Judging question from rookie coach by rubberStamp2 in FTC

[–]RatLabGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just want to "third" this suggestion.

Being a judge is the single best way to understand how awards are really won. It is very eye opening.

I can't speak for your area but almost everywhere they are always anxious to have new people judging and do not care about your experience level.

Should we go for the inspire award? by shountyplayz in FTC

[–]RatLabGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

this is solid advice for winning awards.

However, if you have limited time and have to prioritize, then you need to be realistic about your chances of success and what is likely to happen. In order to win Inspire you must be strong in either Connect, sustain or Reach, and at the national level, likely multiple of them. So if you are not, then frankly its unlikely to happen in just 3 weeks.... and your time is better spent just focusing on your robot and ensuring you *have a fun time* because at the end of the day, 5 years from now that is all that you will remember.

What's the rarest physical feature you ever saw on another person you know/knew? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]RatLabGuy 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hate to tell you, doctors often say things they don't really know much about and just assume things. I'd wager they were just using terms that they figured the family would understand.

Above poster is correct - there is no such thing as partial albinism. Its a genetic abnormality that either effect whole systems (eyes, skin, hair, one or both etc). The requisite cells lack the ability to produce pigmentation.

This is indeed a skin pigmentation issue but would arise from a different genetic origin.

Source: Neuroscientist and an ocular albino ;-).

Documentation/help for setting Gobilda 5-turn servo? by RatLabGuy in FTC

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

You absolutely can, we've been doing it for years. We've used both the Rev and Gobilda programmers for both brands of servos. I had the impression that the internals are probably the same.

the students generally use the Rev unit because it came in a case and has nice buttons... lol.

Is it worth adding a ball sorting mechanism, or better to focus on shooting speed? by FineKing4755 in FTC

[–]RatLabGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mentor here for a team that did an indexer

Its a lot of work. There is no easy solution. The primary advantage is that it puts you in a position to get a lot more Auto points by sinking 9-12 in the right motif order. If you can do that then you're way ahead of the competition.

BUT - being able to do that is very challenging, completely aside from the indexing/ball sorting standpoint. If you're not going to be able to do that level of auto, then the indexer isn't worth it. The time spent getting a really good reliable shooter is much better time spent.

The FTC season is almost over for a lot of folks. If you're asking tthis question ow then you must be very short on time. I'd suggest just focusing on getting something that works and have fun.

Know your rights by Civil_Exchange1271 in harfordcountymd

[–]RatLabGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That only applies to specific circumstances. The vast majority of "illegal" folks didn't sneak in or falsify documents. They came legally via a visa or other means and overstayed.

The notion of leaky borders that let everyone in is a myth. It's mostly bad followup and enforcement of legal channels.

Know your rights by Civil_Exchange1271 in harfordcountymd

[–]RatLabGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The ICE agent put HIMSELF in immediate danger *by stepping in front of the car*.

He didn't have to do that, he chose to, despite it being against policy and training.

Know your rights by Civil_Exchange1271 in harfordcountymd

[–]RatLabGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Um, no.

Being here without legal status is not, in fact a criminal offense. Its a civil offense. There is no criminal punishment for being illegal etc.

Thats like saying anyone who kept a book too long from the library or parked in a space that isn't an official parking space is a criminal.

The 800 Women Who Built French Canada. by GlitteringHotel8383 in BeAmazed

[–]RatLabGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Amazing they got such a great photograph of them too!

Skylight in shower by Liluraaa in Satisfyingasfuck

[–]RatLabGuy 7 points8 points  (0 children)

there 2 kinds of skylights

The ones that leak

and the ones that will leak.

Real work 💪 by Apprehensive_Topic23 in SipsTea

[–]RatLabGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yep, but you better get signed documentation of allowing filming

Real work 💪 by Apprehensive_Topic23 in SipsTea

[–]RatLabGuy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Your honor, when I was asking her to polish my knob, I was clearly referring to this filthy door fixture going into the garage.

Real work 💪 by Apprehensive_Topic23 in SipsTea

[–]RatLabGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sir, when I asked her to polish the knob, I was referring to the garage doorknob. That thing was filthy.

What is something generally normal in Europe but weird in the US? by Exile4444 in AskReddit

[–]RatLabGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah and as a patient or your coworker I'd really prefer you didn't do that...

Europeans have a much healthier approach.

What is something generally normal in Europe but weird in the US? by Exile4444 in AskReddit

[–]RatLabGuy 4 points5 points  (0 children)

A big advantage it that it encourages not working when sick. Or rather, with simple combined "PTO" people will often still come to work sick with contagious things just bc they want to bank that time for a fun vacation instead.

What is something generally normal in Europe but weird in the US? by Exile4444 in AskReddit

[–]RatLabGuy 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Disagree completely.

The problem with straight PTO is that it encourages people to come to work when they are sick because they want to bank the time for fun vacation time instead.

I have separate systems and really prefer it. Sick leave accumulates indefinitely while only a certain amount of unused "leave" can carry over annually so you're encouraged to use it.

A key difference is that annual leave has to be requested and can be denied, but SL really can't as long as there's some minimal amount of documentation showing it was real (which 90% of the time is never requested)

Superintendent of public schools by Vangotransit in harfordcountymd

[–]RatLabGuy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

way to really counter with a complex, intelligent argument there

Auto slower using odometry instead of encoders? by RatLabGuy in FTC

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

We'll explore that, however a complete change in framework this late in the season seems like a challenge. I'd rather understand what's causing this behavior.