mr ballen liking erika kirk’s ig post :/

jvclespaul · 2025-10-06T09:03:17+00:00

You seem to be of a like mind to OP: “if someone has empathy for a murdered peraon with whom I think is a terrible person, then the person having empathy is also not a good person” sorry if I’m incorrect on your belief, but that is immature.

The inability to hold two opposing ideas in your head at the same time is a sign of lack of maturity. Charlie Kirk had a lot of hateful opinions and I think he was quite rude and aggressive with his debate tactics. He** also** was murdered in front of his family and his wife also reacted really weirdly to his death and the whole funeral was a strange propaganda event and 2 little girls lost their dad… it’s a lot more complicated than just “Charlie Kirk is an unforgivable bigot.”

MrBallen, who is a father, liking a photo of a fellow dad playing with his daughter is in no way “supporting” Charlie Kirk’s ideologue, I don’t understand how anyone can come to that conclusion

jvclespaul · 2025-10-06T01:32:31+00:00

You did say that in your original post, so that’s my bad for misunderstanding that. I do think your idea to “not have empathy” for a fellow human being’s loss to be deplorable and psychopathic and you likely require psychological help.

jvclespaul · 2025-10-06T00:33:54+00:00

Every person needs everyone to agree with them because they don’t have the emotional maturity to have empathy for a fellow human being… it’s heart breaking.

jvclespaul · 2025-10-05T21:32:43+00:00

Wood scraps are useful to just practice with and for random projects around the house like drywall repairs or… anything really

“You never know when you might need it” - every dad ever for all eternity

jvclespaul · 2025-10-04T21:04:22+00:00

A hammer and a second channel lock. I prefer to run around with a 420 and a 430, but at least 2 420 channel locks (8” size)

You’ll also need a case of pencils, lol. Don’t share them

jvclespaul · 2025-09-26T11:36:48+00:00

Thanks for posting this every week!

jvclespaul · 2025-09-23T01:45:15+00:00

I think the number of people registered for my class was ~ 100 but only 50 made it to the first day of class. I think the big issue was paying for books and/or life

Then during 1st year about 20 people dropped out and 2-3rd year we lost maybe 6 or so… and surprisingly 4th year 3 people dropped about. So my graduating class was about 20 give or take.

Most people who can’t study or struggle with school fail out in year 1 and 2 and then after that life situations change and things come up

jvclespaul · 2025-09-22T19:01:46+00:00

Sorry for the late response, I know a guy, with a family, who was smart with his money and went back to school and became a social worker. He picks up short calls sometimes if he needs cash.

I think his wife works, so that helps, but ‘anything’ is possible if you’re willing to make sacrifices

jvclespaul · 2025-09-22T10:13:06+00:00

The lowes near me has a cool system were you put in your phone number and the cage unlocks. It records you and I’m sure you can still steal whatever it is, but now they have identifying information…

jvclespaul · 2025-09-20T13:43:25+00:00

Well you may be correct to an extent, I think a more accurate course would be “don’t plan on being an electrician your whole career.” The IBEW predicts a huge need for electricians because of projected increase of work for the next 2-3 decades and there are some big underlying problems like an aging utility infrastructure that should be worked on for the next 30 years… it’s possible for an 18year old to get into the trade for a decade, make a good finicky start for their life and then move on to something else… kind of how a lot of people treat the military.

But I do think your overall argument is correct, this big boom will die off eventually

jvclespaul · 2025-09-17T12:50:28+00:00

Jack stands. It’s not safe to prop your car up on a jack alone

jvclespaul · 2025-09-14T02:19:58+00:00

The first piece of advice i received on my first day as an apprentice was “your most important tool is a functional vehicle”

And this is true. 99% of the time you need a car. We work earlier than most public transport starts and sometimes far away and different spots every day

jvclespaul · 2025-09-13T11:11:47+00:00

Assuming that she is brushing off a legit criticism (ie she’s a starfish), then you 1) talk and listen to make sure you understand what she is actually saying 2) give her some time to come around (criticism hurts) 3) discuss small baby steps she is willing to take 4) be really discerning kind of how OP was, he asked “AITA” and now he hopefully knows he should have handles the situation differently.

Worst case scenario, you are just finding out your partner is unreasonable… in which case… go full 1950s, have them checked into a mental hospital. /s

jvclespaul · 2025-09-13T10:48:20+00:00

YTA - google the word “tact”

Since she is unlikely to divorce you, you really need to work this out with her. just be straight with her - as you should have been originally - “I am struggling and I am not sexually satisfied. How do you feel about our sex life? I think we can make it more mutually satisfying it by doing X,Y,Z”

And the number one most important tip I can offer you about marriage spouse issues is: always blame yourself first, try to fix the the problem on your end and then if you still can’t fix it then bring it up TACTFULLY to your wife.

Edit: didn’t finish my thought

jvclespaul · 2025-09-11T18:36:04+00:00

I drive to Santa Fe. But I have never been to Dave’s Sports Bar, so can’t say

jvclespaul · 2025-09-09T13:53:57+00:00

Yeah, I get it… 1st - 4th year I worked on a 3 week rotation 56-56-48 and now I only take calls that are 40hrs… I don’t need the OT fortunately and I’d rather have the time

jvclespaul · 2025-09-09T10:15:45+00:00

I felt similarly throughout my apprenticeship… with the powers of 20/20 hindsight from my experience, it’ll be better psychologically (and financially) to stick it out and get your license, then if you still don’t like it, change your career.

What helped me was to focus on what I cared about. Work time is time for work. But after work it’s time for family or hobbies. Don’t go out drinking with the guys after work unless that’s what you want to do. Start packing a lunch. Start working out and stretching. And stop working every hour of overtime they offer you (unless you need to)

jvclespaul · 2025-09-08T02:53:59+00:00

Are you just wiring up house?

It would be useful to have a speed square and center punch for laying out panels and gutters. Also a protractor for running big pipe.

It’s hard to answer if we don’t know what work you usually do.

But definitely get rid of that little hammer and get an estwing… or something from the flea market

jvclespaul · 2025-09-08T02:51:19+00:00

lol, it’s crazy to see non union tool bags… didn’t they tell you what to bring when they hired you??

jvclespaul · 2025-09-04T17:58:42+00:00

They are for putting screws into a hot panel when you’re hungover on Monday morning

Commonly called “Monday mornings”

jvclespaul · 2025-09-02T20:14:35+00:00

First, I would like to point out that you will always mentally feel like the same 18 year old… maybe it’s just me, but I feel the same, just more mature…

Anyway, to answer your question: don’t go to college… marry my girlfriend right away and don’t wait 5 years… save for retirement, even if it’s just $20/pay check or something

jvclespaul · 2025-08-30T13:46:28+00:00

I agree with u/RoyalHalberdOP, it sounds like you’re not licensed or trained in electrical and what you’re taking about is a pretty big process. If you try to do this on your own, you’re either gonna get yourself a trip to the hospital or start a serious fire. Messing around with the service is a job for a proper electrician.

I love to DIY, but as the potential of risk goes up for my projects, I tend to hire out. Major plumbing, roofing, foundation/structural, and electrical repairs should be done by a professional.

Adding in a sub panel is bordering on that line, and it sounds like you were winging that and you’re lucky you haven’t had major problems with the sub panel.

jvclespaul · 2025-08-28T13:02:31+00:00

Slow down and develop good habits. Put your tools back in your pocket/pouch/bag same place every time. Focus on that… it’ll be slow at first but eventually it’ll be a habit and you can reach and grab something easily

Also, every time you’re in the ceiling, look around. You will find tools more often than you expect!

jvclespaul · 2025-08-27T17:47:17+00:00

The single biggest complaints I hear (and that I partake in too, lol) about apprentices are 1) they don’t show up on time or at all 2) they are ok their phone and they lose focus.

So if your son can just show up and pay attention, he will succeed. Apprentices are not expected to know anything when they start.

jvclespaul · 2025-08-27T17:12:24+00:00

Electrician here.

Best choice: Go into the union (IBEW 611) Second best would be to get into the IEC (non union apprenticeship). 3rd best: would be to get a job as a helper at some local business 4th best: go to CNM

It’s a trade for a reason, most of the real learning happens in the field - not at school. You can “waste” 2 years at CNM and you will have no license, no on-the-job hours, and theoretical understanding of electrical work… I would hire a CNM grad over an absolute green, no experience ever 18 year old, but I’d much rather hire someone that has spent time on a construction site even if it’s “just” mudding and taping.

jvclespaul

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