The last laugh

[Kevin Mienke]

My original thought was more about the man than the machine. What has happened to the man? Why can't he go out in the blizzard when there is a need? Why is he not prepared to take care of his family?

My answer to these questions is possibly over-simplified but here it is...A man becomes a man when a man is needed. Men have not been needed in my neighborhood for a long time.

The place where I live is very much the definition of suburbia. The houses and the attached garages are all identical right down to the pine shrub planted exactly five foot from the corner of the garage. We have paved roads, paved bike paths and sidewalks. Everyone has a 10’x10’ garden shed but none of us have gardens. We have trash pickup on Monday and recycle bin every other Monday.

We have 4 bedrooms and three bathrooms, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and Italian tile flooring. We can get crushed ice by pushing a button on the refrigerator door.

To keep the neighborhood uniform, the homeowner’s association must approve the color of our houses. They like beige.

It is a controlled environment….controlled not by the men who live here, but rather something else undefined and unseen. There is no need for men. They see no reason that they should not drive minivans. They don't need log chains. They don't need sledgehammers or axes or chainsaws. Their "tool kits" are kept in a kitchen drawer.

The environment of the suburbs ages a man’s soul. That is, it steals the human spirit, and strips man of his purpose which is caring for and protecting his family. The suburbs convince us that life is all about being comfortable and safe, but it doesn’t require that we men must be charged with making it comfortable and safe.

The sabre tooth cat and the grizzly is a great idea. Men would become men again because men would be needed.

[NNICKB]

Perhaps Kevin's local Dodge dealer can host a Honda Minivan "Crush & Shred Trade-In" event- even used Toro Snoblowers and Espresso machines could be disposed of as a public service....

Don't hold your breath. The modern minivan is, in large measure, a Dodge invention. Their latest model is packed with Chinese parts, a la Walmart, and probably has less American content than a Honda. Your local Dodge dealer is likely to be as "civilized and manicured" as anyone these days.

[Bruce]

Good Title

Norm that's a great idea, Culling Society............ a working title.

[MoparNorm]

Hi Kev!
Great Post!
Tell your neighbor that you know a guy in CA that can fix that little 'ol mini van right up....



I share your lament about modern society, but I've come to the conclusion that we are only lacking two things to make society perfect, saber tooth cats and grizzlies....to thin out the slow and the dim...

[maineSS]

Perhaps Kevin's local Dodge dealer can host a Honda Minivan "Crush & Shred Trade-In" event- even used Toro Snoblowers and Espresso machines could be disposed of as a public service....

[Clint Dixon]

Martie has a slightly different definition for manicure (man-i-cure). But I won't go there......

[Gordon Maney]

The excitement is over. The men on my street have put away their earmuffs, mittens, and electric snowblowers and gone back to watching T.V. and sipping Starbucks. The street is plowed and the Honda is available to go to the orthodontist. The neighborhood is back to normal.

I use the word “normal” loosely; it might be nice to have a few guys around who aren’t *manicured and *highlighted.

While they debate whether nature or nurture determines gender identity, I will resume work on my old Dodge.

I fear that men have been domesticated to within an inch of their lives.


* manicure- a cosmetic treatment of the hands and fingernails, including trimming and polishing of the nails and removing cuticles.

* highlight- Highlighting hair offers a sun-kissed glow and gives dimension to a hairstyle.

There is less dimension to my hairstyle than there was 30 years ago.

[Bruce]

Starbucks?

Cuticles collect paint and high-light your finger nails, don't they?

[Ron in Indiana]

What's a cuticle and why does it have to be removed?

[Kevin Mienke]

The excitement is over. The men on my street have put away their earmuffs, mittens, and electric snowblowers and gone back to watching T.V. and sipping Starbucks. The street is plowed and the Honda is available to go to the orthodontist. The neighborhood is back to normal.

I use the word “normal” loosely; it might be nice to have a few guys around who aren’t *manicured and *highlighted.

While they debate whether nature or nurture determines gender identity, I will resume work on my old Dodge.

I fear that men have been domesticated to within an inch of their lives.


* manicure- a cosmetic treatment of the hands and fingernails, including trimming and polishing of the nails and removing cuticles.

* highlight- Highlighting hair offers a sun-kissed glow and gives dimension to a hairstyle.

[MasterYota]

Everybody should know that Chevrolet should be shoveme! (ROFLMAO)
DB69

Don't you know what Chevrolet stands for?
Cheap
Hardly
Efficient
Virtually
Runs
On
Luck
Every
Time

Enjoy the season gentlemen...

[TommyDodge]

In 1978 I got my first four wheel drive truck a new 78 Club Cab W200 and wanting to try out the 4 wheel drive I took my young family for a drive. We were on a country road and came on a young kid in his jacked up Chevy short bed 4x4 1/2 ton. He was trying to get down this road but after several attempts he backed out to where we were watching him. He rolled down his window to tell us " Man there just ain't no way to get down through there" I said ok as I put my TC in Hi Loc. Now this kid had made a mess with tracks going everywhere with his WIDE tires. As I got to the place that stopped him I was plowing a pretty good drift. We had to back up once or twice but with snow flying everywhere we made it through. So I turned around in the road and drove back to the kid in his Chevy. I pulled and said "Yeah I guess you're right,YOU can't get through there" He hit the gas and took off. That was good for a laugh.

Everybody should know that Chevrolet should be shoveme! (ROFLMAO)
DB69

[Bruce]

This Has Been

A great read, hopefully I will be able to add to it this weekend?

[pwdave]

Toro !!!

Thanks Kevin, can't hardly see the key board for the tears, I needed that. Dave.

[Ron in Indiana]

In 1978 I got my first four wheel drive truck a new 78 Club Cab W200 and wanting to try out the 4 wheel drive I took my young family for a drive. We were on a country road and came on a young kid in his jacked up Chevy short bed 4x4 1/2 ton. He was trying to get down this road but after several attempts he backed out to where we were watching him. He rolled down his window to tell us " Man there just ain't no way to get down through there" I said ok as I put my TC in Hi Loc. Now this kid had made a mess with tracks going everywhere with his WIDE tires. As I got to the place that stopped him I was plowing a pretty good drift. We had to back up once or twice but with snow flying everywhere we made it through. So I turned around in the road and drove back to the kid in his Chevy. I pulled and said "Yeah I guess you're right,YOU can't get through there" He hit the gas and took off. That was good for a laugh.