Posted on 03/14/2011 6:01:29 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Self-reliance is a vital key to living a healthy, productive life. To be self-reliant one must master a basic set of skills, more or less making them a jack of all trades. Contrary to what you may have learned in school, a jack of all trades is far more equipped to deal with life than a specialized master of only one.
While not totally comprehensive, here is a list of 50 things everyone should know how to do.
1. Build a Fire – Fire produces heat and light, two basic necessities for living. At some point in your life this knowledge may be vital.
* How to Build a Fire * Wilderness Survival Firecraft * Build a Fire Without Matches or a Lighter (video)
2. Operate a Computer – Fundamental computer knowledge is essential these days. Please, help those in need.
* How To Help Someone Use a Computer * The BBC’s Guide to Using a Computer * Mac Basics * Windows Basics
3. Use Google Effectively – Google knows everything. If you’re having trouble finding something with Google, it’s you that needs help.
* Google Guide * Google Advanced Search Operators * Google Web Search Features * 20 Tips for More Efficient Google Searches
4. Perform CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver – Someday it may be your wife, husband, son or daughter that needs help.
* Learn CPR * How To Perform Adult CPR (video) * How CPR Works * How to Perform the Heimlich Maneuver (video)
5. Drive a Manual Transmission Vehicle – There will come a time when you’ll be stuck without this knowledge.
* How To Drive a Stick Shift Instructional Movie (video) * Learn to Drive a Stick Shift * Learn to Drive a Car with Manual Transmission
6. Do Basic Cooking – If you can’t cook your own steak and eggs, you probably aren’t going to make it.
* Cooking Basics and Tips * Cooking and Baking How To Information * Basics of Cooking Series
7. Tell a Story that Captivates People’s Attention – If you can’t captivate their attention, you should probably just save your breath.
* How To Tell a Great Story * How To Give a Great Speech * Presentation Tips for Public Speaking
8. Win or Avoid a Fistfight – Either way, you win.
* How To Actually Win a Fistfight * How To Win a Fistfight (video) * How To Win a Street Fight * How To Avoid Confrontations Like a Samurai Warrior
9. Deliver Bad News – Somebody has got to do it. Unfortunately, someday that person will be you.
* How To Deliver Bad News in Writing * How to Deliver Bad News to a Customer * Good Ways to Deliver Bad News
10. Change a Tire – Because tires have air in them, and things with air in them eventually pop.
* How To Change a Flat Tire (video) * How To Change a Tire (video) * Saturday Mechanic: Changing a Tire
Of course we can think of more! :)
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.
Mike
Cook his next-door neighbor’s Golden Retriever?
(Hey, I’m a sentimental guy. Can’t honestly expect anyone to eat their own pet...!!)
“Satisfy a woman”
Oh, wait...
*ducks*
That was my number one. How to make her squeal like a pig.
I think shoot and clean a gun should be #2...right after build a fire.
With an Mechanical Engineering Degree - you can build anything.
I tell my students - Mechanical is the Cresent wrench of engineering.
In the event of the breakdown of society, you all better know how to start a fire with a car battery and steel wool.
The only thing I missed on that list was driving a stick shift. I’ll also admit to being weak on remembering names.
Please tell me there aren't people who need to be told this. Do people really discard shirts because of a lost button??!!???
...
Marked
“In the event of the breakdown of society, you all better know how to start a fire with a car battery and steel wool.”
That’s good to know, but when society breaks down finding fire won’t be a problem. Putting them out will certainly come in handy, and should be on everyone’s list.
My mumma told me you can catch a game bird if you put salt on its tail
“How to use Google”.
I have a comment on this. A couple of months ago, I was using google to shop for real estate. I just put in an address, or clicked a location on the map, clicked “find nearby” and typed in “real estate”. It would list everything for sale near that map point.
Just tried it the other day, it no longer works. I wonder if they had some sort of conflict with one of their vendors or customers over that ability.
My point is - Google has a great product, but they aren’t in it to provide YOU information.
A lot of this stuff takes practice. Dying gallantly?...not so much...
>>I tell my students - Mechanical is the Cresent wrench of engineering.<<
And Chemical is what makes a civilization civilized.
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