[TheForge] TheForge Digest, Vol 106, Issue 24

[Mike Spencer]

Dave Mudge wrote:

> Is this conversation getting a little too heavy for this forum?
> Let's stick to metal and art and such and take politics somewhere
> else, ok?

Yessir, Dave, Sir. Anybody who doubts the wisdom of Dave's advice
should have a quick look at the Usenet newsgroup
rec.crafts.metalworking. [1] We don't want to go that way here, I'm
pretty sure.

Andy wrote:

> But.. but... global warming...
>
> corporations...

I can tell you what I think about corporate oligarchy in private
email, Andy, or I can even point you to a lightly trafficed mailing
list where an exchange of comment and opinion that is *very* much more
level-headed and civil that rec.crafts.metalworking.

Just to bridge us back onto topic: There is an Iranian [2] blacksmith
here in Nova Scotia.  Very deft at the anvil and a charming guy as
well.  He recently acquired Canadian citizenship, has been driving a
cab for the last few years to get a stake. AFAICT, he's spent all his
money on smithing gear and a site for his shop which should be under
construction next spring.

ObSmithing: 

Despite doing furious geometry gymnastics in my head, I welded my
cellar door latch handle on wrong way to. Hadda slice the weld off
with a zizz wheel and redo.  Works just lovely now, looks better than it
has in 100 years if you overlook the fact that, due to movement of the
drystone foundation (now arrested) nothing is square, plumb or
level. :-)  I'm always entertained when I find myself patching up a
pine or hemlock board that was a sapling when George III was still in
short pants.


- Mike

[1] rec.crafts.metalworking should be available on Google Groups if
    you don't have proper news reader software, are disinclined to get
    such software or don't have access to a news server.

[2] Iranian: He refers to himself as "Persian".  I infer, without his
    having said so explicitly, that this is to associate himself with
    the long history of Persian culture while distancing himself from
    the politics and government of the contemporary sovereign nation.

-- 
Michael Spencer                  Nova Scotia, Canada       .~. 
                                                           /V\ 
mspencer at tallships.ca                                     /( )\
http://home.tallships.ca/mspencer/                        ^^-^^