mel jacobson on fri 14 sep 07
i have a theory.
why buy a D10 cat tractor to move 500lbs of dirt in your yard?
i get many tools at garage sales.
who cares the brand.
many tools i use once in five years.
i have at least 5 jig saws.
i have not used one for many years.
any one of them will cut a few batts.
a sharp blade is more important.
if i were a carpenter, working every day on the job
site...well i would buy the best tools money could buy.
probably `Milwaukee`.
same for mechanics...your hands depend on good wrenches.
this summer at camp we could not find a couple of those
old drill motors we use to mix glazes...damn, who has them?
so...went to walmart...got a nice red one, $19.95. works fine.
then of course...someone said.
`hey mel, found two of the drills in bob's barn..under some plywood.
then i found one more in chris' garage....by the end of camp we
have five...and we put away the new one. still shiny new and red.
i love battery operated tools...i have gobs...almost a fetish
going into home depot. i love those 18v flashlites with swivel heads.
great under the sink. i even have a battery operated chain saw.
and the little circle saw is a dream. but, i only really need my
old makita. i still use it 90 percent of the time. now 14 years old.
i spend big money on kilns, wheels and pottery tools.
that pays me back. money spent on a phil tool is worth
every penny.
same for the website...i stand with david....i have been making
my own for years....it is a blackboard for some pix.
and great to use for teaching and showing friends work to clayart.
the only thing that is important to me is: my information page.
i spent about ten bucks on my website...and i know it shows.
my isp runs it free. i have an old copy of pagemill from adobe.
bought it on ebay...10 bucks. works like a charm... i still use
that original ftp from the university of washington. freeware.
gail rails on me...but you know what....it is, what it is.
my ego and future are not going to change a bit with that website.
in fact, i am convinced that the only way to really buy my pots
is `come to my studio.` hold them in your hands. buying anything
from pictures on a website is `high risk`.
those that make their living selling websites are like potters.
we are fussy about other people's work. we are critical.
but, i don't tell other folks how to make their work...but often
web folks will say...`change your website to a/b/c...` sorry,
don't want to. change is up to the person making the pots.
if you ask my opinion...i will give it...straight on. but, i will not
call you and tell you to buy a new clay, build a gas kiln, use only
shino, or make only porcelain.
there are many people out there that have spent gobs on websites
and the payback is minimal...but, they will never tell you that.
many spend thousands on photos.....that garner them nothing.
they think they are suppose to enter those shows....it is the
`thing to do`.....it is like the MFA....are you suppose to have one?
never fit me...i never needed one. have not spent one minute of
my life with MFA anxiety.
like i said to start this:
you don't have to buy a D10 cat tractor to move a few piles of dirt
in your yard. and then, what do you do with the damn thing after you
move the dirt?
mel
gail is building me a `kick ass, high speed, state of the art computer`.
do i need it? no...i want it. and, as she says...`i am like a crow looking
for shiny things`. but, i know i would never buy a commercial computer
again...have gail build me a new one. i love the concept...custom made.
it is a tool that i use every day...day after day. i want the best that
i can have. take some cash from that last sale...buy a new tool for my
profession.
i have done that for fifty years.
from: mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
Clayart page link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
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