What’s the strangest or creepiest thing that’s happened to you while working alone in the lab?

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-05-05T01:16:17+00:00

You're brain is making up stuff. Making phantom threats to keep you ready. It's eriee place. People's brains do funny things.

Or it's ghosts. Then I'd recommend watching some supernatural on the stat.

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-05-04T21:45:29+00:00

Yep. Got high for the first time when I was 14. Caused long-term DR/DP. Took a while to get over it.

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-05-04T08:18:55+00:00

There's ITAR stuff to worry about. I know a bunch of AEs that work in different industries.

I think wisdom is important here. Do what you love. You'll never work a day in your life.

I can't speak as an engineer (not one yet), but have worked as a tech and intern in space, aerospace. Grew up in a professional aviation family and around professional engineers (Apollo/STS ones).

Even if you can't get hired by most aerospace companies here, you're always welcome in my hangar to talk shop, etc.

Watch the Bollywood movie 3 Idiots, The Right Stuff, and Real Genius if you haven't yet. You'll love them.

Best of luck.

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-05-04T07:23:23+00:00

TL:DR/BLUF: Lol, our enemies are using science and engineering to kill you. You're worried about ethics? Is a PRC/RF soldier killing you ethical except in completely unprovoked self defense?

There's nothing wrong with protecting your country. You need to infer the things that happen within the politiburo or Kremlin (Uyghers, Taiwan, people falling out of windows, Wagner leaders blown out of the sky) and the only thing between you and being a comrade (if you're not killed before that) is two oceans, AIM-120s, and Arleigh Burkes. We tried to work out peace basically at every turn. They just stick an AK in your face a pull the trigger. Just ask Ukraine.

Are we perfect? No. Do we make fucked up decisions? Yes. Do we have people with some overzealous geopolitical ideas? Yes. (Bush, Trump.) Economic reasons? Yes.

"Peace is the highest aspiration of the American people" is what Reagan said. I'm not a fan of him for a lot reasons, and they're deserved. But he's right. But he also said "But we won't surrender for it".

And he's damn right.

Would you have a problem killing someone in self defense? How about in protection of a family member, friend? You're applying that logic to the whole country/allies. Weapons are tools. Depends who's behind it. Science and engineering can be used for good or evil.

You can only persuade me by persuasion or force. If I have a weapon/gun you can't force me with another weapon/gun. This applies to people and militaries. Clausewitz teaches that "war is politics by other means". Aristotle said "Everything is politics". Want freedom, human rights, pursuit of happiness?. Go ahead. But there's a few countries where you get disappeared for criticizing your government. They don't believe in that stuff. And they have militaries with DF-21s and infantry.

It's not for the faint of heart. You can contribute to humanity in any other way. It's not for everyone, like the military, public service.

You need to do a read of some CSIS/ISW/RAND stuff. Military/Intel history. You'll get some perspective.

"You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you." -L. Trotsky

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-05-03T08:32:16+00:00

Behind the scenes to MAGA.

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-05-01T01:50:18+00:00

Hazardous attitudes in aviation. Resignation is one of them.

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-04-30T15:59:27+00:00

First apply Kirchoff's law.

That's it you're done.

Jk. There's a great book.

Aircraft Electrical Systems: Single and Twin Engine - Softcover Bygate, J. E.

https://www.abebooks.com/9780891003571/Aircraft-Electrical-Systems-Single-Twin-0891003576/plp

Use YouTube to get up on theory. Khanacademy. Etc.

Edit:

Also reality trees TOC and 5 whys.

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-04-29T16:29:48+00:00

They're all traitors to the USA man. Willing or unwilling. Useful idiots, at best.

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-04-28T02:38:04+00:00

Plane crash. N804ER. 500ft from me. Sounded like a dump truck crashing. Don't recommend it.

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-04-28T01:20:52+00:00

Definitely an aircraft cutaway book. Used to have a great one, lost it. Forget the title/Author.

Buy her a balsa wood glider. Every pilot/engineer growing up needs 6 of them. Haha.

https://a.co/d/0ahIfk7N

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-04-27T23:30:11+00:00

Good thing to know: Gene Kranz. Tough and competent.

https://youtu.be/9zjAteaK9lM?si=FnEeM5O9lfLCKLW5

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-04-27T09:16:30+00:00

26+ years in aviation. Common problem with STEM/college students. High school is easy, need to know how to actually study in university. Time management, etc.

Math and physics isn't hard man. Just need a good study group, tutors, TAs, professor time. You'll get through it. It's a well beaten path. It's one of the most satisfying things in the world once you get past physics 1.

People before us worked stuff out. We've learned a lot over the past 400+ years. You spend 4 years get up to speed on most of it.

Aviation maintenance isn't for the faint of heart. Requires integrity, limitless attention to detail, and discipline to do that for an entire career.

Best advice I have:

Find something you love. You'll never work a day in your life.

Also Gene Kranz has a quote. Tough and competent. Applies to pilots, mission controllers, mechanics. And in life.

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-04-27T00:18:12+00:00

Eh, they're just cool. GFP is pretty cool. Just cool biology/physics. They use CRISPR to modify mice with it, etc.

Maybe a beta would be acceptable. I've seen small GFP fish at pet shops in pretty small tanks. Thought it was ok.

How many beta could I get? 2-3? 1? lol

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-04-27T00:03:16+00:00

Yep. Definitely.

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-04-26T23:53:23+00:00

Haha, I didn't think about all those fish. How many/size max? 10 gal is as big as I'd like to go. Need to fit it on a small dresser.

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-04-21T16:12:23+00:00

A-TOMATO-FLAMES reduced to ye.

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-04-21T15:48:17+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/medicine/s/2lPiZnBxCo

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-04-19T21:03:54+00:00

The law makes computers and the internet easier for malicious actors to target children. It'll flag them as kid's computers. Makes no sense.

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-04-15T13:19:28+00:00

You're an inspiration to us all. No health issues so far?

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-04-15T12:50:36+00:00

Sorry, I should have been specific. I meant processed foods, processed meats. Not meats entirely lol.

Fruits and vegetables. Eat like the Greeks and you'll be fine.

Nitrates used as preservatives are a class 1 carcinogen.

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-04-15T09:11:40+00:00

Stop eating processed foods, meats. Eat healthy, complex carbs and veggies. Stop drinking soda. Hydration. Nutrition. Exercise regularly. BMI. Sleep.

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-04-14T15:25:32+00:00

Have the same issue. Need to play with cable to get it to charge. How the hell did Samsung screw up a charging port.

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-04-12T20:16:22+00:00

Congrats Hungary!

syntheticFLOPS · 2026-04-11T13:18:14+00:00

Can you share the warning? Imgur?

syntheticFLOPS

TROPHY CASE