“So we went to Atari and said, ‘Hey, we’ve got this amazing thing, even built with some of your parts, and what do you think about funding us?  Or we’ll give it to you.  We just want to do it.  Pay our salary, we’ll come work for you.  And they said, ‘No’.  So then we went to Hewlett-Packard, and they said , ‘Hey, we don’t need you.  You haven’t got through college yet.’”
–Apple Computer Inc. founder Steve Jobs on attempts to get Atari and H-P interested in his and Steve Wozniak’s personal computer.

“Professor Goddard does not know the relation between action and reaction and the need to have something better than a vacuum against which to react.  He seems to lack the basic knowledge ladled out daily in high schools.”
–1921 New York Times editorial about Robert Goddard’s revolutionary rocket work.

“You want to have consistent and uniform muscle development across all of your muscles?  It can’t be done.  It’s just a fact of life.  You just have to accept inconsistent muscle development as an unalterable condition of weight training.”
–Response to Arthur Jones, who solved the “unsolvable” problem by inventing Nautilus

“Drill for oil?  You mean drill into the ground and try and find oil?  You’re crazy.”
–Drillers who Edwin L. Drake tried to enlist to his project to drill for oil in 1859.

“Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau.”
–Irving Fisher, Professor of Economics, Yale University 1929.

“Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value.”
–Marechal Ferdinad Foch, professor of strategy, Ecole Superieure de Guerre

“Everything that can be invented has been invented.”
–Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899

“Louis Pasteur’s theory of germs is ridiculous fiction.”
–Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology at Toulouse 1872

“The abdomen, the chest, and the brain will forever be shut from the intrusion of the wise and humane surgeon.”
–Sir John Eric Erickssen, British Surgeon, appointed surgeon Extraordinary to Queen Victoria

“640K ought to be enough for anybody.”
–Bill Gates 1981

Some priceless quotes that, well, didn’t work out exactly as stated…

“Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.”
–Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949.

“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.”
–Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM 1943.

“I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won’t last out the year.”
–The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall 1957

“But what….is it good for?”
–Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.

“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.”\
–Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp, 1977.

“This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication.  The device is inherently of no value to us.”
–Western Union international memo, 1876

“The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value.  Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?”
–David Sarnoff’s associates in response to his urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920’s

“Who the hell wants to hear actors talk.”
–H.M. Warner, Warner Brothers 1927

“I’m just glad it’ll be Clark Gable who’s falling on his face and not Gary Cooper.”
–Gary Cooper on his decision not to take the leading role in “Gone With The Wind”.

“A cookie store is a bad idea.  Besides, the market research reports say America likes crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you make.”
–Response to Debbi Field’s idea of starting Mrs. Field’s Cookies.

“We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.”
–Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962

“Heavier than air flying machines are impossible.”
–Lord Kelvin, president, Royal Society 1895

“If I had thought about it, I wouldn’t have done the experiment.  The literature was full of examples that said you can’t do this.”
–Spencer Silver on the work that led to the unique adhesives for 3-M “Post It” notepads.

911 operators have a tough job. They field calls from all ends of the spectrum. I found a site called 911 Callers that has a bunch of them you can listen to. Some are serious, some are quite funny.

Here’s one from the site titled Taco Problem. Enjoy.

A genius attempted to rob a muffler shop in Chicago on Monday. According to this story, the employees told the robber that the manager, who wasn’t there, was the only one that could open the safe. The robber gave the employees his phone number — they were to call him when the manager got in and the safe could be opened. Needless to say the employees were much smarter than the brainless bandit and called the police who foiled his plan.

or is it just me? Seriously, the popular website Hot or Not has been around for some time now. You look at a picture and rate the hotness of the subject. If you can handle it, you can also upload your picture and have people rate you, which might either build up your self esteem… or totally destroy it.

I just came across an interesting site called Anger Central where anyone can write in rant about whatever or whoever is under their skin.  I think this might be healthy, vent and get it off your chest and perhaps feel refreshed and move on.  It’s kinda like a blog with many authors, but not really.  You figure it out.

I love redneck stuff because, well, I kinda am one. This is some creative construction right here. And just think, if you order a broom online and have it delivered - it would fit in this mailbox!

A Boulder Colorado woman was fined $1000 for dyeing her poodle, Cici, pink to raise awareness for breast cancer according to this story by the Denver Channel.  Joy Douglas, the pet’s owner, is a hairstylist, claims that she used beet juice and other organic products and didn’t cause any harm to her furry friend.  She adds that Cici, and her predecessor Lulu (who was also frequently dyed pink) have done well at their “civic duty” to raise awareness and funds.  Authorities say Douglas was warned prior to being fined that pinking her poodle was a no no.  The poodle parent has hired a lawyer and plans to fight the fine.

Whether it’s a difficult person or a bad day, there’s a line in this list to get you through with a smile on the inside.   (but probably no teamwork award)

1. Thank you. We’re all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view.
2. The fact that no one understands you doesn’t mean you’re an artist.
3. I don’t know what your problem is, but I’ll bet it’s hard to pronounce.
4. Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.
5. I have plenty of talent and vision. I just don’t care.
6. I like you. You remind me of when I was young and stupid.
7. What am I? Flypaper for freaks!?
8. I’m not being rude. You’re just insignificant.
9. I’m already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth.
10. I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had about you.
11. It’s a thankless job, but I’ve got a lot of Karma to burn off.
12. No, my powers can only be used for good.
13. How about never? Is never good for you?
14. I’m really easy to get along with once you people learn to worship me.
15. You sound reasonable…Time to up my medication.
16. I’ll try being nicer if you’ll try being smarter.
17. I’m out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message…
18. I don’t work here. I’m a consultant.
19. Who me? I just wander from room to room.
20. My toys! My toys! I can’t do this job without my toys!
21. It might look like I’m doing nothing, but at the cellular level I’m really quite busy.
22. At least I have a positive attitude about my destructive habits.
23. You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
24. I see you’ve set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public.
25. Someday, we’ll look back on this, laugh nervously and change the subject.