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**Alistair Hosie** · 12-22-2002, 06:17 AM

The classified ads is a very good idea (unfortunately I am too far away to benefit)with regard to Dave and Steve you all know what I think of them already (simply the best) so sounds great to me I don't know how hard it would be to implement have to wait till Neil gets a chance to hava a think about it all the best Alistair

**Spin Doctor** · 12-22-2002, 08:27 AM

All in all this sounds like a very good idea. There is one thing though. I'm wondering about the demographics of MW & HSM subscribers. If they are what I suspect them to be there may be a lot of subscribers out there who do not want to any thing to do with those new fangled computers. I hope I'm wrong about this but I have generally found that a lot of the population on the far side of 50 really don't like computers or the internet. And sadly this is where I suspect the demographics of the subscriber base to be. The hobbiest machinist needs to attract more younger individuals to his pursit. We only need to look at the demise of Strictly I.C. to see the potential future for not only the hobbiest machinist but several related hobbies as well. Prehaps a way of building the subscriber base would be to offer apprenitces in the machining trades reduced subsription rates with an article every issue that adress some of their concerns. Neil? Sorry this is getting a little long and the rugrats are biting at my heels. Everyone have a safe and happy Holiday Season, and remeber to keep your hands out of the snowblower for those of us who have to use them this winter.

**docsteve66** · 12-22-2002, 12:46 PM

When you mention good contributors, I think of John Stevenson, with pics of good ideas, Forrest Addy with good ideas and good writing, OSO with thought provikning things. And the most important vital pepole are the ones who go out on a limb and ask for info. The litle things that need to be passed on are important. With out the Newbie, the puzzled experts, the willingness to listen to far out ideas this BBS would just be BS .

So far as Older types not being on the board & in the hobby, I think there are just unexposed old folks. Mom i law now age 91 does fine and she never saw the net till just a few years ago. She gets unhappy when her kids modify her settings to make things work smoother. Just old woman living alone in South Dakota, raised bare footed even in winter in missouri, does ceramics, dolls, weaving. She calls in her guru afterthe kids leave and gets things set up the way they should be. My point is- us old codgers may be set in our ways, cantankerous, wrinkled but shown a path and given some respect the older ones can learn the computers stuff, and have a wealth of info to pass on. Need us all, the skinny, the fat, the young the old, the women and kids.

Is audrey our only woman on line here?

Merry Christmas, Happy New year, and all the other celebrations that occur around the end of the year- hell I be generous happy rest of your lives to all, peace good will, and keep your powder dry (including the war paint the gals wear).
Steve

**Spin Doctor** · 12-23-2002, 01:00 AM

I never meant to imply that older folks can't or won't learn. It just seems that way in my area. "old age is not for sissies" a quote from author Larry Niven

**Neil** · 12-23-2002, 08:11 AM

Those are nice ideas to consider!

We have been mulling over the website for the last few months in preparation for some improvements. Some website participants have run into difficulty with the register and sales aspect. No doubt, some have noticed there are a few locations on the site that need updating badly... those'll be fixed.

The last survey made of HSM and MW readers (nearly two years ago) revealed about 28% of the readers had computers and internet connectivity. Over the past two years, we have seen the activity of our website double. I'm certain a new survey would show a much greater computer usage.

Here's some interesting personal observations. At the NAMES show in Southgate last year, there was an EDM seminar which I attended. I'll bet 75% of the people at that seminar were 50 years old or better. They were all eager to learn more about the newer technologies. Then, Roland Friestad mentioned his CNC seminars were standing room only. The interest is very incouraging.

It just dawned on me... think about this. We need to get the younger crowd interested in matters of machining if we wish to pass on our knowledge. And, if we want to learn about computers, who is the most adept? Yep... those youngsters! How's that for irony? Now, what's the best way to swap our info?... food for thought.

Thank you all for your interest and support.

Neil

**RPease** · 12-23-2002, 09:48 AM

Excellent points Neil,

As a father of 2 boys (both in college & majoring in Computor Science......at least that's what it is this year....), am constantly seeking their help with our computor. I am not computor "illiterate" and am not afraid to work with/on them, but I certainly don't share their intimate knowledge of these "miracles of science". Unfortunately, neither one of them have expressed anything but a passing interest in my machining hobby. I am a mechanical engineer by trade and have always been facinated by mechanical & elecro-mechanical things, but the electronic revolution has been a "tough nut" for me to crack.

However, occasionally they are amazed by some of the things that I attempt to create on my lathe and mill, so.....maybe there is a spark of interest hidden in them. They haven't resorted to picking up the HSM or MW for casual reading yet (like I do), but maybe one day........

Best regards and Happy Holidays to everyone,

Rodger

**John Stevenson** · 12-23-2002, 11:06 AM

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by RPease:
They haven't resorted to picking up the HSM or MW for casual reading yet (like I do), but maybe one day.......</font>

Casual reading?? CASUAL reading ????
Good heavens man HSM, MW, MEW are not casual. These are serious pieces of reading matter. They need to be slowly devoured, digested and then stored.
Casual........ good heavens what's the world coming to......................

John S.

**RPease** · 12-23-2002, 01:56 PM

John (and anyone else that I may have inadvertantly offended),

I apologize for my poor choice of words.

Your absolutely correct. Reading of HSM and MW should not be considered a "casual" effort. I certainly do not "casually" consume the information. From the moment I receive each issue, I most often do not put it down until I have (at least) scanned every page. Then I go back and read the articles that particularly interest me and finally read the entire magazine from front to back.

In fact, I wish that it was much lengthier. (Neil...Can you do something about that?)

It really doesn't take me very long to read the entire contents and I would love to see more articles on things to machine. Fortunately (or unfortunately....depending on your point of view), I still have so many projects (either in que or in progress) that need to be completed, that any brevity (on the part of the magazine) that I may perceive, is outweighed by my own backlog of projects. (Can we have too...many projects? My wife thinks so.)

Again, I apologize for any inappropriate comments.

My best regards,

Rodger

**John Stevenson** · 12-23-2002, 03:27 PM

Roger,
No need to apologise my post was a tongue in cheek bit of Brit humour.
I should have put a smiley face at the end of it.

John S.

**RPease** · 12-23-2002, 07:24 PM

John,

I completely understand, and not one ounce of insult was taken. I too was just being "tongue in cheek". I spent a while in Norway (many years ago) working with our British brothers (and many other European nationalities) on one of those giant offshore drilling rigs that now dot the North Sea. At the time, it was the largest drilling platform in the world. That close working relationship may have had a slight effect on me. By the time I got home, I had developed a "dry" sense of humor.

Actually, it is so very hard to "pull another's leg" with the written word. That's what the "smile icons" were established for (I believe), but I also don't use them enough.

But, on the other hand, I really do agree that the HSM, MW & PM can hardly be considered "casual" reading.

My sincere regards,

[Always smiling ] Rodger

**hornluv** · 12-23-2002, 08:42 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by RPease:
[B]John,

By the time I got home, I had developed a "dry" sense of humor. [QUOTE]

Has anyone ever met someone with a "wet" sense of humor?

On a side note, I'm only 25 and I picked up the hobby on my own because I can't think of anything better than being able to make cool stuff that would otherwise be very expensive. Then again, all my friends tell me I'm a freak.

[This message has been edited by hornluv (edited 12-23-2002).]

[This message has been edited by hornluv (edited 12-23-2002).]

**Thrud** · 12-24-2002, 02:55 AM

Neil:

A grass roots hacking/cnc column would be a great idea. Cover the whole spectrum from software to hardware to cnc and cnc conversion. It is going to happen more and more - mark my words, cnc could be a common thing in the average home workshop in ten years. There is so much happening in adjacent fields that change is coming fast. You could even have Q&A in the column if you had queries in sufficient volume.

Columns on basic tool use and safety and equipment reviews would be interesting and could help many with procedures they are unaware or unsure of. For the person starting out cold turkey these machines can be intimidating and dangerous. These questions get asked over, and over again on the BBS.

**[email protected]** · 12-24-2002, 01:01 PM

Boy, do I feel better! I am 73 years old and was thinking I must be getting on and then I read that I must be young because I like to fool around with computers! I like the young part better. By the way, I started working with computers in the late 1950s.

Fred

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