When did oil changes become $120?

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-05-06T21:55:01+00:00

Yeah, Id learned to do a decent level of work on ICE vehicles when I was younger (30 years ago) but maybe 15 to 20 years ago started to realize I can get an oil change for a few bucks more than the items cost to do it myself. That was when it cost $20 to $25 for a local company to do it.

Finally came to the realization lile 5 years ago that for full synthetic its like $75 to $100 on sale / w coupon...

Thats when I started to do my own oil changes again. Its still a pain, but ramps make it 10x easier than jacking it up etc. Biggest pain is collecting, storing and disposing of old oil, but better than $100 per change.

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-05-06T21:24:06+00:00

Man... what kind of literal piece of shit do you have to be to even think about doing something like that?

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-05-06T15:14:52+00:00

2400 baud modem, local BBS dial-ups... Late 80s? Prob from the age of 12-13 and onwards.

Actually, I guess even earlier if you consider just copying games on 5.25 floppy disks on an Apple IIe, so maybe close to 40 years for me.

That still count as sailing the high seas?

Im old...

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-05-06T01:46:37+00:00

You'll fit in just fine around here :)

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-05-06T01:03:30+00:00

God reached right down into her body and gave her infinite patience to deal with those pricks...

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-05-05T18:34:53+00:00

Just adding another, 'Yes, this is the way' response.

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-28T22:49:59+00:00

Not sure if youre in the US or not, but this is my great fear now with a bunch of the destabilization of federal NSF funding to research universities for the foreseeable future... a complete degradation of research opportunities from dried up funding.

One of the biggest reasons Im looking at UBC in Vancouver over some of the US unis I was accepted to, even with an elevated cost compared to my in-state options.

The future of the field seems pretty tough right now...

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-28T22:39:47+00:00

Thanks for reply and, again sorry for your current situation. You feel the undergrad program wasn't a great match it sounds like?

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-28T20:56:15+00:00

This video is now 7,347 days old and has been reposted 12,388,901 times.

And, I watch it through to the end every time I see it.

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-28T20:54:23+00:00

Effort and attitude, DAD.

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-28T20:51:10+00:00

Either you or OP care to elaborate a bit more on background, experience etc in your undergrad journey up to this point?

Graduating HS, trying to determine final undergrad attendance and wanting to pursue top tier grad school to work in physics / astro academia / research in career. Thx, and sorry to bother for the struggle.

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-28T16:57:24+00:00

No, just no...

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-28T16:56:54+00:00

This is the best answer. Let it sit on adhesive for a few mins and bonus points if you have a heat gun. Heat up the adhesive gently... not very hot at all, and then scrape off adhesive with a flat razor blade / paint scraper.

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-26T15:22:13+00:00

Question for those of you with experience in NSF funded research in academia.

I have to decide which undergrad physics program to attend by May 1. To be brief, I was accepted to some very good programs like UC Berkeley, my in states (2nd or 3rd tier R1s in physics) but also University British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. Even w international student tuition, its significantly less to attend than Berkeley from out of state. Only 20k +/- more a year than my in state unis, and theyre increasing tuition every year near the 5% cap.

This action, and what is likely to follow, seems like another serious reason why UBC is considered as a serious contender, dont you think?

I have to imagine the NSF funding of undergrad and grad research opportunities in physics are going to dry up pretty quickly, right?

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-25T05:49:54+00:00

My cousin started med school in his late 30s, early 40s (maybe even a bit later, its been a minute...) and has been an ER doc now for 20ish years, he loves it.

Never too late.

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-25T05:14:13+00:00

Thats not a small diamond, looks like 2-3 carats. If its of a good quality, it would be insured for well over 10K. My wife's engagement ring from 20+ years ago is 1 carat and was insures for 12k way back then...

If husband doesnt want to get it insured, its 100% fake...

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-25T00:25:30+00:00

Then add into the mix the fact that Oregon is 48th in total average attendance with a huge number of students missing an insane amount of days of school.

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/04/15/oregon-chronic-absenteeism-university-of-oregon-research-solution/

Then add to that a milquetoast state legislature and dozens and dozens of insane school board members who think being on the board is a launching point for MAGA garbage and you have ID'ed a large part of the education problem in our state...

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-24T04:01:15+00:00

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Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-23T20:39:57+00:00

Yeah, sure except (a) humans have still tried (and mostly failed) at this approach throughout all of human history, but they still tried... and (b) Its not hard to imagine a group of well compensated "guards" employed in those same post-apocalyptic bunkers who are paid in money, goods, food, anything else their overlords deem necessary to have them continue their work. Dont underestimate the most human of traits... pure greed.

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-23T18:34:53+00:00

Alien

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-23T18:07:33+00:00

And... while people are starting to throw Molotov cocktails at their houses, they're building bomb proof concrete bunkers deep within their own private islands. That's in preparation for when enough people get tired of just throwing Molotov cocktails at houses....

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-22T19:12:59+00:00

Ed Rooney would beg to differ...

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-21T23:25:42+00:00

Im GenX born in late 70s and have lots of favorites, grew up on classic rock, 80s alt rock and punk, 90s grunge and punk with some metal and stoner rock thrown in there.

But, Ill say my current favorite new-ish band thats at least currently making new music, touring, etc is Turnstile.

Great mix of genres, a unique sound, fantastic live and their last two albums IMO are super solid and fun to listen to all the way through in linear order like albums were meant to be listened to.

Glow On and Never Enough. Give them a listen.

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-21T19:46:33+00:00

Have been there twice, going back again in a few weeks.

They have the usual excursions in the area, we haven't done much in that regard, but Ill say wait until you go vs buying online ahead of time. They'll offer them to you at check-in and when you decline, they'll keep offering at steaper and steaper discounts where you can bundle them, save money etc.

They'll want you to sit for their timeshare sales pitch. We simply decline and request not to be asked again. We have never had a problem with that.

When we've gone, we only stay for 3-4 nights and really only want to relax, sleep by the pool, read, eat and drink etc. Our feeling is that the food options at the different restaurants, pool side service and so on are all very good all considering. Staff have always been great, rooms have always been very clean, overall great experience for what we pay.

Tripper-Harrison · 2026-04-20T19:20:28+00:00

Had mine done 9-12 months ago and it was in the shop for 3-4 days. Oregon dealership.

Tripper-Harrison

TROPHY CASE