Disqus - Latest Comments for iand

Re: Wakinh Up

Ian Davis — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 17:08:26 -0000

Another explanation might be that you wake partially many times during the night but none of them are memorable, except the times you wake up just before the alarm. Your brain registers that this is an exceptional situation and wakes you fully.

Re: Jock's Jottings?

Ian Davis — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 18:43:33 -0000

Looking forward to whatever you write. This blog has been far too quiet for far too long :)

Re: Learning from the Electoral Commission - James Smith

Ian Davis — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 12:09:52 -0000

It makes you wonder if a crowdfunding service that explicitly dealt with confirming that donors are on the electoral roll would enable more independents to stand. Extending from that, perhaps there's room for a site that provides all the organisation and crowdfunding infrastructure for independents. Kind of like a blend of JustGiving and BaseCamp

Re: Same Old Amazon: All Sales, No Profit

Ian Davis — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 11:19:38 -0000

You're missing the point. When Amazon stops spending everything on expansion, they'll make massive profits. Walmart did the same - Sam Walton borrowed like crazy to expand and did so until he had driven away most other competition.

Re: Same Old Amazon: All Sales, No Profit

Ian Davis — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 04:09:41 -0000

This is exactly how Walmart grew in the 60's: low prices and leverage to expand vigourously

Re: A Questionable Argument for Paternalistic Legislation

Ian Davis — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 03:15:29 -0000

How about this argument: by cycling without a helmet you are greatly increasing the chances that after an accident the other party will have to live with the fact that they killed you. This holds no matter whose fault the accident was. Seen this way the lack of helmet is a form of negative externality.

Re: It’s important not to worship any hero wholesale

Ian Davis — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 06:26:54 -0000

"have the courage to follow your heart and intuition" doesn't mean do
things other people would approve of unfortunately.

The paragraph you quote is rightly taken as a celebration of individuality and courage of
conviction and they are inspiring words. But the advice is missing any moderating factor such as whether your actions are harmful to other people or the world around you. Without that kind of moderation it becomes a terrible skewed moral compass to follow.

Re: Communism, Anarchism, and Counter-Examples

Ian Davis — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:06:24 -0000

Its possible that we haven't previously reached a level of wealth, education or technological advancement to make anarchism successful.

Re: A Clever Business Model

Ian Davis — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:20:16 -0000

When people ask what's your business model, they're not asking about pricing. They're asking who you're charging and why. Making more money than you spend just defines a business, not a model.

Re: Google TV to launch in UK

Ian Davis — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:05:15 -0000

"tele" implies you still haven't come to terms with this new fangled technology

Re: Forget Acquisitions: Apple control the Supply Lines

Ian Davis — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:07:53 -0000

Companies are collectives so to my (Brit) mind I'm thinking about a group of people. Just replace Apple with "that group of people" to see how we think.

Re: Apple Files Patent Suit Against Samsung Over Galaxy Line of Phones and Tablets

Ian Davis — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:34:43 -0000

Is this because Apple are planning a 7-inch iPad and want to clear the way?

Re: Understanding Google

Ian Davis — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:48:46 -0000

I agree, the whole reason for Google to get into the operating system, browser and spectrum arenas is a defensive play to counter threats from the iPhone and similar platforms. Google's strategy is predicated on universal access to the web so they need to avoid being mediated by the likes of Apple or network providers.

Re: Dydra | Dydra Lifts Off

Ian Davis — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 05:10:54 -0000

Congrats on launching, data as a service is going to be hot this year :)

Re: Paul Miller is bound for pastures new

Ian Davis — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:21:23 -0000

Good luck Paul! (not that I think you'll need it - you're going to be in demand and we'll be battling for your time!)

Re: Microsoft closes the quarter with less cash than Apple

Ian Davis — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:34:10 -0000

Erm, I meant to type $25B of course

Re: Microsoft closes the quarter with less cash than Apple

Ian Davis — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:33:28 -0000

Is keeping $35B in the bank a sound strategy in these times of unprecedented bank failures. The government isn't going to underwrite the entire economy. Why aren't they returning that cash to shareholders?