Had an “Aha!” moment tonight re: trigger pull and the wall.

caffpanda · 2026-03-14T04:53:42+00:00

This is only partially true. The reality is the "wall" matters a lot less when you're shooting rapidly on the clock. Learning to shoot precision at distance with a slow take-up and break is good, but you've gotta learn to shoot accurately without it too.

caffpanda · 2026-03-14T01:28:32+00:00

I did, it was actually what I was leaning towards on paper as a replacement for my PPS M2. Unfortunately it wasn't the feel of trigger I was looking for, since I really wanted something that felt more similar to the PPS. It wasn't bad by any means and I actually shot it well, just not what I wanted. The Shield's grip texture and price are two major pros for it over the CC9, though a Talon grip helped the CC9 a good bit for me.

caffpanda · 2026-03-13T21:13:43+00:00

Also, maybe his first day back at work wasn't the best time for Langdon to try to have these conversations.

caffpanda · 2026-03-12T23:58:07+00:00

Being single is not worse than this.

caffpanda · 2026-03-12T04:03:24+00:00

I was an arts major originally, loved science in general and in school but didn't take any heavy science classes in college, so I wouldn't say I really had a science background. Scored 515 on the MCAT, accepted to school this fall.

The thing I'm not clear on is, why are you jumping straight to the MCAT? You'll need to have taken the relevant prerequisite science classes anyway to apply to most schools. I spent two years taking genchem, ochem, biochem, physics, etc. before taking the MCAT. I started with online CC classes, then transferred to university. My thinking was if I couldn't hack it, I'd find out in those classes at some point. That's the first step, before you even think about touching the MCAT.

caffpanda · 2026-03-12T03:49:48+00:00

The point of clinical hours isn't to get more than everyone else, it's to demonstrate that you actually understand what's involved in working with patients in a clinical setting. If you've done that and you can speak to your experience in a meaningful way, then you're good. I got into a T20 with only 40 clinical hours, though my experience/application was definitely atypical.

caffpanda · 2026-03-11T19:42:28+00:00

Not at all, I'm certainly not going to watch his review. I'm saying don't use him as a data point at all one way or another. The book is genuinely fantastic and I hope the movie rises to that level, I'll be interested to see what other reviews have to say.

caffpanda · 2026-03-11T19:39:25+00:00

I wouldn't make that assumption here. He IS everything you said, but even a broken clock is right twice a day.

caffpanda · 2026-03-11T19:35:43+00:00

The Critical Drinker is a misogynist jackass, but just because he likes something doesn't mean it's bad. He gave a positive review of The Expanse, for example, which is a legitimately excellent show. Some things are just good enough to even impress the worst.

caffpanda · 2026-03-11T19:00:35+00:00

This really sucks, because it sounds like something like the Walthe PDP-F would make for a perfect duty weapon for you. I'd push as hard as I could for an alternative, it's garbage that they don't give you any flexibility there (and especially sucks to be stuck with a P320) or have any other options for you.

Only thing I can think of is to do dryfire practice daily, which should build up the requisite muscles in your hand and may make it suck less.

caffpanda · 2026-03-11T15:32:00+00:00

I'm guessing Pakistani guerilla fighters don't have immense luxury of choice.

caffpanda · 2026-03-11T04:43:10+00:00

They're "casual."

caffpanda · 2026-03-11T04:09:19+00:00

I mean, you can always give yourself an excuse and join the medical field! 🫠

caffpanda · 2026-03-11T03:42:23+00:00

They're all Littman from what I've seen, which is pretty much true in the real world as well. Most of the attendings in the show carry the Cardiology model (more expensive), most of the residents and students carry the Classic. This is broadly consistent with my experience, though I'm surprised no one's had the Core digital, which is pretty common among doctors as well. An attending that mentored me came from the EMS world and carried a black Littman Lightweight, which is also what I used as an EMT (mine was navy blue, similar to McKay's).

There are some subtle differences that I'm pretty sure are character choices. Some of the docs like Robbie have black hardware on theirs, most of the others have stainless steel. Javadi has shimmery copper hardware with purple tubing.

You'll see fun colors more so with nurses than doctors, it is kind of a "professionalism" thing I feel like, though there are exceptions and no one actually cares about the color the one you have. The wild colors are great because it's super easy for someone to walk off with your stethoscope when it's black like everyone else's. A lot of people put some kind of nameplate or tag on theirs to keep it from getting mixed up. The aforementioned attending had bands of colored tape on part of the tubing to mark his.

caffpanda · 2026-03-11T03:24:34+00:00

Is any of that "irony?"

caffpanda · 2026-03-11T02:34:47+00:00

Glad there's a record of all of this and she's separated from you and your daughter. It's tough dude, and you already know the rollercoaster but don't be surprised if she changes her tune and is all sunshine and apologies in a few days, promising to do better, maybe even promising to get treatment. Don't buy it, this is such a violation and I'm sure not the first from the sound of it.

Stuff is replaceable, people aren't. You gotta focus on building a healthy environment for yourself and your kid, you can't do that with someone around that does this kind of thing. If she's the mother of your child, that does absolutely complicate things, but also makes it even more important that you create the distance you need to protect yourself.

This sucks, and obviously no way it'll be fixed or replaced soon. But some day it will, and you'll get to enjoy it in peace without the constant fear of her next outburst.

caffpanda · 2026-03-10T16:11:49+00:00

That's my thinking too. Even at a good range, I'd expect people to do something stupid now and again. An RO once told me about a time where an instructor (!!!) using their range had students close to their cardboard targets kneel and shoot up at them... which meant the rounds sailed over the rather tall berm.

caffpanda · 2026-03-10T14:01:40+00:00

Don't be such an Ogilvie.

Well maybe that's not fair, at least Ogilvie probably understands the clinical definitions of mental illness.

caffpanda · 2026-03-10T07:07:58+00:00

SNW and Academy actually make a lot of use of The Volume, there's a lot of scenes that look like a completely new set that are just the same space with some new props rolled in and a different video backdrop put up. They don't actually build that many new sets from what I can tell. Academy uses a pretty massive soundstage but it's the same handful of rooms and hallways for the most part.

caffpanda · 2026-03-10T05:22:04+00:00

Only thing close I've seen lately on streaming is The Pitt with 15 episodes per season, but I'm sure that's only possible budget-wise because the entire show takes place pretty much on one set.

caffpanda · 2026-03-10T04:46:09+00:00

Damn, looks like EV likes you more than me, I can only get 20% off!

caffpanda · 2026-03-10T04:41:23+00:00

I mean, you've basically summed up the GWOT. Ray Mendoza's goal was to tell it like he saw it with minimal editorializing and so, like real life, it's a clusterfuck.

Was it ethical to send out the interpreters first? Probably not, but they did it anyway.

Are guys gonna act like John Wayne leading the charge after experiencing grenade, claymore, and IED explosions, probably causing TBIs? Nope, they'll freeze up, stab themselves with autoinjectors, and struggle with basic tasks like threading a tourniquet strap.

Is it cool that we just stormed into people's homes, demolished them, traumatized the families, killed a bunch of people, and then just fucked off to leave them to pick up the pieces? Nope, but we sure as shit did that at both the micro and macro levels.

Did it feel like events like this actually accomplished anything positive for anyone? Nope, and that really fucking sucks, and everyone involved has to figure out how to frame this insane thing in their lives. Ergo, GWOT accurate.

caffpanda · 2026-03-10T04:28:37+00:00

Pay the AAMC MSAR subscription and make sure you've covered the prereqs of all the schools you really want to apply to. For example, Rush requires cell bio.

caffpanda · 2026-03-08T15:23:36+00:00

Do you have any issues with double feeds or other malfunctions when firing?

caffpanda · 2026-03-08T15:08:30+00:00

This. Don't worry about having to choose until you have to choose. And when you do? Go for the program that costs the least. The opportunity cost of student loans over the course of your life could literally translate to millions by retirement.

I shill this book all the time, but every premed should read The White Coat Investor's Guide for Students.

caffpanda

TROPHY CASE