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More work = more discipline by Yeechang+Lee · 2006-09-20 06:41 · Score: 1 · on University of Virginia Student Graduates in One Year

Amazing feat. 37 credits in a single semester?!? Interestingly, the semester I took 22 credits (Columbia requires 124 credits for a non-engineering undergraduate degree, similar to Virginia's 120) in seven classes was the one with my highest GPA. Having that much work on the plate forces discipline, whether you like it or not.

Another neat case is that of venture capitalist Steve Jurvetson. Let me quote from his online biography:

At Stanford University, he finished his BSEE in 2.5 years and graduated #1 in his class, as the Henry Ford Scholar.

Stanford, which uses the quarter system and thus requires 180 credits to graduate, permits no more than 20 credits per quarter. 8 quarters (i.e., two years and two more quarters) X 20 credits = 160, still a quarter short. According to a 1999 New York Times Magazine article on the guy, Jurvetson figured out how to sign up for and take more classes than allowed. If I recall correctly, on each quarter's registration cards he penciled in fewer credit hours for each class than its true worth, so the registration computer--which presumably watched for students who penciled in too many credits--wouldn't notice. Isn't that awesome? (And, unfortunately, something that Stanford's Axess completely-automated system won't allow today.)

Hotmail. by In+Fraudem+Legis · 2006-01-13 09:28 · Score: 0 · on Behind the Scenes at Hotmail

If my memory serves me correctly, Microsoft bought Hotmail from Steve Jurvetson for $300mln. http://www.dfj.com/team/steve_bio.shtml

Re:When you're a commodity-oriented company... by ron_ivi · 2004-05-24 05:01 · Score: 4, Insightful · on Innovators vs Copiers: HP vs Dell

"The problem you describe, however, was one of the issues faced in the 1930s. Clothes washers and dryers in particular, had been in high demand."

I think you hit the nail on the head.

Dell's real observation is that computers (at least PCs) aren't a high-tech industry anymore.

Howerver, surely Dell's "The days of engineering-led technology companies are coming to an end" guideline is not at all the case for companies that are still in a high tech sector. One of the carbon-nanotube companies may very well replace Intel in post-silicon computing. One of the robotics companies may replace much of the military. Surely these are "engineering led".

But in their market, I must agree with Dell that I don't see a "engineering-lead" Wintel-box company in the near future.

China/India are losing more jobs than we are. by ron_ivi · 2004-02-09 21:58 · Score: 1 · on Outsourcing As A Source Of U.S. Jobs

Contrary to what the parent poster suggested, the efficiency of high-tech _is_ bringing jobs back -- it costs just as little to run a robot clothing manufacturer here as it does in other parts of the world. Note that China is losing more manufacturing jobs than the US

"China lost 16 million manufacturing jobs, a decline of 15 percent, between 1995 and 2002, according to a recent study of manufacturing jobs in the 20 largest economies by Joe Carson, director of economic research at Alliance Capital Management. In that same time, U.S. factory employment shrank by 2 million, or 11 percent"

And yes, some industries (software, in particular) are maturing and are no longer high-tech. However as these jobs become commodities, other high-skilled and high-paying jobs in what I like to think of as the new high tech are quickly replacing them. If you don't believe there are good paying jobs around here, explain the still expensive housing prices.