Hunter Thompson opined that the US draft was better than the alternative.

Under the draft everyone, rich and poor, was expected to serve. With a ‘volunteer army’ only the poor need to go.

Another drafted vet said that draftees are more likely to speak up if civilians are targeted because the soldiers know that they are eventually going home. Lifers will obey all orders.

He just casually invented cryptocurrency as a plot device.

I had a long flight so I took along Reamde.

I’d read it twice before, but damned if it didn’t hook me up again. I got to the first airport around 10 am and didn’t get home until 3 am. Saved my sanity.

For the uninitiated, Reamde involves the kidnapped niece of a billionaire game maker; the game is really fun and also a money laundering operation. There are terrorists, Right Wing militias, undercover spies, demented science fiction authors, and a bear skin rug.

[off topic]

I’ve been telling people to read ‘Cryptonomicon’ for decades.

It tells two interwoven stories. Back in WW2 the grandfather is involved in proactive missions to keep the Nazis from learning the Allies had broken their codes, and in the late 1990’s the grandson is trying to start an online bank

If he’s an adult you can call the police.

People have family members arrested all the time.

Just vacationed in Belize. Tiny place near Guatemala and Mexico on the Caribbean. It’s the only English speaking country in South America; founded by English pirates who wanted to steal Spanish gold. Great food, friendly people, and interesting history.

Good luck

I don’t know where you live, so I can only tell you what worked in my area.

First, the local library. Near me the main branch has a Job Opportunity Center where they have listings for all the civil service jobs.

The Chief-Leader is a New York City website/printed newspaper that has listings of all Civil Service jobs in the area.

You can contact the state/province Department of Labor and see what they have.

Apply for Civil Service jobs.

You won’t get hired quickly, but the jobs come with great benefits and strong unions.

Wheat germ. It’s in most stores in the cereal aisle. I take it with my orange juice or sprinkled on oatmeal.

Franz is here to help you, little man. Bend over and breath deeply. It will all be over in fifteen to twenty minutes.

Isaac Asimov wrote books on a wide range of topics.

Start with him

Ask a librarian.

https://youtu.be/MPvJkB8q2v0

With lyrics.

To each their own.

Classic French thriller.

“Wages Of Fear.” Four men, two trucks, a desert, and five tons of unstable dynamite. They need to get the explosives to a uncontrolled oil well fire. They’ve got nothign to lose…

Look for ‘The Recruit.’ One season only [so far] Young lawyer gets hired by the CIA. Manages to mix office politics with national politics.

Look for the original Swedish/Danish version of ‘The Bridge.’ It’s been remade with USA/Mexico and UK/France, but the first is still the best. I usually hate shows with subtitles, but this one kept me going for every season. Body turns up on an international bridge, half on one side and half on the other. Two very different police detectives have to work together to solve the crime.

‘Culprits’ is from the POV of the crooks. After commiting the perfect crime, a now reformed crook is pulled back in when the wealthy victim comes looking for revenge.

You can’t make people like you, but you have a right to demand respect.

I worked a job where I shared a space with another worker. They worked the shift ahead of me. Because I was brand new they thought it would be fun to leave the area a mess. I took all the garbage and put it in their company mailbox. I told them that if they left their personal stuff out I’d be nice and return it to them.

They eventually got the idea.

Ever heard the phrase “Life on life’s terms”?

Unless you’re willing and able to create your own company and control who you employ, you’re goign to be dealing with people.