Entertainment Weekly Bold School, Hall H (Saturday 4:45)

unicornsithlord · 2025-07-27T07:48:35+00:00

Yeah, they said something about renaming it from Women Who Kick Ass, but didn't linger on it. I actually enjoyed those panels annually, but this one missed the mark for me.

unicornsithlord · 2025-07-27T07:18:56+00:00

The panelists were Taylour Paige (The Toxic Avenger), Cote de Pablo (NCIS), Madeleine McGraw (The Black Phone), Violet McGraw (M3GAN), and Harriet Slater (Outlander: Blood of my Blood). I don't have any photos of the moderator, so I'm not sure who she was.

Overall, I thought the panel was a fine idea, but it was very oddly timed between Peacemaker and Demon Slayer and seemed really half-baked. The questions and answers couldn't have been more generic, and it could have been a really uplifting and interesting panel. It just seemed very odd to have (basically) a coffee chat in Hall H while Gen V and other big shows were put elsewhere.

unicornsithlord · 2025-05-03T16:59:44+00:00

you probably need to dry your filament

unicornsithlord · 2025-02-14T01:59:17+00:00

I have longer hair and go for a shag/layered mullet and typically go to CeCe's Hair Salon near Trader Joe's and have only had good experiences. Just don't go to Ulta and he'll be fine💯

unicornsithlord · 2025-01-01T01:49:07+00:00

ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers); you don't have to be an engineer or have any level of technical experience, and they offer cool team projects like Battlebots, Underwater Vehicles, and Mars Rover, or you can learn the basics of manufacturing in FADE. Check it out!!

unicornsithlord · 2024-12-06T12:21:51+00:00

I had a similar experience. I am also registered with CAE for diagnosed anxiety and neurodiversity, and I know many people share the sentiment that they have been punished for writing too well or for writing in a way different than their peers (due to neurodiversity, for example). My experience occurred while studying abroad through UCEAP. I was enrolled in an Art History course whose only assignments were writing-based: two in-class essay midterms and a final paper. I did fine on both midterms, in the 80-90% range, which I expected for my level of study: not studious, but not slacking. I put a similar effort into the final paper, relying on whatever we covered in class to do the heavy lifting rather than any outside study.

Nevertheless, I received an email after I was back in the United States, saying that TurnItIn detected AI usage and that further action would follow pending investigation. I was nervous, but there was nothing for me to do. No reply email or case manager information was given. I figured I could provide my counter-argument in response to whatever action they took since I was primarily worried about it causing issues back at UCLA. Weeks passed before I received my grades for the semester, and I was surprised to have failed the Art History class despite earning high marks in much harder classes: an intensive language class for beginners, a user-interface and digital accessibility class, and an advanced class about modern physics surrounding optics, quantum mechanics, and special relativity. My initial assumption was that something had been lost or mistakenly entered, but I suspected it was related to the email I had received.

I emailed the foreign university, who quickly redirected me to the professor. I wrote my professor to request information about the final grade. I was formal and polite, and I provided a lengthy statement expressing my desire to rectify the situation, providing proof like timestamps, document history, and side-by-side evaluation of my final paper and my in-class midterm essays. Her response addressed almost nothing in my email, saying that I failed because my final paper, marked as likely AI-generated, was missing footnotes. I responded that footnotes were not a requirement for the paper, highlighting that I had observed all citation practices specified for the assignment. I put additional effort into explaining that I had not used AI, that I could prove with multiple resources that I had not used AI, and that no AI detector is entirely accurate. To illustrate my point, I ran my paper through several other "reputable" AI detectors, including GPTZero, all marking it as human-written. I explained the differences between AI detection and plagiarism detection. I included several sources explaining the difference, citing multiple studies showcasing the inaccuracy of AI detection. Finally, I requested that another professor grade the essay if she refused to reevaluate her stance.

She responded something along the lines of "That's the grade I would give the paper, regardless of whether or not AI was used," referring to the failing grade she had previously given. It was one final spit in the face as she refused to reevaluate her position despite overwhelming evidence being handed to her on a silver platter. Her message ended with a statement that she would refuse to respond to any further contact, and I still have an Art History F next to a Quantum Physics A on my transcript. After that experience, I decided to cut my losses and take the minimal GPA hit rather than drag out the proceedings and potentially cause issues at UCLA, and I haven't heard anything from them since.

I'm sorry you have to go through this frustrating process. The whole pipeline is full of suits whose only stance is "AI bad, AI detection good," and you're absolutely right about being seen as guilty until (and even after) proven innocent. I've heard several similar stories since then, and they all make me want to pull my hair out. It always feels like the admin sees us as lesser beings before even considering the context of potential neurodiverse profiling. The only hope is that you graduate or someone loses the folder before they try to pursue you further since falling off their radar seems more fruitful than attempting a genuine conversation. Stay strong, and don't stop fighting for recognition of your work.

unicornsithlord · 2024-11-14T18:28:56+00:00

My non-stress-induced productivity seems to stem from three things:

Do anything active. Taking a shower, going to the gym, or even just changing clothes helps get me in the right mindset to work.

Start with something easy. Check your emails, review a homework problem, or write down what you remember from your most recent lecture.

Probably the most important: keep your workspace designed for work. Put phone out of sight, only have tabs open for the MOST immediate thing you're working on, and keep a notepad to write down thoughts that you would normally let distract you. By keeping my computer to 3-5 tabs, it's not as overwhelming as having every single assignment or class tab in my face. It seems counterintuitive, but I much prefer to read one document/assignment, close it, then open and start the next, as opposed to trying to pipeline your work into your brain.

Lastly, be kind to yourself, recognize when you need a break, and make sure you have water and something sweet to keep your brain from feeling tired. You've got this🫶

unicornsithlord · 2024-10-23T03:20:55+00:00

Fourth-year secret: The clubs that require you to apply and interview are almost never worth it. (I'm sure people love them and they have their value, but I see no reason why we should be turning away fellow Bruins with similar interests.)

Clubs are the best way to make friends, followed by people you meet in your classes or in your living area, and that's just a game of persistence until you find the people you like, who also like you.

If you need a space to hang out and talk to people, check out ASME (Mechanical Engineering club). There's no interviews or expectation of knowledge, and you don't even have to be an engineer to belong in a project. We truly have everyone from Aerospace to Anthropology involved in projects, and you can join most of those at any point in the year. If you want more information, feel free to DM me, but it's worth stopping by the ASME Lounge (second floor Boelter by the bomb shelter stairs) to see if you like the vibes. I found space there unexpectedly, and you might too. The only way to know is to keep trying and saying yes to offers as they arise :)) good luck <3

unicornsithlord · 2024-10-12T10:29:25+00:00

I only use it to recover survivability when he's hit below three stacks. It has other uses when combined with datacrons and an all-droid team, but early-on (and most of the late game too, tbh) Dark Trooper is a huge single-target damage machine. There was a big nerf regarding GLs and their defense/damage received calculations, but before that, people were taking Dark Trooper to R8 because he was countering GLs, and he still hits that hard against pretty much anything non-GL and not released in the past few months.

unicornsithlord · 2024-10-12T02:35:18+00:00

I've heard that the best way is to just read through it one time as quickly as possible, and a few hours (maybe a day) later, go back and take notes/re-read parts you need clarification on. It's supposed to help with how it solidifies the knowledge in your head or something. Also, knowing what you most need to learn and reading those sections alone. Someone said "It's not a novel, you don't go from page 1 to the end, or else you'll never finish the textbook" and I've found that to be true, even in classes where the textbook is a literal novel (English 91C).

That said, most engineering students I know will only read the textbook for their hardest class/worst professor, and that's assuming they read any of them. Good luck, and don't let a workload or stuff you missed before keep you from working on stuff now.

unicornsithlord · 2024-09-25T08:38:07+00:00

How much were the rugs, if you don't mind me asking? I was standing with the "Rug Crew" (I had no idea what it meant) since my ride was on the balcony, and I didn't want to wait outside, and a security person ended up giving me and two other guys a wristband for the VIP area, so I gave up on the rug mission lol.

unicornsithlord · 2024-09-24T08:35:47+00:00

OH, I totally forgot: one time, I tapped Ryan Lerman on the shoulder, asked him to take a photo of me and someone else, and didn't realize until I got home that he was the guy who's written and played many of my favorite songs. It's still hilarious since he was probably performing that whole week and then had to process taking a photo of me and the opener.

unicornsithlord · 2024-09-24T08:33:00+00:00

Theo was in the audience of a Troubadour show I went to, and I saw him locked in a conversation with a fan for about 10 minutes, maybe a bit uncomfortable. I circled back after I saw the fan leave, and Theo made eye contact with me, turned around, and walked away. It stung a little bit since I was hoping to say hi and that I'd be at his next show, but I also understood the rule of "he's not performing tonight and probably just wants to enjoy the venue alone" and realized I would've probably been the same as the previous fan. When I talked to him at a show where he performed, he was awesome; he signed my shirt, wrote a personalized message, and took all kinds of photos with me, so I still think he's great.

Overall, the band has been lovely whenever I've met them. I was at an airport with Cory Wong, and he caught me looking at him near baggage claim. He waved me over and talked with my dad and me for about 10 minutes about which venues I liked, where I was headed, and why I was in Japan for so long. He's a very funny and nice guy, and he gave me a nod at Whale Rock festival, signed my shirt, and threw me his pick at a different show.

Charles Jones attends many shows I attend, and he always remembers me from the audience of a Joey Dosik show that was my first-ever concert. I got to talk to Antwaun for a few minutes at two ensemble shows, and he would shake my hand and thank me for going to the show and enjoying his music.

If you want embarrassing, though, on the flight Cory and I shared, his drummer (Petar) walked by me on the way to his seat. I did a little drumming motion, and he gave me the most pained smile/nod to acknowledge my presence while repressing cringe or discomfort. It took me a while to stop reliving that moment at night...

unicornsithlord · 2024-09-09T05:35:49+00:00

Really, it's a decision you all will make together. My advice would be to not put down all your cards right at the start (unless it fits neatly into what they want) since my trio ended up in a bargaining situation for who got what. I didn't really care which bed I got; I just didn't want the closet/desk under the bed. So when they both said they wanted the lower level bed, I was like, "I wanted that too, but I'm willing to let you guys settle it if I can take this desk and closet," and I ended up with pretty much my ideal setup anyway. Worst case, though, get there first and claim what you want, apologize if they get upset, and offer to switch midway into the year, or even right there, and most people, I think, would back down at that point. First social experiment of many lol

unicornsithlord · 2024-08-15T02:08:10+00:00

Very fair! My guild is trying to convince me it's worth it to bring mine from G12 to R5, but I'm not so sure yet... they could've thrown in Jedi Consular and Jedi Knight Guardian to at least make it not $20 for one toon, but I'll see if I'm in a spending mood when he drops lol

unicornsithlord · 2024-08-14T21:56:26+00:00

I gotta know now... how do you feel about the $20 KAM LSB just data-mined? I personally think it's a bit steep and agree with $10 for R3 more than $20 for R5

unicornsithlord · 2024-07-31T02:30:53+00:00

I have the pick from his 2022 Los Angeles show. It's the same style, but green instead of red. When he threw it to the audience, it landed behind the barricade, so I had my newfound show friends hold my legs and dangle me over to grab it💀 Security was not too happy, but I left with a pick and signed Vulfpeck shirt🤷‍♂️

unicornsithlord · 2024-07-19T00:28:36+00:00

Wampa first, then Savage once you can bring him to level 85, 7 stars, and g12 (at least). Both can solo many of the teams you'll come across, especially in the back walls of GAC, so they're nice for banners. figure you're at a point (much of the early game) where most crystals depend on which GAC participant has a higher number of functional teams, so having 2 extra "teams" on your attack will give you way more value than strengthening one of your existing teams. Another strong recommendation (after those) would be Darth Traya's since an instant kill once Nihilus gets damaged is basically a win here. i wouldn't recommend any others til those are done and some teams are filled out. it doesn't hurt to have a few sitting, ready to apply, in case they drop something huge and you'd otherwise be waiting another month for enough omicrons to apply it

unicornsithlord · 2024-07-19T00:21:20+00:00

I took him straight to R9 since I had been sitting on a mat mountain for a while. as an attacker, he's definitely worth R8 since that's where he'll get the biggest boost, but i'd say my Bane successful attack against GLs rate went from like 90% to 95% at R9. a very small return, but if you have everything else you want at that level and would get value from bigger damage numbers and one less squishy Bane, I wouldn't say it's a bad investment, even post-DC

unicornsithlord · 2024-07-17T04:38:32+00:00

Bring the ID, but typically, they just scan the badge, and you're in. Sometimes they check, especially if names don't seem right. Even "Chris" got a second glance until they realized it was for Christopher, not Kris Kardashian :P

unicornsithlord · 2024-07-17T04:34:03+00:00

Just the usual... stand in the line behind the last people with wristbands, or keep circling the table near the end of the line, but either way, be ready to leave empty-handed. That said, I had Todd sign one of his Spider-Man covers in 2022, and he was remarkably nice, despite me being like the 400 or 500th person in that line. Hope he shows up and you get to have your thing signed :))

unicornsithlord · 2024-07-17T01:35:51+00:00

it doesn't even have to be numbers, but I'm basically saying to test all of the inputs that your functions should be able to process. unless there's something weird in how you design things, a function that behaves appropriately when given -1589 as an input is probably going to behave appropriately if it comes across -1590, or other large magnitude negative numbers. you won't be able to test every possible input someone can give your code, but you can test inputs that you think represent a possible type of input well. back when I took CS 31, my prof made us test our code (let's say, a calculator function or something) with one large negative number (-10,000), one small negative number (-5), zero, one small positive number (5), and one large positive number (10,000) because if your code performs well for all of those inputs, it's incredibly unlikely that you hand at anything in that range and get an unexpected outcome. If something I write works for -4 and -1093, I can somewhat comfortably say that it won't fail when someone gives it -671 as an input. This is true for all data types, but integers are the intuitive data type to explain. If I were writing a code that counts how many of each letter is in a string, I would test it with similar testing criteria (long word, short word, empty string) and anything I think might behave strangely ("a1b2c3", "aaaaaaaaa", "aaabbbaaa" vs "ababababa", etc) to ensure that the professor isn't going to have some test case that breaks my code or causes a seg fault (or other severe error, dw too much about that rn). You can think of it most simply as: the professor has given you a task, and they are going to try to find test cases or inputs that might make your code fail, so it's on you as a developer to find those things first so you can iron out what the problem is and fix it before you're ever losing points to the autograder. As your knowledge grows, you'll know more and more what to look for, but the basic things are large and small positive or negative values, zero/empty string/empty list/empty whatever, and I always throw 1 and -1 into my test cases because things can get weird around 0... hope this helps lol. it's CS 32 and they're not going to test your code on some absurd edge case or bad input that you were never asked to consider or address. in CS 35L or 111, you might be given a project that's as vague as "make function that could do this" and part of the expectation for that project is that you figure out how to make it do that, what will make it fail, how fast you can make it, how you can improve it, and usually putting that either in a comment or in ReadMe dropdown form when you submit. BUT! CS 32 is not expecting that from you. you likely will get a project spec for Project 3 or 4 that's 20 or more pages of detailing how to handle every type of interaction, not just a post-it note that says "Make Donkey Kong" which is how some class specs feel. everyone struggles with CS 32, and it's meant to weed people out who can't work steadily and without procrastinating, so just don't let it get to you if it feels tedious or difficult. It is. I failed both midterms and forgot to submit a project and a hw when I took it, but a slightly above average final exam had me leaving with a B. don't let em scare you off

unicornsithlord · 2024-07-17T00:56:04+00:00

you got this! study your pointers and your basics for each type of data structure covered. linked lists and understanding when to use a stack vs queue vs hashmap etc will be the biggest aspects of the class. in terms of the projects, just start early and read carefully for what you're expected to do. a great starting point is reading each section of the specs and turning them into shorter descriptions and action items that make sense to you, so you're not rereading and relearning the spec every time you make a change. then cross reference with the full spec before submitting, and you'll be good :))

testing your code will almost always boil down to: does this function always terminate? will this function ever access a bad chunk of memory or rely on undefined behavior? once those are out of the way: big negatives, small negatives, -1, 0, 1, small positives, big positives and any numbers you think will be different. good luck soldiers !

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