as for the justin.tv thing.. you can watch justin.tv, but if they ever decided to come up to Canada and film an episode, etc. pretty much the only thing you'd see was alot of blurred out faces and license plates. it's like watching American "cops" then watching Canadian "To serve and protect" it doesn't compare.
I'm Canadian, but I'm of the same opinion as you guys(Americans) unless I'm holding up my ATM Card while entering my pin number or something what's wrong with seeing yourself on Google Streetview.. who knows perhaps a new spinoff marketing company might be created..lol picture it, someone chasing the MS live recorder with a Y Combinator T-shirt on. priceless.
Like you I grew up poor, and I don't want to say it's good experience, but I think it definitly gives you a better mindset on life. I work on a computer all day, but on the week-ends I love to get out and do physical labor.. there's nothing like the feeling of blisters on your hands from a hard days work.
and the whole "when the trust fund runs out" I think I'm gonna start using that line. :)
I've pitched a few ideas/products to VC's in the past, and although you're sharing the next big thing with them if they don't invest they're not going to steal your idea.
why you ask? it's simple... no respectable VC company wants to be known as the company that stole "your name here"'s idea. imagin what would happen if word get out that they stole someones idea after hearing their pitch. nobody would ever pitch to them again.
when all else fails.. use the "poor mans patent" print off your code, idea, etc. and register mail it to yourself, but don't open it. in case you ever need proof you have it... signed, dated, and stamped.
When you say "not hackers" does that mean you still only have an idea for a site, or that you aren't familiar with programming, but are still moving along with the site? i.e. are paying someone to do the programming for you?
This is the same problem engineers have...lol have you ever seen the movie office space? the easy answer is to hire someone who is a people person and knows a little about programming. Let them deal with the customer/public and you can continue to do what you do best...hack.
Like you my partner and I will be submitting our application for the winter 08 funding. We're from Canada, so if selected are looking forward to getting out of the snow and hacking.
I actually got to meet Sean Wise a few times and the guy really knows his stuff. he has a website.. www.insidethedragonsden.com which he comments on the show
Has anyone ever tried to pitch their idea/website on a reality T.V. show such as American Inventor? I was a pitcher/presentor on CBC's Dragons' Den (here in Canada) and one of the presenters pitched a job website called JobLoft...