Scotty

This. A thousand times this. I just changed jobs in the trades and had to stand hard on my ask for salary. This is even after the fact that they said they had multiple positions to fill and were running a skeleton crew. I am qualified. I know my worth. I asked 15% higher than they offered and you would have thought my meager salary would bankrupt the company. Took three back and forths of me not budging on my ask. Come to find out the guy in my position before was under qualified and now every dark corner I peek in I’m blown away and puzzled. It’s costing them more for me to fix things right and order replacement parts than if they’d shelled out an extra $4 an hour ($8k a year) in compensation to someone qualified. You’ve got to tip your hat to the costcos, chic-fil-a, darned tough, etc that will hire, train, and hold people accountable to quality control, brand prestige and company values. In return they’ve got a customer for life from me and many others. And I’ll gladly pay the markup knowing it’s made correctly and people are paid a living wage for giving decent labor. The older I get the more I’ll never give a company money who openly hates my values. From a firearm standard if you pay Gallatin TN wages you get Gallatin TN Berettas. If you’ve ever seen the Beretta factory tours in Italy… that’s the reason you’re going to pay more for their higher end products. They invested in their people and retain them.

This is a great deal. Carl always prices well.

It’s getting harder to see with tools. Fluke says they’re made in the US but I’m pretty certain my meter is made in Malaysia. For channel locks I’ll give the Germans my money, knipex take a beating daily and are most comfortable in my hands. I think I’m on the side of BigK where I do care but it’s hard to do the legwork. And unfortunately if it’s a one off tool that I rarely use and need quick I’m going with the cheapest I can find until it breaks and needs replacement/upgrade.

Always an easy meet. Done half a dozen and one tomorrow. Great guy to boot.

Hit the nail on the head with the soundtrack. Phenomenal. Edit: Just rewatched this scene. The background music buildup was spot on.

I’ll second or thirds this. That’s my local shop. I always try to buy something from them if I get a transfer.

The library actually has a free seed exchange program. Pretty neat freebie. Downtown Nashvilles library also has a 3d printer system, you can email them the file and they’ll print at no cost (not sure if this varies for long and heavy usage projects). 3d printer is actually pretty useful in things like vehicle panels and stuff. Just a free plug for the library as I’m pretty impressed with it. If you’re getting 1000’s of seeds buy them but it’s a great way to get started small on heirloom offshoots.

Hey, Brand new. Bought and never installed. Took out of the package and tucked away and forgotten about, never got around to even trying. Moving some gear to fund a new purchase. https://recovertactical.com/product/recover-tactical-20-20n-stabilizer-kit-for-glock-for-all-9mm-40-gen-1-and-2-glocks-including-glock-26-27/ Will ship for $75. Thanks

I’ve seen more deer in the past three days than the past two months in my yard. It’s like they’re taunting me. Biggest buck I’ve seen all year few days ago. Two massive does today, three hours later the dog chased two juveniles all over the woods and down the yard to the road which he thankfully didn’t cross after them. Also there’s way more coyote tracks than I expected.

Mountain supply company will frequently run deals on their #10 cans. Pretty much every major holiday they run a deal for 30-40% off. I prefer those over the tub products, but have a tub or two squirreled away. Supposedly the dehydrated cans last 30 years, I sometimes get field mice when the temps change and those hold up. You can also try the jesuits as well: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/topics/food-storage/longer-term-food-supply?lang=eng That being said buy canned goods of things you’re used to and just rotate them monthly. There will always be some sort of unrest. I just like to stay stocked up on everything because it’s not hard to do. Had a year up north that shutdown the city with 8’ of snow in 3 weeks. No trains running, bare shelves, kinda like Covid. Miserable trudging through the snow to find sparse shelves and carrying home supplies. Also was present for the marathon bombing, they cut comms immediately making phones useless, no one could call in or out, then they implemented martial law. My neighborhood was complete lockdown while the terrorists went around shooting cops and stealing cars. We just grabbed the go bags and were already settled in VT by the time they found the terrorists and lifted the mandatory stay at home. Was rather dystopian seeing a major city empty, no trains, cabs, people, just cops circling giving orders to stay off the roads. That being said, natural disaster or the grid going down seems more likely than violent spillover from cities or SHTF. Also, the mobs don’t happen in the south like they do in other cities because… well. Nashville one idiot started a fire in the state building and they threw the book at them. I road-tripped July of covid from Maine all the way down and most major cities were still boarded up, even in very expensive real estate. Wish I had stocked up on more hygiene/convenience consumables pre inflation but we’re good on food, water, puppy chow and brass. I just think it’s common sense especially after seeing Katrina and Covid to keep a few month supply of food and water, generator and some gas. Don’t bother trying to talk about it with other people that aren’t like minded because they’ll just say you’re stocking up to be a tinfoil wearing marauder in the apocalypse. We have friends like this who complained about not having a ton of food for the storm. They also are vehemently anti-2A but when it was suggested we go to a remote cabin for one of those anti-light pollution stargazing things. It was casually brought up “it’ll make us feel better if you guys were there because it’s scary out there and you guys will bring guns”. They’re good people but jokes on them as far as I’m concerned. It could dump 6 feet of snow and hard freeze for anwhile and we wouldn’t lose a lb. Tried to get my PCP to prescribe me some basic antibiotics and z-pax, let’s just say he’s not like minded. I’m planning a trip out of country and he said he’d write me a few scripts just in case, I’ll grab a few in the local pharmacy in the country I’m in. I cut myself pretty decently with a dull knife out of network. Wasn’t going to pay out of network prices for a dozen stitches and rode it out until I got in network but wanted antibiotics to be safe. Telehealth agreed nothing could be done 72 hours post cut but wouldn’t write the script so I still had to go and see the PCP for a $150 copay to get a 30 second look over and a script of bactrum. I spend all my off time outdoors, I wouldn’t hate having doxy on hand for when I miss a tick and get a bullseye. That’s what I’m more worried about is medicine, the rest just takes some budgeting and time.

I don’t have a suggestion for boots. Will be following others advice. All I know is I used to wear out a pair of timberland pro series every 10 months. I’ve got a pair of Redwing Iron Rangers that I’ve had for ten years and still comfortable as hell. They have torn on the leather by the toe but still my go to outdoor boot. Apparently like everything else redwings quality suffers lately. https://www.amazon.com/Darn-Tough-Mountaineering-Micro-Cushion/dp/B0716Q1DJV/ref=mp_s_a_1_22_sspa?keywords=darn+tough+socks&qid=1705697724&sr=8-22-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRmX25leHQ&psc=1 Yes they’re $30 a pair. But I swear by these. Lifetime warranty and made in VT. I can’t recall ever having cold feet in these while outdoors. Have had pairs for 4 years that are still as good as new, the only thing I ask for for Xmas (other than NODs, no one has got me NODs yet). Also I’ll vouch for UGG. Have 3 pairs of their slippers and a bathrobe. I work hard and I’ll pay a premium for comfort. Want to say I’m one of the few people on this rock that have stalked and taken a deer in an UGG robe and slippers with a 10mm. Maybe I missed my country living/bougee-redneck instagram modeling career .

Also: https://skogensgunsupply.com/product/sb-9mm-luger-para-124gr-fmj-50-20-a00905 9mm S&B - .25 CPR if you order 1200 for free ship. Apparently I already had 120 boxes of Aguilar.22lr in my cart, .5 CPR still. If you just want 1k rounds of 9mm can add 20 boxes of .22 to get free shipping. https://skogensgunsupply.com/product/aguila-1b222328-standard-high-velocity-22-lr-40-gr-copper-plated-solid-point-50-bx-100-cs Should be tax free unless it changed recently and they hit their sales threshold.

Bass pro primers sale. I don’t reload but maybe this will help someone. https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/winchester-41-small-rifle-primers-for-556mm

Hey, Cleared some space and made myself some room in the house during snowstorm cabin fever. Used to have a shop I worked at that allowed me to use their tools, they have since sold and not an option. Ideally just want a basic set of punches, torque wrench, possible armorers vice, Emory cloth and file set. No longer have the luxury of walking in after-hours to tinker and have a list of upgrades I’m behind on. Willing to drive 40 miles, live in Goodlettsville, work downtown and metro center next couple months and frequently in the Brentwood/antioch line area. Thanks for your time, will only bump once a week as not to clog the feed.

Cabin fever hit for me and have to leave tomorrow so wanted to scope the roads out. Grabbed the neighbor milk and cruised around. Hit the 300k mark on my 02 frontier. Had a quick pipe dream of really wrenching on her this spring even though I hate working on vehicles. Minisplits/heat pump on an old block barely insulated house aren’t holding up great but that’s fine. 2 pairs of darn tough socks, hoodie, double bathrobe long John’s and PJs. Snow melted enough the dog finally zoomed around like a maniac after being cooped up. It’s the little things in life and that truck just makes me happy. Also, I’ve appreciated the snack update. I don’t keep snacks in the house. Day 3 and I randomly got a bag of gummy bears. Again, little things.

Glock 17 PD trade in mags. $14, 3 mag limit $5 shipped. Roughly $51 shipped for 3. https://www.recoilgunworks.com/pd-trade-glock-17-9mm-17rd-mag/?utm_source=Rd9LJN&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PD Trade %26 Mags Restock - 1.17.24&_kx=WCDHBOx_wy0zYKHzDaFfOYYof-HwYfhszHLHyssx4rU%3D.WKCUxh

Just a friendly PSA, careful not to overdo it shoveling. That’s the yankee version of a widowmaker, not the random tree limb or barn rafter.

Just saw the biggest buck I’ve seen all year. Instinctively went into the closet. Thought the season ended the 15th. Quick google, womp womp.

Can wrap it in a contractor grade trash bag and duct tape. Maybe let them put their own duct tape/painters tape to personalize it. If you wanna be fancy can add an outdoor patio furniture pillow to make a captains chair. Top of a trash bin also works decent. As long as it doesn’t have one with a handle that snag, won’t be that much snow.

Can confirm. Stopped at Walmart to grab produce. Bread aisle wiped out. Heard the complaint “all they have is this weird $6 a loaf fancy crap”. Did not check on milk. Was an absolute mob scene.

When new or newish shooters come over I break out the single action Ruger wrangler. Obviously go over safety and all that jazz, I feel that having them pull the hammer and then have no recoil even though they anticipate it is a good start to get them comfortable behind a firearm. From there, bolt action single shot older Winchester .22. After that it’s usually a Ruger mark iv with a dot to build there confidence. Then a 10/22 a little farther back. If they seem like they’re enjoying it and competent I’ll load a tx-22, and work up to putting one round in a 9mm striker. I feel like loading the single shot and talking to them while loading mags kind of builds their confidence a bit. Only reason I haven’t gifted my wrangler is that I use it as a confidence builder for novice shooters. Carrying I don’t have much advice. I think far more people carry and keep guns in their vehicles than should. I guess I’d say get a proper belt and walk around the house for a week. Eventually the thought that everyone knows you have a gun on you subsides.

https://www.familyfirearms.com/product/springfield-armory-sa-35-9mm-handgun-hp9201#product_detail $640 shipped. Believe no tax with this dealer. Under $700 w/ transfer and BC.

This thing is sweet.

TCAT holds a standard set by the state to maintain accreditation and funding. You need to be in attendance for all of the hours the program requires. You can’t pop in and learn at your own leisure, the whole goal of TCAT is to get people “ready for the workforce”. It doesn’t matter if you’re older and have employment, you can miss maybe 6 full days of class before you aren’t eligible to proceed in the program. That being said, they will work with your schedule. You could potentially do part-time and show up for 3.5 hours a day. As said above some place will do night classes. Also for the first month or so you’ll be doing book learning which is no doubt invaluable in making it a career but will be more than you need to just be competent welding things you need to fix (mufflers, fence posts, targets, etc). You’ll learn print reading and all the different type of welds and how to join and bond different ferrous metals. I’ve known a few people that have gone through the welding program and it was great for them. TCAT is definitely career focused though and not hobby based. In theory if you wanted to blow through all the book work on your own time and you were dedicated you could get it out of the way and then just do tests for a couple days. You could do a tour and talk with the shop teacher and ask if this is possible and then just see if he will teach you and let you practice flat/vertical/overhead stick and do your own thing rather than adhere to the program. As someone above said do a couple of classes at the forge. MIG certainly can’t be mastered and you won’t be stacking dimes in an evening but if you have decent hand eye and lots of patience you’ll be able to learn the basics and hopefully get what you need to fix your own projects. Mig is far easier, to be proficient in stick it will take a long time. The last time I stick welded it took quite a few warmups before I wasnt completely disgusted with myself. I still wasn’t thrilled with my weld but it stuck. Welding is very much a use it or lose it sort of skill in my opinion and I consider myself decently coordinated. You can also just get an Amazon welder and just mess around. They’re not designed for commercial use but have used my buddies in his driveway and worked fine for small projects. I’d find one with a warranty and beat the bag out of it after going to the forge a couple times. https://www.amazon.com/Voltage-Welding-Inverter-Portable-Detachable/dp/B0B2VQSHLS/ref=asc_df_B0B2VQSHLS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=642123667882&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10847099940282451529&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9013122&hvtargid=pla-2143002847432&psc=1&mcid=95d878e779be35bd9ddf97b8ffd398c4 ^JR commented on the 110V welders and seems to know what he’s talking about while I was typing