"25 Skills Every Man Should Know"

[Anna]

Popular Mechanics came up with a list of 25 skills they think every man should know.

Men should know how to....

1. Patch a radiator hose
2. Protect your computer
3. Rescue a boater who as capsized
4. Frame a wall
5. Retouch digital photos
6. Back up a trailer
7. Build a campfire
8. Fix a dead outlet
9. Navigate with a map and compass
10. Use a torque wrench
11. Sharpen a knife
12. Perform CPR
13. Fillet a fish
14. Maneuver a car out of a skid
15. Get a car unstuck
16. Back up data
17. Paint a room
18. Mix concrete
19. Clean a bolt-action rifle
20. Change oil and filter
21. Hook up an HDTV
22. Bleed brakes
23. Paddle a canoe
24. Fix a bike flat
25. Extend your wireless network

I can probably do 10 to 15 of those, mostly the electronics stuff, pretty well, and learn some of the other stuff if I really have to. But I absolutely refuse to fillet a fish. It's just too... icky. Besides, I should leave some things for my husband to do.

I particularly like the Heinlein quote in Glenn Reynolds' accompanying PM article:

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”

So... are you man or insect?

[Popeye]

I guess I'm in trouble then. Way too much computer geek stuff there for me Pat

[Ken Massingale]

Well, I've honestly done all those except '3. Rescue a boater who as capsized', and that would depend on what she looked like!!

And, I've been called a maggot quite a few times too.

[maxparot]

Ok I've got that list covered if you consider a canoe the boat rescue. I've done everything on the list at least once and most of the list many times. I've been fishing since age 5 and filet my first fish at about age 7. My college degree was in data processing so I have the geek stuff covered. As I DIYer I've covered the rest of the list

[JR]

Well, I guess I've done most of those, except the HDTV thing.

I will caution those who may be cocky about the automotive things. I replaced a thermostat on my pickup a coupla weeks ago. What is that, a 60-minute job? It took hours! The darn thing was on the bottom, no petcocks, a nightmare.

Oh, and I notice the lack of plumbing-related items. Ya gotta be able to tackle a plumbing problem or you could be scrood.

JR

[Thom2]

I can ....

1. Patch a radiator hose ... so that it will leak worse afterward
2. Protect your computer ... from the freezing cold, wind and rain
3. Rescue a boater who as capsized ... only to need rescuing myself
4. Frame a wall ... so far out of square that you'd wonder where the 4th corner was
5. Retouch digital photos ... to put a mustache on Marilyn Monroe
6. Back up a trailer ... in to the neighbor's shed
7. Build a campfire ... and set the yard ablaze
8. Fix a dead outlet ... with plaster and spackle
9. Navigate with a map and compass ... and STILL end up lost
10. Use a torque wrench ... to bust wheel studs
11. Sharpen a knife ... and cut myself within 3 minutes of doing so
12. Perform CPR ... on select female blondes, brunettes and red-heads between the ages of 18 and 50 ....... ish
13. Fillet a fish ... so that it's ALMOST edible
14. Maneuver a car out of a skid ... into a fence post
15. Get a car unstuck ... and stuck again ... in record time
16. Back up data ... with a pen and paper
17. Paint a room ... and most of the furniture
18. Mix concrete ... too thick if it needs to thin, too thin if it needs to be thick
19. Clean a bolt-action rifle ... empty handed
20. Change oil and filter ... allowing the required 1 extra quart of oil to remember to put the drain plug back in
21. Hook up an HDTV ... to a switched outlet
22. Bleed brakes ... and my knuckles, and my elbows, and my shins
23. Paddle a canoe ... in circles
24. Fix a bike flat ... temporarily
25. Extend your wireless network ... with an extension cord


25/25 ... *WOOHOO*

[germdoc]

I can do MOST of those. But I gave up on car stuff some time ago for a variety of reasons. Mostly the "too much trouble that's why I work to pay someone else to do it" ones.

On the other hand I can lance a boil, remove an embedded deer tick, clean out eardrum wax, prescribe an antibiotic, cyrofreeze venereal warts or put on an Unna boot with the best of them.

[jziegler]

It's an interesting list, but there are things on there that I just have no desire to ever do. I don't think that I'll ever filet a fish (not a big fish eater, don't go fishing). I don't do the car repair stuff (could probably patch a radiator hose with duct tape if necessary), that's what good mechanics are for. I don't do firearms, so I have no intention or desire to learn to clean a blot action rifle (pacifist and non-hunter).

Of course, considering the magazine, the list makes tons of sense. I bet wired would be even heavier on the electronics, and something like Maxim would have a very different list.

Jim

edit: corrected typo

[Black wallnut]

Well lessee...

1. Patch a radiator hose If it leaks it needs replaced
2. Protect your computer from what? spy wear, spam, or just elec surges?
3. Rescue a boater who as capsized from the shore and from another boat including righting a canoe that iwas in while it capsized
4. Frame a wall with window (s) and or door
5. Retouch digital photos done
6. Back up a trailer well, considering I spent years driving truck I think it's fair to say I have matered this one. I've likely driven farther in reverse while backing trailers than many have driven forward.
7. Build a campfire any time of the year, one match, no gas
8. Fix a dead outlet even if it is more than just a tripped breaker
9. Navigate with a map and compass or even just map no compass
10. Use a torque wrench click type or beam type
11. Sharpen a knife enough to shave hair or fillet paper
12. Perform CPR only on women with ....hey exactly what Thom said
13. Fillet a fish as much a test of your sharpening skill as anythng else
14. Maneuver a car out of a skid better skill is the ability to prevent skids on all types of road conditions
15. Get a car unstuck mud, snow or even ice (hot tires melt into ice making one stuck after a quick stop for a cup of Joe Dagnabit!)
16. Back up data as long as I use either the "Thom Method" or print
17. Paint a room shhh, don't tell anyone especially your spouse
18. Mix concrete does quickcrete rapid set count?
19. Clean a bolt-action rifle I would think that with the invention of non-mercuric primers and smokless powder this skill is over-rated! Should be able to hit an 8" target offhand @ 100 yards!
20. Change oil and filter plus choose a quality filter and oil that is right for your useage
21. Hook up an HDTV Never done this but I did design and build a stand for one
22. Bleed brakes with or without the use of a mighty-vac?
23. Paddle a canoe yup
24. Fix a bike flat hmmm cost a new tube = $2.00, patch kit $2.00
25. Extend your wireless network Never done this but I put ends on my cat-5 cable for my wired network, lots cheaper than buying pre-made cable

I could think of some other skills that should be on the list that are more important. Like finding and keeping employment, balancing a check book, and know when to hire a professional for some things.

[djmcheme]

he said dick tape...rofl

[scorrpio]

You gotta specify the scope, you know.
1. Patch a radiator hose
Is it a pinhole or totally burst?

2. Protect your computer
From what? comp viruses or a nuclear blast EMP?

3. Rescue a boater who as capsized
On a quiet lake in summer or in the middle of a Cat 5 hurricane just off the coast of Antarctica?

4. Frame a wall
Of a single family home or a skyscraper?

5. Retouch digital photos
Just to lighten em up or to convince a board of experts that yes, it is a real picture of the Loch Ness monster?

6. Back up a trailer
Up a driveway or up a vertical wall?

7. Build a campfire
In nice weather in the forest, or at the North Pole?

8. Fix a dead outlet
Which is dead because of a loose wire or nationwide blackout?

9. Navigate with a map and compass
In an open countryside or through Amazon jungle?

10. Use a torque wrench
To do WHAT?

11. Sharpen a knife
This one is rather specific but we woodworkers know there are different scales of sharp. And not every blade will take a real keen edge

12. Perform CPR
Perform (on a human) - sure. Revive - that depends on how far gone the subject is.

13. Fillet a fish
A striped bass or a whale shark?

14. Maneuver a car out of a skid
In what weather/road condition?

15. Get a car unstuck
From a bit'o'mud or from a 50-foot deep sinkhole?

16. Back up data
You need a man for this? Dinosaurs used to do backups manually. People generally tend to automate it.

17. Paint a room
Your living room or Grand Central?

18. Mix concrete
For a patio patch or for a stadium foundation?

19. Clean a bolt-action rifle
After going through 30-40 rounds or after it spent 6 years at the bottom of a sea?

20. Change oil and filter
On a car or in a nuclear submarine?

21. Hook up an HDTV
To what?

22. Bleed brakes
On what?

23. Paddle a canoe
Up the Niagara Falls?

24. Fix a bike flat
See item 1

25. Extend your wireless network
How far?