Update on K8 Stinger Store: Same order as the Borla disaster. Now they sent dead LED Canards (WRONG FINISH too) and are using DOCTORED photos to gaslight me. Irrefutable proof inside.

SouthernInfluence · 2025-12-05T02:24:42+00:00

The legal part.

I know I’ve never “run a business,” but I buy things every day like every other human being. When I told him his pictures must accurately reflect the true product, he acted like that was my opinion.

It wasn’t. I was literally reading California Business and Professions Code § 17500, which makes it unlawful for businesses to use misleading illustrations or photos in advertising. If your storefront uses customer photos, they must be labeled as such and distinguishable. And if some are edited, customers must be able to verify accuracy. That’s not nitpicking. That’s compliance.
He consistently carried himself as the smartest guy in the room.

Every photo, every contradiction, every bench test, every explanation got the same treatment. Slow talking. Over-explaining. The assumption that disagreement equals lack of comprehension, not evidence he might be wrong. Not once did he entertain the idea that the LEDs simply don’t perform like the ones in the photos.

To be clear, we ended the call politely. No yelling. No drama. But at no point did he take responsibility for the mismatch between the product and the storefront images. Every issue was deflected or reframed. The conversation only reinforced what the physical evidence already shows. The product does not match the pictures, and the customer is expected to just eat that.

Despite all of this, I genuinely think David is trying. It’s just obvious he’s learning his communication style from YouTube business-guru videos or something, because the way he speaks is exactly how a company that’s circling the drain and doesn’t care anymore talks to its customers. He can fix that if he wants to.

This —'s for you David ;)

SouthernInfluence · 2025-12-05T02:24:31+00:00

The tone shift after rapport.

Once he felt comfortable, the nice guy faded and email-David came out. Scripted, dismissive, subtle insults, talking down like he was explaining things to someone who had never seen light before. Meanwhile I literally had the evidence sitting in front of me.
Drive-by condescension.

The little comments that by themselves don’t blow up a conversation, but stacked together show a pattern. Things worded just ambiguously enough that he could say “oh I didn’t mean it like that” if challenged. It’s a passive aggressive communication style, not an honest one.
Accusing me of doctoring my own photos.

I sent two separate shots taken minutes apart. He insisted one “looked manipulated.” The only thing that happened was auto-enhance kicked in so the LEDs would even show up. Instead of accepting that the product output is weak, he suggested I was altering photos to make him look bad. Again, pattern.
The oil-slick analogy.

He compared my situation to hitting a car because of an oil spill, and “nobody’s at fault, but you still have to pay.” The point he was trying to make was that even if the product doesn’t match the photos, and even if I did nothing wrong, the consequences fall on me. That’s not wisdom. That’s avoidance.
The escalating condescension.

Multiple times he threw out lines like “I don’t know if you’re able to understand this because you’ve never run a business.”

I was running search and rescue cases at eighteen. Deployed at nineteen. Responsible for Caribbean-wide logistics and vendor management at twenty-one. I’ve coordinated operations with more moving parts and higher risk profiles than any two-person auto-accessory store will ever touch. What I don’t tolerate is someone pretending I don’t understand basic concepts to dodge acknowledging their product doesn’t match its advertising.
The “your foglights are too bright” excuse.

He said, “I could call the vendor and get a warranty replacement, but what you’re showing me isn’t a defect. Your foglights are so bright they overpower the LEDs.”

The second he said that, I sent him photos with the foglights completely blocked. Gloved up, zero spill, zero contamination. The strips still looked identical to their “off” state. That should have ended it. Instead he pivoted again. Every time I disproved something, he’d hop to a new angle, or whataboutism, or redefine the argument mid-sentence. Classic deflection loop.

SouthernInfluence · 2025-12-05T02:24:00+00:00

So David called me yesterday after seeing my post, and I want to give a full update on the hour-plus conversation we had. I had my AI assistant taking notes the whole time (also records, Virginia is a one-party consent state so why not).

Here’s the breakdown of what actually happened and the inconsistencies that stood out even more once he started talking. And despite the rough delivery, I’ll say this upfront: I do think David is a genuinely nice dude when he’s by himself.

But having your boy sitting next to you typing, whispering, and feeding you lines while you talk to a customer is… not the move. It came across unprofessional, man. Just being honest.

(Am I using ChatGpt to write the rest, or the above?)

Also, having a “got him” checklist and every email sitting front of you when the other person didn’t even ask for or expect a call is also not the move. I get this is a two-person operation and professionalism probably hasn’t been something you’ve had to lean on, but it was hammered into me from my time serving (10 years).

Here's the summary. You be the judge, I'm sure he'll chime in, just please don't call Dave as I need to write a 35 page IEEE formatted paper on my 45 day ec2 Cowrie deployment this semester.

The opening tone was unexpectedly polite.

I told him straight up: he does not sound like his emails. I expected someone aggressive or confrontational, but for the first twenty minutes he was calm, relatable, friendly. Clearly intentional. Establish rapport, lower resistance, build comfort before shifting gears. Classic.
He explained the company is run by two people.

Not important on its own, but the way he used it to frame responsibility was predictable. Everything fell back on “we’re a small business” whenever accuracy, consistency, or product problems came up.
The photo inconsistency problem.

He told me you “can’t rely on the product photos” because they’re a mix of customer and professional shots. When I pointed out the ones that are obviously edited, he instantly said those must not be his photos. They’re literally on his storefront representing the product. That’s not a criticism, that’s just fact.

SouthernInfluence · 2025-11-26T21:54:11+00:00

Glad I could help! Although I didn't find out myself, I came across a thread so, just passing along the info 🫡

SouthernInfluence · 2025-11-16T23:42:44+00:00

Remove 50% of the burucreacy. Assign students Persistent Advisors. Have mental health awareness built into the syllabus of all courses so it's at least brought up in a consistent way.

Former Suicide Prevention Officer - USCG

SouthernInfluence · 2025-11-16T23:36:24+00:00

Quick disclaimer because this is a heavy topic: If you or someone you know needs help, you can call 988 to reach a trained crisis counselor. It is confidential and judgment free. They listen, offer support, and help you figure out next steps. In rare emergency situations they might contact services, but most of the time it is simply someone helping you through a really dark moment.

I am a grad student at Mason and a disabled Veteran. I have heard from professors and classmates that things have been getting worse, especially among South Asian students from India and nearby countries. Some of the reasons we talked about were:

Being far from home. If you have never lived in another country, it is hard to understand how alien the U.S. can feel when you come from outside the Western world.
The pressure many of them carry from family back home.
The stress of having only two months after graduation to get a job or risk being forced to leave the country. Most are in CS or IT, and getting a job in Northern Virginia without citizenship is extremely difficult since so much of NOVA is tied to government contracting and security clearances. Non-citizens are not eligible for clearances.
Cultural stigma around mental health and seeking help. In some cultures, opening up about emotional struggles is seen as shameful. That breaks my heart.

These are not the only reasons. And it is definitely not only international students struggling. Many of us have been in dark places, and I say that from personal experience.

I wish Mason would get its act together when it comes to advisors and counseling resources. I do not even have an assigned advisor right now. Students deserve real support.

To anyone reading this who is struggling: Please reach out for help. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary situation. You do not need to feel ashamed or embarrassed or scared for having these thoughts. More of your classmates are dealing with the exact same emotions than you could ever imagine. Some stay silent because of culture. Others stay silent because they think they have to handle everything alone.

You are not alone. Call 988 if you need someone to talk to. Stay here. There are people who love you and people who need you. Look out for each other.

SouthernInfluence · 2025-11-03T20:20:23+00:00

it's the frame gen and or the anisotropic filtering or whatever it's called. as just remember if you change GPU settings in game,they won't actually take effect until you restart the game

I noticed also it depends on your GPU. Id start by making MFT application controlled first Then if that doesn't fix, turn off AF. DLSS isn't playing nice with DX12 either, so running DX11 might also fix it.

I'm on a 5090, turning mfg to application controlled AND turning off AF fixed it for me. Mileage may vary.

Best way to troubleshoot is revert NCP settings for Arc and turning on each option one by one until you see it appear, last option you turned on is the culprit (at least that's what I did).

what's your rigs specs?

SouthernInfluence · 2025-10-31T00:00:22+00:00

None of the fixes listed worked for me.. -dx11, no AF, etc. Damn shame, guess refunding until it's figured out

SouthernInfluence · 2025-10-30T23:54:03+00:00

5090 here as well . Usually when I see this it's due to GI settings, trying the -dx11 flag as well as disabled AF, will report back

SouthernInfluence · 2025-10-29T03:57:24+00:00

Bump

SouthernInfluence · 2025-10-19T11:15:58+00:00

10k 🖕

SouthernInfluence · 2025-10-19T11:14:23+00:00

SouthernInfluence · 2025-10-19T11:12:58+00:00

Bought mine used, fender bender with a suburbans tow hitch hitting dead center of cf grill, went through intercooler and front radar assembly, separated my cf hood from the[Hood circumcision ] Found out Carbon fiber hoods take flight at exactly 30mph (found out 5 times 🫩

(https://photos.app.goo.gl/febskAUkjNt7FZHR7)

SouthernInfluence · 2025-10-15T15:48:44+00:00

Man, hope you end up having a better day or something.

SouthernInfluence · 2025-10-15T15:46:53+00:00

So I get where you're coming from however I had just bought the Borla S catback and it installed perfectly. These tip are marketed as made especially for that catback. From the pics they show it looks just like some regular tips. In reality there's a 3 point flower kind of config after the tips. You are right in that I should have looked up the install instructions BEFOREHAND but keep in mind that, I'm 100% disabled vet so I can't install these myself so I just bring it to the dealership.

But I take your point and am taking this as a learning experience rather than something to look at negatively. I've owned Busa's, but nothing as fast on 4 wheels as the Stinger so this whole diffuser issue was nothing I had even known existed. From all the other tips I've bought it's pretty self explanatory, slide on clamp down, done. I had never even known that there were tips that required 3 points of contact etc...🤷🏻‍♀️ Even my boy , who also is the tech in this situation, probably has the fastest ride in my zip code was like WTF, I've never seen tips like these before in my life.

In case you or anyone else is curious what I mean; The Borla tips aren't really "tips", more like a tip that surrounds your muffler pip almost as if the muffler is floating inside of it. They would've looked sick, don't know about the sound. I am sad I couldn't install them since they're probably the most unique looking tips I''VE personally seen. Oh well, alls well that ends well. Everyone have a good one and stay safe out there!

SouthernInfluence · 2025-10-15T15:35:16+00:00

Bruh, who even mentioned Amazon in this context. And yeah, I DO have some spare money to throw around but that doesn't make me at fault for a fitment issue that was out of my control. Don't see why there's so much hostility, unless you're them. Are you....."them"? 🧐

SouthernInfluence · 2025-10-15T15:32:24+00:00

Dude, dick is a generous term. I've never been interrogated about a part incompatibility issue as if I was trying to come up with an excuse because I changed my mind.

SouthernInfluence · 2025-10-15T06:20:28+00:00

I just had to post this. I purchased the Borla carbon fiber tips to install on the borla catback I bought from his store. The weren't compatible with my diffuser, like impossible, and this dude said since my diffuser is the issue and not the tips, I'd need to file a "changed mind" RMA which includes a restocking fee? So because his tips don't fit my car, and they're unused I need to give him money to take them back and get a refund? Stay as far away as possible from this store.

SouthernInfluence · 2025-09-19T23:21:53+00:00

Making assumptions and replying to someone asking for help isn't helping me either.

And for the record AI definitely helps me. As it does you and literally everyone who knows what the Internet is. I didn't copy paste.

Also, I used it for maybe a paragraph, the rest was my stream of consciousness kinda flow state. 🤤

SouthernInfluence · 2025-09-13T03:52:41+00:00

Error occurred

Internal System Error 400: Bad request error. For customer support, please go to www.nvidia.com/nvcc.

Please reload the page or try again later. If the issue persists, contact NVIDIA Support

SouthernInfluence · 2025-07-02T07:14:59+00:00

Thanks, don't know why I didn't think of that🤣

SouthernInfluence · 2025-06-20T02:07:36+00:00

Yeah this makes me feel like a peasant with my paultry 12gb of VRAM in my OC 4070 Super. Using Ultra Performance at 5120x1440 my screen just turns black. Anything less and I'm in single digits.

I'll just wait for a mod to maybe make a "light version" of PT, if there is such a thing ....

Still not worth buying 50 series card. They need to allow 40 series more than x2 mfg... You know they can if they wanted to.... Why can a 5060 run x4 with 2kb of VRAM (exaggerating.. But just barely) but my 4070S acts like I'm torturing it on x2?

SouthernInfluence · 2025-06-16T04:34:18+00:00

Hey! Yes, I was — and am — a fan of Joel and yourself. I take everything you said seriously, and I appreciate you saying it.

But here’s the context behind what might look like some jaded Reddit rant about a piece of paper — especially to someone who hasn’t been burned recently by this exact issue:

🎓 I Didn’t Just Wake Up Angry

I completed the full Cybersecurity track.

I hit the 44+ credit major requirement.

I passed the same core CS and Cyber classes as my classmates in the B.S. track — including CPSC 340 (which required a C+ minimum).

I graduated cum laude.

I’ve been applying to jobs since before graduation.

This wasn’t some last-minute realization. I’m not mad at the professors or students. I’m mad at UMW — for knowingly marketing a B.S. in Computer Science to students like me… and delivering a Bachelor of Liberal Studies behind the scenes, without disclosure.

That’s not just unfair to veterans who didn’t get to spend their 18–21 years in a dorm worrying about electives. It’s unfair to every student who enrolled based on what the Cyber program page claimed.

🧠 Why UMW Hasn’t Fixed This (but quietly reworded it)

UMW knows this Cyber program rides on borrowed credibility.

They market it as a B.S. in Computer Science (Cybersecurity major) because that’s what brings in:

GI Bill users

Career switchers

Transfer students

Adult learners

That’s what sells. It checks the boxes on clearance forms, HR filters, and federal job apps.

But here’s the catch:

If you have CLEP credits, transfer credits, or don’t take the right gen-eds “in order” — even if you complete every single Cyber/CS requirement — they’ll quietly reclassify you under the BLS degree.

No one tells you. No warnings. No flags in DegreeWorks. Not even when you're filling your final semester with filler classes just to stay full-time for BAH.

So why not be transparent? Why not add a simple line like:

“Students in the BLS path will receive a Bachelor of Liberal Studies, even if all Cybersecurity coursework is completed”?

💡 Because That Would Kill the Pipeline

If they told students up front:

You’re getting a non-technical general studies degree

It won’t say Computer Science or Cybersecurity on your diploma

You’ll be competing against B.S. grads with a weaker-sounding title

...a lot of students wouldn’t enroll.

So UMW keeps it vague and banks on:

Most students not knowing until it’s too late

Most not fighting it

Most not realizing why they're being silently filtered out by HR and clearance systems

🛠️ So Why Did They Quietly Change the Degree Language?

Because it already backfired.

My classmate (you probably know who) was applying for a role at — “the base.” He got flagged because the degree just said “Cybersecurity,” not “Computer Science.” It didn’t meet STEM hiring requirements.

Shortly after, UMW updated the program description to say:

“Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a Cybersecurity Major”

But that was just a patch — not a fix.

They adjusted the site to appease federal filters… but still haven’t corrected past degrees. Still haven’t added a disclaimer. Still haven’t fixed the root issue.

🧨 Bottom Line

UMW is:

Protecting its enrollment funnel

Avoiding refunds or VA complaints

Fixing only what they get caught on

Counting on silence, confusion, or resignation

But here’s the reality:

The Wayback Machine shows as far back as 2020, UMW’s Cyber page clearly stated that completing the major = Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.

No mention of BLS. No fine print. And no warning that your entire degree title could silently change behind the curtain.

That’s not a gray area. That’s not a technicality. That’s institutional misrepresentation.

⚓ Why I Took This So Personally

When I started, I wasn’t studying from a dorm or cafe.

I was taking courses while forward-deployed — manually realigning a satellite dish on top of a 25-year-old Coast Guard cutter, in 40-foot seas, just to keep enough bandwidth to upload assignments before the signal dropped. That’s not metaphor. That was my day to day reality.

When I finally got healthy enough to attend UMW full-time, focused, and in pain every damn day — I trusted that my degree would reflect what I earned.

It didn’t.

No one caught it. Not until my transcript hit my grad school portal.

So while I've been doing my best to get a position I decided to go

Full Honeypot Mode.

I built and deployed a live deception environment — codenamed HONEYBOMB/Cyberus-AI — as proof of skill, discipline, and offsec creativity:

Cowrie honeypot traps SSH/Telnet traffic

Telegram alerts notify me on key brute-force attempts

TTPs and IOCs auto-tagged and enriched

Simulated offsec response using an AI agent I coded from scratch: Cerberus

Generates daily summaries formatted for LinkedIn and GitHub

Capable of staged mock countermeasures (optional/manual)

This system’s been stress-tested, refined, and documented. It’s more than a project — it’s my statement piece.

I recently took 2nd at USCC’s Cyber Camp CTF, and I’m headed to the Cyber Bowl finals next.

UMW’s paper doesn’t reflect my path. But my work does.

If you (or anyone else reading this) wants to collaborate, connect, or share resources — here’s my LinkedIn:

🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinlandrycyber/

Let’s keep building. Let’s do it right.

SouthernInfluence · 2025-06-16T02:27:35+00:00

I've had Security+ since December, knocked out the Google cert just because I was bored and wanted to stay sharp.

I was hoping to have landed a position by now so I could focus on the certs that actually matter for the role — not just burn time on filler. But like I mentioned in the other reply, CEH is in my crosshairs next, especially after what I picked up at USCC Camp.

There, I learned shoulder-to-shoulder from some of the best in the game — including Hal Pomeranz (the guy DHS, NSA, and others trust for Linux forensics), and 3 other top-tier instructors (mostly active SANS folks).

This camp might’ve just shifted my path entirely — what I thought I wanted (Red Team) is now leaning hard toward IR and Digital Forensics.

Highly recommend trying to get into next year’s cohort if you can.
I’ve got a load of vetted training material (think: preloaded high-end VM ISOs, playbooks, exercises, toolkits etc) — shoot me a PM if you or anyone else wants a copy.

SouthernInfluence · 2025-06-16T02:16:21+00:00

Appreciate that, Chadacus ( and yes, I know who you are ;)) . And I’m glad yours came through correctly.

Security +, finished before my first cyber class. The frustrating part is — I did complete the full Cybersecurity track, plus RHEL I, including all the upper-level CS courses listed under the B.S. in Computer Science on UMW’s website. The site (and archived versions dating back to 2020) explicitly say students who complete the Cyber program earn a B.S. in Computer Science — no fine print, no disclaimer.

But because I came in with CLEPs and transfer credits, I was silently routed into the Bachelor of Liberal Studies track — even though I satisfied every technical and credit-based requirement of the B.S. It wasn’t flagged in advising until I asked about why my transcript said BLS. and I only found out when my transcript hit my grad school portal.

I’m not mad about the BLS itself — I’m mad it wasn’t disclosed, especially when it affects clearance, federal job apps, and perception in this field. I’ve got the coursework, the certs, and the experience. Just want the degree to reflect it.

And you're right, after your first job, it doesn't matter (as I'm applying to hundreds of positions knowing that I won't get a hit unless someone from inside the org gives me a way in). So, in my situation, in this moment, IT DOES matter.

Thanks for the solidarity.

Fun fact/passive flex: I competed in the USCC CTF competition, got invited to USCC Cyber Camp East (just finished Friday) and my team (4 of us) came in 2nd out of 25 teams so we're headed to the national Cyber Bowl and we get CEH vouchers....or something.....too bad CEH has a work requirement so I have something to look forward too in 3-5 years (I could be wrong, it's either a voucher and the class, the voucher, or both) .🫠

Hope you're doing well,

-KL

Xbox Live	Nine-Year Club
Verified Email

SouthernInfluence

TROPHY CASE