[MD] time-saving

[Dan Glover]

Hello everyone

On Tue, Aug 21, 2012 at 2:07 PM, Ant McWatt <antmcwatt at hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
>
> Dan Glover related Aug 20th 2012:
>
>>
>> Hello everyone
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 8:01 AM, Ant McWatt <antmcwatt at hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
>>>
>>> Marsha,
>>>
>>> Many thanks for sharing Phillips' story though I was actually thinking good for the "ugly American"!  If her advice making use of the available technology and resources had been followed, they could have got the work done in less than half the time, hit a shady tree while the sun was still up and cracked open some cold drinks.  And the folk stories could have been just as good if everyone had been still involved.  Just a pity the American's good idea was ignored for the sake of social tradition.  In fact, this running away from technology, sounded like Nayan Bala was a "closet" John Sutherland while what they really needed was a Phaedrus to inspire and organise them properly!  :-)
>>
>> Dan:
>> I'm sorry, Ant, but I humbly disagree with you. Let me see if I can
>> explain why via a short story:
>>
>> When my children were small they loved to be a part of creating
>> something, anything really.
>
>
> Ant McWatt comments:
>
> Hello Dan,
>
> Yes, kids at a certain age are really quite Dynamic creatively as long as they haven't been mistreated in some way.  A third of the Art around my house are creations by children of family and friends. I just love the type of primitive style of kids (aged around 4-10) that adults can rarely emulate to any convincing degree. (I guess it's all the static rules in Art class of how to do fine Art "properly" that destroys this Dynamism).

Dan:
This is true. This type of Dynamic art can be fostered, though, and it
can endure beyond childhood. This was what I took from the story
Marsha shared and what I tried in my own feeble way to say with my
little story. Sure, the adults could have taken charge and probably
would have if there had been a Phaedrus among them. Using machinery
they could have put up that barn in no time. But think what would have
been lost, not only during that moment but down through the
generations.

Remember, the motorcycle we are working on is the self. It all starts
right here. Time is money, sure, and money is time, yeah. But that is
not the point! Money and time have nothing to do with it. These are
useful patterns to be sure but often we become stuck on them to the
exclusion of the beauty that is the world.

Technology is a wonder as long as we guard against losing those
precious moments that come along but once. I am reminded of the trip
in the rain when the motorcycle stalled and the narrator tells Chris
that the trip was over and how disappointed he was and how the
narrator was sure the trip was over so he answered all of his
questions until Chris was sure too.

If we take but one lesson from ZMM, let it be that the trip is never over.

>
>
>> One time we built a tree house... well, I
>> should say they built it. I was there to supervise but I allowed them
>> to do all the work. They were very slow and meticulous, measuring each
>> board to be cut and then taking forever to cut it. I had a power saw
>> available but power saws cut off fingers very quickly whereas a hand
>> saw if it slips might cause a scratch or abrasion but nothing serious.
>>
>> But more than that, I enjoyed seeing the look of attention on their
>> faces as the work proceeded; I relished seeing the way they worked
>> together as a team... the oldest one doing the measuring, the middle
>> ones doing the cutting, and the youngest toting the materials from the
>> sawhorse to the tree. They worked until they grew tired and then quit
>> to start again the next day. As they walked away I could hear them
>> planning amongst themselves what to do next.
>>
>> Once they had assembled enough wood to built the foundation they began
>> securing the boards to the tree, again very slowly and meticulously...
>
>
> Ant McWatt comments:
>
> It sounds like your kids didn't need to read ZMM when they were younger!  "Do we need anyone to tell us these things, Phaedrus?"
> though sadly I guess they had to re-learn all of this as young adults.

Dan:
Actually, ZMM was 'required' reading on our camping trips. I always
brought along a copy and at night we'd all sit around the fire while I
read aloud. I remember we used to go to an abandoned quarry that a
friend of mine named Greg owned. There were always other people
camping there too. They'd wander up while I was reading. Before I knew
it there'd be a dozen people or more sitting there listening alongside
the kids.

I wouldn't even notice until I looked up; sometimes I would stop
reading to take a drink (reading aloud is thirsty work) but no one
would speak. There would be twenty people all just sitting there
waiting for me to start reading again. ZMM is a very powerful book
when it is read aloud. It doesn't seem to matter where one starts
reading... pick any chapter and just begin. People listen to its
message; they are drawn in by it, young or old, doesn't matter.


>
> Maybe that should have been the subject of Pirsig's third book: "Zen & the Art of being a Teenager"!  Christ, I bet a lot of parents wish he'd written that!

Dan:
Right... perhaps a lot of teenagers would enjoy it too!

>
> -------cut--------
>
> Ant previously:
>
>>> Never mind.  There's always warm beer, green playing fields and the call of the willow bat.  For people who aren't inspired by the game of gentlemen (sadly, in this modern age, I do believe they're out there; even on this Discussion group), there is the rather charming (but still edifying) essay by John McConnell.  Despite being beaten on the head with a Zen stick by myself, Paul Turner, and, even on occasion, Robert Pirsig, John has managed to reach Part 3 of his Inspirational epic.  It can be found via the following page:
>>>
>>> http://robertpirsig.org/McConnell%20Part%203.htm
>>>
>>> This part of John's essay also has the bonus of a discussion ("Round Table with Paul Turner") between John and Paul T which  clarifies some points.
>>
>> Dan:
>> Very well done! Thank you for sharing!
>
>
> My pleasure, Dan.  I hope you enjoy it especially as Paul Turner and John McConnell put in a lot of work to get this essay right.  We've just finished the proof reading of Part 3 today and there's a new essay from Paul (about the MOQ's two theses") to look forward too soon as well.

Dan:
I've given the essay a quick once over but I know it deserves a more
careful read. It is always good to hear from Paul again and John has
done a masterful job. Kudos to all!

Thanks again for all your fine work.

Dan

http://www.danglover.com