Just my own observation from the comments over time: tptacek and patio11 probably met here, both have Chicago connections, met in person and now have done busi

Just my own observation from the comments over time: tptacek and patio11 probably met here, both have Chicago connections, met in person and now have done business together. tptacek and cperciva are both in the security/crypto world. Don't know where they met but get the impression that they would have some connections regardless of HN. Not sure about any connections outside of HN with jacquesm. The way I see it, the HN "elite" spend a fair amount of time here, build relationships based on similar interests here on HN (maybe eventually in real life) and then appear to everyone else as if they've always know each other.