Men stopped being men when the auto companies began building cars that the average guy can't work on. When I was growing up (I'm 48), repairmen were rarely called to fix things in the home. But today, no one does any of their own repairs. We are extremely specialized. We are also extremely dependent on the system. Doesn't that bother anyone? My dad was a self taught engineer, who had a formal education through the sixth grade, and ended life owning his own engineering firm in Detroit (we designed and built automated machinery for the auto manufacturers and supporting industry).

I am proud to say (sorry if it sounds like bragging, but I hate the notion of being so clueless about the majority of "things" that you have to rely on someone else for even the most basic "things"...) that I can do almost anything. I am a musician, a self taught IT professional, built my own house (with help of course), restored a '60 Jaguar and a '42 Harley, have a well stocked recording studio in my home, built a pole barn, restore antique furniture (our house was featured in an '04 edition of Log Home Living), married a beautiful, talented, self motivated, professional, educated woman ( the very most fortunate thing I ever did), enjoy dirt biking (motorized - not the pedal kind), hiking, and along with my wife, shooting sports (we have a range in our backyard). With my wife as full partner, we raised two strong, honorable kids that are in college now on a full music ride (who also dirt bike), who deal with all of the human issues and faults, but are not confused about their gender.

Most in my father's generation can say similar things. Really. It was not at all unusual for a man to do or make most everything where I grew up. Many in my generation can say the same. But, if I am not mistaken, few in the latest generations can say that they are self reliant in anything but the simplest things. They have been engineered to be reliant on the system. In our prepackaged, "No user serviceable parts inside" society, manly arts may not be required, but I find that society stifling, frightening, and very unfulfilling. And I refuse to be bound by it. The saddest part for my wife and I is that there are so few decent prospects for our kids to form a long term relationship with.

Poco

P.S. If it says "No user serviceable parts inside", tear it open, and prove them wrong.

P.P.S. I am not a republican.

go and stick a flower down the gun barrel of a terrorist. Please.

Poco