BEST OF THE WEB: Groupon’s CEO on work, money and death

Groupon has just about created an entire sector in less than two years, and is set to become one of the fastest growing companies in tech history – maybe ever. With an IPO looming, the original group-buying giant is continuing to expand and, despite questions over its viability, is making its founders quite wealthy.

One of them is co-founder Andrew Mason, who has literally come from obscurity to one of the most interesting CEOs in the tech industry.

In this in-depth profile on Vanity Fair, some of Mason’s more interesting characteristics are revealed, such as his notorious work ethic.

“Working this hard, it’s not a chore,” Mason says in the piece.

“It’s an absolute joy. Why would you not want to spend your life spending every waking hour working on something where you can have such an impact and that’s so interesting? I mean, what’s better? Maybe playing video games, but short of that there’s no activity other than work that could possibly be more satisfying.”

But Mason also reveals he is struck by what could be called the curse of entrepreneurship – he’s got money, but no time to spend it.

“The irony is that in theory I’m at a place now where I’d probably be able to enjoy life more than I ever will in the future or have in the past, but I don’t have time to take advantage of any of it.”

This piece also emphasises the fact he doesn’t really think of himself as an entrepreneur.

“I don’t tend to think of the world in those ways,” he said.

It’s an interesting look at the unconventional chief executive, and prompts questions as to whether he’ll still stay at the helm after the upcoming IPO.

The piece ends on a very interesting (or perhaps weird is a better note) with Mason recounting the story of Bach dying while writing his final piece of music.

“I love the idea of dying doing something that nobody cares about. I think that’s a cool idea.”

Could Twitter be a target?

Twitter is an interesting business. It has millions of users, thousands of apps and has created an internet subculture of its own. It has reportedly been valued at several billion dollars – but it still doesn’t make much money.

Analysts have been asking about Twitter’s future for some time, and TechCrunch guest writer Semil Shah has taken a look. Sparked by a rumour the company is looking to raise another $US400 million, Shah questions whether Twitter may be a possible acquisition target.

The question isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds. Google would be a logical acquirer, and as Shah points out, Facebook or even Microsoft could even become potential partners. After all, Facebook and Twitter have talked before.

“By raising a whopping round, Twitter buys itself time but also elevates the stakes,” he says.

Six strikes for pirates?

Copyright over digital material has been one of the hottest topics over the past few years. The case between the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft and iiNet, has only brought the issue into the spotlight.

The question of whether ISPs will be responsible for individual infringements was also highlighted in the United States this week when internet provides formed an agreement to adopt a “six strikes” policy against infringements.

But some argue that approach is an excuse. Slate writer Bill Wyman argues the current situation with digital movies and television is similar to how the music industry responded in the late 1990s, when it first started confronting digital content.

Wyman argues that, just like in the 1990s, users are only downloading this content illegally because the legal alternatives are more complicated and less user-friendly.

“I’m not saying that using illegal media is right. And of course it’s free – the studios can’t do anything about that. But does it have to be easier?”

Malware detectives

Malware is one of the biggest hassles facing computer users. A rogue virus can ruin your computer and force you to either buy new hardware or install everything over again.

But malware is getting much more complicated, and much more powerful.

Over at Wired there is a new, long-form feature on how some digital sleuths managed to track down and decipher Stuxnet, which spread throughout the world last year at lightning speed and was believed to target the Iranian nuclear program.

This virus was so powerful that experts have called it a cyber-weapon, and some say that it could have only been used with the support of a government or two.

“The evidence that Langner and Symantec uncovered about Stuxnet provided a compelling case that the malware had been aimed at Iran’s nuclear program,” the story finds.

The most important person in your company isn’t the CEO

Who is the most important person your organisation? The chief executive? Perhaps the chief financial officer, or even the general manager?

Not so, according to Aconex co-chief Leigh Jasper, who says on All Things Digital that all companies need to have more information managers to succeed.

Jasper argues that the sheer amount of information being given out to employees and clients throughout the company dictates that managers be appointed to manage the workflow.

He says that overseeing the management of information, these employees have “a significant impact on, every other key department and its project