[TheForge] The True Path in the 24th century.

Sun Mar 3 01:25:01 2002

At 10:27 AM 3/2/02, you wrote:

APPLAUSE!

>Through some weird combination of Internet server hookups and interstellar
>subspace time-warp, I was able to intercept an exchange between Capt. James T.
>Kirk and Dr. McCoy. It appears as if they both have taken up blacksmithing to
>help relieve the stress of day-to-day Federation duty. Here's what I got. Some
>things never change.
>
>McCoy: Jim, I think you're missing the whole point. How can you call 
>yourself a
>true blacksmith when all your tools are 24th century? I mean, 
>blacksmithing is a
>craft rich in tradition. You and your directed pulse whatchama-gizmo may move
>metal, but it's not traditional.
>
>Kirk: It's a directed pulse tractor beam, and who cares how I bend the hot 
>iron
>around? The point is I'm able to put out some pretty nice stuff by hand. It's
>just as good quality as the stuff you put out with your air-hammer, and less
>noise.
>
>McCoy, Yeah, but it's not the way it's been done for centuries. And you don't
>get those hammer marks that give it that personal touch.
>
>Kirk: My design is my personal touch. Hammer marks are overrated. I'll bet you
>credits to donuts that if Yellin were alive today, he'd have nothing but 
>phasers
>and tractor beams in his studio. And I can't believe a doctor would use 
>propane!
>Do you know what that does to your lungs?
>
>McCoy: I take enough precautions. It's got to be healthier than being near 
>your
>tractor-framitz. And using a phaser for  heat? I'm hitting iron, not 
>Ferengi! I
>like the roar of the propane burners, the pounding of the hammer, the hiss of
>the air cylinders. Makes me feel like I'm doing something. But if all you care
>about is design, why don't you just draw it up on the computer and have a
>replicator spit it out. I mean, you don't even use an anvil your way. What's a
>blacksmith shop without an anvil? It just ain't right.
>
>Kirk: I still need to move the metal with my hands. That's the part I like 
>about
>it. And after a day of battling Klingons and Romulans, I need the peace and
>quite. I get enough sparks up on the bridge. What's up with all the sparks up
>there anyway? I mean, it's nanovolt technology!
>
>McCoy: Don't know about that- I'm a doctor, not an engineer. But I think 
>you hit
>on something. My day is too quiet. Nothing but the scanner thumps and beeps. I
>probably need the noise.
>
>McCoy: I know there *is* something we'll both agree on, Jim - There just 
>aren't
>enough women in blacksmithing.
>
>Kirk: Bones, when you're right, you're right.
>
>
>--
>Marc Godbout
>http://www.ironringforge.com
>
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