Disqus - Latest Comments for Chikodi

Re: Bernie Sanders And All Those Damn Millennials

Chikodi — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 22:52:52 -0000

So well said!

Re: The 10 Best Insults I Got From People Who Just Didn’t “Get” The Russell Wilson “Simp” Piece

Chikodi — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 23:16:32 -0000

Really could have done without the headline on the original article.

The point about Black fatherhood is a good one, but it gets overshadowed by the author's hyperventilating satire. Miss me with that.

I appreciate taking stylistic risks, and inverting expectations. That said, it's becoming a tired schtick on VSB, and I don't trust what y'all write like I used to. Been reading this site for six years, and I would hate to see you become another clickbait BuzzFeed-type blog.

Re: Simple Writing Exercise Banishes Brain Fog

Chikodi — Sat, 16 May 2015 17:17:56 -0000

This is a great strategy for defeating writers block!

Re: In Defense of Uber: An Objective Opinion

Chikodi — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 17:54:09 -0000

Totally agree with your sentiments. We're watching the rise of a very powerful company. They're an unparalleled operational success. It's not too much to hope for companies to at least act like respect their users as they grow more powerful and more influential. The fact Uber seems like it can't be bothered, is unfortunate.

Re: In Defense of Uber: An Objective Opinion

Chikodi — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 17:41:44 -0000

Hi Mark,

Here's a good rundown of how and why corporate entities behave without empathy in pursuit of shareholder profits:

http://politicalloudmouth.c...

"The people who are running the corporation are like people riding up in the head of a giant robot stomping across the Earth. They control the robot’s arms and legs, so they can pursue the actions which make the most sense from the point of view of “business,” without ever getting their hands dirty."

It's a good read.

Silicon Valley startups, publicly-traded firms, and Mom's Main Street Bakery have the same fiduciary responsibility. Uber is not immune from the need to create profits for its investors. However, Uber is a private company behaving like a publicly-traded juggernaut. They aren't. Yet.

The titans you mention may have thrown the same elbows as Uber, but they did so while appearing more sensitive to their public image on their way to the stock market. Maybe it was just lip service.

The concern I think many people share is that when a private company earns a reputation for its blithe disregard of customers, drivers, media and incumbents, it has the potential to be a very bad corporate citizen when it has to answer to Wall Street.

Re: In Defense of Uber: An Objective Opinion

Chikodi — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 03:06:46 -0000

We'd all be in much better shape as humans if large corporations didn't embody the worst characteristics of sociopathic individuals. Profit and marketshare are only virtues to Wall Street. Were all upstart businesses to adopt such a take-no-prisoners attitude, the tech scene would quickly become an unbearable cesspit.

Re: Simbaa – Golden Child

Chikodi — Tue, 13 May 2014 03:44:54 -0000

What was that?

Re: The Culture of Shut Up

Chikodi — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 14:26:42 -0000

This began with a very tortured analogy. As much as I wanted to get into it, my head hurt after 500 words of nonsense. I, too, thought it was written by comedian John Lovitz, which would have excused the unfunny village reference. Great headline. Nothing after.

Re: 5 of the most famous (and effective) growth hacks of all time

Chikodi — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 15:49:02 -0000

Jon Yongfook is a walking, talking encyclopedia of growth hacking tactics. Just started using his new content automation tool Beatrix, too. In his recent AMA Yongfook said that paid channels such as TV and out of home advertisements can be a big win for startups with the budget for it. Kinda surprising. Folks interested in more actionable growth hacking tactics should read www.prtipsforstartups.com.

Re: Why PR Doesn’t Work for Startups

Chikodi — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 15:59:37 -0000

This is a great post. Thanks for the shoutout! I definitely agree with your point about startups investing in the storytelling aspects of customer outreach before diving into the PR process. PR is not a silver bullet for most startups, and journalists care about traction and impact above all. When those fundamentals of the business are in place for your company, a lot of journalists will start beating a path to your door.

Re: How To Build Your Audience Well Before Launching Your Product | Sachin Rekhi

Chikodi — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 02:18:02 -0000

Great post! I'll add one more resource about building a pre-launch community: http://prtipsforstartups.co...

Re: Building A Startup Culture When You Work Alone

Chikodi — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 23:30:24 -0000

People who will give away their time and expertise--and pay to do so--are serious, discerning individuals. You can find experts everywhere online, which Drew mentioned. By putting up a paywall you raise quality expectations. Everyone involved has declared that he or she values time more than the money spent to join.

Re: Building A Startup Culture When You Work Alone

Chikodi — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 23:19:18 -0000

I hadn't even thought about Facebook groups. Now that you mention it, I'm in several, but I rarely participate. There are too many external distractions on Facebook to make them a valuable source for prolonged interaction. Glad you're finding it helpful in your field, however (:

Re: Building A Startup Culture When You Work Alone

Chikodi — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 21:29:29 -0000

Hi Drew, thanks for the comment, Glad you enjoyed the post. What groups do you find helpful?

Re: Google says tricky job interview brainteasers were ‘a waste of time’

Chikodi — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 11:46:53 -0000

During my interview I was asked how many cans of paint it would take to cover a 747 :-P

Re: The rise of LinkedIn’s news feed (And how Twitter made a big dumb mistake)

Chikodi — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 15:14:55 -0000

LinkedIn Today is another important feature, and one that was not mentioned in this article. Why go to Twitter for important news, when business-relevant highlights of the day's events are right there on your LinkedIn home page?

Re: What Are the Skills of Tomorrow’s Journalist? [VIDEO]

Chikodi — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:37:54 -0000

Great video! The quotes really capture who the speakers are, and I love the music you guys selected.

Re: America’s $2.4 Billion EV Stimulus Skidding Out

Chikodi — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 21:31:55 -0000

Hi James,

Thanks for the comment.

The figure of $2.4 billion comes from the Department of Energy, who on Mar. 19, 2009, announced $2.4bn would be awarded as grants to boost Transportation Electrification (http://bit.ly/as4MHa) and the Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative (http://bit.ly/b0DllC).

I agree that what has gone into the industry thus far from the government is just a drop in the bucket, especially in light of the $300bn we spend importing oil annually.

Unfortunately, we know oil works, and we're still waiting for proof of concept on tomorrow's alternative fuels. Furthermore, technological advances in fuel production are not the same as commercial viability. For this we must again wait.

Let's all use less stuff and bike more, I say!

Re: Tea Party Can’t Ignore $2.2 Trillion Needed for American Infrastructure Updates

Chikodi — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:30:55 -0000

Thanks for your detailed rebuttal. I enjoy debate, especially on topics as important as these.

ARC as currently envisioned may be far from perfect, but where are the better options? An infrastructure plan that is free from politics is like asking for a cup of coffee with no water in it. If that's what we're waiting for, we'll never build another road, bridge, tunnel or treehouse in this country.

Rational people can disagree on what is or is not too expensive. I am young, naïve and have only been paying taxes since I started work at the age of 14. Still, I can't remember in my short lifetime when doing nothing solved a problem.

Re: California High Speed Rail Doesn’t Need to Make a Dime to Make a Difference

Chikodi — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:11:53 -0000

Train Lover,

Thanks for your comment. You raise a really good point, and one for which an answer is not readily supplied; Is there an economic rationale for high speed rail in California?

Not everyone that opposes high speed rail is opposed to the idea of fast trains. However, funding these massive projects is enough to trigger a bout of indigestion. While an emotional appeal for trains is not a politically feasible solution, nor does it answer the economic question, it does seem like the justification for such spending rests more in the heart than the gut. Not everything we spend money on makes sense, even when it ought to.

Re: Why Crowdsourcing is Good for Traffic and Bad for the Gap

Chikodi — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:36:52 -0000

Thanks for the comment. Please see added correction.

Re: Stop or I’ll Sue: California High Speed Rail Opponents and Their Bag of Tricks

Chikodi — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:53:26 -0000

Ah, yes. The people.

Re: Illegal Coal Trucking to Blame for Eleven-Day China Traffic Jam

Chikodi — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:20:30 -0000

The population of China is 1,338,612,968 according to the CIA World Fact Book July 2010 estimates, and you're right, supplying the energy demands of such a massive population is and will be a source of considerable pain. The U.S. and China, however, use about the same amount of energy, with China only recently taking over the top spot, despite having more than 1 billion more citizens.

Re: Traffic Cameras Play Bad Cop in Civil Liberties Versus Safety Battle

Chikodi — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:07:51 -0000

I would really like to thank everyone who has read and commented on the story thus far.

I did endeavor to be journalistic about the topic and consider both sides. I do think that the topic warrants further discussion and legal analysis, and I will say that I am both for and against traffic cameras.

On the one hand, I think that stationary red light cameras are a bad idea, and possibly a safety risk, as the story points out. On the other, I think that traffic cameras mounted on municipal buses and buses that are part of a BRT system would be a great way to deter jerks from driving in forbidden lanes. In such a case where bus-only lanes are painted or otherwise marked in a distinct way, I fee that arguments against traffic cameras based on the 6th Amendment fly right out the window. Also, note that the story has been updated.

Thanks again, and I'm glad that you are enjoying AltTransport. Keep the comments coming and stay tuned for more great stuff!

Re: American High Speed Rail Explained

Chikodi — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:09:10 -0000

Thanks for checking out what we have to say here on AltTransport. I'm glad you're finding a lot to comment on today and hope you will continue to do so.

I completely agree that planning is far too often driven by politics and not customer demand, but that is the case with pretty much everything the government touches.

I've ridden the TGV and the Eurostar, and they were fast, fun and out of the ordinary. Certainly part of their allure is not only the speed and convenience, but also the experience. I won't make any assumptions, but I will ask if you've flown on any foreign national airlines, and if so, how do they differ from the experience aboard an American low-cost carrier. Both planes will get you where you're going eventually, right?