I’ve been passing through that location for the last 30+ years, and there are unmistakable signs in this picture. It’s a very old one though, as most of these businesses are no longer there.
I went on tear in university—a long time ago now—reading everything that had been translated to English by then. And, while they had the most bizarro plots, I found them to be the most compelling reads, wanting to read more and more, until I ran out of things to read.
Oh, I bet that “reason” is to achieve some kind of mythical “purity”, as though such a thing was even desirable…
Well, at least you got one thing right: I’m very much entitled to my opinion. And, I opine that I don’t want to live the same, boring, homogenous, inbred, weak life as everyone else. If you think that’s what you need to be happy, happy trails and good fucking luck. 🫡
Bold of you to assume that I have family that I want to keep in touch with. Entire family tree is twisted and gnarled, and full of white-trash sociopaths and narcissists.
For the one remaining person I might keep in touch with, it’s a text message at holidays.
Yeah, maybe if someone told me I should have specced my character for wealth or charisma, instead of creativity or wisdom, I might be enjoying this game more…
Make coming into the office worth it. Period, end of sentence.
Here, I have my own quiet, private office, a ginormous monitor, a comfortable chair, and zero commute. I can make my own lattes, eat on the cheap, and take care of what I need to take care of while listening to a meeting.
My experience coming into the office is an open, noisy floorplan, a monitor designed for ants, a nice-enough but ancient chair, and 75 minutes each way gone from my life—to say nothing of the $20 gone from my wallet for the privilege. The free coffee is dogshit, the food is expensive, and I can barely get a bathroom break as I’m locked into so many meetings.
I’d happily work from the office if it had literally anything to recommend it over WFH.
I’ve been very slowly getting more open and candid with the idea that I’m not going to be around to retirement age. The men in my family have incredibly rough odds, starting at 50, and I don’t think I’m going to be the one to beat the odds.
Healthy or not, constantly rolling this knowledge around my head—even voicing it —has helped to put a lot of things in perspective—even if it hasn’t yet instilled a YOLO mentality.
“This is television, that's all it is. It has nothing to do with people, it's to do with ratings! For fifty years, we've told them what to eat, what to drink, what to wear... for Christ's sake, Ben, don't you understand? Americans love television. They wean their kids on it. Listen. They love game shows, they love wrestling, they love sports and violence. So what do we do? We give 'em what they want! We're number one, Ben, that's all that counts, believe me. I've been in the business for thirty years.”
…I do love the idea of someone who makes much of their money illegally but also has this very honorable commitment to paying their fair share in taxes.
There’s, perhaps, a more practical explanation. As I’ve read before (in some other phrasing): If you’re going to commit a crime, commit only one at a time.
In this case, if you’re going to make your money illegally, for goodness’ sake, don’t evade taxes.
…so far.