brandon

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On November 23, 2015, brandon commented on import.io & Web Scraping for the Average Joe or Jill :

oops, inverted my markdown syntax; here’s the link: [T&C](https://import.io/terms-and-conditions)

On November 23, 2015, brandon commented on import.io & Web Scraping for the Average Joe or Jill :

I think they’re taking the classic platform approach: all they do is build tools, it’s up to users to apply them ethically.

To wit, their (T&C)[https://import.io/terms-and-conditions] reads:

8.2. If you wish to use the Service to convert any Web Data into a table or data or a structured API (or any other functionality offered by the Service) that you do not own, you must obtain the consent of or an appropriate licence from the licensors or owners of such Web Data before you process all of or any portion of such Web Data through the Service. You must comply with requests from third party rights holders to cease to deal in any way with any Web Data that they own when you do not possess appropriate licences to deal with such Web Data.

On November 22, 2015, brandon commented on TrueCar: data-driven car buying :

Love the idea of bringing transparency to an opaque market. Car sales are so deeply entrenched in gov’t legislation that only wide-spread transparency can make purchasing a car feel less dirty.

On November 22, 2015, brandon commented on Tinder: You’re doing it wrong :

This seems like a big departure from how I figured they saw themselves. The whole “Tinder is a game” thing relied on the use-case of people swiping interminably. I guess, though, that if users have to focus on each potential match before swiping, they’ll pay more attention to those stupid ad cards (well, not that stupid: i have a date with an ad for Fallout 4 next week).

I’ve heard from some of my pals who use ML professionally that this could be a game-changer. I can’t help but wonder why the market didn’t provide a tenable solution prior to Google releasing theirs.

On November 2, 2015, brandon commented on Why We Should Crowdsource Cannabis Research :

I’ll smo–I mean, I’ll drink to that. If you ever need volunteers for your focus groups, let me know 🙂

On November 2, 2015, brandon commented on Goodbye Cable: One Snap at at Time :

I think the most definitive gap between generations, at least for the next few years, will be Snapchat: younger folks see it as all sorts of interesting things, while older folks just see it as a way to send nude pictures. I think it’s probably both.

On November 2, 2015, brandon commented on StackOverflow : Q&A site for programmers :

An interesting problem I’ve seen on SO is with particularly fast-evolving technologies. Often I’ll read an answer on a tool I’m learning, only to realize an update has deprecated or obviated the information in the SO answer I’m reading. Sometimes authors will go back to make a note, but it’d be nice if there was a more automated solution.

On October 5, 2015, brandon commented on Handy: Turning Product Into Platform :

Handy has always sounded interesting to me, but without exception, everyone I’ve heard who’s used their service has had nothing but terrible things to say. Something about the platform controlling the quality of inputs to consider here, esp. in biz where you’re letting randos into your home.

On October 5, 2015, brandon commented on Zillow’s Reliance on Multiple Network Effects :

Still longing for the day when purchasing a home doesn’t require an agent–but sites like Zillow, et al, only re-entrench agents, so not holding my breath.

http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2013-03-07/why-redfin-zillow-and-trulia-havent-killed-off-real-estate-brokers

On October 5, 2015, brandon commented on Linux won the servers, but dead on desktop :

fully agree on user-friendly point. i get the urge to install ubuntu every so often, and almost invariably go back to windows after a few days because of some ridiculous bug or glitch that requires super-involved effort to fix. the terminal will always be the domain of the power user, and until a distro buries the terminal like Windows did with Powershell/cmd, the masses will prefer windows.

On September 14, 2015, brandon commented on Skin Deep Database: The Only Truth Behind Product Safety? :

That’s a good point – i wasn’t being fair with respect to limited data.

but just to clarify, the Amazon link is a referral – not on that product, but here’s the link for Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, a “10” on the danger-o-meter.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BM3IZIS?tag=ewgcosmeticsdatabase-20

The last part is a referral ID. I don’t think that means they’re necessarily biased, just that there’s potential they’re not totally financially disinterested

On September 14, 2015, brandon commented on BigML – Early to the Party :

I NO!

On September 14, 2015, brandon commented on Is it too late for Microsoft? :

No way! Microsoft might not be first, but as a fast-follower, they’re killing it.

Case-in-point: their web-app versions of the office suite are incredible. For all but the powerest of power user, top desktop publishing tech his available to everyone for free. They knew they had a built-in user base because of Office’s entrenchment, so they took their time and got it right–IMHO way better than Google Docs.

Onedrive, too–if you haven’t tried this, check it out. Again, my opinion, but it crushes any alternative. Starting capacity is like, 15 GB, and the UI is tops. And at least on android, every one of their office apps is best-in-class.

But, certainly not all homeruns (e.g., windows phone is… well, y’know).

On September 14, 2015, brandon commented on How is Slack killing email? :

I wonder what the creators of IRC think about their 1988 tech being used to “disrupt” in 2015. Agree with above-dubious about Slack from an efficiency standpoint, but if valuations are the capital-T-truth, I might be missing something.

I wonder how replicable this tech is, or at least this idea of bringing back basic old tech to replace over-complicated current solutions? Maybe next ICQ or AIM will disrupt SMS 🙂

On September 14, 2015, brandon commented on Skin Deep Database: The Only Truth Behind Product Safety? :

I’m not sure about this database. I’m admittedly skeptical of the whole chemi-phobia thing, but this database is sketchy.

Like this product, rated a seemingly dangerous ‘9’. http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/157802/Aquolina_Pink_Sugar_Deo_Natural_No_Gas/

So, avoid at all costs–except I can click the picture and get a referral-link to buy it on Amazon? Plus, one of the most ‘dangerous’ ingredients, fragrance (?), is rated an 8–just 1 below actual mercury, which is a 9. Being informed is one thing, but this just feels like fear-mongering for referral-$.