Good comments Ron but I don’t think that this largely web 2.0 driven expansion has been that momentous. Funding levels are 75% below 2000, IPO’s practically non-existent, modest m&a activity. Hell some of the companies even have revenue. God bless, a couple are even profitable. This actually augurs well for boom advocates who would want to see a longer sustained growth curve (similar to the housing boom), which is now dropping slowly (in aggregate) rather than precipitously. I think the web 3.0 discussion is relevant but I see it extending the Web 2.0 growth curve.
So I stand by my three year prognosis but I will hedge my bets by taking your counsel under advisement

Not to offend, here, Natalie looks better live on Crankygeeks, http://www.crankygeeks.com/2006/07/

I can see why Sergey and Chad/Steve wanted a photo with you: you’ve got a pretty excellent smile yourself

Oh yeah, gotta love the minimalism on the food too.

(Yes, my love is for food and women with great smiles)

I could be wrong, but the comments pertaining to Natali’s looks seem unprofessional to me. The post is interesting and telling, although it doesn’t seem to be fit quite with the TechCrunch focus…

Wow. I miss the old TechCrunch.

#54. I agree Nathan. If I could, I would delete my previous comments.

Sometimes I feel that I’m still in law school and hence the childish comments. Oh well, my apologies to Natali.

Point well taken Natali. Now, will you marry me?

These parties do seem like excellent networking opportunities, and great fun besides. Anyone have an idea about how to learn of the events *before* they occur? Are there any worthwhile events upcoming on the east coast??

ahussain (at) fas.harvard.edu

Good coverage of a legitimate event. IMHO “ear to the ground” coverage of the mood of events like this is a good foreshadowing of the following months; if the general consensus at a google event is that the boom will continue, then I’m willing to follow that lead.

BTW - it must be sweet to rub shoulders with the folks you got to meet - good times!

I hope that we are in a boom rather than a bubble, some of the vc going around seems more conservative than during the bubble. However, I also think that if we are in a boom rather than a bubble, it is largely because of changing market factors (e.g. more people on the internet), rather than a more conservative approach.

Natali,

Nial (no. 36) was correct in his earlier comments that it’s hard to scale a
party at Google’s size and growth rate. This party was likely a small
holiday gesture to promote goodwill and accomodate industry press people.

It may have even been a frugle (not Froogle) anti-bubble statement.

The YouTube presence, complete with it’s smiling and newly enriched founders
is reminiscent of their Blogger acquisition or of Flickr/Delicious by Yahoo!

Interesting to see what develops.

If Hurley was indifferent, it may be because he’s realized the loss of
control following their liquidity event. Chen seems a content, successful
person and it’s cool to see you and these former PayPal alumni in action.

Let’s face it, public markets are currently closed to many Web 2.0 startups.
Investments or outright acquisition by giants like Google, Microsoft, IAC or
a restructuring Yahoo provide viable means to bring an idea to the masses.

The welcomed photos offer the entrepreneur a rare glipse at the top and
therefore, it’s very relevant to see this kind of story on Techcrunch.

Peter W.

hey sweetheart, no need to deny. you are hot! it’s cool, you’re modest. i like that.

very niiiiice. how much?

Some comments to some of the commenters here.

Ron, Paris Hilton is not eye candy. I could could elaborate, but I don’t think she deserves any more publicity and I would just be propagating the problem.

Natali, I don’t have any idea who you are, but please… You look really hottt in those pics as everyone will agree. So what’s the big deal, luxuriate in it. If you’re half as sophisticated as you look, just accept it with grace. I think any socially adept and reasonable woman can handle such comments with ease, especially from suburban computer nerds. If you were making your debut at the Opernball in Vienna then perhaps some admonishment would be in order, but this is really quite ephemeral, so please let the adoration continue. A genuine beauty outshines a Hollywood glamour skank (e.g. Paris Hilton) any day so all these geeks are very well justified in their comments. Afterall, it’s only natural for a man to mention his appreciation. Wouldn’t you agree? By the way, if the idea of attending the Opernball should strike you, perhaps something could be arranged.

Baci di mezzanotte

While I can understand that Natali is a bit dazzled by all these comments about her looks, and we could discuss the “curse of the beautiful women” who are not taken seriously because of good looks, I cannot help but be a tad amused that you seem to be shocked ny it.
An article about “think the “boom” or “bust” debate” is one that we could certainly have (not me, but that’s not relevant), but then people think in images. And what can we see as an illustrating pictures ? certainly not “boom” or “bust”.

And Del Conte must be italian…

I used Paris Hilton to make a point to show how juvenile some people are being.

Marc, you’re just as bad. The young lady has asked that we stop these comments and focus on her work. If you were making these sort of comments or advances at work then you could be reported for sexual harrassment. Why don’t you ask one of the executives at your company to go to the Opernball In Vienna with you. Let us know how that turns out. Also, try not to be too disappointed if a writer who has never met, spoke, or had any contact with you, doesn’t take you up on your offer to go to Vienna with you. I could be wrong but I’m just saying…

If you have this uncontrollable urge to ‘mention your appreciation’ then do it at your local strip club. There are plenty of women there that will be happy for to be on the receiving end of this ‘natural appreciation’ of yours. I’m sure there are many there that have this sophisticated look that you’re looking for.

This Natali wants us to focus on her writing and not on her looks, I say we respect her wishes. It would be terrible for a serious writer to have a reputation as only being pretty.

Sorry for being the board a-hole but there is a time and a place for admiring beautiful women and this isn’t it. Thats not why I (or any of you for that matter) came to Tech Crunch. Natali is pretty but she’s not going to meet or date any of us so lets forget that fantasy and resist the urge to comment on her looks constantly and get back to the reason we are all here…. Tech.

Geez folks chill out. She’s beautiful, it’s obvious. But, that’s not the reason she posted the pictures. It’s about the content. She’s telling a story and added the pics to help us visualize the story.

Beautiful, yes. Her ethnic background, maybe she’s Latina (perhaps Boricua), but it’s irrelevant to the story. Some respect not only for Natali, but her parents and boyfriend too. Yes, who’s to doubt she has a boyfriend. But, that’s not why we come here or why she writes for TechCrunch.

I don’t think she is Italian. She is Latino, I’m guessing Salvadorean?

Natali isn’t cute, she’s absolutely gorgeous. A beautiful, stunning woman.

The rest of this thread is pointless when in the presence of such elegance.

You know…

We’d have more women in this industry if people could refrain from frightnening them away !

The level of arrested development is painful to watch.

*sigh*

I’d do Natali

Sorry - some unfunny person in my office took over my account for that last post.

I warned you …

*further sigh*

Hi! Nice site!

i look forward to see it completed