"The Case for Working With Your Hands" - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

The Clk Man · #1 05-26-2009, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cscmc1

I'll enjoy reading that later (after work). I have always found that I like the balance of working a "desk" job in an academic environment as long as I am able to "balance" it with car and bike projects (etc...) in the garage. I also enjoy doing my aircraft maintenance gig with the Air National Guard; the skills I have learned there give me the confidence to tackle bigger jobs at home.

For me, it's all about that balance. I don't think I could do either exclusively... not very happily, anyway! Thanks for the link, BTW.

Hey!!!! is that an Ice Cold Budweiser in your avatar?

cscmc1 · #2 05-26-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Clk Man

Hey!!!! is that an Ice Cold Budweiser in your avatar?

Hey, I love Harry, but can't say much for his taste in beer.

The Clk Man · #3 05-26-2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cscmc1

Hey, I love Harry, but can't say much for his taste in beer.

Hey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! did I ever tell ya about that time that Pete Rose and I downed a 12 pack of Budweiser before the first inning? Hey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

ramonajim · #4 05-26-2009, 04:55 PM

Read that article yesterday (and promptly passed in on to a number of friends and coworkers).

Captures nicely (and far more eloquently than I ever could have) what I truly cherished about my middle/high school and college shop classes. It's not just the act of actually producing something - it's the different way of thinking about objects, processes, and ultimately people and how they relate to each other that comes from laying hands on raw materials and/or complex assemblies.

cscmc1 · #5 05-26-2009, 05:01 PM

"You know, SOSA spelled backwards is 'ASOS.'"

The Clk Man · #6 05-26-2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cscmc1

"You know, SOSA spelled backwards is 'ASOS.'"

I did not know that.

raymr · #7 05-26-2009, 05:44 PM

Parents want junior to get a top education so he can be a great doctor or big-time executive. Of course, that's where the money and status is. What parent dreams of their kid being a gardener or painter? Only in more cases than not, junior starts out in the business world and stalls out in middle management where he uses few or none of his learned credentials. Parents should really ask themselves what they are setting their kids up for.

My own kid rejected our efforts to "pidgeon-hole" his future, and we are starting to see where he is coming from. He just wants to earn enough money to get by, and to do what he loves to do. He said if you can follow your passions, you won't have to 'work' a day of your life.

tankdriver · #8 05-26-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymr

My own kid rejected our efforts to "pidgeon-hole" his future, and we are starting to see where he is coming from. He just wants to earn enough money to get by, and to do what he loves to do. He said if you can follow your passions, you won't have to 'work' a day of your life.

That cuts two ways.

Thanks for the article. It's a great example of why art is so important (the art in this case being writing). Our society has not consciously chosen to walk down the path of intellectual, white collar jobs. What parents want for their kids is not really a mystery, or has even changed in the last 60 years. The how has changed, because society began to believe, under influence, a certain way is necessary.

Kuan · #9 05-26-2009, 08:23 PM

More and more, as I grow older, I find the need to purchase things that are well engineered, well crafted, and made by few people. My last few purchases have been that way. Yesterday I purchased these exceptional pieces of engineering.

http://www.paulcomp.com/mtthumbie.html

cscmc1 · #10 05-27-2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

More and more, as I grow older, I find the need to purchase things that are well engineered, well crafted, and made by few people. My last few purchases have been that way. Yesterday I purchased these exceptional pieces of engineering.

http://www.paulcomp.com/mtthumbie.html

Hey Kuan -- you'd appreciate this. This past weekend I picked up (from the original owner) a Motobecane Grand Record (ALL Campy) and a Trek touring bike with nice period components (some Campy, too). The feel of those old friction shifters is so nice. The Trek has garden variety Suntour bar-ends, and they are really nice. I need to tune them a bit, but man... what a nice riding bike. I need to find a front rack to go with the original Blackbrun rear with NOW Kirtland panniers.

Anyway, the guy I bought these from took very nice care of his stuff and was quite proud of the bikes. He also had a Fastab custom tandem bike. Talk about a nice, well-built frame!

aklim · #11 05-27-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tankdriver

a certain way is necessary.

I don't think it is an issue of which way is necessary as much as which way gives you the best bet. As they say, the race does NOT always get won by the strongest or the fastest but that is the way to bet. Sure, my father could have indulged me and let me entertain my fancies of being a male giggolo for beautiful rich women. Who knows, I might actually make out on top (pun intended)

but I think the odds are better if I were to try be something that has paid out in general as opposed to some weird dream that might not work out.

John Doe · #12 05-27-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymr

What parent dreams of their kid being a gardener or painter?

I had a client who was a wealthy oncologist who also was a great admirer of the visual arts. Ironically, he developed lung cancer, and before he died, set two of his three adult sons up in paid for rental properties in Chicago and Taos, so that they could focus on art without having to "work" for a living. The one in Chicago is a highly successful commercial "metal working" (my term) artist that makes doors and arches, ect...for big buildings/bridges and public commissions, the other a modest ceramicist and painter, who likes to teach and travel.

I don't believe any amount of begging would cause me to support any of my daughters to enter into my profession. Its not that uncommon....

link · #13 05-27-2009, 11:12 AM

I only read the first page of the article. I didn’t know that many schools had abandoned the shop and craft-centric courses. That is a mistake.

Children will typically follow the models provided by their parents and other close relatives. Schools don’t do enough to show the wide variety of careers available. I wish I’d known some of the things as a school-kid that I learned in years after. A bit of guidance to a young person can go an awful long way.

I've written to school districts and even our community college to suggest a speaker series where people from a wide variety of careers share with students details about their careers. I've gotten good feedback but many wrote that they can’t get people in for this kind of thing. I asked a couple if they’d actually tried and those who responded said they hadn’t, but heard from others that it is not easy. Pathetic. This kind of “handed down wisdom” is typical of an indifferent culture.

Thanks for the link! I’ll finish it when I have some time and will post the article on our community forum.

aklim · #14 05-27-2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by link

I only read the first page of the article. I didn’t know that many schools had abandoned the shop and craft-centric courses. That is a mistake

Problem is our school kids, lets call them "The Unfortunate Incarcerated", can't even do the 3Rs and do them well. TUI, on top of everything have to deal with people who are there, against their will, hence the term TUI. Having them learn other skills when they can't even master the basic skills needed is a little bit of a hard sell.

SwampYankee · #15 05-27-2009, 03:34 PM

That is ultimately what turned me off from landscape architecture. I was far more interested in following blueprints, running equipment and digging in the dirt rather than drawing blueprints. While no longer in landscape construction I do enjoy the hands-on and variable aspect of my current career and dealing with the farmers, landscapers and golf superintendents. There is a managerial/ownership part to it but I get to work with the trucks, equipment and machinery end of it and do field/course consultations with my sales crew often enough to keep me from getting bored out of my skull.

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Doe

I had a client who was a wealthy oncologist who also was a great admirer of the visual arts. Ironically, he developed lung cancer, and before he died, set two of his three adult sons up in paid for rental properties in Chicago and Taos, so that they could focus on art without having to "work" for a living. The one in Chicago is a highly successful commercial "metal working" (my term) artist that makes doors and arches, ect...for big buildings/bridges and public commissions, the other a modest ceramicist and painter, who likes to teach and travel.

Interesting that both Chicago and Taos would come up. My sister recently moved back to Taos after moving to Chicago from Taos 4 years ago, and travels through the artistic and musical circles (she's into ceramics, painting, silkscreening-now in charge of venue promotion at the Taos Inn). Every one of her friends that I've met are from somewhere else and a good number of them fluctuate back and forth between the two locations. Must be the places to be for art!