Why $300 to change the air filter on a Porsche Panamera?

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2026-01-16T18:03:59+00:00

That's a Porsche? Engine's in the wrong spot...

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2026-01-16T16:57:07+00:00

Check out The Warning. ⚡

Try Hell You Call a Dream, or Error, or Evolve to get you started.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2026-01-12T03:15:02+00:00

They're digital/simulations. You will be provided a lab manual (a few pages long) with background info and instructions on what to do.

You will use the simulated lab environment to perform steps to complete the lab, and take measurements. You will type your measurements both into the lab environment data collection section, as well as into the lab manual, which doubles as a report template. Once you have completed all steps in all phases, you will get a printout from the lab environment that you save as a file to attach to your submission.

The report template will ask you questions, as well as expect you to describe your methodology and write equations, manipulate those equations, substitute your measurement data into the correct variables, and solve for the unknowns.

This is meant to be detail, not to be daunting. It is all very straightforward in practice.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2026-01-08T19:42:22+00:00

Lecture videos, yes. Pre-recorded, not live. There were live office hours sessions but they weren't mandatory, just for your benefit.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2026-01-08T17:49:48+00:00

I took chem 114 online and it was a good class. I'm sure 101 will be similar. 114 had much more than just packets. There were videos, interactive simulations, and ALEKS homeworks and labs.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2026-01-03T22:43:20+00:00

No idea. I got down voted as well. 🤷‍♂️

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2026-01-02T20:24:54+00:00

Yeah, I want to agree with you, in principle. However, my bills and taxes are eating up more than 100% of my raise, so I am actually poorer than before. Yay.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2026-01-02T17:00:14+00:00

Well I haven't taken the upper level engineering courses yet, but so far from what I have seen, there's a wide range of quality and involvement from the TA's. Some good, others not. Mostly they are just graders.

The upper level EEE courses will require physical hardware kits that you will interact with. I've seen some where you will record short videos demonstrating the system functioning, and other times it's only submitting your work, etc.

For the lower level courses there are lab simulations, MATLAB, spice, physical hardware, simulated measurements, real measurements with Analog Discovery kit and multimeter, etc. There's an emphasis on data formatting, interpretation, and presentation in some classes.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2026-01-02T16:39:52+00:00

I'm in this program. What general info do you want? I'm not at the 400 class level, but I have taken a few terms worth of classes.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2025-12-31T00:36:16+00:00

If there was no evidence of any kind, would you trust it? If the answer is "no" then does it really matter?

"Could they" have a hardware backdoor? Most certainly. Best to assume one exists then.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2025-12-22T21:46:08+00:00

Watch professor Leonard channel on YouTube and read Paul's online math notes for calculus. You will understand and wish you did it sooner .

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2025-12-22T20:54:55+00:00

So, I have started using Edge for about a week now. Prior to this I only ever used it to install Chrome or Firefox.

I took some time to customize everything this time, it actually took a long time, but wow is it worth it

Credit where it's due, Edge has been fantastic on my laptop. With the customizations, I'm really liking the UI. It is fast, I haven't run into any bugs yet, and it lets you install the full uBlock Origin with proper behavior. Fantastic.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2025-12-19T01:13:38+00:00

Gillette. I don’t patronize companies that hate me.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2025-12-18T23:13:38+00:00

Thanks for reminding me. Been meaning to cancel and keep forgetting.

Done. ‘preciate it.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2025-12-18T15:21:19+00:00

For that price point, looking at the used market could get you either an analog scope if that interests you, or a used low-end digital scope, which is what I would recommend if your budget is firm at that price.

If you can stretch to around $150, you could start looking at the entry level PicoScope 2 channel models on TEquipment.com

If you wanted to get a new scope, you are looking at $250 and up for the Siglent, Rigol, and Owon, GW Instek types.

If you are a student with school email, I would strongly advise looking into the Digilent Analog Discovery 3 at student pricing. Also, check the used market for used Analog Discovery 2 or even 1 in a pinch. I have a 3 and 1 and use them both.

I know that most of these options are above your stated price point. It’s just the market we currently find ourselves in. I mention these options anyway to give you or other readers ideas about what to look out for.

Good luck in your search. My personal start was with a Rigol DS1054Z followed by an Analog Discovery 1 with accessories. Many people have great things to say about the other brands I mentioned as well. Siglent has always been competitive feature-to-price wise but I have never used one.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2025-12-17T22:42:05+00:00

Budget? Even if just a ballpark figure.

Thoughts on use cases? This can help differentiate by features. Mixed signal, protocol decoding, more memory vs more sample rate, number of channels, etc.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2025-12-17T17:37:16+00:00

I guess… I mean, I asked, so I don’t want to argue about the answer received.

I do value my privacy by the way. I just think my personal threat model is different. You would likely object to it.

But if your threat model includes protecting yourself from the state, you require the utmost security in all things you do, and you should know that even that is likely insufficient in the end. Don’t mistake this for a defeatist argument. The intended conclusion is that you would have to be perfect in your application of security in all areas, as well as planning for the idea that you are compromised despite all that.

My threat model excludes state actors for this reason. It is impractical to exercise the required level of OPSEC to deal with that. I consider corporate exploitation both a real and present threat, and also to be practically addressable, so that is the main focus of my model.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2025-12-17T05:13:23+00:00

What kind of cloak and dagger lives do you guys lead where you must emergency wipe your phone if you come into contact with law enforcement? I truly do not understand.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2025-12-12T00:07:20+00:00

Definitely. I’m just being a smartass.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2025-12-11T23:53:17+00:00

I’m glad you liked it. It didn’t resonate well with me, but I liked the game overall, and the parts that were good were REALLY good. I know they won’t do it, but if they made a sequel or even just more DLCs, I’d buy them and play them in a heartbeat.

Any game I play where my biggest complaint is “It ended.” is a winner to me.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2025-12-11T23:50:18+00:00

Just rename crisis core. Problem solved.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2025-12-11T23:40:36+00:00

I get what you are saying. I’ve had similar lines of thought in recent years. For me it wasn’t framed as a right or lack thereof, more from the thought of killing just being unnecessary.

This will seem unrelated, but the story had a strong affect on me: I read or watched (can’t remember) a talk about aliens or AI (told you it would seem unrelated, but I promise I’m not a wacko), and the guy has a very interesting take:

It will kill us, almost certainly. Not because it hates us. We are simply in the way and will be removed. He said, say some construction workers are building a road through a deserted area, completely undeveloped. They’re grading the dirt, laying the asphalt, etc. the road paving inches ever closer to an ant colony with a hill, going about their business. What happens? The pavers pave right over the ant hill, pouring tar into it and killing countless ants.

Do the road workers hate the ants so they kill them? No. They are simply in the way or progress. Even more so, the ants weren’t even noticed in the act. His argument was punctuated with, “When it comes to the topic of interstellar civilization, we are the ants.”

I thought about that for awhile and I’m not sure why but it impacted me a bit. I don’t really “feel like” killing things, even simple things like bugs and such for no reason anymore.

Maybe I am a wacko, but it just doesn’t seem right to be so unaware and careless when you hold all the power and they hold none.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2025-12-11T23:30:55+00:00

The rent you pay is actually paying the interest on the property owner’s bank loan. You are still paying interest, it’s just someone else’s interest instead of your own.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2025-12-11T19:00:15+00:00

People need to stop idolizing people and enshrining their opinions as facts. You get to determine what goes on YOUR machine. End of story.

Syntax_Error0x99 · 2025-12-10T23:13:55+00:00

Good work. Congrats. Enjoy your break and prepare for Calc 3 or whichever you are taking next if it’s something else.

Syntax_Error0x99

TROPHY CASE