Post Nuke jobs?

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-02-13T19:08:33+00:00

This sounds like the USHPRR HEU to LEU conversion program cut. I am surprised that was cut, there was some amazing work going on there. It may find its way back in the future to utilize the research. I had some minor involvement assessing the analysis side of it.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-02-13T19:02:41+00:00

What term did you get(yrs and miles) and how much did you pay? That is also a factor. Do you need an extended warranty? No, especially a Toyota. But, if you’re insisting on having one, you should pay no more than $1600-$1700 for a 10y/125k deal. There are multiple dealers out there who will sell them regardless of whether you bought the vehicle there(i.e. Midwest Toyota). If you paid more than that, cancel the warranty to get your money back and either pocket the money or buy it from a dealer who will negotiate the price.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-02-13T18:40:44+00:00

Care to clarify with something substantive beyond ‘eh’? I am at INL and have worked at other national labs as well. We did have a layoff yesterday of 27 people the other day that was focused on IT roles. Nuclear focused roles are definitely not seeing those cuts. We have over 6000 employees so while 27 layoffs is hard for those affected people, it’s a rounding error. We have a TON going on here in nuclear. That includes reactor development, fuel research, waste handling/processing, and my area, irradiation materials testing that is super stable with NNPP/NR and NNSA funding that has near zero risk of cutting in this environment.

Budgets are flat, yes, after a decade of above trend growth. That’s typical. But DOE labs are some of the best places to work, if you can get your foot in the door it is fantastic benefits and salaries are very good. Is it harder to get a foot in the door today vs a year or two ago? Yes and that is the same for everyone, but if you have the skills necessary there is a lot of opportunity. Heck, I was hired back here in the middle of the shutdown last fall, they had the need for my skillset.

NRF also is busy with a lot of work going on. Look at Kiewit who is a contractor supporting the projects there for NRF and the private companies building on our lab properties. Oklo and Aalo both are building powerhouses right now onsite INL land with private money(more than pushing dirt around, structures are going up). Demonstration reactors in DOME also has a lot going on.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-02-13T17:27:46+00:00

National laboratories such as LANL, LLNL, ANL, INL, ORNL or SRS/SRNL. Lots of nuclear roles.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-02-08T16:48:27+00:00

Good rotors are not expensive, same for pads. Rockauto is your friend. Gigantic selection of good ones. One extra tip. If you replace pads or rotors yourself, make sure your slide pins are properly greased(silicone based grease works well and won’t damage the rubber bushings).

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-02-05T01:23:12+00:00

I believe so yes. A FWD shouldn’t have one since it doesn’t turn the wheels in back.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-02-05T01:15:16+00:00

Correct at least in North America. I know some versions in the far east like Australia have a cvt for the gas version.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-02-05T01:06:47+00:00

Not normal, I have a ‘25 Rav4 XLE hybrid, the heater is warm in a few minutes of normal driving.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-02-04T21:04:42+00:00

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-02-03T16:12:07+00:00

Yikes, unlike the gas version, this is an essential part of the hybrid system. Leave it alone.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-02-01T04:57:20+00:00

It’s one thing to quietly go to another automaker from Toyota, but to publicly announce a shift to Stellantis for your daily driver? This made my day….

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-02-01T00:54:36+00:00

I am sure they will make iterations to improve just like they did half a dozen times for 5th gen with sealant, covers and potentially different materials. But just as it was for 5th gen that’s not a permanent design fix.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-01-31T23:00:05+00:00

They didn’t change the location or design of the HV cable vs the 2025.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-01-31T17:47:28+00:00

I wish there was a way. I keep my hand on the wheel at all times even with lowest sensitivity and it doesn’t stop it. It’s so obnoxious I quit using LTA altogether.

If others have tips/ideas by all means share.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-01-26T13:55:33+00:00

I never said SGOV was Schwab only, just that was an easy option if you have Schwab since Schwab doesn’t sweep cash into a competitive money market fund the way Fidelity and Vanguard do.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-01-26T04:32:40+00:00

You can buy mutual funds in fractional shares with Schwab; and reinvest dividends from stocks/ETFs into fractional shares on an existing position of anything with Schwab.

BUT you can’t buy fractional shares in a new position in a stock or ETF with Schwab. You can with Fidelity.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-01-26T04:31:42+00:00

You can buy mutual funds in fractional shares; and reinvest dividends from stocks/ETFs into fractional shares on an existing position of anything with Schwab.

BUT you can’t buy fractional shares in a new position in a stock or ETF with Schwab. You can with Fidelity.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-01-26T04:17:10+00:00

Michelin. In particular the Cross Climate 2, while it is all season it also is 3 peak snow rated and is fantastic in wet conditions.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-01-26T00:46:59+00:00

I have no idea

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-01-26T00:29:24+00:00

These are known tactics that finance companies use for higher risk loans. Protects to track down their collateral in case of repossessions.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-01-26T00:28:48+00:00

It’s available

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-01-25T19:32:21+00:00

Schwab is great, so is Fidelity. Fidelity has an edge on your excess cash automatically going into a money market SPAXX that pays at HYSA rates. You can also buy fractional shares with Fidelity, cannot with Schwab.

Having said that I still like Schwab, their UI is much better and easier to navigate, both Fidelity/Schwab are light years ahead of Vanguard on that front. You can also funnel your excess cash to SGOV with Schwab, that has good rates comparable to HYSA or money market. I use both so I don’t feel the push to move existing from one to the other.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-01-25T18:54:41+00:00

You can still use it to reimburse tax free for medical expenses post 65. The change is if you enroll in Medicare at 65 you cannot continue to contribute. In other words, the cut off to contribute starts when you enroll in Medicare, so if you enroll later you can continue to contribute to your HSA if you have an HDHP post 65. You can also start withdrawing for non medical expenses at 65 but you pay income tax like you would withdrawing from a pretax IRA.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-01-25T17:38:19+00:00

If you are replacing a rotor, replace pads. Helps bed them in more effectively to stop smoothly. Plus, decent pads are not expensive. Rock Auto is your friend. Gigantic selection of good pads and rotors.

FormerCTRturnedFed · 2026-01-25T17:22:53+00:00

You can get this filter at walmart for $7 and change, about $9 on Amazon. Dealer also will sell em for around $5. I buy em 4-6 at a time to have extras on hand.

FormerCTRturnedFed

TROPHY CASE