, Jesus indeed said “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's...
more...
- τorƍue
The quote from Luke 19:27 could use more context. It is the conclusion to a story that Jesus is telling about a nobleman who goes to a distant country to receive a kingdom, but as he goes, the citizens send a delegation saying that they don't want him to be king. When the nobleman returns, he has the detractors slaughtered. The parable would have been familiar to the hearers, as it is...
more...
- τorƍue
The Old Testament God is a bit of a dick.
- Rob H.
Are you using FriendFeed? We've started up an account at http://friendfeed.com/washing...
tom murphy, Steven Perez, Jim Braux-Zin and 49 other people liked this
It's great to have you here! I think you're second after http://friendfeed.com/zeigen... :)
- Jérôme
congrats...smart move!
- Dan Rua
Fantastic. Welcome aboard!
- Ms_Krista
make it human, make it not a robot, please!
- K.D.
You need to set-up MediaRSS on your site and then use FF's custom RSS feed. This bring in images and excerpt for yr articles
- Kol Tregaskes
That's awesome, thanks for coming aboard. So, how will you use Friendfeed?
- Shane Tilton
Welcome to the club... Enjoy your stay :)
- David Damore
Awesome - Welcome Washington Post to FriendFeed.
- Dan owns Comicsforge.com
Thanks for the free business cards Google. I'll probably never use them (I don't think I've handed out a FriendFeed card yet) but they are nice
DENNY NOOR™, googirl, Marko Saric and 155 other people liked this
Benjamin, I want one of your FriendFeed cards. If we ever meet please save one for me. :-)
- Jesse Stay
♥ em!
- AJ Batac :)
Pls send to Pat O'Mahony, 1506 Versailles Drive, Richardson, Tx. 75081 USA
- pomahony2
there are friendfeed cards?
- Iphigenie
Sorry to confuse you Joelle: I work at FriendFeed.
- Benjamin Golub
Benjamin, can you authorize a "misprinted" card with my info on it?
- The Amber
I have to admit, they look a lot better than the highly compressed dynamic image that was being displayed for the promotion! BTW, is that card on the right your FriendFeed business card or the reverse of the Google one?
- Tony Ruscoe
Tony: The right is the reverse of my FriendFeed business card (the front has my phone number on it :P). The reverse of the Google cards are blank.
- Benjamin Golub
lucky you - and clueless of me :)
- Iphigenie
Got mine today. Underwhelmed but they were free and will be fun to give to people while saying I have a new job and here's how to reach me. :D
- caj needs a haircut
hey those look sharp!! love 'em!!
- Susan Beebe
When was this promotion? sounds like i missed the boat haha
- Frankie Warren
Oooo seeing those two together has given me an idea. To Moo!
- EricaJoy
the friendfeed one is way cooler ...
- Laura Norvig
yeah, the ff cards are indeed slicker.
- Brett Kelly
One of my ex-managers suggested I use old business cards for grocery lists or other sticky note-ish things; at least that way you can get some use before you recycle them.
- Muneer Mirza
I still never got a Google biz card
- Outsanity
mine should be here in a day or two.
- guruvan (Rob Nelson)
Got mine a day or two ago, very nice cards. Maybe I'll get a chance to use them sometime.
- Grant Bierman
I got mine as well
- Kreg Steppe
I got mine too. Look cool, but looks like I work for Google. I bet I could pass them off to an unsuspecting person and say "I work for Google."
- Robert Scoble
no google cards for european citizens?
- Dani Martínez
I was going to get some but I had just ordered my KangarooBox business cards and didn't want to take someone's possible goodies. :)
- Richard Hurt
I hand out Moo cards on the street all the time. People love them.
- Thomas Hawk
Have to consider this "street thing".... Is this like "going out"? ;))
- Dieter Schwarz
Mine are printed 'Your Name Here' on the cards, but with the correct name on the mailing envelope. Fun. And prophetic.
- A Mitchell
I haven't received mine yet
- Brian J King
from twhirl
tap tap tap tap tap....oh yeah "Snail" mail....gonna be escargot mail when I'm done ;-)
- guruvan (Rob Nelson)
I have yet to receive mine which are being delivered to the Gplex. :(
- EricaJoy
Agreed on the will never use them - in hindsight should have passed but my inner-geek insisted I order 'em.
- gregory leff
from fftogo
Hey, you can always use them to enter free food contests at restaurants! Just drop the card in the fishbowl for a free meal. :)
- Richard Hurt
It's only a matter of time before someone uses these to pick up women in a bar... stay tuned...
- paula gould
How do people go about getting these? Both are great for networking events. [UPDATE #1] A quick on search Google points me here: http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2009... I guess I need to finish filling out my profile so I can take advantage of the offer. [UPDATE #2] It looks like all the free cards have been given away. I finished completing my profile and there's no link to a free business card :(
- Alexander Grundner
Wow those are nice.
- Shawn Chen
Alexander: http://tinyurl.com/om8evd Forgive me but I don't recall the exact link or method
- guruvan (Rob Nelson)
Rob: The link was http://www.google.com/profile...
- Alexander Grundner
I'm anxiously awaiting my Google cards. Not sure who I'll give them to yet. Maybe relatives? LOL
- Mike Templeton
Nice friendfeed business card! I don't think I'm allowed to talk about the google cards <_< >_>
- Nate
Alexander: You know I was just dying to use the lmgtfy for something today. no snark intended ;-) I just love that site.
- guruvan (Rob Nelson)
Rob: No worries. I can appreciate it now that know what Imgtfy is. I might have to use that on someone ;)
- Alexander Grundner
I don't have one of your business cards! Bring me one when you come visit. Please and thank you :)
- Marci Golub
Java on Google App Engine: http://ad.vu/aske Anyone play with it yet? What do you think?
Nayan, Mohammad Abdurraafay and farzaam liked this
I'm developing something on it at the moment. Its really easy to get started, but a different way of developing - the datastore is not a RDB. I wrote about my experience here: http://briansilberbauer.blogspot.com/2009...
- Brian Silberbauer
Thanks, Brian. No EL by default? Oh, man.
- eguanlao
The no EL by default is being changed in the next release, but it seems to catch everyone..
- Brian Silberbauer
still waiting for google app engine ID
- Edoardo Ceccarelli
Has anyone got Quartz scheduler to run on it?
- eguanlao
3NE Media - US Pole Dance Championship 2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch... - http://3ne.com/media...
Biao, Nayan, viki saigal and 5 other people liked this
These women are quite the gymnasts.
- April Buchheit
from Bookmarklet
Wow!
- Rachel Lea Fox
Psh, that is my normal workout ;)
- Jeanette Bosman
Honey, I think I'd like to join you for ALL your gym and yoga sessions from now on.
- Tudor Bosman
Yowsers...that was great. Suddenly, i'm inspired to make an outting. Anyone want to join me at Scores NYC tonight? ;-)
- Ryan Kaisoglus
Is there any better way to make money as a professional gymnast?
- Gabe
Maybe they should make it part of the olympics gymnastics competition.
- Robert Felty
Rob: YES! http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/pole-da...
- Gabe
But these women have something that elite gymnasts don't. ... Poles.
- Darren
My membership on friendfeed has been justified by this link alone.
- Ray Cromwell
It's not just me I guess :(
Nikhil Dandekar, K.D., Nayan and 26 other people liked this
cool about this!
- marx
Status: Server error reported while synchronizing data. Last sync'd: 6 minutes ago
- Mario
yep. it's down.
- Vicarbott
Down for me too!
- Robert Scoble
Same here.
- Jeff Harbert
GFail!
- Simon Wicks
"we suggest trying a totally different service in a few minutes."
- Nick Halstead
Twitter is not updating anymore! ist also down?? Domino effect with Gmail?
- Luis Benavides
Same here. Temporary Error (500). Web, POP3, IMAP & Google Apps mail too. Nothing on the status page: http://www.google.com/appssta...
- Tony Ruscoe
anyone not see the irony of complaining about gmail downtime on FriendFeed?
- Nick Halstead
Let me be the first to say... "OMG... THIS FREE SERVICE I HAVE NEVER EVER BEEN ASKED TO PAY FOR YET I HAVE BASED MY ENTIRE BUSINESS' COMMUNICATION ON, AND I HAVE NO BACKUP FOR, IS DOWN" :P
- Johnny
maybe somebody opened Microwave ?
- Yusuf Ibili
:D
- Mario
Johnny Worthington, except Google Apps mail is down too.
- Tony Ruscoe
It could be worse, earlier my entire internet was down. After going around the house rebooting various networking bits, it turns out that someone (probably Thomas, who loves wires) had unplugged a switch... It's probably the same thing at Google -- someone let a 9 month old wander around the datacenter and, well... (technically, Gmail is not vulnerable to such failures since it's double-redundant, which means this is most likely a higher-level system failure)
- Paul Buchheit
Also down here in Belgium
- Guy Vander Heyden
We’re sorry, but your Gmail account is temporarily unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience and suggest trying again in a few minutes. If the issue persists, please visit the Gmail Help Center » Try Again Sign Out
- techfugatest
GMail is down in Pune, India too...not a big deal...even Obama let me down!
- ravi karandeekar
for me too in ct
- mike "glemak" dunn
What's up with Gmail suddenly becoming a sporadic fail? For so long you hardly ever heard of interruptions - now slowdowns and outright fails are starting to happen regularly.
- Wayne Schulz
I'm getting error code 767, but it sounds as though other codes are flying around as well.
- Paul Buchheit
Down down under too -[
- Chris Loft
Loving looking at the "Detailed Technical Info" -- "Numeric Code: 67" .... wow. DETAILED. :)
- Mike
Gmail is back!
- Mario
Google Apps mail is back for me too... no sign of Gmail yet though...
- Tony Ruscoe
. . . and now it's back up in Australia
- Chris Loft
I don't think so!
- Mohammad Abdurraafay
Back for me too. Thank you, friendfeed, for realtime conversation -- I instantly knew when to try logging in again.
- Dnl
And Gmail is back for me too now.
- Tony Ruscoe
Heh. They fixed the problem before they updated the Apps Status page. Now it says there's an outage when it's working again: http://www.google.com/appssta... "We're aware of a problem with Google Mail affecting a significant number of users. The affected users are unable to access Google Mail. We will provide an update by May 8, 2009 1:19:00 PM UTC+1 detailing when we expect to resolve the problem. Please note that this resolution time is an estimate and may change."
- Tony Ruscoe
Gmail is back!
- MySoftChoice.com
Yeah it's back up for me too now.
- The Hottest Gadgets
Hearing it's not up for everyone just yet, specifically in the Wash DC area. :(
- caj needs a haircut
In my seat, waiting for Star Trek to start. People are here in costume, it's awesome.
Juvenn Woo, Nayan, Jeanette Bosman and 3 other people liked this
What's something you have done, or continue to do, that has significantly improved your overall happiness? - http://www.reddit.com/r...
David Cook, Susan Beebe, Rob Michael (Atmos Trio) and 47 other people liked this
run.
- Zee.
This is an unusually thoughtful and interesting reddit thread. It contains some good stories.
- Paul Buchheit
Being linked to what I like, and if I keep that balance, have some to say after the years. Always be critical, techie in thinking, has led me to better awareness. That's make me happy.
- Zu from AOD
I have a list written several years ago and enjoy completing a task and crossing it off the list --
- LPH™ and his dog P™
who cares about happiness ?! , I want results, performance, .. shortcuts
- pb:
rather than happiness, ..rather than money, rather than love, rather than fame ....give me the truth! ............. who said that? :]
- pb:
Started drinking.
- Anika
lol, Anika. For me, move to Los Angeles. Before that, go to grad school. Before that, studying abroad. So, basically, place myself in situations that challenge me and make me learn about the world.
- Jandy
Lift heavy-ass weights. Blog/Speak my mind and interact online
- Rah-PM 2012
bicycle.
- AJ Kohn
lindy hop
- Adam Lasnik
accept that things i cannot change, etc.
- MikeAmundsen
reading novels
- Lu Liu
I continue to have sex as much as possible..... does that count?
- Lokei Atikus™®
Being married, eating good food, and coding.
- Michael Matuzak
Losing a job and spending days as unemployed. It's truly freedom and a great chance to show existing potential I have. Best thing happened to me so far.
- Burcu Dogan
Started my own startup bookstore. I have found it totally rewarding in ways that working for the "man" has not been.
- Dan owns Comicsforge.com
Found my wonderful boyfriend, in the process of moving to the exciting north side of Indianapolis, trying to start my candle business in the next couple of years and escape corporate hell. And you go, Dan. I can't wait to get there, too.
- Kamilah Reed (K. Gill)
lindy hop - Adam Lasnik, hahaha nice, I was so impressed seeing that guy, what's his name again? He dances with one more lady each passing year for his birthday and was still in my recent mind index still doing it.
- Zu from AOD
Thanks for this entry, Paul. Interesting Reddit thread, indeed: after an hour of http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics..., I end up reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki..., which by the way, has improved my overall hapiness :)
- Jérôme
Walk to work (also, move close enough to work to walk there)
- Moishe Lettvin
from BuddyFeed
Speak
- Rishabh Mishra (p248)
Use FriendFeed.
- Bruce Lewis
i think by nature i like to plan things out and have backup plans and contingency plans to the backup plans :-D but at some point i figured out the joy of being in the moment, if that doesn't sound too new agey. it's amazing the pleasure you can get out of simple things if you just slow down and notice them.
- Karim
Score position for others that belong there on Google !
- Charlie Anzman
Got a hobby: motorcycle riding
- MiniMage, enterRUPPted
exercise
- chaz2b
fap fap
- tehKenny
Being a husband and father .... (Previous comment may compete with this at times :)
- Charlie Anzman
Anika, that's hilarious, I'm stealling yours. But really, like Charlie, having a kid. That totally improved my overall happiness.
- Laura Norvig
Learning about myself from a trusted confidante. This may be called marriage, partnership, friendship, or therapy depending on your personal and cultural circumstances.
- Daniel Dulitz
Zu_ElijahBailey, the fellow you're thinking of is Frankie Manning. Not sure if you knew, but alas, he passed away just one month shy of his 95th birthday :(. But he continues to be an inspiration.
- Adam Lasnik
Every minute I read instead of watch TV
- Ryan Miller
from Nambu
Ryan: Just turn on closed captioning, and you can read while watching TV!
- Gabe
Compete. In anything.
- SteVe C
Writing poetry and singing.
- Nakachi
Kicking the dog before I go to bed.
- Scoble, Alex Scoble
I kid...I don't have a dog and if I did I wouldn't be kicking it. I'd say that moving to Oregon has improved my overall happiness.
- Scoble, Alex Scoble
Same as Charlie Anzman - becoming a husband and father.
- Victor Panlilio
Touch the soul of mother Earth as often as possible - get in the woods, on a trail, on a river or lake to keep my mind at peace and my body fit.
- JCunwired
Reading is always good; working with children; getting diagnosed with ADHD and being treated for it.
- Lis
Reading Muhammad Yunus! Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism.
- Benjamin Taylor
Fishing
- Rodfather
+1 rodfather
- chaz2b
redefining "happiness": not mistakenly equating it with pleasure as I used to do. Learning that it really is doing for others instead of doing just for me.
- Melanie Reed
Having no expectations so I can't be let down.
- Sally - Skyrimmin' It
+100 Sally. Although extremely hard to do that.
- vijay
It has been difficult, but for most of my life, NOTHING met my expectations. I was miserable. A seemingly minor attitude adjustment has made all the difference. I go into all situations now with an open-mind and no preconceived notion of what will happen. Stress level is much lower and the happiness factor is higher. I recommend to anyone.
- Sally - Skyrimmin' It
Got rid of 80% of my possessions. Quit reading magazines, which serve only to make me dissatisfied with what I already have.
- Riona MacNamara
Stopped drinking.
- Ryan Dadey
Rock climbing and becoming a product manager are right up there though.
- Daniel Dulitz
Had kids (and managed to suffer through the first year of sleeplessness and exhaustion)
- DGentry
learned to say yes and no only when I mean it
- MaryAnn Chick Whiteside
Learning To Play guitar, and then learning to play it well.
- Brent - Yes I am
Divorced my wife of 32 yrs.
- Russellreno
Russell, Why after coming so far?
- Melanie Reed
Hired a housekeeper.
- Piaw Na
MR. The highs and lows were killing me. She moved 4 times in the 12 months after she moved out.
- Russellreno
explore. almost daily. small to big things.
- Melissa
Read, Pray, Have quiet time, spend time thinking about why I feel the way I feel...when it's a negative feeling.
- Carlton Hackett
Russell, she's looking for something she's lost. Perhaps God will give you the strength to know how to help her find it: http://www.touchstonemag.com/archive...
- Melanie Reed
Crushing my enemies, seeing them driven before me... and hearing the lamentations of their women!
- Michael R. Bernstein
helping people improve their lives
- BEX
Getting serious exercise every day. Makes a huge difference to my sense of well being and my ability to think clearly. Exercise is better than coffee!
- Leo Laporte
Not worry about things I cannot control (The Dude Abides)
- Ahsan Ali
@Ahsan Ali I really need to work on that. I worry to much I things I cannot control.
- Keven
Keven - of Buddhist origin: "If a problem can be solved, there's no use worrying about it. If it can't, worrying will do no good" (or something like that). I learned this years ago, and its stuck with me every day since.
- JCunwired
@jcunwired greatly appreciate, thank you.
- Keven
Yes/but. Some of us have made worrying into a piece of fine art!
- ianf ⌘
Yes, worrying will do no good. A good thought @jcunwired and one that leads to the why we do it: Fear. So when Jesus comforts us and says: "Don't be anxious over anything" he ends it with the following hope and comfort: "For your heavenly Father knows what you need." I have learned I don't always need what I think I do. And the surprise is delicious when the provision comes right when I need it. I know who to thank then and that is a happy feeling.
- Melanie Reed
Learning to appreciate... whether it's nature presenting itself, family (all sides of it), gestures by friends, reading/hearing/discussing viewpoints against my personal position on something, understanding what makes people do what they do, etc... and oh yeah, really bad, off-the-wall humor.
- Jim Espinoza
@jcunwired Nice
- Ahsan Ali
reading some very interestings things on the web that can't be found anywhere else :)
- stanjourdan
question everything
- Edward Zwart
Eat healthier
- Just Katie
Embrace the habit of happiness.
- Rob Michael (Atmos Trio)
Relax - take time to be still, peaceful. I do this every day, sometimes multiple breaks and it really makes a difference. Lay flat on the floor, close your eyes, breathe and take some time to chill out
- Susan Beebe
Yoga fitness and relaxation
- Vicky
In all honesty, FriendFeed makes me happy on a daily basis. I know how cheesy that sounds but it's true.
- David Cook
++ David
- The Amber
As a security question, AT&T asked "what is your favorite movie". I said, "Pi." It said, "Your answer must be between 4 and 80 characters. Please re-enter." I guess I was wrong.
Jeremy Thompson, louvaro, Cristian and 73 other people liked this
Infinite characters?
- Hutch Carpenter
3.141
- Bwana ☠
Hahah.
- Rochelle
African or European?
- Ken Sheppardson
i loved that movie too!!!
- Cardeen winedrunk
LOL it is a great movie
- Jim Goldstein
And now I'm reminded of J - "J's List of Sites That Consider "J" an Invalid First Name" http://www.wynia.org/wordpre... which I read years ago on his blog; he's on FF too http://friendfeed.com/jwynia
- Micah
Love that film.
- joey
You should have said your favorite pie and killed two security questions with one stone: pecan pi
- Dawn
+1 Ken. authentication system no doubt coded by the Old Man from Scene 24.
- Karim
One of my favourite films of all time. My cat is called Pi but the vet's database wouldnt accept a two letter name so at the vet's he is called Pye. I wanted the symbol...the girl at the reception hadn't even heard of Pi so I was on a loser!
- Pete Gilbert
3.1415926 ??? LOL
- Matthew Sauer
You'll have to see if it actually sits at #1 on your Flickchart. ;)
- Nathan Chase
I'd hate to imagine what an 80-char movie title would be like on a marquee!
- Gabe
They're the Phone Company. They know Everything. You must be mistaken in your favorite movie.
- m9m, Crone of FriendFeed
Ask Verizon .... :)
- Charlie Anzman
Some make a habit of watching this every March 14. This is Aronofsky's break out work -- very good film.
- Pete D
Great movie.
- Jason Wehmhoener
This movie has everything! paranoia, mathematics, and brains lying around on subway platforms
- David Roberts
I guess 42 wouldn't work either then
- Jesse Stay
Gabe: http://www.imdb.com/title... (scroll down to "complete title" -- apparently IMDB also has an 80 character limit for the main title)
- Laurence Gonsalves
Ha! "Night of the Day of the Dawn of the Son of the Bride of the Return of the Revenge of the Terror of the Attack of the Evil, Mutant, Alien, Flesh Eating, Hellbound, Zombified Living Dead Part 2: In Shocking 2-D"
- Gabe
YouTube - Energy Secretary puzzled by simple question - http://www.youtube.com/watch...
 |
Mike English, Andy Bakun, Private Sanjeev and 15 other people liked this
"When Rep. Joe Barton asked the Nobel Prize winning Energy Secretary, Dr. Steven Chu, where oil comes from - he got a puzzling answer."
- Jim Norris
from Bookmarklet
Maybe it was a series of tubes.
- Jim Norris
He actually asked how did the oil get to Alaska.
- ✔ ǝuǝƃnǝ
Was he trying to refute global warming by arguing that Alaska used to be warm?
- Paul Buchheit
Chu's answer wasn't puzzling. Oil takes a lot of heat and pressure over time to form, just like diamonds. Plant/Animal matter compressed on land tends to become coal, while at sea, it tends to form oil. Alaska didn't arrive in its current position on the globe until recently in geologic time (~100 million yrs ago?), so certainly, the answer as to how oil got under Alaska isn't "simple", and the questioner was fishing for a refutation that of global warming that refutes his own argument.
- Ray Cromwell
@Paul, I think the silly rhetorical question is something like "well, Alaska used to be warm in the past, and nothing bad happened, so warming is 'natural' as it occured before humans, not human induced, and also not dangerous."
- Ray Cromwell
I assume he was trying to refute AGW. What I found hilarious was that not only did Barton have no clue what he was talking about, or even the faintest notion of plate tectonics, he somehow thought that he outsmarted Chu and so posted this on his official channel.
- Jim Norris
Wow, that's....something. I counldn't figure out exactly which misconceptions Barton holds, but he's quite self-assured about them, whatever they are.
- j1m
the good doctor showed remarkable restraint in limiting his immediate response to the chuckle. Barton uses You are "our scientist" with destain, suggests that the Dr.'s response is only worth six seconds then interrupts with an innane response about "it drifted" rather than ask a truly qualifying question. I'm sure Barton knew what he was doing but played for his opportunity to get what he thought was a "gotcha" into public record. A juvenille game being played rather than honestly doing job of the people
- David HC Soul
I just don't understand how Barton could actually think he looked good in this.
- Jim Norris
You're not the intended audience Jim; I suspect that down the road there will be a sound bite on local TV in the rep's home district to the effect "well just as I showed the so called brilliant Nobel prize winning scientist how ridiculous the proposition that .... these folks at the EPA need a lesson from Texas too."
- David HC Soul
"energy secretary puzzled by simple question" - not really
- Meryn Stol
Even if Alaska was where it is now and were also warmer (when the dinosaurs lived), that climate would not have been very habitable for humans, right?
- Robert Felty
In related news, Rep Burton asks Dr Chu "Why is the sky blue? Is the earth flat? Does the sun revolve around us?"
- Ray Cromwell
Dr. Chu is not stupid. Even if he was 'puzzled' (which he clearly wasn't) that doesn't mean he's ill equipped to be the energy secretary. I hate this type of propaganda. I bet Dr. Chu could stump Rep. Barton far more than the other way around, especially on the spot like that.
- grant fox
American politicians could be the stupidest in the world ?
- Adrian
there's too many of them to generalize like that, Adrian. i've interacted with enough of them at different levels of government to safely say that it runs the gamut.
- grant fox
All I can think of is that he read Lindsey Williams' conspiracy book about the north slope oil and the ancient tropical forest that lies under the north of Alaska and thought A HA. Alaska used to be tropical thus global warming = good times ? I personally do not think that a run-away greenhouse effect has been proven but this guy has no clue ! He has global warming and plate tectonics mixed up ?
- Adrian
a former environmental science professor of mine was once asked by a state legislator where reservoir water comes from. when he explained about the water cycle, she responded "ew, you mean it's used??" :P
- Jessie
DaddyFeed
Jorgee Parra, Nayan, Mohammad Abdurraafay and 62 other people liked this
♥♥♥
- AJ Batac :)
HAH!
- Nicholas Kreidberg
nice!
- Susan Beebe
those must be Atom Flakes.
- MikeAmundsen
It's kettle style popcorn, actually.
- April Buchheit
OM NOM NOM NOM
- Gabe
much tastier than Atom flakes!
- MikeAmundsen
Not enough aggregation...back to the cupboards.
- Mark Krynsky
I am a such a cute kid sucker.
- alexia tsotsis
Assume that I'm going to get rid of $20,000 and my only concern is the "common good". Which of these is the best use of the money: give it to the Gates foundation, buy a hybrid car, invest it in a promising startup, invest it in the S&P500, give it to the US government, give it to a school, other?
tonybishop01, Jimminy, CoG of FF, Kishore Balakrishnan and 85 other people liked this
Bonus points for giving your answer in ranked order (best to worst use of the money, for the common good).
- Paul Buchheit
"The common good" is too broad. Pick issues that are important to you and strategically invest in them. Could be non-profit/foundation or for-profit, but the key is that you know your issue and you have identified people who are effectively dealing with it.
- Jason Wehmhoener
That being said, I'd say Kiva is very interesting.
- Jason Wehmhoener
Jason, assume that I don't know anything, which isn't far from the truth :)
- Paul Buchheit
For the common good? 1. Invest it in a startup. 2. Buy a hybrid car. 3. Give it to the Gates foundation. 4. Give it to a school. 5. Invest it in the S&P 500. 6. Give it to the US government.
- Robert Scoble
Trick question: Stuff it under your mattress!
- The Real sofarsoShawn
the car, benifits you, and sets example by doing what needs to be done
- chaz2b
local school, Gates Foundation, startup, hybrid, S&P, gov't
- MikeAmundsen
Hmm. Knowledge is power. $20K to one startup is a wise investment, $20K to another is just lighting it on fire.
- Jason Wehmhoener
school, car, gates, startup, S&P, gov't.
- AJ Kohn
Use the money to connect others to The Skoll Foundation. Fund Social Innovation projects that are transparent, under phenomenal governance and are making a huge difference. Start with NGO's - start your own - read -http://www.youngfoundation.org/publica... (free pdf)
- michael sean wright
I think you should keep it local and focused on education, and I have a particular fund in mind: the ACDRF -- Adam College Debt Relief Foundation. Though your generous contribution would cover but a small part of this fine organization's operating costs, every dollar helps! Tax deductible status is admittedly questionable, though.
- Adam Lasnik
The startup hires people, which increases all sorts of jobs in the economy. It has the biggest leverage. The hybrid car hires people, which is also good leverage. Giving it to the Gates foundation hires people, which is good leverage. Giving it to a school helps educate people, which is longer term, but is a good thing for society. Investing it in S&P helps increase stock prices, which increases our mood and makes it more likely others will go out and buy cars. Giving it to the government? Not much leverage
- Robert Scoble
1. Invest it in a startup. 6. Buy a hybrid car. 6. Give it to the Gates foundation. 6. Give it to a school. 6. Invest it in the S&P 500. 6. Give it to the US government
- Matsis
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
- Mona Nomura
By the way, I bought two hybrids this month.
- Robert Scoble
Mona: Bill and Melinda Gates can't give your $20,000 the most leverage. For one, they can't spend the money they have already. For two, your $20,000 really wouldn't help them that much.
- Robert Scoble
Gates Foundation or any other philanthropic foundation you support would be #1 for me.
- Mark Krynsky
Mark: that is NOT best for the "common" good.
- Robert Scoble
startup. s&p. school. gates. hybrid. gov.
- Kiran Patchigolla
1. school 2. startup 3. gates 4. hybrid car 5. s&p500 6. us government (1 & 2 are very close w/ a big gap to 3 and beyond)...
- mike "glemak" dunn
Kiran: the Hybrid does more for the common good than the school or S&P does. The Hybrid increases chances people will get hired, and, anyway, it will make the S&P go up more.
- Robert Scoble
www.heifer.org
- Victor Ryden 美久太阿
Leverage is a dirty word these days by the way. The idea should be to increase the odds of a smash hit with high return for all of us. An investment in a Startup is the only one of the offered options, where 20k may have a significant influence.
- Matsis
Robert...ok...how about a startup with a business plan specifically to benefit non-profit organizations? I'm all about killing 2 birds with one stone.
- Mark Krynsky
Mark: that works. But it wouldn't have as much leverage as a startup that would attract customers and other investors.
- Robert Scoble
Another biased option (since I work for X PRIZE) is to use the money to help fund a promising team in one of our competitions. Perhaps one entered into the Progressive Auto X PRIZE http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/teams
- Mark Krynsky
You could save 4,000 lives with $20,000 worth of mosquito nets. I'm not sure that is the best thing for the "common good", but it is hard to do better than saving lives.
- Matt Griffith
Give it to Unitus to fund tens of thousands of Moms in Africa and their businesses
- Jesse Stay
Matt: good point. I see the passalong effects of putting people to work. If you start a startup that goes all the way you'll create thousands of jobs and then there will be a lot more $20,000 piles to hand out to make mosquito nets. Look at how many people made money on Google.
- Robert Scoble
Jesse: Unitus was started by Microsoft money.
- Robert Scoble
Jason: yes, but when one succeeds it creates a HUGE amount of good for society.
- Robert Scoble
Robert, it was also started with my Uncle's money. Dave McClure is also on the board.
- Jesse Stay
Jesse: Dave's money is PayPal money. :-)
- Robert Scoble
Robert, and my Uncle's money is FreeServers.com and About.com money :-)
- Jesse Stay
Jesse: all startups that got successful. Leverage.
- Robert Scoble
If you give it to me I'll invest the money I make from my business and invest in Unitus. :-)
- Jesse Stay
Robert: Or you could do a start-up like PlayPumps. They improve/save lives and create jobs at the same time.
- Matt Griffith
Jason: yes. But even a failed startup will employ people which increases the common good. Those employees will probably buy a new car. Or a new house. Or just will have money to buy dinner tonight, which keeps some restaurants open.
- Robert Scoble
Or you could fund a lot of small businesses through micro-financing.
- Matt Griffith
Matt, and now we're back to Unitus :-)
- Jesse Stay
Matt: yes, that's what Unitus does, actually. Jesse beat me. :-)
- Robert Scoble
Robert, I heard you but I'm a big picture person, and firmly believe no one is doing it better than The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. Sure, $20,000 may not seem a lot to the billions they spend, but something is better than nothing. Plus, they are extremely detailed and transparent about their philosophies, methods, and work. http://www.gatesfoundation.org/learnin...
- Mona Nomura
Ah, sorry, didn't recognize it.
- Matt Griffith
Mona: Bill and Melinda Gates are fabulous, but you won't get enough leverage there for the reasons I outlined. Your money will work a LOT harder by giving it to a startup.
- Robert Scoble
When I say "leverage" I'm going for a multiplier effect. Startup is better than Bill and Melinda Gates. Even Bill would admit that.
- Robert Scoble
1. Invest in startup 2. Local school 3. Hybrid 4. The rest
- Michael Matuzak
Robert: Better for whom? I assume "common" good here is the world -- not US only?
- Brian Sullivan
I am thinking 1. Gates 2. School 3. Hybrid 4. Startup
- Brian Sullivan
But how do you know where your money is going and how it's being used, both for start-ups and charitable causes. I wouldn't give any money to start-ups. I've seen start up CEOs brag about private charter planes, when their product is generating zero revenue. My faith in a lot of start-ups is close to zero and I do not want to see another x and x 'clone'. Do you? OH! Paul, are you allowed to donate to FriendFeed?
- Mona Nomura
Mona, I assure you that none of the startups that I invest in are getting private charter planes :) Not yet at least, and by the time they are successful enough to do that, I'll be happy with the investment. Jason, seed money from a handful of angels can keep a small startup alive long enough to demonstrate their ideas and either become profitable or raise a larger round.
- Paul Buchheit
Robert, I'm of the opinion that we probably don't need a lot more people working for failing startups and buying new cars.
- Jason Wehmhoener
This has led to interesting discussion, but if this is a real question I think it may be the wrong question. Without specifics about the startup, the school, and what difference the $20K would make to the Gates foundation, you're really shooting in the dark. It might be better to just hold onto the money until you can get specifics.
- Bruce Lewis
Paul, here in California, give that money to your local high school foundation - it will make a real difference in their education - and the common good.
- Scott Loftesness
Bruce, you can assume that it would be a startup or school that I thought was good, but ultimately we are always shooting in the dark. Our knowledge has severe limitations and we never really know what the total effect will be, even after the fact.
- Paul Buchheit
If I were to donate money to local causes, I'd purchase what they need. ie: supplies, books, software, computers, etc. Cynical, maybe, but I have no trust in our 'system'.
- Mona Nomura
I agree we can never know the total effect of our actions. We can be careful to avoid waste, however. Look for tangible results from previous investments made by people you trust...
- Jason Wehmhoener
internships for promising disadvantaged youth (other), school, me (other), foundation, startup, car, S&P, gov't
- MiniMage, enterRUPPted
Oh, that's different. Not knowing anything about the startup I would have said that the hybrid and the startup were on equal footing. Buying a hybrid is more funding R&D at this point than directly helping the environment, I think. But if you know the startup and school are good, I'd say 1. School, 2. Startup, 3. Hybrid ... not sure about ranking the others.
- Bruce Lewis
A good school is an almost sure-fire way to make the world better. A startup is too, but it only in that it educates the people who work at it. Other good effects on the world from the startup have lower probability, even for one you know is good.
- Bruce Lewis
Compared to a Hybrid, $20K worth of compact fluorescents is probably a lot more bang for the buck.
- Matt Griffith
Start a scholarship fund for academically gifted but financially challenged students.
- Victor Panlilio
Give it to a school, invest in a startup, buy a hybrid car, give it to the Bill Gates Foundation, give it to the US government and last give it to a S&P 500 company, in that order. Give it to a school, because through the use on endowment that money can be used and increased over a number of years to help educated the people who will build the hybrid cars and do the start-ups.
- Kim Landwehr
i try to remember to *optimize the system" rather than "maximize the output" it's not about whether your contribution will have a big bang, but whether it will be a catalyst; cause a chain reaction; increase serendipitous results, etc.
- MikeAmundsen
Invest it in clean water infrastructure. I like WaterPartners International http://www.water.org, and UNICEF does this. Unsanitary water is the number one preventable cause of disease, which keeps kids from going to school and adults from going to work.
- Ruchira S. Datta
donate to eff.org because they are fighting for our rights
- Kyle Weller
I support all charitable causes and global efforts are fantastic. However, we have A LOT of domestic issues that needs to be addressed... :\
- Mona Nomura
I certainly understand the sentiment that the government can't be trusted. But we *are* the government. Maybe we should all consider what we could do make our government more trust worthy. Perhaps some of the hypothetical $20K should go to Change Congress?
- Matt Griffith
We need a lot more than $20k to fix the problem of politicians who claim to represent us but carry out their own agendas.
- MiniMage, enterRUPPted
Education. Period. It needs to be changed from the core, and who else can do that?
- Mona Nomura
1)hyrbrid, 2)school, 3)Gates, 4) invest, 5) startup, 6) energy fund, 101) govt.
- clarke thomas
MiniMage: You are right. But a lot of people giving a little money can add up.
- Matt Griffith
I like Ruchira's answer. If we're talking about the common good, it's nice to focus on the fundamentals for life. One thing that goes with clean water infrastructure is water conservation. There are businesses to be started around the world involving improved water saving irrigation infrastructure in places that need it.
- Jason Wehmhoener
The question is paul and to everyone, what would be "most effective". Sure you can donate to a big charity that distributes the money, buy why not distribute it directly to a smaller organization or group of people where you can see the "greater good" it does with your own eyes. I honestly would distribute that money to a organization like eff.org because they have proven results in what they do. Or any organization where you can see the result of your investment directly.
- Kyle Weller
People are thinking too big and too much in general, give it to a group/organization that will use the money effectively and make an almost immediate impact, a small amount like that in research and other things wont do much in the long term.
- Kyle Weller
Startup, car, school, Gates Foundation, 500, and then finally government.
- Mathew™ aka Youngblood
Or what you could do is invest it in yourself so you can further support those foundations for the long term.
- Kyle Weller
Invest in S&P, then let the gov't take their cut of the dividends, then give the leftover dividends to a school in need. It's the gift that keeps on giving.
- Nathan Wenzel
Yeah, I will say it: Common good is a bourgeois concept. It has political and social utility, mostly for rich peoples guilty consciences, but doesn't make much sense practically. 20,000. Dont spend it in the U.S., thats all I can say. Scobles optimism would be contagious if it werent for the statistics belying it.
- Rick Powell
Loan it out thru Kiva, and just reloan it when it's paid back. I'd say reloaning over and over should count as 'giving it away' and it would have great and immediate impact.
- Matt Brady Meisenhelder
bill & melinda gates foundation does a lot with schools and public education, so that is killing two birds with one stone. they also work with microcredit and other financial services for the poor, so there's Kiva. and they work on medicine and agriculture, which may save someone's life, and that person (because they LIVED) might go on to found a promising startup company, which in turn...
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- Karim
ha.
- edythe
@Karim - "they work on medicine and agriculture, which may save someone's life, and that person (because they LIVED)" - see http://www.theamericanview.com/index...
- Victor Panlilio
Victor, i didn't realize they gave money to Planned Parenthood, thanks for the heads up. this may or may not be an issue for Paul -- i don't know if they specify whether the grant is for birth control/family planning, abortions, or what. if he's Catholic or pro-life/anti-abortion, then i guess it turns into some pretty grim accounting of lives saved vs. lives lost. he *may* be able to...
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- Karim
A startup + your endorcement will create more value than just the $20K.
- Martin Añazco
If you want "leverage" donate it for use in a third-world country. Much more bang for the buck.
- Brent Logan
$20k doesn't even buy you a hybrid, does it? I'd think this type of money would have much more impact locally. "common good" doesn't necessarily mean "greater good." I've been watching @smallcanbebig here in Boston - www.smallcanbebig.org - if I could provide $20k to someone(s) else, that's the type of organization/service I'd be looking for.
- Sally - Skyrimmin' It
I'm with Sally, think global, act local. Imagine if we all did that?
- SteVe C
1)give it to a school;2)promising startup;3)Gates foundation;4)S&P 500;5) hybrid; 6)other 7)us govt
- Karoli
Paul: Give the money to me, and I'll homeschool my kids.
- Gabe
I was about to suggest using Kiva then I checked and saw it suggested before. Definitely a very good wa to make many people (and their families) happy. Loan. Repeat. It may also start a new good trend after you post about what you did here.
- Nenad Nikolic
I suggested a scholarship for gifted but financially challenged students. My former high school classmate, Dr Cymbeline (Bem) Tancongco Culiat, is lead researcher for NellOne Therapeutics, which aims to restore function to cardiac muscle damaged by heart attacks (http://tinyurl.com/cjmbyo). Cardiovascular disease is the top killer worldwide (http://tinyurl.com/55xg9a). Bem is an example of what can happen when you help fund the education of poor but gifted students, especially in developing nations.
- Victor Panlilio
@Ruchira "Invest it in clean water infrastructure" @Jason "One thing that goes with clean water infrastructure is water conservation" Indeed. See http://bit.ly/T0pcJ
- Victor Panlilio
More recommendations here: http://lesswrong.com/lw...
- Tim Tyler
Gabe, why would you homeschooling your kids make the world a better place? You already influence what your kids know?
- Clare Dibble
Did we settle on a definition of "common good"?
- Ken Sheppardson
invest in a startup, and then give the benefice to some charity or may be to some wise person :)
- abdellah
Startup today, then charity funding from your returns of Investments, when it comes giving away. Schools nearby, Gates foundation, and so on, at last a hibrid car. :)
- Mohammad Abdurraafay
from Nambu
Startups and buying things create value. Charities and governments distribute value. Education creates potential future value. Startups are, by far, the best way to create short-term "common good." Teach a man to fish instead of handing him a fish. Or, even better, invest in his fishing boat and he'll feed the whole village.
- Robert Scoble
Start your own business, become wealthy, do all of the above.
- Robert Hafer
For the "common good" spending it is enough [dutch]"geld moet rollen"[/dutch]
- Willem (@wim66) ☠
invest in a startup
- andy brudtkuhl
Robert: that's called "investing in a startup." :-) Willem: starting a new business is a far better way of "spending" than, say, buying a Hybrid, if all you care about is creating the most for the common good.
- Robert Scoble
Oh, I forgot step 2: work hard
- Robert Hafer
Robert: step 3: get lucky.
- Robert Scoble
ok, I am just intrigued by the mention of GATE foundation, is the common subconscious fascinated by VIP charity? or are they all equal?
- abdellah
A lean and mean green startup would get my $$$ (if I had any). I can ask Ken Thompson (Gates Foundation Research librarian) what he thinks a $20k donation to Gates Foundation would do, but I tend to agree with Robert. Or give it to a local school that has had all its $$ and programs cut.
- Brian Daniel Eisenberg
Robert: A funny man once said "money was all appropriated for the top in hopes that it would trickle down to the needy."
- Matt Griffith
Robert: P.S. FriendFeed is the first place since the off.ramp that I've had an interesting conversation online.
- Matt Griffith
I am late to the conversation, but I say give it to a startup (i.e. mine). In all seriousness, I think the Gates foundation may be the best one.
- Rob Diana
Robert, I understand the "teach a man to fish" argument, but I'm not buying the "create value/distribute value/potential future value" thing. it seems like it's all "potential future value." you keep pitching the startup as if it were a sure thing with a guaranteed return. aren't you confusing speculation with investment?
- Karim
On the list, give it to a school. Not on the list (ie what you would normally ignore) go to Kiva, loan the money and then if it is repayed do it again.
- Andrew
Karim: let's use friendfeed as an example. They hired 13 people so far. And those people all are paying rent or mortgages and buying cars, etc. The leverage a dollar invested in such a startup gets is many times more than the leverage you'll get doing any of these other choices. And this DOES have a very fast short term effect (much faster than giving to a school, for instance). Friendfeed is not a profitable business, by the way, and probably won't be for quite some time.
- Robert Scoble
Gates
- Jeff (Team マクダジ )
Jeff: wrong.
- Robert Scoble
None of them. Give it directly to the people who need it most. That's what we do at the 1 in 8 Foundation.
- Brandon Mendelson
That's almost enough to pay my tuition for culinary school. File under 'common good' I want to teach inner city families to grow and cook their own healthy food.
- ChazFrench
I really don't get giving it to the Gates Foundation. They have $29,700,000,000 in their asset fund, and you'd give them another $20,000? For me "think globally, act locally" would be the guiding principle here, and I'd either give it to a local school, job retraining program, something like community services... or better yet, leverage the $20K on fundraising or marketing training for local efforts. The orgs I'd try to help are those like http://www.hcnkids.org
- Ken Sheppardson
My water infrastructure idea has a lot of leverage. Once the infrastructure is in place, it lasts a long time, preventing disease (much cheaper than curing it) and thus relieving human suffering, allowing poor children to get educated (and possibly preventing cognitive deficits) and poor people to go to work and lift themselves out of poverty, creating a virtuous circle.
- Ruchira S. Datta
School directly. Find one that is doing the type of good work in education that will yield responsible, thinking, feeling, well rounded adults and help them out. It's the future of this world.
- Martha
Ruchira: yes, investing in the right kind of infrastructure has a lot of leverage. Heck, our government invested in the Internet which made friendfeed possible (and Amazon and Google and eBay and Yahoo, etc).
- Robert Scoble
Not sure what qualifies as "common good," but I think you should keep giving out loans w/ it on Kiva
- CG
Oh, wait... I want to change my answer. Everybody talking about investing it in a start-up has given me an even better idea: I'd use it to stake a weekend of blackjack in Vegas. That way I could turn it into $200,000 and *then* I could give it to local community services or something like Kiva. Gambling FTW.
- Ken Sheppardson
Use 5K to go (twice!) to a third World Country (chosen at random). Go to a town of less that 1000 inhabitants (chosen at random). Ask around who is the best person in the town, don't tell them why. Give that person 15K. Return in a year... Write an article about what happened.
- Alfredo Octavio
I wouldn't invest it in tech. Invest it in people who will then bring the good tech, among other important benefits. It's a people matter, ultimately, isn't it?
- Martha
Investing in water infrastructure can be done through a startup like PlayPumps as Matt suggested. If it came through foreign aid from the US government, we might be able to add to the leverage: the goodwill investment would improve our national security. Unfortunately foreign aid is a small fraction of the federal budget, and it's unlikely to go to programs like this unless US contractors, rather than native startups, are involved.
- Ruchira S. Datta
Donate 100 OLPCs and set friendfeed as the default home page :P
- Lasse Johnsen
All investment is a crap shoot; including investment in charity.
- Robert Hafer
Seriously though, with $20k you could sponsor quite a number of teachers for a year in a country like africa. not sure what organizations do this, but that could make a big difference for a lot of kids that cant get education.
- Lasse Johnsen
Lasse: and microfinance organizations have shown that you can get even more leverage by funding small businesses. Especially those run by women. For instance, in a poor country you can buy a family a cow which DRAMATICALLY increases their quality of life and usually makes it possible for their kids to go to school. Investing in schools alone does NOT give leverage. Look at all the idiots who have college degrees.
- Robert Scoble
@Nicholas James, If you start you're own business there's still no sure thing, but at least you know where the money goes. If you are a success, you have created jobs and can afford to give as well.
- Robert Hafer
Interesting Robert, I found SendACow (https://www.sendacow.org.uk/donate) but im skeptical to these ORGs, you dont know really how much of your money arrives and how efficient they are. There are a lot of "could"s on that page.
- Lasse Johnsen
Robert: That's exactly why I recommend Kiva -- those loans will actually make a big difference in ppls lives, guaranteed
- CG
those Micro-finance programs are amazing
- Jeff (Team マクダジ )
I have some contacts in Costs Rica; when McDonalds gave $millions to save the rain forest there, by the time the Orgs took out admin cost, there was enough left to buy a few white SUVs. Our Eco-forest project has done more and will hopefully soon be turning a profit.
- Robert Hafer
1. A School would be first thought of course it would depend on which school. There are schools in our area that are really hurting and falling behind while others are able to spend tons per child (which is a great thing, they just don't need more). Our education is hurting and NCLB forces schools to spend on certain things that only help test scores and not always retention and true...
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- Rachel Lea Fox
Robert, I don't think you can just keep talking about "leverage" without putting some numbers on it. If the startup is an investment, as you're implying, and not a gamble or speculation, you should be able to promise Paul some number of dollars out for his $20,000 in. But how many startups have a profitable exit? Is that $20,000 going to turn into $40,000, $400,000, or $4 billion? Are...
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- Karim
Karim: It's likely that $20,000 invested in a start-up will turn into $0
- CG
Many poor people and their children spend hours every day lugging water back to their homes from distant, dirty sources. Clean water is "shovel-ready": we know exactly how to solve this problem. All it takes is money. http://water.org/waterpa... is currently advertising $25 to provide someone with access to safe drinking water for life, $150 to meet the water needs of an entire family. $20000 will go a long way.
- Ruchira S. Datta
Startup, of the listed options, has the most potential to help, but reading your intentions I would suggest giving it to a group that provides micro loans to entrepreneurs around the world. You money will be split into many lots increasing the likelihood of success, and can provide real help as oppossed to what many resources do
- RAPatton
Hmm, RAPatton's idea makes me realize that converting it into $1s and dropping it from an airplane might be interesting.
- j1m
water.org says they need $20000 to drill a new water well in Kenya. (http://water.org/waterpa...) But lifewater.ca says they only need $3200 to drill a new well there.. (http://www.lifewater.ca/help...)
- Lasse Johnsen
1. Give to school 2. Give to Gates Foundation 3. Invest in startup 4. Invest in S&P 5. buy hybrid 6. Give to US gov't
- Hookuh Tinypants
Not Gates, not car, not US government, the others are good...
- Marcos Marado
from fftogo
invest it in a promising startup
- Alp
Robert: I am for green economy and agree with you on those points. If the question was should i buy a hybrid car or a non-hybrid car for 5K less, I would have said hybrid. The current question implied that Paul does not need another car. I rather not get any more cars than necessary on the road.
- Kiran Patchigolla
Karim: let's assume that friendfeed (a startup that Paul is well acquainted with) never makes a single dollar and never is sold for anything. Well, the money invested in it is already creating value for the employees who've been employed there. 13 or so if I remember right. They are then spending that money in the economy, which keeps all sorts of people employed. That's called leverage. It's amazing how few people here understand how an economy works or what is "the greater good."
- Robert Scoble
the problem with the "invest" heuristic is that it very rapidly goes -- often in centers of business like Silicon Valley -- from the "Wise Steward" to the "Cheap Bastard." say you can save 100 lives with $100 today. only if you invest at 3% for a year, you can save 103 lives next year. then you withdraw the money in a year and realize that if you re-invest, you can save even more lives...
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- Karim
If you don't have a job you really won't care if someone figures out how to drill a water well halfway around the world. The reason you are drilling that well anyway is so that PEOPLE CAN HAVE JOBS! A well can create a farm. Can keep people from walking three hours a day to wash their clothes or have a drink. Think of all the jobs that are created because of water. Semiconductors can't be made without water. Intel and AMD and friendfeed couldn't happen without water. But a water well wasn't on Paul's list.
- Robert Scoble
The thing that will create the most "good" for society on Paul's list is an investment in a startup. That will create the most value throughout the chain. It is where $20,000 would have the most leverage and biggest multiplying effect. If it fails it'll have a bigger multiplier than giving it to the Gates foundation (which could also fail, by the way).
- Robert Scoble
So, if you want to save the most lives, create the most value "for the common good" the only choice here is fund a startup. This is why when I went to Davos I came home depressed. Governments don't understand this very well and don't talk about this much. If you hit the home run with a startup, by the way, you create another Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. I wonder if you asked Bill Gates back in 1975 about this would he have taken his $20,000 and created a foundation? No. Why not?
- Robert Scoble
When I talked with Larry Page, co-founder of Google, though, at Davos, he said job creation comes after spending increases, so buying a car will help this process too, but not nearly as much as creating a new company would.
- Robert Scoble
Half of all jobs in USA are with small companies. Create a few more small companies and you create a whole crapload of wealth that can be used to fund the next Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (or give to a school, or give to the government, by the way).
- Robert Scoble
When you say "Common Good" all I can think of is contributing to a Funding organization like UNICEF. Considering the fact that loads of little kids and children still need our help.
- Praveen Vasudev
Robert, i don't claim to be an economic genius, but the "value" you are creating by investing in the startup that eventually goes bankrupt seems to be the same "value" it creates by giving a man a fish. it extends "years of life gained" (YLG). the knock-on effects are more complicated in our economy, but in the developing world, $20,000 buys a lot more fish meals (YLG) than it does worth of sushi in Silicon Valley.
- Karim
Karim: absolutely NOT true. You need to study economics. A dollar invested in a new job actually creates more than a dollar's worth of value down the road. Giving a man a fish is just giving him a fish.
- Robert Scoble
Praveen: "common good" is how well the economy is doing. I talked with Israeli President about this. He said the only way they'll get peace is to improve the economy on both sides of the fight. Give a man a job and he stops fighting cause he can feed his family and can see hope for the future.
- Robert Scoble
Get good paying jobs and you create wealth that can solve all these other problems.
- Robert Scoble
A good economy IS the number one "common good" and is why microfinance was such a brilliant idea (that won the Nobel Peace Prize, by the way). More on microfinance (which, really, is investing in startups): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki...
- Robert Scoble
First, let's say the man is starving to death -- his crop failed one year -- and you can prevent his death by giving him a fish. if he then recovers and has a normal life, normal harvests etc. and is able to contribute to the economy, have children who are in turn successful, etc., how is that "just giving him a fish?"
- Karim
second, what i'm asking you is, ok, you're saying startup creates wealth, it's an *investment*, so what kind of return are we talking about? Paul puts $20,000 into a startup, the startup goes bankrupt 12 months later. What is the "more than a dollar's worth of value" Paul got for his $20,000?
- Karim
Karim: if you are looking at "common good" you are NOT looking at one person's quality of life, but looking at the leverage you can get. If I let one man starve, but save 10 other people's lives, I will have increased the "common good" more than you have by feeding that one guy a fish.
- Robert Scoble
Karim: Paul created some jobs with his $20,000. Again, it's not about the value to Paul. It's the value to the "common good. How much value, how much leverage, what kind of multiplier effect will he get for that $20,000 for all of society, not for Paul himself.
- Robert Scoble
Karim: the reason the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is doing such great work is they are looking for getting the biggest multiplier effect for their money. What will help the MOST people? That's why curing disease, helping education, etc are their target places to spend money. Other rich people at Microsoft are helping microfinance, because they know that's how they can get the most leverage for their money.
- Robert Scoble
Oh, and if Paul was lucky with his $20,000 he might create the next Google, which would employ thousands, make thousands millionaires (Microsoft created more than 4,000 millionaires) and would enable whole rafts of good for society as that new money was spent on some of these other projects.
- Robert Scoble
Robert is right :)
- Alp
in the US you might maintain a few jobs (lifes) for a short while with $20k, but how many lifes can you maintain in africa by creating new wells for 6-7 villages? And one of the guys you saved might actually live to make a successful business that feeds even more.
- Lasse Johnsen
I didn't say anything about the value to Paul, Robert :-) You say "multiplier effect;" I'm asking what's the multiplier. You said, "The leverage a dollar invested in such a startup gets is many times more than the leverage you'll get doing any of these other choices." -- I'm saying, "show me." clearly you know more about economics than I do.
- Karim
Lasse: you are right, but that wasn't one of the choices on the list -- building a water well in Silicon Valley made Intel and AMD possible, so there. Karim: the multiplier will vary depending on the industry. Karim: I'm trying to find some stats to help it out.
- Robert Scoble
The United Way has a "Common Good Index" http://www.liveunited.org/goals... Education, Income, and Health are listed. Funny that the wealthier nations tend to do best on all three. So, the best way to increase the common good is to increase economic health. That starts with job creation as job #1.
- Robert Scoble
1. Give it to a school. 2. Invest it in a startup 3. Give it to Gates Fdtn, 4. Buy an American hybrid. Neither the S&P500 or the government operate for the public good.
- Francine Hardaway
Francine: why is creating an American job more important than creating a Chinese one or a Japanese one, if we're talking about "common good?" Are Americans worth more as human beings than Chinese are? I don't think so. There's a SERIOUS bug in your thinking there. Giving it to a school creates a very small multiplier effect, at least short term. Gates foundation and giving it to a school probably are very similar (especially cause the Gates love giving money to increase education quality).
- Robert Scoble
I want to start a new thread: what's better, giving money to a school or giving it to Wikipedia. I am learning a whole lot from Wikipedia. Much better for the "common good."
- Robert Scoble
Call me biased, but find a local not-for-profit that is committed to their mission and $20,000 can mean taking steps closer to fulfilling it or going under. The smallest donation to our not-for-profit theatre sometimes means the difference in making payroll or not for the week.
- Warner Crocker
Warner: saving one particular set of jobs is nice, but is not a good way to look at helping "the common good."
- Robert Scoble
Robert, a few replies :-) 1) if the Gates Foundation is "doing such great work," then why aren't they following your advice that "The leverage a dollar invested in such a startup gets is many times more than the leverage you'll get doing any of these other choices?" 2) Yeah if Paul was lucky, he might create the next Google. But how lucky does he need to be? Do the odds compare favorably with $20,000 worth of Scratchers at the 7-11?
- Karim
Karim: because Bill and Melinda Gates are trying to focus on things that business can't. But, look at how they created their foundation: someone invested in their startup. Investing in their startup HAS to come first before they can give away billions.
- Robert Scoble
I'm pretty certain there isn't such a thing as the common good.
- Hayes Haugen
Also, they ARE investing in startups. I met a TON of entrepreneurs who say their businesses wouldn't have been able to start without their investments (who do you think is doing the hard work of their foundation?)
- Robert Scoble
Geeky people tend to be attracted to difficult/intellectual problems. The Gates Foundation may be subject to this. I think the work I currently do is the point of greatest leverage for my *brain*. Fighting, e.g., MDR and XDR tuberculosis through the Center for Emerging and Neglected Diseases http://globalhealth.berkeley.edu/cend... is a worthy cause. But I still think clean water is the point of greatest leverage for *money*, especially a relatively small sum.
- Ruchira S. Datta
Hayes: oh really? Tell me, do you think that we're better off today than we were, say, 50 years ago? I sure do. That means "the common good" increased.
- Robert Scoble
you can't learn how to read, write, add or subtract -- or even conduct solid research -- from Wikipedia.
- Peggy Dolane
Scoble, all depends on where you start and stoop defining. Just like asking questions does.
- Warner Crocker
I still think over the long run an educated public is the key to increasing the common good.
- Kim Landwehr
Kim: what is an educated public? The microfinance revolution shows that education and jobs goes hand in hand. Finance someone getting a cow, for instance, and you also need her to learn how to milk it. That's education.
- Robert Scoble
3) The "Common Good Index" listed "Education, Income and Health" -- how you got "JOB CREATION" as the take-away #1 goal from that is beyond me. Ignoring education & health for the moment, the income goals listed are "Cutting the number of financially unstable working families by half requires strategies to help people increase income, save, and grow long-term assets." Increasing income...
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- Karim
Karim: how do you do any of those things if you don't have a good paying job? How do you create jobs most efficiently? Invest in startups. Most of the people in America, Karim, have had jobs with little leverage lately and/or that have been attacked by globalization. It used to be that we had a monopoly on making cars. We don't have that anymore. But that's a different argument for a different thread.
- Robert Scoble
you can sit your child down in front of wikipedia and see if he or she learns to read from those links.
- Peggy Dolane
I can think of something that would help "the common good". There are a great many developers that for ethical reason choose not to charge a set price for their software. They allow the user to set a price they think is fair & that they can afford. Unfortunately, most of the world is selfish and thinks that means it is freeware and never donate to support the applications they use. I say you split it up and spread it out to donationware authors. DM me if you need help finding them.
- April
Peggy: you'd be surprised how fast a child learns to read wikipedia lately. My son is 19 months old and is more interested in what's on screen than what's on paper books. My 15 year old learns regularly from wikipedia. This is the new ocean they swim in an they are information sponges.
- Robert Scoble
@Robert. "Common Good" sometimes seems like a blunt instrument used to herd the masses toward totalitarianism and war. My personal view is that things such as education and justice make society a better place for _me_. But for me to tell you what is best for you is basically religion.
- Hayes Haugen
Robert: Glad your children are off the charts on intelligence scale. No way would my kids learn to read from those links unless I was homeschooling them. My 10 year old looked at that wikipedia page and said "it was weird" and he didn't want to look at it for 30 seconds. Now if Xbox had a reading program, there would be a tool to invest in!
- Peggy Dolane
Pay a developer to improve the comment system on FriendFeed!
- Hayes Haugen
Hayes: I guarantee you that having people around them who are doing well is far more important to their "good" than having education and justice. Both of those are things that spring from having wealth. Don't believe me? Travel to a poor country sometime and see the difference.
- Robert Scoble
Peggy: my son is learning management techniques from World of Warcraft. He doesn't know it either. :-) My kids are not extraordinarily smart, I just guide them when I can. My dad used to make me look up words in the dictionary when I said "what does that mean?" I do the same thing with my kids when they have a question. My son argued censorship very effectively with Jonathan Adelstein, FCC commissioner. Where did he get that? I really don't care, as long as he got it.
- Robert Scoble
Robert: Once you are fed and housed I think it almost always comes back to education. Reasonable people will disagree on how to achieve that though.
- Hayes Haugen
Hayes, you're right about that. Many "educated" people I know are idiots. So, did it really work?
- Robert Scoble
Robert, I agree that wikipedia is a great tool, but it auguments, not takes the place of the work done in the classroom. My original point was that you have to learn the basics before you can go out and learn on your own. The whole teaching kids to be independent learners mantra of our educators is grounded in the same values you are talking about.
- Peggy Dolane
Robert, assuming there's a job out there to be filled, how do you fill it if you have no education and can't read? how do you fill it if your health is bad? your priorities are backwards. you have to be a) alive b) healthy and c) educated before you can d) get a job and contribute to the economy. that's why the "Common Good Index" *didn't* conclude, as you did, that job creation is job...
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- Karim
Uneducated people are bigger idiots, Robert.
- Francine Hardaway
Peggy: excellent idea. Xbox has a community games area where devs are doing interesting new stuff. A reading program would probably be well received by some parents.
- Hayes Haugen
Karim: look into the microfinance revolution. Please. It educates and provides jobs at the same time. Does someone who milks cows for a living really need to read? Really? I didn't know that's a skill they needed. You're living in my world, where that's true, but that is NOT true for billions of people around the world.
- Robert Scoble
Robert: to be clear I don't think you are advocating that the cow milker doesn't need to learn how to read, just that that's not the first thing he needs. Cart in front of the horse.
- Hayes Haugen
the cow milker may not need to be educated to milk a cow, but it would help to have basic education if he wants to sell the milk and not get ripped off
- Kim Landwehr
I'd say invest it into a home and rent it out super cheap. Nothing improves peoples lives more than a place to live that doesn't take up all of your income.
- alphaxion
alphaxion: that's called your parents house. If it's so good, why don't we all live at home? :-)
- Robert Scoble
One interesting point is that the expected cost to you of some of these things is less than the other -- like, they're investments -- which of course means you can afford to put more than $20k into them. In particular, you can easily afford to put all of your $ into the S&P. Since I think the charity value of the S&P is zilch, I don't think that's very interesting, but micropayments or angel investing are a different story.
- j1m
Another way to look at this is through the eyes of http://www.zoho.com , a tech startup. Did you know that they take uneducated kids in India and teach them how to program? It's true. They have hundreds of employees and found that they can almost always teach someone to program, if they are interested in learning. So, there's a case where investing in a startup improves education, gives them a job, and creates other jobs too. Multiplier effect in full force.
- Robert Scoble
One thing is for sure, if it wasn't for the investors of the startup i work in, i wouldn't be having this pizza right now!
- Lasse Johnsen
Robert, if, quote, "The leverage a dollar invested in such a startup gets is many times more than the leverage you'll get doing any of these other choices," why would i waste my time researching microfinance? weren't you saying startups were better? not sure what your point is about the cows -- are you asking Paul to invest in a Silicon Valley dairy farm? ;-)
- Karim
Karim: if you had enough money for a Silicon Valley dairy farm you'd be rich. :-) Microfinance IS funding startups.
- Robert Scoble
Given the original question and the subsequent definition of terms (+arguments) I'm going to have to side with Robert.
- Hayes Haugen
Robert -- ohh, okay. so when Paul says he is considering investing $20,000 in a promising *startup*, we should read that not as some outfit in Silicon Valley getting a couple of new servers, but a dozen dairy farms in Bangladesh getting a chilling plant? Arrington's going to start covering dairy farms in Techcrunch now? :-) funnily enough, the Gates Foundation works with dairy farmers too: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/learnin...
- Karim
there was a cautionary tale the other day on NPR -- think it was "This American Life," but i'm not sure -- about some guy who advised his kids NOT to put their nest egg with Madoff. at the time, Madoff was highly respected on Wall Street and his returns were enormous. the advice was based on being against the "all your eggs in one basket" heuristic. they took the advice but were ridiculed for years -- right up until he was Madoff was arrested for fraud.
- Karim
most people realize the stupidity of putting all your eggs in one basket. you don't need a degree in economics to know this. this is why venture capital funds are *pooled* investment vehicles. the gates foundation is also a pooled investment vehicle. some of the money goes to immunizations, so maybe the next Einstein or the next Bill Gates won't die of malaria at age 12. some of the...
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- Karim
putting it all in one Silicon Valley startup and praying it turns out to be Google seems like buying a $20,000 lottery ticket.
- Karim
I'd give it to Change Congress or the Sunlight Foundation.
- Matt Cutts
Robert: Wow, Zoho teaching kids to program is a fascinating story. Did they blog about this? Want to find more info on that.
- Kiran Patchigolla
Is it too late to ask for a tabulated summary of the answers? Perhaps people's answers would illuminate why we have taxes in the first place.
- Mr. Gunn
Buy silver. Oh, and read this: http://goldprice.org/buy-sil...
- Michael Forian
robert: such a poor and flagrant answer, you're comparing a whole home to a single room at your folks? you can't deny that providing super cheap rented accommodation to society won't make a massive change to it. lets ask the homeless or those who have to do several jobs just to afford their current place without any spare money to help up their standard of living or save for the future.
- alphaxion
you live in an apartment that's bigger than 1 room at your parents' house, i guess? lucky you ;-)
- j1m
Alphaxion that wasn't one of the choices. I choose to live in the world as it is. Not to mention that houses are a thing of limited supply so if you gave them away you would increase the price for everyone. Oh, yeah, that is EXACTLY what happened over past 10 years. I would rather work on increasing everyone's real wealth which will increase numbers of people who can afford housing.
- Robert Scoble
j1m: exactly, I'm lucky I live in a 3 bedroom flat with 3 others.. but it's cheaper than other places, but it's still not cheap. There are some that pay a relative fortune compared with how much they earn for very little space (often with loads of people too). When you are left with next to no money after the top 2 expenses (shelter and food) it's a daily struggle. Very low quality of life and no savings to allow for something to look forward to.
- alphaxion
robert: notice I said "rented" accommodation.. you're not giving anything away apart from the ability for a person to save some of their money so they can lift themselves instead of bleeding them dry and keeping them from affording to improve their situation. Also, coming from someone who lives in the UK, I firmly believe that housing is extremely overvalued - when you have a system that is prohibiting first time buyers due to rediculous pricing for very little space then the system is already broken.
- alphaxion
and when the alternative is to rent at such a steep price that it stops them from being able to save up for the future then something is wrong. If I *ever* get a personal fortune behind me I will spend a good chunk of it on securing places to let out to people at very cheap rates. I'd rather try to change the world instead of living with such abuse.
- alphaxion
1. startup, because of Paul's knowledge that would come with the money 2. school, assuming it was a kind the promotes paul's school of thought 3. buy a hybrid car, but give it to someone driving a crappy, low mpg car, not replacing one of his relatively efficient ones or just adding a car, 4. give it to the US government (the government isn't all bad), 4. give it to the Gates foundation, 4.invest it in the S&P500,
- Clare Dibble
First I'm joining the chorus in favor of startup seed funding. Second is the school -- as long as it's *for* something (optimally, an entrepreneurship program?) and not just adding a rounding error to the school board's balance sheet... I'd put the hybrid car last because (unless you actually need a new car) I think that sends false signals: for each car that doesn't sell, maybe companies are going to work even harder and smarter to innovate.
- Brian Frank
1. Invest it in a promising startup like FriendFeed. 2. ??? 3. Profit. 4. Give it to the Gates foundation.
- Jim Norris
1.5 (in my list above) "other" => I think art and travel is missing, in that they open peoples perspectives. "art" is tricky, but you could just log on to etsy and buy whatever strikes your fancy, then give it as gifts or tell the artist not to actually send the item if you don't have room for it all (or burn the art at burning man or other flammable occasion).
- Clare Dibble
1.5 (in my list above) "other" => Donate landscaping in the form of a garden to a public park or other place where people actually go. Being around plants is good, and get the food to, for example, people who are hungry or those who regularly eat "food" (fast food, etc).
- Clare Dibble
1.5 (in my list above) "other" => some way to protect privacy of people who want it. I know this is nebulous, but the only ways that I can think of involve suing or sponsoring a law suit, which doesn't seem quite right.
- Clare Dibble
Robert, you say you're interested in increasing everyone's real wealth, but that is exactly what people thought they were doing in the housing bubble. that is the other thing that happened in the last 10 years. and a lot of the jobs that *were* created were in the housing sector. so we had jobs creation and apparent "real wealth" creation that turned out to be smoke and mirrors.
- Karim
1.5 (in my list above) "other" => travel, I would buy trips/ foreign exchange fees/ etcetera for the age group of 8th graders or high schoolers who couldn't afford them in close minded places (India, the midwest, etc.) to let them know there is some way out of here. if they want it.
- Clare Dibble
@karim: the problem with the housing bubble was the allowance of massive loans that could never be paid back realistically.
- alphaxion
alph, not trying to dissect root causes of the problem. just pointing out that people recently thought they were creating "real wealth" and jobs when they weren't.
- Karim
++ Jim Norris ;), especially step 2.
- Clare Dibble
Good point Karim: a lot of people were mistaken about "creating real wealth" in the housing bubble. But the mistake wasn't that "creating real wealth" is never a valid reason to do anything. The lesson was that people will make mistakes no matter how sure they are.
- Brian Frank
Brian, i was hoping the lesson would involve learning from our mistakes. http://www.theonion.com/content...
- Karim
wow, great thread. Scoble wins :) # 1. STARTUP - my immediate thought as well. #2 SCHOOL but please choose wisely; # 3 HYBRID #4 Gates Fnd. #5 OTHER - Donate to a Non Profit that is serving the "common good" (helps abused children, unemployed, poor, etc). The S&P and Gov't will not manage your money well, just a waste (go burn it in your backyard instead, more fun
- Susan Beebe
Scoble said, "The leverage a dollar invested in such a startup gets is many times more than the leverage you'll get doing any of these other choices." I don't see how this can be true, given the fact that most startups FAIL. Does he have some kind of *guarantee* that Paul is investing in the next Microsoft?
- Karim
You're right, Karim. Given the criteria of the common good, this money shouldn't be gambled, which is what happens if given to any risky venture. It should either be given to an efficient organization directly helping people, or to a diversified concern that balances any risky elements with guaranteed or at least highly probable benefits.
- Tinfoil 2.0
Remember Paul mentioned a "promising startup" - I suspect he knows what that is ;)
- Susan Beebe
Thanks, Logical -- I was puzzled. I've read about a UNICEF project that was able to calculate the cost of saving a human life at $500 (http://www.unicef.org/media...), and one from WHO saying that for every $1 invested enables more than a $5 gain to the economy (http://www.rbm.who.int/gmap...). So Scoble is essentially saying that this startup is going to provide a...
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- Karim
Susan, is that a wink-wink nod-nod way of saying the startup is Friendfeed? Does the $20,000 get them OC-3 bandwidth for a month? Or new Aeron chairs for everybody? Because that's so worth it, compared to, you know, 40 human lives :-D
- Karim
but it totally explains why Robert kept saying put it in the startup. LOL
- Karim
An engineering/medical scholarship to 1 or 2 students who really deserve it. Or maybe use this money to kickstart a scholarship foundation for this to wich other people can contribute... The key is to have people who can select the candidates correctly based on the talent and passion of the candidates...
- Arun Jacob
Robert, if the startup *is* Friendfeed, I grant you, they're a promising startup. I'll even grant you that they will inevitably be successful (unlike most startups!) and eventually will have hundreds of employees contributing millions of dollars to philanthropic causes. That said, this $20,000 clearly ISN'T NEEDED to get them to that point. It's not a make-or-break amount for the...
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- Karim
here is a greatly oversimplified game theoretic look at the problem: http://i39.tinypic.com/2h4dhyu... -- the values in the cells represent utility ("common good," lives saved, dollars put into the economy, etc.) "minimax" is highlighted in green. it's the rational solution, the minimum column maximum, the best possible outcome out of the worst possible outcomes.
- Karim
realistically it's more complicated because the startup has a *probability* of success. my *guess* is that you would want to give the money to the startup to the extent it's probable they will succeed (and the money is required for success). so if the startup has a 25% chance of a profitable exit, you'd want to give the money to the startup 25% of the time and to the charity 75% of the time -- again, assuming the money makes the difference between success and failure to the startup.
- Karim
it's irrational to always go for the situation with the highest payout potential *despite* the odds. then again, people buy lottery tickets so what do i know.
- Karim
For me, it would be school, startup, Gates Foundation, hybrid car, S&P, US government in order of best to worst. IMO, there are thousands of potentially better common good uses of $20k than giving it to the government, which best I can tell is the functional equivalent of throwing your money into an incinerator.
- Kevin Scott
Pay training programs for some laid off workers of declining industries.
- xyz
I'm so confused by the comments in this thread. Paul identified the criteria as common good, not investment advice. In other words, benefit to society. I agree with Kevin, US gov't is dead last (it's a very inefficient incinerator at that). S&P 500 doesn't lack for liquidity, so that's out too. Hybrid car... not convinced of any overwhelming benefits compared to other options. "Startup"... well it really depends on the nature of the startup, but by far most are too narrow and too risky to be best use.
- Tinfoil 2.0
@Clare Dibble - close minded places like India?!! Many people think of it as the number one destination for opening their minds, so I find the idea that India would be first on someone's list of "close minded places" mind-boggling. When were you last there, and where did you go?
- Ruchira S. Datta
What an amazing thread! Anybody totaled these up yet? Or shall I take a stab at it?
- Eric Johnson
If you are interested in this thread you should read The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs.
- Matt Griffith
Investing in a startup can only work in parts of the world that aren't stuck in a poverty trap. What happens to a business if the sole proprietor can't work because they get malaria? What if the woman applying for microcredit spends the majority of her day collecting clean water? The Gates Foundation is focused on those problems because you must fix them before anything else will work.
- Matt Griffith
Others have talked about the problem with the idea of "common good". I would instead focus on things that have the biggest positive impact on the largest number of lives. 25,000 children will die today. In the time it took me to write this comment dozens of children died around the world.
- Matt Griffith
I took a shot at tabulating results in a Google spreadsheet. "Startup" got the most responses, with "School" a close second. And there were 49 other suggestions. Here are the complete stats: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc...
- Eric Johnson
Anybody want to help me do some meaningful analysis here? I'm hitting the limits of my standard deviation knowledge :)
- Eric Johnson
There is no efficient market in utilons. Different organizations have literally orders of magnitude difference in how much good they do per dollar. The big, showy charities that deliver lots of status and warm fuzzies can't compare to small, startup, strange charities working on points of maximum leverage. http://www.fhi.ox.ac.uk/, http://singinst.org/, http://methuselahfoundation.org/....
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- Eliezer Yudkowsky
The Results: Forget meaningful analysis, let's score this as Formula One racing, with 10 points for first place, 8 for second, etc. Funding a startup wins with 288 points. School funding is a close second, with 283 points. Gates takes third place, with 202. Everybody else does pretty badly, with the US Government scoring a dismal 46 points. Among write-ins, Kiva scored 58. http://www.casefoundation.org/blog.... See my spreadsheet for details.
- Eric Johnson
Kiva
- Patrick Breitenbach
Tip Michael J. Totten: http://www.michaeltotten.com/ I'd say that's for the common good.
- Rick Powell
@Ruchira I dunno, but I thought if I were gay and open in India, my mind might be opened, against my will, to the idea of prison. Correct me if I'm wrong.
- Rick Powell
Still waiting for the check ... Oh wait. I wasn't on the list
- Charlie Anzman
Nth vote for Kiva
- zimpenfish
Gates foundation OR Clinton foundation... both have records of great use of money for good cause.
- marshia Armstrong
If you are still looking for ideas, this one might be worth your consideration: http://friendfeed.com/app103...
- April
Here's an interesting twist on the startup: http://www.mercurynews.com/columns... "...Silicon Valley has always been about making the world smaller. And Ratra, who cofounded Akraya with her husband in 2001, has always been about helping women in business. So when she heard last spring about Peace through Business, an international effort to pair female business owners from two...
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- Ruchira S. Datta
Change the life of a child (e.g. middle-school) by lighting a fire for science & technology through involvement in an innovative and engaging summer program.
- Jason Miller
Help make it easier for young people who start their college education at a community college to transfer a four year school and earn a baccalaureate degree in a timely fashion. Do it in science & mathematics and you'll have a HUGE return on your investment.
- Jason Miller
Bret Taylor, Nayan, Joel Webber and 2 other people liked this
Unnamed Googler after seeing the Lotus Blossom picture: "I want to go work at FriendFeed now."
- EricaJoy
I didn't realize how many of the names I see here on a daily basis are those of friendfeed employees.
- Kelly Norton
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