Comments for dan-menard.com http://www.dan-menard.com Updated every Monday Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:03:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on What I do with OCRI by dan-menard.com» Blog Archive » Don’t be a NAMCO http://www.dan-menard.com/ocri/comment-page-1/#comment-1743 dan-menard.com» Blog Archive » Don’t be a NAMCO Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:03:16 +0000 http://www.dan-menard.com/?page_id=147#comment-1743 [...] been teaching kids to program using Scratch for years (through OCRI). The reason we often choose Scratch is that it was made by MIT with the express goal of [...] [...] been teaching kids to program using Scratch for years (through OCRI). The reason we often choose Scratch is that it was made by MIT with the express goal of [...]

]]> Comment on How Much Longer will it Take? by Didier Thizy http://www.dan-menard.com/2010/07/26/how-much-longer-will-it-take/comment-page-1/#comment-1546 Didier Thizy Tue, 03 Aug 2010 18:07:34 +0000 http://www.dan-menard.com/?p=914#comment-1546 Very thorough! The "human aspect" reminds me of some software the Joel Spolsky unveiled a few years ago - it would track various team members' estimates and progress and then adapt future estimates based on the behavior it saw. So for example, it would identify that John always seems to be over-optimistic on his estimates and end up late, meanwhile Bob would always freak out during a crunch period and pad his estimates like crazy. In John's case, it would automatically buffer some time, and in Bob's case do the opposite. At least, that's the imagery that Joel's snazzy marketing pitch made me believe the software could do. I haven't heard much about it since so it's possible it didn't actually live up to its full potential. I remember I tried to tackle the subject of estimates a while ago, you might like: http://softwarepmp.blogspot.com/2006/12/software-estimation-identify-optimism.html and http://softwarepmp.blogspot.com/2006/12/software-estimation-fair-bid.html Very thorough! The “human aspect” reminds me of some software the Joel Spolsky unveiled a few years ago – it would track various team members’ estimates and progress and then adapt future estimates based on the behavior it saw. So for example, it would identify that John always seems to be over-optimistic on his estimates and end up late, meanwhile Bob would always freak out during a crunch period and pad his estimates like crazy. In John’s case, it would automatically buffer some time, and in Bob’s case do the opposite.

At least, that’s the imagery that Joel’s snazzy marketing pitch made me believe the software could do. I haven’t heard much about it since so it’s possible it didn’t actually live up to its full potential.

I remember I tried to tackle the subject of estimates a while ago, you might like:
http://softwarepmp.blogspot.com/2006/12/software-estimation-identify-optimism.html
and
http://softwarepmp.blogspot.com/2006/12/software-estimation-fair-bid.html

]]> Comment on Varied Goals: Not SMART, but Still Effective by Ajit http://www.dan-menard.com/2010/07/12/varied-goals-not-smart-but-still-effective/comment-page-1/#comment-1453 Ajit Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:03:59 +0000 http://www.dan-menard.com/?p=852#comment-1453 Finally I have my thoughts put in words :) Very beautifully written. I can totally relate to it. I have a similar goal setting to many things... It helps to put a broad framework of what to do without being too specific. I want to go and visit as many places as possible and learn & enjoy the places I visit. So I dont slouch on the couch/bed on a sunday. Instead I get out for a trek often. Also, I intend to read 12 books this year. Yes, not a big number by many people, but pretty big considering I read around 2/3 books a year till now. The varied goals is more of a frame of mind which keeps pushing you to do what you want when you lose sight of goals or have free time. May the force be with you, Ajit Finally I have my thoughts put in words :)
Very beautifully written. I can totally relate to it.
I have a similar goal setting to many things… It helps to put a broad framework of what to do without being too specific.
I want to go and visit as many places as possible and learn & enjoy the places I visit. So I dont slouch on the couch/bed on a sunday. Instead I get out for a trek often. Also, I intend to read 12 books this year. Yes, not a big number by many people, but pretty big considering I read around 2/3 books a year till now.
The varied goals is more of a frame of mind which keeps pushing you to do what you want when you lose sight of goals or have free time.
May the force be with you,
Ajit

]]> Comment on How Much Longer will it Take? by Seb Martin http://www.dan-menard.com/2010/07/26/how-much-longer-will-it-take/comment-page-1/#comment-1432 Seb Martin Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:12:47 +0000 http://www.dan-menard.com/?p=914#comment-1432 Great post! For a second, I thought you were going to say "The Human Factor - This is where it really pays to be human." :-) Great post!

For a second, I thought you were going to say “The Human Factor – This is where it really pays to be human.” :-)

]]> Comment on The iPad Dilemma by dan-menard.com» Blog Archive » The iPad Dilemma, Revisited http://www.dan-menard.com/2010/02/03/the-ipad-dilemma/comment-page-1/#comment-1357 dan-menard.com» Blog Archive » The iPad Dilemma, Revisited Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:38:07 +0000 http://www.dan-menard.com/?p=252#comment-1357 [...] in early February, I lamented about how hard it was to decide if I wanted a Macbook or an iPad. At the time that I wrote the post, I had already waffled quite a bit on the issue, but the [...] [...] in early February, I lamented about how hard it was to decide if I wanted a Macbook or an iPad. At the time that I wrote the post, I had already waffled quite a bit on the issue, but the [...]

]]> Comment on How to Make Use of Open Type Fonts (Windows) by Sarah Tolledo http://www.dan-menard.com/2010/07/05/how-to-make-use-of-open-type-fonts-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-1302 Sarah Tolledo Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:19:48 +0000 http://www.dan-menard.com/?p=792#comment-1302 Thanks for the link. I just read Leah's comment, good to know that we're not the only ones arguing over font. lol. I agree the Biographer font super nice. Based on the ones that were on that site, I would have chosen that one as well. Thanks for the link. I just read Leah’s comment, good to know that we’re not the only ones arguing over font. lol. I agree the Biographer font super nice. Based on the ones that were on that site, I would have chosen that one as well.

]]> Comment on Modern YouTube meets Retro Firefox by Leah Wetzel http://www.dan-menard.com/2010/07/09/modern-youtube-meets-retro-firefox/comment-page-1/#comment-1286 Leah Wetzel Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:15:35 +0000 http://www.dan-menard.com/?p=858#comment-1286 Ugh! Condemned mannequin scene = so creepy! Ugh! Condemned mannequin scene = so creepy!

]]> Comment on Varied Goals: Not SMART, but Still Effective by Alex M http://www.dan-menard.com/2010/07/12/varied-goals-not-smart-but-still-effective/comment-page-1/#comment-1280 Alex M Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:44:56 +0000 http://www.dan-menard.com/?p=852#comment-1280 I do something similar to varied goals - that is, to be very idealistic about far-reaching objectives. But I also insist on telling other people (friends/coworkers) about these goals, so that I feel that someone other than myself has expectations regarding my success; I find that this helps me remain dedicated to seeing things through. Most of my varied goals fall short in some way, but that's the whole point of being idealistic. Rock on, A I do something similar to varied goals – that is, to be very idealistic about far-reaching objectives. But I also insist on telling other people (friends/coworkers) about these goals, so that I feel that someone other than myself has expectations regarding my success; I find that this helps me remain dedicated to seeing things through.

Most of my varied goals fall short in some way, but that’s the whole point of being idealistic.

Rock on,
A

]]> Comment on How to Make Use of Open Type Fonts (Windows) by Leah Wetzel http://www.dan-menard.com/2010/07/05/how-to-make-use-of-open-type-fonts-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-1215 Leah Wetzel Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:13:17 +0000 http://www.dan-menard.com/?p=792#comment-1215 OK, Fine. I now understand why you snapped at me a few times during my "Dan.......why is it taking you so long to sort out a font?" phase. OK, Fine. I now understand why you snapped at me a few times during my “Dan…….why is it taking you so long to sort out a font?” phase.

]]> Comment on How to Make Use of Open Type Fonts (Windows) by dan http://www.dan-menard.com/2010/07/05/how-to-make-use-of-open-type-fonts-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-1211 dan Tue, 06 Jul 2010 03:27:37 +0000 http://www.dan-menard.com/?p=792#comment-1211 Obscure is an interesting word for software, especially something as niche as LaTeX. What I meant was that it's obscure by word processor standards, which I'm still ok with: it's certainly less popular than Open Office, for example. But it is interesting to note that InDesign is very similar to LaTeX in how niche and uncommon it is. I guess I should have stuck to making fun of LaTeX's poor UX; I didn't even have to consult a readme to get InDesign working exactly the way I wanted, and I don't think anyone has ever managed such a quick connection with *TeX. Obscure is an interesting word for software, especially something as niche as LaTeX. What I meant was that it’s obscure by word processor standards, which I’m still ok with: it’s certainly less popular than Open Office, for example.

But it is interesting to note that InDesign is very similar to LaTeX in how niche and uncommon it is. I guess I should have stuck to making fun of LaTeX’s poor UX; I didn’t even have to consult a readme to get InDesign working exactly the way I wanted, and I don’t think anyone has ever managed such a quick connection with *TeX.

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