James Zhuo 卓宇翔: Cool

Glassdoor.com is turning companies inside out

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:29:55 GMT

Glassdoor.com is a really cool site. If you are like me and constantly try to understand how companies and businesses work. Glassdoor enables (ex)employees to reveal a different side of every company. These reviews are subject to individual opinions and experiences but taken together they are a great insight into a company and its culture. For example, Google has been seen as this great company to work for that does great things, but perhaps they are more like the next Microsoft than most people think, here's a few extracts

“If you enjoy your individuality and time alone, Google is not the place for you (keep in mind I’m not an engineer). Google pushes a highly "googley" atmosphere, which is something akin to what the Brady Bunch would be like if they lived in communist Russia. ... People are encouraged to have googley attitudes, wear plastic smiles, and not to question the infallible nature of the executive management group. Marathon hours are the standard because, after all, employees are practically encouraged to bring a cot and sleep there…barracks coming soon (really?! no, not really). If you like feeling awkward during forced group activity, Google is your haven. ... if you don't participate you become labeled as "ungoogley." Once deemed “ungoogley”, you're practically viewed as a rotten apple that threatens to spoil the bunch.”

“Real life at Google has NOTHING to do with what you read in the papers. Management is mostly useless and doesn't know how to manage projects, let alone people. Folks like Marissa Mayer (who appears on every news magazine of the world) have 200+ people reporting to them. As direct reports. Also when you are not kissing your way up, you not only have no job progression or promotions, but you also will get ousted at some point. No matter if you are good or bad. In fact, most of the super intelligent people at Google are bitching because they are put on dumb jumps which makes them feel undervalued and miserable all the time.”

See for yourself here.

PS: tradevibes.com is another great site, a new startup trying to be wikipedia but for information related to startup companies, they seem to be attracting enough people to their site to get the whole movement going. This is another 1 dollar bet for me and Michael. I think they might just make it, though they do have a formidable competitor - crunchbase.

You don't need a Mac Book air to fit your laptop inside an envelope

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 05:45:23 GMT

I was just chatting to my friend Michael about how the MacBook Air fits into an envelope. I had a thought and thought i should try it with my MacBook pro. Voila, IT FITS!!! hahahaha, well that just kills Apple's MacBook Air promotion doesn't it?

Hirem.com is on Google App Engine service, woohoo!!!

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:46:41 GMT

24 hours after Google's beta launch of App Engine, we've put our first website on the service. It's only a couple of relatively static pages, but it goes to show how easy it is to put something onto Google's App Engine service without any infrastructure of our own. All credits to Michael my friend and business partner for so eagerly embracing new Technologies.

[Singing Out Loud]: I am so excited, and I just can't hide it, and I know, I know ..... took me a while to find this, so enjoy :)

These base jumping dudes are nuts, but it's exhilarating just watching the video

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:56:22 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0tU3Hy7et8

Furnitures packed into a box the size of a filing cabinet ...

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:50:08 GMT

1 wardrobe
1 large desk/table
1 desk cabinet with locking drawers
1 revolving, height-adjustable desk chair
2 stools
1 single bed
1 mattress
1 tall set of shelves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYCTcPkIIBI

it's called CASULO