Not To Mention An Actual Life Skill

Longtime Readers will all be aware of my support for the trades — electricians, plumbers, carpenters and so on — so you can imagine my grin of satisfaction upon reading this article:

Skilled tradespersons tradesmen* such as welders, plumbers, machinists, and carpenters “are in super-high demand,” Sasse observed.  Take-home pay for skilled trade workers is typically between $80 and $200 thousand per year, Sasse determined.  He said a construction superintendent in South Dakota recently informed him that concrete finishers were being paid $75 per hour for a particular project.

And let’s not even mention the financials:

“Most trade schools are six-to-nine months versus a four-year college,” Sasse stated, “but the minute you get out of that trade school — guess what — you get to go to work. So you’re going to make money for three and a half years while your buddy, who’s in a four-year college [program], is just racking up more and more debt. So you get this massive three-and-a-half-year jump on anybody that’s the same age.”

Yup. Not to mention the fact that at the end of the day, you could also start your own small business, to make the serious money.

And by the way, I like what Sasse’s organization stands for — follow the link for more detail.

Good stuff, indeed.


*Yeah, I know women can do most of this stuff too (see below).

But that’s not the point.  This is.

I don’t use “chairperson” because the position is “chairman” OR “chairwoman”, “spokesperson” because the function is “spokesman” OR “spokeswoman” (if we’re going to be pedantic), and “head teacher” when the correct words are “headmaster” OR “headmistress”, depending.

“Tradespeople”?  Nonsensical, as so much PC bullshit is.

Conflicted

I have to say that I’m on the side of the dad in this one:

Father, 41, ran over two 15-year-old boys who were ‘bullying his son’ before repeatedly driving over one of the boy’s legs

Here’s the thing:  as a parent, you’re often helpless when your child is being bullied — the “authorities” (school admin, police, whatever) are frequently helpless or indifferent to what’s happening to your child, of course you’re not allowed to confront the evil little shits responsible, and I’m all too familiar with that feeling of impotent rage that builds and builds when you’re rendered incapable of protecting your children.

So as I said, I’m already empathetic about this dad fucking up the bullies.  But what pushes me all the way over to a “Well done!” attitude is this:

The enraged father-of-three had hunted the pair down after his porch window was smashed by one of their group and they fled the scene.  After the group vandalised the family home that night, Connolly’s son chased after them and Connolly got into his car to look for him.

And finally, there’s this:

One of the boys was treated for fractures to his foot with metal plates inserted and skin taken from his thigh.  ‘There will be permanent scarring to the foot and the thigh as a result of the surgical procedure.  He was not able to bear weight on his foot for six weeks and will have permanently reduced mobility.’

Good.  The feral little fuck deserves to be reminded, daily, of why people shouldn’t be assholes — my only quibble is that every one of the group of bullies won’t suffer the same fate, because they should.

Our Hero Dad was originally charged with attempted murder (!!) but common sense prevailed and he’ll only be charged with assault etc.  Still, he’s facing some serious consequences.

I’d like to say that I wouldn’t have done what he did, but I’m not so sure.  Protecting your family and property is so deeply embedded in the male psyche — despite all efforts of Modern Woke Society to eradicate it — that sometimes we men have no choice in the matter.  Deplore it all you want, it’s an inescapable fact.

Texas Ain’t Vancouver

Amid rising fears of furriners buying up Murkin land comes this little glimmer of sunshine:

Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) vowed to back legislation prohibiting Chinese, Russian, Iranian, and North Korean citizens and entities from purchasing land in Texas.

The bill, submitted two months ago by Republican state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, states that citizens, corporations, and government agencies of the four nations “may not purchase or otherwise acquire title to real property” in the state. Abbott confirmed on Sunday that he would endorse the legislation, which has not yet been voted upon by lawmakers.

The bill should pass — and if not, I’ll be looking at the list of who voted against it.

Christmas Gift Ideas

Good question.  Here are a few gift ideas you can send to Santa.

From Steve Barnett (for the wealthy among us):  ABBIATICO & SALVINELLI – O/U PAIR 12 GA

A bargain, by the way, for a pair of matched shotguns from this gunmaker.

From Sportsman’s Warehouse:  Henry Pump Action Octagon Rifle .22 LR

Every home should have one.

From Collector’s Firearms:  Smith & Wesson 686-6 Plus .357 Mag

Nobody ever regretted buying one of these, but almost everyone regrets having sold one.

Hinterland Outfitters:  Ruger PC Carbine 9mm

I am seriously considering getting one of these, especially as I’m moving over to 9mm (!!!!) as my primary handgun caliber.

From Academy:  Ruger Wrangler .22 LR Revolver

This might actually be a decent “first handgun” for that grandson / granddaughter / nephew / niece that you love so much.

From Cabela’s:  CZ 612 Home Defense Pump-Action Shotgun 12ga

For those wanting something just a little different from the usual Mossberg / Winchester types…

That’s a decent little list, I think.  Something for everyone.