mel jacobson on thu 8 oct 09
it seems to me, that the most danger is always to the
maker. history has taught us that the worker is the first
in/gester. radium dials on watches...dentist finger in the x-ray.
the potter and lead. usually those events took years to figure
out. it is not always `some evil doer`.
like cigarettes. who did not know they caused illness? but,
it took years to finally prove it. i knew in 1955. hack, spit, cough.
i thought...`why pay money to be this sick?` same for booze.
it seems that cigarettes and asbestos are linked in the lung
disease controversy. most that die of asbestos related lung
disease are smokers. hmmm, what killed them?
it is like severe dust in any work place. it causes illness.
it is never cavalier to ignore possible danger. like tool safety,
dust safety is important.
i wonder how many artists have died over the years in lofts in new york cit=
y,
experimenting with odd casting, odd materials, and no venting
or safety. some of those materials are very toxic...but, the
artist does not care...need to be different drives them on.
anyone knows that kiln fumes are dangerous. it does not matter
what kind of kiln. electrics emit all kinds of junk. anyone that
is not careful with kilns is stupid. it is not always fire safety, it is
air safety too. it just takes a lot longer with air than fire.
there are so many thousands of glaze ideas, materials and
recipes and formula...why use a dangerous material? why
would i use lead, barium, manganese? i don't need them.
adjust your firing temperature and work with totally safe
materials. your life and health is on the line. modify.
it is the easy way.
no reason to be alarmist, or crazy...wrapping yourself in
saran wrap, masks and helmets. use safe materials, in a safe
way.
i have been teaching my apprentice how to use the small
table saw, grinder and belt sander. she just loves it. her father
is a contractor and is a very careful guy. she rather likes learning
at our place...much easier. she is making handles for things, tombos,
stamps. i can smell the fresh wood smell when i go into the studio
in the morning. but, she is learning the proper way...the safe way.
never alarming.
i have never let my logic systems be over ruled by fright.
`the world is falling apart, the sky is falling, we are all going
to die by next week.` i have heard that crap for 70 years.
it makes great fear headlines, but is rarely accurate. care for
self, care for family and friends and gathering knowledge is the
best answer. those that expect others or government to take
care of them are always in peril.
'mel
remember, they thought polio was caused by dirty food.
my god we washed apples with soap. every day i thought
i had polio, scared the crap out of me. then, it was all over.
i had a swine flu shot in i think 1966...they thought the entire
world would be dead in three weeks.
did not happen.
from: minnetonka, mn
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
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