just enough ... for the city

“In 1969, the Canadian psychologist Laurence J. Peter posited the “Peter...

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:40:42 -0500

“In 1969, the Canadian psychologist Laurence J. Peter posited the “Peter Principle”: people in a workplace are promoted until they reach their “level of incompetence.” This happens, Peter argued, because we wrongly assume that people who are good at their jobs will also be good at jobs that are one rung up on the corporate ladder — so we promote them. But often the new job is so different from the previous job that the employee can’t handle it. Now performing incompetently, the employee stays in place, dragging the efficiency of the firm downward. Eventually the entire economy becomes like the paper company Dunder Mifflin in “The Office” — clogged with incompetence.”

Is there any way to avoid this trap? Yes, by promoting people at random. That’s what a trio of Italian scientists discovered this year. They created a computer model of a 160-person corporation and programmed it with Peter Principle-like logic: the best performers were promoted, but they had only a random likelihood of being good at their new jobs. Sure enough, the firm was soon cluttered with incompetents, and its efficiency plunged. But then the researchers tried something different: they reprogrammed the firm so that it promoted people entirely randomly, and the overall efficiency of the firm improved.”

Random Promotions from The Time’s 9th Annual Year in Ideas

I’m confused by the “Peter Principle.” Instead of randomly promoting people, couldn’t you solve for this problem by replacing the people who make promotion decisions with competent managers who promote according to the right skillsets?

The lip dubs. Have Got. To. Stop.

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:00:49 -0500

The lip dubs. Have Got. To. Stop.

whatevs: Sufjan Stevens, “Casimir Pulaski Day” So, a question...

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:44:00 -0500

whatevs:

Sufjan Stevens, “Casimir Pulaski Day”

So, a question for you, my fine feathered FOWs. Surely you are all aware of this song, the one that Soofyawn sings about his friend* who died of bone cancer? If you are not, I implore you to take a listen, then come back to the end of this graf.

Nice. We’re all on the same page then, yes? Good. Okay, so I was on a roadtrip last weekend with a person who shall remain nameless and this song came up on random on my iPod. As I was listening to it, an admittedly morbid and likely disturbing thought came into my head. It went a little something like this: “You know, even though these two are Christian bible study groupers, I bet he boned her before she died.”

There are a few lines in this song that kind of support this possibly outlandish theory of mine:

1) “In the morning, through the window shade / When the light pressed up against your shoulderblade.” - Now, there’s certainly a possibility that he fell asleep in her hospital room, but wouldn’t it be hotter to know that the two had just woken up from a night of passionate and reckless sex? No way they used protection, either.

2) “In the morning at the top of the stairs / When your father found out what we did that night / And you told me you were scared.” - Now, the only thing scarier than death is having your father bitch you out. And why else would a father whose daughter is dying of bone cancer strike fear into his daughter’s heart UNLESS SHE WAS BONING SOME DUDE FROM BIBLE STUDY?

Now, that’s an admittedly somewhat thin line of rationale to use to support my thesis that these two nerdy, gawky teens GOT IT ON TO THE BREAKA BREAKA DAWN in the days before she died. But really, I think it all comes down to this: If you were about to die and you had never had sex in your life, wouldn’t one of your highest priorities be to make sure you experience the awesomeness that is boning before it was too late? Shit, I know I would. But then again, maybe that’s just me.

Thoughts?

*Real or fictional, I have no idea.

Still looking for Christmas stocking stuffers? Goods4Good is...

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:45:00 -0500

Still looking for Christmas stocking stuffers? Goods4Good is selling items in their Zazzle store with some of the illustrations from their holiday ecard selection, including this mug that features an adorable drawing from artist Alessandra Olanow.

(There’s still time to order some in time for Christmas, which means you can get a cute holiday gift AND do something good with the money you spend. Sweet deal.)

funsize: theinterwebs: On today’s Good Morning Interwebs “Wake...

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:40:49 -0500

funsize:

theinterwebs:

On today’s Good Morning Interwebs “Wake Up with a Startup” we met Charlie O’Donnell (aka @ceonyc) from First Round Capital at the Ace Hotel, his “office” until February.

Watch here as we:

- Do the first ever livestreamed photobooth shoot (dang busted credit card machine!!)

- Tour the Ace Hotel lobby to see what all the fuss is about (men in jogging shorts! $10 oatmeal! angry stuffed ferrets!)

- Charlie explains his post today about what exactly an EIR does, or at least what he does (hustlin! wheelin! dealin!) and First Round’s investment model

- The problem with online event invites (Facebook is spammy, Evite is a ghosttown) and how Plancast could change that

- Talked about next week’s NYC hearing on cultivating entrepreneurship in New York. Charlie is testifying and has some ideas (no tax credits, yes event space + dedicated liaison)

- State of the Christmas party season

whatevs: Ladies and gentleman, I present to you the world...

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:42:00 -0500

whatevs:

Ladies and gentleman, I present to you the world premiere of Four’s Company!

(Starring: @keanesian, @allimooney, @joewest and introducing @unclegrambo as the Ghost of the Haunted Toilet!)

If someone you knew owned a copy of You’re In The Movies, you would play it too. And this is a pretty close approximation of what the results would be.

20,000 Uniforms for Good goods4good: This year, Goods for Good...

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:15:00 -0500

20,000 Uniforms for Good

goods4good:

This year, Goods for Good successfully piloted our Tailor-in-Training Workshop, a new program that teachers young adults, many of whom are orphans, how to sew. G4G provides these…

Goods 4 Good is currently raising money to bring material and uniforms to underprivileged Malawians. If you have time, Merck is matching every donation, dollar for dollar, made before December 31. A new uniform can be made for only $1. It really does make a difference. Details here.

The GOP Has Problems

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:10:05 -0500

lindsayrobertson:

Sometimes I forget that I have two Republican friends. This conversation happened last night:

Regular Normal friend: So what are her parents like?

Me: Oh, you know, Southern. They’re total Republicans, of course, but at least they drink.

(Awkward silence, then laughter)

Me: I’m sorry (Republican friend)! I forgot you were a Republican.

Republican friend: No worries. Happens all the time.

Me: I didn’t mean like you. I meant, you know, Racist Republican.

Republican friend: I get it!

Ah, New York City. “I have a Republican friend” is the new (or maybe old) “I have a black friend.”

choire: This is how the gays do things now. I feel such a...

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:17:33 -0500

choire:

This is how the gays do things now. I feel such a strange mix of feelings about this development! Jealous/horrified? Skeeved/intrigued? Grossed out/envious? Relieved mostly that I don’t have to be involved, yes, for sure.

I swear I only downloaded grindr for fun, but omg rawr! And ONLY 707 feet away!

Weird. I thought that dude looked familiar for some reason*:

*Halloween 2009. Real-Brawny-men-don’t-need-logos edition.

funsize: i blame @keanesian and @unclegrambo for introducing me...

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:11:00 -0500

funsize:

i blame @keanesian and @unclegrambo for introducing me to this song, which i have had in my head for a solid month now.

Whahahaha. I love it when a plan comes together.

PS. I think this YouTube video is more attuned to the existentialist sturm und drang communicated by Das Racists than Alli’s link. (Also, it’s a better version of the song.)

rickwebb: neighborhoodr-soho: ipekkuran: Bleecker &...

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:57:06 -0500

rickwebb:

neighborhoodr-soho:

ipekkuran:

Bleecker & Bowery

Didn’t this building recently sell? Did I imagine this? I have been fascinated with it forever. What a gorgous building.

This looks like 190 Bowery (at Spring), “The Bohemian Dream House.” Don’t know that Maisel sold it. But apparently, the bottom floor is open for rental.

I was crying while I wrote this. So sue me if I got some things...

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:07:00 -0500

I was crying while I wrote this. So sue me if I got some things wrong.

I was starting to think this day would never come.

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:26:21 -0500

I was starting to think this day would never come.

peterfeld: GPOYW, look out for cheetahs edition. (This is last...

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:52:58 -0500

peterfeld:

GPOYW, look out for cheetahs edition. (This is last year, btw.)

miltnr:

Carney and Feld channeling Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra (or at least, Joe Piscopo as Frank Sinatra) at Caroline Waxler’s birthday party.

More Degenerate 1960s Christmas Special Album Covers can be found here.

I already hearted this foto last year. I guess I have to reblog it to so my appreciation. So there.

youngmanhattanite: Just catching up now. What’s a cheetah? Just a reminder of how easy it is for...

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:05:38 -0500

youngmanhattanite:

Just catching up now. What’s a cheetah?

Just a reminder of how easy it is for women to get laid in New York City.

Word comes in The New York Observer that News Corporation is dead serious about creating a New York...

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:57:23 -0500

Word comes in The New York Observer that News Corporation is dead serious about creating a New York City bureau, with a reported $15 million budget that will be used to create separate editorial, marketing and sales teams. John Seeley, a former editor of The New York Sun, has been hired to direct the project.

The Journal is creating a section that will cover local politics, culture, news and sports. For the time being, the section’s launch is set for April. It is expected to run six days a week. It is not clear yet if the metro report will be a discrete section, or if an entirely different edition of the paper will be sold here.

Woot. New York Sun rising from the ashes.

Ladies and Gentlemen: Blogcest Blogger 1: Ha. You hooked up...

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:31:00 -0500

Ladies and Gentlemen: Blogcest

Blogger 1: Ha. You hooked up with that girl too?
Blogger 2: Yeah, Saturday. I think I’m still hungover.
Blogger 3: Wait. Me too… If we’ve all been naked with the same girl, does that mean we’ve all sort of hooked up with each other?
Blogger 2: Oof. Somebody get me a whiskey.
Blogger 1: First!
Blogger 3: I’m calling Spencer. There’s gotta be a name for this.

saucy: “This Holiday season Goods for Good is teaming up with...

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:24:37 -0500

saucy:

“This Holiday season Goods for Good is teaming up with Merck to bring new school uniforms to 20,000 orphans and vulenrable children in Malawi. Until December 31st Merck is generously matching donations up to $10,000. That means that your gift will help twice as many kids this holiday season.” - Founder of Goods4Good, Melissa Kushner

mikehudack: sarahcooley: caro: Decent movie. Great...

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:49:43 -0500

mikehudack:

sarahcooley:

caro:

Decent movie. Great soundtrack. Thanks to the cinematography it felt, at times, like watching an episode of The Office (British version) set on a boat with funny costumes and more booze. I don’t mind funny costumes and booze.

I honestly loved this movie.

I really enjoyed it. Loved it, even.

In the words of Mark Graham: I don’t trust anyone who liked this movie.

I was on Russia Today TV yesterday. Yessss. (My interview starts...

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:40:37 -0500

I was on Russia Today TV yesterday. Yessss. (My interview starts at 18:30)