gdp's Comments

Feld Thoughts : My Quest For Measuring Everything

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:14:08 +0000

How do you find the FitBit food tracking feature in comparison to some of the other market options? I've used FitDay.com intermittently with good results (though the online UI is bad).

Feld Thoughts : Does More Money Motivate Higher Performance?

Fri, 28 May 2010 21:03:25 +0000

Your reader probably found it via Robert Scoble - http://scobleizer.com/2010/05/27/this-is-why-i-wo...

Cool Tricks N Tips : HOW TO: Add Twitter @anywhere In Blogger Blog

Thu, 6 May 2010 17:34:17 +0000

I followed your steps and tested @Anywhere out on my bloghttp://ckstevenson.blogspot.com/2010/05/testing-o... but haven't yet gotten it to work. Any thoughts? My recent post Testing out Twitter's @anywhere feature

http://www.jeffnolan.com/blog/ : Tip Jars and Unstated Price Increases

Mon, 3 May 2010 16:57:39 +0000

I never have viewed tipping as required, and only do so in situations that you mention if the service is indeed rather excellent (friendly and helpful, remembered me and my preferences, bent over backwards to help me, etc). I don't see much difference though in someone making you a cup of coffee and taking your order and bringing you food. There is really no value added in either situation. So why tip 20%? I tip 15% usually, less if the service is bad, and on the RARE occasion the service is actually above average I'll tip more. I have tipped very well when it was warranted.

KeithHennessey.com : Keeping up with the Joneses

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 16:22:49 +0000

Isn't the problem with the metaphor that we're all Billy (since Billy is the US Government) since we're all demanding for increased spending on all of the things we like?

Feld Thoughts : Find Me A Rock

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:55:37 +0000

I'm only half way through the article (found it last night), and it mirrors *some* of the experiences friends and associates of mine have had. I joined PricewaterhouseCoopers straight out of undergrad (Bucknell University) in 2001. I did a 3 week long local training program, then spent 3 months at their Tampa training headquarters. PwC had a program called MIDAS, which was an intense IT training program. It covered their systems development approach (all components of design/build/test), as well as an introduction to their consulting methodology (which was rather voluminous, and a little intimidating). I offer my experience as a partial contrast to Keith's article and the undoubted "management consultants suck!" meme that will surely follow. Consulting isn't for everyone, as your experience clearly shows. But it does work for others, and the free market shows that companies have and continue to find there to be great value in the services of McKinsey, BCG, Bain etc. One element I'll add is that I think the ultra-apprenticeship model is rather common at the top-tier firms. You carry some senior partners computer bag around for a few months, do some Excel jockeying, and learn the basics of the firm's way of business. Non-top-tier firms, in my experience, will throw you right into the mix. Yes, PwC and Accenture etc are all selling experience and brand like BCG, but typically these types are not doing the pure 6 month-long exploratory projects. Which may make a difference. I'd also view Keith's experience as more typical to the specific practices he as involved with in his story. I've known some McKinsey people who got extensive training, and were very well prepared by the firm. Consulting is also very much an industry where you make of it what you will. If you find that you didn't get enough training, there are often hundreds of options for you to get more. If you don't think some role is being fulfilled on a project or in the local practice, fill it.

Feld Thoughts : More On Human Instrumentation Around Sleep Data

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:59:03 +0000

Have enough data now to do a full on comparison of the two products? I'd love to know how it is going (for mostly selfish reasons as I have a hard time sleeping)

Feld Thoughts : More On Human Instrumentation Around Sleep Data

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:46:34 +0000

What has the data enabled you to do to improve your sleep? Is it more that you can note what patterns you had before sleep on good/bad nights of rest? Or really specific things? Any chance your more intense days of running equate to better sleep? Or when you are more consistent with running that your sleep is better?

Feld Thoughts : More On Human Instrumentation Around Sleep Data

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:05:22 +0000

While anecdotal and not a large sample set yet, do you find that the sleep data you have seen is reflective of your normal sleep patterns and quality of sleep you get? I thought it interesting that FitBit said you were awakened 7 times, that seems like a lot (and about what I typically experience as a light and fitful sleeper).

http://www.jeffnolan.com/blog/ : Apps.gov

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:24:04 +0000

If you are on a GSA schedule, then your prices are to an extent publicly available anyways (at least within a general range). Example, if you have a MOBIS schedule then your rates as a consulting/contracting firm are published for the world to see.

http://www.jeffnolan.com/blog/ : Government Efficiency in Action

Wed, 6 May 2009 19:50:33 +0000

http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2009/05/use-the-public-ch... Didn't come through as I replied via email (thought the link would have remained), sorry.

http://www.jeffnolan.com/blog/ : Government Efficiency in Action

Wed, 6 May 2009 19:42:05 +0000

There's probably an 80% chance that they are running maintenance crews the same way as they were in the early 70s.

Maybe you can get them to adopt some of the ideas that Fred listed here. Even the 311 option might be helpful. And then an 811 service to report government inefficiencies...

http://www.jeffnolan.com/blog/ : Government Efficiency in Action

Wed, 6 May 2009 19:17:17 +0000

Any chance the 4 guys are part of a crew that hauls around a lot of equipment for much larger jobs elsewhere? Or was this 3 trucks that were nearly empty except for one (or two) people in it?

http://www.jeffnolan.com/blog/ : Public Infrastructure Consumption Pricing, A Failing Strategy

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:06:58 +0000

I also don't understand your last paragraph. Specifically, "the increased costs are carried disproportionately by those unable to serve the social agenda". Who are those unable to serve the social agenda?

http://www.jeffnolan.com/blog/ : Public Infrastructure Consumption Pricing, A Failing Strategy

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:06:19 +0000

Don't we need to know the net of the various activities you mention? Your trash pickup rate goes up, how about the recycling rate? If it stays the same, and you are recycling more and more, then you may indeed come out ahead.

one : Food Portion Sizes

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:28:38 +0000

Anything I get in a restaurant I immediately divide in half. First half I eat for that meal, second half I take home for lunch the next day. If you also chew the food more, and eat slower, you will wonder how you ever ate the entire meal before.