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Coding for the unexpected

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:57:41 -0700

One of the things I love about computers is that they are boringly consistent. Given the same input, a computer will return the same output EVERY SINGLE TIME. Likewise, code doesn't change. I could save a file on my computer and if it weren't for hardware failure it would remain the same byte-for-byte until the end of time. Code doesn't change. It's just a bunch of mathematical statements bound together by rules of logic that are burned into a tiny computer chip. Or in geek terminology, code is immutable.

In theory this sounds great. The problem is it doesn't mesh with the everyday reality of my life. My code breaks all the time without me changing a thing.

why you should never be a startup girlfriend... at Stephanie Finch

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:14:24 -0700

For all of you ladies who may or may not be flirting with the idea of dating a startup programmer, you should know exactly what you're getting yourself into.

Stephanie Finch :: la vita e bella

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:40:13 -0700

To appreciate a lot of things in life, you have to be familiar with them. I have a really hard time getting excited about groundbreaking advances in financial planning practices, mostly because I know very little about it. I can't really make valuable contributions to an emphatic discussion on search engine optimization (aka becoming the first page listed in a google search for a given topic - which, thanks to Josh, this website is) or the latest and greatest FTP software. It's not that I don't care, it's just that I don't know anything about it.

3 ways to guard your email reputation

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:48:20 -0800

What do you do when your email list is made up of unverified email addresses? How do you tell which ones are good and which ones are bad? More importantly, what can you do to reduce the number of bounced messages and the inevitable damage to your sender reputation? Here are a few things that will help.

Learning from wipe-outs

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:16:08 -0800

You might argue that the experience is a lot less enjoyable if you spend most of it on your face in the snow. Why not recognize your limitations and have a good time on the bunny slopes? You have a pretty valid argument. The only problem is this: you'll spend the rest of your life on the bunny slopes. You'll never know what it's like to push yourself and actually succeed. Sure there will be frustration in between, but it might just be worth it.

TechStars applications are now open!

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:14:16 -0800

This is a great opportunity for anyone considering launching out and starting their own company.

The value of split testing

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:12:48 -0800

A while ago we had a discussion over whether we should send our invitation emails as plain text or in HTML format. My gut feeling was that spam filters would be tougher on HTML emails than plain text, but I didn't know for sure. And I had NO IDEA which email format would have a higher response rate.

Instead of sitting around talking about it -- I decided to test it.

How to make OpenDNS shortcuts work in Safari

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:33:13 -0800

Do you use OpenDNS shortcuts for everything? Ever been frustrated that they don't work in Safari? Here's how to fix it.

Startups and Risk Assessment

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 21:26:20 -0800

Did you know that more people die every year from falling down the stairs than from snake bites? It turns out that most of us do a poor job at evaluating risks. We're terrified of snakes, but don't think twice about walking down the stairs. I've noticed that many startups suffer from similarly poor discernment into risk assessment.

Let's start a new trend

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:37:06 -0800

Let's start a new trend and stop using that annoying "no-reply" email address.