farrel's comments

farrel | 11 years ago | on: What taking my daughter to a comic book store taught me

This is a false equivalence: http://www.shortpacked.com/2011/comic/book-13/05-the-death-o...

farrel | 11 years ago | on: Roda – A new Ruby web framework

Jeremy Evans ain't nothing to fsck with.

farrel | 11 years ago | on: Microsoft Looks to Cut Up to 18,000 Jobs

That's a lot of unemployed Fins.

farrel | 12 years ago | on: Yes, the Wealthy Can Be Deserving

Or that the extremely wealthy make most of their money via capital gains.

farrel | 12 years ago | on: Why can a scam company raise $40 Million Series C + $76 Million Series B?

Because VCs aren't interested in building a sustainable business, only something they can dump on a greater fool in 3 - 5 years for 10x return.

farrel | 12 years ago | on: War on Leaks Is Pitting Journalist vs. Journalist

Journalist vs. Hack

farrel | 14 years ago | on: San Francisco start-up Seesmic laid off 18 employees this week

This is the 4th pivot for Seesmic? Can early investors ask for their money back if the nature of the business changes from what they originally invested in?

farrel | 14 years ago | on: Tumblr introduces highlighted posts for $1

Didn't Facebook attempt to sell 'Gifts' for $1 back in 2007? I recall they even got Susan Kare to design them.

farrel | 14 years ago | on: Facebook IPO To Raise $5B, Filing Wednesday, Morgan Stanley In Lead

$5B with a projected $50B - $75B market cap means less than 10% of FB shares will be on the open market.

Guess they want to keep demand (and the stock price) high...

farrel | 14 years ago | on: RIM CEOs to Give Up Top Posts in Shuffle

Remember when people were screaming at Apple to get out the hardware game in 1997?

farrel | 14 years ago | on: Why the iPhone 5 never arrived

Outside of the case this is a brand new phone. A5 CPU, new GPU, better camera, better battery and better software (I believe Siri is 4S exclusive).

farrel | 14 years ago | on: A&F tries to pay off Jersey Shore kids so they do Not wear their clothes

Reminds me of how Burberry totally stopped using their signature tartan on the exterior of their clothing so they would stop being associated with chavs.

farrel | 14 years ago | on: Our Commitment to Trust & Safety

"Terms will apply to the program and may vary (e.g. by country)."

What are the T&C's I can't find them?

farrel | 14 years ago | on: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

Besides liability for damages incurred by the guest, hosts are also probably on the hook for liability should the guest be injured (or worse) while staying in your place.

farrel | 14 years ago | on: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

This is most certainly what they're not doing. Airbnb has promoted the idea that you can rent out your primary residence to make money.

A quote from http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/new - "Airbnb lets you make money renting out your place. Your apartment will pay for itself!"

That is the antithesis of a 'unused low marginal cost asset'.

farrel | 14 years ago | on: Airbnb Nightmare: No End In Sight

Can you even get insurance on an illegal activity. It seems clear that many people on Airbnb are either illegally subletting their rental apartment or in places like NY where Airbnb is violating laws meant to stop illegal and unlicensed hotels.

farrel | 14 years ago | on: Airbnb Nightmare: No End In Sight

I would bet dollars to doughnuts that a traditional holiday apartment will only be able to get insurance that is viable if they meet a number of criteria (removal of valuables, cheap furnishings, inspection etc) that would not be available to someone putting their primary residence up for piecemeal rental on AirBnB

farrel | 14 years ago | on: Airbnb Nightmare: No End In Sight

What is the insurance premium on:

1) A dedicated holiday apartment with little valuables and suitable furnishings

2) My primary residence full of my own furniture, valuables and sentimental items

Who is going to do that appraisal? AirBnB?

farrel | 14 years ago | on: Airbnb Nightmare: No End In Sight

Over time AirBnB will probably just become a listing and booking service for established holiday apartments. Places that are furnished accordingly, have suitable insurance and are properly managed by the owner or a agent.

Bringing amateur operators into a sector with potential massive downsides with no education is extremely risky for AirBnB and the hosts.

farrel | 14 years ago | on: Airbnb Nightmare: No End In Sight

It's not just the issue of accurate information. Hotels have a security infrastructure in place and the rooms are checked regularly.

Had the criminals who did this tried it in a hotel there is a very good chance they would have been arrested straight away. They also have an agreement with the guest that the guest is liable for damages.