[ex framie]

This bloke makes a whole lot of sense, and he likes welders.

http://mikerowe.com/category/blog/mikeroweworks/

There's a bit to watch and his comments regarding the plans for a nuke power plant being shelved due to a lack of welders is interesting, its in one of the interviews he does.

He puts his money where his mouth is, well done that man.

If you blokes don't want him, send him over here........

[weldin mike 27]

Lots of Americans (some here) don't like him. The only difference between him and most of the smart people who know what we need in/have Aus is the TV show exposure. Doug Cameron is a smart fella, but doesn't meet the standard for what passes for TV over here at the moment.

Mick

[exnailpounder]

Mike Rowe is awesome. He is very popular here with blue collar working class people. You know, the kind of folks that don't go running to the H.R. department if they don't like someones perfume, and the people that don't have job descriptions and only do enough to not get fired...those people. I love his show Dirty Jobs and his sense of humor cracks me up. If there is indeed a welder shortage, it's because they don't teach vocational classes in alot of schools now and American kids today are so lazy and pussified that being outdoors would be too much to ask of them, much less ask them to weld. Kids today want big checks for playing with their phones and watching porn and waxing their carrots all day. Work is a sin. And lets not mention wage backwardation. I was making $20 and hour in 1982 as a carpenter. I was just offered a working foremans position for...$18 per hour last week. Anyway. Mike Rowe is ours but you are more than welcome to borrow him anytime you like

[MinnesotaDave]

I really like Mike Rowe and no way can he be loaned out to any other country!!!

Too much to be done here so you are on your own.

I think he's funny and right. Make work cool again America !

Quote from Mike:
"According to Mary, the nice woman who runs my foundation and keeps me employed, I have the ability – in very short bursts – to appear “slightly smarter than I actually am,” and on occasion, “slightly more likable.” Such is the case – according to her – with this fleeting moment on Tucker Carlson. Since this aired last week, we’ve been overwhelmed with people and companies who want to help us “make work cool again.” We are deeply flattered, and committed to getting back to all of you by close of business today.

Or maybe a bit later.
Thanks for your patience…"

[cj737]

There is a rather funny meme running about:

You want $15/hour to do your job at McDs?
My d!ck is harder in the morning than your job

Picture a pipeliner laying in the snow/mud stick welding some 48" pipe together.

Enough said. Mile Rowe is absolutely right about the abandonment of VoTech classes in HS, JrHi. and the stigma of being a working man. My 4 kids will never know what an easy day is and they have the callouses and scars to prove it.

[Farmwelding]

There is a rather funny meme running about:

You want $15/hour to do your job at McDs?
My d!ck is harder in the morning than your job

Picture a pipeliner laying in the snow/mud stick welding some 48" pipe together.

Enough said. Mile Rowe is absolutely right about the abandonment of VoTech classes in HS, JrHi. and the stigma of being a working man. My 4 kids will never know what an easy day is and they have the callouses and scars to prove it.

What good story begins with "how did you get such perfect clear and smooth arms and hands?" No the good stories always start with "how the hell did that happen?"

[exnailpounder]

There is a rather funny meme running about:

You want $15/hour to do your job at McDs?
My d!ck is harder in the morning than your job

Picture a pipeliner laying in the snow/mud stick welding some 48" pipe together.

Enough said. Mile Rowe is absolutely right about the abandonment of VoTech classes in HS, JrHi. and the stigma of being a working man. My 4 kids will never know what an easy day is and they have the callouses and scars to prove it.

If people want more money then they need to learn more skills and make themselves more valuable to an employer instead of marching, protesting, whining and threatening for a raise. I pity employers these days with all these whiny, snot-nosed, self-entitled cry-babies in the work pool. Rowe wants work to be cool again but todays breed of moron won't accept work as a means to better themselves. They want mommy and daddy to pay their way through life.

[electrode]

There is a rather funny meme running about:

You want $15/hour to do your job at McDs?
My d!ck is harder in the morning than your job

Picture a pipeliner laying in the snow/mud stick welding some 48" pipe together.

Enough said. Mile Rowe is absolutely right about the abandonment of VoTech classes in HS, JrHi. and the stigma of being a working man. My 4 kids will never know what an easy day is and they have the callouses and scars to prove it.

If people want more money then they need to learn more skills and make themselves more valuable to an employer instead of marching, protesting, whining and threatening for a raise. I pity employers these days with all these whiny, snot-nosed, self-entitled cry-babies in the work pool. Rowe wants work to be cool again but todays breed of moron won't accept work as a means to better themselves. They want mommy and daddy to pay their way through life.

Yeah! What he said. The youth and even the not so young are a bunch of sniveling whiners and cry babies that want everything for free and have their college bills paid for too. I never went to college as I am one of 9 kids and my parents couldn't afford to send any but the two oldest kids, and they paid back their loans and tuition. I used to work 7 days a week most and all the time, with all the time and a half and double time I could get. That's the way it was...and we liked it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbU4Cb4A4-o

And the meme above is pretty funny too.

[Farmwelding]

This is so weird reading these posts about the youth. The only young people that will ever read this are not the problem. As per usual the people who need the help don't try and those that don't need it are talking about it. It sucks being a part of this generation. I just hope something or someone like Mike Rowe will help and start a revolution or something.

[electrode]

This is so weird reading these posts about the youth. The only young people that will ever read this are not the problem. As per usual the people who need the help don't try and those that don't need it are talking about it. It sucks being a part of this generation. I just hope something or someone like Mike Rowe will help and start a revolution or something.

You are right, they are out protesting for free stuff.

[Farmwelding]

This is so weird reading these posts about the youth. The only young people that will ever read this are not the problem. As per usual the people who need the help don't try and those that don't need it are talking about it. It sucks being a part of this generation. I just hope something or someone like Mike Rowe will help and start a revolution or something.

You are right, they are out protesting for free stuff.

Well I'm here to tell you that there are some of us younger ones who understand that things cost money time and work. I guess by me being a welder I will pay for everybody's elses crap for the rest of my life. I guess it is a good thing that I chose a career path I enjoy

[electrode]

Of course it's not *all* the youth. But it sure is a bunch of 'em. Parents have a lot to do with it too. Lot's of parents let their kids do anything they want, and if they want something they just piss and moan and the parents give it to them. When I was a youngster I was working with a paper route in Wisconsin year round and did most all of it with a bicycle. It was my older brothers route and I took it over. That was my first job. And when we caused any trouble, we got the leather belt! That thing will make you learn really fast.

[Farmwelding]

Of course it's not *all* the youth. But it sure is a bunch of 'em. Parents have a lot to do with it too. Lot's of parents let their kids do anything they want, and if they want something they just piss and moan and the parents give it to them. When I was a youngster I was working with a paper route in Wisconsin year round and did most all of it with a bicycle. It was my older brothers route and I took it over. That was my first job. And when we caused any trouble, we got the leather belt! That thing will make you learn really fast.

Bicycle in winter eh? That must have been fun. Where a outs in Wisconsin were you raised?

Yep-parents are 2/3 the issue and the rest is school and friends and what have you

[electrode]

Yes, bicycle in the winter but during a blizzard our mom would drive me and one of my helper brothers around. I was born in Milwaukee and lived in the surrounding suburbs.

[Olivero]

I used to be one of those lazy kids that got a lot of what I asked for without having to lift a finger, then I turned 16 and started working and learning....

Now I am 20 and I like the life I have now much better

I already got plenty of scars to prove it! Which isn't a good thing....

[cj737]

I already got plenty of scars to prove it! Which isn't a good thing....

Those aren't scars, they're Life Lesson Merit Badges

[homeboy]

When I was in construction it was custom for us "old guys" to tell the young'uns how soft they have it . How we used to walk 5 miles to school and back with a 50lb pack thru 5ft snowbanks uphill each way!!! One thing I really noticed was the farm kids had a definite advantage simply because work was just normal and many skills that came with it. When a town kid started we would get the farm kids to teach them how to back up trailers among other things that the town fellows never had a chance to learn before. I had a good group of "older gents" who would take a young fellow that was trying under their wing and encourage to prove their worth. The ones that learned were treated well and the doggers got run out of dodge real fast. Had a spoiled young guy once that was totally useless and I watched him for a few days to see if he would perk up.No luck so I finally laid it on heavy -last chance or hit the road! I'am a big guy and kinda mad. He stayed -buckled down and worked as a valued employee for several years. When he left he asked me if I remembered the day I laid into him. He thanked me-said it was the best thing that ever happened that I scared the hell out of him and that he stayed clear of me for a while in case I clubbed him or something!! I said no-not my style just wanted to make sure he got the message. Nice to think once in a while something you did helped a bit!!

[exnailpounder]

When I was in construction it was custom for us "old guys" to tell the young'uns how soft they have it . How we used to walk 5 miles to school and back with a 50lb pack thru 5ft snowbanks uphill each way!!! One thing I really noticed was the farm kids had a definite advantage simply because work was just normal and many skills that came with it. When a town kid started we would get the farm kids to teach them how to back up trailers among other things that the town fellows never had a chance to learn before. I had a good group of "older gents" who would take a young fellow that was trying under their wing and encourage to prove their worth. The ones that learned were treated well and the doggers got run out of dodge real fast. Had a spoiled young guy once that was totally useless and I watched him for a few days to see if he would perk up.No luck so I finally laid it on heavy -last chance or hit the road! I'am a big guy and kinda mad. He stayed -buckled down and worked as a valued employee for several years. When he left he asked me if I remembered the day I laid into him. He thanked me-said it was the best thing that ever happened that I scared the hell out of him and that he stayed clear of me for a while in case I clubbed him or something!! I said no-not my style just wanted to make sure he got the message. Nice to think once in a while something you did helped a bit!!

Thats why it's important to us to help the young pups that come around asking for help. Welding isn't a glamorous job so my hat's off to any young person that wants to take it on. There have been plenty of "browsers" come through this site in the time I have been here and we all know who is serious and who is looking for an easy buck. Hell, anybody that can sand the hazing they get here is worth hiring in my estimation. I havetrained some youn'uns in carpentry and had them come back and thank me for sharing and saying how it bettered their life and shake my hand. Great feeling. We all have to make a living...I say let the shitheads learn the hard way and lets help these pups get welding

[exnailpounder]

I used to be one of those lazy kids that got a lot of what I asked for without having to lift a finger, then I turned 16 and started working and learning....

Now I am 20 and I like the life I have now much better

I already got plenty of scars to prove it! Which isn't a good thing....

The scars are a GREAT thing! Nobody gets through life without getting banged up so wear your scars like a badge of honor. I have a knife scar under my eye where a guy cut me in a fight. He cut me and I proceeded to kick his ass so bad they had to haul his ass off in an ambulance. I earned that scar and I still laugh telling the story of a drunken badass with a knife who picked the wrong guy!

[Farmwelding]

Scars are like the best thing ever. Good for starting stories off! And they are good reminders of what not to do. Like me I have a great scar from this summer on my left index finger from a chop saw. Cutting some stainless tubing from an old barn. Turned it off and slammed my hand into it. Now I know not to do that. Or when I slammed a nail through an inch of rubber from the same barn demolition. Or my most recent one when a shot a staple gun into my finger this weekend. This just goes to show that engineers are sometimes stupid and put things in the most stupid way. I put the handle the wrong way and shot it right in.

[Rupes]

I don't know that its a problem with young people in their late teens and early 20's so much. I think people should have a basic concept of tools and how they work/purpose far earlier than that. I learnt by trial and error mostly from a very early age and I also live in an urban area not a farm. Eg, I was using angle grinders when I was 10-12 or so, and the only instruction I had was keep the axis out of the line of sight so if something comes flying off you don't loose and eye. No safety glasses here just bodgy parenting lol. I learnt what happens when you plug it in when its on a bench and haven't checked the switch is off. But all that unsafe mucking around in the garage with different stuff had a huge effect later on. Looking back I took for granted having self confidence to just give something a go, tear it down see how it works and put it back together etc but it goes a long way all through life. I can't help but feel that age bracket from about 8 to 15 is where a lot of that was developed.

Apart from all the social media/iphone/selfies bullshit, one of the biggest changes in the past few decades that is pretty obvious is the amount of cotton wool we keep our kids in. A smack over the knuckles with a ruler is barbaric, yet the school demanding your 8yo boy be medicated with Ritalin or dexamphetamine is ok. We used to have old trains here in the 80's and early 90's and the doors didn't close or could easily be forced open. Trains packed full of school kids would be seen with a bunch of heads hanging out the doors. Imagine if that happened today, people would lose their shit. And don't get me started on fireworks lol. I just can't help but think its not actually their fault, as much as I love putting shit on em. Their attitude towards work and the value of learning skills in general may be lousy but it goes straight back to their parents, can't blame everything on modern technology.


Ok rant over.

[cj737]

Scars are like the best thing ever. Good for starting stories off! And they are good reminders of what not to do. Like me I have a great scar from this summer on my left index finger from a chop saw. Cutting some stainless tubing from an old barn. Turned it off and slammed my hand into it. Now I know not to do that. Or when I slammed a nail through an inch of rubber from the same barn demolition. Or my most recent one when a shot a staple gun into my finger this weekend. This just goes to show that engineers are sometimes stupid and put things in the most stupid way. I put the handle the wrong way and shot it right in.

Scars are one thing, a body full of scars is a pointer to something else Remember, hard work still deserves you use your brain to avoid the hazards. Don't just rely on braun, think it out, then drop a shoulder into it. Sometimes, life won't offer a mulligan

[homeboy]

I used to work some with a local hoe operator that was the poster boy for scars and missing body parts. Few finger sections gone-bumps bruises etc. We called him "dangerous Dan Magoo" ( not his real name). Nice guy but when he was operating everyone kept well out of boom reach. I noticed over the years anyone whatever age who was missing parts or always nursing a boo-boo to be extra cautious when working around him. It only takes seconds to take precautions-safety glasses-heavy gloves -clear work area etc.- much less than needed to run for the medical supplies. You can't prevent everything but best to try to keep the damage to a minimum.

[One of a kind]

Robots are the coming thing....learning how to program,repair and maintain them are the jobs of the future.

[Keith_J]

Robots are the coming thing....learning how to program,repair and maintain them are the jobs of the future.

Future? I work with them. Dumb little blobs of tech that get confused at the drop of spit.

But they sure beat having to manually perform tasks.

Oh, scars are earned. Hopefully you learn too. Anyone can buy s tattoo.