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INFO...Explosion!


Read E-books on a palm, laptop, handheld, portable E-Book 
device, with inexpensive readers installed. E-books can even 
be e-mailed to you and then just transferred to your device!

Chuck Keiper ... One of the finest new singers in the land 
has had a successful singing and recording career.  Soon to be released 
this song might be a new National Anthem!  Chuck Keiper

Have you ever read Aesop's tales? 

The Ant and the Grasshopper is a story about preparedness. 
Aesop was an ancient writer who wrote various wise tales. 

Here is one of his most popular tales....

An Ant was spending his winter's day drying grain collected in the summertime. A hungry grasshopper passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ant asked him, "Why did you not treasure and save up food during the summer?" The Grasshopper replied, "I had passed the days mostly singing." The Ant then said in derision: "If you were foolish enough to sing all summer long, then you must dance without your supper when you go to bed in the winter."

Many don't realize how powerful this simple fable is, or how much this fable has been downgraded over many millennium. The fable is also one of the cornerstones, one of the ideas leading to the development of the Western economy.   Recession and economic problems have ravaged Europe and Asia for centuries, but few know exactly how it is that they happened, or how they developed.  (We don't think critically about certain things until we really need to.)  World trade was the result of, or one of the solutions to famines so that most modern Western countries become less susceptible. Famines do occur in Africa in these very times though.  In Middle Age Europe famines often developed when there were extremities in nature. Obviously, when it is too hot, it can prevent crops from growing. 

Lord Chesterfield said:   "Advice is seldom welcome, and those 
who need it the most, like it the least"

In Europe, a cold streak could became grueling for millions of people throughout Northern Europe. How? During a cold streak, it would freeze the rivers, ports, canals, and lakes. Some cold streaks would even freeze some coastal areas of the oceans they became so cold. Of course these coastal routes were used to import vital food from across the world.   Then, the ice would freeze the mills, so the grain could not be ground. Some mills were driven by canvas sails. The sails became torn and even frozen in their sockets, and other mills, run by tide water, were also rendered useless. Rivers froze, and river mills could not provide flour. This made grain very rare and very expensive. Even wine froze in the cellars. Deer and Elk were hurt too. Some cold streaks would freeze the farm animals and birds. The poor could not afford to eat, and the problems spread. 

This is the history lesson known by the "Fifty Giants".... those who relied upon technology, books, science and economic solutions. One solution was to educate the people, to move away from a (farming) Agrarian economy, to a manufacturing economy. The agrarian economy (an economy based on farming) was often in danger from the wrath of nature. The agrarian economy it was found could not continue in many parts of the world because trading was inevitable. Europe, in desperation soon turned to machines, to mass technology, "Mass production" and trading in high volumes in what is called a modern industrial economy

Read "The Fifty Giants of Industry" They were the hero's, the 
"famine busters" of the Western World. 

  The giant hearts 50 Giants

The problem in a modern society is in the precise 
connection, communication and encoding of information.  There is an obscure method to this.  
Men were instinctively composed of scientific and technical knowledge buried within, but most did not 
see or feel the need for  things, especially the transfer of technology.  These lasting differences over what was needed, and when these things are needed is ongoing.   It seemed that those compelled by history carry on the bulk, the most significant, lasting  progress and advancement...read IMM....

Man’s knowledge is only as great as his accessibility.....

Having a precise operation in woodworking for example becomes really interesting 
when many discover that much of the pleasure is in the (production mode).  This 
isn't meant to sound clever, but once the system, or once an operation starts to 
produce things, people like the rhythm, the pulse and timing and seeing everything working.  At times, 
and with things all running in sync, a machine operator is like a kid sledding, where no 
matter what is going on all around, the machine is working right and, consequently some don't 
want to see it stop.  

We have to see smaller in order to get bigger.  

To begin to be more productive we need to practice being more precise, and the 
best and simplest way is to learn to use precision instruments.  Two of the most important tools 
are the micrometer and the caliper.  Now, with the development of an easier to use digital 
caliper, woodworkers can see smaller and then begin to make bigger.  Sometimes,  when working in 
a smooth operation, it becomes enjoyable, and you even 
wish that you could play on.  A good operation, especially a safe one, is 
almost like a playground for some, where time seems surreal, and productivity is almost effortless. 
That is the goal.  Another level of woodworking productivity begins with instruments that 
are more precise, guaranteeing better results without much need or risk of guessing. 

Most people who buy 
tools don't consider that machines are a means to a certain goal; a smooth operation with the least amount of effort and mistakes.  Many who work with tools  
know, that this is a noble, productive way to spend time, and to "Make hay."  For many that 
goal is also to make work more agreeable, especially more predictable using those well 
built, long sought after machines and tools.  A system then is achieved by integrating 
predictable jigs and methods with those tools to make more, and eventually to provide more 
of everything else.  

Make the most of your shop!  
The best location method gives the best results.
Once you master certain techniques, things which use 
to be tough become completely natural to accomplish.