16 May 2005

Reports from Andijon, Uzbekistan

A blog from a Peace Corps volunteer in Andijon, Uzbekistan where latest “revolution,” apparently this one is Cotton, is or is not underway. She has now been evacuated to Tashkent.

I like her take on the background to the troubles;
It would be “reductionist” to interpret this as a purely religious movement, or a drive for democracy. I maintain that the worsening economic situation for the general population, coupled with increased taxation, systemic corruption, and a host of other factors converge into a force of disobedience that leave no other choice, no other outlet for people who need to find a way to improve their lives, even if it means risking it. There's not much else to lose...
My take is that the peaceful revolutions in Gerogia and Ukraine were about the same issues. Move the emphasis from being beyond poor in Uzbekistan, to being plain fed up with corruption in Ukraine and a desire not to become unbearably poor in Georgia.

As William Cobbett put it much more eloquently than I ever will;

I defy you to agitate a man on a full stomach
In short democracy can wait for my stomach to fill.


{}

13 May 2005

Overcoming the Problem of Asymmetric Information Through Signaling Mechanisms.

Kevin Laws from Venture Blog on the similarities between Peacocks having sex and making VC investments; Why Are Startups Like Peacocks?

I take his point that signaling in the VC world, as opposed to the Peacock sex world, can be ultimately disadvantageous especially when taken to the extreme. However, its pretty hard to argue a company is doing well unless some of the signals are being flashed. Nothing makes people happy like revenue, especially when its early and in greater volumes than expected, which is not like.......an analogy too far.


{}

16 May 2005

Reports from Andijon, Uzbekistan

A blog from a Peace Corps volunteer in Andijon, Uzbekistan where latest “revolution,” apparently this one is Cotton, is or is not underway. She has now been evacuated to Tashkent.

I like her take on the background to the troubles;

It would be “reductionist” to interpret this as a purely religious movement, or a drive for democracy. I maintain that the worsening economic situation for the general population, coupled with increased taxation, systemic corruption, and a host of other factors converge into a force of disobedience that leave no other choice, no other outlet for people who need to find a way to improve their lives, even if it means risking it. There's not much else to lose...
My take is that the peaceful revolutions in Gerogia and Ukraine were about the same issues. Move the emphasis from being beyond poor in Uzbekistan, to being plain fed up with corruption in Ukraine and a desire not to become unbearably poor in Georgia.

As William Cobbett put it much more eloquently than I ever will;

I defy you to agitate a man on a full stomach
In short democracy can wait for my stomach to fill.


{}

13 May 2005

Overcoming the Problem of Asymmetric Information Through Signaling Mechanisms.

Kevin Laws from Venture Blog on the similarities between Peacocks having sex and making VC investments; Why Are Startups Like Peacocks?

I take his point that signaling in the VC world, as opposed to the Peacock sex world, can be ultimately disadvantageous especially when taken to the extreme. However, its pretty hard to argue a company is doing well unless some of the signals are being flashed. Nothing makes people happy like revenue, especially when its early and in greater volumes than expected, which is not like.......an analogy too far.


{}