Monthly Archives: November 2008

The Mumbai attacks

Posted on November 29, 2008 by

The tragedy that unfolded over the last few days in Mumbai will require some time to process, but I think it is hard to overstate what a big deal this is.  For those who haven’t been there or who don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in India | Tagged | 2 Comments

Links I liked

Posted on November 29, 2008 by

1. Chris Blattman on using Obama as an ice-breaker in Liberia 2. Fast Company Magazine covering Pulse, Acumen Fund’s new initiative to improve measurement in the social sector 3. Post on Harumafuji (sumo wrestler) — just because I like to … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs | Tagged | 4 Comments

Google flu trends

Posted on November 26, 2008 by

This is just plain cool: go to http://www.google.org/flutrends/ and you can see predictions of flu activity in your state.  Apparently Google’s data maps closely to CDC data, but tends to be 2 weeks ahead of the CDC. How do they … Continue reading →

Posted in Data | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Satisfying vs. Delighting

Posted on November 25, 2008 by

Thanks to a minor flood (that I caused) in my kitchen a few months ago, I had to have my hardwood kitchen floor replaced.  It was a big, expensive job (for which Allstate paid me a few hundred dollars out … Continue reading →

Posted in Customers | Tagged | Leave a comment

Nike’s Corporate Social Responsibility efforts falling short? (or, why I’m so skeptical about CSR)

Posted on November 24, 2008 by

Here’s what struck me in Fortune’s recent article on Nike titled, “Citizen Nike” that looks into labor conditions in Nike’s supply chain: despite real, serious efforts on Nike’s part, conditions in the factories that manufacture their shoes hasn’t improved significantly … Continue reading →

Posted in corporate social responsibility | Tagged , | 12 Comments

Kiva’s Kenyan customers on Obama

Posted on November 22, 2008 by

In case you needed more proof about how small the world has become, here’s a video from a Kiva Fellow who decided to ask some Kiva customers what they thought about Barack Obama. Hat tip to the Kiva chronicles blog … Continue reading →

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What stories do you tell yourself?

Posted on November 21, 2008 by

“I’m bad with computers.” “I’m too busy to exercise.” “I’m no good at math” “I don’t really get…what a 401(k) is, how mortgages work, why people Twitter, what’s going on in Afghanistan, why people blog.” …. Stories do more than describe … Continue reading →

Posted in storytelling | Tagged | 1 Comment

Frustration on the 2 train (wishing they had listened)

Posted on November 19, 2008 by

Last week someone shared the phrase “the discipline of listening.”  I really like this.  It implies commitment, presence, humility, and hard work to become a good listener.  Sounds right to me. Earlier today, I was packed into a sweaty 2/3 … Continue reading →

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You too can be Hans Rosling

Posted on November 18, 2008 by

If you’re interested in the visual presentation of information, you should already have seen Hans Rosling’s TED talk titled “Debunking third-world myths with the best stats you’ve ever seen” from 2006. If you haven’t, go check it out. What’s incredibly … Continue reading →

Posted in storytelling | Tagged , | 1 Comment

On Gene Zelazny (or, Career Advice from the Front Car of the Train)

Posted on November 17, 2008 by

I commute by train to and from work every day, and I can’t help but notice how the first car of the train is always much more crowded than the second car.  Crowded enough that people are willing to stand, … Continue reading →

Posted in communications | Tagged , , | 1 Comment