Silicon Valley, where everyone has a startup idea (but everyone's already done it). Most heinous are the search mashups. These quick-and-dirty moneymakers combine search engines (say Google and Yahoo) and throw ads up next to the results. A9.com is one of the more useful examples.

"My kid could do that!" And today someone's kids did. A 15-year-old and 16-year-old (they call themselves the "Web 2.0 kids") just launched ResultR, a customizable search mashup made for a school project. It's nothing special, but then again, neither are most other mashups made by 30-year-olds. And these kids hired a classmate to run the site, according to the press release they sent out.

ResultR [Official site]

I love money, and I wanted to learn more about the stock market. I like keeping accounts of my money. I have a ledger at home.

Twelve-year-old Kevin Kwan says:

All my life I've wanted a lot of money. My mom noticed that and thought this class would be good. My parents want me to be an investment banker, so I can invest lots of money.

And it's so cute to hear ten-year-old Lindsay Sapigao, a desperate market-obsessed daytrader, say:

This is helping me to know what I should tell my grandpa to invest in. I was going to tell him to invest in Apple, but it was going down, but now it's going up. So I'm not sure what to tell him.

What I did in summer school [Palo Alto Weekly]

But an army of other VCs — Bill Bowes of U.S. Venture Partners, DFJ founding partner Tim Draper, Asset Management founding partner Franklin Johnson, and others — are fighting to keep univeral preschool out of the Valley. Their sticking point: the existing school system needs fixing first.

Why spend millions against the measure? (Bowes donated $500k, Draper spent $96k) Why not put that money toward the supposedly failing K-12 system? Who knows?

But the VCs have a point — these kids would all drop out of preschool anyway, to run their startups.

[Valley cash opposes preschool initiative [Mercury News]

Dear Tips,

You know.... I have been reading about this Silicon Valley "Walk of Fame"... And I finally realize what is missing from the idea.... Perhaps what is missing is MY original reason for CREATING this in the first place.... THE KIDS..

See... I am only a little guy... I was born and raised in SJ, (Doctors Hospital, May 27th 1958. I have worked on and off with kids my whole life, from Directing Summer Camps for the YMCA to working with At Risk Youth in the Job Corps program..

And through the years I have found that while the "big money" was being made in the "Silicon Valley" there was always the group of kids who could never be reached... The silent children who had no time for dreams for whatever reason be it hunger, fear, abuse.. Perhaps we could have the successful of Silicon Valley, if for only one day reach down to inspire THESE children to dream, free them for greatness.

I WROTE... "The Silicon Valley Walk of Fame is created to enshrine the creative spirits and pioneers of Silicon Valley history; such a walk encourages our youth to emulate these outstanding men and women for their devotion, dedication, pursuit of innovation and visionary dreams."

So... I had an idea, it wasn't an Idea that would make me millions, I don't think I will ever have one of those.. But I did have an idea for a "Silicon Valley Walk of Fame" and faxed a preliminary plan to Jim Cunneen, President and CEO San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce May of 2001.

Now it is back, EVERYTHING from the "ICONS" embedded in the pavement, to the walk route itself!! The Mayor is behind it..
The Chamber of Commerce is behind it..
The Convention & Visitors Bureau is behind it..

Where is the PURPOSE behind it?

What I see is people lining up for their picture but no real REASON other than FAME...

I was thinking the Walk of Fame would be more than an admiration society, but rather it "would use funds to assist in keeping Silicon Valley a center of innovation through grants, scholarships and other programs supporting a youth program.."

In any case.... I just hope this could be done... For the kids... For our future..

Oh well... I was just a kid with a dream...

Regards,
Dallas Adams

Third-grader Shea O'Gorman sent a letter to Steve Jobs suggesting product improvements — and Apple's legal department replied with a note that the company doesn't accept "unsolicited product ideas." The lawyers asked Shea not to send ideas and linked her to their company policy.

Shea's mother told CBS that when Shea got the letter, "she was very upset and kinda threw the letter up into the air, and ran in her room and slammed the door." (Which is what Leander Kahney always does too.)

Damn, just when I was convinced the press was too kind to Apple, someone pulls a "you hurt my little girl" on the local news. CBS takes the bait and sends correspondent Anna Werner to give ol' Mom a little publicity.

"No, Anna, I'm not blowing this out of proportion. Can we move the camera more toward me?"


"Of course Steve Jobs will see our show! At least an aide will Tivo it for him!"

Geez, maybe we've got this coverage bias all wrong. It's one thing when journalists are sycophantic enough to extol finely made products. But when it comes down to a fight between an international corporation and a nine-year-old girl, it's clear we should root for the underdog. We're on your side, Apple.

Girl's Letter To Apple Gets Legalese Reply [CBS 5]

Is that a threat or a promise?

MySpace [MySpace.com]