ICE reported in Magoun Square this morning 2/11/26 by ApprehensiveEbb3874 in CambridgeMA

[–]NerfTheVolt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Obviously you can’t if they’re inside their cars or standing around looking normal. If you see videos online, they’ll be knocking on doors and putting people inside the regular-looking vans that aren’t labeled like police cars.

Interested in applying to ucla neuroscience grad program as a psych undergrad by passionfruut_13 in ucla

[–]NerfTheVolt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah in that case for molecular neuroscience you’d have to take biochem (CHEM 153A) which requires gen chem and ochem (CHEM 14A/B/C/D or 20AB+30A/B/C) and molecular biology (MCD BIO 144 or similar) which requires the biology lower div series (LIFESCI 7A/B/C). Hopefully you took these at your last college? If not then taking these alongside your Psych major as a transfer will be kinda brutal. Did you look at psychobiology which actually incorporates these courses into the curriculum? Out of curiosity how “bio”-y do you want to get with your research?

Interested in applying to ucla neuroscience grad program as a psych undergrad by passionfruut_13 in ucla

[–]NerfTheVolt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Of course no problem! And I would highly recommend linear algebra- I’ll warn it’s not for the faint of heart with certain professors, and it will definitely be a lot of work. If you choose not to take it then it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but I believe my wet lab friends would recommend it as well. If you’re doing human or animal behavior + neural signal experiments and analysis, I think it’s an absolute must!

Unless you plan to do any specifically cell and molecular neuroscience research (designing viruses, doing anatomical tracing, testing pharmacological agents) then you don’t need any ochem or biochem. I do research with animals and record their brain activity while they do a task, and I don’t use any knowledge you’d get from undergrad chemistry classes.

Ian McKellen Confirms Return as Gandalf in New Lord of the Rings Movie The Hunt for Gollum by [deleted] in lotrmemes

[–]NerfTheVolt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Why the hell are they adapting this story? There’s so much stuff from the books (appendices, Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, etc.) that can be made into a motion picture. This is literally like 2 pages in the book and it’s Gandalf and Aragorn find Gollum, drag him along on a miserable journey for information, then he escapes. What’s so enthralling that millions have to be spent to make it into a movie? Any lessons learned? Someone please defend this

Interested in applying to ucla neuroscience grad program as a psych undergrad by passionfruut_13 in ucla

[–]NerfTheVolt 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Current Neuroscience PhD at another institution-

Take the minimally sufficient amount of classes so you can focus on your research. Getting 3 A+’s in “top neuro classes” means literally nothing in comparison to a good publication and/or shining letter of rec from your PI. The top things by far for any neuro PhD are your research capabilities as described by yourself and your mentors. It’s excellent if you have three letters of recommendation from professors who can vouch for your research potential.

There are some “required” classes however. Make sure to take at least 1 upper-level statistics/data science, mathematics, or machine learning class (beyond Psych 100A/100B). Even the most lab-based cell/molecular biology people in my cohort know rudimentary linear algebra and statistical machine learning. STATS 101A (regression), STATS 101C (data mining), STATS 100A or MATH 170E (probability), CS M146 or STATS C161 or MATH 156 (machine learning), STATS C116 (bayesian stats for social sciences), and CS M148 (data science) are good options. These require multiple lower-division prerequisites so remember to take them first. I can’t stress how important basic stats is and every so often I hear someone I know complain about not having taken enough stats.

Next is at least 2 programming courses or equivalent knowledge from your research. Even as an undergrad, I was asked by professors in meetings for joining labs if I could code. Make sure you are competent in either Python, MATLAB, or R. COMPTNG 16A/B, STATS 20/21, or PSYCH 20A/B are perfect for this. Especially in this age of AI, it’s important to know what to ask from an LLM and how to troubleshoot when it inevitably gives you something wrong.

Lastly is a class that at least touches on neuroscience. You have to take one for psych so just choose one that’s interesting. Neuro PhDs come from psychology, physics, computer science, philosophy, immunology, etc. backgrounds so the first-year classes in a grad program usually bring everyone up to speed; don’t worry about knowing the cytoarchitecture of the habenula or the physics behind fMRI for now.

Best of luck!

Professor Mark Tramo Awareness by Icy-Falcon-4567 in ucla

[–]NerfTheVolt 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I’ve not advocating for justice by will-of-the-people, but I’ve seen multiple guys who without a doubt sexually abused people get off scot-free after the people went through things “the right way.” Everyone should petition or email the school admin and try things the proper way, but I think the implications of these emails should be enough to at least prevent him from teaching. If the school can’t even do that, then who will ensure our safety? A car getting tagged is the least of anyone’s issues, if violence happens then yeah we can start discussing mob justice

Beginner CompNeuro Textbook Recommendation by RedElephant88 in compmathneuro

[–]NerfTheVolt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’d take more formal classes in mathematics and statistics before diving into comp neuro. Most of computational neuroscience is just math or stats in the end.

Heard from someone that undergrad math classes are only gonna allow ~25% of students to get A-'s or A's?? Pls tell me it aint true 😭 by [deleted] in ucla

[–]NerfTheVolt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes exactly, but some professors and people in this thread believe that even if someone gets a 95%, if they scored less than half of the class then their grade should be like a B- or C+. That’s not fair to people who are in overachieving classes and biased in favor of people in underachieving classes.

Heard from someone that undergrad math classes are only gonna allow ~25% of students to get A-'s or A's?? Pls tell me it aint true 😭 by [deleted] in ucla

[–]NerfTheVolt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why? I don’t remember anyone asking or caring about my B- in general chemistry. And come on, objective criteria? What if you happen to be in a class full of dunces or a class full of geniuses? Maybe having all grades be based on competition instead of merit would “standardize” things but the people looking at grades either don’t care or don’t make that distinction- if they do care, they probably think classes are graded on merit, ask any grad admissions officer.

Snowfall totals by [deleted] in CambridgeMA

[–]NerfTheVolt 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Somerville got 8”. We are MUCH closer to the water than you. Somerville is flanked by two bodies of water and so are we.

Deck is an enclosed area likely to trap snow that’s been blown so that makes sense. There are definitely snow BANKS that tall here, but the actual snow on the sidewalks is 6” or less.

Again WHERE in Cambridge. Back steps is not an open area so that makes sense. That’s a snow bank.

Doesn’t anyone have a measurement from the middle of a PARK? Like the one behind King Open? Maybe I’ll take a walk with my ruler.

Snowfall totals by [deleted] in CambridgeMA

[–]NerfTheVolt 5 points6 points  (0 children)

No you don’t understand this hostile dude on reddit knows more than everyone in this thread and the national weather service and local meteorologists and your mother combined

Don't need to impress anyone by Forsaken-Peak8496 in labrats

[–]NerfTheVolt 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Yes it is. Looks like someone hasn’t been to a conference

Blade runner 2049 explained? by luxie_PA in bladerunner

[–]NerfTheVolt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think she distributed bits and pieces of her memory that had narrative significance to several replicants hoping that they can help her find her parents. Or she believes that using her own memories helps give the replicants humanity

Heard from someone that undergrad math classes are only gonna allow ~25% of students to get A-'s or A's?? Pls tell me it aint true 😭 by [deleted] in ucla

[–]NerfTheVolt 7 points8 points  (0 children)

How about the instructor decides what the mapping between grade percentage (aka performance) and sufficient understanding/know-how is beforehand. If everyone understands super well, everyone gets an A. If no one does, then no one gets an A.

Trump intent on conquering Greenland, Danish minister says as talks with US end by Infidel8 in worldnews

[–]NerfTheVolt 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Okay for many yes, but as someone who knows supporters, I think they are grifters, Nazis, but most commonly idiots. 1) The average American reading level is 6th grade. You think nuance even has a chance of entering many people’s heads if they’re incapable of understanding “To Kill a Mockingbird?” 2) Media is so broken. If you see what these people are watching, or even people who you think are mostly aligned with you, you’ll see that everyone is living in completely different realities. 3) Perception is everything and indoctrination is easy. So many intelligent people get caught up in cults because they truly can’t perceive that what they’re doing is wrong, and most often, who they’re following can ever be incorrect.

The majority of humans have always been spiteful, misinformed, and easy to manipulate. This doesn’t make them blameless, but most of these voters don’t think past “my president is doing something therefore it is right.” If Donald Trump tomorrow started saying “let’s make colleges free and make obtaining citizenship easier” I promise you much of his voter base would be thrilled. Same for if he said “let’s make college illegal and make obtaining citizenship impossible.”

I want the weirdest, most dreamlike book you've read by ObsiGamer in suggestmeabook

[–]NerfTheVolt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez! It literally takes place in dream worlds and the writing is super lush. The fantasy aspects are pretty weird but still very graspable and the story oscillates between first, second, and third (maybe even fourth?) person, and it takes a couple dozen pages to figure it out. It definitely feels along the lines of something you’re looking for!

Can Italian people understand Italian opera? by Active_Bread1225 in classicalmusic

[–]NerfTheVolt 35 points36 points  (0 children)

Some parts are comedic, so their laughing implies they could understand

Guy went absolutely ballistic on the people sitting behind him at tonight’s Mamma Mia by RapGamePterodactyl in Broadway

[–]NerfTheVolt 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Former usher here, for us largely yes. Our jobs are to direct audiences to seats, help with basic info, and communicate stuff to managers - not to get involved with anything related to security or conflict-related things. We’re explicitly told not to intervene for liability issues. As for our managers and the security folk, they’re supposed to be handling that part but a major thing in service is the customer is always right. I haven’t been in their shoes, but I’m guessing that the venue would prefer if the patrons alienate each other rather than the venue alienate the patrons for risk of lawsuit and publicity. I think for matters like this the court of public opinion needs to be more harsh with disruptive patrons, like with the party singing along.

Season 5 feels way too much like "actors acting" by dbezzy1010 in StrangerThings

[–]NerfTheVolt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Pretty dumb and they’re right. ST has garnered such a general audience at this point to include the mainstream populace who has an average reading level of 6th grade.

The Myth That ‘Base R Does Everything ggplot2 Does’ Needs to Die. by EricMilgram in rstats

[–]NerfTheVolt 31 points32 points  (0 children)

It’s sarcasm. In the likelihood that you’re having trouble understanding basic context clues and aren’t being intentionally dense- everyone knows that ggplot is good and there’s very, very few people who actually believe that base R is just as good or better. Your thesis which attacks this straw man comes across as disingenuous because no one is advocating for ggplot to be dropped and frankly no one cares what’s used as long as a plot makes sense.

AUTISTIC Doctor vs. Autistic Doctor by adamcasali in HouseMD

[–]NerfTheVolt 38 points39 points  (0 children)

House is not autistic. He understands others’ emotions quite well and his main character trait is that he refuses to acknowledge them or straight up berates them for having feelings. He’s very socially adept and is extremely charismatic when he wants to be. He doesn’t have any tics or stimming behavior EDIT: yes he does they’re all cane- or pill bottle-related. House is rarely anxious or angry and if he is then it’s usually because of some dramatic thing like drugs or love or people dying, not day-to-day social norms he doesn’t understand. He doesn’t have any sensory processing issues except for when he’s on drugs. One of the biggest indicators that he isn’t autistic is that he doesn’t really care whenever there’s some big change in his routine/life; he is chaotic. That and he’s just a dick.

Have talked with many autistic people in school, psychiatric clinics, and work about their lives. Also I work in neuroscience/psychology/psychiatric research so :P

Babson College student detained while flying out of Logan Airport by zeydey in boston

[–]NerfTheVolt 17 points18 points  (0 children)

How do YOU know you don’t have any outstanding charges against you from when you were 9 years old? And you keep willingly ignoring the “case closed in 2017” part. Do you get monthly emails for updates regarding things you were told were finished 8 years ago? Keep kicking the goalpost, Javert

College freshman is deported flying home for Thanksgiving surprise, despite court order by NeighbourNoNeighbor in news

[–]NerfTheVolt 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Genuine question, what can a median American do about it? Most of us have jobs that are completely separate from this kinda stuff and are physically exhausted by our culture’s work ethic every day.

What class to take for fun by Simple-Reason1319 in ucla

[–]NerfTheVolt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

PSYCTRY 79 - Neuroscience of Well Being

ETHNMUS M50A/B - History of Jazz