critke

I don't care if it's the kernel or whatever else. I just know that the dang thing blew up on me twice. So you go and think about kernels and stuff - and have fun with EBS - I'm not using it anymore.

Yes, but the problems seem to have to do with XFS and EBS.

Was using XFS on Ubuntu...

I stopped using EBS after the EC2 instance just stopped responding - twice - each time after a few weeks. I was using an EBS volume for MySQL data storage. I am not satisfied that this problem has been fixed. I suggest you look at this thread before using EBS for production: http://developer.amazonwebservices.com/connect/rss/rssmessag...

Whatever you do, be careful. You can catch some nasty viruses looking for free fonts if you're not careful.

Build something. Then listen really hard to what people say. Don't take it personally - just make it so it works for people. And Iterate!

exactly. http://www.49sparks.com/?b=51

I just love the idea!!

But the site is confusing. Kill the splash page. Put a call to action - nobody will know that you're actually selling something - it looks more like a fun little site showing off jellyfish in aquariums. And although it's great that you have videos, I would suggest you also put yourself in them with real tanks - and show your passion for what you're doing.

I think it's not so much a question of whether you need management or not- it more about assessing the core competencies of the founders and then determining what's missing. And also whether a new hire fits in with the team - not just in terms of what knowledge they bring to the table, but also whether their values and ethics are a good fit.

I would think that people should be able to handle the truth (either way) - painful as it may be. I mean if the Internet stands for one thing, it's transparency. Hiding stuff is not something we should strive for.

seems like this "ghandi ... does it matter?" thing is getting a little out of hand here today....

It might - if anything it'll help you get through the long hard slog to the pot of gold - if there is one at all.

From my experience I would suggest learning html/css coding but finding a creative person to do the actual design (colors, logo, white space, typography etc etc). I really doubt that it's possible to be good at everything - but html/css is 'just' coding - design however is a completely different story.

yep - good 'ol subscriptions at http://uploadthingy.com - just started 2 new thingys too....

exactly.

I like it - not sure if I'd use it, I get too many links through feeds and regular twitter use... but the biggest problem for me is that I hate putting my password into 3rd party apps.

Hm yeah. I hear you. Now I feel bad about suggesting an ulterior motive with the rss links - it's just it really strikes a nerve when I see that. Good luck hacking around - and good luck with the site.

Start with Hello World and try stuff: http://www.javacoffeebreak.com/java101/java101.html

Hey - you forgot Adwords. Not only to get clicks, but it'll also get you to thinking about your vertical. You can't come up with good keywords unless you know who you're targeting.

Wouldn't it depend heavily on what your site is about? B2B or B2C? Is revenue ad or subscription driven? Is the site even supposed to make money? Or just build cred? Have you figured out your vertical? Going broad? (probably not a good idea IMHO)

Just subscribed. Looks like there's some cool stuff coming through. But what really bugs me is that the links in the feed go to undrln.com and not directly to the site that the link's for. Making me click twice is not good. And we all know why they're doing it. Not for the subscriber, that's for sure.

Goof off for a while. Then do it again. Because goofing off is only fun for a while.

hey - thanks for all the tips - although it's always easier said than done. Weird how writing code always seems to be the real work - and all this other stuff just - well... you know. Gotta turn it on its head. And: especially like #4 - never thought of that, great idea.

Good question. I sent emails on http://uploadthingy.com to about 20 blogs that I thought would be interested a while back - what happened? Nothing. Nada. The service is now profitable and growing every day. Going to try again this week. Not expecting too much. Adwords rules - at least for now.

Yep. It's nuts. The only thing I write by hand is to-dos into my small notebook. And it really sucks when I can't figure out what I have to do because I can't read what I wrote.

Yeah. But he didn't get to a 4h work week with a 4h work week.

Well, let me say that it's profitable. Can't live off of it 100% yet, but it looks like I will be able to soon. And I'm already building the next thingy. So again - it sure as heck isn't passive while you're building it - and only semi-passive while acquiring new users - but the churn is surprisingly low - so even though it probably wont ever turn into something that's 100% passive (gotta make sure those servers are happy!) - I'm pretty sure it'll get darn close.

You're right and wrong. Because yes, making money from doing nothing won't work. But making (quasi) passive money off of something that you've built might. Yep. That's the trick I say. Don't just say something is stupid. It makes sense to think about this stuff.

very slooowly. lots of patience. adwords to be exact. and yes, there are a million upload sites - but hardly any embeddable ones. a niche within a niche. and people love it.

ha, yeah. gotta love a 'thingy'. Already working on new thingys - too bad the building part isn't passive.