Sorry about the popovers!

Do startup founders in Israel tend to be relatively younger than US-born founders, and if so, why do you think that is?

Jewish men and women are a precocious bunch :) I'm sure you'd find that US-born Jewish founders are relatively younger too.

military draft at 18.

Just used Hipmunk for the 1st time to book a ticket and found it to be totally useful and intuitive.

Scott, I tend to agree. I also think it makes sense to actually mean it -- in other words, to have a certain percentage of negotiations that actually don't result in a deal.

--Mike Hofman

In game theory terms, it might be a viable strategy to burn deals at random in order to reinforce the signal that you can, and do, have the willpower to turn down deals.

Thanks lionhearted.

--Mike Hofman

I think branding is still pretty powerful especially in a highly competitive market and/or one where you essentially have a commodity business.

I would take a cellphone provider with no logo over AT&T where I don't have service in LA apt. and who can charge me anywhere between 15-30% in taxes every month at their leisure.

However, this hypothetical company would in fact be building a brand. It just wouldn't be built on pretty pictures and stories. It would be built on making me happy.

Interesting quote: "Brands mature over time, like a marriage. The bond you feel with your spouse is different than when you first met each other. Excitement and discovery are replaced by comfort and depth." Of course Apple is the exception to this rule.

Interesting question: Whether the people who market breast cancer awareness do too good a job of it, raising the profile of one health threat above others that are actually more common.