Gawker: valleywag, open blinds

Open blinds: Googler à gogo in LA club

Nick Douglas — Mon, 15 May 2006 16:55:14 EDT

ConFonz, Valleywag's gonzo conference correspondent, brings one hella juicy item from E3:

Which Google founder belongs to the hyper-exclusive LA-based $1200-per-month party club? Need another hint? He took home a pleasant young stoner girl after a club event three weeks ago and quickly found that, despite her sweet demeanor and low-paying job, she's celibate.

Gee, is it the one who used Usenet to troubleshoot his humidifier, or the one who made a printer from Legos? File this under "I wish" — or e-mail Valleywag with evidence.

Open blinds: All parties and events for the flack who gets around

ndouglas — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 13:02:46 EDT

Which PR flack recently took her chance in a reply-to-all e-mail (on a list filled with web developers, journalists, and pundits of the new-boom crowd) to let everyone know that, yes, she already knew the new kid?

A local marketing maven sent twenty-six of the Valley's "cool kids" a note introducing a consultant just moving into San Francisco. Among the reply-to-all responses (to her credit, "Social Butterfly" wasn't the only replyer-to-all):

Already connected with her of course :-) And don't worry, we'll look after her here [name redacted] :-) Lots of parties/events a comin' up :-) Come visit....

For S.B., Web 2.0 is made of people she's already met — just mention a big name in conversation, and she'll remind you. The best plan? You can't escape — not if you go to parties too — so just become another name she can drop.

Open blinds: I love you, and you, and you

ndouglas — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 22:22:59 EDT

What San Franciscan design couple agreed a little fun outside the marriage doesn't have to be under the table, as long as it's above the waist? Two pretty techies in their 30s told all to New York Magazine last November — except their real names.

The husband is a notorious publicity hound, the wife less so, but acquaintances have wondered before — "Are they swingers?" Not quite, so keep your pants on — but do what you will with your shirt.

The New Monogamy [New York Magazine]

Open blinds: Well, actually, close them.

ndouglas — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 12:20:18 EDT

What Valley company got a little paranoid at a meeting? A startup meeting with its PR...consulting...fun stuff I'm not sure what they do exactly firm wasn't satisfied with NDAs and locked cabinets. They refused to hold a meeting without the window blinds down. Man, that kind of microsecrecy deserves a name.

Open blinds: "Gimme a hand with this blog."

ndouglas — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 11:38:41 EDT

Which Valley blogger took funding on April 1? This deal's not sealed, but someone's angel investor has loose lips.

Open blinds: Dot-commer about to get dot-bombed

ndouglas — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 11:09:50 EST

Internet forum Ask MetaFilter provides today's blind item. "Anonymous" asked last night:

I work for a small dot com that just was acquired by a larger dot com (one with a historically shady reputation). What are some signs that my job may not be safe, even though I've been promised it is? What are signs that we are just going to be chewed up and discarded? How will I know when it's time to rewrite the resume and get out?

So which little dot-com just got snapped up and might be dropping employees? And how long will "Anonymous" last before the boss catches them reading MetaFilter all day?

Pets, and Kozmo, and eToys oh my! [Ask MetaFilter]

Open blinds: Player at the game conference

ndouglas — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 11:21:56 EST

Valleywag conference correspondent ConFonz drops an item too juicy to run with names — for now. Which Game Marketing Conference attendee isn't playing fair?

"Cheat maniac," formerly of Ziff Davis, now of IGN, is a notorious shtupper. Yes, he's married, and yes, he still diddled at least three separate salesladies at the Ziff Games Group. And yes, he was married at the time.

Send your guesses to tips@valleywag.com, or drop 'em in the comments.

Earlier: ConFonz at the Game Marketing Conference: gamers vs. little old ladies [Valleywag]

Open blinds: Search meets sex at Adaptive Path

ndouglas — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 17:40:26 EST

A juicy blind item from a recent bash:

What pseudo-dating site maker hit on what pseudo-search tool maker at last night's Adaptive Path 5th anniversary party? Rumor has it these two really hit it off, and that the fallout was "just wrong on so many levels."

But since this sort of shindig's full of searchers and daters, will this dot-com hookup couple forever wear the warm blanket of obscurity? Or will their love be Internet Famous?