November 12, 2005

About Me

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Table of Contents

Biography

I'm Robert Bednark, known as "Rob" or "Robbie". I was born in Minnesota in 1969. I grew up in rural Minnesota in dairy farming country. My parents owned and operated a manufacturing company out in the country that they built in 1950 and ran until they sold it in 1979. The company employed 10 people and manufactured wooden bed frames, the internal support used in box springs, the part of the bed under the mattress.

I have 6 siblings -- 3 sisters and 3 brothers. I am the youngest by 10 years. My father died in 1980, and my mother now lives in Fountain Hills, AZ.

I graduated from Healy High School in Pierz, Minnesota in 1987. I attended St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota from 1987-1992, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science (BSCS) and a minor in Human Relations.

I worked for Com Squared Systems in Minneapolis from 1992-1996 as a Software Engineer, writing client-server database software in DOS, MS-Windows, and UNIX, using Pascal, Visual Basic, and C. Sara and I moved to Oregon in November, 1996, and I started working as a contractor for Informix in December, 1996.  I became a permanent Informix employee on 1/1/98. Informix was purchased by IBM in July, 2001, so I now work for IBM. At Informix I worked on a build team doing build and release engineering of database servers, working on Unix and MS-Windows using Perl, Clearcase, Bourne shell (sh), and C; I also did a competitive analysis, and worked on a web-search product similar to Google. Since Dec 2001 I've been working on the test team for SAN File System.

Genealogy

Parents:

  • Benjamin "Ben" Andrew Bednark (7/18/13 - 3/13/80)
  • Bernice Beatrice (Pulak) (Bednark) Drywa

Siblings:

  • Karen Jones - Tulsa, OK
  • Dan Bednark - Scottsdale, AZ
  • Cheryle Andrea - Pierz, MN
  • Donna Young - Pierz, MN
  • John Bednark - St. Cloud, MN
  • Greg Bednark - St. Cloud, MN

Nieces and Nephews:

  • Shawn Andrea (Cheryle)
  • Angie Young (Donna)
  • Cory Andrea (Cheryle)
  • Chris Young (Donna)
  • Ben Jones (Karen)
  • Jonathan Bednark (John)
  • Deborah Jones (Karen)
  • Jessica Bednark (John)
  • Julie Bednark (John)
  • Brett Kuntz (Angie)
Interests
(updated 15 Sep 2005)
  • Violin / fiddle - I started playing the violin in Feb, 2005, and I'm loving it! I take lessons from Kay Johnson in Gresham.
  • Meditation - been meditating with class in Portland since Aug 1997.
  • Spirituality
  • Reading (non-fiction; topics include creativity, psychology, consciousness, perception, drugs, meta-cognition, meditation, spirituality, linguistics, communication, education, learning, management, anthropology, biographies, health, healing, New Age topics, motivation, inspiration, attention, philosophy of science, social science, consumerism, investing, investment psychology).
  • Linguistics -- language, languages, phonemes, vocabulary, cultural issues, values, general semantics
  • Cultural differences.
  • Playing drums (trap set, hand drums (djembe, bongos, frame drums))
  • Traveling (see Places I've Traveled)
  • Eyesight improvement -- improving my vision
  • Tutoring - from February 1997 to June 1998 Sara and I tutored English to a Cambodian family.
  • Hiking.
  • Flying - I have a private pilot's license (115 hours in Cessna 150/152; 170/172)
  • Soaring - I started gliding/soaring lessons 4/98 in sailplanes / glider-planes.
  • Time perception -- how do we perceive time? How do drugs affect time perception? How can we purposely affect our time perception?
  • Management and leadership -- Peter Drucker, W. Edwards Deming, ...
  • Investing in stocks and stock options

Favorite Books
(updated 3/11/2002)
  • Brand, Stewart
    "The Essential Whole Earth Catalog : Access to Tools and Ideas" 1986.
  • Campbell, George L.
    "Concise Compendium of the World's Languages" (1995)"
  • Crystal, David
    "The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language"
  • De Bono, Edward
    "I Am Right, You Are Wrong - From Rock Logic to Water Logic"
  • Dikkers, Scott (and others)
    "Our Dumb Century : 100 Years of Headlines from America's Finest News Source" 1999. (read 09/06/99-09/20/99)
    Comments: Satirical news stories of this century.
  • Elliot, William
    "Tying Rocks to Clouds : Meetings and Conversations with Wise and Spiritual People" 1995
  • Gladwell, Malcolm, 1963-
    "The Tipping Point : How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference" 2000. (read 5/15 - 5/31/2000)
    Comments: Excellent book on epidemics (in the general sense) and what causes them.
  • Hayakawa, S. I.
    "Language in Though and Action" 1939,1940,1941,1949,1963,1964,1972,1978, (read 8/98,1/99,3/00)
  • Kornfied, Jack
    " After the Ecstasy, the Laundry : How the Heart Grows Wise on the Spiritual Path" 2000. (read 8/2000)
    Comments: Excellent book on spiritual growth.
  • Lightman, Alan
    "Einstein's Dreams"
  • Moore, Dinty
    "The Accidental Buddhist" 1997
  • Pirsig, Robert
    "Lila"
    "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"
  • Postman, Neil
    "Technopoly : The Surrender of Culture to Technology" 1992. (read 5/10 - 8/21/2000)
    Comments: Excellent book about the unquestionable authority of technology and the negative effects it has on humanity.
  • Remen, Rachel Naomi, M.D.
    "My Grandfather's Blessings : Stories of Strength, Courage, and Belonging" 2000. (read 10/2001)
  • Remen, Rachel Naomi, M.D.
    "Kitchen Table Wisdom : Stories That Heal" 1996. (read 9/2001)
    Comments: Read entire book. Loved it. Wonderful book of small stories about healing. See my Book Notes for my favorite passages from the book.
    Subjects: 2) Remen, Rachel Naomi -- Philosophy. 3) Physicians -- United States -- Biography. 4) Meditations.
  • Roberts, Monty
    "The Man Who Listens to Horses" 1997 (read 2/98)
  • Rushkoff, Douglas & Wells, Patrick
    ""Free rides: how to get high without drugs" 1991
  • Shenk, David, 1966-
    "Data Smog : Surviving the Information Glut" 1997. (read 10/2000)
    Comments: Excellent book about being unundated with data from advertising, tv, radio, email, ... and the effects that it has on people and society.
  • Slater, Philip
    "The Wayward Gate : Science and the Supernatural" 1977.
  • Stoll, Clifford
    "High Tech Heretic : Why Computers Don't Belong in the Classroom and Other Reflections by a Computer Contrarian" 1999. (read 6/26-7/09/2000)
    Comments: Excellent book on why computers are overrated, why they shouldn't be in classrooms, and the cost they have on society.
  • Strauch, Ralph
    "The Reality Illusion - How You Make the World You Experience"
  • Talbot, Michael
    "The Holographic Universe" 1991. (read 1/98)
  • Weil, Andrew
    "Spontaneous Healing"
    "The Natural Mind : An Exploration of Drugs and Higher Consciousness"
  • Weil, Andrew & Rosen, Winifred
    "From Chocolate to Morphine : Everything You Need to Know About Mind-Altering Drugs"
  • Wise, Anna
    "The High Performance Mind - Mastering Brainwaves for Insight, Creativity, & Healing"
  • Yogananda, Paramahansa
    "Autobiography of a Yogi" 1959 (read 1997)

Books I've Been Reading Lately
(updated 18 July 2004)
  • Rice, Sydney
    "Choice Points : Navigate Your Career Using the Unique PaperRoom Process"" 2004. (read 7/2004)
    Comments: Good book on making choices and breaking habits of not doing things that you want to do.
  • Pollan, Stephen M.
    "Fire Your Boss"" 2004. (read 7/2004)
    Comments: Excellent book.
  • Jansen, Julie
    "I Don't Know What I Want, But I Know It's Not This : A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Gratifying Work" 2003. (read 7/2004)
    Comments: Has some good exercises for determining strengths and interests. Also good theory of stages of work and life (Where's the Meaning?, Been There Done That Bug Still Need to Earn, ...)
  • McTaggart, Lynne
    "What Doctors Don't Tell You : The Truth About the Dangers of Modern Medicine" 1996,1998. (read 7/2004)
    Comments: Excellent book. I was particularly interested in the chapter on vaccinations.
  • Carse, James P.
    "The Silence of God : Meditations on Prayer" 1985. (read 8/2001)
    Comments: Excellent book. Loved it.
  • Remen, Rachel Naomi, M.D.
    "My Grandfather's Blessings : Stories of Strength, Courage, and Belonging" 2000. (read 10/2001)
    Comments: Excellent book. Loved it.
  • Parent, Marc
    "Believing It All : What My Children Taught Me About Trout Fishing, Jelly Toast, and Life" 2001. (read 9/2001)
    Comments: Loved it.
  • Stewart, Edward C. and Milton J. Bennett
    "American Cultural Patterns : A Cross-Cultural Perspective" 1991. (read 10/2001)
    Comments: Good book on cultural differences between Americans and others. Good content, but written in a way that makes it time-consuming to read to get the meat. Had to return -- get again.
    Index. No glossary. Bibliography/references (150 works).
    SUBJECTS 2. National characteristics, American -- Cross-cultural studies. 3. United States -- Civilization -- Cross-cultural studies.
  • Remen, Rachel Naomi, M.D.
    "Kitchen Table Wisdom : Stories That Heal" 1996. (read 9/2001)
    Comments: Read entire book. Loved it. One of my favorite books. Wonderful book of small stories about healing. See my Book Notes for my favorite passages from the book.
    Subjects: 2) Remen, Rachel Naomi -- Philosophy. 3) Physicians -- United States -- Biography. 4) Meditations.
  • Bennett, Milton J. (editor)
    "Basic Concepts of Intercultural Communication : Selected Readings" 1998. (read 9/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Had to return. Get again. Good articles about how different cultures communicate differently.
    Index. No Glossary. Notes/footnotes. Bibliography/references (50 works).
    CONTENTS Communication in a global village / Dean Barnlund -- The power of hidden differences / Edward T. Hall -- Multicultural education: development, dimensions, and challenges / James A. Banks -- Science and linguistics / Benjamin Lee Whorf -- Culture: a perceptual approach / Marshall R. Singer -- Interactions between North Americans and Japanese: considerations of communication style / Sheila J. Ramsey -- Black and White cultural styles in pluralistic perspective / Thomas Kochman -- Cultural assumptions and values / Edward C. Stewart, Jack Danielian, and Robert J. Foster -- Stumbling blocks in intercultural communication / LaRay M. Barna -- Overcoming the Golden Rule: sympathy and empathy / Milton J. Bennet -- Transition shock: putting culture shock in perspective / Janet M. Bennett -- Beyond cultural identity: reflections on multiculturalism / Peter S. Adler.
    SUBJECTS 1) Intercultural communication.
  • Johnson, Steven
    " Interface Culture : How New Technology Transforms the Way We Create and Communicate" 1997. (read 9/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Had to return. Get again. Good ideas about metaphors for computer software, and about weaknesses of Internet that haven't been exploited.
    Index. No Glossary. Notes/footnotes. No Bibliography/references.
    SUBJECTS 1) Information technology -- Social aspects. 2) Information society. 3) Communication and culture.
  • Schacter, Daniel L.
    "The Seven Sins of Memory : How the Mind Forgets and Remembers" 2001. (read 9/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Had to return. Get again. Interesting stories and studies about memory.
    Index. No Glossary. Extensive Notes/footnotes. Huge Bibliography/references (300+ works).
    SUBJECTS 1) Memory disorders. 2) Memory. 3) Recollection (Psychology)
  • Vick, Timothy
    "How To Pick Stocks Like Warren Buffett : Profiting from the Bargain Hunting Strategies of the World's Greatest Value Investor" 2001. (read 9/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Had to return. Get it again. Table of contents looks good.
    Index. No Glossary. Notes/footnotes. No Bibliography/references .
    SUBJECTS 1) Investments -- United States. 2) Stocks -- United States.
  • Carse, James P.
    "Breakfast at the Victory : the Mysticism of Ordinary Experience" 1994. (read 8/2001)
    Comments: Excellent book. One of my favorites.
    No Index. No Glossary. No Notes/footnotes. No Bibliography/references.
    SUBJECTS 1) Mysticism. 2) Spiritual life. 3) Psychology, Religious.
  • Lomax, Alan The Land Where The Blues Began 1990 (videotape from library)
    Comments: Excellent video documentary about the birthplace of the blues in the Mississippi Delta.
    SUBJECTS 1) Documentary films. 2) Popular culture -- Mississippi. 3) Blues (Music) -- Mississippi. 4) African Americans -- Mississippi. 5) Blues (Music)
  • Carlin, George
    "Napalm and Silly Putty" 2001. (read 8/2001)
    Comments: Funny. Skimmed, had to return it.
    No Index. No Glossary. No Notes/footnotes. No Bibliography/references (xx works).
    Subjects: American wit and humor.
  • Peace Pilgrim
    "Peace Pilgrim : Her Life and Work In Her Own Words" 1983,1991. (read 8/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Had to return. Very good.
    No Index. No Glossary. No Notes/footnotes. No Bibliography/references.
    Subjects: 2. Peace Pilgrim, d. 1981. 3. Pacifists -- United States -- Biography.
  • Gardner, Howard
    "Extraordinary Minds : Portraits of 4 Exceptional Individuals and An Examination of Our Own Extraordinariness" 1997. (read 8/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Had to return. Good final chapter called "Lessons" that sums up the lessons learned.
    Index. No glossary. No notes/footnotes. Bibliography (100 works).
    Subjects: SERIES 2. MasterMinds SUBJECTS 3. Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791. 4. Freud, Sigmund, 1856-1939. 5. Woolf, Virginia, 1882-1941. 6. Gandhi, Mahatma, 1869-1948. 7. Gifted persons. 8. Gifted persons -- Case studies.
  • Bowers, C. A.
    "Let Them Eat Data : How Computers Affect Education, Cultural Diversity, and the Prospects of Ecological Sustainability" 2000. (read 7/2001)
    Comments: Looks good. Wasn't in mood to read it. Would like to get again.
    Table of Contents:
    1. Globalizing Cyberspace: Vision and Reality
    2. The Culture of Cyberspace and Everyday Life
    3. Displacing Wisdom with Data: Ecological Implications
    4. Evolutionary Theory and the Global Computer Culture
    5. The False Promises of Computer-Based Education
    6. Why Computers Should Not Replace Teachers
    7. Rethinking Technology: What Educational Institutions Can Do
    Index. No Glossary. No Notes. Bibliography (100 works).
    Subjects: 2. Computers and civilization. 3. Education -- Data processing.
  • Wurman, Richard Saul
    "Follow The Yellow Brick Road : Learning to Give, Take, and Use Instructions" 1992. (read 5/2001)
    Comments: Good book on instructions. Skimmed. Would like to read more in depth - had to return. Book is layed out nicely. Good graphical design. Good examples and quotes.
    Index. No Glossary. No Notes. Bibliography (100 works).
    Subjects: Oral communication.
  • Davidson and Associates / Simon and Schuster
    "Typing Tutor 7" (computer software) 1996. (used 5/2001)
    Comments: Good software for learning typing. I was learning it to improve my Dvorak keyboard skills.
    Subjects: Typewriting -- Interactive multimedia; CD-ROM product.
  • Hayes, Charles (1955-) (editor)
    "Tripping : An Anthology Of True-Life Psychedelic Adventures" 2000. (read 7/2001)
    Comments: Excellent book. Fascinating reading of 50 different psychedelic trips that 50 different people have taken, and the profound impact that it had on their lives. Excellent introduction that talks about the general impacts of psychedelic drugs. See my Book Notes web page for quotes that I've selected from the book.
    Index. Glossary of psychedelic substances. Notes. Bibliography (30 works, including web sites, films, and organizations).
  • Coen, Ethan and Joel Coen
    "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" (movie script) 2000. (read 6/2001)
    Comments: Script to the movie.
    No Index. No Glossary. No Notes. No Bibliography.
    Subjects: None.
  • Brian, Denis
    "The Enchanted Voyager : The Life of J.B. Rhine : An Authorized Biography" 1982. (read 6/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Interesting story about Rhine, the Duke University scientist that researched a lot of paranormal things, including telepathy, clairvoyance, psychokinesis. Get again.
    Index. No glossary. Notes. No Bibliography.
    Subjects: Rhine, J. B. (Joseph Banks), 1895-1980; Parapsychology -- Research -- Biography
  • Gleick, James
    "Chaos : Making a New Science" 1987. (read 6/2001)
    Comments: Didn't get a chance to read. Had to return it. Would like to get it again. Index. No bibliography, but extensive notes and citations.
    Subjects:
  • Streznewski, MaryLou Kelly
    "Gifted Grownups : The Mixed Blessings of Extraordinary Potential" 1999. (read 4/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Didn't grab me. Didn't like all the stories. No good summaries. Lack of index. Good quotes at beginning of chapters. Recommended to me by TC, who like it. Very good annotated recommended reading section.
    No index. Bibliography (400 works).
    Subjects: Gifted persons; Gifted persons -- Case studies; Creative ability -- Social aspects.
  • LaBier, M. Rogan
    "The Nasdaq Trader's Toolkit" 2001. (read 6/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Good explanation of level II and level III quotes. Good explanation of market-makers and what they do. Good explanations of electronic trading networks (ECN's) (like Island, Instinet, Archipelago, Redibook), small order execution system (SOES), SuperSOES, SelectNET.
    Index. No Bibliography.
    Subjects:
  • Gleick, James
    "Genius : The Life and Science of Richard Feynman" 1992. (read 6/2001)
    Comments: Enjoying.
    Subjects: Feynman, Richard Phillips.; Physics -- History -- 20th century; Physicists -- United States -- Biography.
  • Dertouzos, Michael
    "The Unfinished Revolution : Human-Centered Computers and What They Can Do for Us" 2001. (read 5/29/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Would like to get again. Talks about metaphors used for computers. What short-comings are of computers and software. Well-written. Index. No bibliography.
    Subjects: Human-computer interaction; User interfaces (Computer systems)
  • Storti, Craig
    "Figuring Foreigners Out : A Practical Guide" 1999. (read 5/16/2001)
    Comments: Very good book on cultural differences, with many quizzes that ask you to identify the trait for a given instance. Topics include concept of self (individualist-collectivist), personal versus societal responsibility (universalist-particularist), time (monochronic-polychronic), locus of control (internal-external), verbal communication (direct-indirect), nonverbal communication (body language), and culture in the workplace. No index. Bibliography (60 works).
    Subjects: cross-cultural orientation; intercultural communication
  • Gilder, George (1939-)
    "Tele-cosm : How Infinite Bandwidth Will Revolutionize Our World" 2000. (read 5/16/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Excellent appendix listing the 20 laws of the telecosm. Excellent appendix listing the telecosm companies and the 9 telecosm stars. No bibliography. Index.
    Subjects: telecommunication -- forecasting
  • Shenk, David
    "The End of Patience : Cautionary Notes on the Information Revolution" 1999. (read 5/16/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. A collection of essays. Didn't grab me. I loved his other book, "Data Smog". Index. No bibliography.
    Subjects: Information technology -- Social aspects; Telecommunication -- Social aspects; Information society
  • Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930
    "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" 1963. (read 4/2001-6/2001)
    Comments: Very enjoyable. Second reading. First read 20 years ago.
  • Hall, Edward T. and Mildred Reed Hall
    "Understanding Cultural Differences : Germans, French, and Americans" 1990. (read 5/14/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Very good. Has a good short summary of key topics of time, context, space, information flow, interfacing. Short book. Index. Bibliography (40 works).
    Subjects: intercultural communication; national characteristics; industrial management; corporations -- management
  • Maital, Shlomo
    "Minds, Markets, and Money : Psychological Foundations of Economic Behavior" 1982. (read 5/14/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Good book on behavioral finance / Economics -- psychological aspects. Written in a more informal way, so enjoyable reading. Index.
  • Maital Shlomo and Sharone L. Maital
    "Economic Games People Play " 1984. (read 5/14/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Didn't grab me. Includes 30 different games, like "Dollar Option" and "Hot Potato". Might be worthwhile if getting into this topic more. Subject: behavioral finance / Economics -- psychological aspects. Index.
  • Bernstein, Jake
    "The Investor's Quotient : The Psychology of Successful Investing in Commodities and Stocks" 1993. (read 5/14/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Didn't care for topic. Concerned with personal psychological aspects of investing, like risk, fear, attitudes. Index. Subject: behavioral finance / Economics -- psychological aspects.
  • Shiller, Robert J.
    "Irrational Exuberance" 2000. (read 5/14/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Discusses factors that have led to the big stock market rise of the late 1990's. Tends toward the more scholarly and formal side. Index. Extensive bibliography. Subject: behavioral finance; Economics -- psychological aspects; investment psychology.
  • Myers, Jonathan
    "Profits Without Panic : Investment Psychology for Personal Wealth" 1999. (read 5/14/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Decent summary of ideas presented at the end of the book. Good for skimming. Didn't find any new ideas in it. Index. Bibliography (30 listed). Subject: behavioral finance; Economics -- psychological aspects; investment psychology.
  • Senge, Peter; Art Kleiner, Charlotte Roberts, Richard Ross, George Roth, Bryan Smith
    "The Dance of Change : The Challenges to Sustaining Momentum in Learning Organizations" 1999. (read 5/14/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Big book, wordy. No summaries or general principles. Didn't grab me. Good index. No bibliography. Subject: organizational change; organizational learning
  • Winston, Brian
    "Media Technology and Society : A History : From the Telegraph to the Internet" 1998. (read 5/14/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Very wordy, detailed, factual, historical. Didn't grab me. Good index. Extensive bibliography (300 works).
    Subjects: Mass media -- social aspects; mass media -- technological innovations -- history.
  • Hall, Edward T.
    "An Anthropology of Everyday Life : An Autobiography" 1992. (read 5/14/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Author of books about cultural differences and time perception. Might be interesting to get again and read. Didn't look particularly inviting or interesting. No index. Bibliography (50 works).
    Subjects: intercultural communication; Edward Twitchell Hall, 1914-; personality and culture; ethnopsychology
  • Axtell, Roger E. (compiled by the Parker Pen Company)
    "Do's and Taboos Around the World" 1985,1990,1993. (read 5/14/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Practical book of cultural differences, including protocol, customs, etiquette, hand gestures and body language, gift giving and receiving, American jargon, and tips for incoming visitors to the U.S. Index. Bibliography (20 works).
    Subjects: intercultural communication; business etiquette
  • Rushkoff, Douglas
    "Coercion : Why We Listen to What "They" Say" 1999. (read 5/14/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Good topic. Linear, storylike -- not very skimmable. Interesting facts of ways that business use to persuade us to buy things. No index. Bibliography (100 works).
    Subjects: mass media -- influence; persuasion (psychology)
  • Mero, Laszlo
    "Moral Calculations : Game Theory, Logic, and Human Frailty" 1998. (read 5/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Didn't grab me. But looks well-written for what it is. I would like to see a summary of ideas/principles from it.
  • de Bono, Edward
    "How You Can Be More Interesting" 1997. (read 5/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Didn't grab me. I would like to see a summary of the ideas that he presents. The book has a lot of exercises. I don't like how the book is layed out. No index. I think there are a number of good ideas in it, but would take quite a bit of effort to extract them.
  • Read, Stuart
    "The Oracle Edge : How Oracle Corporation's Take-No-Prisoners Strategy Has Created an $8 Billion Software Powerhouse" 2000. (read 2/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Interesting.
  • de Bono, Edward
    "Sur/Petition : Creating Value Monopolies When Everyone Else is Merely Competing" 1992. (read 5/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Some good ideas.
  • Brown, Jerry
    "Dialogues" 1998. (read 2/2001)
    Comments: Some good interviews with Thich Nhat Hanh and Noam Chomsky.
  • Sinclair, Kevin and Iris Wong Po-yee
    "Culture Shock! China : A Guide to Customs and Etiquette" 1990,1996,1998. (read 5/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed.
  • Lesikar, Raymond V., John D. Pettit, Jr., and Marie E. Flatley
    "Basic Business Communication" 1979-1993. (read 5/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Didn't have what I was looking for. Textbook. Big. I'm still looking for some basic psychological principles for making suggestions without being pushy, like "use 'I' instead of 'you'".
  • Wilson, Mike
    "The Difference Between God and Larry Ellison : Inside Oracle Corporation" 1997. (read 5/2001)
    Comments: Didn't read. Looks interesting.
  • Rampton, Sheldon and John Stauber
    "Trust Us, We're Experts! : How Industry Manipulates Science and Gambles with Your Future" 2001. (read 5/2001)
    Comments: Didn't read. Looks like an excellent book on perception and how corporations persuade consumers to believe lies. Lot of detailed stories. Wasn't in the mood to read it.
  • Chesla, Elizabeth, M.A.
    "Improve Your Writing For Work" 2000. (read 5/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Pretty good. I'm still looking for some basic psychological principles for making suggestions without being pushy, like "use 'I' instead of 'you'".
  • Creative Wonders
    "Slam Dunk Typing" (CD-ROM Software) 1997. (tried 4/19/2001)
    Comments: Wouldn't install on Windows NT 4 or Windows 2000. Requires Windows 3.1, 95, or 98.
  • ViaGraphix
    "Learning Excel 97, Advanced" (CD-ROM) 1998. (watched 4/19/2001)
    Comments: Pretty good CD-ROM that shows you how to use Microsoft Excel. Has audio/video demonstrations. There are also Intermediate, Introduction, Macros, and Charts CD's available separately.
  • Fisher, Frederick
    "Culture Shock! A Globetrotter's Guide" 1995. (read 4/18/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Culture Shock! is a very good series on cultural differences. This one is a good general one, including info about transportation, companionship, women travelling alone, costs, food, health, shopping, and other issues.
  • Shleifer, Andrei
    "Inefficient Markets : An Introduction to Behavioral Finance" 2000. (read 4/18/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Decent book on behavioral finance. Chapters include "Are Financial Markets Efficient?", "A Model of Investor Sentiment", "Positive Feedback Investment Strategies", and "Open Problems". Pretty scholarly, and quite a bit of heavy math/statistics. But some good general principles to be gained. Very extensive bibliography. Good index.
  • Krantz, Grover S.
    "Big Footprints: A Scientific Inquiry Into the Reality of Sasquatch" 1992. (read 4/18/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Good book on Bigfoot/Sasquatch. Krantz is a professor of physical anthropology at Washington State University. Book includes pictures of footprints, and casts. Good analysis on whether bigfoot exists or doesn't exist.
  • Dixon, Nancy M.
    "Common Knowledge : How Companies Thrive by Sharing What They Know" 2000. (read 4/18/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Good book. Would like to get again and read more. Has index. Real examples of actual companies and how they share info. No bibliography.
    Subjects: organizational learning; intellectual cooperation; knowledge management; business enterprises -- communication systems
  • Thomas Bros. Maps
    "Portland Metro Area 1999" (CD-ROM) 1999. (looked at 4/18/2001)
    Comments: Online representation of Thomas Guide map of Portland. Search function for addresses, parks, schools, etc. Map looks identical to paper Thomas Guide. Didn't see much value in it, unless you were looking for a house and wanted to quickly punch in addresses.
  • Electronic Arts
    "SimCity 3000" (CD-ROM) 1998. (read 4/18/2001)
    Comments: Looks like an interesting game. I didn't have enough disk space (230 MB) to install. Tried a demo and it didn't work.
  • Electronic Arts
    "The Sims : The People Simulator from the Creator of SimCity" (CD-ROM) 2000. (read 4/18/2001)
    Comments: Looks like an interesting game. I didn't have enough disk space to install (300 MB).
  • de Bono, Edward
    "New Thinking for the New Millennium" 2000. (read 2/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Didn't grab me like some of his other books. Good ideas. Layed out in essay-like form.
  • Curley, Michael T. and Walker, Joseph A.
    "How to Prepare for the Stockbroker Exam : Series 7" (read 2/2001)
    Comments: Good book on explaining stock and option trading, bonds, underwriting, over-the-counter, federal reserve, and securities analysis of financial statements.
  • Westheimer, Patricia H.
    "The Perfect Memo! Write Your Way to Career Success!" 1995. (read 3/2001)
    Comments: Pretty good. I like the way it's written. I'm still looking for some basic psychological principles for making suggestions without being pushy, like "use 'I' instead of 'you'".
  • Millennia Corp (publisher)
    "Charting Your Family History : Including Legacy, Family Tree Software Version 2.0, on CD-ROM, for Microsoft Windows" 1997. (read 3/2001)
    Comments: Book and software for creating a family tree. Good software. Didn't have to read book.
  • Olatunji, Babatunde
    "African Drumming" (videotape) 1993. (watched 3/13/2001)
    Comments: Videotape that shows how to play African hand drums. Learned a couple techniques. Enjoyed it. Pace of lecturing and instruction was *very* slow.
  • Najarian, Jon
    "How I Trade Options" 2001. (read 3/2001)
    Comments: Skimmed. Looks good. Would like to read when I have time. Had to return it.
  • Maclean, Norman
    "Young Men and Fire" 1992. (read 3/1/2001)
    Comments: Started. Non-fiction work about 13 fire jumpers that died in a forest fire in 1949 in Montana. Well-written, but it didn't interest me at the time. Highly recommended by a co-worker.
  • Hall, Edward T.
    "The Dance of Life : The Other Dimension of Time" 1983. (read 2/2001)
    Comments: Interesting book on peoples' perception of time. Skimmed. Would like to read more. Had to return it.
  • Read, Stuart
    "The Oracle Edge : How Oracle Corporation's Take-No-Prisoner's Strategy Has Create An $8 Billion Software Powerhouse 2000. (read 01/2001)
    Comments: Good book on how Oracle became successful, their corporate culture, their strategies.
  • Hary, Mickey and Fredric Lieberman
    "Spirit Into Sound : The Magic of Music" 2000. (read 01/2001)
    Comments: Excellent book on quotes about music.
  • Allen, Henry
    "What It Felt Like : Living in the American Century" 2000. (read 11/2000)
    Comments: Excellent book. A chapter on each of the decades in America. Gives a feel of what it was like to live in each of the time periods. Small book, with short (16 page) chapters.
  • Johnson, Spencer
    "Who Moved My Cheese? : An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life" 1998. (read 11/2000)
    Comments: Well summarized in a Dilbert cartoon - "Change happens. Get over it.". I'm surprised by the hoopla over this book. Worth pondering why it's such a popular book right now.
  • Dylan, Bob 1941-
    "Lyrics: 1962-1985" 1985. (read 5/2000)
    Comments: Good book of all of Dylan's lyrics from '62-'85. Includes drawings by Dylan.
  • Rushkoff, Douglas
    "Coercion : Why We Listen To What "They" Say 1999. (read 10/2000)
    Comments: Good book about persuasion/coercion in marketing, advertising,...
  • Duncan, David James
    "The River Why" 1983. (read 10/2000)
    Comments: Enjoyed it.
  • Winters, Paul A. (book editor)
    "The Information Revolution : Opposing Viewpoints" 1998. (read 10/2/2000)
    Comments: OK. I prefer "Data Smog", "Technopoly", and Cliff Stoll's books more.
  • Shenk, David, 1966-
    "Data Smog : Surviving the Information Glut" 1997. (read 10/2000)
    Comments: Excellent book about being unundated with data from advertising, tv, radio, email, ... and the effects that it has on people and society.
    Index. No Glossary. Notes/footnotes. No Bibliography/references.
    SUBJECTS 1) Information society. 2) Information society -- United States. 3) Information technology -- Social aspects -- United States.
  • Kornfied, Jack
    " After the Ecstasy, the Laundry : How the Heart Grows Wise on the Spiritual Path" 2000. (read 8/2000-9/2000)
    Comments: Excellent book on spiritual growth.
  • Postman, Neil
    "Technopoly : The Surrender of Culture to Technology" 1992. (read 5/10 - 8/21/2000)
    Comments: Excellent book about the unquestionable authority of technology and the negative effects it has on humanity.
  • Stoll, Clifford
    "High Tech Heretic : Why Computers Don't Belong in the Classroom and Other Reflections by a Computer Contrarian" 1999. (read 6/26-7/09/2000)
    Comments: Excellent book on why computers are overrated, why they shouldn't be in classrooms, and the cost they have on society.
  • Belsky, Gary and Gilovich, Thomas
    "Why Smart People Make Big Money Mistakes -- and How to Correct Them : Lessons from the New Science of Behavioral Economics" 1999. (read 6/14/2000)
    Comments: Excellent book on behavioral finance describing common psychological mistakes when investing. Small and fun to read. Excellent conclusion that sums up the lessons. Behavorial finance.
    No index. No glossary. No notes. No bibliography.
    Subjects: Finance, Personal -- Psychological aspects; Finance, Personal -- Decision making; Investments -- Decision making; Consumers -- Attitudes; Economics -- Psychological aspects.
  • Shefrin, Hersh, 1948-
    "Beyond Greed and Fear : Understanding Behavioral Finance and the Psychology of Investing" 2000. (read 6/8 - 6/13/2000)
    Comments: Excellent book on the psychological behavior that people exhibit when investing. I prefer "Why Smart Money People Make Big Money Mistakes". "Beyond..." is more scholarly, bigger. Big bibliography. Behavioral finance.
  • Blackmore, Susan J., 1951-
    "The Meme Machine" 1999. (read 6/6 - 6/13/2000)
    Comments: Some interesting ideas in the beginning. But the examples of memes didn't captivate me, and didn't lend itself to interesting uses and insights.
  • Gladwell, Malcolm, 1963-
    "The Tipping Point : How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference" 2000. (read 5/15 - 6/9/2000)
    Comments: Excellent book on epidemics (in the general sense) and what causes them.
  • Lewis, Michael, 1937 Jan. 10-
    "Altering Fate : Why the Past Does Not Predict the Future" 1997. (read 5/31 - 6/8/2000)
    Comments: Captivating idea of pragmatic/contextualist model being more valid than organismic model.
  • Heller, Robert
    "Warren Buffett : The Man Who Made Billioins with a Unique Investment Strategy" 2000. (read 6/6 - 6/8/2000)
    Comments: Excellent book about Buffett and his philosophy. Well-written, simple, short.
  • Blackmore, Susan J., 1951-
    "In Search of the Light : The Adventures of a Parapsychologist" 1986,1996. (read 6/5 - 6/6/2000)
    Comments: Interesting. I like the writing style. Autobiographical story form.
  • Browne, Joy, 1944-
    "The Nine Fantasies That Will Ruin Your Life and the Eight Realities That Will Save You" 1998. (read 6/5/2000)
    Comments: Skimmed. Good ideas, but didn't find it captivating. Didn't care for the way it's laid out. Too many stories, examples, Q and A's.
  • Postman, Neil
    "How To Watch TV News" 1992. (read 6/1 - 6/2/2000)
    Comments: Good book on TV news being motivated by commercial interests.
  • Flanagan, David
    "Java in a Nutshell : A Quick Reference" 1999 (3rd edition). (read 5/31/2000)
    Comments: Good introduction to Java. Haven't gotten into the reference part yet.
  • Lynch, Aaron
    "Thought Contagion : How Belief Spreads Through Society" 1996. (read 5/30/2000)
    Comments: About memes and memetics. Didn't grab me.
  • Postman, Neil
    "The End of Education : Redefining the Value of School" 1995. (read 5/17/2000)
    Comments: Good book about improving education, including the importance of defining the purpose of education.
  • Buffett, Mary and David Clark
    "Buffettology : The Previously Unexplained Techniques That Have Made Warren Buffett the World's Most Famous Investor" 1997. (read 5/9 - 5/18/2000)
    Comments: Well-written book about Warren's techniques, written by Warren's former daughter-in-law Mary and Warren's friend David. Very readable -- written for the lay person. Good examples. Index. No bibliography.
  • Federal Aviation Administration
    "Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) and Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)" 1997. (read 2/22-3/1/99; 3/8/99; 6/28/99-7/8/99; 7/26-7/30/99; 5/2/00)
    Comments: Book of aviation regulations and information.
  • King, Tom
    "The Operator : David Geffen Builds, Buys, and Sells the New Hollywood" 2000. (read 04/27/2000)
    Comments: Biography about multi-billionare David Geffen. Just started. Like it so far.
  • Illman, Paul E.
    "The Pilot's Radio Communications Handbook" 1998 (5th edition). (read 03/15/99-03/16/99, 03/23/99; 7/2/99; 4/24/00)
    Comments: Good book on radio communications for VFR and IFR private pilots.
  • Maranjian, Selena and Lewis, Roy A., E.A.
    "The Motley Fool's Investment Tax Guide 2000" 2000. (read 04/19/2000)
    Comments: Good guide on paying income taxes (IRA's, deductions, ...).
  • McCutcheon, Susan
    "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way" 1984,1996. (read 4/18/2000)
    Comments: Book that is used in our Bradley natural childbirth course.
  • Graff, Dale
    "River Dreams : The Case of the Missing General and Other Adventures in Psychic Research" 2000. (read 4/11/2000)
    Comments: Good book on remote viewing. Graff headed the remote viewing project for the U.S. military. Has some good practical tips.
  • Zukav, Gary
    "Thoughts from the Seat of the Soul : Meditations for Souls in Progress" 1994. (read 4/11/2000)
    Comments: Some good quotes. Probably a good distillation of "Seat of the Soul".
  • Lewin, Roger and Regine, Birute
    "The Soul at Work : Listen, Respond, Let Go : Embracing Complexity Science for Business Success" 2000. (read 03/22/2000)
    Comments: Excellent book on business, management, and how complexity science shows how important relationships are.
  • Squandering Aimlessly : My Adventures in the American Marketp Posted by robbie at November 12, 2005 09:33 AM | TrackBack
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