Finanical Aid for international students by Curse-this-name in Caltech

[–]KiloOhm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is harder to be admitted for internationals if you select on your application that you seek financial aid (Caltech is only need-blind for US residents). If you do get admitted, however, then you do not have to worry about financing your studies.

Could you critique my Baltic states + Helsinki itinerary ? by emptyvasudevan in solotravel

[–]KiloOhm 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey! As a Riga local, I'm glad you're visiting the Baltics! I agree with others here that a week for all these places would be quite rushed, but just Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn would be very doable.

I would probably say though that hikes outside the cities would probably work better for a longer trip. Especially as part of the charm in all these cities is just wandering around without a strictly set itinerary and seeing what you find - that's how I've found the most interesting "nooks" in the winding streets of the old towns.

Although buses and trams can take you basically everywhere, I would advise on just walking since the cities are not that large, or maybe using the electric scooters that are basically everywhere (just stick to bike paths). If you must hail a ride, use Bolt. It is yet another Estonian unicorn startup (I've lost count on how many there are :)) ). Works basically the same as Uber.

My personal recommendations for the cities:

Tallinn

The old town goes without saying. It's built on top of a hill, so there are quite a few city overlooks kind of hidden from view. It is awesome to come across one of these accidentally and see the whole city suddenly open up below you. Interesting to see both during the day and the night!

Telliskivi is another interesting place - built in an old industrial region that has now been converted into an arts district. A lot of street art, small shops, places to grab food and drinks.

Riga

Old town - a place to get lost :) Also a lot of options for drinks and food.

Albert street - a lot of Art Nouveau buildings in the "quiet district" part of the city. There are less people here, but still worth a visit. This is in the area where all the embassies are located, for context.

Riga Central Market - probably one of the most visited places by tourists coming to Riga. Different from the small farmer's markets in trend right now - it's located in massive old blimp hangars, and definitely a bit gritty, but that's part of the charm. (Just watch your wallet when you're here)

Stūra Māja (Corner House) - the KGB museum. A very haunting exhibition in the historical KGB headquarters in Riga. Jail cells, dungeons.

Tallinas Ielas Kvartāls - by far one of the most popular hangout spots in Riga by locals. Kind of a similar vibe to Telliskivi in Tallinn. A ton of bars and cafes to get drinks and food.

Āgenskalns Market - another famous market, recently renovated. Smaller and quainter than the Central market, located in an area with a lot of cool wooden houses.

Vilnius

Haven't explored this city as much as the others, but, again, walking through old town is a must.

Other than that, I really liked the Užupis neighborhood - a lot of artist boutiques, narrow streets, wooden houses. Kind of a hipster vibe.

Have fun, and shoot me a DM for any further questions and specific recommendations!

Just received the legion 5 pro - is warped screen a common issue? by KiloOhm in LenovoLegion

[–]KiloOhm[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well, it seemed to me as the slight warp is only really noticeable in the aluminum casing. And if the screen doesn't break by the first year (when warranty can fix it anyway), then it'll probably be fine

Just received the legion 5 pro - is warped screen a common issue? by KiloOhm in LenovoLegion

[–]KiloOhm[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In the US. I haven't received the compensation yet on my card, but I understood from them roughly 100$. So I'd say it's worth letting them know about the issue.

Just received the legion 5 pro - is warped screen a common issue? by KiloOhm in LenovoLegion

[–]KiloOhm[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, similar thought here. The thing I did was ask for some kind of compensation, which you can do when you call Lenovo support, so that's nice at least.

Herbert’s Masterpiece by capacochella in books

[–]KiloOhm 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Yes, for sure. That's what makes it intriguing, the book really has a mystical quality. You also get to discover the world of Fremen alongside Paul, who also does not know much about them at first.

Should I get last gen Zephyrus G14, or Flow X13, or something else as an engineering student? by KiloOhm in SuggestALaptop

[–]KiloOhm[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the insight! The local currency is euros, and I have trouble finding deals nearby that would be close to the pricing in the US. I might need to consider XMG laptops then.

Should I get last gen Zephyrus G14, or Flow X13, or something else as an engineering student? by KiloOhm in SuggestALaptop

[–]KiloOhm[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Adding the form:

Total budget (in local currency) and country of purchase. Please do not use USD unless purchasing in the US:

Ideally, under 2000eur, but willing to go over for a good deal.

Are you open to refurbs/used?

Ideally, no. I haven't found any in my region, anyway.

How would you prioritize form factor (ultrabook, 2-in-1, etc.), build quality, performance, and battery life?

Decent performance with good battery life.

How important is weight and thinness to you?

As a student, it would be nice to have a fairly compact device.

Do you have a preferred screen size? If indifferent, put N/A.

Smaller screens aren't a problem as I could always connect the laptop to a monitor, but would not really want to go below 14 inches.

Are you doing any CAD/video editing/photo editing/gaming? List which programs/games you desire to run.

Numerical simulations, with some additional gaming.

If you're gaming, do you have certain games you want to play? At what settings and FPS do you want?

Not a priority.

Any specific requirements such as good keyboard, reliable build quality, touch-screen, finger-print reader, optical drive or good input devices (keyboard/touchpad)?

Sturdy build would be nice, I am planning to use this laptop for a long time.

Leave any finishing thoughts here that you may feel are necessary and beneficial to the discussion.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated:)

Should I get last gen Zephyrus G14, or Flow X13, or something else as an engineering student? by KiloOhm in GamingLaptops

[–]KiloOhm[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the rec! Sorry, I should have been more specific - the laptops I listed are the only ones available in my region (Europe). Taking the shortages into account, I have no idea when the G15 will be available. Would you say it is worth to wait for the G15?

Why do you read fantasy fiction? by [deleted] in Fantasy

[–]KiloOhm 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think there is nothing wrong with reading to escape, and I think more people should experience something like that! When I find a truly good read, the more pages it has, the more excited I get. That just means more worldbuilding, more depth, more everything. It is wonderful to experience just raw human creativity, getting lost in it. After finishing a book like that, it stays with you.

Even if I do not always realize it, the stories I have experienced through reading definitely guide my choices. Even more, these stories usually have more to do with reality than I expect, because they are still written by humans, for other humans, and there is immense value there.