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u/SystemOfTheUpp

r/Hyundai r/UBC r/NonCredibleDiplomacy
Image 1 — Use the comments to help build out my dream foreign policy expert blunt rotation
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▲ 79 r/NonCredibleDiplomacy

Use the comments to help build out my dream foreign policy expert blunt rotation

Explanation - mostly based on books I've read by each respective individual

Hannah Arendt - no explanation needed

Hans Morgenthau - probably the most subdued of the group but definitely would chime in once in a while with an absolute banger of a prediction/take, especially when talking about international organizations

Robert S. McNamara - currently reading his book *In Retrospect* and it's so engaging and enthralling. He speaks with a humility that makes him relatable and a fairly easygoing convert partner. Definitely would get some interesting juxtaposition against Morgenthau

George Kennan - half the Cold War happened because people more dim witted than Kennan took insanely based ideas and willfully ignored their nuance.

Henry Kissinger - good storyteller, wildcard

u/SystemOfTheUpp — 5 days ago
▲ 58 r/Hyundai

Some things to consider about Hyundai and the Elantra after 2 years of ownership (detailed)

Just passed 2 years of ownership for my 2024 Elantra 2.0 Smartstream (Canadian Market) and I thought I'd share some thoughts.

  1. The tech and drivetrain are flawless

Wireless Apple CarPlay on the smaller low-trim screen works flawlessly 99% of the time, I have had zero issues with any of the safety systems and so on. I would say the lane assist specifically felt really invasive to me (NOT lane centering which is great), so I turned it off on the first day.

This thing runs and drives like the day it was bought with no issues whatsoever. I've been keeping to the maintenance schedule religiously and have admittedly not gotten the mileage super high, so honestly this is to be expected.

  1. Notes, little quality of life nitpicks and common myths

The 16 inch OEM wheels are almost impossible to curb, and believe me, I have tried my best to make it happen.

Having out of curiosity checked out the new Kia K4, I would definitely say that the interior packaging leaves some things to be desired. While the tech is fine and doesn't get any complaints from me, it's clear that there are some design flaws in the flowy language of the cockpit.

Firstly, the bottle holders in the doors are almost completely unusable, it's not something that bothers me too much but still would have been nice to have

Secondly, cup holders on Canadian cars also are just cup-shaped holes with no stabilizers, meaning that you're likely to hear a lot of rattling if your cup is just a tad too small for the hole.

On the other hand, a lot of people complain that there is no internal trunk latch. And while yes, there is no dedicated grab handle on the inside of the boot, there is a crevice for the emergency trunk release on the inside of the boot lid, which you can use as a handle to close the trunk with zero issues.

  1. Build quality

This is where you can tell that costs were cut. There will be no mint condition Elantras in 20 years because even careful ownership isn't enough.

The floormats started going in less than 2 months, so I swapped them out for all weather Tux Mats (really good company).

The clear coat is very very thin and easy to scratch, so while I have had the car for relatively little time it could already use a minor paint correction. When I see the car under certain light, all I can think about is how glad I am to not have a back paint color.

Meanwhile in the interior, the plastics are very easily scuffed or marked irreversibly, the bottom part of my driver and passenger door cards are permanently scuffed from regular use. One of my passengers accidentally pressed one of the soft touch panels with their nail, which has left a permanent mark. There are even marks on the top of the dashboard and I have no idea how they got there.

My advice would be if you are going to buy a cloth seat Elantra try looking for one with the grey interior instead of the black, as it shows less dust and hides scuffs much better.

One thing that has held up really well is the faux leather steering wheel, which I expected to be the first point of failure. In reality, semi-regular wipe downs with leather cleaner have kept the wheel and gearshift in like new condition, although the stitching isn't flush with the wheel anymore.

  1. general thoughts

Overall I'm very happy with this little nugget, hope to have many more happy years in it

u/SystemOfTheUpp — 1 month ago
▲ 26 r/UBC

Must-do IR courses for anyone looking to get the most out of their undergrad, coming from someone 9 credits away from finishing their degree.

These are not the easiest courses in the faculty, but they do offer a lot of value and insight into the field, in my opinion. I will sort this list by course code from lowest to highest number.

POLI 312 (elective) - Threats To Contemporary Democracies with Stewart Prest

Dr. Prest, in general, is one of the most talented professors in the faculty; you can sometimes see him on major news networks in Canada or see his articles in places like The Walrus and The Tyee. He also has his own Substack, which is an interesting read. It's absolutely amazing to have a person who Canada looks to for political insight this accessible. We had a lecture the day after Charlie Kirk got shot and had a very nuanced discussion about it.

As far as the class, the time that I took it, there were three 2000-word essays and a final, which can be challenging but very rewarding. The topic of democratic backsliding is incredibly important and one that is covered very extensively over the course. While this is an elective, I cannot recommend it enough.

POLI 369_B - Politics of Space with Michael Byers

This class is made up of three assessments: two 25% mid terms and a 50% final. It is again a very challenging yet rewarding course which gives you insight into a very rarely talked about part of international law and geopolitics. Dr. Byers and his TAs are LITERALLY the leading experts in the field. We also got to watch the Artemis II launch in class, which was so sick. While again, POLI 369_B is a more difficult class, hard work is rewarded, and you get ample feedback.

POLI 370 - Topics in International Conflict Management with Stewart Prest

The focus of the course is civil wars and their causes, looking at a wide range of case studies, contributing factors and necessary conditions for conflict to arise. Morover, it looks at peacekeeping and peacebuilding, their differences and limitations. Another course that looks at the practical application of international law and organizations.

POLI 376 - Politics of International Law with Robert Farkasch

If you're intending to go to law school, you need to take this course. While Dr. Farkasch is a polarizing figure, you will know the fundamentals of international law by the end of this course. You may not like his teaching style, the way he assesses students, or the TAs he picks, but you WILL know what international law is by the end of the semester. The final is literally a mock trial, where groups face off against one another at a simulated Nuremberg. Stressful? Yes. Once in a lifetime experience? Also yes.

POLI 378 - Politics of Terrorism with Robert Farkasch

Say what you want about Farkash, but FUCK is he a good lecturer for this course. In the present day, understanding how such organizations work and what drives people to join them is incredibly important. And while Farkasch himself doesn't hide his biases (something that can be reflected in his grades), the content of the lectures and the materials does offer a very holistic worldview. POLI 378 does truly give you the tools to come to your own conclusions, and I came out of the course with a completely revised worldview, and not in the direction that one would anticipate given Farkasch's leanings.

Again, THIS IS NOT A GPA BOOSTER, the final is open book and literally feels like you're sitting a Qing Dynasty Civil Service Exam. But I don't regret taking it one bit.

HIST 372 - US Foreign Relations Since 1945 with Lara Silver

While a lot of courses reference the Cold War and events from the period, HIST 372 actually treats them with enough depth to give you a mostly full picture. The readings are really interesting and provide insight into events that other US History Courses or even the dedicated two-semester-long History of the Soviet Union course simply don't.

You do see some gruesome imagery on the slides, and some truly horrid events are covered, but it is a must-do in my opinion for that very reason. I walked away from every lecture thinking, "wow, everyone sucks, everyone really sucks," and that's something I feel is often lost in undergraduate history courses.

P.S., while many will be shouting "where is Sens?!?!?", I have unfortunately never had the privilege to take a course with him. They're always full before I can register.

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u/SystemOfTheUpp — 2 months ago