Pat

Well - I listen to music from a few centuries ago. Heck, and I'm a third the age of some of you old grouches.

Hmm... how 'bout Hooters?

This is about the first speech that dip&^%$ made where he wasn't late.   I swear, two-thirds of it was liberal feel-good, emotional dribble. Christ.

It may be hard on your family life, but enjoy the vastly enhanced pay while you can. Save every drop you can and don't get used to it, as eventually it will dry up. Six or seven-day weeks would be very rough.

Man, I thought my lathe was small. Goodness. Good luck with your quest, friend. Restoring these older precision tools is a service to the world.

Ya know, Mike, that's not a half-bad idea. Might be somewhat disingenuous, but it would possibly be for "our" benefit... even if folks from the north/northeast are gun-friendly, they are obviously liberal enough to put up with other lib-tarded policies from up yonder. Even TN isn't in perfect shape by no means.   I might just copy-paste 10-Ring's post... hah...

Nice. I think she kilt 'im purdy good-like.

Mmhmm. I'm only 20, and I don't curse. Mentally, yes, that is different, but verbally, no. Not for any reason either, I'm an atheist, so I'm not afraid of the boogeyman or whomever cursing me for cursing... hah... I say this in jest, no stab at religion here.   Anyway - it is a respect thing. Perhaps also an intelligence thing. When one reduces himself to the lowest common denominator, it is not a good showing.

That would be hilarious, Dustbuster.

I'll be there. Went to the same one in Cleveland last year. It was packed.

Welp. Someone needs zapped.

Not to be picky, but I hate the term "unauthorized possession". This suggests the idea that one must be "authorized" to possess a firearm. As well as "involuntary commitment" of people to the loony bin, rubs me the wrong way.   On the whole though, good piece, especially by a doc. 1000% improved over a lot of others.

Did two things today. Expended some ammo for the first time in a long time. Tomatoes and crappy soda make great targets. 158-grain SJHP .357 Magnum makes a great tomato exterminator.   And, made a handle for a friend's trailer. Instead of a half-inch diameter two-inch rod, they got a one inch diameter, four inch rod to crank up and down with. Three hours of work, not bad...

At home.

So, which one of you guys is this?

It could do us some good if they tried, though.

Relax guys, it's all part of the show.   I never cared much for it... a few too many bleeps and made-up horse-pockey for me. IF this is true, the guy should be shot... if not, everything SHOULD go back to normal for him and them, but it will not.

  That's what you read and hear everywhere, that's why I chose this trade. And maybe one day if the U.S. decides to take manufacturing away from our "frenemies", there will be an influx of manufacturing jobs like never before seen.   Only bad part is, I ain't got a Kennedy, though! My box set up is a mutt - Waterloo top, Kodiak middle, WorkSmart bottom...     I wouldn't doubt that a bit. The place I went to estimated $12 to $13 per hour. Not much, but I have never seen anyone graduate from the school I went to and start at higher, sadly.   I also have an interview tomorrow at E&E Manufacturing in Athens, potentially for tool & die training. If that does not pan out, I will seriously look at Watts Bar. They're just up the road on 58. I got a neighbor or two who retired from there as well...

I can certainly see that happening. If the job is that good, and it being Oak Ridge, I can imagine. I met one shop owner who worked there for years, and everyone around him says he's one of the most talented machinists they've ever met. He doesn't say that, which is also a good sign.   Thanks to you all for the advice, guys. I just had a successful interview at a small shop in Cleveland. Nothing concrete or anything, but it was very enjoyable. If nothing else, I'm on their radar. In the meantime, I'll keep looking around.

  Thanks for the tip! But Oak Ridge is way too far for me, sadly. Most of the "good" opportunities in terms of pay are too distant - either Chattanooga or Knoxville... but I have an interview tomorrow at a place in Cleveland!

Thanks guys. This is a great community - they lift you up when you're down, but not down when you're up! Hah! :usa:     Heh, it can be hard to tell. I've taken a couple of tours of some places, and it is slightly dubious! Oh well.   Excellent point, as well. I had an offer from one place - but I didn't act on it because I didn't go to school for 20 months to be a $10-per-hour automaton. I love watching CNC machines run new parts, but not 100. More than anything, I love programming them with CAM.

Hey guys. I got some good news to report - I'm officially a college graduate as of yesterday.   I took my leave from the Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Athens yesterday, with my Machinist I diploma in hand. After 20 months of turning handles within the walls of Machine Tool Technology, I am now certified.   It's a pretty proud moment for everyone around me, and myself as well. When I started the course in January 2013, I never thought I would even make it this far; but I have, in what seems like a few days' time in retrospect, 20 months has cruised on by.   But it paid off. I graduated with honors (my grade average has never been below 97; for the past year it has been 100 across the board) and perfect attendance for all 20 months.   It was a pretty emotional event, in a way, last night. The yearly ceremony was held at Athens Middle School. It was tough to go through, knowing that I had to move on from several very close friends and co-students, as well as my instructor; but through the magic of email and transportation, it is not good-bye so much as, until next time.   Now I await my next move - getting into a good job. I already have a good lead; I hope it leads to something great. I want to become a top-class machinist, and a hard-working American's American like the great folks here on TGO.   Anyway, hey, thanks for hearing my spiel, fellas.

Or Obama.   I'd say Obama is the ugliest, for various reasons.   Second would be Obama as well.

Not a caption, but I have to say, I'm really not surprised.

Well, Meigs County has a very small percentage of the majority of folks involved in these riots, so unless they migrate up from Chattanooga, I'd be okay. But I'd do the same as others, form a more cohesive neighborhood and watching for anything out of place. Living out in the country, 10 miles from any town also helps.