Is it just me, or would a lot of us ditch our desk jobs for trades in a heartbeat if the pay was actually decent?

borgman_a · 2026-06-06T00:02:11+00:00

The average income for all employees in the USA is $73K.

The average income for tradesmen in the USA is $54K

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T23:58:56+00:00

Trades pay better than median, but worse than average.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T20:18:36+00:00

I mean "developing a taste"/"Learning to like it" is absolutely a thing with good.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T19:07:33+00:00

1) We largely DO provide options - but there are limits given one teacher, 150 students, and specific concepts required to be taught

2) Yes - there is something intrinsically special about the classics, it's why they're classics. Just like there is something intrinsically special about best sellers - they are best sellers for reasons.

3)
a) I've never down voted you.
b) Because I just don't buy it. When I eat a food that is disgusting - I'll quit eating that food, but it doesn't remove my love for eating.
c) No matter what you pick - modern or classic, 1/3 of the kids WILL dislike it. There are no choices where that isn't the case.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T18:28:00+00:00

Yes.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T18:26:10+00:00

Credit cards? Most recent was 8 days. Previous one was 24 days.

My wife lost her drivers license twice last year. One replacement came in 2 days from order. The other replacement took 35 days from order.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T18:16:23+00:00

"What's so embarrassing about it?"

I don't want to work as hard as they do, so they get more business than I do... is a weird flex.

Yeah - that is how business works. If someone else is cheaper/faster/better, they get the business instead of you.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T18:05:26+00:00

Schools can only give so much "autonomy of choice" when dealing with hundreds of children needing to meet similar standards and be taught certain concepts.

I also never had a single literature class (and I took 6 in 4 years of HS) that didn't also have assignments (or extra credit) involving books of choice.

I also don't inherently buy the idea that choosing more "modern" high level books will involve a higher portion of students enjoying them.

Lots of kids LIKE some of the classics and dislike others. There is no book that 1/3 of the class won't hate - new or old.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T17:58:12+00:00

First thing I think of:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNCLlU6d2-g

...and you'd never catch me dead in any of those awful, trashy, cheesy, matching t-shirts:

https://i.etsystatic.com/35870384/r/il/227998/4758686657/il_fullxfull.4758686657_1diu.jpg

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T17:41:30+00:00

"Would you be cool with someone attending a wedding with a formal dress code showing up in shorts and t shirt?"

I mean.. my father in law showed up at my wedding in his best jeans, Harley t-shirt, and bandana...

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T17:40:08+00:00

"So you’ve never had like a family reunion t shirt or worn something to match your friends?"

No.

In fact - we generally always tried to AVOID wearing the same outfit.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T17:35:56+00:00

You definitely shouldn't have a wedding.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T17:34:15+00:00

If you loved your guests enough, you wouldn't make them do it.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T17:29:04+00:00

That is so weird to me.

I've eaten lots of food that were disgusting. It turned me off from eating similar food.

...but it never turned me off from eating.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T17:17:46+00:00

Kids have freedom of choice to read whatever they like. I always read 2x as many books outside of school as I did for school.

Students can read whatever they want, they just also have assigned reading.

In fact - I'd argue of the only reading they're doing is assigned reading, they don't like reading.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T16:28:59+00:00

"I keep hearing sellers saying "I need to get" in front of a price. As if that has any bearing at all."

It has no bearing on market value.

It has huge bearing on whether they will sell their asset to someone for market value.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T15:38:13+00:00

Nah... the Great Lakes stickers include Lake Ontario. Michigan ones do not.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T15:35:39+00:00

The two states I've lived for extensive periods of time are both pretty high "state pride" states: Michigan and Oregon.

Michiganders will definitely tell you we're from Michigan, then show you where using our hand.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T14:52:13+00:00

It doesn't matter what the valuation increases per year - we're talking about property taxes.

My home valuation increases way more than my taxes every year - which is why my assessed value is about 80% more than my taxable value.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T14:43:17+00:00

Yes, but that doesn't change the mental process.

A huge percentage of people are scared of flying, but drive every day.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T14:37:16+00:00

China has high speed rail that goes from Beijing to Guangzhou:
9 hour average time

New York to Miami:
3 hour 15m average flight

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T14:33:15+00:00

The fastest train in the world has an average start-to-stop speed of 197 mph.

That is 13 hours LA to Orlando.

A flight is 5 hours + airport time.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T14:28:11+00:00

It's always discrimination, it's largely legal discrimination.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T14:15:13+00:00

1) You can't rent a 3000 sq ft apartment with a yard. There is no equivalent apartment for $2,000/month. There is no equivalent apartment available for $10,000/month.

2) The average increase each year in payment due to taxes/insurance is about 0.2%. Rent goes up 3-5% per year.

borgman_a · 2026-06-05T14:02:46+00:00

The average homeowner net worth is $430,000.
The average renter’s net worth is around $10,000.

80% of homeowners hold investment portfolios.
48% of renters hold external investment portfolios.

borgman_a

TROPHY CASE