You know, there ain't no Republicans in my shop. There ain't no
Democrats, neither. There ain't no Conservatives and there ain't no
Liberals. It is equally lacking in Socialists, Communists, John
Birchers, MADD women, NOW women, or women in general.
Ya see, a shop, properly thought of, is a respite from all of this
bullshit.
A shop, properly thought of, is a respite.
JOAT has a famous reflection on what a shop is and those who can know
will know the reference.
I'm hanging out in the shop more and more these recent days.
THE WORLD has gotten way too freaky. I need to be in an environment
where the choices are between oak and walnut, or between cherry and
poplar.
As THE WORLD seems to demand more complexity, I respond by seeking
simplicity.
In the spring I made a footlocker for my son to take to boy scout
camp. It was made of left over cherry and left over hardware but it
turned out to look pretty nice.
People liked it and now I've commited to making one for the boy scout
auction in October. The materials alone are about $400.00. The sheet
of 1/2" cherry ply (A-1) cost me $149.00 plus tax. The rest is for
solid brass hardware. If it doesn't sell for more than $800.00, I
might as well have written them a check for the four hundred bucks.
Is that really true?
Hell no!
I get to make a second version of a project that I liked and get the
opportunity to address what I felt to be the flaws of the first piece.
I intend to make one of these a year at least until my son is out of
scouts, and I'm hoping that will be seven more years.
No Republicans - no Democrats - no nothing but good soul filling shop
time.
I should pay them to have the opportunity to do something meaningful
in the quiet of my shop.
Where the music is always good.
And the radio is never tuned to politics.
And there is no TV.
And the cell phone is never on.
And the only sound that I need to hear is the thrumming of the Unisaw
and the counterpoint high of the shaper, with the occasional tenor of
the lathe and the piping interruption of the compressor.
Sweet symphony.
I need it now more than ever.
tom
"Robatoy" wrote
> Guilty. But you already knew that. I reviewed, just the other night,
> some Robert Frost with my daughter.
I once chose Rossetti's "Remember" to deliver as the eulogy at a friend's
memorial service ... I think I may have actually made it through the whole
thing, but in one breath ... otherwise, not.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/18/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)
On Sep 26, 8:46=A0am, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Remember when you could move everything you owned ...in one trip ... in y=
our
> pickup?
Absolutely. And when one of my amigos moved (in with his girlfriend,
thrown out by his girlfriend/wife, or found cheaper lodgings) we
charged a six pack a piece to move them as it actually took most of
one morning to move all belongings and tools.
> Undoubtedly, it's "responsibility" that's responsible for the loss of the
> "peace of mind" we had in our youth. Seems those who exhibit the most,
> suffer the most.
You know, without being sanctimonious about it I think that is true.
There is always one more thing I MUST do, one more thing that needs
attention, one more thing I need to plan for, one more crisis to be
resolved. I know on this, I am not alone by a long shot.
Like I said, there just doesn't seem to be a quiet place to be
anymore. Where does a man do his thinking these days?
Robert
[email protected] wrote:
> Like I said, there just doesn't seem to be a quiet place to be
> anymore. Where does a man do his thinking these days?
We all need to find our own places. You reminded me of a poem that's
become one of my favorites (and it somehow wasn't when I was much
younger...)
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/Misc/Verse.html#miles
Methinks he's caught the feeling rather well.
--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/
Swingman wrote:
> "Morris Dovey" wrote
>
>> http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/Misc/Verse.html#miles
>>
>> Methinks he's caught the feeling rather well.
>
> Ah ha!... another C. Rossetti fan to boot. You may find it hard to believe,
> but I thought I was the only soppy sentimentalist around here. :)
I suspect there may be two or three others as well. :-]
--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/
On Sep 26, 12:16=A0pm, [email protected] wrote:
> On Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:36:15 -0700 (PDT), "[email protected]"
>
>
>
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> >On Sep 26, 8:46=A0am, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >> Remember when you could move everything you owned ...in one trip ... i=
n your
> >> pickup?
>
> >Absolutely. =A0And when one of my amigos moved (in with his girlfriend,
> >thrown out by his girlfriend/wife, or found cheaper lodgings) we
> >charged a six pack a piece to move them as it actually took most of
> >one morning to move all belongings and tools.
>
> >> Undoubtedly, it's "responsibility" that's responsible for the loss of =
the
> >> "peace of mind" we had in our youth. Seems those who exhibit the most,
> >> suffer the most.
>
> >You know, without being sanctimonious about it I think that is true.
> >There is always one more thing I MUST do, one more thing that needs
> >attention, one more thing I need to plan for, one more crisis to be
> >resolved. =A0I know on this, I am not alone by a long shot.
>
> >Like I said, there just doesn't seem to be a quiet place to be
> >anymore. =A0Where does a man do his thinking these days?
>
> >Robert
>
> Sailboat.
On my bike on a 60 - 80 mile ride. Alone. In farm country.
D'ohBoy
Tom,
I recorded the debate last night and was going to watch it tomorrow when my
wife is out of the house. Now I think I'll spend the day in the shop and
skip the debate.
Enjoy,
cm
"Tom Watson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:009ab511-df0b-4b40-bda9-6c1c44b8ba8d@a19g2000pra.googlegroups.com...
> You know, there ain't no Republicans in my shop. There ain't no
> Democrats, neither. There ain't no Conservatives and there ain't no
> Liberals. It is equally lacking in Socialists, Communists, John
> Birchers, MADD women, NOW women, or women in general.
>
> Ya see, a shop, properly thought of, is a respite from all of this
> bullshit.
>
> A shop, properly thought of, is a respite.
>
> JOAT has a famous reflection on what a shop is and those who can know
> will know the reference.
>
> I'm hanging out in the shop more and more these recent days.
>
> THE WORLD has gotten way too freaky. I need to be in an environment
> where the choices are between oak and walnut, or between cherry and
> poplar.
>
> As THE WORLD seems to demand more complexity, I respond by seeking
> simplicity.
>
> In the spring I made a footlocker for my son to take to boy scout
> camp. It was made of left over cherry and left over hardware but it
> turned out to look pretty nice.
>
> People liked it and now I've commited to making one for the boy scout
> auction in October. The materials alone are about $400.00. The sheet
> of 1/2" cherry ply (A-1) cost me $149.00 plus tax. The rest is for
> solid brass hardware. If it doesn't sell for more than $800.00, I
> might as well have written them a check for the four hundred bucks.
>
> Is that really true?
>
> Hell no!
>
> I get to make a second version of a project that I liked and get the
> opportunity to address what I felt to be the flaws of the first piece.
>
> I intend to make one of these a year at least until my son is out of
> scouts, and I'm hoping that will be seven more years.
>
> No Republicans - no Democrats - no nothing but good soul filling shop
> time.
>
> I should pay them to have the opportunity to do something meaningful
> in the quiet of my shop.
>
> Where the music is always good.
>
> And the radio is never tuned to politics.
>
> And there is no TV.
>
> And the cell phone is never on.
>
> And the only sound that I need to hear is the thrumming of the Unisaw
> and the counterpoint high of the shaper, with the occasional tenor of
> the lathe and the piping interruption of the compressor.
>
> Sweet symphony.
>
> I need it now more than ever.
>
>
>
>
>
> tom
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
"Zz Yzx" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> BUT, these times require good men to come to the aid of our country.
> RIGHT NOW, our country needs good men and women more than ever before.
> We can't simply withdraw to our shops and ignore the problems until
> after the election. By then, it could be too late.
For those of you interested, Michael Moore has released a free documentary
on his efforts to get people to vote. It can be viewed online or downloaded
(about 650 megs in size).
http://slackeruprising.com/
On Sep 26, 12:47=A0pm, Morris Dovey <[email protected]> wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
> > Like I said, there just doesn't seem to be a quiet place to be
> > anymore. =A0Where does a man do his thinking these days?
>
> We all need to find our own places. You reminded me of a poem that's
> become one of my favorites (and it somehow wasn't when I was much
> younger...)
>
> =A0 =A0http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/Misc/Verse.html#miles
>
> Methinks he's caught the feeling rather well.
>
> --
> Morris Dovey
> DeSoto Solar
> DeSoto, Iowa USAhttp://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/
Mine's the southwest wall of Sterling Castle in Scotland. Went there
and just felt such a sense of peace staring out over the countryside
in March that it's stuck with me ever since.
Closer to home it's in the shop, but recently I'm finding that playing
with my 2 year old son is just as fulfilling, if not as quiet or
therapeutic as woodworking may be.
-Nathan
On Sep 25, 7:44=A0pm, Tom Watson <[email protected]> wrote:
> You know, there ain't no Republicans in my shop. =A0There ain't no
> Democrats, neither. =A0There ain't no Conservatives and there ain't no
> Liberals. =A0It is equally lacking in Socialists, Communists, John
> Birchers, MADD women, NOW women, or women in general.
>
> Ya see, a shop, properly thought of, is a respite from all of this
> bullshit.
>
> A shop, properly thought of, is a respite.
*SNIP* of good stuff...
> And the only sound that I need to hear is the thrumming of the Unisaw
> and the counterpoint high of the shaper, with the occasional tenor of
> the lathe and the piping interruption of the compressor.
>
> Sweet symphony.
>
> I need it now more than ever.
Amen. Me too. I am getting pretty tired of everyone and everything.
I have been working pretty much solo for the last few jobs, and it has
been really nice. Peaceful, quiet, and focused on the work and the
task at hand.
I miss 1975.
I was happy with the music on the radio on the way to work. I could
work off a hangover by about 10:00 am. I was working full time in
construction for a guy that thought back breaking labor built good
character. I think he was right.
If I had a good week, I got a good paycheck. If I had a better week
than that, I got lucky with the wimmin' and had some scratch left
over.
Good overtime meant someone was barbecuing. Ice cold beer (off the
ice) and Texas brisket.
I slept like a baby because I was worn out all the damn time because I
decked houses on the weekend when I could get them. I didn't worry
much past paying my bills because I didn't have any extra money or
other nice things to worry about.
Now when I am out on a job stringing out the cords, getting "set up"
to work, and getting started, I try to remember what it was like
then. Things today are so troubling...
Mostly I think, it was quiet. On that first construction job, we all
had assignments to do, and my boss didn't like idle conversation so
there just wasn't any. Radios weren't even allowed on the jobsite.
Everything seems so noisy and annoying these days.
Yeah, it was quiet then. Just the sounds of busy tools and machines
all day. It was peaceful then, and a man could think things through
while he was working.
All of us blue collar jerks didn't care who was in office or running
for office because we knew then as I know now, none of them care about
the people they represent. Party has nothing to do with it. We
didn't argue about politics with each other. In the end, we knew what
we thought simply didn't matter. So we had another beer to settle up
the differences of opinion.
I am doing all I can to get back to that place, wherever it might be.
A job site, the shop, wherever...
Great post, Tom.
Robert
respite from all of this bullshit.
Here Here.
Here, now, is 25ac in the foothills with a sweet dog, some chickens &
neighbors that are good people and far enough away that I can't see
'em coming or going and they can't see me. I draw my water from a well
and put my shit in a septic tank and carry my trash into town to dump
it when I fell like it or I run out of cans.
I bought a small tractor and my wife'll tell you "He makes the earth
move." We planted a garden and grew our own veggies - though the corn
didn't do well at all this year. We had some cherries and grapes and
humongous squash and still have some peppers and tomatoes. Joe and
Shirley have some great blueberries and we share tomatoes and eggs and
such - and recipes.
I took an old dirt floor pole barn and turned it into an 18.5 x 32'
shop and spend my time working in and on it along with the other
little projects that demand attention. We reused all the siding from
the original barn over stud walls sheathed in OSB and covered with 30#
felt and Tyvek over that - got a free roll from a construction site!).
Bought rough sawn pine to finish when we ran out of the old siding.
Wanted it to look like the old barn 'case the tax assessor came
'round. I've yet to run the 8/3 to it, but did get the 1.25" conduit
in a trench last week so I can have 40AMPS or so of 220 out there.
We have a Lowes, but we have a Shields Hardware hanging on where the
family runs it still and closes Wednesday and Sunday and noon on
Saturday and never stays open past five o'clock. They have most
anything you need on hand at prices competitive or a few pennies
higher and an attitude that Lowes can't match on its best days.
Back in 1975, if you'd asked, I would have said I wanted away from it
all, too. Then I though five acres with a long drive to a house hidden
from view would be fine - now I think fifty acres would be best. Don't
think I ever thought "society" was all it was cracked up to be.
I just cashed my first SS check and can't think of anything I'd rather
be doing than spending my last days here with my dog, my "classical"
music and tools. I have the TV 'till the bargain basement come on deal
($66 for TV, Internet & Unlimited phone) goes to "market rates - then
back to an antenna and a basic "local only" phone.
Maybe I can create a wood working project someone will find worth
auctioning off some day. For now, its mainly utilitarian stuff - a
graden cart, a bird feeder, a chicken coop, dog house, step stool for
the grand daughter, work bench, router table, and such. Going to re-do
the kitchen and bath here one of these days.
Glad I read this post - and the replies thereto. Calm is what I like.
If my back wasn't so touchy, I'd be as close to heaven as I might ever
get.
Peace
On Sep 27, 12:30 pm, Zz Yzx <[email protected]> wrote:
> We can't simply withdraw to our shops and ignore the problems until
> after the election.
The revolution is going to need a lot of pointy sticks.
"Morris Dovey" wrote
> http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/Misc/Verse.html#miles
>
> Methinks he's caught the feeling rather well.
Ah ha!... another C. Rossetti fan to boot. You may find it hard to believe,
but I thought I was the only soppy sentimentalist around here. :)
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/18/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)
On Sep 26, 5:40=A0pm, Morris Dovey <[email protected]> wrote:
> Swingman wrote:
> > "Morris Dovey" wrote
>
> >> =A0 =A0http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/Misc/Verse.html#miles
>
> >> Methinks he's caught the feeling rather well.
>
> > Ah ha!... another C. Rossetti fan to boot. You may find it hard to beli=
eve,
> > but I thought I was the only soppy sentimentalist around here. :)
>
> I suspect there may be two or three others as well. :-]
>
> --
> Morris Dovey
> DeSoto Solar
> DeSoto, Iowa USAhttp://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/
Guilty. But you already knew that. I reviewed, just the other night,
some Robert Frost with my daughter.
"Tom Watson" wrote:
> Where the music is always good.
>
> And the radio is never tuned to politics.
>
> And there is no TV.
>
> And the cell phone is never on.
You have just defined why I'm a cruising sailor.
Sailing gives you a place to put the round pegs back in the round
holes, the square pegs back in the square holes, and the rest get
washed overboard.
Lew
"Chuck" wrote
> Gone fishin' for that lunker bass.
Funny you said that ... for the first time in years (since college in the
mid 60's, actually) I've become interested enough in fishing again to go
looking at used bass boats, on Craigslist, in 3 states, just a click away,
everyday ... got the icons on my desktop!
But just looking, you understand! :)
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/18/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)
<[email protected]> wrote
> On Sep 26, 8:46 am, "Swingman" wrote:
>> Undoubtedly, it's "responsibility" that's responsible for the loss of the
>> "peace of mind" we had in our youth. Seems those who exhibit the most,
>> suffer the most.
>
> You know, without being sanctimonious about it I think that is true.
> There is always one more thing I MUST do, one more thing that needs
> attention, one more thing I need to plan for, one more crisis to be
> resolved. I know on this, I am not alone by a long shot.
Damn hard to "soar through the air with the greatest of ease" while you're
holding up the "safety net". ;)
> Like I said, there just doesn't seem to be a quiet place to be
> anymore. Where does a man do his thinking these days?
Tom mentioned JOAT's reflection ... it's been at the bottom of the "Shop"
page of my website for for four or five years now:
http://www.e-woodshop.net/shop.htm
I'm out of a shop at the moment ... it's amazing what extraordinary steps
some of us will scheme and plan just to be back in one. I'll keep you
posted. :)
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/18/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)
<[email protected]> wrote \
> I was happy with the music on the radio on the way to work. I could
> work off a hangover by about 10:00 am. I was working full time in
> construction for a guy that thought back breaking labor built good
> character. I think he was right.
> If I had a good week, I got a good paycheck. If I had a better week
> than that, I got lucky with the wimmin' and had some scratch left
> over.
>
> Good overtime meant someone was barbecuing. Ice cold beer (off the
> ice) and Texas brisket.
>
> I slept like a baby because I was worn out all the damn time because I
> decked houses on the weekend when I could get them. I didn't worry
> much past paying my bills because I didn't have any extra money or
> other nice things to worry about.
>
> Now when I am out on a job stringing out the cords, getting "set up"
> to work, and getting started, I try to remember what it was like
> then. Things today are so troubling...
Remember when you could move everything you owned ...in one trip ... in your
pickup?
> I am doing all I can to get back to that place, wherever it might be.
> A job site, the shop, wherever...
Undoubtedly, it's "responsibility" that's responsible for the loss of the
"peace of mind" we had in our youth. Seems those who exhibit the most,
suffer the most.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/18/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)
[email protected] wrote:
> On Sep 26, 8:46 am, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Remember when you could move everything you owned ...in one trip ... in your
>> pickup?
>
> Absolutely. And when one of my amigos moved (in with his girlfriend,
> thrown out by his girlfriend/wife, or found cheaper lodgings) we
> charged a six pack a piece to move them as it actually took most of
> one morning to move all belongings and tools.
>
>> Undoubtedly, it's "responsibility" that's responsible for the loss of the
>> "peace of mind" we had in our youth. Seems those who exhibit the most,
>> suffer the most.
>
> You know, without being sanctimonious about it I think that is true.
> There is always one more thing I MUST do, one more thing that needs
> attention, one more thing I need to plan for, one more crisis to be
> resolved. I know on this, I am not alone by a long shot.
>
> Like I said, there just doesn't seem to be a quiet place to be
> anymore. Where does a man do his thinking these days?
>
> Robert
>
>
>
Gone fishin' for that lunker bass.
"Swingman" wrote
>
> I'm out of a shop at the moment ... it's amazing what extraordinary steps
> some of us will scheme and plan just to be back in one. I'll keep you
> posted. :)
>
I am not understanding that.
I thought it may be due to an impending move. But is seems that the shop
building itself is defective and must be replaced? Or some kind of local
drainage issue? Or ????
"Lee Michaels" wrote
>
> "Swingman" wrote
>>
>> I'm out of a shop at the moment ... it's amazing what extraordinary steps
>> some of us will scheme and plan just to be back in one. I'll keep you
>> posted. :)
>>
> I am not understanding that.
>
> I thought it may be due to an impending move. But is seems that the shop
> building itself is defective and must be replaced? Or some kind of local
> drainage issue? Or ????
All the above ... and while I don't want to jinx the making of the lemonade,
it can't be too soon. Once you have an extremely well equipped shop, it's
hard to imagine how inconvenient it can be to be without.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/18/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)
On Sep 26, 12:36=A0pm, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> On Sep 26, 8:46=A0am, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Remember when you could move everything you owned ...in one trip ... in=
your
> > pickup?
>
> Absolutely. =A0And when one of my amigos moved (in with his girlfriend,
> thrown out by his girlfriend/wife, or found cheaper lodgings) we
> charged a six pack a piece to move them as it actually took most of
> one morning to move all belongings and tools.
>
> > Undoubtedly, it's "responsibility" that's responsible for the loss of t=
he
> > "peace of mind" we had in our youth. Seems those who exhibit the most,
> > suffer the most.
>
> You know, without being sanctimonious about it I think that is true.
> There is always one more thing I MUST do, one more thing that needs
> attention, one more thing I need to plan for, one more crisis to be
> resolved. =A0I know on this, I am not alone by a long shot.
>
> Like I said, there just doesn't seem to be a quiet place to be
> anymore. =A0Where does a man do his thinking these days?
>
> Robert
At the edge of the St. Clair River. On a bench. With an order of
french fries.
http://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Sarnia/webcams/98
then it's a short walk to the pub to wash those fries down, and then
it is a 10 minute walk home.
http://www.upsndowns.net/
Better than yoga.
On Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:44:40 -0700 (PDT), Tom Watson
<[email protected]> wrote:
>You know, there ain't no Republicans in my shop. There ain't no
>Democrats, neither. There ain't no Conservatives and there ain't no
>Liberals. It is equally lacking in Socialists, Communists, John
>Birchers, MADD women, NOW women, or women in general.
>
>Ya see, a shop, properly thought of, is a respite from all of this
>bullshit.
>
>A shop, properly thought of, is a respite.
>
>JOAT has a famous reflection on what a shop is and those who can know
>will know the reference.
>
>I'm hanging out in the shop more and more these recent days.
>
>THE WORLD has gotten way too freaky. I need to be in an environment
>where the choices are between oak and walnut, or between cherry and
>poplar.
>
>As THE WORLD seems to demand more complexity, I respond by seeking
>simplicity.
>
>In the spring I made a footlocker for my son to take to boy scout
>camp. It was made of left over cherry and left over hardware but it
>turned out to look pretty nice.
>
>People liked it and now I've commited to making one for the boy scout
>auction in October. The materials alone are about $400.00. The sheet
>of 1/2" cherry ply (A-1) cost me $149.00 plus tax. The rest is for
>solid brass hardware. If it doesn't sell for more than $800.00, I
>might as well have written them a check for the four hundred bucks.
>
>Is that really true?
>
>Hell no!
>
>I get to make a second version of a project that I liked and get the
>opportunity to address what I felt to be the flaws of the first piece.
>
>I intend to make one of these a year at least until my son is out of
>scouts, and I'm hoping that will be seven more years.
>
>No Republicans - no Democrats - no nothing but good soul filling shop
>time.
>
>I should pay them to have the opportunity to do something meaningful
>in the quiet of my shop.
>
>Where the music is always good.
>
>And the radio is never tuned to politics.
>
>And there is no TV.
>
>And the cell phone is never on.
>
>And the only sound that I need to hear is the thrumming of the Unisaw
>and the counterpoint high of the shaper, with the occasional tenor of
>the lathe and the piping interruption of the compressor.
>
>Sweet symphony.
>
>I need it now more than ever.
>
>
>
>
>
>tom
>
>
thanks for the reminder tom! thumbs up to you!
skeez
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
On Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:36:15 -0700 (PDT), "[email protected]"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>On Sep 26, 8:46 am, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Remember when you could move everything you owned ...in one trip ... in your
>> pickup?
>
>Absolutely. And when one of my amigos moved (in with his girlfriend,
>thrown out by his girlfriend/wife, or found cheaper lodgings) we
>charged a six pack a piece to move them as it actually took most of
>one morning to move all belongings and tools.
>
>> Undoubtedly, it's "responsibility" that's responsible for the loss of the
>> "peace of mind" we had in our youth. Seems those who exhibit the most,
>> suffer the most.
>
>You know, without being sanctimonious about it I think that is true.
>There is always one more thing I MUST do, one more thing that needs
>attention, one more thing I need to plan for, one more crisis to be
>resolved. I know on this, I am not alone by a long shot.
>
>Like I said, there just doesn't seem to be a quiet place to be
>anymore. Where does a man do his thinking these days?
>
>Robert
>
>
Sailboat.
On Sep 28, 4:54=A0am, "Upscale" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Zz Yzx" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > BUT, these times require good men to come to the aid of our country.
> > RIGHT NOW, our country needs good men and women more than ever before.
> > We can't simply withdraw to our shops and ignore the problems until
> > after the election. =A0By then, it could be too late.
>
> For those of you interested, Michael Moore has released a free documentar=
y
> on his efforts to get people to vote. It can be viewed online or download=
ed
> (about 650 megs in size).http://slackeruprising.com/
Oh goodie. Moore had some funny bits, way back when, now he's just an
overblown hippocryte. [sic]
On Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:44:40 -0700 (PDT), Tom Watson
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Sweet symphony.
>
>I need it now more than ever.
Thanks, Tom
Best post on here in a long time. I'm fighting health issues and I
find that just sitting on the stool in my shop is a needed escape.
Tim Douglass
http://www.DouglassClan.com
"I'm not exactly burned out, but I'm a little bit scorched and there's some smoke damage."
Well said, Tom. I like my shop-time as much as anybody here.
BUT, these times require good men to come to the aid of our country.
RIGHT NOW, our country needs good men and women more than ever before.
We can't simply withdraw to our shops and ignore the problems until
after the election. By then, it could be too late.
We have to stand up, remain vigilant and informed and involved. We
have to find a way to re-channel our revulsion of politics, and to
replace politics and bi-partisan bickering with insightful leadership
and government. I'm not saying I know how, just that it needs to be
done and it's up to us to do it.
Fer Chissake's, if the Hell's Angels can get 1000's of members to give
teddy bears and toys to poor families, we ought to be able to band
together, call "Bullshit", hold our elected officials to higher
standards (recall them if we have to), and get back on track. We
can't do that from our wood shops.
We should seek solace and serenity in our wood shops, but we can't
walk out on our country.
-Zz
PS: I'm NOT implying that Tom W. advocates walking out; on the
contrary, he's provoked us to think and remember the good things the
USA stands for. I'm just saying that we can't give up.
Tom Watson wrote:
> You know, there ain't no Republicans in my shop. There ain't no
> Democrats, neither. There ain't no Conservatives and there ain't no
> Liberals. It is equally lacking in Socialists, Communists, John
> Birchers, MADD women, NOW women, or women in general.
>
> Ya see, a shop, properly thought of, is a respite from all of this
> bullshit.
>
> A shop, properly thought of, is a respite.
[snip]
I was in the shop yesterday attempting to clean, lube, and adjust a
couple of my mechanical friends. The doors were open to a warm fall
afternoon and all was well. Except for one bolt holding a wing on the
saw that did not want to cooperate. At one point I vented my
frustrations in a few dozen well chosen words when I became aware of not
being alone. I turned and saw no one. A faint rustle called me to look
down at a small dog. He looked up at me with, it seems, a look of
disgust at my lack of verbal control.
I had a deep breath, smiled, and engaged the pooch in a few minutes of
conversation. He bade me good day and was again off on his meanderings.
I picked up the offending bolt, put it in the hole, and the #($)#!
thing would still not go in. I laid it on the table, went inside and
took a warm shower.
mahalo,
jo4hn