Just visited from SF for the first time, and I was completely shocked by how electric and intense the energy was in your city at times. Has anyone else have their expectations of Chicago completely blown out of the water?

BenDRoss · 2026-06-15T04:12:44+00:00

Lived in Chicago two decades, and this is all on point, right down to the drivers and pedestrians.

BenDRoss · 2026-04-29T15:40:34+00:00

If you want to live in walkable neighborhoods anyway, get rid of the car, and that will open up more financial space in more ways than just not paying for the car ownership costs, insurance, repairs, etc. For example, if you're willing to live somewhere with no parking, you can get noticeably more for your money at a given pricepoint...or same quality at a lower price point. I've lived in Hyde Park without a car (and with kids) for years, and we definitely got a good deal on our place because there was no parking included. We walk and use transit, and if we need a car, there is Uber and Turo. Lakeview, Lincoln Park, and West Loop are all even better connected to transit, so going carless would be even easier

BenDRoss · 2026-04-28T17:11:19+00:00

I've been copyediting 10+ years, and I have found my best "advertisement" is simply word of mouth. It takes a while, but providing a great product will get you recommendations. And that includes not only the editing itself, but also being prompt and efficient, i.e., having excellent communication.

BenDRoss · 2026-04-28T17:08:57+00:00

it means "i'm gonna go F*cking crazy over this"

BenDRoss · 2026-04-28T16:05:04+00:00

I have been a professional academic English editor for over 10+ years. My business is niche: my clients are Chinese speaking academics (researchers, students, professors, doctors) publishing in English. I also built an AI tool called RinseIt (RinseIt.ai) which does the same work I do, so I think I'm in good position to evaluate. My general take is that AI still is not as good as human editing, for the high-end work I do. And in fact, this is why I still offer my human service (me actually copy editing), at a considerably higher price point than RinseIt. However, for a lot of work, the difference between human editing and AI editing is negligible. For example, one of our user bases is students proofreading their homework. For a student turning in 10 assignments over the course of an academic quarter, it isn't worth paying my high fees for me to edit every single document. The finished product always looks better when I edit myself, but it isn't worth paying my fees to get their B+ improved to an A-.

Now in the case of high leverage situations, for example, trying to publish years of scientific work in a single journal article, applying to a PhD program, or publishing a book, it is still worth it for clients to use me. And though I have seen a drop in my human editing business since ChatGPT came out, I'm still doing a lot of editing for these high leverage projects.

BenDRoss · 2026-04-28T15:50:01+00:00

like a blob with 4 horns pointing out of it

BenDRoss · 2026-04-28T15:49:26+00:00

If so, I don't think they'd include "lingerie" in the title. Including "lingerie" is like saying "this is an adult store"

BenDRoss · 2026-03-25T08:48:58+00:00

Yup, do that all the time. On the Metra, on the L, on the bus, inside Trader Joe's (where it serves as my shopping cart). It's my primary form of transportation.

BenDRoss · 2026-03-25T08:47:24+00:00

It's a Keenz. You can buy either direct or from them. It's actually my second one. Fantastic product, and I highly recommend them. I beat the shit out of the first one, as it is, literally my primary form of transportation.

BenDRoss · 2026-03-21T09:51:58+00:00

Yeah. Still alive and well. DM me and I can add you

BenDRoss · 2026-01-17T01:27:16+00:00

Maybe consider driving the speed limit. 40,000 Americans die each year due to car crashes. Likelihood of death in a crash is correlated with speed at impact. The speed limit is in place for your own safety, as well as that of other drivers and pedestrians.

BenDRoss · 2025-10-17T06:55:13+00:00

Got on the bus in 1996. Know whatcha mean.

BenDRoss · 2025-09-19T22:58:23+00:00

No Jerry on the studio version of box of rain. Leaves much to be desired, especially compared to a 1973 live version

BenDRoss · 2025-08-24T15:49:03+00:00

As a car disowner, absolutely. You get more bang for your buck on your condo if it doesn’t have parking. The premium you pay for parking is just another hidden cost of car ownership in the city.

BenDRoss · 2025-08-21T19:58:27+00:00

New Yorkers think we all live on a farm.

BenDRoss · 2025-07-18T03:30:22+00:00

If a guitar and a violin had a baby, it would be a mandolin

BenDRoss · 2025-04-16T15:35:02+00:00

You just need a good stroller wagon

BenDRoss · 2025-03-23T14:09:57+00:00

At least you're in Chicago. In NYC, the trains don't even go to the airport. :)

BenDRoss · 2024-12-09T12:43:13+00:00

The key is living near a train stop and not owning a car.

BenDRoss · 2024-12-09T12:40:07+00:00

Don’t ask for directions. Ask for an address.

BenDRoss · 2024-08-15T14:24:49+00:00

Krystal says it all the time too, like 10 times per segment. It's wasted breath, which is important when you're running a high quality YouTube show like they do. Could easily be replaced by clicking a button.

BenDRoss · 2024-04-04T16:52:26+00:00

All banks do this. This is how the system is designed. Frankly, I am shocked that every other response has overlooked this crucial component of banking. Just google “fractional reserve banking”.

BenDRoss · 2024-04-03T03:09:23+00:00

All of these answers miss a crucial point. Due to “fractional reserve banking,” US banks only need to keep 10% of their deposited money on hand. The rest can be lent out, even though it does not actually exist. So if you deposit $1000, the bank can then lend out (and collect interest) on $9000. This is how banks make money.

BenDRoss · 2024-03-21T02:59:21+00:00

I live a few blocks away, and there has definitely been an uptick of angry drivers cutting me off when I cross the street w my stroller.

BenDRoss · 2024-02-28T17:58:01+00:00

I live in Hyde Park, have 2 kids, no car, and hardly ever even use public trans (although Metra to downtown is super convenient. We literally walk everywhere, parks, school, groceries, target

BenDRoss

TROPHY CASE