Rant 61 - 01/3/12 Subject: The unpractically of modern humans

Rant number 61


Today at work, I had an epiphany - and a worrying one at that.

This is not an every day occurrence for me (lets face it, most epiphany's happen to philosophers and the like,) but I really did.

It's a simple one really - and yet quite worrying.

The human race is doomed!


The reason for this? simple. Every generation gets a little bit less practical and able to look after themselves without modern conveniences. If this continues exponentially then, by the year 3000 only about 4 people will be born in any given generation who can say - use a can opener.

Its frightening, and ridiculous.

Look at cavemen for instance: The environment they lived in was harsh, dangerous, disease ridden and all round bloody difficult, but they made it.
And how? Practicality.
They made tools from what meagre knowledge and experience they had mustered. Flint axes to cut wood, flint against pyrite to create fire, tools to work stone - stone to make more tools. They foraged, they ate what they knew to be safe, they created shelter.

Put a modern British person in this environment and we would not have this memory and experience - because we have forgotten it all in the cotton wool of convenience we are wrapped in.
Frankly - put most people now in that situation and we would be sabre toothed tiger food.

It doesn't stop there either. In the past furniture was made by hand by the poor using scraps or by artisans with love and craftsmanship. Now, furniture comes in convenient cardboard packaging - with clear (text free, oh god I hate it when they can't be bothered to write text) instructions. Often even the artisans now use power tools now!

Going back to my original point, for your interest: the reason for my realisation was part of the assembly of one of the products we sell.

Without going into specifics, it involved a clamp and a pin to hold it in place - what I would consider to be a toddler level common-sense based part of the construction.

The person I was speaking to however was perplexed by it to the point where they had failed to be able to work it out. I just don't understand how someone can't be able to think their way through a simple constructive task. Did they never get access to Meccano as a child?

There seems to be a practical side missing to things now - and a class divide ever growing between those who can - and those who think.
I can do both, and I just don't get why everyone doesn't want to.

It annoys me so much!

Rant over.

Rant 34 - 3/2/12 Subject: Early starts

Rant number 34


Today's rant is going to have to be brief. I've got an early start

I hate early starts!

My brain is not wired for the early start. Nothing really starts working properly until around 11am at the very least. And I'm pretty sure that most people are quite the same as me.

So why do we have to have them? Its just bloody silly really.

I am sure that a sane person would say to me 'its to doing with daylight. Its traditional that we work throughout the day'

And it is yes. But - if you think about it. Its kinda stupid.

At this time of year, I get up in the dark - leave in the morning gloom. Spend my daylight hours in my office (which has lighting) and leave in the dark.

Why not move the working hours around a bit. Shake it up if you will! That way you might see some daylight once in a while.

The man who thought of getting up early - particularly on the weekend - was an evil one who should be getting burned in effigy every year!

Going back to my point in general. The thing I don't understand is why we have to be so bloody awful in the morning. I would love to be able to flow into consciousness looking cool & feeling happy.

I don't though. I look like a bleary-eyed, bloodshot, crazy haired caveman, ugging my way through the first few minutes & trying hard not to defile my feet whilst having my morning jimmy riddle.

If I was to wake at noon every day - I really think I wouldn't be like it! But then - maybe I would get used to it, and so - then that would seem like an early start.

There really is no way to win. Bugger

Rant over.