I assume you include every manufacturer of goods that has a patent as "IP-based startups"as well? Patents are IP. Just because you don't like Angry Birds or some other app maker getting rich doesn't mean IP is bad.

Could it use reform? Heck yeah. But your view is no better than the supposed lawyers you hate against.

Lots of things I'd assume. Without doing any research, here's a twist (still likely not legally wise):

The startup scans your books.You pay a monthly fee for storage of your books at their facility, which is a free-to-use library. You remain the owner of the book and take the scans with you.

There are probably some (many) issues here, such as first sale rights, but it's not crazy.Adding additional businesses could help (coffee-library-book scanning) offset the expense but it's probably easier to try and change the law - someone would be angry enough to make your life miserable.

Thanks. I'm trying to take it slow but have a goal that I'm working towards for the future.

App first with dummy data seems like a doable first step.

edit: bcrawford covered this as I was writing. It's difficult sometimes to find a path of what steps there are...so many choices.

Ok. Really stupid question time then. I understand most of what I'm working on for the mobile app.

Am I right about MySQL as a direction for what the app talks to?

I might try another project first that doesn't need outside data to get my feet wet. I may be getting ahead of myself here.

There definitely are a lot of choices-they can be paralyzing. I agree with bcrawford on this one-pick a language to do the web services portion first. Then move on to the next level of the stack. In your case this would be either the data level (MySql) or mobile app level (iPhone).

I don't know if this helps, but if I were starting from scratch today I'd choose either Ruby or Python for the web services level. They're fun, easy to learn languages that are powerful enough to get the job done.

Sounds like a good plan of attack. Thanks!

As someone who has omitted their college degree and left off that I'm currently in a grad program, you try that in retail and they ask "well, what have you done all this time?" The time needs to be accounted for.

Could you say that you were helping a family business or living abroad?

You really, really, really don't want to give false statements on a job application. That's usually grounds for termination should it come to light.

I've confessed to the time in college. Lost me a shot at the 4:30-9 (or so) shift at the local coffee place. The manager had been kind, friendly etc. before I said that.

To mix it up I've also said I'm in school now, hence some hours I can't work, and don't show the degree or say that it's for a grad program. Just let prospective employers think it must be undergrad.

Really since losing my job (started grad school part time before then) as tough as it is being "over qualified" people don't want students either. A number of places have said they require "full-time" availability even for part-time employees because the hours change week to week.

For those who say the jobs are out there and that Gen Y is lazy, try losing yours. It can suck. Bad.

Jason Calacanis? Is that you???

Part of the problem is cheaper young workers are laid off to keep fatcat management of an older generation. The workers remaining at the company then get "more productive." Fire the old and bring in 2 young workers(or more) for each of their salaries and things get much better.

average age at mahalo is 27... nuff said