My RANT!

[dross]

Okay it's not my rant but thought it wasnt a bad rant

 

[kweaver]

Dave - Today in one of my depressed states of mind I was thinking along that same line.

I <u>want</u> to go out to the shop and make Pin Tools or do about anything but my back is gone out from just walking out there.

My shop sits there with all the tools and machines rusting and spiders building webs on everything.

So I'm sitting on the carport thinking what's going to happen to all my "stuff" since I can't work. Then I think what's going to happen to this country since more and more they tell ya to go out and get a college degree.

With more and more guys like me that fix / build anything getting older or crippled up and the younger generations running from labor type jobs who is going to build or repair the equipment that does the building of the country.

Then I got more depressed and went back in the house so I couldn't see the garage.

Is a college PHD going to pickup a steam cleaner and get totally covered in mud and grease cleaning a piece of heavy equipment so that someone with a degree in physics can weld on a dozer final drive ?

I guess all these future "degrees" will build robots to replace us hard working greasy sweaty laborers.

Personally speaking we are the most overlooked under paid workforce in the country.

True fact:
The guy I did carpenter work for went to price a job for a guy that worked for the railroad. When he told the guy how long it'd take and the total price the RR guy said ,"Hell that's as much money per day as I make !"

 

[kide]

Ken:
We seem to be running in parallel these days. I feel guilty whenever I go in the shop for something - all the tools just waiting to be used..

I've got a true story also..
Back in the 80's, I was a pretty fair electronic tech, along with about 7 years of supervision and 5 years of mid management under my belt... An acquaintance in a desirable part of the state (about 250 miles away) made some noise about my wife and I relocating and I'd take over management of part of his business (electronics field). There were several factors in my decision to stay put, but a big one was his practice of hiring skilled techs at the absolute lowest wages he could, working the hell out of them 'till they were fed up and then going back to the job market for replacements. These guys included ex-military e-techs and others who wanted to stay in the area of the state. He couldn't understand why there was low morale and high turnover in these high tech jobs..The other thing regarding "dirty jobs" that sticks in my mind was when I passed my dad in earning power in the early 70's.. He was a toolmaker working in the tool and die trade, in some of the most precision work (common tolerances were a 1/2 tenth (1.27 microns) in the work he was doing). At that point I had about 7 or 8 years in IT, was still just a lead worker in a computer operations. I didn't think it was right...... he had skills that I'd never have.

 

[jchamberlin]

Dave: Thanks for posting Dave Rowe's comments. (I didn't know anything about his relationship with his grandfather.)

I forwarded the link to my son who is a Machinist's Mate in the US Navy. He would like to re-enlist (he's got a wife and two children), but things aren't looking good. It seems the Navy doesn't need as many Machinist's Mates with the newer nuclear-powered vessels (he is assigned to the Wasp, a diesel-powered LHD).

I taught all four of my boys how to work on cars, two of them are now employed as "mechanics" of some sort. I'm pretty proud of them. But its a different world out there. Used to, a body needed to know how an engine worked, how to set the points and the timing. It made economic sense to pull the heads and do a valve job, or open up the block and replace the bearings and the rings. Now-a-days products are built to minimize maintenance. EVERYTHING is designed to be replaced rather than repaired.

If I had my life to do over again, I would look into engineering, I think I would have been happier dealing with "things" than with people. But when I was young I didn't like math.

I guess we need to have more faith in the younger generation. What we really pass on to our children is our values. If we value hard work --of any form-- they will too. At least that is my hope. . .

 

[dross]

Jeremia, I was an MM (hole snipe). Mabey you all have a point, my dad was pretty sure the new generation was screwed. Theres been hard times but theres always been hard times. I think all you can do is the best you can do. <font size="-2">I have got to quit watching re-runs of leave it to Beaver</font>

 

[kweaver]

I still say the young'uns run from work. Now if it was for a video game tester ...

Some years ago when I was having my cataract problems and my hands were getting shakier I put out the word around here that if any young feller wanted to learn how to TIG weld aluminum I'd teach them free of charge. I only required that they be honestly wanting to learn.
No takers !
I've got a 460amp Miller Tig rotting down.

This country has turned into dope and video games .........................

 

[wshytle]

I've always been impressed with Mike Rowe. He seems to be a down to earth kinda guy and makes sense when he talks.

All of this talk reminds me of how my father always fixed things around the house. I was the youngest of three so I ended up spending more time with him as the others were married and gone shortly after he retired from the service. I still have many tools he made and used. Things were different then and talk of college was always present when discussing the future. He never was very mechanical with the cars but he never paid to have the oil changed or any minor maintenence done. The one time in his life he was able to "keep up with the Jones" was when he brought home the brand new IH 128. It was the best mower in the neighborhood and it was a major move on his part. The lack of money was the biggest motivator of him using his skills and $1300.00 for that tractor, deck, plow, and cultivator was almost risky. He was also from the mountains of NC and if you know anything about mountain people they did everything themselves. In a lot of cases it simply meant survival. I got a lot from Pop. He let me watch and sometimes get involved. I'm thankful I had that and took advantage of the oportunity. I feel like I can fix anything I put my mind to as long as my back isn't that involved.

I think the bottom line is Americans have done away with thinking about the future. Look at the national debt. Simply put, we are becoming dependent instead of independent.

 

[kweaver]

Well yesterday I'd had enough sitting around so I spent the day and night making a little part for a buddy. This little plastic thing has something to do with his swimming pool's vac. The whole control only cost $36 but I told him I'd make a new part just to be doing something.

I used a left over riser from one of my old castings but it was way big. About 3" diameter x 4" ... but ya use what ya got ! Finished piece is only 0.394" shaft diameter. Got to wait til he brings the rest of it to see how to shape the missing broke out piece at the disc end.

I didn't get finished last night until 11pm. I finally had enough pain pills in me to get to sleep @6am this morning. (er is dat mourning)

If I can work , I work. I never did get hung up on video games like my 36 year old little bro.

He use to sleep all day so he could play all night. My mom called me once to come up and pressure wash her deck. I told her to drag John John's butt outta bed.

He still lives in the basement at my departed mom's house. Wish I'd cleaned the deck for her.

He has been mowing my yard for me since I've been down and out this summer. He's had more jobs than I can remember and looking for another now ... good luck with that !

 

[fcurrier]

I'm working on a heckuva rant about 12 jurors in Florida who gave up a big part of their lives (and 2 holiday weekends) to sit on a jury and do their civic duty. But for now, Jeanne took this pic today:

 

[aschumacher]

So these people are saying...if your property at home is posted 'No Hunting', your not welcome here ??? Hummmmmmm
Glad I wasn't on the jury, that had to be a real bitch to make a decision on. MOO

 

[kweaver]

We don't have a "trial by jury" thread but I'll say this.

I have thought from the beginning that I believe grandpa done it. I told Kathy when they found her body that I think he done it in an act of sexual molestation and he inadvertently choked her to death. The "tape" over her mouth could have been put there by her mother to symbolically "keep gramps" from entering her again.

He strikes me the wrong way. Remember I've had one pervert put away.

Somebody on Fox News brought up something last week that I had wondered about too ... why would a grandparent try to commit suicide ? That's the first one to be heard of in this country ... a grandchild dies and a grandparent trys suicide ???

He is accused of incest but not yet proven ...

Caylee didn't act right from the beginning for a grieving mother but that could have been from fear or orders from her dad.

None of the whole thing is right for an ex cop.

 

[kweaver]

I said "Caylee" in my last post , I meant Cassey.

 

[kide]

Small rant:
It seems the concept of "restoration" of vehicles has been *******ized to the point that anything old that's been rebuilt, regardless of what parts are put in/on a machine is called a "restoration". I wasted time tonight watching a '57 Chevy 150 (2 door post) be "restored", complete with powder coated suspension, an LS1 drive train (probably a 9" Ford diff). They didn't even stay with the concept of the requested rebuild, which was to make the car look like a period (1957) NASCAR racer. The finished product was such a mix of themes that I wasn't surprised when the guy paying for it referred to the "1/4 mile track", obviously confusing drag with stock car racing. Interior was stock, with original seats, dash (although there was some kind of modern CD/radio/? player that lit up). No roll bars, padding etc. that would have been period correct for a NASCAR machine. The cars stance was mid '60's "Cali rake", wheels looked like possibly Camaro steelies, tires were late design.

I see ads in auto trader mags all the time that start with something like "55 F150, fresh restoration, back halved, blown BBC, Recaro seats, Dakota Digital dash, purple metalflake ......" (they even screw up on the F150, it's a F100 da..it!!).

I see the prime examples of what a true restoration is here on the forum all the time. And yes, I know that practicality (like modern paint with clear coat as an example) is gonna make sense unless its headed for a museum, but I see lots of effort here to try to stay close to what the factory put out. I also know that restorers can go nuts also, making sure that inspection chalk marks are correct for the shift/date of the inspector that was working. ('Vette guys....).. Maybe I should quit watching History and Discovery channels and Speed TV for that matter..

 

[kmcconaughey]

Gerry, exactly why I refer to my Original as having been refurbished...

 

[kide]

Kraig:
Just to make it clear, I have not restored either the 129 or 149.... in fact I have modded the 129 to meet my needs. I was just on a fast burn last night about another misuse of the concept of restoration.

 

[jbaker]

Gerry I am with you on restored, I probaly will Never have time to restore my cubs but they do get refubished in areas and modified in others.

 

[aschumacher]

Gerry, I watched that 'find/fix/restore' deal last night also. A (almost)piece of junk that came back looking a bit better. What did he pay the restorer finally $70K ! ?? Thats a lot of bucks! <font size="-1">Clever how they streched it over 3 different shows</font>

 

[wshytle]

In all actuality there probably isn't a completely restored cub in existence. That would mean all bolts, fasteners, nla parts, etc would have to be original. Even the paint should be the type used forty years ago. I guess there's restoring and restoring to original. It's a term that has a different meaning to different people. Most are like Kraig said...refurbished. When someone takes a tractor down to metal starting with the frame and redoing everything I think they have the right to say it's restored because it is. It just isn't exactly like it was when new because of change over time. I guess paint would be the biggest technilogical change with all of the polymers, acrylics, and lack of lead etc. It is now in "like new" condition.

I consider myself a refurbisher.

It's kind of like the word hero. That word is used in a totally different context today compared to the private that ran up the hill with bullets flying all around to pull two of his comrads to safety. That, to me, is a hero. Just because we have signed up in the military doesn't make us a hero. There are so many other appropriate words like brave, courageous, loyal but hero keeps popping up left and right.

Gerry- I guess it's just another abused word of the english language.

 

[kweaver]

Corbin's newspaper ...

"the tourism commission met in a lengthy executive session to guarantee 20 hours of work per week at $16.50 per hour for employee ***** ******. ****** daily waters all the hanging baskets and flower pots on Main Street."

Hell I'll piss on them for free !!
Corbin's a sewer anyway.

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"The commission approved donating $10,000 to the Fine Arts Association. The money will be used for events such as the “Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats” and Tommy *********, a certified guitar player."

We need Chinese Acrobats ??

I didn't know you had to be a "certified guitar player" ...
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NASA is training future space walkers with a very expensive virtual reality gizmo.

Are they going to sprout wings and fly up there theirself ???

Seems like I heard rumors that they've killed off the shuttle and I saw a while back that the Commies have raised their taxi fare ... wish I could remember the before and after price ... think they hand a gun in their hand when they raised the price.
==================================================

Yesterday I seen on the news that because the big leagues are breaking so many bats that they got the National Forest Service to test the bats and watch countless hours of players breaking the bats. After an untold amount of the working man's hard earned ticket money was "given" out for the study guess what the finding was ...

Yep you guessed it (unless you're a government employee) IF THE WOOD GRAIN GOING DOWN THE HANDLE IS NOT STRAIGHT THE BAT WILL BREAK !!!!!!!!!

How many friggin college degrees does it take to figure that out ????
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And to top off the news update for today ...

The big earthquake in San Fran some years back that caused that double decker bridge to collapse finally got rebuilt yesterday (or in the process) WITH BRIDGE COMPONENTS MADE IN CHINA! TO SAVE MONEY !!!!

WHY THE HELL DO AMERICANS EVEN BOTHER TO WORK WHEN OUR OWN GOVERNMENTS BUYS OUT OF COUNTRY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kweaver]

Wayne - You left out the air in the tires from Louisville for the Originals.