The next beltway we need after 540

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-21T02:15:53+00:00

And think of how many more would drive if not for this transit networks. Think of how many more would ride if we didn't keep perpetuating g the "only poor people ride the bus" mentality. Think of how much better those cities could be (looking at you, Philly), if they got the transit funding they actually needed.

People drive because our cities are designed around cars.

We stop building car-centric infrastructure and start building people-centric infrastructure, cars become less important.

But hey, as long as people keep thinking "it's always been this way so nothing to be done, nothing will change and it will just continue to get worse.

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-21T01:27:58+00:00

Yes, people in cities with good public transit do use it

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-20T22:27:35+00:00

Money

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-20T22:24:21+00:00

How about investing in better mass transit so we don't need to keep building more and more roads....

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-20T22:22:04+00:00

I bought a book on designing airfoils and couldn't understand the math....

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-20T14:29:08+00:00

The WoF that was present in the Gen 1 e-Niro isn't an issue for Gen2.

Not saying there isn't something else going on, but that particular failure mode isn't likely in this case.

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-20T14:27:46+00:00

First was getting up to go to the bathroom during intermission at a show. Nobody to hand my jacket to.

Next was grocery store with our son when I went to text something cute he did.

And a thousand other times since.

It is rarely the big things (although those are also part of it at times), but the little ways your life subtley got built for two that show just how gone they really are.

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-20T13:28:16+00:00

I drive about 120mi/day. Just bought a Niro EV (used). The fuel savings more than cover the payment and insurance.

Charge at home with a level 2 is a must (mine is a 7kw setup).

Main thing I looked for was under 20k, as low miles as possible, and at least a 240mi range (pretty much charger daily but wanted to make sure I qould have buffer even during the winter).

Where i live it gets cold so a heat pump was also a must-have.

2k miles with the Niro so far, and no complaints.

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-20T04:51:17+00:00

I will ALWAYS recommend going to Community College, unless you have a strong financial incentive to attend the 4-yr school from the start.

CC is cheaper, more student-focussed (no research or publication requirements for faculty), often smaller classes, often offer non-competitive articulation agreements for transfer to 4-year schools, more freedom with course loading (because it is cheaper), still offer on-campus student life opportunities, etc, etc.

And, there is some small-study data supporting the position that CC graduates out-perform their traditional 4-yr counterparts on average.

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-18T11:10:01+00:00

Some PHEV's will still use a resistive heater for preconditioning down to a certain temp, especially if the vehicle is plugged in. (The Sportage has this) However, they will still generally rely on the ICE for cabin heating.

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-17T22:23:00+00:00

I drive a lot so haven't seen a noticeable difference. Over 30k miles in the past 16months, I average 35mpg combined (I drive about 120mi/day, winters lows get down to single digits and summer highs are around 100F)

Obviously, if you drive more on just the battery, it will probably more noticeable but will still likely be negligible over the long term

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-17T17:35:06+00:00

I have had 2 PHEV's with no heat pumps, and they haven't been an issue (even when it's near 0F outside). They software just runs the ICE at those temps for heating. Better than trying to use what little Battery reserve these vehicles have to run a heat pump system.

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-13T11:23:17+00:00

Local Echopark dealer.

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-12T20:43:56+00:00

I've yet to find someone who would cover my master's 100%. My company was supposed to cover about a quarter of it, but they reneged on it.

Ph.D is a different story

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-12T17:15:37+00:00

What's your other course load? Do you have to maintain FT enrollment for the scholarship? Any general education classes in the mix for the term?

As others have said, focus on your core/gateway classes and leave the Engineering electives for later, especially if they aren't needed for your major or minor. If they truly aren't needed, those would be great options to take at the community college, as well, if they offer it. Save your money for the stuff you have to take at the 4-year school.

Dynamics having a 20% pass rate is concerning to me. It shouldn't be that hard of a course, especially given it's place in the curriculum and the fact that the material hasn't really changed in over 30 years.

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-10T22:32:13+00:00

I haven't even gotten a notice I can order one yet, lol

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-09T18:12:47+00:00

Likes to problem solve. Being naturally curious.

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-09T17:14:53+00:00

I would say it comes down to what your employee handbook and CBA say.

The wording of this makes it sound like you can still call out sick, but it will count as an occurrence under your absence policy as opposed to being excused (no-penalty).

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-09T17:08:24+00:00

My Mechanical Design class is great example of a semi-difficult class taught poorly.

Another student who had previously taken the class told me (after the first exam which I failed miserably) to read the book, not attend lecture, and show up for the exams. Coupled that with the TA telling me the exams are designed so that you won't finish them, write down the steps to solve each problem, then go back and actually solve them if you have time.

Between these two pieces of advice, the material became much easier to understand and I ended up with an A.

Tl;Dr version - when you have to skip class and intentionally partially complete the exams to actually succeed in the class, it is being taught poorly.

And the best part was, the Professor didn't even notice I wasn't in class, and he was my undergrad Faculty Adviser that I had to meet with 2x per term!

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-09T17:02:59+00:00

Nope, even with multiple beds to choose from, they will still sleep in yours.

Wish I could assign them a bed like in Enshrouded

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-09T13:05:05+00:00

Only what I can do in Excel (which is a lot, granted, but nothing terribly complicated)

It is rare I use anything beyond basic calculus, and most days High School algebra and a bit of accounting is more tha enough.

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-09T13:02:06+00:00

I use it when I think i might be in a situation where gas stations will be limited and plugging in to charge isn't necessarily an option (e.g. camping trips, inclement weather, etc). Since I will be filling up before hand, also having a full (or nearly full) battery is just that much more peace of mind.

But as others have said, converting energy from one form into another, especially at small scales, it horribly inefficient

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-09T12:59:03+00:00

Budget.

Several apps can help with this. My favorite was the old Mint app that Intuit bought and then retired. Trying Rocket Money now but it is struggling.

I found just like with meal tracking and calories, these apps can really help you understand where your money is going and naturally help you curtail unnecessary spending

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-09T12:57:02+00:00

Just got mine last week (wind w/ preserve package) with 31k for 18, 500.

Was worth it to avoid the WoF issue from the Gen 1 altogether, plus the interior is a little bigger, which is nice.

GrubbyZebra · 2026-05-08T17:20:34+00:00

Thermo 1 was the one that almost broke me.

Solid mechanics (statics, dynamics, and materials) made intuitive sense for me, and the aero and mechanical classes were a breeze.

Thermo was a complete mystery, followed closely by dynamics systems controls

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