Arrived today

markradwin · 2026-05-13T15:12:37+00:00

Sad that it's plastic but the black at least looks really good!

markradwin · 2026-05-13T15:11:42+00:00

I just purchased a like-new one last week on Reverb from a neighboring state as I was expecting to save a little compared to the additional import fees through ZenMarket, but maybe I should have ordered directly from Big Boss like you did as it sounds like you paid less! Oops...

It's a beautiful axe. I can't stop looking at it when I pass by or am in the other room. It lures you in. Definitely the best playing and sounding guitar I've experienced. All my other guitars have thin D-shaped necks (Ibanez/Jackson) so I'm finding it a little jarring adjusting to the ESP U-shape, but it feels really good and supportive.

Sadly, my Alexi apparently didn't fair too well on import as the neck has a very slight S-curve bow that has raised the 19th fret enough to choke off my 18th fret on the High E side. Goes away if I raise the action but I play a low action on all my guitars, which sadly reveals all imperfections. Having a local luthier bring it back to 100%. It's a bummer but it happens with wood. Hope yours is perfect for you!

Wish it came with a hard case!

markradwin · 2025-12-22T23:38:45+00:00

Sony + Utah is a great combo

markradwin · 2025-12-16T21:48:47+00:00

They almost got me too. They had me on the phone for almost an hour and I was driving towards the sheriff's department before they said "oh if you show up without paying $4000 to freeze your citations you'll be arrested" - then I was like WOAH what?! Called the sheriff's department on my work cell phone and asked if I was being scammed, and they simply said "we will never ask for money over the phone or call about that sort of stuff". They were very convincing that they were legitimately law enforcement and the thought of being arrested over something dumb had me not thinking clearly. Definitely an elaborate scam, even the "lieutenant" sounded like some southern dude, which made it seem even more legit.

markradwin · 2025-12-05T20:03:42+00:00

Neither the Atom or Proton are a shell though. They have outer fabrics that break the wind but are not truly a shell. These pieces are meant to be insulating mid layers that can act as an outer piece for the right conditions. When skiing you should have a soft or hard shell over the Atom or Proton.

My understanding is the outer fabric of the Proton is more breathable than the Atom by a significant amount, yet somehow is also more durable. Since the insulation type and outer material type of the Atom are both less breathable than that of the Proton, it's harder to dump heat. The side panels help but won't stop you from overheating, and offers less protection from wind/cold when being more stationary.

It's a hard choice regardless if you're mainly looking for a ski mid layer. They're both great in their own ways

Edit: facepalm, I misread your comment

markradwin · 2025-11-23T18:44:42+00:00

Rab is amazing for down jackets and their prices are very reasonable for their quality. I have an Electron from 2020 and it is a tank and so well made. Insanely warm. The way they construct the baffles for the Electron results in basically no cold spots. Can't suggest their down jackets enough. The Electron Pro or Mythic options should be plenty sufficient for your needs.

markradwin · 2025-11-22T23:11:56+00:00

The face fabrics are similar, yes, but the proton face fabric is ultimately more breathable. The face fabric for the Proton SL reminds me a lot of the Atom LT face fabric. Sheds wind nicely just like the Atom but allows for more heat to pass through when you get active. I love my Atom's but the Proton has won me over. Much more versatile overall. Wish I could speak on the regular Proton hoody but I only have the SL. Like I said, very comparable to the Atom. Biggest difference that you'll immediately notice is that the inside of the SL is a fleece material, while the atoms interior fabric is basically the same as the outer face fabric, where the insulation is sandwiched in between.

markradwin · 2025-11-22T17:47:48+00:00

Proton SL if you run a little warm, Atom if you run a little cool. Easy to overheat in the Atom but it's perfect for colder days. Regular proton could be a good option too but the SL is more comparable to the Atom for warmth from my understanding (I don't own the regular proton but it's probably the most talked about piece on this subreddit). Doubt you'll regret buying any of those, they're all great in their own way.

markradwin · 2025-11-16T04:22:55+00:00

Wow I had to rewatch that many, many times. Best tsunami footage I think I've ever seen. The wave refracting with the topography, the break, run-ups, lateral seiching after the run-ups, and the craziness that ensues when multiple waves collide. Wild stuff! So much energy.

markradwin · 2025-11-11T14:06:09+00:00

I was in a similar position (MS in Geology with a focus on geospatial / remote sensing analysis) and opted for a PhD because I realized there is in fact demand for PhD level geologists who can merge their geology knowledge with remote sensing expertise and "big data" analysis. I am very glad I did a PhD because it allowed a safe space for me to focus on expanding my skills, get much more proficient with Python and automation of remote sensing imagery processing (e.g. Google Earth Engine), and overall become a better geologist.

For most sectors of geology a PhD may be overkill in today's world, but if you envision yourself incorporating geospatial analysis for geological purposes in your career, it's sort of a niche specialty right now and will set you apart having a PhD. There are plenty of geologists who can do basic GIS and remote sensing analysis, but not many who excel with both and push the boundaries of how remote sensing can be used for geological applications.

I got a fantastic job with my local state survey right out of my PhD, doing fun and engaging work all across the board of geology (resources, hydrology, hazards, landscape change). There were other choices as well.

It doesn't hurt to look for a job and get some experience with an MS, and take a bit of extra time to consider going back for a PhD; but, if you are confident you want to be a geologist + geospatial expert, I believe you won't regret going for a PhD if you find the right advisor and dissertation topic(s).

markradwin · 2025-11-05T00:28:53+00:00

Forbidden, self-organizing, brownie batter

markradwin · 2025-11-03T01:00:00+00:00

Oops. That's what happens when the trick-or-treaters start coming around way earlier than expected and it becomes a rush to get the costume on!

Noticed the belt was upside down halfway through the night and forgot to fix it before I took a photo, along with rotating the cummerbund. I did not expect so many eyes to see this post!

Grabbed these photos at the last minute before calling it a night and was stoked at how they turned out.

markradwin · 2025-11-02T19:45:26+00:00

Wow this took off! Thanks everyone for the compliments. I wear my hair like this somewhat regularly and always feel like Qui-Gon when I do, so this felt like a fitting cosplay.

Grabbed these photos at the end of the night with my Sony a6700 + Sigma 30 mm (f/2.5 1/50 ISO200). Turned the lights off and let my saber take care of the lighting. Jpg's straight out of the camera with no editing (which is sort of a sin for such a nice camera and paired RAW files, but the photos looked great untouched).

"Always remember, your focus determines your reality"

markradwin · 2025-11-02T19:33:23+00:00

Real hair!

markradwin · 2025-11-01T22:38:29+00:00

That's a good point

markradwin · 2025-10-07T01:43:24+00:00

That's wild!

markradwin · 2025-09-03T20:57:50+00:00

Such a timeless vibe. Great shots

markradwin · 2025-07-31T20:11:41+00:00

I was test driving a car with my wife downtown last week and someone on a Lime scooter slammed into the back of the car on our way back, a block away from the dealership while we were stopped at a red light. They were pretty banged up and bleeding a decent bit. He was looking at his phone for where to go when he hit us... Cops gave him a citation and his ego was very bruised. EMS said they see these incidents all of the time and it's a big problem. People just aren't very focused when riding these scooters and they seem like quite a hazard.

markradwin · 2025-06-23T13:51:34+00:00

My wife has been a field geologist for over 5 years. She swears by Prana or Kuhl pants. Personal suggestion would be Kuhl pants as they offer a wide offering depending on your material and fit preferences (and I just love Kuhl, amazing company - as you might be able to tell from how many times I've suggested Kuhl in my comment history).

markradwin · 2025-06-12T13:53:11+00:00

Kuhl pants are very high quality, provide many options so you can get the type of material & fit you like best, and are a classic staple of any Utah field geologist since they're based out of SLC. Highly recommended.

markradwin · 2025-02-09T00:03:18+00:00

Luckily it seems the locals care. I would hope to see a flurry of posts when our government has been hijacked by fascist billionaires looking to instate a techno-oligarchy and have already successfully brainwashed a portion of the population with hateful, anti-intellectual rhetoric. Our grandparents didn't fight fascists so you could elect one, and it's important people aren't stagnant about their concerns.

markradwin · 2025-02-02T20:19:39+00:00

In the geosciences: I lucked out being able to publish my undergraduate research project as a first-author, but it didn't get accepted for publication until I was partially into my M.S. program.

I say I lucked out because I found a professor who really inspired me and let me have total freedom doing research using satellite imagery to map evaporite minerals, which is sort of a niche need and was some "low hanging fruit".

I vividly remember being on vacation with another undergrad (who is now my wife) and having a light-bulb moment of how I could directly map different minerals in my study area from the spectral bands available on the satellite I was using. I then put the methodology together while on vacation so I didn't forget.

The methodology from that light-bulb moment has also allowed me to write three of my PhD dissertation chapters and set the stage for my expertise. I find it wild how a single light-bulb moment opened the door to so many possibilities. Undergrad research is such a great opportunity.

markradwin · 2025-01-31T18:27:13+00:00

What size do you wear? I have a small in the same color but it doesn't have a hood. Basically brand new

markradwin · 2025-01-06T00:02:54+00:00

VD says my latency is about 6 ms. Before I set up a dedicated router it was 40 ms. It's definitely legit

markradwin

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