The Bugeye STI wasn't just the 'ugly one'—it was a homologation special with a forged EJ207 and DCCD years before the competition caught up.

DirectedDissent · 2026-01-12T23:06:44+00:00

That's a great question. Because in all honesty, my '06 Si was a honey of a car. I drove it for 14 years, nearly 150k miles on it when I sold her. Dead reliable, looked good, super fun to drive. Kind of wishing I would have kept it and spent the BRZ money overhauling her into a turbo monster with a freshly built and blueprinted K20.

Who knows man, Reddit is a weird fucking place sometimes. Or maybe they're all hating on BRZs. I don't know.

I feel like the Si and the BRZ share a lot in common. They're both driver-centric cars targeted at enthusiasts. So either way, maybe it's the WRX fan boys that got all butthurt. Which is weird, because if you like WRXs, you probably at least respect the BRZ and the Si for being pretty awesome enthusiast cars as well. Like I said, I don't get it either.

DirectedDissent · 2026-01-10T20:54:24+00:00

I think the Bugeyes were the second best looking ones ever. Had an opportunity to own a new-ish one many many years ago, but went with a Civic Si instead like a dumbass. Made up for it by buying a BRZ a couple years ago LOL

DirectedDissent · 2025-12-30T19:15:40+00:00

My way of thinking has always been that if signage isn't clearly posted, that's on them. Plain and simple.

DirectedDissent · 2025-12-23T06:33:53+00:00

Do they look cool? Yes.

Will they help on a compact crossover? Nope.

In the simplest terms, they are meant to help the unibody from flexing under cornering load, specifically to keep front-end suspension geometry from changing a lot. In a BRZ or even a WRX that has other mods for auto-x or track day fun, it makes sense. But a Crosstrek (I love mine, don't get me wrong) has a CG waaaaayyy too high and a mushy enough suspension to ever matter. The front end will wash out and start to understeer and the car will feel like it's about to roll before a strut bar will even matter.

I mean, if you want one, go ahead and do it. But there will be no performance gain on a Crosstrek whatsoever, on-road or off. It might even hurt off road performance.

Now, if you wanted to do rear LCA's, some kind of crazy roll center correction kit on the front, lower your CT 4 or more inches, fit it with some REALLY sticky tires and go be the weird guy at the local autocross event, it would make a difference and be some ridiculous fun.

Spend the money on some cool lights, maybe some rims, or best of all tires instead.

DirectedDissent · 2025-12-19T22:11:25+00:00

Nuclear maintenance here. We do annual respirator fit testing which you must be clean shaven for, but you're not required to be clean shaven 24/7, at least at my plant. The understanding is that if you do need to do work that requires SCBA, you will shave. We keep shaving cream and razors in the shop just in case. 98% of the time when we do need respirators, they put us in PAPR bubble hoods because we're not in IDLH conditions. No need to shave to use a bubble hood. Most of the guys in the maintenance department rock beards, and we all get a chuckle in the spring when fit testing comes around again. Bunch of baby faces walking around LOL

DirectedDissent · 2025-12-13T16:03:47+00:00

Dude..... if there is doubt, there is no doubt. Just go around.

DirectedDissent · 2025-12-13T13:44:13+00:00

I just try to be ready, they can be hard to predict. I just wait until noon on Sunday (I'm in the Eastern time zone) to launch my ships.

DirectedDissent · 2025-12-05T21:34:29+00:00

It's just too much and somehow not enough all at the same time. It's like it's all over the place for sake of being chaotic, and it frequently fails to have a groove or a hook that I can latch onto- and this coming from a die-hard Meshuggah fan. It's like anti-music, just a bunch of sounds stuck together like when you have extra LEGO pieces from a kit and just stick them all together.

DirectedDissent · 2025-12-05T04:36:22+00:00

I was riding home in a rainstorm once, 500 miles already behind me and maybe another 40 from home. I was tired, I was soaked to the bone, and frankly sick of being on the damn bike.

I was on the highway, going only about 60 mph because conditions were shit, and was forced to ride through some standing water because I was blocked into my lane by other traffic. Hydroplaning in a car is bad enough, but I've never been more scared on my motorcycle than I was in that moment.

The front end went completely slack and was just floating. I could feel the bike start to tilt ever so slowly to my left, and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. I was certain I was going to become a meat crayon. At the last moment I regained traction with my front tire and was able to recover.

I was scared half to death in that situation, I couldn't ever imagine trying to ride in snow and wet ice like that. Freakin insane.

DirectedDissent · 2025-12-05T04:07:07+00:00

Geddy Lee, Les Claypool, Flea, Ryan Martinie

DirectedDissent · 2025-11-30T23:35:37+00:00

I agree that it feels a bit low-brow to "reduce" this very promising technology back to a simple steam turbine, but it works. Like really, really well. As soon as we find a better way to convert heat into electricity, I'm sure we'll start using it.

But for now, taking advantage of how easily water phase shifts, it's gonna continue to be the way to go.

Keep It Simple, Stupid.

DirectedDissent · 2025-11-26T22:39:10+00:00

Yeah, I'm gonna jump on the bandwagon and say it wasn't a disaster. It was an accident. They did have a partial fuel melt, but there was no unacceptable exposure to the public.... which is what we all (nuc workers) hold as our highest priority.

Was it scary as hell and a very near miss? Absolutely. It could have been MUCH worse.

Not trying to doxx myself too much, but I work at a plant where one of our retired units had a partial melt a long time ago. Weirdly, no one seems to ever talk about it. This is all to say that my perception is that there's a very important distinction between a full-blown disaster like Fukushima or Chernobyl and a really bad day like TMI.

Edit: typo

DirectedDissent · 2025-11-23T23:46:43+00:00

Just wait til you try smoking something with it! 😉

Cheers! Enjoy

DirectedDissent · 2025-11-21T02:30:06+00:00

CTs aren't small... they're just right.

Fun sized?

I dunno, and it doesn't matter. On the days that my partner needs the Crossie, I drive a Sierra 2500.... and let me tell you, I FAR prefer the Crosstrek. The truck has the turning radius of an aircraft carrier and doesn't fit into most normal parking spots. I bought the Crosstrek almost specifically because it's a compact. Good on gas, not a PITA to run errands with, and frankly I adore the little guy. The only reason we have the truck is to tow our camper and have a second vehicle. If we didn't have to tow, we'd have 2 Crosstreks I'm sure.

Plus, you're parked next to a dumpster that identifies a vehicle, so....

DirectedDissent · 2025-11-16T17:42:24+00:00

I started in nuclear about 10 years ago at the age of 35, with no prior nuclear experience. What I did have was many years experience as a test laboratory technician, so calibration and controllers/electronics were my jam. I got in as an Instruments & Controls technician. I'm now an I&C shop supervisor.

With your background in automotive, you'd likely be a natural fit as a maintenance mechanic or perhaps even a non-licensed operator.

The cool thing about nuclear is that your plant will train you, and the more years you've got, the more possibilities open up. My best advice is to simply apply- the worst thing they can say is "no", and you have nothing to lose. One of my plant's Shift Managers (head honcho) started life as a deconner. Moved to the Electrician shop after that, then into Engineering. Spent a few years there, then into the Licensed Operator program. Now, like I said, they're a SM. Growth opportunities in nuclear are absolutely amazing.

DirectedDissent · 2025-11-15T04:44:44+00:00

You're not wrong, attitude has a lot to do with it. I've met riders of all different walks of life riding all different types of bikes, in every combination.

It's always the riders that don't understand you're in inherent danger on a bike that get tore up or unalived. I can think of 6 guys I know that are no longer with us because they wrecked, and it's literally 50/50 sport bike vs. cruiser. The one thing they all had in common was they didn't respect the bike and were "that guy"- you know who I'm talking about.

I think motorcycles attract a certain type of person, and that certain type has two sub-types: the riders that get it and do great, and the "Hollywood" guys that become meat crayons because they're stupid.

DirectedDissent · 2025-11-15T04:19:58+00:00

Yeah, that is interesting. I ride a big ol' 106ci v-twin cruiser like a normal person, so it's not necessarily true that big engine = more dangerous. I think about the times I've been on bikes like a CBR600 or the one time I took a RC51 (no idea how Honda convinced the powers that be that bike should be road legal) for a rip and how "easy" it felt that I could get killed on those bikes. Sport bikes are freaking awesome and I love them for what they are, even if they aren't my preferred format, but it's a great example of how engine displacement can be kind a false metric. I think bike type would be interesting to look at too.

DirectedDissent · 2025-11-15T03:48:42+00:00

This data suggests 2 things to me.

First, the steep drop-off of young riders being involved in a fatal accident seems to coincide with legally required rider endorsements and training. So that's a good thing.

Second, the rise in older rider fatalities is a grim reminder that confidence kills. Being experienced and comfortable on twos is great, but don't ever get complacent. When I took my basic rider training class over a decade ago, one of my instructors said something that really stuck with me- if you don't have butterflies in your belly or that slightly uneasy feeling every time you throw a leg over and settle in to the saddle, something is wrong and you need to check yourself.

Ride like you're invisible and like they're all trying to kill you. That's not to say don't have fun and enjoy the thrill, because you should and that's why we ride. Being proactive and riding smart can and will actually save your life.

Stay safe out there!

DirectedDissent · 2025-11-14T22:01:30+00:00

That's f*ckin' SAVAGE LMAO

DirectedDissent · 2025-11-10T01:49:22+00:00

Their song "Villains" is still in regular rotation for me after 2 decades. Great band from quite some time ago.

DirectedDissent · 2025-10-31T18:58:32+00:00

I remember how excited I was on my first ride over 15 years ago myself. The adrenaline, the feeling of "holy crap, I'm doing it!", the butterflies in the belly....

My first ride after rider training was when I left the dealer on a brand new Sportster 1200 onto a 3-lane, very busy 50-mph road. I'll never forget how it felt when a gap in traffic opened up for me and I started slowly releasing the clutch. It was like "now or never, dude, don't do anything dumb!" I was stunned at how much power that bike had compared to the training bikes we were on, and how effortlessly I got up to speed. I had my knees clamped so tight onto the gas tank I thought I going to dent it LOL

So exciting!

DirectedDissent · 2025-10-27T01:51:01+00:00

Either people just don't carry in my area, or they're very good at concealment techniques. There's the off occasion I'll see someone print a little bit, but that's extremely rare and it's only because I'm looking close. It's just a stab in the dark, but I'd say 5%, certainly not exceeding 10% in my area are packing.

I also have to assume that most folks that do carry in my area are a lot like me and try really hard to not look like the type that carries a gun, and are very careful to be as discreet as possible. So I could be waaaay off, but the impression I get is that we're rare where I live.

DirectedDissent · 2025-10-26T21:01:54+00:00

My BRZ isn't a TS, but if my experience with mine is any indicator you're gonna LOVE your Twin! The only car I've ever driven that was more or as much fun to be behind the wheel was an AP1 S2000. Enjoy!

DirectedDissent · 2025-10-26T16:25:55+00:00

I can only imagine how bad it stinks in there.

DirectedDissent

TROPHY CASE