DateHarvardSq.com

So I randomly came across this link on Facebook.  Apparently some entrepreneurial people thought that women should pay for the luxury of dating Harvard men.  I think this is a dumb idea.  Being a Harvard guy, I think that it is pretentious and ridiculous to imply that Harvard defines high-caliber life partners... especially because they target Harvard Business School men.  HBS students were the worst students in the whole university.  When we were on group projects, the HBS student contributed the least, was the laziest and slowest in the group.  Additionally, they were the most self-centered, egotistical of all the students.  And to think that women will have to pay for the luxury of dating guys who want to be identify to the world this group.  I personally would not want to be matched up with a women who just wanted to date me because of some affiliation, particularly when it's contrived.

Summer has come to a close

Chicago which notoriously has cold winters and awesome mild summers by the way is now officially in fall.  I went out to the beach today, and it was pretty sunny day low 70's but not a soul out there.  Missing were the triathlon swimmers, the sunbathers, the beach volleyball players.  I think it's official then, summer is over in Chicago.  Admittedly, I like fall as well, but Chicago summers are the best and it's now over.  See you next year -- boating, sunbathing, beach volleyball.

Quantity does not ensure quality

Image via Wikipedia

So a few days ago, I went to my first speed dating event through dateanddash.  Over the course of 2 hours I went on 14 mini-dates that each lasted 5 minutes.  Overall, it was pretty fun.  5 minutes goes by pretty quickly.  You barely get to chat and then it's over.  A couple drinks before made it also rather entertaining.  I went into it thinking, "hey I don't need to impress anyone.  I am just looking for chemistry."  It was definitely more fun than I thought it would be, but my preconceived notions that quantity does no equal quality were verified.  Minus the 2 attractive friends that I brought with me, it was overall not the best of girls.  It reminded me that just meeting 14 girls doesn't mean that you will meet 14 dateable girls.

The redeeming thing that came out of the whole event was that I ended up getting the phone number of one of the coordinators for the event.  I thought of it like "ordering off the menu" and thinking outside the box.  She was definitely the most attractive girl there (brunette, white, with a nice smile) and seemed to laugh easily and was easy to talk to.  We'll see what happens but I am definitely intrigued.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Bait and Switch Scam

See the transcript of my recent application for a Southwest Visa.  It's pretty interesting how big banks still try to screw you at every chance they get.  Let's see what happened with Chase!!


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I made my first purchase and per your request I am contacting you to get the additional 8 rapid reward credits. This still does not explain why I was not set up to get this in the first place. How many other customers is this happening to, who aren't looking as carefully? This is not a historical offer I am quoting, it is the offer mentioned on the aforementioned website.

http://www.mychasecreditcards.com/southwest/homepage

I included this in the last email. This is effectively a bait and switch tactic, something that should be reported to the BBB or consumer advocacy groups. And how well is Chase representing southwest's interests by short-changing customers who apply for their rapid rewards account?


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Dear BXXXXXXX,

Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding the credit
card account. I have received your request for a free
roundtrip Award.

In reviewing the account, I have verified that the
enrollment offer is to receive 8 Rapid Rewards credits
within 6 to 8 weeks after your first purchase and the
opportunity to earn up to 8 Rapid Rewards credits for
completing balance transfers. You earn one Rapid Rewards
credit for each $1,200 in balance transfers you make
within the first 90 days the account is open, up to a
maximum of eight Rapid Rewards credits.

After you make your first purchase, please contact me
through the secure email server and I will add 9600 Reward
Dollars (8 Rapid Reward credits) to the account to match
the offer for 16 Rapid Reward credits.

For every 16 credits that you receive in a consecutive 24
months, Southwest Airlines will automatically issue a
fully transferable roundtrip Award. The roundtrip Award is
free, but travel is subject to the September 11th Security
Fee.

If you have any further questions, please reply using the
Secure Message Center.

Thank you,

Andrea XXXXXX
E-mail Customer Service Representative

Account is owned by Chase Bank USA, N.A. and may be
serviced by its affiliates.




Original Message Follows:
------------------------

Re: my southwest credit card I just received. E mail I
got today says:

"Don t forget to use your card right away to receive 8
Rapid Rewards bonus credits after your first purchase!2
You will qualify and receive 8 bonus credits after your
first purchase/first use of the card. First purchase/first
use includes purchases, balance transfers, or any checks
that are used to access your account, and excludes cash
advances. One bonus credit will also be credited to your
Rapid Rewards account for each $1,200 in balance transfers
within the first 90 days from account opening, up to a
maximum of 8 credits or $9,600 . Balance transfers are
subject to a fee. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for bonus
credits to post to your Rapid Rewards account. "

Why am I only getting 8 credits!

The southwest visa website states:

"You will qualify for and receive 16 bonus credits after
your first purchase/first use of the card. First
purchase/first use includes purchases, balance transfers,
or any checks that are used to access your account, and
excludes cash advances. One bonus credit will also be
credited to your Rapid Rewards account for each $1,200 in
balance transfers within the first 90 days from account
opening, up to a maximum of 8 credits or $9,600 ."

http://www.mychasecreditcards.com/southwest/visa

Why is their a discrepancy? And which is correct? 16
credits equals a flight, 8 credits is nothing.

Please explain.

The myth of being swept off your feet

I was talking to my friend the other day, and she mentioned that she is the romantic type and wants to be swept off her feet by some guy. When she meets said guy, he will come in really strong and pursue her, and sparks will fly. In the mean time, she doesn't "want to have been dating a ton of guys."

I thought about this, and thought about how --- ridiculous that sounds, but also how many girls buy into this. I adore this friend, but she has been single for years. Part of it is that she doesn't understand men, and partly she doesn't understand how she comes off. In her quest to "not have been dating a ton of guys" this very attractive, actually fun and nice girl gives most guys the cold shoulder. She doesn't want to settle. I understand that. But guys are not going to go in hot, guns, blazing on some girl they don't even know. Add to that the fact that she is not the best flirter, and a surgeon, which can be intimidating in itself.

Guys are like seedlings. They float in the wind and eventually settle in some fertile soil (girl they are interested in, try to stick with my metaphor here). If they don't feel that these are fertile grounds, i.e. a girl reciprocating any of those feelings, then they don't have opportunities to spread their roots and become the tall, immovable tree. Their hold is very tenuous due to their own fragile egos. They easily get blown to the wind and look for better grounds. If it is the right girl, she makes him feel good about where he is, then it can blossom into something beautiful and enduring. That is where the romance happens, that is where sparks start to fly, not before. Guys have feelings too, and if they have ever put themselves out there, they have gotten rejected. The good ones will respectfully bow out and move on. They learn to protect themselves not out of disenchantment but necessity. This is why guys these days go for coffee on 1st dates so commonly. Why go all out, when you know nothing about the person? It is really only the douchebags, and sleazy guys who have no feelings because they had no expectations of commitment or love who will go in guns blazing, but that is all just a ruse.

All this hollywood glorification of pursuing the ice queen is pure rubbish. We see movies of guys getting rejected time and time again, but keep trying, and it wins over the girl somehow? In this day and age of "no means no", stalking, and sexual harrassment, pursuing such an approach can be potentially legally hazardous. And as opposed to the characters in "Mad Men" we actually listen to what women have to say. And think about it, if a guy is persistent about pursuing a girl he barely knows who is being totally cold, the sole reason he is doing it is because she is attractive and wants to get in her pants (see douchebag comment from above) and has no personal investment.

So to all the ladies out there, guys will take the first step, but they approach hoping to receive feedback. They won't knock you over on the first try, but give them positive encouragement, and they will get there. So flirt back! Give the guy opportunities to become more confident as he spreads his roots. You will be glad you did, and looking back you will realize you were swept off your feet.

Lightning Strikes and Thunderstorms

Chicago has been having some pretty crazy storms. It's usually a day of sunshine followed by freak thunderstorms. Check this video out of Chi-town during one of these storms. Pretty wicked video.


Lightning strikes three of the tallest buildings in Chicago at the same time! from Craig Shimala on Vimeo.

Crazy psychedelic room light

Coolest Room Ever

This is a pretty crazy room. Not for me but kickass nonetheless.