We should be getting shirts today! We will wash our hands and take a look a little later. I’ll also make another batch of key fobs. Those are fun.

A year ago or so I heard something on the radio. I listen to NPR mostly but also commercial radio. My time in a car is only moments at a time in most cases but this had me captivated.

The speaker was representing an institute of some type. I went to the organizations website and a waving American flag was the backdrop for presenting their ideals. Most of the stuff seemed logical. Most of the stuff does when you hear about the person who is on the front line losing their job or perhaps even career. What is also clear is the institution while presenting the story of the victim, clearly isn’t.  The other people present in the broadcast clearly lacked the skills to defend their ideals.  The idea was being put forth that Americans and other developed countries needed to focus on creative endeavors and leave the production to those in a better position to meet the demand. I thought someone should say “some people like making things” but no-one did. “We should make videos and movies and not radios and small things”.  I guess all the profits from cheap labor must be going to support all the unemployed. I am talking about all the people walking around all day.

I went for a ride and ran into a fella that works for a big school as an anthropology educator (I think he said professor but people are sensitive about titles so we stick here). We discussed the heroin problem and the trash bags of oxy that come through our (more mine than his) bustling metropolis of 1500. I talked about VT and he talked about a country in south America where land owners sell out or mortgage their property to come to the states where they live like slaves.

I was ending a 40 mile ride and needed to get on with it but the conversation was very interesting.

We seem to have a lot more stuff but are able do so little with it. It seems like plenty of people are effected with “lack of need” in some way which keeps them from doing what they really want. The system we now use isn’t the answer. How will people seek what they want or need if substitutions are everywhere that are so easy to acquire and take no skill or risk?

I have two things to offer. Perhaps not much.

If you want to learn to make bicycles come to Vicious cycles and see what he has to offer. I will be there Saturday providing hands-on training to attendees. Call ahead. Like today.

AND Bellows Falls has a bike program now. When you replace tools or parts consider donating to a program in your local area. Your ti axle pedals may seem useless to a bike program but they also will sell bikes and parts to help cover expenses.

Thanks for lookin.