Speaking of racism in the U.S., however, nothing you say will change the dozens of firsthand experiences that I endured as a minority immigrant growing up in this land. I say this not from a place of bitterness, but from a place of sadness: I too wish racism wasn't real or as heavily perpetuated as it actually is. Working in SV almost makes me forget the shit I had to endure because it's much less visible from the ivory towers of the west coast. But my friend, racism is very real, and it is very alive. I'm not here to say whites are evil and we are noble - it's simply that being in the place of power gives you many more avenues with which to abuse.

Let me say this one last time: shutting down a gifted class due to its racial make up is the wrong way to go. It's the lazy way to "establish social justice". I say this not because I believe racism isn't real - I say this because this is reverse racism. If what we want to build is a world that is accepting of all individuals regardless of their race, we should accept that racism exists and devise reasonable solutions to combat it. Punishing white kids is not the way to go, nor is denying that racism is alive.

"Pull yourself up by your bootstraps" they said. "Reach out and grab that American dream" they also said. So many of us listened and found a tiny slice of success in the academia despite being systematically opposed and ridiculed... and now what? We're somehow treated in the same vein as the 'oppressor' who have been enjoying their undue systematic advantage and our success must now be supressed?

We're still heavily underrepresented in Hollywood, most major sports leagues, the government, and practically most forms of leadership - yet we're finding ourselves constantly lumped in there as "whites and asians" when it's convenient for the narrative of racial inequality to construct a heart-wrenching story. Do people not see how backwards it all feels?

I know it takes a lot of effort as well as luck in landing that first entry-level job so all I can say is to keep knocking, but also be prepared to show something tangible. Anyone can talk all day about their awesome work ethics but it's another thing to be able to prove it by presenting a polished (for a junior) software.

Some examples include:

- If I found myself stranded on an island, what kinds of challenges would I have to overcome and how?

- If I could improve the magic system of Harry Potter, what changes would I introduce?

- If I were given a device that I could use to turn back the time to 6 am once everyday, how could I use it to my best advantage while avoiding any pitfalls?

- If I were given a small 12x12x12 room with an unlimited budget to create a living space for me to be confined in, how would I use that space?

These would be the kinds of things that I could think about for a while before finding myself fast asleep. Not sure if this would work for anyone else, but maybe you can give it a try?

Besides, it's not like software engineering doesn't pay. Even before I landed by current SV big tech job, I had more than made up for the initial paycut I took at a local startup.

Huge congrats to Kristina, and I hope her engineering career brings her as much joy and fulfillment as it has brought me.

I believe you were going for hyperbole, but it reads more like misinformation instead. Please reconsider saying misleading shit like this, especially on HN.

I guess it's easier to throw out blocks and bans, placing the burden of proof on their customers rather than to have people looking into why completely innocent accounts were getting flagged in the first place. I've made my peace with it and I'm happy not spending a cent on your damn play store for the rest of my life.

> We are not defenseless against COVID-19. Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus -- particularly when used universally within a community setting. All Americans have a responsibility to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.

I trust his expertise and judgment. What's the basis for ignoring his advice and not wearing a mask?

"Oh, but Uber and Lyft were brought down by their own greed" Well, where is the non-greedy alternative in this market, employing legitimate full-benefit workers and serving their community while making earnest profits? If there really exists a market that is sustainable via the terms outlined by the court of California, why the hell isn't anyone competing in this market that famously yields no incumbent benefits?

If, on the other hand, if the math doesn't check out and there isn't a viable market, then what is being accomplished by this ruling? It's both shutting down an extremely useful service while taking jobs away from people who need it most, when they need it most.

This is a terrible decision that is so far removed from reality that it's almost laughable. While I admire the idealistic worldview of those who rule from above, this is a classic case of the road to hell being paved by good intentions.

Yeah, sounds like a market ripe for picking.

No matter how you want to spin this, it's not going to be a victory for the majority of the drivers. Let us, in our high and mighty chair, obliterate a burgeoning industry filled with people voluntarily making money on their own time. Let the taxi medallions flow back in its stead. Problem solved - slavery is no more.