Evolution?

My comments after reading an article on "Evolution"

The greatest mystery to me is why those with a propensity for things scientific aren't the most avid believers in an intelligent design! The incredible complexities of the simplest life-forms, and up to the watch-like precision and balance of our planet's predetermined flight path are all within parameters that are razor thin. Compromise in either direction- life as we know it ceases to exist. Everything has it's purpose, it's part in the script, the list of ingredients.. To believe it all came out of chaos by accident is the most illogical and unscientific fantasy Without any outside influence or manipulation things stagnate, decay, or become unkempt, out of control- they don't become more complex! It would be easier for me to believe this pc I'm typing on came from the desert where certain silicon crystals just happened to form a certain way next to some copper veins that formed thin wiry appendages that somehow fastened themselves......you get the drift. Mankind has serious ego problems- just because he doesn't understand or can't figure some things out, or why they don't fit into his finite understanding, he'll try to do away with it, or find a way to make it fit into his agenda. But I think common sense is gaining, and will ultimately prevail.

Optimize your inner MacGuyver

This is so profound- yet so simple. If you can get a handle on this it will revolutionize your abilities in just about every aspect regarding mechanics.
The role of a machine is to transmit motion, energy, force in a predetermined manner to accomplish a goal.
Machines that have moving parts eventually wear out and cease to perform the function that was intended. Why?
In order for the assemblage of parts in a machine to fit and work together, they are made to specific tolerances- not too little or it's too tight; too much and it's too loose.
When something wears out it's because friction, motion, stress has removed material from the part causing it to not fit and work together with the other parts because the tolerance has been exceeded. The logical solution? Replace the material that was lost restoring proper tolerance, or fill in the gap with a suitable material- what I call "shimming"
It's what you're doing when you put oversize bearings or pistons in an engine. When the front suspension becomes worn and loose sometimes "shims" can be used to remedy it. When a tire wears unevenly wheel weights are used to balance out the missing rubber from the tire. Sometimes a bolt or screw comes loose, distorting or wearing out it's original location and a larger one is used to fill in the slack. You've heard of unscrupulous mechanics adding sawdust to a worn transmission or differential- it's all the same concept.
In situations where something has worn out, and a replacement part was unavailable or not feasible, many times have I done some creative, (although unorthodox) and inventive shimming to save the day. An example: A well oiled sliver of thin copper tape on worn electric motor bearings keeps the shaft from wobbling and shorting out.

Conspiracy fact

"They're out to get us", I blurted to no one in particular, more like a frustrated utterance than a statement of fact.
"Why in the hell..... oh never mind" I wanted to throw my screwdriver- I didn't. I briefly entertained the idea of digging out my dremel with an ultra thin little cut-off wheel, and cutting a slot in the top of this screw to accomodate the idiots that came up with this ... stupid new type of fastener that wouldn't accept a normal driver??? Welcome to Capitalism- it's the American way!
Being a radical die-hard do- it- yourselfer I've painfully watched as our dignity, our source of esteem has been eroded, no, make that stripped away, vandalized- our only power against the corporations nullified. I refuse to bow down- roll over and play dead before this juggernaut that insists I not repair my appliances; but buy new ones- forget it!
I first experienced in a real and personal way their greed when I bought a new leaf blower about ten years ago. Being the ever inquisitive tweaker I am I partly disassembled it before even starting it; curious about the inner workings. "What the...?" Dumbfounded- the realization slowly sunk in as I liberated the flimsy Japanese carburetor from it's mating surface on the side of the cylinder. There it was; a deliberate gap in the gasket. Defect?Accident? Engineered that way? Of course- a small leak would allow a trickle of debris to march slowly in, like an invading army plundering and looting and compromising the integrity of the cylinder wall, robbing it of it's ability to function in it's delicate dance of compression; prematurely aging and wearing, gouging and ruination- but not so rapid that it would be dealt with in a warrantee type of environment- but cutting short it's life on the premise of our reinvesting our resources to purchase anew- for their profit margin!! Nefarious!
As time passed I became aware of strange new slots and depressions in the heads of screws, fasteners from hell that demanded uncommon, eclectic types of tools, and then inevitably the coup-de-grace; no fasteners- but plastic molded and melted together making disassembly impossible without forcibly breaking it apart! Knaves!!
Being known as a MacGuyver-ish, handyman type, able to fix almost anything- my way of life; rather, my very purpose for being was disintegrating. I felt violated. One of the simple pleasures in my life- browsing the hardware store (like a kid in a candy shop) was starting to feel like a bad dream, like mockery; the thing I enjoyed so much became a thing I loved to hate. Why is it that we have to have standard and metric sizes of bolts? Why are there different threads on water pipe, gas pipe, compressed air fittings, electrical conduit fittings, even a hose thread is just slightly different. They can all be the same size, but just a litlle bit off- just enough to make interchanging them impossible!. I think that when the Toro irrigation supply co. came out with their own brand of sprinkler hose, (called it "funny pipe"- yeah, I'll say something is funny) about the same general size- but off enough so that you couldn't use any of the competition's fittings, you had to buy the Toro fittings only- was the last straw for me. I started getting into computers.
Nowadays my beef is with AOL- they've interrupted me three times just while writing this blog. " Do you want to continue to stay online?" WTF ? I'm in the middle of a letter- how'm I supposed to post it if not online? And why do you keep sending my favorite newsletters into the spam folder where I have to go searching for them?
I applied for my own domain name through AOL-- Bombgardener@doesitbest.com. Cool- has a nice ring to it! Does it best! But sure enough when I try to read my mail I get redirected through all this hogwash, and get this: superimposed over the sign in button there's a link for some advertising bull***, I can't even hit the damn sign in button??!!
I hit the enter key instead. As my mailbox opens there is this huge sideways emoticon. It's winking at me!

Compatible

Something I've pondered: If opposites attract, why do dating services offer compatibility, and what does it really mean? Similar interests, goals, standards or spiritual/religious attitudes I can understand. But do I want someone who is just like me in as many ways as possible? Wouldn't that be weird? Is it because my human nature is egotistical and self centered, that the perfect mate would be....myself? Our self image is usually better than how the world actually sees us; unless of course there are self esteem issues, and we've been told for so long that we are worthless. In that case anything pretty much goes; after all who would want me? Be fortunate to have a date with Steve Urkel, or Marge the love barge!
Could it possibly be, that opposites are actually more compatible- as they make up for each other's weaknesses and compliment each others qualities? In the area one falls short- the other can fill in the gap. Working together they create a synergy- a well rounded whole. In a perfect world that is.
Maybe we were meant to have different hobbies, or pursuits, so we can get a break from one another occasionally. Even the very best of friends will ultimately turn on each other if they're together all the time. In my experience folks who could not or did not want to ever be by themselves were likely unstable and insecure. Everybody needs occasional quiet time to themselves, so they can reflect and introspect without distraction or interference- necessary for our psycho- health.
Would I really like having my wife/ girlfriend right there next to me- polishing rocks, or working on the computer, or learning a new song on the guitar? How could that not turn into some kind of competition? And if we both had a weakness for gambling, or a substance problem, etc. our problem would be multiplied- compounded! If I was with someone like me, our finances would be doubly screwed up, we would be fighting over the ice cream- and nobody would ever do the dishes!
In social environments I've always been the wallflower, introverted, quiet, self composed- but my ex- wife was enough of an extrovert for both of us. And a lot of the things I detested, like certain responsibilities, paperwork, conflict, drama of any kind- she handled with ease. And I loved it! One of the Goliaths that seemed always to torment her (laundry) was a walk in the park for me- could have done it blindfolded and made a game out of it, and I would have had fun. I loved to cook, be the handyman and fix and maintain the mechanical and household appliances, I even sewed, tended the flower garden, helped the kids with their homework- all to her relief. But it was no biggie because those were my strengths-they came naturally without really trying..As it was for her also easy to be ambitious, assertive, not satisfied with status quo- but pushing the rest of us to grow and expand horizons.
I want to be with someone who is different, exciting, unpredictable, with new ideas and viewpoints. OR just be with myself. I've already got me, and I'm a good conversationalist. But who is gonna do the dishes??

Mouth for War

I was talking to a friend today.
"The f***ing thing was so heavy I barely f***in made it. And f****in..."
Whoah, dude, I'm thinking to myself, how did the profane expletive become so common in our civilization- that now it becomes automatic when we can't think of the next word to say? What happened to "uhh", or "umm"? Not offensive enough maybe? When did sounding ignorant and brutish become a status symbol, because I sure missed it! I wanted to ask him: what are you gonna do when you really need to cuss? You've used it up, neutered it, taken away it's power, and authority. When I go, "F**k!" everyone turns around in shock and with their mouths open witnessing an event, a palpable apprehension- because they know I very rarely use that word, and not without just cause. The curse has gone forth and served it's purpose, it's destiny. But you've made it impotent, emasculated. Now it has no effect whatsoever. You've taken the prime, the king of the cuss words and watered it down; so now you might as well be clearing your throat. What are you gonna say when you want to express extreme displeasure towards someone, or are angry at a perceived injustice or insult and need to retaliate, or hit your thumb with a hammer? You're out of luck!
And by the way- why in the hell are you asking God to Damn something when it's obviously already f****d up- shouldn't you be asking God to bless it? I mean, think about it; the thing is not working right, for God to damn it is only going to make it worse. It's already broken, now it's going to hell too. That was smart! And it's not like God is there next to you going, "thats right buddy, you say the word and we'll teach that punkass a thing or two for not obeying you!" "Throw your tools a little harder, maybe a fist through the wall even, that'll do the trick" Yeah right.
I'd like to know why God anyway; how come nobody ever says, "Lucifer dammit, or "Satan H. Devil!?? Jesus did nothing but good; yet He gets blamed for everything. "Jesus Christ!, I told you three times to do it like this..." "How much did you spend? Jesus, do you think I'm made of money?" "Jeez, are you stupid!"
I'd like to tell them all to shut the f*** up! whoops!