Another interesting quote

"...These are questions I continually mull over myself, puzzling the connections between culture and the material objects it produces, and the approach to workmanship bound up in the choices made. Why, for instance, is North American culture so preoccupied with producing mountains of crap, and almost nothing of lasting value for future generations to appreciate? Don't we care about our kids, and their kids? Why, despite the fabulous quantities and qualities of materials and products available here, is the quality of work done upon them often so abysmal, and how is it that cheap prices have come to trump almost every other concern in consumer's minds?..."

From Chris Hall's Blog "The Carpentry Way"

Another quote from Paul Sellers

Seems he's got a lot of good to say lately:

"Yesterday I found myself in a group of people from mixed backgrounds: An MP and his wife and daughter, a clothes designer/manufacturer and his wife and daughter a retired dentist and his friend, also a retired dentist. I began asking a question I ask many people at least once a day. What did it take for two of the most productive nations on the face of the earth to relinquish their titles as industrial powers manufacturing all they needed to thrive and become totally consumerist? I mean take a look at all you buy, walk in, walk on, look at, look through, pack in, unpack. Everything you are standing on and wearing , from the soles of your feet to the very tippy-top of your head was made on another continent and we sold the equipment, designs and techniques and technologies that make that possible. Moreover, we sold our children’s birthright to work creatively and put them on the dole (unemployment benefit). Until we answer this and recognise the failed governance of our economy and education of young people we cannot really move forward."

Found here: http://paulsellers.com/2011/10/sometimes-i-panic/

Holy Weirdness

Sorry for letting other people talk so much lately, but they just say it better. Here's another one, from Church of the Beloved:

Holy Weirdness

A quote from Paul Sellers

"Someone once told me that I could never compete with Walmart and Ikea. I asked, “How so?” They answered that the prices were so low I could never produce my work as cheaply as theirs. “Well,” I said, “Surely competition depends on the rules of how you compete and the fact that before the race begins all competitors are fully appraised of and agree with the rules.” The man agreed. I went on. The assumption here is that I want to produce cheaper priced products so as to become a mass maker to supply cheap goods in a store like Walmart or Ikea. The reality of course is that I would never ever want to do such a thing, no matter how much money I might make. Further more, the truth is that Walmart and Ikea cannot compete with me. Neither of these companies could ever produce hand made furniture for the White House Permanent Collection, or have their designs in President Bush’s or Senator Phil Gramm’s home. They couldn’t make the first wall shelf I made for my mum and dad back in 1963 and neither could they make my son and daughter in law’s walnut bed and bedside tables as their wedding present. How could they ever compete with my making my daughter’s rocking chair and my five grandchildren’s dovetailed boxes with their names carved in the lids. I feel sorry for my competition. They never ever win. They just make money."

- from blog post "Competing with Walmart and Ikea" by Paul Sellers

Latest Project Completed

Here's a pic of my latest project, I'll have more info coming, for now please enjoy the picture:

"The Moral Implications of Craftsmanship"

"We tend to think of organized religions as the source of human morality, and yet, the crafting of an object is an expression of moral structure that likely predates any commandment or moral precept. Objects are made with care or they are not. Objects are made with an eye toward useful beauty, or they are not. Objects are made to last, or they are not. If we were truly concerned about building a society in which people care for each other, there is no better way than to engage our children in craftsmanship."

-Doug Stowe

This made me think.

New Toy

Well, after a fair bit of work, it's finally done! My newest toy:



This is my efforts reporducing an 1959 Fender Deluxe guitar amp. This amp is revered by many as being a "tone machine", and I would agree. My guitar has never sounded so good. I procured the amp in kit form from Trinity Amps along with a Tone Tubby 12" Alnico speaker. The circuit board needed to be populated, all the components soldered into place, and installed into the chassis. The kit was first rate, and that part went fairly fast. Then I needed to build the cabinet. That part was a little more involved because that was my own design. But it went reasonable well. The finish is one that I borrowed from Peter Galbert who writes the Chair Notes Blog.

Here's a few more pics:

Are you afraid of heights?

Here's a neat little video of a repairman climbing a radio tower. Now here's the thing, I like climbing. I like heights. This made me feel queezy.

I'm serious, I started feeling dizzy. I'd like to say "Sure, lemme at it, I'll do it!" But watching the video, I'm not so sure.