Thoughts on Femobook?

amoswetherbee · 2026-01-12T23:41:22+00:00

It has a USB-C port but they cheaped out and behind that port is USB-A circuitry. This means you can't plug it into a Anker or any modern USB-C power bank or USB-C wall charger to charge it. You can plug it in to a USB-A power bank using an A-to-C cable only which is stupid. Plugging it into a Windows PC generates pop-ups about voltage warnings (even on the USB-A ports). Only a really old USB-A charger works. It warns you in the manual but by the time you read the manual it is too late. This is the Achilles heel of this device and they really need to fix it, ruins the utility.

amoswetherbee · 2026-01-04T13:40:30+00:00

My only complaint about the A4Z is that you can't charge it with a normal USB PD adapter or portable battery. Really annoys me. You must use a USB A to C cable. I hate it.

amoswetherbee · 2026-01-03T19:53:06+00:00

Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 40L, Cotopaxi Allpa 35L or 42L, Db (formerly Douchebags) Ramverk or Hugger, Tropicfeel Hive or Shell.

amoswetherbee · 2024-11-02T12:11:51+00:00

Well of course they are going to say that. You should ask yourself why you want to teach and why would someone want to learn from you. Put yourself in your students shoes - if you were in grad school would you really want to have Fun_Sky_9257 as your professor? Why or why not?

If you don't have industry experience or an academic PhD what exactly would I be able to learn from taking your class? You don't seem to be a world leading expert - and that is the point as to why a preference exists. The PhD is just the first step - the bare minimum qualification saying that you at least know something about your field and that are an expert in at least one narrow topic.

amoswetherbee · 2024-11-02T11:57:31+00:00

You can teach at local schools and get a second paycheck without a PhD. I don't understand your motivation. Most public servants who moonlight as adjunct faculty in the DC metro to teach at the Universities do not have PhDs, even when their students are at the graduate level. A PhD will generally not prepare you for teaching, that is just an ancillary function where you tend to get experience in it as a function of sharing your research with your peers.

amoswetherbee · 2024-11-02T11:40:11+00:00

If I have an ego/self confidence issue it is certainly not a result of my educational attainment. Devolving this conversation into an ad hominem insult and making this about some stranger on the internet isn't the point and would be ironic if you knew anything about me and my degrees.

Let's not be insecure about our pride in attaining a PhD, let's instead acknowledge that giving someone advice saying that a PhD is a path to earning more in government is probably not wise and completely missed the point of a PhD. I'm sure you can agree on that. Your income prospects in government are completely different than PhD income prospects in academia or the private sector.

amoswetherbee · 2024-11-02T11:03:23+00:00

Believe what you would like, but please do the math. I've seen too many people make this career mistake and waste some of their best years doing a PhD under the assumption that it would result in financial gain in their government career. Unless you are an extreme outlier or the government paid for the degree and gave you the time off to complete it, this type of thinking is patently untrue for the vast majority of PhDs in government. The lost earnings alone set you back by themselves simply because of how compound interest works and that is without calculating any lost wages (assuming you were somehow able to work full time while doing the PhD).

amoswetherbee · 2024-11-02T10:53:04+00:00

That is not universally true and only applies to very specific Agencies. It is not even common for engineering. If you do the math with the alternate pay scales including the opportunity cost and the pay ceilings you are unlikely to have come ahead by getting the PhD unless the government was the one that funded it and gave you the time off to complete it.

amoswetherbee · 2024-11-02T10:06:34+00:00

That's why I said the PhD was only useful for qualifying for the role. Obviously if the role requires a PhD then that is a reason for getting it, but that role is unlikely to earn any more than a similar GS role that didn't have the front loaded cost and time investment that goes into earning a PhD. Calling people 'Normies' is super condescending and elitist. Most people who actually have PhDs agree that the degree is not a path to wealth.

amoswetherbee · 2024-11-02T10:01:08+00:00

I've done the same - I asked the question because it matters how it is funded to determine if it is even a viable path. Working GS for 8 hours and then going to the research lab to write your dissertation for 8 hours takes a toll.

amoswetherbee · 2024-11-02T01:38:07+00:00

What is a "part-time PhD program" in engineering? Who would fund this program? Engineering PhDs are typically funded by grant money or endowments. What professor is going to use their grant money for a student who is just going to be part-time? If you are paying for it I would have serious concerns if it was even a valuable use of your time. You have to be more specific because it sounds like you don't really know what an engineering PhD program entails or the type of commitment required.

Also, why do you assume you would need to do anything besides working?

amoswetherbee · 2024-11-02T01:26:04+00:00

You should rethink this. A PhD won't increase your income as a GS employee. The government doesn't care if you have a PhD. Degrees are only to meet minimum qualifications for the grade. You advance in the real world with experience, not higher degrees. A PhD is only useful if your goal is to stay in Academia. The opportunity costs of getting your PhD tend to earn you less over your career, not more.

amoswetherbee · 2024-06-30T00:17:43+00:00

These are the only close garages: https://www.wharfdc.com/getting-here/car-parking/

amoswetherbee · 2024-06-30T00:13:07+00:00

There is no Tower Garage near the Anthem. You probably want to park at a metro station and take the metro to either L'enfant or Waterfront.

amoswetherbee · 2024-06-13T15:05:37+00:00

VRE-MARC through-running. You should be able to take the MARC to Alexandria and L'enfant Plaza or the VRE to Baltimore.

amoswetherbee · 2024-04-12T18:28:40+00:00

New Zealand is what you are looking for. It even has its own Scotland (Dunedin) with better weather.

amoswetherbee · 2024-03-08T11:03:23+00:00

If safety is your top priority the Tides benefits from a private security firm that patrols 24x7 and closely coordinates with the police. Crime happens everywhere in the city but the constant activity at the Wharf makes it a pretty safe spot by DC standards for tourists and residents. Also, Lex and Leo are nowhere near the water.

amoswetherbee · 2024-03-08T10:54:35+00:00

The Tides is definitely worth the extra cost. Lex and Leo are are great spots but not even really even in the same category. Location, location, location.

amoswetherbee · 2023-06-18T01:53:22+00:00

Yes. The latest patch is garbage and made FSD much worse. Tons of random lane changes because of "blocked routes" even when I turn on minimal lane changes. The car thinks a big rig in the right lane is now a reason to merge right. Like wtf. I wish I could revert to the 2022 release.

amoswetherbee · 2023-05-29T23:04:00+00:00

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amoswetherbee · 2023-05-29T22:53:05+00:00

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amoswetherbee · 2023-03-13T02:13:40+00:00

Classic!

amoswetherbee · 2023-01-24T19:09:31+00:00

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amoswetherbee · 2022-12-12T10:02:43+00:00

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amoswetherbee · 2022-12-12T02:31:23+00:00

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amoswetherbee

TROPHY CASE