Don't know if the list applies to cell phones. But I put my cell phone number on the do not call list. It is my primary phone and I use it for everything, so it is definitely out there to be sold to marketers. I've never gotten any telemarketing calls on it.
I think a list like this will only do so much good. Some people change numbers all the time. Of course with the ability to take your number to a different carrier, it may gain in value.
Gold and silver aren't really producing assets--they don't pay interest or dividends, and they don't really go up in value. (They may go up in price when market fluctuations let you buy them at an unusually low price and as inflation makes the money worth less, but that's just the value remaining stable.)
That stability makes gold and silver good stores of value, as long as you don't buy them at historically high prices. If you bought gold six or eight years ago you're sitting pretty right now. It's not so clear that buying gold at today's prices will turn out to be a win.
Besides a store of value, they may also be good in times of great emergency, if things get bad enough that people lose their confidence in cash. In practice, though, the dollar has turned out to be a lot more useful than gold or silver so far, at least in developed countries, even during emergencies, for as long as I've been paying attention.
Having said all that, I've got some gold and silver in my safe deposit box at the bank. I figure it's a hedge against worse emergencies than we've faced so far. Plus, it's pretty.
I actually experience the opposite effect. Whenever I buy something nice it ends up hanging in the closet because I can't find the right occasion to wear it! And even if I do find the occasion, I don't want to because I'm afraid to ruin it and...so on...so sad
I've also heard a few "experts" recommend the purchase of small amounts of silver and gold. What do you think about that?
The scariest thing in my mind is that given the challenges you've mentioned above we've yet to see what the baby-boomer effect is going to do to the landscape.
I'm under the impression that, with-in the next few years, the number of people turning 70 1/2 who will be forced to start withdrawing their money from the IRAs will increase by over 33% in a single year. That is bound to put a huge strain on things.
Personally, my favorite "lifestyle" is to not have to work for anyone in particular, to only use my time on projects I feel are valuable, and to have control over my time.
OK, I also like to occasionally match my shoes and pocketbook. I'm a chick, what can I say?
Hi,
I haven't checked the Seattle Times link you referenced, but snopes.com has called this an urban myth for a while now. I'll check out the Seattle story too, but thought you'd want to know...
Staying out of debt is always a safe choice. It's not always the winning choice, though. In a resource-rich environment, the people who are willing to go out on a limb (and aren't so unlucky as to get caught short by a crunch like this), come out ahead.
Of course, coming out ahead isn't the important thing.
It would be best if you could see the future. Even though you can't it's often possible to see far enough ahead to know that there won't be a crunch in the next few years, and feel confident enough to take on a safe amount of debt. (Now is not that time.)
This advice is what is in ever financial book I've read and most of the advice I've received has been this: Stay out of debt, have savings. Not only the way to weather the economy, it's also a way to just be stable in life.
Before this "squeeze" I was feeling about as unamerican as fidel castro but now that the subprime mortgage industry is effectively drying up, my friends who bought houses right out of college are starting to see the light.
The problem is, so many of us love to talk about ourselves that we don't take the time to learn about other people. I've participated in so many "conversations" that really consisted of each person waiting for their turn to speak, without taking into account what was said by everyone else.
Really LISTENING to other people, and taking a genuine interest in what they are saying, will never come across as fake. If you are FAKING the interest, then yeah, you'll come across as a total douchenozzle. In that case, don't bother. Just go on talking about yourself. But for people who really do want to hear about other people, but just aren't accustomed to listening, a little bit of self-training can do wonders for the soul. You learn more and you are liked better.
Some people have a knack for it. But even if you don't, you can learn.
...that if you're sincerely interested in a person, you'll pay attention to what they say and do and what you say and do? You can't FAKE "being charming." Why do people insist on having "Cliff Notes" and cheat sheets when all they really need to do is be themselves in a mutually beneficial relationship? Everyone can see through these "methods" when they're just a ploy or a fake out. Be the best but real person you know how to be and you'll be charming, otherwise, you're just as "plastic" as the grinning used car salesman.
Nice post. I'm one of many people on the fence about the benefits and harms of moderate alcohol consumption. Most recently I've been trying to drink no more than what the medical community deems acceptable - about 12 drinks per week for men. One of the things that concerns me is the numerous studies that show direct correlations between alcohol consumption, even minimal, and certain cancers and diseases -- particularly in women. It's worth a serious look. And, while I don't disagree with your posting, the off-the-cuff intro paragraph could be very misleading.
It's the whole listening and connecting part.. I find that if you seriously pay attention to someone, and look them in the eyes, while smiling a bit (not crazed), and are genuinely interested in their opinions, it works out to be pretty good in terms of building a rapport.
The only problem is when you do it too much and you end up almost interviewing them or probing into their lives, and they feel like they are talking about themselves.... but you're sizing them up like a chunk of meat (my brother does this)...
There's a fine line between how many questions to ask, and offering some experiences of your own as well when you're asking about theirs...
I think the evidence is clear on the benefits from moderate alcohol consumption. It's certainly true that excessive alcohol consumption is harmful, and that the threshold where drinking becomes immoderate is pretty low--you get pretty much all of the benefit after one drink a day, and the harmful effects are apparent if you exceed two drinks a day.
There is some evidence that certain cancers are associated with even moderate alcohol consumption, although the associations are much less certain than those supporting the cardiovascular benefits. (In particular, proper nutrition seems to prevent the harm in at least some cases.)
If you have an alcohol problem, you should definitely stay away from it. If you're already at very low risk from cardiovascular disease, the benefits may not outweigh the risks. But I think the evidence is clear that for most people, moderate alcohol consumption is a clear win.
I love Derren Brown. I wonder whether his job is harder now (in England) that people know who he is. I like the way that he does what he says he does, misdirection, sleight of hand, suggestion and illusion to produce amazing effects.
A few years ago he did a series filmed in America where he went to several different groups, claiming different experiences/skils like a clairvoyant, someone who'd been abducted by aliens and seeing whether he could convince experts that he was what he said. Most of them thought that he was a natural, but in fact he was using suggestion and so on.
Hey Andrea,
I learned some similar tips for job interviews. Number one thing my 'internship counselor' in college told me was that people feel best about a conversation when they've talked mostly about themselves. The best interviews I've had so far actually ended up in engaged, interesting conversations, so I guess it works. Anyway, interview or no interview the world needs more good listeners!
Don't know if the list applies to cell phones. But I put my cell phone number on the do not call list. It is my primary phone and I use it for everything, so it is definitely out there to be sold to marketers. I've never gotten any telemarketing calls on it.
I think a list like this will only do so much good. Some people change numbers all the time. Of course with the ability to take your number to a different carrier, it may gain in value.
Gold and silver aren't really producing assets--they don't pay interest or dividends, and they don't really go up in value. (They may go up in price when market fluctuations let you buy them at an unusually low price and as inflation makes the money worth less, but that's just the value remaining stable.)
That stability makes gold and silver good stores of value, as long as you don't buy them at historically high prices. If you bought gold six or eight years ago you're sitting pretty right now. It's not so clear that buying gold at today's prices will turn out to be a win.
Besides a store of value, they may also be good in times of great emergency, if things get bad enough that people lose their confidence in cash. In practice, though, the dollar has turned out to be a lot more useful than gold or silver so far, at least in developed countries, even during emergencies, for as long as I've been paying attention.
Having said all that, I've got some gold and silver in my safe deposit box at the bank. I figure it's a hedge against worse emergencies than we've faced so far. Plus, it's pretty.
I actually experience the opposite effect. Whenever I buy something nice it ends up hanging in the closet because I can't find the right occasion to wear it! And even if I do find the occasion, I don't want to because I'm afraid to ruin it and...so on...so sad
Good, glad you're devoting yourself to full-time writing - looking forward to reading more thought-provoking articles.
This book is the first thing I thought of when I read your post.
I've also heard a few "experts" recommend the purchase of small amounts of silver and gold. What do you think about that?
The scariest thing in my mind is that given the challenges you've mentioned above we've yet to see what the baby-boomer effect is going to do to the landscape.
I'm under the impression that, with-in the next few years, the number of people turning 70 1/2 who will be forced to start withdrawing their money from the IRAs will increase by over 33% in a single year. That is bound to put a huge strain on things.
Another great article, Philip.
Personally, my favorite "lifestyle" is to not have to work for anyone in particular, to only use my time on projects I feel are valuable, and to have control over my time.
OK, I also like to occasionally match my shoes and pocketbook. I'm a chick, what can I say?
There is no evidence that any home remedies or topical medications will help with varicose vein disease.
Im sure this is just for entertainment value, but I would make sure you consult a physician.
DC
Well, I'd say having an interview with a company rep who confirms the story (like it says in the Times) would probably indicate that this is legit.
Hi,
I haven't checked the Seattle Times link you referenced, but snopes.com has called this an urban myth for a while now. I'll check out the Seattle story too, but thought you'd want to know...
Glad to hear that you're doing well.
Staying out of debt is always a safe choice. It's not always the winning choice, though. In a resource-rich environment, the people who are willing to go out on a limb (and aren't so unlucky as to get caught short by a crunch like this), come out ahead.
Of course, coming out ahead isn't the important thing.
It would be best if you could see the future. Even though you can't it's often possible to see far enough ahead to know that there won't be a crunch in the next few years, and feel confident enough to take on a safe amount of debt. (Now is not that time.)
Well according to the checklist included here as to what makes someone charming, I am one charming fellow.
I have all the traits and characteristics required to be percieved as charming.
However, no one else seems to notice as they plow through life as rudely and arrogantly as they can.
This advice is what is in ever financial book I've read and most of the advice I've received has been this: Stay out of debt, have savings. Not only the way to weather the economy, it's also a way to just be stable in life.
Before this "squeeze" I was feeling about as unamerican as fidel castro but now that the subprime mortgage industry is effectively drying up, my friends who bought houses right out of college are starting to see the light.
The problem is, so many of us love to talk about ourselves that we don't take the time to learn about other people. I've participated in so many "conversations" that really consisted of each person waiting for their turn to speak, without taking into account what was said by everyone else.
Really LISTENING to other people, and taking a genuine interest in what they are saying, will never come across as fake. If you are FAKING the interest, then yeah, you'll come across as a total douchenozzle. In that case, don't bother. Just go on talking about yourself. But for people who really do want to hear about other people, but just aren't accustomed to listening, a little bit of self-training can do wonders for the soul. You learn more and you are liked better.
Some people have a knack for it. But even if you don't, you can learn.
...that if you're sincerely interested in a person, you'll pay attention to what they say and do and what you say and do? You can't FAKE "being charming." Why do people insist on having "Cliff Notes" and cheat sheets when all they really need to do is be themselves in a mutually beneficial relationship? Everyone can see through these "methods" when they're just a ploy or a fake out. Be the best but real person you know how to be and you'll be charming, otherwise, you're just as "plastic" as the grinning used car salesman.
No idea whether this would work, but as the motorbike shield stuff works, maybe it would?? Thanks for the great article and advice!!!
Excellent insight. Thanks
-Joel
Matt,
I'm with you there. As I was reading this I was asking myself "why hasn't everyone read Dale Carnegie's book?"
Seriously, if this topic even remotely interests you, go read the authoritative text on the subject, "How to Win Friends and Influence People"
When I can neatly summarize the ideas right here?
Nice post. I'm one of many people on the fence about the benefits and harms of moderate alcohol consumption. Most recently I've been trying to drink no more than what the medical community deems acceptable - about 12 drinks per week for men. One of the things that concerns me is the numerous studies that show direct correlations between alcohol consumption, even minimal, and certain cancers and diseases -- particularly in women. It's worth a serious look. And, while I don't disagree with your posting, the off-the-cuff intro paragraph could be very misleading.
Read "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie in 1936. Half of the book is about EXACTLY the same thing.
It's the whole listening and connecting part.. I find that if you seriously pay attention to someone, and look them in the eyes, while smiling a bit (not crazed), and are genuinely interested in their opinions, it works out to be pretty good in terms of building a rapport.
The only problem is when you do it too much and you end up almost interviewing them or probing into their lives, and they feel like they are talking about themselves.... but you're sizing them up like a chunk of meat (my brother does this)...
There's a fine line between how many questions to ask, and offering some experiences of your own as well when you're asking about theirs...
I think the evidence is clear on the benefits from moderate alcohol consumption. It's certainly true that excessive alcohol consumption is harmful, and that the threshold where drinking becomes immoderate is pretty low--you get pretty much all of the benefit after one drink a day, and the harmful effects are apparent if you exceed two drinks a day.
There is some evidence that certain cancers are associated with even moderate alcohol consumption, although the associations are much less certain than those supporting the cardiovascular benefits. (In particular, proper nutrition seems to prevent the harm in at least some cases.)
If you have an alcohol problem, you should definitely stay away from it. If you're already at very low risk from cardiovascular disease, the benefits may not outweigh the risks. But I think the evidence is clear that for most people, moderate alcohol consumption is a clear win.
I love Derren Brown. I wonder whether his job is harder now (in England) that people know who he is. I like the way that he does what he says he does, misdirection, sleight of hand, suggestion and illusion to produce amazing effects.
A few years ago he did a series filmed in America where he went to several different groups, claiming different experiences/skils like a clairvoyant, someone who'd been abducted by aliens and seeing whether he could convince experts that he was what he said. Most of them thought that he was a natural, but in fact he was using suggestion and so on.
Hey Andrea,
I learned some similar tips for job interviews. Number one thing my 'internship counselor' in college told me was that people feel best about a conversation when they've talked mostly about themselves. The best interviews I've had so far actually ended up in engaged, interesting conversations, so I guess it works. Anyway, interview or no interview the world needs more good listeners!