Reblogged from TechCrunch:

Editor’s note: David Blake is the Founder of Degreed, the new degree for the new world. Previously, he helped launch New Charter University and was a founding member of Zinch, since acquired by Chegg.

Jailbreak verb. 1 To get out of a restricted mode of operation. 2 To enable use of a product not intended by the manufacturer.

Read more… 548 more words

This certainly makes for an interesting dinner topic. The only real problem I see with unbundling the college degree is that it is there is very little flexibility on the demand side of the job market. When it comes to credentials the degree is still an binary filter. You have it or you don't.

Night shot of Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have lived in the Bay Area for less than 10 years, so by no means I know it all. But I feel it would help to collect the most asked questions I get from San Francisco visitors:

Q: What’s the best Italian restaurant in San Francisco?

A: I get this question a lot, predictably. My favorites in alphabetical order:

• Acquerello delivers a formal dining experience of superior quality and service.
• La Ciccia is a true neighborhood gem of a restaurant delivering Sardinian fare that is up to par with the original stuff.
• Cotogna is a relatively new entrant on the scene and an instant success among foodies.
• Farina e Focaccia has established itself as a must visit for fresh pasta and Genovese focaccia lovers.
• Perbacco features Piemontese cuisine of consistent quality in a classy and relaxed  ambiance. Try the agnolotti!
• Quince, top of the line. Period.

Q: What is the best pizza in San Francisco?

A: Pizza seems to polarize people, maybe cause everyone has a very personal opinion of what a great pizza should be like. Anyway, here’s my very personal list:

• A16 delivers top wood-fired owen pizza with seasonal toppings.
• Delfina has established itself as a solid spot in the SF pizza scene.
• Zero Zero has got to be my personal favorite. Choose the Margherita Extra with buffalo mozzarella.
• [Special mention] Pizzaiolo is technically not in San Francisco. Well worth the trip to the Temescal restaurant row in Oakland.

Q: What is the best spot for a drink?

A: So many choices, so little time.  This one depends on a number of criteria. I go by the bartender’s craft as the primary factor. San Francisco is home to some of the best. Again, in alphabetical order:

• 25 Lusk, 70s ambiance and a nicely laid out bar.
• Bourbon & Branch‘s bar tenders are as good at it gets. It is a speakeasy, so you need to call for a door password.
• Burritt, a nice new spot in the Crescent Hotel.
• Nihon has a top notch whiskey stock. The location is out of the way and the ambiance cosy and stylish.
• Toronado, if you are into beer this is your spot.

Q: Is it worth visiting Pier 39?

A: In a word, no.

Q: Is it worth visiting Alcatraz? 

A: In a word, yes.

Enjoy your stay!

So we have invented the discipline of time management, knowing all too well that it is not time that needs managing, but rather our attention. We need to adapt the way we work to squeeze out more output out of each unit of time and build a moat to stem the tide of (digital) distractions.

The single most effective change that has worked for me is also one of the easiest to implement. I have divided up my time in slots. There are vertical slots (i.e. days of the week or of the month) and horizontal slots (i.e. hours in a day).

Vertical slots are allocated to work projects, domains or themes. For example Mondays are for Project A, Tuesdays are for Accounting, Wednesdays are for Sales and Marketing, Thursdays and Fridays are for Project B, etc.

Horizontal slots are for individual tasks, routine or one-off. For example 7-9 am writing and editing, 9 to 11 am phone calls and email, 11 to 1 pm meetings, 1 to 3 pm project management, etc.

The resulting matrix helps me allocate activity more effectively, procrastinate less and, crucially, stay focused and away from distractions. Try it!

Well, while doing some housekeeping on my files I came across a couple of documents that I created back in 2005, when I still was on the job market. I did not know that then, but they were in fact job search infographics: a Personal Blueprint and a Resume Timeline. :)

I never actually sent them to employers. I remember showing them to a good friend from business school, someone whose opinion I trusted, and he advised me not to use them. He thought they were too “cute” and “gimmicky” and were going to hurt my chances. So I shelved them.

Maybe I was just too early to market.

Each quarter, Akamai publishes a quarterly “State of the Internet” report. This report includes data gathered across Akamai’s global server network about attack traffic, average & maximum connection speeds, Internet penetration and broadband adoption, and mobile usage, as well as trends seen in this data over time.

You can download the free quarterly report here, and also use a fun visualization tool to chart network performance in different countries. Who in the world gets the best broadband access?  Find out.

I am often asked “how is BAIA doing?”. The nonprofit just celebrated its 5th anniversary, so I took a step back and took a moment to look at what we have done lately. By all accounts, BAIA is going strong:

• BAIA has produced more than 75 content-rich events, both in Italy and the USA, featuring speakers of exceptional caliber such as Bill Draper, Federico Faggin, Alberto Sangiovanni Vincentelli, Vivek Wadhwa, Joanna Rees and many others.
• In 2010 alone BAIA produced 19 events (!) and so far in 2011 we are already at 10.
• The BAIA member community has reached 1300+ members.
• Subscribers to BAIA’s newsletter are just shy of 5000.
• In July 2011 BAIA launched BAIAbase, the first ever open and editable database of companies operating between Italy and the USA.

Diets do not work, or rather, they never worked for me. The gym is boring and the chances to stick with it, slim. Here’s what has worked for me, simple ideas for a healthier, fitter, less stressed life:

1. Rekindle your college passions

Remember how much you enjoyed participating in sports in college? As much as watching them, right? No need to reinvent the wheel. Whether it was soccer, synchronized swimming, karate or tennis, there is no better, easier way to get moving again than picking up where you left. No learning curve, no need for beginner lessons and plenty of old buddies to share your passion with. Plus the added psychological bonus of feeling free to pretend you are still 21, living in a dorm and without a worry in a world. 

2. If you can only chose one, make it a team sport

This is a no brainer. Lonely pursuits are, well… lonely. There’s nothing like peer pressure and the expectation that you cannot let your team down to get you out of bed and into the court/rink/field/track.  So if you can chose, chose a team sport.

3. Buy the most expensive athletic shoes you can

And put them in a place where you are going to see them every day (in front of your door, by your bed, in your bathroom!) The constant reminder of the need to amortize your  shoes investment will help you find motivation. They are shiny and new and are screaming “show me around!” Note: it works also with any other kind of recreational equipment: skis, skates, tennis racquet, board, weights… even kayaks!

4. Never shop for groceries hungry

Research demonstrates that hungry shoppers tend to buy more and select more prepared meal solutions. Make a list and stick to it. The best time to shop is Saturday morning only AFTER a massive breakfast. You will gladly pass on those buttery cookies and creamy cheeses that you would otherwise jam into your grocery bag.

5. Dine at home

Studies show that meals eaten with others are, on average, 44% larger than meals eaten alone. In addition, meals prepared at home have an average lower caloric content then similar restaurant dishes. No tips required.

6. “Room for dessert?” No, thanks.

If you do eat out, pass on the dessert. I know it is tempting, the special menu and all, but remember that restaurant desserts easily pack in excess of 1000 calories. Also, you may want to note that restaurants make most of their profit margins from your armless guilty pleasures: wine and desserts.

7. Happy hour, fatty hour.

Talking about drinks, an average mixed drink contains easily at least 300 calories. And you tend to consume it at night, the worst time of the day for calorie intake. So a little restraint at happy hour time goes a long way. A friend told me once she only orders Vodka Tonic as it is the leanest of mixed drinks. Not sure about that, but feel free to take her advice.

8. Never take the escalator

Stairs (walking upstairs, but also walking downstairs) are an excellent low-impact cardio-vascular exercise. They are everywhere so opportunities abound. You do not need equipment. Plus, they’ll get your endorphins going so you’ll be more energized and likable in that staff meeting.

9. Give up your cable subscription

I did this back in 2003 and never regretted it (well, maybe I do regret it come NBA Finals time…). As a complete sucker/addict for TV and videogames (I can spend literally days on end playing) I had to force myself to the pace of Netflix’s mail delivery. It is hard to overstate how much time a television-less lifestyle frees up. And while you can replace TV time with the other screens in your life, you can also chose to go out, walk, workout, meditate, cook and many other pursuits that better your existence.

10. Sell your car

This is the hardest one, and a bit hypocritical of me, since I do own one. But I have conducted a car-free existence for long stretches of time, a total of 4 years over the past 10, and I can attest to the fact that, for some combination of factors, all things equal, this action alone is the one that can have the biggest impact on your overall health and fitness. You walk more, carry your grocery bags, start using a bike for commuting, become more disciplined with your schedule (least you miss the last bus home). Take two people with the same genes, the same jobs, the same family, the same hobbies, one owning a car and one not. I bet I can tell you which one is which just by looking at them.

The event that finally prompted me to write… is here.

I put together a list of interesting tech and business events taking place in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, in July and August 2010. The focus is mostly web, internet marketing, social media, software etc.

Here’s the Google calendar in HTML and iCal format.

PS: I am not associated with, nor endorse any specific listed organization or event.