icantdrive55

I bought the Palm 111, then the Palm TX. The Palm TX was great! It had internet access. That device made me an easy $15 grand in two months.

Now this was before smartphones were commonplace, and Goodguy's was going out of business. They had a huge section of video games. The wholesaler didn't know anything about video games, nor did I, but I knew they were worth more than $5 a game.

It was 9:30 at night, so I went to the outside of a local library. Got on the Internet, and found out people were buying Halo 3 Collector's edition for at least $30-$45.

I rushed back to Goodguy's and bought every box. They even threw in the displays.

The staff laughed at me. I remember thinking, I couldn't have pulled this off without that Palm TX. That TX gave me such a business advantage.

Two to three years later, everyone had a smartphone. My magic box was common place. I didn't have a commpetitative edge anymore.

Out of all business failures; the failure of Palm really bothered me then, and now. The Palms I had were rugged little products.

I connected the Palm to a gps, loaded the unit with Delorme maps, and took it down the Rogue River in a Baggie. The Rogue is a River in Oregon. I could see when Rainey falls, and Blossom Bar were about to hit us on that little black and white screen. Actually, with the zoom the screen size was more than enough. It worked beautifully.

A previous year I went over Rainey falls by accident. My best friend went over with me. He was 57 and a three pack a day smoker. He was under the water for a long time, but popped up, and swam to shore. The first words out of his mouth were, "Are my smokes wet?". Actually, his first works were yelling my name--then the smokes. Unfortunately, the smokes did survive. After that accident, by the fire at night. He told me, "I just had a hillbilly ECG!".

Years later, a doctor insisted he get a scan. His arteries were squeaky clean. He made it to 70 smoking--only quitting two months before he died. The last year he did need lung medication, and oxygen. Actually, he need albuteral for at least five years? A few weeks before he died, he told me he was lying about his smoking habit. He said he was smoking close to four-five packs a day since 14. I figured he had good genes, or maybe it was his diet? He barely ate.

Anyways, he died peacefully in his sleep ten years ago. I do miss the guy.

On a selfish note, don't make friends with people who are much older than you. Or, if you do--cultivate a lot of friends. He was basically my only friend. We did a lot of crazy stuff together. My life hasen't been the same since he passed away.

Sorry, got off subject.

(When he finally quit-- a few months before he passed, he said, "I thought it would be harder to quit? I actually believed all those commercials comparing smoking cigs to heroin." "I would have quit years ago if I knew what I know now.")

"If he quits, or makes the wrong decision, that potentially affects thousands of his employees, and their families."

Do you really think CEO's care about the help? Watch what happens if Google gets broken up, or takes a nose dive like so many companies. That Playland campus will just be a story we reminisce about. Larry Page, nor any of the others won't be crying in their wine.

They will take their safe money and do something else. Bill Gates had the hubris to think he could solve the worlds problems with his wealth. I always felt it was our wealth? He practically "strong armed" every pc user.

"Oh he's being negative! Let's get him with our finger." I don't think I'm being negative, just a realist. I have seen too many CEO's decimate companies when the wind starts to blow in another direction. They always fatten their stake.

I think people are selfish by nature. When they become wealthy, and the one in charge; they just get worse. I really can't think of an exception?

I'm tired of even debating war. I just want a draft. A draft for all. You can't get out of it for because your in school, rich, or female. The only out would be a disability. Those disability doctors would be highly scrutinized for any sign of corruption by the FBI.

If Chelsea Clinton was required to serve, or Trump's spoiled brats had to walk into a hot zone; I don't think we would see another war for a long time.

(I once had a nephew want to join the Army. I took him to Tiburon, CA for a day of just people watching. It was a sunny day. Even the locals were out. On the way in I was pulled over because I drive an old car, and had long hair at the time. My inner voice said great! We sat in the park, but I wanted him to get a first had seat for the show. Basically a show of people, and their spawn with way too much money. On the way home, I asked him, "You would die for these people?" Well my ploy didn't do much, but he did join the Navy instead of the Army.)

I grew up with the Schwinn 10 speed. I didn't own one, but they were built like tanks. I didn't own one because of funds, and honestly--really never liked them, they were just too heavy.

That said, my friends all had Schwinns. I don't remember any of them failing. We would "ghost ride" the bikes--basically just rolling them down hills and watching them crash. We would retrieve the bike, and sometimes adjust the goose neck, and we were off. Those rims were military steel?

When I was around 10 years old, my friend Peter Stewart and I, did a Centurian for a local bike shop. We completed 100 miles. It was kind of a big deal for us back then. My mom's main concern was wearing a helmet. I wore the Bell skateboard helmet for about a mile--then just tied it to the handlebars. My mom would have gone biserk, if I didn't come home with that helmet.

What I think about to this day is Peter Stewart's determination to finish that race. We came in last, but we both finished. It wasen't that much of a feat for myself, as I was one year older than Peter. I was on my father's Raleigh. I didn't know it at the time, but the lighter weight bike really helped me.

Back to the race. About 5 miles into the race on a huge hill Peter just stopped. He got very emotional. I really didn't think we would finish the race. Back then buddies didn't leave the other behind for any reason. He was on a Schwinn with all the trimmings. He had the rack, and other stuff on his Schwinn. Don't remember all the details.

I talked him into getting rid of the rack. We hid it in the bushes. Peter drank out of his official Scout canteen. He was still emotional. Peter was smaller than myself, but he was much brighter. (I look back, and Peter was the only true genius I have known. That's another story, but he was smart.)

When Peter composed himself, we got back to finishing 95 miles.

Peter couldn't have been more than 60 lbs. All I remember is we both couldn't strattle the bikes comfortably. The bikes were too big for our frames. We would seesaw when riding. We ran out of water within a few hrs., and then it was garden hoses. When we told the homeowners our story--they were more than accommodating. One lady even gave us two Cokes. It was still the best Coke I have ever had.

Long story short-- we finished. The Owner of the bike store (who sponcered the race) made sure we crossed the line before he and his buddies went home. We didn't put him out because they had a barbecue ending, and they were just finishing their beers when we crossed the finish line at dusk. They even clapped.

(I lost track of Peter out of middle school. I heard he was living with two women in the Sierras. I knew he would live life to the fullest. Peter if you happen to read this I have an inactive contractors licence in CA. Get in touch with me--if you want? I wouldn't be suprised if you are one of these big wig Silicon Valley types now, and maybe you remember this event?)

Let's not forget good insurance, and large amounts of money.

I hate to be that guy, but I have been to too many unneeded office visits over my years, or have been told flat out Dr. Whatever charges $350/hr. Hour? It's always just a short visit. As, I've gotten older, I don't want to spend to much time with them. The shorter the office visit the better.

Yea, and I know, your physician lives are so terrible. You had to pay $400,000 for school. You had to get through that residency in which you where hazed, by other Doctors. You have to listen to people whine, and complain--in many cases because they are sick, and in pain. (Get ready for the "I don't treat pain" Doctor", and the FDA is on their side. I don't feel like debating this one either. Too tired.)

Yea, you guessed right, I'm no fan of the American Doctor. I don't like the system? Or, I just don't like American Doctors, with that ego. An ego that seems undeserved after getting into med school, in so, so many cases.

On another note, I'm shocked at how seemingly little advances medicine has made in the last 30 years. Advances that help the patients. Not theoretical advances that look nice on paper.

I smile, and kiss their ass, but there's no love, nor even much respect anymore.

Signed,

Alotofpatients

(I'm not comming back to this post. I will add this, I used to think older doctors were better. I think I was really wrong. In my life, I have met one doctor who appeared to get better with age. He had some unusual medical issues throughout his life that appeared to make him care?)

I like dogs.

I like cats.

I'm just very allergic to cats. It has seriously been a barrier to whom I hang around with. The allergy is genetic. My father had a worse allergic reaction than myself.

My father found a person he liked enough to try to find a work around. This was quite a milestone for my dad. Growing up, my father was just a rigid guy. There were no "work arounds"

Well, when his girlfriend came over he had a separate set of clothes she would put on--free of cat allergens. Even with that preparation he ended up in the emergency room three times. I was there once when he had an Asthma attack. I used two epi pens, and he still couldn't breath.

A cat tried to be friends with me last summer. I was working on my transmission at 1 a.m.. This little cat started to meow behind my head. He actually startled me. Well I got up, and checked for a collar. No collar. He followed me around the house for the following week. What ever chore I did, he was there. For weeks he would show up at the door with a mouse in his mouth. "I brought dinner." The mice were usually alive, but in shock. I would let them loose on my Lawyers property. This cat wanted a new home so bad, he would climb up the side of the house and peer into Windows. I'm still not sure how he got so high.

Just when I decided he could live in the garage, he showed up one night with a collar, and a number. I called the number, and the owner said when they got a puppy a few years ago; he decided to look for a new home. The owner said he would be gone for a week at a time, but always came home.

This cat still visits a least once a month. He usually takes a nap, and leaves.

If your poor, like myself, and want to slow down a car thief, put in a kill switch.

Run the proper gague wire from the primary on the coil to a switch in the cab. The primary wires are the small wires on the coil. (I can't think of any reason the ECU would throw a trouble code.)

It gets more complicated if you have a separate distributor running to each cylinder, but there's always a point in the electrical system you can splice into, like the starting system.

When completed, just get onto the habit of turning the switch on off, and on.

(I have noticed a lot of old Japanese vehicles being stolen in the Bay Area. Go figure?)

American humor

Or, use shrink tubing.

I just repaired my Ipad 2 frayed cord. I cut some shrink tubing I had laying around. I cut 1/2" shrink tubing length wise, and glued the ends together with Super Glue. Then shrink the tubing with heat.

It works better than I though it would.

I can't speak for Canada, but in the USA; all a foreigner needs to buy a home is cash, and a phone call.

I'll get hammered for saying this, but I feel it's wrong on so many levels.

You shouldn't even have to respond to that question.

I guess I'm getting older, or from a different generation, but a lot of life is personal--right?

I'm shocked at how fast Google scoops up these posts for the world to see forever. There been times where I go back to edit/delete a comment, and figure what's the point; Google set it in stone.

"That nerd site of mine" That's funny. I'm not even reading the articles anymore. I get more info., and enjoyment out of the comments.

(And yes I know this is a serious subject.)

I hope they stay open a few more years. Its my favorite stores. This company's eventual demise is one of the many things I hate about "living in the future".

We are going to run out of stores we can browse, see people, use their bathroom without dirty looks, and a friendly staff.

When I go in there, I think about how they could compete, and can't think of much. I like the stores so much I would consider spending my money on a monthly membership. Yes, like a gym membership. It would have to be reasonable, like $10/month, but I would gladly pay it for the honor of sitting at their tables.

I know I need to buy more books there. I don't understand the individuals who pull 15 books off the shelf, leaves them on the floor, and buys the one book they want on Amazon.(I understand the low income buyer, but not being disrespectful by not putting books back.)

They are putting a lot of toys in the stores. I guess that's a good idea. They have so much potential shelf space, I would like to see used books in their stores. Used technical books would be nice. So many customers would give them their old books.

I feel like I'm writing their obituary.

"Heck, I'd love to live in those areas if my job didn't require me to be in downtown SF everyday."

1. I'm not sure if you realize, most people are already living in those far off places, like Santa Rosa, and commuting to SF already. Most of those workers you see in the downtown area are commuters.

2. Section 8 vouchers take up a small percentage of the apartments you would likely want to live in. A lot of the units are run down chit boxes. Many just meet section 8 requirements. Very few landlords rent out to section 8 out of the goodness of their hearts. Yes--I know there's the exception.

2. Tech workers are living pretty well now. I really hope it lasts. I just know too many homless individuals who were once Programmers. I know a key developer of Word Star that's literally begging for money as I write this now. (Give him some money when you see him. He wears a Penquin costume, and strums a toy banjo. He is harassed by cops, and wasen't luckey enough to get section 8.)

3. What a lot of people don't relalize is the cost of living has gotten so outragious, even the requirements for section 8 seem ludicrous.

You would qualify for section 8 if you made less than $65,700 if you're single. If you have a wife, and kid your considered low income if you make less than $84,500.

4. My point is when the party dies, and we all know that time clock is ticking away--you might be the one applying for section 8? Good luck because they aren't even taking applications.

We all know there's not a barrier to entry into this profession, other than a lot of drive, and hard work. It's not like medicine, where there a huge barrier to entry. My point is one day you might be living in that subsidized apartment? In my twenties, I never considered putting myself on that section 8 waiting list, now I wish I did.

Along with being reminded daily I will probally get cancer, and if I'm wealthy I can go to an American Cancer Center.

Along with being reminded, by a questionable non-profit, over animal abuse. (I literally need to turn the station. I'm all for squelching any animal abuse, but I want to give to the right organization.)

Along with another highly questionable non-profit begging for "cash for cars". It goes to the children? I heard they have one residential home for troubled kids in the Sierra foothills--that serves 16 kids. All those millions, and one home in the hills.

Along with the Abilify commercial. My dubious hetero-cyclic depression drug is not doing the trick, so add this dubious drug. "Oh, but it works 67% over placebo! But the study was 300 people? Most people got better by placebo. The few that actually benefitted from the drug is a small percent once you take away placebo. (Yea--I know this is how they "study" these drugs, and no I don't have a cost effective way to change research methodology.)

I don't watch t.v., but have it on as company. I live alone, and just need some noise in the backround. I guess to stifle my negative thoughts?

I do know I'm very close to cutting the cord. I think I'll be ok with old movies on DVDs. I couldn't imagine having cancer, heart disease, or diabetes and having to sit through theses commercials--that seem designed to scare people.

I really wish the FDA would outlaw all medical advertisements. I wish some regulated body would require advertising non-profits to disclose administrative costs in advertisements.