icantdrive55

That's the one that caught my attention too.

There have been times where I try to get into a book, and if I even get the hint the writer is filling up pages with overly complex flowery prose; I immediately put the book down.

I always assumed it was just because I wasen't a natural reader. I've actually stayed away from a lot of classical literature, because I just couldn't get into the books.

I have been completely wrong though. I remember reading Nabrakov's Lolita years after I suffered through those English/Lit. courses. I do wish my instructors felt it was safe reading back then, or they weren't afraid of getting fired for assigning this book.

That book really changed my view on lituraure. I remember reading the book, and every sentance, paragraph just flowed.

I remember being shocked at the subject matter, and wondering if that was clouding my judgement, and honestly I'm still not sure.

After that book, I bought all his books, and haven't completely finished one.

I think it's more due to my unnatural reading ability though.

I college, I saved up most of my required English/lit. classes for my last semester year in college--out of fear. I do know I felt traumatized by my English 101 instructor. He would rip apart my writing with that red pen. He would have me read my horrid papers in front of the class, and public speaking was my worst fear. He once, in a round about way, accused me of plagiarism--because he had to ask his wife what an amygdala was, and "How did You come up with that idea for a paper?" In the end, he did give me a B, but I was really affected by that class. I used to enjoy writing before his class. It's funny how one teacher can stifle a young student's enthusiasm.

I had a girlfriend in a different English class, directly across from my classroom, at the same time of day. The doors were always open. I could hear her instructor because he had a loud voice. I would write down what that teacher had to say--stuff like funneling paragraphs, and not being to wordy, etc. I learned more about writing from her teacher than mine.

And as usual, I rambled on to long, but if you don't quite get what's so great about seemingly dry old books, give Lotita a shot.

(It was more about states rights, over federal rights. I don't think they really cared about slavery--unfortunately.)

'A good startup idea would be to make a hotlist of the top ~1000 of these obvious, preventable errors.'

I think that's a great idea.

I don't think it needs to be a start-up, but maybe the AMA, FDA, or whomever could put together a simple list of medical preventable errors, and publish that list in a easy to read format.

Just put the information out there. After my bypass; that will be the first book, or website I'm looking for.

Someting like, "After the first heart attack, an aspirin might prevent the second heart attack."

Something that would legally protect the Doctor.

It seems like the entire system is so afraid of lawsuits they just give the bare minimum of advice. And then there're the doctors who just don't really care.

For every rational person, there's an emotional, narrow minded, "Everyone is bad!", over reactive person. Especially in certain counties. Counties where people have too much time on their hands; like Marin County.

O.k. What's up with the vitriol dude?

Over the years I have owned some large breed dogs. A Bull Mastiff, and two rescued pit bull/American bull dog mixes. They were all over 140 lbs. All three dogs wanted nothing to do with anything within 8 feet of my truck.

I had them at different points in my life. The pit bull mixes went to dog obedience school, but didn't do well. I was talked into putting one on Proxax for behavioral problems. Hell, at one point we were both on the same SSRI.

The problem with my dogs is they were very territorial. I tried to socialize the pit bull mixes, but by the time the the vaccines had time to build up an immunity; it was just to late for socialization, or obedience school success. They were too set in their ways, and didn't want to be around other dogs, or certain people without my presence. They just didn't like anyone near my truck, or within 8 feet of it.

I didn't like to leave my dogs in their backyard, so I would take them out on the weekends, and after work. Sue me!

I would sometimes do errands with them. I would park my truck, with a Leer shell, filled with bowls of water, and two windows open, with custom grating on the sliding Windows, under a tree, or a remote area with shade. I was never gone more than 20 minutes.

They were never in danger of overheating. The "the over-reactors" always seemed to assume the worse. This one lady accused me of going to work, and leaving my dogs in the truck all day. Another accused me of leaving my dogs in a hot vechicle, and was in the process of calling the Humane Society, as I took off.

It only happened two times I know of, but it hurt. Those dogs were never in any danger. I treated those dogs like babies.

After everything I just wrote, I'm still glad they have that law about breaking windows.

I can guarantee this, if anyone decided to break the plexiglass widows on my Leer shell, or cut the wire over the windows; that "know-it-all" would not be alive. My dogs would have tore them to pieces.

I think the moral of the story is don't assume. Don't stereotype. Don't always assume the worse.

(I am now I a bad mood, and miss my dogs. They all lived to old age, but passed. I miss them more than my father. Now--that's not right? You didn't have my father. Good night people.)

I'll get hammered for this, and I know it would take some time to tool up, but were the 50's through the 70,s that much of a lower quality of life? (Relied a lot less on overseas shipping--for a few reasons.)

Oh, yea, we would have to get used to paying more for some things, get used to paying Americans a decent wage, get used not being able to manufacture in the cheapest countries, get used to the poor having better opportunities to join the middle class, and probally a lot of more get's.

And yes--I know--our reliance on manufacturing in the cheapest country helps those poor people live better lives. Those people at Foxcon, and other Chinese/whatever countries workers seem like they are treated so well. These foreign countries care so much about the enviorment. Some of these countries have become so rich they built up their military--like China. Some foreign enterprising individuals become rich, and buy American houses, even though they don't live here. That last one is great.

At one time, we got along fine without the cheap goods from other countries--with the exception of one commodity--oil. Oh yea, the cheap cost of goods at Apple don't seem to be passed on to consumers?

Just make sure to show up for an asset examination.

It's the one thing you need to show up for. The judge usually just fines you, but can arrest, at least in CA. I had to show up for one, and my judgment holder didn't show up, and the judge fined him $200.00, even though I told the judge I didn't lose money by comming to court.

If you ever find yourself in this stressful situation, you have a lot of rights.

Kersten is a nice name.

I do wished they didn't get rid of Toll Takers on the Golden Gate Bridge.

It was nice to cross that bridge with cash, and not have another bill to look forward to. I don't go to San Francisco like I used to either. Now, I only go if I have to.

I really wonder if certain "useless jobs" are as useless as they claim.

I feel the same way.

I dont feel good about the future. I see that divide between the "haves", and the "have nots" just widening.

I personally think we are living in a bleak time right now.

I felt it was bad in the ninties, but we didn't have a voice.

Sorry--I just see companies exploiting people because they can. I see fees, and fines becoming more than excessive. I see more homeless. I see more escapism through drugs. People don't appear to be experimenting/expanding their minds; they appear to be numbing. It's not just partying like in the 80's. It's complete escapeism?

Plus, I see a complete lack of ethics. I really don't like that whole, "Hay it's legal?". I won't even comment on morality. I have a fake profile of FB, and in all these years I joined one group. I joined an Amish group years ago. I joined because I was genuinely interested in their culture, and found their lack of greed/materialist ambition comforting. And I have a greedy sister who literally stole all her mother's money in a estate matter. She had a multimillion dollar shoe company in Los Angeles, but still needed more money. I guess I am trying to convince myself their are still good people left in this world?

I see too many people pushing my age, and kinda giving up. We work, but we are getting less, and less. Those years between jobs are lengthening. We are being financially squeezed--by anyone who can get away with it.

They say go back to school, and retrain for exactly what?

My hope is Millenials are better people, and do the right thing, but I feel like they won't have much power either.

I didn't know he had a history of betting-shorting against currency. I thought it was just that one huge time?

I've always found him to be a straight shooter.

He's the only rich boy, who has constantly told the truth, at least to the creation of great wealth.

And what is that great variable in the equation? It's just is a wealthy father. A father who allows you to take financial risk. A father who mentors you--in the right way. A father who helps out at the right moments--with good advice, and steers you to his helpful friends when in trouble.

The wealthy boys always leave that out of the, "What it takes to make a large sum of money speech."

The one area he seems to be in denial, or wrong is his writing ability. He blames his lack of accolades for his writing on his wealth. He claims if he was poor, his writing would be taken more seriously. I have read some of his work, and he's just an average writer--in my opinion. Other than fancying himself as a great writer; he is one of the guys I listen to.

He is getting older though.

I really wanted to like Gary Johnson, but didn't.

I was going to vote for Hillary, but after Sander's success, she started making promises that just mimicked his. She is not going to bring jobs back to the United States.

I might not vote for a president this year. I feel kinda dizzy just writing that last sentance.

There's a small part of me that thinks if the right third party candidate/person, back by a ton of money, jumped into the race this week, he/she might win.

At this point, if Bill Maher jumped in; I would vote for him. Hell--if Jimmy Kimmel jumped in, I would vote for him.

I don't even know these two guys, but I trust they would try to do the right thing, or at least delegate to the right people.

I rember feeling a sence of doom when Regan was running, but the world was so different, and I was in high school.

As someone said before, this election is beyond weird.

And I'm done with the Internet for today. I will go out into the world, and try to interact with people. Some days I need a kick in the butt.

I always felt P.O. boxes should be free for those that are homeless. If said box goes unused it is put back into general use.

Verification could be supplied by the county.

I remember Dr. Dean Edell said more than a few times, 'nicotine/tobacco has been so vilified in the U.S., we will never know if it has any medicinal value.'

Bill Maher admits when he makes a mistake. I think he's in the upstairs room.

I don't think it's a San Francisco problem either.

I don't see it going away.

I have given up on debating it.

I would like to see certain cities/counties in the United States open up areas where people can camp legally. If there's crime problems, law enforcement will help; not harass though.

I know there's a lot of people who will fight it. I'm tired of hearing, "If you build it, they will come."

I'm just asking for a few acres that people can put up a tent, and have access to a few out houses. Maybe a hand washing station? Maybe a few shower heads? I know, enough with the maybes. This is where it gets crazy. I sometimes think they put too many maybes in the debate, so people will just throw up their hands, and do nothing.

For all practical purposes, it's illegial to live without money.

We all can't be expected to move to Alaska, and live off the land. Those days are gone.

I have know people who literally got ticked for sleeping in their vechicles. They were between rentals.

I have known two men who died of pneumonia while living on their boats. No--it can't proven. I just knew the guys, and they died too early. They lived on their boats because they were not economically viable anymore. They didn't have understanding families. They didn't have connections.

This is not the America, I was so proud, of growing up.

(I won't be back to debate. These are not just my wishes. I have a friend who's been homeless for years. The police have harassed him to--someone I don't completely know anymore. He just wants a place to put a tent, and access to a toilet.)

I worked in three resturants.

Even if I had the money, I don't think I would open a resturant, other than a pizza place, or a burrito place with a long lease. I heard the failure rate of resturants in New York City is 95%. Those odds might be wrong, but I wouldn't want to try to beat them.

I worked in three restaurants. I was a cook at two. I'm aging myself, they are called chefs now. I was making roux based soups, and bread, so I guess I was a chef? All the resturants I worked in failed, and I always felt like a cook.

If I ever owned a resturant, I would try to minimize risk.

I'm not a foodie anymore, so it would probally be a pizza/burrito place. My food costs would have to be low. And yes--the food would need to be good, and plentiful. I would want to have customers take the leftovers home, and remember why they ate at my resturant.

It would be located where young people interact/spend money. Example--near a university.

It would have a long lease, or a lease tied to profitability. The business would be a corporation for bankruptcy purposes.

Their would be no wait staff. (People can pick up their own food). Then again, I have seen a pretty face bring in masses. First dilemma!

I would definetly want a liquor licence. My place would only need a beer/wine license. Next dilemma! I gave seen little dives do great because they have a full liquor licence.

I would fire all my help every six months. Yes--gasp! Harsh, but I have read two of the better books on resturant managent, and both say this in a round about way. I don't belive everything I read, but this one rang true. There's a lot of theft in the business. A bad attitude by a server/manager can empty a place slowly. I would be upfront in the interview though. I'm not sure how I would verbalize the fact they they will get fired in nine months from now though. I might keep the right people? Then again, at the places I worked in, the nicest/wardest working person was usually embezzling money. I will say that I was accused in high school of embezzling money fron a resturant, and honestly, I wasen't. I just wanted to do a good job. After all I just said--I couldn't just fire good employees after a period of time. Then again, I will probally never open up a place. Third dilemma!

I would Never load my resturant up with cheap labor. I will walk out of any resturant that loads up their resturant with cheap help.

I'll get a lot of flack for this next one, but if I opened up a resturant/bar, I would load it up with pretty women. I am still shocked how much young guys spend in order to impress a pretty women. The demographics of the men were from 20's to late 30's--no wonder? I was one of those guys. "Oh Ari--the tips I gave you."

Isn't the resturant business lovely? It's too bad we have so many resturant positions available in America. It's a horrid job on so many levels. I feel bad for everyone, especially the owner because so many of them go out of business, and so many went in with the right attitude.

A lot of dilemmas? That's why it seems like every successful business owner I knew had a successful/helpful father. A father that can take on financial risk, and wanted to help his kids. I sometimes think success in America is comming from a enabling family that can take on risk?

10 ft fence.

"Importantly, this is NOT a lawsuit."

It will be soon.

There's a lawyer, in the Bay Area, that has made his wad off ADA lawsuits. I guarantee, he is setting up shop as we speak.

I know this because my best friend (deceased) got caught up the ADA lawsuit game. He took a driving job. He drove around these two handicapped individuals. They drove through out the U.S.

He used to call me from the road, and say the strangest things. Like, it seems like they want to go to resturants/gas stations that don't have the required ADA construction. Then they slip, and fall? My job is to take pictures of them on the ground. He was naieve, and thought it was a "travesty", the way these horrid capitalists couldn't build the right way. Most of these owners had no idea they were breaking the law. These subsequent lawsuits shut down many small businesses. Although, this lawyer would settle out of court--much of the time.

He got home, and I told him he was being used by these guys, and that lawyer. He couldn't believe they would do such a thing.

Do I think she bends the rules to make money/protect her ass? Yes.

Do I think she bends the rules less than the other guy? I don't know. Probally not?

On a side note, I will probally vote her. Why? Because I don't think Trump will raise tariffs, or can raise tariffs enough to "Make American great again."

That said, I remember, in the 90's, Hillary made close to $100,000 on a under $1000 futures contract. It was supposedly under the "guidance" of the head attorney for Tyson foods. I was in college at the fine, but remember being floored when I heard how much she made in one year. They were middle class Americans when she made that huge amount of money. It must have been a world record at the time?

We talked about it in class, and the instructor said, "I don't think I've ever met a successful investor that didn't get insider information. He said the wealthy/politicians are given preferential treatment. I remember he said Hillary should have been required to have an account of at least $12,000 in order to even play the future's contract she won on.

Anyways, I don't know a wealthy person who didn't cheat in their lives. The ones who claim it was luck/just hard work are in denial.

(I'm personally sick of wealthy people cheating the system. I can honestly state I have never met one that was completely honest. And then again, I most likely will vote for her. I don't want to go back to no insurance, and a bunch of conservative judges. Oh, yea, I remember reading a multiple studies where Supreme Court judges cannot be expected to vote line they did in the past once on that bench. Meaning--conservative judges sometimes ve one liberal ones. So, that isn't high on my radar.)

Why do I find sites that require login/signup hubristic? I guess because we have so many alternatives? Or, do I just dislike Linkedin?

It's not just blackmail that I worry about.

A hypothetical, ruthless hacker manages to install malware on a person's computer. Hell they could target certain zip codes. All the information is on the Internet. Hell, they could get a picture of your home. (By the way, Google will blure out you home, if you ask. It tends to reappear, although they claim its permanent. If your house has been sold recently, a thief/criminal has easy access to interior layout through Zillow, and the like.)

They watch you through your cams. A lot can be deduced with that information--valuable information that could be sold.

Maybe I've watched too many movies, or crime shows, but I just picture certain questions being asked, "Does the home look like its worth robbing?" "Are there hostages we could take?" "What times do they leave, we need to install our cams because they might find our malware?" "Do they have a safe, or do they seem like they have money/valuables in the house, bedroom?" "Are they doing anything illegial themselfs?" They could develop psychological profiles for people?

I hate to think like this, but certain people think nothing of doing some horrid crimes. A hacker overseas gains some valuable information, and makes a phone call to the Triads, or Russian mob? Your life becomes a statistic.

It sounds far fetched, but just what if? (And am I going to cover my cams? No, because I don't have a life, and I'm poor.)

Yea, it depends on where you live. I always seemed to get into a fight the first day of school. I actually hated the days up to the first day of school, but once that fight was finished--everything went smoothly, but looking back I grew up in Mayberry.

My nephew goes to a public middle school in Los Angeles. He just had to mention gangs, I couldn't give him any advice. I told him, I would just avoid the bullies in school. If it was my kid, I would home school him.

I've never understood bullies. There's a lot of adults who are bullies. Just some mean, unhappy people in the world? It seems like every job I have ever been at has a one male, or female that just needs to cause conflict. They do it subtly, but there's always they one jerk. I hate to admit this, but my father was a bully. He was o.k. to me, but seemed to ride anyone that wasen't just like him.

It looks light a great business opportunity for someone with money.

I imagine, right now, there are many wealthy people, companies/REIT's buying up residential properties; and using Airbnb to making a healthy ROI. If I had the means, I would probally join the money making hootenanny.

It kinda bothers me because essentilly all these low interest loans are going to wealthy people, with assets. In my warped world, I still think homes should be available to the middle class, and even the working poor. I just heard today it's practically impossible to get a loan if you're self-employed. Sorry, if I sound bitter--I am. I really wish they would raise interest rates. I only see the wealthy benefitting from this historically low interest rates. And to be honest, I don't want to have a bunch of random Airbnb people as temporary neighbors. Sorry about the rant. Oh yea, I just got a cc offer for 29 percent today--yea! I'm just in a bad mood today.

My pets are literally treated as family members. I treated my dogs like they were my brothers, or sisters.

I am one of those people who think animals should have rights. I know it's crazy, but it just how I feel.

I had a girlfriend move out because she didn't like my Bull Mastiff's period. She told me to get rid of the dog, or I'm leaving. I literally packed her bags. She had her own apartment, so she wasen't homeless. You would not believe the words she yelled at me. "You love that dog more than me--you a-hole!" Me, "Maybe?"

I didn't think it was an American thing. I guess I just didn't think about it.

(I will say this; I sometimes think family bonds are tighter in other countries. I don't know? I've seen some nasty immoral acts--akways over money in the United States. I loved animals way before I realized how immoral certain family members were though.)

I have a business question.

Has anyone on HN known anyone who actually bought a logo from this particular site?

I think the site is great. I just question the sold logos, but then again I don't understand the buying mentality of most people.

I'm not knocking the site, or logos; just doing research.

Look for a Toyota with a 22r engine (Carburated, or FI), with a manual transmission. A lot of 80's trucks, cars had them. They are easy to work on, and just last.

I would even buy one with over 175,000 miles. When you are at 250,00 to 300,000 miles you will remember this post.

There are other cars you can drive on the cheap, but I don't know the exact models. Older Hondas last. Older Volvos last. An older 60-70's VW will get you around cheaply, but are like riding in a covered wagon.

I don't use a word processing program much anymore. I just haven't taken the time to learn all the features, or care to.

What I have been using instead is Sublime text. I didn't plan on it, but just found myself using it to write. I know they have writing plug-ins, but haven't had the need to even seek those out. It probally seems crazy, but it just works for me now. Plus, most of my writing these days goes right into HTML markdown?

I'm sure all that technology helped, but I think the free time was more of a result of good union jobs, just a plethora of good private sector jobs, and reasonable housing. These good jobs allowed us to buy food, live where we wanted, take vacations, take on risk, have weekends off, etc.

The technology that really saved time was modern food procurement(the supermarket, or food that was ready to bring home with a short walk to a few stores.

And women, they wanted to work. I remember my mom had a lot of time on her hands, but it wasen't due to appliances.

When she got a career, she was happy at first, but then missed all the free time she had when she was a housewife.

I wouldn't be suprised if what his mother said was true. The printer industry must know about printer chip reset chips, universal refill systems, drilling out their liquid gold containers, and refilling with better/cheaper ink, etc.

My printers sit idle. First it was the price of ink. Then I just found I didn't like fiddling with them. Then I just got used to not using them.

I think the printing industry is in a huge hole, and it will take a lot of ass kissing, and honest innovation, that benefits the consumer, to bring home printing back.

Good luck-