The Breakroom > The Water Cooler
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SPiN Racing:
Ya know I think you are right. Sadly.
All the people I know, outside of the race shop where the answer is Hell no dont buy it.. MAKE IT!, are of the how fast can I get it and where can I buy it genre.
Its really kinda sad I guess.
My father was a Colonel in the Air Force. Actually he joined the Marines as some sort of high school program when growing up in Hawaii where his parents died when he was 14, then 15. He then Joined the Army, and was an Engineer. Then Joined the Army Air Corps.. and then they said.. Hey were making this thing called the Air force.. who wants to join? He was there when Pearl Harbor was attacked, asleep in the barracks. From Here to Eternity's author described exactly what happened to him. He thinks the author was in his company.. but is foggy on it.
Needless to say, he has a Masters in Aviation Psychology, a Masters in Mathematics, and a Masters in International Relations. Taught at west point, etc etc etc etc. Master swordsman on and on and on.
Growing up he would take apart whatever was broken and fix it. With a hammer chisel, file, screwdrivers, and whatever he had in the garage. Had a BMW Isetta he rebuilt the engine on the workbench.
Built all our TVs and stereos till I was a teen.
Built the first PC we have.
A Zillion things... but one thing always rang true.... Not One other friend I ever had growing up, and even now.. has parents who know how to do more than hammer a nail or turn a screw.
I also am 41... with a father who is in his late 80s. :headbang:
Can you say Surprise? :lol:
SO I think In my case seeing him doing all this, is a result of him being a product of the pre/post war generation.
All my friends had parents who were born in the early to mid 50s. A Different mindset here in the states.
Also there is a different mindset I see everywehre in the general populace. From what I gather.. in England and Europe.. craftsmen who are able to do the things required of a machine shop are well respected as craftsmen. There are hundreds of generations to instill that mindset.
Here in the states.. the populace seems to look down thier nose at people who are craftsmen, and inventors. Everyone wants to be a salesman, or a banker, or investor, stock broker.. middle man.
Looking at our economy, and the state of the nation... I think the issue we are running into.... nobody makes things anymore.. Only big companies.
Granted.. the automotive customising side of things has craftsmen.. but a lot of its just bling.
You simply dont see that inventive spirit anymore. Everyone wants to make the next Myspace or Flicker, so they can cash out and retire. /shrug
Oh and yes.. Im STILL pissed I was never given the chance to take Auto Shop, or Shop of any kind.
Sorry for a mini rant LOL
sbwhart:
--- Quote from: John Hill on February 25, 2009, 08:13:13 PM ---I think it would be good to get some members from former Eastern Europe. I was astounded at the level of home machine shops in small Czech villages, some of those guys have small factories in their barns and they have a recent history of forced improvisation.
--- End quote ---
John
I agree it would be nice to get some members from Eastern Europe, but I suppose, the English Language would be obstical to this, having said that there must be some people over there with a resonable level of English who could join:- but how do we reach them ?? :scratch:.
It would also be nice if we could get some ladies to sign up to the forum :thumbup:
Scot
You've hit the nail on the head with
--- Quote from: SPiN Racing on February 26, 2009, 02:33:08 AM ---
the populace seems to look down thier nose at people who are craftsmen, and inventors. Everyone wants to be a salesman, or a banker, or investor, stock broker.. middle man.
Looking at our economy, and the state of the nation... I think the issue we are running into.... nobody makes things anymore.. Only big companies.
--- End quote ---
Its the same in the UK, I feal very sad about the situation comming from a long line of artisans and craftsmen :- Tool makers, turners, fitters, woodworkers, stone masons, tailors and tailoresess, farmers, I'm very proud of this ansestory, good honest hardworking people who manufactured real tangible usefull things, not something abstract.
This is one of the reason I've built myselve a home shop, in the hope that I can pass something of this heritage on.
Thats the end of my rant
Sorry Guys I'll go and beat myselve up :hammer:
Cheers
:wave:
Stew
John Hill:
Stew, I am reminded of an incident some years ago when I was working with a computer company in Monterey, California. :coffee:
One of the guys came in all dejected one morning because he had car troubles and really didnt want to spend the money on a "new trans". So I asked him whats wrong but the most he could say was the transmission was "kaput", but obviously it was not too bad as he was still driving it. We went out to the car and lifted the hood/bonnet, he started the engine and I could immediately hear the problem as the hose from the manifold to the vacuum modulator had fallen off. I jammed it back on and he took it for a test drive coming back absolutely beaming then everyone, and there were a number gathered by now, began remarking on this miracle and one comment I well remember "He's from Nuuuu Zeeeeeland, even their wimen can weld and mix concrete!"
sbwhart:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
--- Quote from: John Hill on February 26, 2009, 01:15:25 PM ---"He's from Nuuuu Zeeeeeland, even their wimen can weld and mix concrete!"
--- End quote ---
Nice one John :clap: :clap: :clap:
I didn't know you could speak American
Stew
John Hill:
The comment was really quite funny Stew, maybe more than he intended! By coincidence it was only a few weeks after I had promised to help a friend lay concrete foundations for his new garage.
He, the friend, had been to the library and even had books on how to mix concrete, he had the electric mixer, the wheel barrow, water hose, gravel mix, sacks of cement and he had carefully made gauge boxes according to the directions in his book. His wife came out to watch proceedings and when she saw what he was doing with the gauge boxes etc she scolded him and sent him indoors to look after their infants while she and I got down to mixing concrete in the time tested method of "five shovel fulls of this and one shovel of that".
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