Why this blog?

What’s this blog about? I’ve been a machinist for over fifty years, and a CNC programmer-machinist for over thirty years. I’m also involved in providing some software to help machinists and other trades people do their jobs.
I have a lot of experience, and I’d like to share that as much as possible, hence this blog.

Must the posts be about machining, CNC, programming or other trade topics? I hope not!

Let me start with a pet peeve, and you can tell me what you think.
I was listening to a program on the radio regarding higher education, about how important a university degree is to get anywhere in life. It seems that so many people think that if you don’t have a degree you’re doomed to a life of dull drudgery, living poverty stricken down by the railway tracks (I love a bit of hyperbole).
Garbage! I bet most of the experienced trades people in this city make as much, if not more that most of the holders of degrees in arts or social sciences in this city.

Am I against higher education? Of course not; just the perception that any degree is better than none. Get the right education, set the right career path and you can make a lot more money than I do.
Trouble is, it seems to be that some sort of stigma is attached to people who are not academically inclined; those of us who just like to build stuff, or fix stuff, or cook, or drive… you get the picture.

And let’s not forget that we can continue to learn. I left school after grade nine to start my apprenticeship (times were different then, grade twelve is better today); since then I’ve studied three languages in addition to improving my English, taken art courses, computer programming courses and… well, over fifty years one can build quite a list.

Am I boasting? Probably, but so should we all. I’m sick of people trying to make us feel inferior because we get our hands dirty! For me, it’s a point of pride. My wife and I have raised a family, even sent some of them on carefully thought out higher education, on a machinist’s wage, with the occasional help of a waitress’s earnings.

Hold your head up!