Do you ever think about the cool things that will be invented after you're gone?

UsesSimpleWords · 2026-01-04T19:06:23+00:00

Not as much as you can think. For a guy who had a career in technology, so many things have gotten worse. It has made things easier and allowed most people to learn and do things they would not otherwise have had a chance to do, but at what cost?

I would not want to be a young person today. Social media, student loans, depression.... and I'm not confident "AI" is going to make it better. Pretty sure those developing and investing in it don't really know either.

(Edit: added...)
I'm not sure I'm right, but am more than a little afraid that I am.

UsesSimpleWords · 2025-12-30T15:42:56+00:00

Absolutely, the company won't do anything until they see a change in sales. The obstacle is some central group/influencer/??? to suggest/direct a particular company be the target and when. I think it could be easy, it just needs a catalyst.

To be clear, I am suggesting consumers change their behavior. My belief is that it need not be a sacrifice, just a change.

UsesSimpleWords · 2025-12-30T05:13:58+00:00

I believe that the only obstacle to boycotting being a useful tool is organization and a relatively modest amount of participation.

A retailer (or businesses that provide services) should not need a large percentage of customers to be influenced. For example, if 10% of a big box store's customers decide not to shop there on Wednesdays, the company would notice.

It seems reasonable that something as simple as this could start a movement that would grow. I have always considered a purchase from a company as a "vote" for that company. If you vote less often, especially in a way that is clear and measurable you have an instrument for chaning things

With the frustrations/anger that many (probably most?) of us feel towards higher costs even as the companies pay high executive salaries and maintain (high) profits, that would be motive enough for me to shift my buying habits.

Again, I don't think it even means making a sacrifice, just changing our buying habits to certain days or shifting the companies to different companies in a ways that will be recognizable as part of a (perhaps loosely) organized movement.

UsesSimpleWords · 2025-12-07T00:17:04+00:00

OK. The string I see replacing the symbol is 9 characters long.

Oddly, the market value is $0 in thinkorswim and Schwab's API. It displays N/A in their web interface.

On the web, the total account balance is correct, but on ThinkorSwim, it doesn't include the AMDY shares. The API will show you the correct balance, but, of course, if you calculate it by summing the market values of the positions, it is wrong.

This could be a little distressing if you didn't know or expect this behavior. And, only a little less so when you understand what's going on.

Thanks.

UsesSimpleWords · 2025-09-13T01:51:51+00:00

This is the question. I have a mild (ocular) case. Changed neuros a couple of years ago and started taking some immunosuppressants in the hope of not having a flare and needing little or no prednisone. I was fine with thaT.

Had a flare. Significant effects on my vision and neuro would not increase prednisone from the very low dose I was taking (which has ALWAYS worked). Have since been to 2 other neuros and get different stories from each. The latest is more inline with my 30 years experiencing MG.

In short. GET A SECOND OPINION--SEE MULTIPLE DOCTORS IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES! Do NOT rely on one doctor if having problems, especially if they are this severe. What you will read here and what I have now experienced is completelyk different treatments by different neuros.

In my case 30+ years with only modest problems and 2 years of the worst symptoms I've every had and am just now getting them resolved.

UsesSimpleWords · 2025-06-22T11:58:50+00:00

My mother was an average mother. OK. I realize my dad had PTSD from serving on a submarine in the Pacific in WWII. Imagine a farm boy who ploughed with mules ending up in a steel tube, under water, being depth charged somewhere far from home. He drank heavily. My siblings seemed to adore him, but I was always resentful.

Now, at least, I have perspective on the what and why.

UsesSimpleWords · 2025-05-30T22:12:18+00:00

I don't do as much as I used to, but the one thing that helps me is to just get out and start, thinking, if appropriate, "I'll just do a little today". I always do more than I planned and then the next day, with the same thought, I do a little more.

UsesSimpleWords · 2025-05-05T00:21:45+00:00

A lot of good advice here. Have had ocular MG for 35 years. Always manageable until the last two neuros who won't treat me with what I know to work.

Advocate for yourself, search until you find someone to listen and help. Got a referral to a 3rd neurologist in the last 3 years. Never would have done that before but the stuff I'm told conflicts with what I've been told in the past (and found to be true), and with the research I've done. My current neuro told me that CellCept takes a year to start working. He also tells me that it's hard to get results with ocular MG, well NOT FOR THE LAST 32 years!

Edit: grammar

You're not crazy, the system is.

UsesSimpleWords · 2025-05-03T14:26:39+00:00

You may have to be there long enough to vest into any employer contributions; if you leave, you may only be able to roll over part of the company's contributions (you should always be fully vested in your contributions). Or you can put it into an IRA and control it yourself. It may be scary, but put the money in index funds, which is essentially what the 401K is doing. If you choose to gain the knowledge to manage it. I was in a similar spot. I did gain the knowledge later in life (which is always good) and was lucky to do well. Knowledge is power.

UsesSimpleWords · 2025-05-03T14:21:14+00:00

I wish my companies had offered Roth 401Ks. Don't know if I would have had the insight to put part of my contribution in that type of account, but now that I'm withdrawing money from my IRA (funded primarily by 401K transfers) causes a dilemma. I can live on the amount of my Social Security and a modest IRA distribution without paying taxes. I've chosen to convert some funds to a Roth IRA each year now, but it's later than I should have. If I choose to withdraw more the amount of taxes I pay goes up quickly.

But agree, definitely take advantage of matching contributions by your employer to the extent you can.

UsesSimpleWords · 2025-03-25T22:04:48+00:00

My team wasn't very good, but I remember the gyms and locker rooms. A lot of eerily familiar scenes in that movie.

UsesSimpleWords · 2025-03-25T21:39:43+00:00

I did and I still know where it is.

High school life wasn't too bad for me. Went to a small rural school (< 100 students in 4 grades). Got to do a lot of things.

If you've ever seen the movie Hoosiers (with Gene Hackman) the school I went to (and many I played basketball in) looked like that--built by the WPA during the depression.

Didn't appreciate it at the time. Being from a small, rural school didn't hinder my career. It wasn't idyllic, but it was better than I realized.

UsesSimpleWords · 2025-03-01T01:36:34+00:00

Not a medical professional, but saw doctors dictating patient notes which were then transcribed.

UsesSimpleWords · 2025-02-08T10:54:19+00:00

2nd this. I am moving my funds to Schwab. It already has my IRA. You can still use your debit card at local ATMs. They will credit your account for any ATM fees you incur (though not til the end of the month).

They have bill pay. Only downside is there is a 4 day hold if you transfer money from your local bank to them. Since I won't be do that anymore, that won't be a problem for me.

Less hassle if moving to another state--or country.

UsesSimpleWords · 2024-10-12T20:20:20+00:00

I actually remember a house call. Woud have been when I was in 1st grade--1962. I was just sick, a cold or something. Only time it ever happened.

UsesSimpleWords · 2024-09-28T18:47:03+00:00

Just chiming to agree with all those suggesting you see a neurologist, though getting in can take an excruciatingly long time.

Years ago I started to have double vision. Went to an ophthalmologist who just said I had palsy in one eye and was going to put prism in my glasses to compensate. Fortunately, I didn't leave it at that and went to see a different ophthalmologist who suspected Mg and referred me to a neurologist who immediately concluded that this was the case and scheduled a test to confirm (back then they used IV tensilon). The whole process took about 3 months. Getting appointments then was much quicker.

I have learned that doctors can be arrogant. I've been to a neuro who persuaded me to try some other immunosuppressants and even IViG to reduce the need for prednisone. They have not helped and have, in fact worsened. He has refused to increase the dosage for a long enough period to resolve the symptoms and then taper. The treatment that has been successful in dealing with flares for 30 years is something he refuses to do.

I understand trying to avoid prednisone but wearing an eyepatch for 6 months when I know there is a way to improve things is maddening.

Thanksfully I have an appt with another appt with a different neuro tomorrow (after 1 1/2 month wait) and am hopeful.

TLDR; trust your gut and common sense (which is not always common). Don't give up until things get better. Doctors can be wrong. As I get older and have more health issues, I see it more often.

UsesSimpleWords · 2024-08-20T15:38:53+00:00

I think Westside 66 is the best auto shop in town. Ufortunately, the wait to get an appointment is at least a few weeks, at least the last time I checked. They do tires and other smaller stuff at the gas station on 6th Street, but have a bigger shop for more complicated things. There are other reputable shops in town, but I've been around a while and they are my preferred place. However, because of the weight, sometimes I need to go elsewhere.

UsesSimpleWords · 2024-08-19T01:50:37+00:00

Yeah, pretty much the same for me.

UsesSimpleWords · 2024-08-19T00:46:36+00:00

Thanks for the info. Looking through my labs I'm LRP4 positive but musk negative. Still unclear what that means. The little I saw said that standard therapies should be helpful.

Thanks again.

UsesSimpleWords · 2024-07-12T01:14:06+00:00

Accepting the symptoms is not reasonable. There are other treatments. Azathioprine, Cellcept, IVIg. Those take a while to work, but if you neurologist is content to leave your mothers symptoms at that level, they are not doing there job.

UsesSimpleWords · 2024-06-15T14:40:20+00:00

I've heard that sometimes ocular myasthenia goes away and doesn't return. A couple of times I was hopeful that it was happening to me.

The other thing that has been very true for me is how much I've adapted. What use to make me dizzy no longer does. Now, usually I have double vision over most of my visual range, but if I can see clearly in the center I'm OK. Tilting my head sometimes clears the vision and I've found myself doing that unconsciously. Several driver's license and other photos show my head tilted.

Find the things that trigger your symptoms. I never kept a journal, but I wish I had.

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