icantdrive55

Nothing game changing, but she's obviously very happy with the current status of this--great economy, and our wonderful foreign leaders. These fair, moralistic, truthful, immune to corruption Foreign leaders.

"My dream is a hemispheric common market, with open trade and open borders,"

Yes--it worked well for her, and the wealthy.

It hasen't helped me much? Oh, wait----I'm waiting on 6 X 6v halogen bulbs for my microscope. They are coming from China. It's been 26 days. They cost me $9.99. Free shipping picked up by the Chinese government. If I get them; I will have benefitted! Yea!

"Mrs Clinton told bankers that they were best-placed to help reform the US financial sector."

Oh really? Banks won't lend to me. They raised my fees to jaw dropping levels. I sometimes wonder why I even have a bank account.

I probally won't vote this year. I don't think it will matter who gets into office. Part of myself is hoping for Trump. He will throughly piss everyone off, and maybe we can regain some democtractic congressional seats?

As to the all important Supreme Court nominees; just because they go in conservative, doesn't mean they won't do a bed flip while in office? History has proved this, or at least that's what Dr. Helbright said in political Science 101 in that hot classroom years ago. I did double check his claim, at the time. Why did that conservative justice (Robert's) save Obamacare? They are not robots. They seem to get more understanding with age? It's not so black/white when in their glory days, with the exception of Clarance Thomas. He is quite the consistent guy?

I'm not a Rebublican, or Democrat. I'm still waiting for the right party/person. And it's not that other idiot. Forget his name, but my goodness--is he fried, or just ------?

My father died of liver cancer. A piece of me died in those weeks of his misery, and pain right up to his horrid death.

My father was not a kind man. He was petty, selfish person, but I still would have done anything for him.

Looking back, he was under medicated while in Palliative Care. He was at home, but that shouldn't be an issue? No one in the family could figure out why he wasen't given more medication. He saw a Hospice Doctor once, I believe, and a couple of nurses dropped by.

Getting him pain meds, and benzodiazepines was a battle. It's such a stressful situation, and getting meds should be difficult?

He never seemed to have enough. I look back, and don't know what the problem was with the lack of strong medication. Maybe the doctors didn't want too much around? I don't know? They should alleviated his pain better though.

I understand no cures, but alleviate the misery with drugs. We do have drugs?

There were times, I felt like, if I knew where to buy it; I would have bought him heroin.

I accept death. We can make patients comfortable when they are dying with medication? Maybe we were the the family that wasen't vocal enough? I don't know, but in my dads death; Hospice did a terrible job.

Hospice has a lot of money. I was surprised, because I heard they were a good organization.

(I didn't want to read this post. I had a feeling it was Peiter. I don't know the man, but truely admire his courage.)

Police unions will fight cameras. They will do cute, pilot programs in certain neighborhoods to fool us.

I would like to see all police officers be required to have a cam on(at all times)while on shift. It would just be like carrying a gun.

"If you don't want to carry a gun---you just can't be a police officer. No Andy Griffith's on this force. Times have just changed. We carry guns-- we carry cams! If you do well on the test, and pass the psychological; you're hired. Good Luck. We hope to have the best, brightest, and most ethical on board."

It will never happen because police departments are so scattered across the US, and know one is ultimately in charge.

(On at all times. No covers for cams. One the whole time while on shift. Maybe a bathroom break exclusion, but I feel that would abused.)

If you know what you are looking for; you can buy used lab equipment very cheap. Most sellers don't even know what they are selling. You do need to spend a fair amount of time browsing.

I've been thinking about a glass lathe on CL for awhile now.

My problem is space.

"The sociopath next door"

I read this, and I was honestly shocked anyone could be so petty.

That said, I have a weird story about a neighbor.

I'll keep it short, and change some of the details. I don't think they would ever be on this site, but who knows? They weren't bad people, but they just suprised me. Here goes--

Years ago a young couple moved in to a house adjacent to ours. Nice young couple. They even brought over a gift. I thanked them, and said, "If you need anything, I'm here a lot. I'm self-employed right now."

They seemed to want me to know they were both Architects.

They must have told me three times they were both Architects--in a few minute conversation?

They were definetly a differnt generation than mine, and I remember the "What do you do" introductory questions. I never liked them. I remember really tiring of them them in the bar scene. "And what do you do?" I once told a young lady, I was a Proof reader in the pornography industry. Another, "A professional Drinker." Her, "Ewe", or something like that.

Back to that first encounter, I figured they were just glad to be finished with school, and trying to network. They were proud of their professions, and that's fine.

I knew right away I had nothing in common with the male Architect. We were just two different people. I remember I was working on my car, and my hands were filthy. I knew he wasen't the type of guy who ever got his hands dirty. That's fine, I'm just one of those guys. I try not to pay people for stuffI can do myself, and I was always just getting by financially. I couldn't afford to hire anyone for anything.

There was just something about him, but I couldn't put a finger on it. Outwardly nice, but something seemed phoney. I was inwardly hoping they wouldn't invite me over for any socials. It turned out they weren't social.

Anyway, I never gave them much thought.

In my neighborhood, we don't know eachother. It might sound weird, but you get used to it, and kinda of begin to like it.

We shared a property line. One day he wanted to replace a fence, but he claimed I was encroaching on his property line--by a few inches. I was kinda shocked. I asked him, "How do you know?" Oh---I can just tell. You know, "I'm an Architect?" Yea--I was shocked. I felt like telling him, "I'm an inactive general contractor", but dummied up. He caught me off guard. (I knew new when these houses were built, the set back linewas 5 feet, and 6 feet for two story homes. He was in a one story ranch style home. If anything, he was on our property?)

I told him get a survey, and put the fence wherever the line is. I walked away thinking, that was kinda weird?

A few years went by. He got a survey. Never heard from him.

They had a kid.

Maybe five years went by, and I honestly forgot their names.

The then got another survey. I think it was a friend of his, because he was helping--holding the markers, etc.

I knew I wasen't on his property, but he seemed determined to get a survey proving me wrong.

A few more years went by.

They had another baby.

In all the years I lived next to them, we would wave, say hi on garbage day, but we really didn't know eachother.

I just knew his wife worked, and he took care of the kids. I thought that was great. I thought he was a great father. They were a great couple! They seemed so normal. Never a fight. Just a quiet couple. He liked to wear a tie though. Never got that one. Why wear a tie around the house?

One day, I was walking home from work, and saw a sign.

"Free baby monitor. It works."

I thought of my next door neighbors, and picked it up.

I knew I wasen't going to knock on their door, but I might just put the monitor on their driveway. Plus--I like to fix disgarded electronics, or see how they are made. I was thinking of taking it apart to see how it was built, or maybe scavage any caps, resistors, etc. They didn't seem the type to have anything used, and I get that, but this baby monitor still had the stickers on it. It didn't look used. Put shrink wrap on it, and it would be new. I decided to keep it. They probally would want it.

So, I'm at my workbench, and device this is just too nice to take apart. I decide to give it to my neighbors. I did want to test it before I put it one their property though.

It's about 6 in the afternoon. I turn it on, and I hear people talking. "Wow!!" I was startled. It literally scared me. Then it kicked it; they must have a baby monitor, and it's on the same channel? Horrid security though!

I immediately turned it off, but I couldn't help myself. It was just so clear. I was impressed with the radio's frequency power.

So---I turned it back on. I thought I will just listen a little bit. I then heard my name. I thought they couldn't be talking about me. We have talked maybe three times in 10 years?

But they were talking about me. I heard, "If he doesn't shut that dog up, I'm going to call the humane society." "Did you see his hair lately?" "Who's that new girl that comes over late?"

I was floored. I didn't think they knew my name.

I thought, what are the odds they just happened to be talking about me at that point in time? They must dislike me? Or, they are people I will never quite "get".

I honestly didn't want to know, or listen.

I turned that radio off. It really did hurt my feelings though. I actually thought they liked me.

Well--I threw the baby monitor away.

They ended up moving. They see me sometimes at Safeway, and both have huge smiles. I wave back--hoping my hair looked o.k.. I get in my car, and try to smooch down my poofy hair.

Crazy people--crazy world?

Stuff like this has happened to me. I have been wrongly ticked for no registration sticker. Ticketed numerious times for parking illegailly. I have been pulled over for driving around 1:30 p.m. on a Friday night--at least 10 times over the years, and never got a DUI. (They were basically just looking for an easy DUI.)

When I was in college, in the eighties, I can honestly say the tickets I received, I deserved. I didn't deserve being pulled over for no reason, but that's another fight. A fight I've given up on. My father's advice, which he practiced, was just drive an inconspicuous vechicle. That was the 80's. A different decade.

In the 90's, and 2000's, I can honestly state I didn't do the things I was ticketed for. They were honest error on the part of law enforcement, or just made up violations. Or, I'm senile? I'm a bit excentric, but not senile. The violations I was tickets for I luckily got out of. The officer didn't show up, or I paid $10 to contest, and won.

I've given up on honest cops. They are basically revenue collectors in my county. If you don't look like you will fight back, you will get harassed, if you live here long enough.

My only wish is they would tie fines/fees to income levels.

A rich man gets a $500 red light right turn violation; he tells the wife over dinner. It's not a big deal. A poor man gets the same ticket; it could be the last straw.

I heard Switzerland ties driving/parking violations to income. I would like to see it done here. I'm a white guy. I can't imagine what minorites have gone through. This is not the America I was so proud of growing up. We need some systemic changes.

Don't leave out Programmers. No barriers to entry. Just a good mind, and an Internet connection. There's millions of people around the world learning to Program. It's cool. It's hip. They all want to learn, and it's getting easier yearly. And you don't even need to go to college.

I cringe when ever I hear Programmers left of out of the, "Where will these people go." Guys like Willie Brown are alwready wondering what San Francisco is going to do with the new homeless that will be hitting the streets--when this current bubble ends.

Yes, the Rock Star Programmers will always have a job, but that's a minority of you.

So many auto shops/machine shops would be lost without access to older computers. So much equipment needs to be plugged into parallel ports.

"If it works, why muck with it?"

I'm with you, with the exception, of, 'I think a women should have a chance a leading our country-'

I used to think that way. Give them a chance. After Margret Thatcher, I changed my mind. Women are just as ruthless, egotistical, quick to war, as men. That lady ruined the "A women wouldn't act like a man." argument.

I too suffer form anxiety. It really affected the quality of my life.

1. These companies have been collecting our information for years now. Some have acces to what we write in are emails, but of course, they never read them, they just scan them for marketing purposes?

2. Why do I feel certain people's information has been looked at, scrutinized, cross checked, collated, etc. by certain savvy insiders. Warren buffet, George Sorrows, any of the financial movers and shakers, information is sitting on a server somewhere, unless you're a Clinton. If I had access, I could help but look at it.

Before you made an investment, bought a stock, bought realeste, took over a company; wouldn't you be tempted to peak at some of that information?.

3. I feel certain individual information has been used as research for financial gain.

3. I belive it's basically insider trading without the other guy knowing he/she gave away any information.

4. I believe it will be exposed, and will be the next huge Financial scandal.

5. I believe this move might be a smoke screen. "We know some of us have already abused private information for personal/financial gain. Let's combine the data. It might put some reigns on what we all know some of our insiders have been doing. Let the people think we are doing this to better society.

6. I don't have any evidence, I just have a hard time believing no one is looking at juicy date pouring in from some high profile people.

7. I believe it will be on the front page of Forbes in less than a year.

I have a feeling you are more like the average person here.

When the economy goes into a recession, or our current line of work is down sized; we take a chit job.

Only the elite can wait around until something palatable opens up.

My problem with people so desperate for money, is they come here illegailly, or just happen to somehow get some bogus paperwork by the federal government, and will do practically any job.

A large swath of American employers know they can use these people, treat them poorly, and make a better ROI in their particuliar business venture.

Construction trades--love them. It's gotten so bad, if I took my general contractor's licence out of non-op status, I honest don't know if I could be competitive without hiring the people who will work for minimum wage, or less.

("How do these workers manage to live on the U.S., if you pay them so little? They have different cultural norms than the average American. They see nothing wrong with bunk beds, and four, or more to a residential bedroom. Maybe the average American should get used to living like this; that's another debate.)

So basically, my gripe is certain employers are thrilled they can get away with underpaying their employees. If they do it shroudly, they can live the American Dream--nice house, happy wife, a bunch of spoiled kids.

There are so many business that use this business model.

I have very wealthy neighbors in Marin County. Yes, that liberal enclave north of San Francisco. Literally every landscaper on this block doesn't speak English, nor do most of the plumbers, and handymen. The DINK's like to gab, and a lot of the talk is just how cheap they get their jobs done. My next store neighbor literally brings two low wage helpers to Home Depot in her Mercedes. Their job is to follow her around, in her high heals, and carry her stuff to the car. Then they spend the rest of the day at her disposal. (I'm glad they are doing this job.)

In the end, it makes chit jobs hard to find when Americans are layed off, or fired.

Before we had this huge sector of society that will literally do anything, for practically noting; chit jobs were better. That was in the 80's, and 90's. By the 2000's it was over. They were here, and spoiled the low wage job sector even further.

That's where the anger comes in. It has nothing to do about Trumps claims of "Rapists--and sometimes, good citizens", etc.

I have a few questions for Swiss expats.

Could you tell me about the Swiss culture--at bit? I know it's a huge topic. Just some of the differences you see between the Swiss, and say Americans.

I mainly interested in the Millenials.

What do they think of Americans?

Do they basically have the same hobbies?

Are their any stark differences in what they value?

Do they view Americans as spoiled?

Do they fear us?

This next question is very specific, and probally weird. I heard teens love 50's Cadilliacs. I love them too, but I heard they are more desired there, than in America? What is it about older Caddys?

Are their fashion differences? Here we have kids spending hundred of dollars on tennis shoes, specifically Nikes. Has that fad hit Switzerland?

Are women more, or less fashion conscience than Americans?

Just any insider observation?

I've been interested in Switzerland since I began Watch Repair a decade ago.

Thanks!

I noticed that too. They are being overworked. They are still relatively happy, but I see their stress levels rising.

I know UPS has a few different modes of employment. Some guys supposedly lease their vans, and are kinda self-employed. I'm not sure.

I see my UPS driver still delivering packages at midnight.

I have never had much of a problem with UPS. I just hope they arn't taking advantage of their employees.

I have thought about making a better, smarter, bigger mailbox. A mailbox that would be more secure. I don't want to give away details, but would what do you guys think?

Say if you could buy a mailbox that would scan your mail, and alert you you through an email? A larger mailbox you could lock remotely after recept of a important delivery. Or, is it a bad idea?

I've never had a problem with shipping insurance, or a company replacing an item that was stolen. I have never had a problem with stolen mail, but it's a problem in certain areas. I'm just throwing it out there, is it a bad idea.

I watched the movie Steve Jobs on HBO.

If any of it true, I came away with these thoughts:

1. Steve wanted a closed system.

2. He cared too much about form. He was not a coder. He was not a hacker. It was Woz. Steve was the business guy.

3. I think the world would be better off if Woz was offered, and took the CEO position after Jobs demise. We might have some really great, open source computers.

4. I don't think I will buy another new Apple product. I will buy used until someone takes their place, because there's so much used stock on Ebay, and CL.

5. But then again, their products are beloved by so many people. I have a relative who bought a new Imac. A $2970 Imac-- that's still in the box. it's been a two months. I asked why he hasn't set it up. He blamed it on me. "You haven't had the time lately, so i am still using my old barely working Imac."

6. That's some pretty spectacular Marketing--Product likability. It will be some time until the average user realizes Apple might be slipping. The average user knows noting about the benefits of an open source computer.

Atoms.

It's the puns. Some are funny, but it's just not funny anymore. I go on that site a few times a year, and the jokes never stop.

It's a pretty old website now. I thought the hilarious banter/play on words would have run its course. There must be some psychological thing going on?

I am reminded we are just monkeys, hitting buttons when I'm there. (No offence to monkeys. I like you guys. I think you're better than us.)

Some fads just take longer to run their course? Skinny jeans for men--done. Guys buying $500 tennis shoes--still going on. Guys that have the semi-Mohawk. Just enough on the sides to get a job--almost done. I can't think of anything that doesn't have a beginning, and end. All I can think of, right now, is life is too short. Depressing. This summer went by way to quick for myself. I wasted it.

I think everyone should watch this video, it gets better near the end.

I think we need one of theses videos for the really poor kids. The kids who barely finished college due to finances though.

He states his three factors to success are, 'focus, personal conviction, and self belief'.

(Poor kids need to network. Poor kids need to make friends with rich kids. Poor kids can't fail, and take a vacation to unwind. Poor kids, and by poor kids, I mean generational poor. No wealthy grandparents, etc. My biggest mistake was finding upper, middle class kids very shallow. I just couldn't be around them growing up, and even in college. I would cringe when they talked about their problems. I should have held my nose, and try to win their company. I have no reason to lie. They will introduce you to people that have money.)

He said work hard early on.

(Yes, but don't blow a gasket. I had a nervous breakdown in my late twenties. Before that breakdown, I was doing what two people did. I literally felt like nothing couldn't be accomplished. I felt like Superman. Everyone is different, and you will statistically be fine. Just watch it.)

He talks a lot about failing, and why it's not a bad thing.

(That's great, but kids from a poor family only seem to have one big failure in them. It usually involves financing from credit cards. I guess if you know the right financiers, networked, or have family money failing/taking risk is not financial suicide, or living in a box somewhere. Poor kids have the real possibility of ending up homeless if they fail. There just a different mindset when you come from nothing.)

"Successful people impact the world" I believe he said, 'Make the world a better place.'

(That might be true for a handful, but let's get real; it's about making a lot of money. It's about the paper.

I don't like it, but let's not romanize it--it's about making money. The financially successful don't like to admit it.

And if you don't make money in life--there are more important things than narcisstically making a lot of money. Being a good, moral person goes a long way. Can attract the right girlfriend/boyfriend. It's not a crime to think like Jesus did. It might talk you a long way?)

I think the best advice he gave was sticking with what you truly believe in. Yes--there's Twitter, and other examples, but I believe it's good advice. Go against the crowd caught my attention.

If YC is still funding founders after 10-14 failures; I'm very impressed with the organization.

Yes--I didn't bring up advertising. They could advertise like the old days, like news papers did. They just couldn't target market their advertising--like they presently do at nausium.

I still think they would make their nut. They would still be winners!

And yes--I would pay for the right service, if they couldn't manage to compete by being hobbled with not targeted advertising. I paid for many websites before Google made advertising a science.

(My post has nothing to do with advertising. I get advertising. Just leave my info. out of it.)

I would like to see a federal Staute inacted regarding the collection of user data in the US. Enacted quickly!

Something on the lines of don't collect any data, besides name, password, email address. This information can never be sold.

I have weird feeling, in the near future, we will find that information/data has been abused. No just abused by marketing/big data, etc..

And I'm not even arguing about the obvious--personal privacy. Although personal privacy should be the number one reason for this hypothetical statute.

I have a feeling, it will be the next big financial insider trading scandal. It will involve people we talk about here-- Google/Bing/FB insiders(the ones who can see individual IP's, and their data.), took all that information, and traded stock upon it.

I have a hard time believing every email that Warren Buffet/George Sorrows/every sussessful trader makes isn't looked at by someone. And it's not just email; it collating search histories, in order to get a "feeling" of where the money to is to be made.

They are then using that info. to invest in stocks, bonds, real estate, etc..

And yes, they will claim we don't care about getting insider info. on investments--we make a killing selling the data to marketers. Why would we do such a thing? Because you can. I would have a hard time not looking at that information, and I don't have a penny to gamble.

I think it will be a huge story.

(Edit to a legitimate question about the poor websites that depend on advertising.)

Yes--I didn't bring up advertising. They could advertise like the old days, like newspapers did. They just couldn't target market their advertising--like they presently do at nausium. I still think they would make their nut. They would still be winners! And yes--I would pay for the right service, if they couldn't manage to compete by being hobbled with not targeted advertising. I paid for many websites before Google made advertising a science.

My post has nothing to do with advertising. I get advertising. Just leave my detailed, personal info. out of it.)

I don't think the average Tesla owner cares about "cheaper to operate". I have a weird feeling the average Tesla owner has a classic, gas guzzling, vechicle/vechicles in their multi-unit garage.

Teslas are a rich man's car.

I'm waiting for the day it becomes a poor/middle class vechicle.

I know I won't buy a used one until they open up the parts supply, and open up the operating system. I don't see that day coming. I really wanted one a year ago. I figured they must have a few that have been wrecked. I wanted to put one back on the road, with a salvage title. I found it's practically impossible.

As to holding their value, yes--they are commanding high prices, even used. They are a rich man's novelty. If a rich man can get deal on a used car, why not pay bite. It's a small demographic sector of society. It's a niche market right now.

My hope is in the future all electric vechicle manufactures are required to open up their software, so guys like myself can buy in the secondary market, tweak, and get these used electric cars back on the road, in a cost effective way.

(Dissabled the AI if you think if the Tesla, or federal government fears guys, like myself, will tinkering with it. I can live without the AI. I do want a cheap, used, electric vechicle.)

And the top level domains have been taken.

For all his faults, I thought he came across pretty good tonight.

I've never liked the man on a lot of levels, but tonight he did better than I anticipated. He has been doing some homework.

Yea, it looks like China. We need to stop making cultures rich by making products in the cheapest country--Blah--Blah--Blah. It doesn't look like business as normal will Not change.

The older I get, and the more I find out about the cultural norms in certain countries; the more I want high tariffs, and flat out bans. We will get by with paying more for our stuff.

To send a message, I wouldn't mind seeing a complete ban on ivory here. Yes, gather up all that pre-19whatever Ivory, and burn it. If it sends a slight message to the Chinese, it would be worth it. And this is comming from someone who appreciates old ivory artifacts/collectables. No--I don't own any, out of moral reasons.

Teaching a dumb country, including a large swath of Americans, traditional medicine doesn't work is a whole other problem.

I would like to see guys like Zuckerburg, Buffet, and Gates send Placebo missionaries over to countries like China, and the rest. They could just try to educate these people. They could pay to put up bill boards. They could try?

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/09/what-is-...

I kinda wish they let those banks fail.

Those banks turned around and raised fees for everyone. Don't loan to most small business. Don't loan to most self-employed. Are just horrid institutions.

They have just seemingly given the wealthy credit?

They have given the wealthy so much money; somedays these 1 percenter's appear to be just gambling?

Literally just gambling, except in the realestate market. That market is still a sure thing for them, and very rich investor knows it. And they know so many of us will never qualify for loans; so jack up that rent Thurstan!

This recovery hasen't helped guys like me, or my mother who relied of safe cd rates to get ahead. (And no--I'm not blaming banks on low fed interest rates. I probally shouldn't have even wrote that last sentance.)

I probally should comment--I'm no expert.

I just wonder if we severely regulated credit default swaps, and the derivitave markets--the crash in 2008 would have been less dramatic?

The one thing I liked about Bush is he wanted the poor/middle class in homes. He believe little guys should be given a chance. I just wish he went about it with more regulations, on the big boys.

My brother in-law used to flip houses. He now is a yoga instructor. The banks won't talk to him. Houses are still being flipped, but only by the wealthy. They are making a killing in my county. They are buying up everything. Why not, at these interest rates, and banks that are literally bending over.

I really never thought they would take off.

I did buy an Atari 2500St for college, and didn't tell anyone. I felt like I was cheating.

While all the other students were griping about typing, or paying a typist; I just hit print.

My girlfrined in college hated the "thing". Yes--she called it the "thing". "Leave that thing alone."

She is now a millionaire, and head of technology at some company.

After college, I bought a small electronic typewritter, that did word processing.

I hated everything about computing, besides word processing, and didn't see the need for a computer if I wasen't in school.

Plus, I tried programming, and I Knew I didn't want to spend my life in front of a screen, for anyone, for any amout of money. I hated those 500 page computer programming phone books. I just hated computing on so many levels, it's ironic now.

I honesly didn't get the magic in programming until later on--a lot later on. Well that Atari went right into the garbage in the 90's. Yes--ouch! I so wish I had it now.

I don't think people realize, in the 90's, it was really a gamble if the average person would buy a computer, even a GUI based system. Some people just hated everything about them. They were just so unsexy. So dry to many of us. So boring. So tedious, and never seemed to just work.

I had a friend remind me in the 90's computing is an art too. He is now a multimillionaire. We worked at a chit job, and his friend's said, "My dad is willing to invest in a gaming company for us. Do you want to join?" He did have to think about it. In a few years he was set for life. He didn't ask me to join them, but I probally would have turned the offer down. I idnt get games, nor did I think the business would last more than a few months. Awe--again, so wrong!

My mom was one of the first to buy a used blue Mac, and she loved every thing about it. It was then, I knew they would be big, and I was so wrong. I figured if she was willing to try them, they are making strides, at least Apple.

I still didn't find the magic in computing/programming until about 15 years ago--sadly.

Now it's making sence, and the reason the website is currently for sale is because it will have an expiration date, but I could be completely wrong.

I went through his comment history, and the guy seems like a straight shooter. He did say he likes to buy domain names directly from the current owner.

I do question the faster program he coded, but then again in his comment history, he is very interested in Amazon servers. So, I should take him at his word, and look into this domain catching software.

There's a part of me that thinks he is buying up .io domains directly from owners, and putting them into a auction buying API? Actually, in one interview he claimed to own 700 .io domains. Maybe he was just one of the first to buy .io domains, and then set up a website to auction them off?

(personally I don't get the allure of .io domain names. Registration is $100yr., then drops to--I believe $50. And there's no ICANN protection.)

Thanks--

Since you're here, maybe you could help us all understand your business better?

1. You are not getting .io names at a discount from nic.io? No insider deals/information?

2. The Only advantage you have at acquiring an expired domain names at nic.io is your propriatiatry program. A program that is just faster at buying these expiring domains--just faster than your competition?

3. You only know when a .io domain name is due to expire is by looking at the same WHOSIS info we look at?

4. I ask these questions because so many of these domain buying services are just to magical. We tend assume the worst.

I think what bothers me the most is "never spend a minute thinking about the vast and misserable rural lower class around them,".

Yes--I'll get hammered over this, but whenever I see those pictures of huge beautiful skyscrapers overlooking absolute poverty below them; I wonder why the upper/middle class isn't sickened by the depravity, and demand change. I don't know how they can sit in their fancy condos, while overlooking people dying in the streets.

And yes--I am very dissapointed in our American middle/upper class who look at homeless/poverty stricken areas in the United States as something that could be prevented if only they "applied themselves", or "If only they got their diploma, or didn't do drugs.". I have seen people step over homeless in New York forever. I never liked the NY attitude. I now see it in San Francisco, and I'm bothered by the attitude. I'm not saying they should take the person in, but complaining about them is just something I didn't want to see here.

I know people in America have become desensitized to homelessness, and poverty, but most of still care, and are very bothered by it. We still have a lot of people who want change, and will hopefully never become complacent about it.

I hope we never become so desensitized, we don't spend a minute not thinking about it.

Being an American is helping out those in need, and not just being o.k. with it. Some people don't understand that about this country.

Some of the foreign push back is not racism; we just don't want to become your country.

(I won't be back to defend this post. And I know some Americans don't give a dam about anyone besides themselfs, or their family, but this county used to be great. We are sadly sliding.)

Hang in there. I'm kinda in the same boat. I think bupenorpine did help me. I wish it was easier to get. I can say this, I believe it helped me with my drinking, and I'm on genetic bupenorpine, not the Suboxone(has nalaxone).

As to friends--I am very lonely. I think I'm friendly, but don't have friends. Part of my problem is I made friends with people much older than myself, and they die, and I am not a extrovert. It seems like all my friends were extroverts. When I was younger, it seemed easier to remain friends with exes, but as I've aged, they moved on, or as one told me, women can't be friends after a certain point in a relationship. If I knew that, I wish I didn't push for intimacy. I look back, and I miss the friend I made in that relationship more than anything else.

I haven't wanted to wake up in years, but I'm still here. Just when I think I've had enough of it, I have days where I feel o.k., not o.k. like in my twenties, but not suicidial.

I know exercise has been mentioned here too much, but light walks have really helped me. I do need to do them daily.

I really don't have any advice, other than hang in there. I do know we are not alone. I wish it was easier for men to find friends.