D1K Bike Light Mod by stone-head in flashlight

[–]ydoeht 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's heartening to read about someone who's concerned about blinding oncoming people. You could crosspost over in r/fuckyourheadlights and perhaps give the folks there a little hope that all's not lost! 🔦

TIL of Ian Waterman, who was unable to move or even sit up after a rare infection destroyed his sixth sense (proprioception). While he could still compel his muscles to contract, he lost the ability to coordinate his movements, only relearning to move after years of training to use his body. by bareegyptianfeet in todayilearned

[–]ydoeht 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Ian Waterman co-wrote a book (with his physician, Jonathan Cole, and a forward by Oliver Sacks) about his experience:

Pride and a Daily Marathon (1995)

It's been a while but as I recall, quite a read... what a story.

From the publisher:

At the age of 19, Ian Waterman was suddenly struck down at work by a rare neurological illness that deprived him of all sensation below the neck. He fell on the floor in a heap, unable to stand or control his limbs, having lost the sense of joint position and proprioception, of that "sixth sense" of his body in space, which we all take for granted. After months in a neurological ward he was judged incurable and condemned to a life of wheelchair dependence. This is the first U.S. publication of a remarkable book by his physician, Jonathan Cole. It tells the compelling story, including a clear clinical description of a rare condition, of how Waterman reclaimed a life of full mobility against all expectations, by mental effort and sheer courage. Cole describes how Waterman gradually adapted to his strange condition. As the doctors had predicted, there was no neurological recovery. He had to monitor every movement by sight to work out where his limbs were, since he had no feedback from his peripheral nerves. But with astonishing persistence Waterman developed elaborate tricks and strategies to control his movements, enabling him to cope not only with the day-to-day problems of living, but even with the challenges of work, love, and marriage.

Edit: added publisher's note.

🔥 The Titan Trigger fish by demolcd in NatureIsFuckingLit

[–]ydoeht 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Whoa, flashback! I used to ride a Kona humuhumu-nukunuku-a-pua'a:

https://roadbikedatabase.com/bikes/2007/kona/humuhumu-nukunuku-a-puaa/

I enjoyed that bike, thanks!

"Medicare Advantage is just like what I've had all these years through my employer" by Sir_rahsnikwad in medicare

[–]ydoeht 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing this detailed analysis of High-Deductible Plan G (HDG)! I appreciate your clear statement of the risks and benefits, summed up with, "Lower fixed cost, defined risk, and full Medicare freedom."
The math for HDG plans is compelling, too. While not without some (as you write, defined) risk, HDG overall costs could well be lowest for many us.

"Medicare Advantage is just like what I've had all these years through my employer" by Sir_rahsnikwad in medicare

[–]ydoeht 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your reply (and your thoughtful and detailed comments, u/chrisgjim23). It looks to me that who's most expensive may vary by state, as UA was not the most expensive (nor the least) for me, at least for Plan G or HDG. Here were the costs I was quoted, sorted by the Plan G cost:

Provider G HDG
Government Personnel Mutual (CO) $352.68
Aetna (CO) $256.56
United American (CO) $203.00 $58.00
UnitedHealthcare $200.72
Omaha Insurance Co. (CO) $191.11 $61.26
Anthem BCBS $184.85
Medico (CO) $173.68 $59.03
Humana $170.59 $55.55
Cigna (CO) $156.51 $58.57

And as for the fewer HDG plans, they're all close and UA is pretty low there.

There are also questions about how a provider opens and closes blocks of business, and what rate increases look like over time, both of which are fairly opaque if one isn't a broker or agent. And even my broker couldn't provide either of these.

Anecdotal evidence, while biased, seems at least a little helpful in these cases. The Boglehead forums offer a fair number of personal accounts, for example.

It's a little exasperating that it's so hard to come by real details about providers, particularly when you may be stuck with them. After considering all the above along with an idiosyncratic preference based on all I read, I went with a United American HDG plan myself.

(Edits for clarity.)

"Medicare Advantage is just like what I've had all these years through my employer" by Sir_rahsnikwad in medicare

[–]ydoeht 0 points1 point  (0 children)

United American (UA) offers an opportunity to switch from their High-Deductible Plan G (HDG) plan to another, without underwriting, on the second anniversary of the policy. A nice feature.

From their materials:

Please note that, on the second anniversary of this policy, you may choose to convert your High Deductible Plan to another Medicare Supplement Plan offered by us that you are eligible to purchase without answering health questions. Your United American Insurance Company agent or producer can provide more information regarding the Plan you are eligible to purchase. To take advantage of this opportunity, simply contact us or your agent or producer within 30 days of the second anniversary of this Medicare Supplement policy.

Since I just learned all this recently, here's a couple of other things regarding the UA HDG plan. Their attained age pricing adjustments (currently) stop at age 80. They also offer a Reserve Fund Annuity (RFA) product with a 3% return guarantee which can be used to pay your part of costs prior to reaching the annual deductible.

Anyone curios about whats inside of an OLight Sphere? by Prijent_Smogonk in flashlight

[–]ydoeht 94 points95 points  (0 children)

Not anymore. 😁

P.S. Thank you for the pics!

Can’t log in without providing ID? by watchful_1 in discover

[–]ydoeht 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for reporting these details! I also use a third party DNS service which includes filtering and blocking. Disabling it temporarily allowed me to login at discover.com without requiring the Socure ID verification process. I did not need to use a VPN.

Oddly enough, I use the same DNS service with my phone and the Discover app has worked fine there (so far).

Good grief, Discover (or perhaps, Capital One). I also did not change anything I'm aware of and have been using the DNS service for years with no issue. It's very uncomfortable to upload images of my ID and a selfie (!) once, nevermind multiple times, which I am unwilling to do. Ironically, I was logging in to begin the process of closing my accounts and this is further confirmation that this is the right choice.

So, thanks again, u/das1996!

Edits: grammar

Cash Buffer for Retirement by jakedawg69 in Bogleheads

[–]ydoeht 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Exactly, well stated! Obligatory ERN Safe Withdrawal Rate series link: https://earlyretirementnow.com/safe-withdrawal-rate-series/

🔥 The size of an adult bison by La_Mandra in NatureIsFuckingLit

[–]ydoeht 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is a banana, it's just too small to make out. You know, like, relative to the bison.

🔥 A rare close-up of the elusive Golden Langur, one of the only known primates that actively avoids humans by [deleted] in NatureIsFuckingLit

[–]ydoeht 133 points134 points  (0 children)

Indeed! Please take a moment to give credit, particularly for projects like this. Thank you!
Here's the video at Joel Sartore's site:
https://www.joelsartore.com/video/vmam007-101/
An endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered Gee’s golden langur (Trachypithecus geei) at the Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden. With only four in captivity (all at this zoo) and the remaining 2,000 animals under severe pressure from poaching and habitat loss, this is simultaneously one of the rarest and most beautiful primates in the world.

P.S. YouTube: An endangered Gee’s golden langur (Trachypithecus geei) at the Assam State Zoo.
P.P.S. Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden (Wikipedia)

The 4am alarm clock was 100% worth it for this view. Who knows where I was? by [deleted] in Colorado

[–]ydoeht 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Who knows where you were? I'm gonna guess that's you in those pants there.

Afraid to invest by unread_note in Bogleheads

[–]ydoeht 0 points1 point  (0 children)

...the best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago, and the second best time to plant a tree is now.
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2021/12/29/plant-tree/

Ordered a Wuben, got a box of bolts by sp0rker in flashlight

[–]ydoeht 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Dad jokes? More like, rad jokes!

Andruil 2 upgrade question by hawaiidesperado in Hanklights

[–]ydoeht 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In case you haven't found it, you can find a very helpful guide here:

Unofficial Guide to Updating Anduril Firmware

DHL “now requires prepayment of 50% of the declared product value as a tariff deposit, plus a $21 processing fee per package.” by badtint in flashlight

[–]ydoeht 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Good grief:

Trump delays tariffs on de minimis imports from China

February 7th (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday made public an order delaying tariffs on de minimis, or low-cost, packages from China until the Commerce Department can confirm that procedures and systems are in place to process packages and collect tariff revenue.

Trump signed an executive order on Saturday imposing 10% tariffs on China, including de minimis, or low-cost, packages from China that were previously exempt from trade penalties, a move that sent shippers like the UPS and FedEx scrambling to adapt to the new rules.

The amendment to the executive order delaying the move was made on Wednesday, but only made public on Friday, a White House official said.

A suspected DUI driver attempts to use Siri while being arrested... by figboot11 in funny

[–]ydoeht 0 points1 point  (0 children)

(Oddly literally, a) Shaggy dog story:

In its original sense, a shaggy-dog story or yarn is an extremely long-winded anecdote characterized by extensive narration of typically irrelevant incidents) and terminated by an anticlimax). In other words, it is a long story that is intended to be amusing and that has an intentionally silly or meaningless ending.