Unfortunately here in the US this would require a change to the law the healthcare industry bought that says you can't buy contacts or prescription glasses without a recent (within one year) prescription from an optometrist. Both contacts and prescription eyeglasses are classified as "medical devices".

I've had the *exact* same prescription for 15 years (I have the slightest astigmatism in my right eye, I only glasses for coding to avoid eye strain). If I lose or break my glasses, I can't just go get another pair - I have to go get an eye exam. Same thing with a contact (yup, I only need one).

I went recently because I wanted to try a contact again ... The exam cost $100 out of pocket ($20 co-pay + $80 extra for contacts that insurance doesn't cover) then an additional $200 billed to my insurance. To tell me what I already knew. It's quite a racket.

I know reading the article and doing a couple google searches is challenging, but these are the same guys who built a working facsimile of the Dark Knight 'Bat Pod'.

This isn't their first rodeo. They also build custom "normal" motorcycles.

As for your assessment on what makes it road legal, laws vary by State and custom manufacture has different rules than mass-produced. For example, all states I've lived in have required a headlight and taillight on motorcycles, but not turn signals. VA has a bizarre law that says signals are not required, but if present they much be functional.

But yes, feel free to believe what you want.

Only once, about 10 years ago ... I think it was a combined CCS and FUSA event.

We were based out of DE, so that was a long haul for us. I've raced just about everywhere else East of the Mississippi.

The point of the welded steering head at his school is that you can't turn the motorcycle without turning the front wheel. The only way it turns is if you decrease speed enough that it's basically trying to fall over.

As you lean, the position of the front wheel in relation to the frame is not constant - you're still counter-steering, but in a less efficient manor.

The reason he created the exercise was to show people that focusing on putting input into the handlebars is the way to turn a motorcycle - everything else takes more of your time, energy, and attention which at high speed, is limited.

His books are really about the physics of riding a motorcycle, and quite interesting to read. I took all four levels of his school when I first started racing in the '90s.

If you don't think you turn the handlebars, I encourage you to take Keith Code's superbike school and attempt to turn the motorcycle he created to disprove this notion (the steering head is welded in place).

You actually counter steer quite a bit, especially at full lean at high speed.

Close.

Motorcycles are counter steered at speed. You turn the bars opposite to the direction you wish to turn, then lean into the corner. Keith Code (Keith Code superbike school) had to take a bike and weld the steering head in place to prove this to people who kept insisting your statement was true.

You are correct in that racing bikes have a limited steering angle, but it's in the neighborhood of 35 degrees in either direction (depending on the bike, my Ducati 900ss was notorious for needing 3-point turns in parking lots, the 1098 I have now has more but the stops are adjustable).

Obligatory Cred to back up my statement:
WERA 2000 Lightweight Superbike regional champion
USGPRU and FUSA Pro racer 2000 - 2005

I agree with you with one caveat - startups aren't for the average 40+ year old.

You still have to have the drive, commitment, and passion for what you do. Many guys I see even in their late 30's have lost this (or never had it in the first place - they chose programming in the '90s because it was a good paycheck).

If you get too comfortable in your position and stagnate, fail to thrive and achieve

This. And I left off the rest for a reason.

I don't necessarily think you have to "make a name for yourself in the industry" as much as you just have to be very good at what you do, keep up with what's going on, and have at least one marketable specialization. And you should if you've been doing it for ~ 20 years.

If all you're doing as you approach 40 is CRUD websites ... you're screwed. Anyone can program in PHP and probably will for significantly less than your salary. I avoided web programming for exactly this reason (and for the fact that I'd have hanged myself out of boredom).

Causing a traffic jam near a storm that as you mention, can put a toothpick through an oak tree, falls well below any reasonable threshold for "intelligence" never mind responsibility.

Perhaps the thing to do would be to use an off-road motorcycle and go for the big score - a dozen cars with nowhere to go getting scooped up and chucked.

Hmm, sure ... as long as your stupidity doesn't get the Phd folk killed.

I'm amazed we haven't had a fail of epic proportions yet where a storm changes directions and sucks up a bunch of them.

Or, we don't see geographic proximity as a requirement for continued friendship.

I moved 1800 miles 3 years ago ... and my friends are still my friends. I just see them "in person" far less often. I also have friends who left the area where we met before I did. I even have friends who now live on completely different continents.

And yet ... many, many tech companies seem to insist that you work in this big brick-and-motor constructed building they call "The Office" rather than from your house.

They don't outsource to one guy in India, or a bunch of one guys in different locations. They outsource to a company that (in theory) has a team with supervision/management. And they do it from a big building they call "The Office".

BTW, I'm not disagreeing with you or saying that it should work like this, I'm just pointing out that in reality, it does. Companies that allow for geographically disparate telecommuters are the exception rather than the rule. .

This is because that's the best way to eat fillet. Period, end of story.

People who order a $25+ steak and have it cooked beyond medium-rare (and even that's a stretch ;) ) would be better served by ordering the $8 sirloin steak at any chain bistro as it will taste exactly the same as well as have the same tough, grainy texture.

In my youth I was a waiter at a 4-star restaurant. Whenever someone asked that their meat be well-done you could sense that the Chef just wanted to cry. We actually were supposed to tactfully suggest to the guest that perhaps something else on the menu would be a better choice.

Why would you go out in the snow in Dec to do the exact same thing as cooking a steak in a gas oven with the broiler? The gas flames in your grill do not have magic properties.

A gas grill is basically just a gas stove/oven that sits in your yard. Great for the social aspect, but no different than cooking in your kitchen.

Unless you have an electric stove/oven, I suppose ... in which case you really can't cook properly inside either :)

As for the adjustable part ... a good charcoal grill has adjustable racks and the charcoal tray itself can be raised and lowered or even set at an angle if you only have one tray. A really nice grill will have 2 separate trays for doing exactly what you describe.