Kawasaki Concours Forum

Mish mash => Open Forum => Topic started by: MiniCog on July 07, 2011, 11:06:13 AM

Title: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: MiniCog on July 07, 2011, 11:06:13 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h_pp8CHEQ0&feature=player_embedded#at=128 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h_pp8CHEQ0&feature=player_embedded#at=128)

What else do I need to say?
Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: VirginiaJim on July 07, 2011, 11:11:43 AM
And he's a local boy.....
Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: CrashKLRtoConnie on July 07, 2011, 11:27:24 AM
As a former auto mechanic and machinist, this hit home. Everyone should watch this video (if you live in America)
Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: alexx45 on July 07, 2011, 11:47:23 AM
+1 It would be a great thing if everyone in America saw this. Perhaps then those of us who are employed as skilled labor & craftsmen wouldn't be made to feel like we are some kind of necessary evil that our employers would rather not have around.  :(
Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: Cholla on July 07, 2011, 12:27:06 PM
IIRC he lives in the San Fransicko area these days. Maybe he could straighten it out.
Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: MiniCog on July 07, 2011, 02:19:12 PM
As a former auto mechanic and machinist, this hit home. Everyone should watch this video (if you live in America)

My dad and I are machinists.  I love doing it, but I actually plan on being some kind of engineer.  At least it would be kinda blue collar.

Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: CrashKLRtoConnie on July 07, 2011, 02:49:03 PM
My dad and I are machinists.  I love doing it, but I actually plan on being some kind of engineer.  At least it would be kinda blue collar.

While going to a JC for a machine tool tech AS degree I happen on a required course in materials engineering and that got me interested in getting an Engineering degree.

Best of luck.

Is takes some hard school years but use worth it for me.
Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: MiniCog on July 07, 2011, 02:58:40 PM
It does.  I've already gotten one year done in one of the best Junior Colleges in Texas.  THis semester is when I'm actually getting into some real stuff.
Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: DeansZG on July 07, 2011, 08:45:24 PM
  I applaud Mr. Rowe for saying what needs to be said....... However, you've got to get some of the owners of machine & fab shops to open up their wallets a bit. They actually have the gall to think that an experienced cnc programmer/machinist is only worth $15 per hr!!! >:(  Gimme a f***in' break! No wonder none of the youngsters want to get into the trade. Hell, the trainees are barely making $8.50 an hr. and have to be responsible enough to hold tight tolerances, besides running 2 machines to boot. Let's see..... McDonalds at least pays minimum wage & offers incentives to advance... I'll repeat; no wonder none of the youngsters want to get into the trade :'(

  Of course they've all been brainwashed into thinking they can set on their arse right out of high school going into the I.T. field making 60K per year! Oh heaven forbid little Johnny has to get his hands dirty to actually do some PHYSICAL labor. ::)
Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: MiniCog on July 07, 2011, 09:03:44 PM
I get $9 an hour and have been doing this stuff over half my life (not saying much).  But I AM 17.  So $9/hour is really good for me and people my age.

The shop I work at the experienced guys get around $20/hour or so, which ain't too bad.  Make more than a teacher, get Fridays-Sundays off, get overtime on Friday (time x 1.5)...  I guess it depends on the sop, too.
Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: MiniCog on July 07, 2011, 09:07:29 PM

  Of course they've all been brainwashed into thinking they can set on their arse right out of high school going into the I.T. field making 60K per year! Oh heaven forbid little Johnny has to get his hands dirty to actually do some PHYSICAL labor. ::)


I know, people don't want to do PHYSICAL labor anymore.  It's so dumb.  And it's not just this generation, it's also generations ahead that are getting lazy as well.  Everything just gets dumped on the newest generation of adults (or close to) because we're the most different.
Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: Cholla on July 08, 2011, 08:02:56 AM
When everyone works on the principle of awarding the contract to the lowest bidder employers have to do something in order to compete.
But, that is the way we all work. We expect the highest pay while paying the lowest price. Ya can't have yer cake....
Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: Boxer on July 08, 2011, 08:11:45 AM
I worked with a German tool and die maker who was nothing short of amazing.
He told me that in Germany during his high school years his testing indicated that
he would be better suited to an apprentice program than higher education.  He
went through 8 years of apprenticeship where he spent the first year doing nothing
more than filing and deburing parts.  By the end of the 8th year he said he was
able to make any machine tool in the shop.  Looking at the quality of his work
and the dedication I believe he really could.  When he talked about his education he
spoke with pride.  There was never a inkling that he wished he could have gone
for the degree program.
Mike Rowe is correct about the disconnect we have with skilled craftsman.  Many
schools have dropped the shop classes so that we could focus on 4 year degrees.
We seem to be moving towards "classes" in our society where we're all supposed
to aspire for the "Upper" class that has a degree and gets rich. 
The "rich" people I know have made their money working with their hands.
Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: Cholla on July 08, 2011, 09:35:23 AM
Unfortunately we are more interested in degrees than actual knowledge. Seems you must have a Master's in Engineering to sweep the floor but an Associate's in onion peeling to be the CEO of a multi-national conglomerate.
Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: MiniCog on July 08, 2011, 09:38:11 AM
The country's people are losing dedication and commitment to almost everything there is, believe it or not, some peers believe that I'm "one of the few that are truly  dedicated and passionate about something.  You like to learn and find out, and that's cool and different than everyone else." (someone actually told me that.)
I guess I don't represent my generation all that well then.   ::)


My passion is the way things work and go together, which is why I like engineering.  Mechanical engineering to exact.   There's something about mechanical things that just interests me.


I just hate the direction we're going, the country goes by degrees, not knowledge.  My stepmom was a recruiter (and one of the best in he company, period.) and when she got her old job back a couple years ago they said she had to go back to college.  Why?  They already knew that she knows what she's doing.
Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: Sofa King on July 10, 2011, 09:11:02 AM
I grew up in the garage with my Dad.  He was always building or rebuilding something, and it was our time together.  It's when he was the most at peace.  I inherited that desire, and ability to 'see' how things just work.  As did my brother.  To me, the thought of paying someone else to do something is distasteful, but sometimes I just don't want to do it (like drywall).  But I would never consider taking my bike in for service, or my car (unless it's warranty work).  I enjoy those activities, and it's a real sense of pride for me, as well as a way to silently relive that time in the garage with my Dad.

However I have friends who couldn't imagine doing these things.  What Mr. Rowe has done here is to summarize the first few chapters of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance into a 5 minute speech.  And he did it very well, as he always does.  I like him, he seems like a guy we could all hang out with, right?  But there are some people who simply see that work as menial labor, and for others who are less advanced than them.

It's funny because I am a bit of a misfit in my world.  I left the Navy after 12 years having learned (taught myself) computers and networks.  I parlayed that into a short career with Microsoft and now own my own IT Consulting company.  To me computers and networks are the digital representation of engines and house wiring.  They have gears, make noises, have personalities, etc., just like every car and every bike I have ever worked on.  And once you are see that correlation computers become like the toaster in your kitchen.  They only do exactly what you tell them to do.

So yes, I'd vote for the guy, but he isn't slimy enough to be a politician.  Changing from Mr. Rowe to Mr. Rockefeller was like going from zesty hot sauce to room temperature milk.  Yuck.

God bless Mike Rowe, and god bless Dirty Jobs!
Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: MiniCog on July 10, 2011, 08:05:03 PM
I grew up in the garage with my Dad.  He was always building or rebuilding something, and it was our time together.  It's when he was the most at peace.  I inherited that desire, and ability to 'see' how things just work.  As did my brother.  To me, the thought of paying someone else to do something is distasteful, but sometimes I just don't want to do it (like drywall).  But I would never consider taking my bike in for service, or my car (unless it's warranty work).  I enjoy those activities, and it's a real sense of pride for me, as well as a way to silently relive that time in the garage with my Dad.

However I have friends who couldn't imagine doing these things.  What Mr. Rowe has done here is to summarize the first few chapters of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance into a 5 minute speech.  And he did it very well, as he always does.  I like him, he seems like a guy we could all hang out with, right?  But there are some people who simply see that work as menial labor, and for others who are less advanced than them.

It's funny because I am a bit of a misfit in my world.  I left the Navy after 12 years having learned (taught myself) computers and networks.  I parlayed that into a short career with Microsoft and now own my own IT Consulting company.  To me computers and networks are the digital representation of engines and house wiring.  They have gears, make noises, have personalities, etc., just like every car and every bike I have ever worked on.  And once you are see that correlation computers become like the toaster in your kitchen.  They only do exactly what you tell them to do.

So yes, I'd vote for the guy, but he isn't slimy enough to be a politician.  Changing from Mr. Rowe to Mr. Rockefeller was like going from zesty hot sauce to room temperature milk.  Yuck.

God bless Mike Rowe, and god bless Dirty Jobs!


:goodpost:  That is all I can think to say.
Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: roadkoan on July 11, 2011, 04:59:14 AM
Vote Mike Rowe!
Hey if he keeps talking like that I'd vote for him too (Or at least listen to him on other issues)
  My stepmom was a recruiter (and one of the best in her company, period.) and when she got her old job back a couple years ago they said she had to go back to college.  Why?  They already knew that she knows what she's doing.
I of course don't know the exact situation, and so defer to your judgement.
However IMO you shouldn't be offended by continued/ongoing education. That's one of the things that set skilled labor apart. Same as "skilled desk jobs" if I may turn a phrase.
Not that we learn but that we continue to refine our learning.
I'm an electrician (292 represent!) so ongoing learning is a requirement, and not just by the Union but by the laws of reality. Keep up or be left behind. Grow into a better you and advance to the next level!

But yea I don't know what to tell the rest of the nation when they figure out there aren't enough papers to push. Its gonna be a rude awakening for all those business majors, but at least I know there won't be a lot of competition for the jobs that attract me.  :-\
Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: jim_de_hunter on July 11, 2011, 05:37:26 AM

I just hate the direction we're going, the country goes by degrees, not knowledge.

You just put the entire education debate in a nutshell.  It's politically correct to call the education broken but the fact is that people are as educated as they want to be.  "I don't need no degree!" should be the mantra of generation X.
Title: Re: Mike Rowe for President
Post by: MiniCog on July 11, 2011, 06:47:37 AM
You just put the entire education debate in a nutshell.

So is that a good thing?