Fifty Plus (50+) - OT..at 62 its nice to know that.....

I still have a marketable skill.

This isn't the hardest but it's the latest device to use here.

Hand placed on a prototype board. It has no legs, just edges on the side of the chip.

That's a dime.

I have no idea what this is about. A little like I feel with some of Catweasle's posts! :D :lol:

Ah! I think he means that he hand-soldered the little chip to the circuit board, and that the chip has no legs (like chips did before the 90s), only little buds on along the edges to solder to.

We studied all about those little chips in EE in college. Let's see that was in .......

Nice job! I'd have trouble SEEING that, let alone soldering it in place! :D


Mojo Slim is making me think that I might have a marketable skill as well. Perhaps private tuition for the culturally deprived?

:lol:

Tsl is correct...........it is the last great physical skill left in my quiver. The world now uses machines to do this sort of work, but it is too expensive and time consuming to set up a machine for a very limited run (1) of prototype ckt boards that may in fact not work as designed when built. Thus I do some of this by hand.

I still take pride in being able to make things (besides bicycles) with my labor. This is therapy compared to the design and programming work, sort of like Stapfams garden.

I would guess that most in this forum have some great marketable skill acquired along the years that would be hard to duplicate with young workers.

Tell us about yours.

I would guess that most in this forum have some great marketable skill acquired along the years that would be hard to duplicate with young workers.

Tell us about yours.

I can make change in my head.

I have no idea what this is about.

It's good to know I'm not the only one who didn't have a clue:o My first thought was he had simply posted in the wrong forum.

I can make change in my head.

The modern generation is totally devoid of this skill. Pretty soon they will need point of sale devices that swallow your currency and dispense change without human intervention. That is.......if you are allowed to use real paper money.

Surface mount. So what else is new?

Cool - I used to be able to do this under a microscope - I think I can still still put down an 0402 but last time I tried the shakes made it awfuly hard.

I would guess that most in this forum have some great marketable skill acquired along the years that would be hard to duplicate with young workers.

Tell us about yours.

How about spelling? Or maybe "work ethic".

I would guess that most in this forum have some great marketable skill acquired along the years that would be hard to duplicate with young workers.

Tell us about yours.

When I have no idea what to say, I can lean across a conference room table and nod in a sage-like manner. This single skill may have kept me steadily employed for the past 30 years.

How about spelling? Or maybe "work ethic".

Oooo. That's a good one. I got the interview for my current job because in my cover letter I described myself as having a "traditional work ethic".

I can make change in my head.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

What's that you say? You soldered a dime to a circuit board in Stapfam's garden? Now why in hell would you do something like that? Does Stapfam tell you to come over there and do things like that? Why was a circuit board in his garden in the first place? What in gods name is he up to over there, having circuit boards in his garden? What the hell's wrong with the both of you?

What's that you say? You soldered a dime to a circuit board in Stapfam's garden? Now why in hell would you do something like that? Does Stapfam tell you to come over there and do things like that? Why was a circuit board in his garden in the first place? What in gods name is he up to over there, having circuit boards in his garden? What the hell's wrong with the both of you?

Louis, you never fail to crack me up.

Louis, you never fail to crack me up.
Gettin' my yuks...just gettin' my yuks.:p

Well, it's great, cause you sure gave us some yuks too!!

They're baaaacck!
I've really been enjoying recent posts - last couple of nights have been the funniest in a long time.
Keep up the good work.:)

I can make change in my head.

Will you make me some? I never have the correct change.

It's good to know I'm not the only one who didn't have a clue:o My first thought was he had simply posted in the wrong forum.

I thought maybe it was a sneak preview of a new coin and we had to guess which one and it was put next to the chip to show scale...... :o

Is it possible to post something in the wrong forum when you are in the 50+ forum.. for shame we are taking this post away from its' intended purpose.

I can do three things with above average skill:

1. I know how to make clean water out of dirty water.
2. I know how to finish a job, instead of being sidetracked by all the roadblocks and distractions that are always there.
3. I can speak and write convincingly about the things that I understand.

Those are the skills that have kept me employed lo, these many years.

I have two other abilities that have also served me well. Most of the time.

1. I can make a decision, live with it and not agonise over what might be. This extends to personnel matters.
2. Supervision of others does not bother me at all, and I've found that most people appreciate knowing clearly what they are expected to do.

I can do three things with above average skill:

1. I know how to make clean water out of dirty water.
2. I know how to finish a job, instead of being sidetracked by all the roadblocks and distractions that are always there.


Ironically, the opposite of my "skills".

1) I can drink clean water and it becomes dirty water

2) I am easily distracted by anything that holds even minimal interest

Clipped to 2 elements, since I can actually go with #3 as is. :)

I recently tried to redevelop my eye-hand and fine motor skills by building a model ship kit (actually a cross-section of the HMS Victory). The results have been mixed so far, and I sure as heck am not looking forward to the rigging stage. Anyway, I put it away for the summer and will get back on it next fall.

I used to be a fairly decent mechanic, too, working on race cars and motorcycles. I've definitely lost something in the last decade or so, especially the ability to remember where I just layed that darned 10mm wrench down! :) How can I consistently misplace something in an area of just a few square feet?