Popular mechanics: 25 skills a person should have
- Thread starter Wheeler44
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Nolo
Member
Did they also include shooting a bolt-action rifle? That seems pretty important, too.
pdowg881
Member
What's the whole list look like?
Rumble
Member
Whole list appears to be here: http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/home_journal_news/4221635.html
I've got most of 'em. Some glaring errors (which I won't admit to, but will immediately seek to rectify
), but most of 'em.
I've got most of 'em. Some glaring errors (which I won't admit to, but will immediately seek to rectify
), but most of 'em.
DMK
Member
PM is very gun friendly. They often have gun related articles and run gun ads.
Once in a while they'll get a letter from someone complaining and throwing the oh so mature "I'll cancel my subscription" temper tantrum. The editor usually tells them to go suck rocks in a PC way.
Once in a while they'll get a letter from someone complaining and throwing the oh so mature "I'll cancel my subscription" temper tantrum. The editor usually tells them to go suck rocks in a PC way.
Mannlicher
Member
I passed with flying colors. I could easily suggest other tasks for the list, such as cleaning and butchering animals, growing a garden, tearing down and rebuilding an engine, gas or diesel, or splinting a fractured limb.
Pigspitter
Member
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2007
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- 614
Darn, I still don't know how to work a tourque wrench
Nolo
Member
I don't know how to do all the car-related stuff, but that's because I don't drive yet (I'm 16, a little late in coming). Everything else I know.
Husker1911
Member
Sighting in a scoped rifle would be high on my list. Of course, clearing ANY firearm, to ensure it's unloaded/safe should be known to most any citizen.
I can't say I'm an expert at all that stuff, but I've done most of it at least once, or learned how even if it was a long time ago. The only thing I'd be completely hopeless at is #22, bleeding brakes. But give me a few minutes with the right manuals, and I'd feel confident doing that too.
MikePGS
Member
I saw the magazine at the store today and almost picked it up. The list reminds me of Col. Cooper's list of things every man should know. Its pretty long, so i won't copy and paste it here, but if your interested in reading it click this link and scroll to the bottom http://dvc.org.uk/jeff/jeff13_10.html .
Outlaws
Member
It works like a socket wrench...except you set it for a certain torque value first (say 50 foot pounds) and then when you start torquing the nut, bolt, or screw, you stop when it tells you...some use a felt and heard click. Some use a visible gauge so instead of setting the value first so you just torque until the needle reaches it on a dial. Always reset the value to its lowest value when done.
Most people don't bother to use them on lug nuts, but they work wonders in keeping your rotors from warping when all the lugs nuts are torqued evenly.
ChopperKen
Member
Passed all but one, Can't back up my puter...Trailers no problem,but not the computer...
CountGlockula
Member
The whole list...
JohnBT
Member
"5. Retouch digital photos"
I think it should read "Recognize a retouched digital photo."
I think it should read "Recognize a retouched digital photo."
RNB65
Member
Robert Heinlein beat 'em to it 35 years ago:
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."
-- Robert Heinlein in Time Enough for Love.
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."
-- Robert Heinlein in Time Enough for Love.
Omaney
Member
I could do most and muddle through a few...that whole rescuing a capsized boater however...
TallPine
Member
Heck, I would just like to get mine to work
Either that, or "extend" the #$%^&* thing right over a cliff.I can do all the others except #5 and #21 (what the heck is an HDTV and why should I even care ???).
Well ... I never filleted a fish but I've gutted plenty of them. Though to me fish are mostly sled dog food
What about shooting, field dressing, and butchering a deer? I could add about a hundred other things to their list, like falling a tree, or fixing a truck tire on a split rim ... etc
Regolith
Member
Lets see...
1. Patch a radiator hose
2. Protect your computer*
3. Rescue a boater who as capsized
4. Frame a wall*
5. Retouch digital photos*
6. Back up a trailer*
7. Build a campfire*
8. Fix a dead outlet
9. Navigate with a map and compass
10. Use a torque wrench
11. Sharpen a knife*
12. Perform CPR
13. Fillet a fish
14. Maneuver a car out of a skid*
15. Get a car unstuck*
16. Back up data*
17. Paint a room*
18. Mix concrete*
19. Clean a bolt-action rifle*
20. Change oil and filter*
21. Hook up an HDTV
22. Bleed brakes*
23. Paddle a canoe*
24. Fix a bike flat*
25. Extend your wireless network*
Legend:
Items in BOLD with a star next to it are things I have done and can do.
Items in BOLD without a star are items I haven't done but am reasonably sure I could do with a minimum of prior research.
Items not in bold with a star next to it are things I haven't done but am sure I could do with sufficient research on the internet and/or at the library.
Items not in bold and without a star are things I can't do and would require some training from a professional to become proficient at.
1. Patch a radiator hose
2. Protect your computer*
3. Rescue a boater who as capsized
4. Frame a wall*
5. Retouch digital photos*
6. Back up a trailer*
7. Build a campfire*
8. Fix a dead outlet
9. Navigate with a map and compass
10. Use a torque wrench
11. Sharpen a knife*
12. Perform CPR
13. Fillet a fish
14. Maneuver a car out of a skid*
15. Get a car unstuck*
16. Back up data*
17. Paint a room*
18. Mix concrete*
19. Clean a bolt-action rifle*
20. Change oil and filter*
21. Hook up an HDTV
22. Bleed brakes*
23. Paddle a canoe*
24. Fix a bike flat*
25. Extend your wireless network*
Legend:
Items in BOLD with a star next to it are things I have done and can do.
Items in BOLD without a star are items I haven't done but am reasonably sure I could do with a minimum of prior research.
Items not in bold with a star next to it are things I haven't done but am sure I could do with sufficient research on the internet and/or at the library.
Items not in bold and without a star are things I can't do and would require some training from a professional to become proficient at.
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Warren
Member
A night school that taught this and other stuff would do very well.
CNYCacher
Member
Proud to say I got all 25. And I don't mean I thought about a few of em and decided "I can probably do that." No no. I have either done or had training in all those.
Heinlein's list is better though, and I don't have all of those down yet. Although I am reminded of my friend "Jeff", a lifelong white-collar boy of unsurpassed self-assurance, despite readily available evidence to the contrary. Case in point: I once handed him a post-hole digger and told him to dig a hole "right here" until the digger sunk up to a tape mark on the handles, which would make the hole about 42" deep. An hour and a half later, "Jeff" had a hole 2 feet wide and a foot deep, attempting to remove a soft-ball sized rock which was in the way of his hole-making progress. I smashed the rock to bits with one anger-fueled stroke of a heavy bar, and he continued his digging. He got to about 36" and went home.
I showed "Jeff" Heinleinn's list once, and he read it over and said "I can do all that stuff." Sure. He is a computer programmer by trade, so I'll give him that, but I have my doubts about the other 21 things.
PS. I haven't read Cooper's list yet. I am feeling pretty manly today and I would like to hold on to that.
Heinlein's list is better though, and I don't have all of those down yet. Although I am reminded of my friend "Jeff", a lifelong white-collar boy of unsurpassed self-assurance, despite readily available evidence to the contrary. Case in point: I once handed him a post-hole digger and told him to dig a hole "right here" until the digger sunk up to a tape mark on the handles, which would make the hole about 42" deep. An hour and a half later, "Jeff" had a hole 2 feet wide and a foot deep, attempting to remove a soft-ball sized rock which was in the way of his hole-making progress. I smashed the rock to bits with one anger-fueled stroke of a heavy bar, and he continued his digging. He got to about 36" and went home.
I showed "Jeff" Heinleinn's list once, and he read it over and said "I can do all that stuff." Sure. He is a computer programmer by trade, so I'll give him that, but I have my doubts about the other 21 things.
PS. I haven't read Cooper's list yet. I am feeling pretty manly today and I would like to hold on to that.
Thefabulousfink
Member
I would think a better requirement than cleaning a rifle would be: "know how to safely check and clear a firearm."
Cleaning a rifle is nice to know, but it is not exactly essential for somebody who doesn't own a rifle; however, even those who dislike guns should know how to safely check to see if a gun is loaded and unload it. This knowledge would prevent many accidental injuries.
Cleaning a rifle is nice to know, but it is not exactly essential for somebody who doesn't own a rifle; however, even those who dislike guns should know how to safely check to see if a gun is loaded and unload it. This knowledge would prevent many accidental injuries.
RioShooter
Member
23/25
Cleaning a bolt-action rifle is the most recent skill I acquired. I've only been shooting for two years.
Cleaning a bolt-action rifle is the most recent skill I acquired. I've only been shooting for two years.
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