Challenge #02981-H058: Just in Case
If you make stuff, or take part in Recreation, someone will ask why you “Bother” - it’s old, you can get it quicker and cheap in the shops. “In case of the Zombie Apocalypse!” Usually gets them to either shut up or actually Think. Zombies aside, there are times when old and slow skills come in handy. – Anon Guest
Progress steps in, and the people who benefit from it see no value in the older way of doing things. Why bother growing linen and the years-long process of making clothes with it when there are chemicals and machines to make something arguably better than linen? Why bother sewing with needle and thread when machines do it so much faster? Why bother making clothes when a machine can print them on demand?
Why bother making bread when you can buy it? Or print it? Why bother keeping a starter alive when you can just buy yeast? Sure, the bread is delicious, but you could get the same effect from much quicker means. Whatever the hobby, there is a machine that does it quicker. Further, some of those machines could produce works that no cogniscent’s hand could create. At least, not very easily.
Human Cess spent a lot of time on what might be called obscure arts. Fibrecraft and sourdough was just the beginning. Human Cess also investigated basic chemistry, how to create compounds that could prove useful in a longer process of hazard analysis. How to create elementary satellites. How to make circuits from scratch. How to build anything that could resemble modern society from the ground up.
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(Source: peakd.com)
Challenge #02951-H028: This is a Knife
The man who sleep with a machete is a fool every night but one – Anon Guest
Weapons in bed are generally a bad idea. Especially sharp, bladed weapons. Sleep is an activity where the body is moving about without complete conscious control. Many an alleged “tough guy” has fallen victim to the weapon under their pillow. Therefore Human Gar was no fool. Their sleep pod had a holster for ease of access. At camp, the blade was under the bedroll for ease of access.
“Any loadable weapon can run out of ammunition,” Human Gar was fond of saying, “but a blade never runs out of sharp.” In fact, their everyday kit contained a whetstone for that exact purpose. Many an innocent query has had an edge caused by Human Gar maintaining one on their favoured blade. Gar also maintained that a machete had a multitude of versatility to it. Something they frequently proved true on expeditions.
Some laughed at Gar for keeping the blade close at all times. Until the one night when it became a prudent precaution. They had come to survey habitable planets at varying levels, and this one was “only” a Class Three Deathworld. They were doing lots of science, usually from a safe distance. Nevertheless, samples had to be obtained.
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Challenge #01077-B345: Urban Swashbuckler
@knitnan - I never did get around to making that brolly scabbard :P
I am now prepared for the Zombie Apocalypse
I finally got one. The essential item for every geek’s arsenal against the nigh-inevitable zombie apocalypse.
Yes! I finally got a hold of my machete.
Good old Annaconda. The go-to place for stuff you can’t get anywhere else because it’s a bit on the weird side.
Alas, ‘cause they’re a camping gear mob, they don’t have scythes. Phooey.
On the other hand, the blokes are off fixing the ride-on mower, so the need for a scythe is lowering as I type.
I still want one. When the world runs out of fuel, all the oldie mouldie ways will come back, and I’ll be ahead of the crowd.
But, for now, I have my machete and I love it. It’s one weapon/tool that never needs reloading or refueling.