December 2008
“6. Ted Rheingold - December 12, 2008
I think you’re going to get all A’s...”
– Image via CrunchBase
TedR’s comment on Consumer Internet Predictions for 2009 « Lightspeed Venture Partners Blog
Rafer sez: Hugely good comment on a great post. Of course in that second to last point, I believe that the trick is not the advanced targeting technology — it’s...
“In 2009, managers will realize that they are no longer dealing with a crisis;...”
– Innovating in the Great Disruption - Scott Anthony
Why Googlers Call Friend Connect “FriendSense” →
“Charles Arthur points out, sensibly, that a hell of a lot of the technologies...”
– and what about the web itself? people who put down europe’s tech chops are leaving the opportunity for others to profit from it.
The United States, Screwdriver Economy of the Web? | afoe | A Fistful of Euros | European Opinion
(via fred-wilson)
Rafer sez: Wi-Fi is also Dutch, from the University...
“Yahoo To Do List: 1) Pick CEO 2) Cut MSFT Search Deal”
– Tech Trader Daily - Barron’s Online : Yahoo To Do List: 1) Pick CEO 2) Cut MSFT Search Deal
Rafer sez: No, No, No. Don’t wait. Get the MSFT deal done now and maybe get rid of the public shell with it. Y! as a private company with the right CEO would be deadly.
“Don’t squeeze anyone. Make other people rich. Align interests and move on. You...”
– great words of wisdom from andy swan which i totally agree with
Howard Lindzon
(via fred-wilson)
(via davemorin)
“Former Vodafone Group Chief Executive Arun Sarin has decided not to pursue the...”
– Ex-Vodafone CEO won’t pursue Yahoo job: report - Yahoo! News
Thank heavens for little favors. Y!’s self-destructive tendencies lost for a change. What makes you good at fixing Vodafone is exactly what makes you bad at fixing Yahoo.
“In my mind, this is simple…we should keep looking for the Silver Bullet...”
– Lotame Learnings: Social Media Marketing…NOW
Rafer sez: For weeks, months, or years? What if, for social media, there just isn’t one? The big boys are all out building vertical content portals (starting with Music) to work their way around the problem. Might be worth paying attention...
“The fundamental flaw with the traditional network model is that the network is...”
– Mike On Ads » Blog Archive » Introducing “buy side” versus “sell side”
Rafer sez: Correct problem definition. Solution still open. The exchanges are doing poorly in the downturn as the bid-ask spread revenue model doesn’t work.
“Among those being considered is Arun Sarin, who retired as chief executive of...”
– Yahoo Board Weighs Picks for Chief; Sarin on List - WSJ.com
Rafer sez: A mobile carrier alum. Oh, goodie. That’ll add speed, finesse, and flexibility. Not.
“If the Mumbai attacks were India’s 9/11, then it has responded quite...”
– *michael parekh on IT*: ON THE POWERS THAT BE IN PAKISTAN
“7. I can’t respond to your own DM’s unless you follow me. Seriously. The design...”
– Scobleizer — A Reason Why Twitter DMs Need Fixin’ — and Nine Other Silly Statements
Rafer sez: For the Nine Other Silly Statements, please refer to Bijan’s great remark on negative early adopters. I do think DMs could use work to fix #7. However, I love that Twitter is a whitelisting...
“startups, like dogs, tend to eat when given the opportunity”
– Paul Graham - Could VC be a Casualty of the Recession? (via giantrobotlasers) (via betaworks)
Rafer sez: Now we understand his respect for his portfolio. Color me unsurprised.
Ivan sez: Is that a negative interpretation, then? I think it is an important insight. People will take money when...
“In every respect a great brand is true to its own ‘brand essence’ and so...”
– The CEO Refresher -
Rafer sez: Quotes like this are true but self-defeating. You should listen to this smart person. You can’t ever fix your brand using an outside consultant. Greatness can only come from within.
“startups, like dogs, tend to eat when given the opportunity”
– Paul Graham - Could VC be a Casualty of the Recession? (via giantrobotlasers) (via betaworks)
Rafer sez: Now we understand his respect for his portfolio. Color me unsurprised.
“Structurally, our world is dominated not by regulations but by the juggernaut of...”
– Scott Rafer. Endorphins. (via betaworks)
The nature of regulation is that you don’t see the consequences, because they are usually inactivity and inaction. The lack of innovation in payments can be entirely blamed on regulation. But it doesn’t look like that on the outside. You just don’t see...
“We are now morphing towards a world where the government fist is being...”
– Bill Gross (via Howard Lindzon).
Wondering, if this is the case, how it affects our world … . Rafer, what say you?
(via betaworks)
Rafer sez: Schumpeter kicks Keynes’ butt year in and year out.
Chronologically, this regulation bubble will be fairly temporary. Web2 had a longer lifespan,...
“Taking this a step further, we think that an Internet media company (using just...”
– Betaworks.Tumblr
Rafer sez: @AWeissman I’m not sure that calling it a “media company” works here. It implies a level of uniform ownership that I don’t think you actually mean.