[Clayart] tools and cars

[mel jacobson]

those of you, and there are many, learned to use tools by having old 
cars, doing our
own repairs...learning the basics of good transportation.
that is gone from our world.
you all know the consequences.

i was 13 when i first drove milk cans to the dairy when doing summer
work.  it was two miles and i drove a 1938 ford pickup...of course /stick.
the first time i had to go, i drove all the way in first gear.  but soon 
got faster.
at summer camp i drove a model A. sort of a delivery truck....back in 
the woods.

the first time i drove in the city i was 15.  my brother (with my help) 
bought a 38 pontiac
coup.  he was at the drug store when carolyn snow drove up with her 
brand new 51 ford
convert...white.  she asked my brother to go on a `long ride`...he did.  
(and i bet they stopped for a bit)
he threw me the keys and said...`get the car home`...i said...`i don't 
drive in the city`.
he said.` learn fast`.  so, i did.  bob and dick hobert, both 250lbs 
crammed in the car
and we pooled out money...96 cents...put in gas and drove out to 
lakeville on a real highway.
it was magic.

but, the bottom line...i learned to use a timing light, dwell 
meter..change plugs, do points
do tires....put in a water pump...then it got complex like a pair of 
front brakes.
then the engine came out.   no fear...take it apart.
all of that led to building my first kiln. running inch and a half black 
pipe from the house to the
garage...gas.  that led to doing an entire wiring job in a house...and, 
of course no fear
with plumbing. then i built and entire house...all of it...mostly alone. 
it still works perfectly
at the farm.

all of that led to taking my computers apart...putting in new 
stuff..then building my own
from scratch.
nothing is about brag...it is about adventure, see what 
happens...understand how things work.
are you willing to learn?   make glaze, make clay, build kilns, build a 
wheel...make the building
to house it.

we now build cars too safe, so automatic that they are becoming more 
dangerous.
young people do not have to think while driving...multi task...the car 
will stop
on its own if there is danger.  not when the kid is doing 85 on the highway.

in many ways i feel we should go back to simple cars...shift, brakes, 
turn signals.
make people drive again...no day dreaming.
mel

-- 
Mel's Website:  www.melpots.com
CLAYART PAGE:
http://www.melpots.com/CLAYART.HTML

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