Tank birthday and I'm a Geezer

[Paul B]

JRWOHLER Thanks for that site. The problem with it is they don't tell you where those tools are built, which means China.
I already discovered I can't get an American made one but I won't buy a Chinese one. If that is all that is available I will look for an old, used American one or at least something from Germany. But it is very hard to find anything made in America. I don't care about the price as long as it's made here. It's the Veteran in me.

 

[JRWOHLER]

14" totally manufactured in the U.S.A.
I guess it depends on which one you want...but I hear you I am from Pittsburgh so growing up during the 70s I saw what happened first hand, my relatives were steel workers.
So I like you try to buy American but some stuff is impossible like clothes.

 

[diana a]

I have a Delta scroll saw. I think it is made in the USA. I have a very old router

 

[Paul B]

You are correct, I just saw that 14" one. My wife already ordered me one for Christmas. I wish I had seen this American one first.
At least I got an American router. I also buy American clothes but it is difficult. I wear no sneakers except American made New Balance. But only few styles they make are American.
I grew up in the 50s and 60s. I guess that makes me old.

 

[Paul B]

First of all my wife is a little better today and is eating, talking, exercizing and most of all telling me what I should do which is great. Now I can go on with my selective hearing like all Men get. But I love it when she gets even a little better.

I came across my interview on a local radio station from 2 years ago. Actually someone on another forum informed me he just heard it and I have been looking for it but thought it was lost or cancelled.
It is boreing so no need to listen to it. The first half is about hobbies and the second half is about my time in Viet Nam. A close friend of mine for most of my life was the host and I am still not sure why he wanted me on unless PeeWee Herman was busy and they needed to fill air time.

I also found out that my Steam Punk art work will be on display in two Mid Town Manhattan art galleries. So I am all excited about my wife and this bit of news.

http://www.tonhprojectindependence.n...EGMENT 3.mp3

http://www.tonhprojectindependence.n...EGMENT 4.mp3

 

[Paul B]

Very soon I have to start building rock for my tank move.* I want to build a large structure to keep my reef off the bottom.* There is just so much to do with the move.* I threw out and gave away so much stuff already including many tools, all my Scuba equipment, all my books, my snow blower is going to a friend as is the rest of my garden tools and many power tools.
There is a 55 gallon tank in a friends LFS to transfer the contents of my tank to in case the move doesn't coincide with selling my house.*
A lot of my rock won't fit in that 55 so I will have to let some of it just dry out.

 

[Paul B]

I wrote this a few months ago, but I just found it again and I have nothing to say about my fish because they are doing what fish normally do such as eating and pooping.

Be a Man

Last week I took my wife to California for a medical procedure and on the plane on the way home a young man sat next to me. I knew right away he was in the service because Veterans, like myself can almost always tell who served. I can pick out a combat Veteran every time which amazes my wife as many times I will approach a stranger and welcome him home.

Anyway, this young man was in the Navy. He had short hair, an American Flag on his hat and backpack, and he called me "Sir". When I come upon an older man than myself (there aren't many left) and I know he is a Vet, I also address him as Sir because that shows respect. Something lost on almost everybody today.

We started talking about his service and he told me about his basic training and was actually embarrassed that it was so easy. He told me that the drill instructors were not allowed to curse at them. They couldn't hit them, They couldn't train outside if the weather was not perfect, they could only give him 20 minutes of exercise, then had to allow them to rest and they had a card with exercises on it and that was all the exercises they could give them. He also told me when people thank him for his service, he says, he really isn't doing much, but Thank You.

If it were not for my seatbelt, I would have fallen off my chair.

He asked me about my training. I told him that in basic training we were not allowed to walk anywhere except Sunday morning. If we wanted to go three feet we had to run. After breakfast, at 4:00am we ran outside for inspection, no matter what the weather. Then we low crawled through a trench filled with soft mud for about 50 yards while drill Sargents kept screaming and stepping on the back of our heads to make sure our face was in the mud. Then we got up and ran through an obstical course before standing on line for breakfast. Three minutes was allowed for breakfast, no talking. Then you ran back to the barracks for a three minute change so you could get inspected. If you failed inspection you ran for most of the rest of the day and if you were over weight, you were put in the "Dune Platoon" which was just running all day with three other guys carrying a telephone pole. If one guy fell, the other three had to carry him, then go back for the pole. Then you got on with whatever you were going to learn for the day. Drill Sargeants had no problem hitting, kicking, punching or in some cases, breaking a leg on you. You didn't get to sue but the Army paid for the cast.

That was the Army then. The Marines did all that just to warm up.

Now, unfortunately, after talking to this fine Sailor, I feel we are turning out Snowflakes.

I hated my Drill Sargent but after a while my feelings changed dramatically and I admired the guy.

When I got to Viet Nam that training paid off because all of our fighting was in mud and there were times when that mud wasn't deep enough for me to put my face down into. I was used to the mud and it didn't bother me one bit. The enemy cursed at us while they were shooting, that also didn't bother me nor did the hot climate, snakes, scorpions, leaches, rain or anything else. That is why we trained and trained hard. We are not doing our service men and women any favors by training them like girlscouts.

Our brave fighting Men and Women deserve better and should be trained to fight, not have a bake sale. If they find themselves in combat, they should be ready and in shape.

I am sure this new training regimen is due to lawyers. I think when a lawyer gets involved in a case where we are trying to train Soldiers and not little girls we should gingerly remove that lawyer from the Army base and gently, threaten him to within an inch of his life, or make him go through Old School Basic training. Then we can get on with making Soldiers and let the lawyers stay in college.

If you are interested in what Basic training was like look up "Full Metal Jacket" and watch the Boot Camp part. The rest of the movie is also very realistic.

 

[njtiger24 aquariums]

I wrote this a few months ago, but I just found it again and I have nothing to say about my fish because they are doing what fish normally do such as eating and pooping.

Be a Man

Last week I took my wife to California for a medical procedure and on the plane on the way home a young man sat next to me. I knew right away he was in the service because Veterans, like myself can almost always tell who served. I can pick out a combat Veteran every time which amazes my wife as many times I will approach a stranger and welcome him home.

Anyway, this young man was in the Navy. He had short hair, an American Flag on his hat and backpack, and he called me "Sir". When I come upon an older man than myself (there aren't many left) and I know he is a Vet, I also address him as Sir because that shows respect. Something lost on almost everybody today.

We started talking about his service and he told me about his basic training and was actually embarrassed that it was so easy. He told me that the drill instructors were not allowed to curse at them. They couldn't hit them, They couldn't train outside if the weather was not perfect, they could only give him 20 minutes of exercise, then had to allow them to rest and they had a card with exercises on it and that was all the exercises they could give them. He also told me when people thank him for his service, he says, he really isn't doing much, but Thank You.

If it were not for my seatbelt, I would have fallen off my chair.

He asked me about my training. I told him that in basic training we were not allowed to walk anywhere except Sunday morning. If we wanted to go three feet we had to run. After breakfast, at 4:00am we ran outside for inspection, no matter what the weather. Then we low crawled through a trench filled with soft mud for about 50 yards while drill Sargents kept screaming and stepping on the back of our heads to make sure our face was in the mud. Then we got up and ran through an obstical course before standing on line for breakfast. Three minutes was allowed for breakfast, no talking. Then you ran back to the barracks for a three minute change so you could get inspected. If you failed inspection you ran for most of the rest of the day and if you were over weight, you were put in the "Dune Platoon" which was just running all day with three other guys carrying a telephone pole. If one guy fell, the other three had to carry him, then go back for the pole. Then you got on with whatever you were going to learn for the day. Drill Sargeants had no problem hitting, kicking, punching or in some cases, breaking a leg on you. You didn't get to sue but the Army paid for the cast.

That was the Army then. The Marines did all that just to warm up.

Now, unfortunately, after talking to this fine Sailor, I feel we are turning out Snowflakes.

I hated my Drill Sargent but after a while my feelings changed dramatically and I admired the guy.

When I got to Viet Nam that training paid off because all of our fighting was in mud and there were times when that mud wasn't deep enough for me to put my face down into. I was used to the mud and it didn't bother me one bit. The enemy cursed at us while they were shooting, that also didn't bother me nor did the hot climate, snakes, scorpions, leaches, rain or anything else. That is why we trained and trained hard. We are not doing our service men and women any favors by training them like girlscouts.

Our brave fighting Men and Women deserve better and should be trained to fight, not have a bake sale. If they find themselves in combat, they should be ready and in shape.

I am sure this new training regimen is due to lawyers. I think when a lawyer gets involved in a case where we are trying to train Soldiers and not little girls we should gingerly remove that lawyer from the Army base and gently, threaten him to within an inch of his life, or make him go through Old School Basic training. Then we can get on with making Soldiers and let the lawyers stay in college.

If you are interested in what Basic training was like look up "Full Metal Jacket" and watch the Boot Camp part. The rest of the movie is also very realistic.

Well written. I agree we are pumping out Snowflakes and not just in our military, which is the worst place to be pumping out snowflakes. It all starts at home with the parents who only care about themselves. I'm just going to end it there before I go off and a big rant and take away from your important message.

 

[Paul B]

I totally agree.

 

[Paul B]

My wife went to Manhattan today to meet our five year old Grand Daughter Greta. (I put my wife on an UBER) My wife is feeling much better (I hope it lasts) and they went to the America Doll something. Greta brought her old doll to have her hair done (no really) You don't want to know how much it costs in Rockefeller Center (right near the tree) to get a "doll's" hair done. I thought the uber into the city was a little pricy, but they could have taken the Uber driver to the Caribbean and had his hair done cheaper.
Then my wife is buying Greta another American Girl doll. I hope it's hair is already done because I am already selling my house, but I don't want to get a mortgage to comb the dolls hair.
Pretty soon they will make these dolls get varicose veins and cellulite so you have to take them in for liposuction.

 

[The_Codfather]

Hey Paul long time no see... sorry didn't read the whole thread but you still putting beer cans in ya tank? ...BTW..hows that zapper doing...still in Biz?

 

[Paul B]

How you doing Codfather. I don't have any beer cans in there but there are 12 or so bottles.
The Zapper is still selling pretty well but there are a lot of them selling used on E Bay. We sold about 20,000 of them so I think we did OK.

 

[The_Codfather]

How you doing Codfather. I don't have any beer cans in there but there are 12 or so bottles.
The Zapper is still selling pretty well but there are a lot of them selling used on E Bay. We sold about 20,000 of them so I think we did OK.

I'm doing ok a part for cutting the tip of my finger off today
Good for you man!!!...you always seemed to me to be against the grain and me likes that

 

[Paul B]

I don't go against the grain, all the Noobs do. I guess you did also with your finger. Ouch!

I just finished this guy 5 minutes ago. I think he is kind of cool

 

[The_Codfather]

That looks really cool Paul!... Very steam punk...After my last post here I went to urgent care... the finger was really throbbing after some xrays I found out the tip bone was shattered and needed 3 stitches to put the skin back with a splint ..I should have taken the spark plug off from the lawn mower when I was messing around with the blade

 

[Paul B]

Yes you should. I know a guy with a plane like the one you posted, and he got hit in the head with the propeller. He is now kind of brain damaged and in a nursing home.

 

[The_Codfather]

Yes you should. I know a guy with a plane like the one you posted, and he got hit in the head with the propeller. He is now kind of brain damaged and in a nursing home.

Does he still have all his fingers?...If so I maybe more brain damaged then him

 

[Paul B]

He has his fingers, but not much of his mind

 

[The_Codfather]

He has his fingers, but not much of his mind

Yeah That's sad when that Sh8t happens...

 

[Paul B]

I went out to my new condo today to check on the construction and take pictures of the beams and rafters because I will be doing a lot of modifications and it is much easier if I can see the construction before they close up the walls.
I am installing an elevator for my wife so she can get in the place which is built over the garage so it is a flight of stairs and she doesn't do stairs well due to MS.
I sent the elevator contractor there to check out the shaft which is outside behind the stairs.

I got the drawings for the elevator today so i can submit them for a permit and I noticed in the text that it says the "Elevator shaft has to be with in 60 and 90 degrees."
He must have thought I was putting this elevator in the Bahamas but here in long Island, it goes from zero to 100 degrees during the year.

I called him just now and asked him about it. He said, isn't the shaft in the building? I reminded him that he just went out there to look at it. Or did he make a mistake and go to the Bahamas?
He said "Aren't you going to heat the shaft?" I said, "No" and I am not going to heat the parking lot, sidewalk or dumpster either.

He said, then it won't work in the winter. Maybe he figured my wife only wants to leave the house in the summer and in an emergency, I can lower her down a rope.

Then on a whim I asked him if they make an oil heater for the oil resivour. He said, "I think so". Then Like DUH, can you find that out? He said no one ever asked about that before.

I mean, is it me!.
Why do I always have to work with Dut da dues. You know what a Dut da due is? Its a guy who doesn't have any idea what he is doing and just walks around going Dut da Due, Dut da due.
It's like everyone is in the Twilight zone and I am Rod Serling.