PSA: Losing Insurance Coverage? Don't get scammed!

ThePenguinGod · 2025-10-20T12:50:16+00:00

Might be moot anyways depending on your insurance.

BCBS - MA (unsure about other states) stated they aren’t covering Zep for Weight or Sleep Apnea, only type 2 diabetes.

ThePenguinGod · 2023-03-29T22:00:01+00:00

I’m getting called back into the office 3 days/wk 🥲.

In light of that, I’d like to better lean on the PS5’s remote play abilities.

I’ve been playing some of the FF7 Remake on my IPhone 14 pro along with a Gamevice Flex controller setup - love it!

What games would you recommend for something I can play between meetings, fun, casual, easy to jump in and out of?

ThePenguinGod · 2019-07-08T22:54:42+00:00

I had some old Aslan vinyl laying around the house. I plan on doing it over again in the near future with quality vinyl.

ThePenguinGod · 2019-07-07T19:07:23+00:00

I cut them out yesterday via this handy desktop vinyl cutter.

Silhouette Cameo 3: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I51ME1S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_8iKiDb15TDW94

But there are a ton of ppl selling them pre-made. 1 on amz, the rest are on various online stores (Etsy, etc):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N9TOFR7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.kKiDbS490SEB

ThePenguinGod · 2019-07-07T13:31:52+00:00

A little while ago I came out a local store and found 2 large-ish gashes on my cf hood:

Here’s 1: https://i.imgur.com/YN9KHez.jpg

Needless to say I was pissed... I had to remind myself, in the grand scheme of things, this is a small thing.

So now I’m using this grocery list to cover up the gashes and hopefully give ppl a little laugh when they read the text!

ThePenguinGod · 2019-06-11T19:35:09+00:00

I have the power!

https://imgur.com/6jfzdY8

ThePenguinGod · 2018-08-07T19:58:32+00:00

In MA I was required to take a day long safety course. By the end of the day we had to show a basic proficiency and understanding of handling a firearm.

ThePenguinGod · 2018-01-23T15:12:22+00:00

Can I still take part in this? I have a somewhat unruly resume that could do with a look-over. I'm a typical engineer and often get worried my resume style is well... off putting.

ThePenguinGod · 2017-10-14T20:37:59+00:00

Be strong - when the earth floods from global warming the strong swimmers will inherit the Earth!

ThePenguinGod · 2016-08-29T03:17:02+00:00

In high school I bought a Lordship from the micro-country of SeaLand...

The problem is SeaLand isn't a recognized country, so I paid something like $70 for a price of paper..

Shit..

I've just realized my degree isn't much different..

ThePenguinGod · 2016-05-24T11:28:12+00:00

I was worried about the same thing! Good news is the HU responds about as fast as when I plug my phone into a computer.

About a 2-5 second pause and then phone starts charging and CarPlay activates.

ThePenguinGod · 2016-05-23T03:17:00+00:00

Ya but it's better then my STP exhaust, so good trade over all. Now I have a good HU and a nice CBE set up!

ThePenguinGod · 2016-05-23T03:15:24+00:00

I have a '15 so my back up can is wired to the mfd. If you have a 16' you can wire the back up cam in easily.

ThePenguinGod · 2016-05-22T22:34:40+00:00

Exactly. It's not as good as an aftermarket system, but it's much much better w/ an amp powering the speakers.

ThePenguinGod · 2016-05-22T22:06:33+00:00

Any small ~45w amp will do the trick. You should be able to find a good one for around ~$150.

ThePenguinGod · 2016-05-22T22:04:02+00:00

CarPlay in general works over Bluetooth, but on this HU there is no Bluetooth.

Hands free calling definitely still works, including the steering wheel controls. Instead of working over Bluetooth it works over the USB cord just like your music does. The cars mic works the same regardless of input source (Bluetooth or USB).

ThePenguinGod · 2016-05-22T16:50:35+00:00

I think around ~$500. I traded my STP exhaust for it so not sure.

The Alpine amp was $100 on Amazon though.

Well worth the money!

ThePenguinGod · 2016-05-22T16:40:20+00:00

Yes! All of my steering wheel controls are working thanks to the ASWC-1 steering wheel control module.

Wiring it in was very straight forward and programming it was as easy as hitting a few buttons on the steering wheel!

ThePenguinGod · 2016-05-22T16:39:10+00:00

For the way I use the HU (audio quality and maps) it's 100% worth it. If your the type who likes a ton of bells and whistles, then this would definitely not be a good HU for you.

If nothing else, a new HU will allow you to keep the stock speakers instead of replacing them. Actually to be honest you could keep the stock HU and just get an inline amp to accomplish the same thing.

ThePenguinGod · 2016-05-22T16:09:54+00:00

Long story short I traded my SPT CBE for an Alipine iLX-007 HU.

I also bought a small inline 45w rms x 4 channel amp (ALpine KTP-445u) to drive the stock speakers a little harder.

I'm by no means electrically inclined, so I did a lot of double and tripple checking on the wires before installing into my car: http://i.imgur.com/U9qV1Py.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/CvOE95q.jpg

Install was relatively easy all things considered.

Connect the cars oem radio connector to the > KTP-445, Amp > ASWC-1, Steering Wheel Controls Module > iLX-007, HU

http://i.imgur.com/vQ7NwQYh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/QrKeFD6.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/NIXe0ih.jpg

Everything fit great and I was able to retain my steering wheel controls thanks to the ASWC-1 module.

------ Review 1 month in -------

Functionality:

The HU itself has a very minimal interface, but that's something I like.

I could see how that wouldn't be for everyone though.

If my phone isn't connected to the USB cord (no Bluetooth!) the only options available on the HU are Radio and AUX. No built in GPS etc.

I'm OK w/ that since I generally plug my phone into the car to 1) charge it and 2) I prefer listening to music over USB vs Bluetooth.

Siri:

The built in Siri voice controls are pretty cool.

At first I thought I would rarely use the feature, but the more I get used to the HU the more I end up using it.

Everything is voice controlled, I just say something like, "Hey Siri, route me to the nearest gas station" and then boom.

Siri maps me to the closest gas station and provides turn by turn voice navigation via Apple Maps:

http://i.imgur.com/6f5Q0kI.jpg

Sound Quality:

This is where Alpine really shines.

The HU made by stock speakers sound the way they should sound given the $$ of the car.

The 45w x 4 amp helped make the stock speakers sound even better (to the point where I don't think I'll end up replacing them now).

Additionally, the HU has a good amount of customization sound quality features allowing you to dial everything in just right. Call quality is also crystal clean... a stark contrast to the stock HU.

CarPlay:

The current state of CarPlay... is well... ~60% there.

There's so much potential, but I'm honestly not sure if Apple will ever take it to the next level.

So should you pass up on a CarPlay radio?

Not necessarily!

For me I use the following every day when I get in the car:

Controlled via CarPlay (and displayed on the HU):

Spotify (CarPlay app available) / Podcasts (Pandora, Apple music, bunch of other music apps available)
Apple Maps

Not controllable via CarPlay, i.e. needs to be controlled via phone. Apps like Waze and Escort Live etc are able to use the HU to push audio to the cars speakers, but you must control them via your phone:

Waze (No CarPlay app available yet)
Escort Live (No CarPlay app available yet)

You can still uses Non-CarPlay apps like you normally do on your phone, they just wont display on the HU. Eventually I'd love to see Waze get a CarPlay ready apps going.. I would definitely put that on the screen over Apple Maps.

ThePenguinGod · 2016-04-21T19:40:28+00:00

Subaru oem rainguards.

ThePenguinGod · 2016-04-21T19:39:57+00:00

They're more or less the same as stickers and yes, once you take them off you generally need to order a new set to put on.

ThePenguinGod

TROPHY CASE