Just found this interesting article from Popular Mechanics which talks about how, in this age of hi-tech, whiz-bang gadgets and toys, we're losing the basic DIY, hands on skills of fixing things.

It has some interesting commentary. Take a look and see what you think

Yep, that's the problem with technology all right--it improves our lives and makes things easier, but at the same time, we lose the ability to do things for ourselves without the aid of some "doohickey" (as Jack O'Neill would put it). It has made us all more impatient, expecting easy, fast results to everything, and when it doesn't happen fast enough for our liking...oh man! Talk about whining! I remember one commercial a few years ago where this woman nearly went ballistic because she couldn't find her stupid palm device. I kept thinking...have you ever heard of a pen and paper? Does your brain function at all without the assistance of some little electronic object? We all rely on technology far too much. I shudder to think what will happen if we lose it. Many people will be absolutely helpless.

I took shop in school--I also learned a lot of woodworking skills from my dad. I'm not saying I'm the most handy person that ever lived, but I do try to find solutions to problems by using my hands and my body instead of a computer all the time. Sure, I love coming here. Technology has made this possible. Still, it's good to have a balance of technical skills and good, old fashioned elbow grease as well. So no, I'm not a complete Luddite, but it is sad that human beings don't use their bodies or their minds to their fullest potential, expecting a machine to do everything for them. Talk about lazy!

Rant over.

well according to some doom-sayers all that will change in 2012 when the Mayan calendar apparently runs out and the sun sends out a massive solar pulse, effectively killing all technology as we know it and sending us back to the dark ages.

Wow- very insightful article. Good find, Rock.
And though not a Luddite myself, (and I don't think the author of the article necessarily is either), I do have to shudder a bit at some Isaac Asimov type stuff starting to happen. (Can you say "I, Robot"? )
This is one reason why I like to support the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts groups. I was in the Cub Scouts myself as a kid and it's definitely a great organization that teaches a lot of worthwhile life skills, not to mention respect for authority and elders- and patriotism. (Some other life skills that are pretty lacking today too.)
In fact, when my older brother was in the Cub Scouts, he got his first Swiss Army Knife (which I had to admire from a distance - being a little too young to own one of my own.) But though he inititally got it for Cub Scouts, (and later on I got my own of course)- we both decided we had to get the same model MacGyver had on the show because he's so cool with his pocket knife!

See- we need more stuff like this to help preserve that inner MacGyver!

(Wow- glad we didn't see this MacGyverism on the show- LOL -well, speaking for the men anyway )

http://www.amazon.com/Mens-Underwear-Repai...04174234&sr=8-1

Every opportunity I get, I also support the Boy and Girl Scouts. Being a former Girl Scout myself, how could I not? We used to go camping and make a lot of things by hand, so there again is another example of learning to be resourceful, being outdoors, and getting exercise (something else many people in this technological age don't get enough of--jobs involving sitting at a computer too sedentary and kids playing too many video games).

Geez Rock, you're just a regular killjoy aren't you.

Well the worlds ended several times before, and I managed to survive those without even really noticing.. so I'm not too waorried about this one either.

Of course, if we are all hurled back to the dark ages, I probably won't have to worry about finding another job when mine ends.

Kewl!

I could do with a little survival of the fittest. I say... LET'S THIN THE HERD!

If we all plunge back into the dark ages, the best job you can get is an electrician job. I remember a time when we had to manually water the garden. Then my brother had this idea of putting timers. Now all I do in summer afternoons is a big fat nothing. Plus, the world is changing. you cannot leave the doors unlocket, because it's suicide, the kid's can't go out alone because they could go missing, so street games aare also on the verge of extinshion. If all that is lost, the yes, technology will take over, like in "the human factor"

Darwin Awards anyone? I'll bring the popcorn.