Jay Walker - World’s Most Rad Personal Library

So its not like I love hanging out in libraries, but this guy’s library in his own house is AMAZING. Jay Walker, the guy who started Priceline.com and made billions of dollars, is the owner of the house that has the 3600 square foot library. Not only does he collect books in it, but other cultural artifacts as well such as an original Sputnik 1 satellite, an X-29 jet, a napkin from 1943 with FDR’s plans to win World War II, a chandelier from a James Bond movie, and a bunch of other collectables. Not quite my taste in stuff I would collect, but cool nonetheless. Check out some of these pictures by Andrew Moore of Wired.com’s featured article…

The United States Economy - A Full Plate

Regardless of who wins the presidential election… they are going to have their plates full with getting the US economy back on its feet. I don’t think its necessarily right for people to be blaming the government for this mess either (regulating or deregulating). This all comes down to GREED. It’s pretty well known the root of this problem was the fall of the housing market and the subprime lending that was going on that turned into bad debt and eventually got entangled in a monstrous web across the world in various business sectors. Even though there were institutions that were preying on people they knew would have a hard time making the mortgage payments, the bottom line is that YOU, as a thinking human being, make your own decisions and need to make those decisions wisely. People were taking on incredible amounts of personal debt. Don’t get me wrong, once these major corporations and executives got their hands on this money, they catapulted the problem into even more problems by their selfish and deceptive business practices. Sadly, there were a bunch of idiots out there that have now effected hundreds of millions of people. I especially feel sorry for the people on the brink of retirement that have been watching their retirement accounts drop in the toilet. All in all, its going to be awhile before things will get better, but I know there are millions of hard working people out there that will not let our country fall apart. This is a reality check for everyone.

Update: Stuff like this pisses me off… Read about this BULLCRAP…

How to Win Friends and Influence People

If someone disagrees with your views do you punch them in the face? Did you Google your name and the word a**hole popped up everywhere your name was mentioned? Do you just plain out suck at life? If so you may want to read this post…

As the Presidential election is getting closer, and the things being said on the campaign trail are becoming more heated / viscous, I found a summary from Dale Carnegie’s book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” that was written in 1936. I think these tips are a great way to live your life, even if you strongly disagree with someone else. Why go about it in a spiteful way when you can have thousands of friends… yay!

Part One
Fundamental Techniques in Handling People

1. Don’t criticize, condemn or complain.
2. Give honest and sincere appreciation.
3. Arouse in the other person an eager want.

Part Two
Six ways to make people like you

1. Become genuinely interested in other people.
2. Smile.
3. Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
4. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
5. Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.
6. Make the other person feel important - and do it sincerely.

Part Three
Win people to your way of thinking

1. The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
2. Show respect for the other person’s opinions. Never say, “You’re wrong.”
3. If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
4. Begin in a friendly way.
5. Get the other person saying “yes, yes” immediately.
6. Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
7. Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.
8. Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view.
9. Be sympathetic with the other person’s ideas and desires.
10. Appeal to the nobler motives.
11. Dramatize your ideas.
12. Throw down a challenge.

Part Four
Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment

A leader’s job often includes changing your people’s attitudes and behavior. Some suggestions to accomplish this:

1. Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
2. Call attention to people’s mistakes indirectly.
3. Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
4. Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
5. Let the other person save face.
6. Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be “hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise.”
7. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
8. Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
9. Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.

2008 Chicago Cubs Billy Goat (great grandkid) Curse

Looks like the billy goat has some grand kids still around…

Well, I’m from the Chicago area so from time to time I’ll be talking about Chicago sports. For those of you that don’t know, the Chicago Cubs haven’t won a World Series since 1908. Many people say its because of the curse of the billy goat. Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia about the curse…

The Billy Goat curse was placed on the Cubs in 1945 when Billy Goat Tavern owner Billy Sianis was asked to leave a World Series game at Wrigley Field because his pet goat’s odor was bothering other fans. He was outraged and placed a curse on the team saying there would never again be a World Series game played at Wrigley Field. His exact words: “Them Cubs, they aren’t gonna win no more.” The curse was immortalized in newspaper columns over the years, particularly by syndicated columnist Mike Royko, and gained widespread attention during the 2003 postseason when Fox played it up during the Cubs-Florida match-up in the National League Championship Series.

Well this year, the 100 year anniversary from their championship year, many people thought the curse would finally end. The Cubs posted one of the best records going into the first round of the playoffs. Well, last night they got swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was pathetic. Good thing the Chicago Bears are starting to look pretty good…

- A saddened Cubs fan