Man Skills

Popular mechanics has a list of 25 skills every man should know, of which I think several could be traded for an alternate skill and a honey-do to be named later. One of these is "Expand your wireless home network.

Well, OK, I think this one is kind of marginal myself, in that the occasion to use it comes along every 10 years or so, and the technology will be radically different every time. This should logically fall under the category of things you can do if you can read and follow simple directions.

I have 2 computers, 1 modem, 1 router / hub / switch, the assistance of multiple talented friends, and access to the all-knowing internet, and getting this hooked up and running is kicking my ass.

So far, the process is sort of like starting in the divorce court and working your way back to the honeymoon, as both machines can now get out on the net, but refuse to acknowledge each others existence. Oh well, almost there.

Man skills, to my mind, fall into 2 categories: Emergency actions where life, death, or at least serious injury are at stake, and recurring tasks that need to be done competently.

In category 1 would be things like rescuing the capsized boater, setting a broken bone, stopping major bleeding and the like. A situational aptitude test I remember seeing once had a question reading: "Under your desk are the dis-assembled parts of an '03 Enfield rifle and 5 rounds of ammunition. In 5 minutes a hungry tiger will be released into the room. Take whatever action you deem necessary. Be prepared to justify your actions."

You could probably get extra credit for shooting the hippie in the seat next to you and using his body to distract the tiger while you finish the test. Tigers are endangered, after all.

In category 2 would be things like changing a tire, using basic power tools, reading and following simple directions, changing the oil in your car, taking out the trash, and saying "Yes, dear" in a suitably convincing manner. The criteria for competency in category 2 is that your attempt doesn't get you into category 1.