I have a vision of how suitors decide how much to offer for a start-up they want to buy. Several executives go into a conference room. Each scribbles a number on a piece of paper and places it in a hat. Then the chief executive pulls out a number, and there it is.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/07/how-deal-makers-put-a-value-on-start-ups-disruptions/?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130408