A VC - Latest Comments in Let's Get On With It

Re: Let's Get On With It

MattCope — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:45:44 -0000

I guess I'm a little late to the party - but let me contribute this tidbit about the WSJ paywall.

It turns out that you can get any WSJ content you want via Google. I browse through the Business, Markets, Tech, etc. sections; and Google the headlines that grab me - and I get linked to the entire article, free. Free to me, anyway.

I'm not sure I "get" why this structure would be beneficial to News Corp. (Maybe it's an artifact of a search deal negotiated a few years ago?) Whatever the reason, I think I'm living on borrowed time - so I'm making the most of it.

Re: Let's Get On With It

fredwilson — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:38:20 -0000

The link came through this time

Re: Let's Get On With It

David Semeria — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:34:03 -0000

No, it's ok. The link was embedded in an link tag.

Here's the full link: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Disqus has been very odd lately. I posted this about 6 hours ago. The re-post will probably follow.

Re: Let's Get On With It

fredwilson — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:28:15 -0000

Hmm. Link didn't come through

Re: Let's Get On With It

David Semeria — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 09:34:13 -0000

I did some digging on youtube and found the relevant clip there.

In the clip Feynman starts off by explaining why he finds it more interesting to talk to scientists rather than people from other fields, them abruptly (at about 4min) he says "I take it all back", and goes on to argue a different thesis.

Enjoy.

Re: Let's Get On With It

fredwilson — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 07:53:11 -0000

Send me that if you can. I want to see it. I love changing my mind and do it often

Re: Let's Get On With It

ShanaC — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:21:38 -0000

Interesting thought. I always thought that was the paradox of PostModernism: The Truth is that there is no individual truth: and That we must all strive with our small nonobjective view to see down some deep rabbit hole to see the objective one...

Re: Let's Get On With It

kidmercury — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 18:38:16 -0000

that's cool. if you ever do want to get in a spat and need me to help you out in any way just holla at me, you know i'm good for it.

Re: Let's Get On With It

kidmercury — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 18:36:35 -0000

sure, of course. but knowledge is not so important, it is belief that counts. i always try to bet on believing the truth. most folks prefer to deny it, although that's why i call them youngsters.

Re: Let's Get On With It

David Semeria — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:18:31 -0000

Since you studied engineering, I'm slightly surprised you prefer personal over objective truth, but then again, I suppose the key thing is to be free of dogma. The capacity to review the evidence and change one's opinion is the mark of a truly flexible mind. I have a video of the great Feynman doing it mid-sentence.

Re: Let's Get On With It

fredwilson — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:56:21 -0000

I used to have a mantra on the upper right of this blog that said 'there is no truth. Just your truth and mine. This blog is my truth'

But I tired of it

Re: Let's Get On With It

David Semeria — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:33:28 -0000

That's deep Fred. For the most important questions, perhaps not. But the key thing is to move closer to the truth, as I'm sure you'll agree.

Re: Let's Get On With It

fredwilson — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:38:24 -0000

Right. Steve's a smart guy

Re: Let's Get On With It

fredwilson — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:37:16 -0000

Can you really know the truth?

Re: Let's Get On With It

fredwilson — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:36:21 -0000

Thanks for clarifying that. Makes me feel better

Re: Let's Get On With It

fredwilson — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:31:22 -0000

Not likely.

Re: Let's Get On With It

fredwilson — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:31:18 -0000

I'm not looking to get into a spat with guy. I just see different behavior with my kids. That's all

Re: Let's Get On With It

fredwilson — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:30:19 -0000

Yup. That's why we need to get on with it

Re: Let's Get On With It

fredwilson — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:30:18 -0000

Cool. I'll check it out

Re: Let's Get On With It

Venkat — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:05:20 -0000

I have a sneaking suspicion NOTHING besides advertising will work universally.

Re: Let's Get On With It

Piepiepie — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 09:29:31 -0000

That's an interesting point, but even if it is taken at face value it does not mean higher revenue or higher net earnings.

incr. cpm x decr. in inventory. (decr. host exp) v. decr. cpm x incr. in inventory (incr. host exp)

Beyond what could be a push in actual net revenue there is a more substantial competitive problem. If there is a viable business model from the presentation of free content, you have immediately given your competition a competitive advantage in an area that they can both gain market share and still be profitable.

Re: Let's Get On With It

jarid — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:39:20 -0000

Along the same line, @alacra1 always said "Someone is going to eat your young. Might as well be you."

Re: Let's Get On With It

David Semeria — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:24:25 -0000

.. but of course it is always good to know the truth..

Not just good, essential. Always, even if it hurts.

Re: Let's Get On With It

kidmercury — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:04:07 -0000

criminals like murdoch are not going to bring us the new media revolution. IMO the key to the media revolution is very similar to the "power to the people" notion you've talked about, and the web businesses that empower independent publishers is where we'll get the digital media revolution. murdoch is an incumbent in an extremely consolidated industry (mainstream media) that is threatened by the "power to the people" nature of the internet. any attempt he makes at going digital will thus be what any incumbent does when they see a disruptive threat, which is acquire and kill. in many ways he is the anti-VC: you guys buy to build and grow, he buys to kill.

Re: Let's Get On With It

kidmercury — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:50:36 -0000

aw man, that totally ruins my joke! damn. but of course it is always good to know the truth, so thanks for delivering the bad news.