Managing Grey Matter

In order to be a good Dirty Shirt there are four elements to the Dirty Shirt state of mind:

• Design

• Build

• Fix

• Maintain

All projects and activities we talk about involve at least one of these four topics. If you’re not black thinkingsure about exactly what they mean don’t sweat it, we’ve got your back. There was a time when we didn’t understand their significance either. We’ve learned and we’ll share.

Just like paying taxes is an unalterable truth, so it goes with Design, Build, Fix and Maintain.

No one performs all four elements like a rock star.  One might be proficient at each, but there’s usually one of the four that just doesn’t compute.  Odds are that’s true for you too.

Hey, if you’re good at all four elements consider yourself King of the Universe.  Quit your day-job, your skill-sets are needed in the world.

Design, Build, Fix, and Maintain each have their own navigation buttons above.  Check ‘em out and start thinking about your projects from the perspectives we’ve offered.

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Dirty Thoughts

We think about fixing and maintaining our stuff... a lot.

diy blog maleConsider this an open invitation to visit our blog and see what’s on our minds.  After all, being a Dirty Shirt guy or girl is really just a state-of-mind.  Bonus feature:  you get to talk back.

One thing is for sure, we have to work with what we have.  The vast majority of us isn’t pulling down a six-figure salary and just buying-new whenever the older stuff breaks or doesn’t look quite the way we would want it to.

We want to be good stewards of our belongings and that includes our money and possessions. Dirty Illustration: Have you taken a careful look at cable-television lately?

diy female

It’s more like cable commercials and we pay for the privilege to watch it. 900 channels and nothing’s on. Do you see a problem with that? We do. You can’t maintain and manage your stuff sitting in front of the flat screen.

So, you have two choices, Neo: If you take the blue pill you will leave this site and go on about your lives believing and doing whatever it is you want to believe and do. If you take the red pill we’ll show you what it will take and how deep the rabbit-hole goes.

Learn a new skill or two; the TV commercials will still be there when you’re done.

What Not To Do

I'm Lost Too

The irony of warning people about potentially dangerous activities while vigorously encouraging them to participate is not lost on us.

But Three Is My Lucky Number

Just know that you can get yourself into some serious jams if you don’t use your head. The following text describes a number of ways in which you can alter the anatomy of your hand to make it fit a bowling-ball perfectly. There are only three holes in a ball so why would you need two extra fingers?

The Man

Your city, county or state may require a building permit or other legal documentation and associated fees when altering a structure or infrastructure.  Be sure you know what your local government requires before you go ripping into your dwelling or building an airplane in your basement.

My Cult Leader Told Me To Do It

Just because we perform certain tasks such as but not limited to: removing or disabling manufacturer’s safety features, soldering, welding, cutting, fire extinguishersawing, not wearing dust masks, re-wiring junk, demolishing, nailing, gluing, fooling around with electricity, handling flammable industrial gases, mixing noxious substances, forgetting to wear safety glasses, wearing loose clothing, sanding, stripping, catching things on fire, injuring ourselves, running with scissors, or any similar activity doesn’t necessarily mean you should.

I'm The Decider

Although this is not an exhaustive list some examples of how your personal-preservation decisions can get you into trouble follow.

Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em

If you handle flammable chemicals and decide to have a smoke or light a patchouli-scented candle while doing so, you have made a choice and the outcome of your choices is yours alone to own.

You Misspelled Sodder and Plumming

If you decide to solder the plumbing in your house you can easily start your house on fire.

I Bought This Place For The View

If your soldering or welding prowess lacks integrity your weld will leak and could flood your house or 20 story tenement.

I Don't See The Problem Here

If we forget to mention that the lug nuts on your car’s wheels should be tightened, it’s up to you to identify this oversight and resolve it for your own personal safety and for the safety of others.

Are You Saying I Don't Clean?

If you weld or grind and make no provision for sparks and hot discharge you will burn something. Exactly what that might be? We’re not sure…perhaps that deep pile of sawdust underneath your workbench.

I'm Self-Insured

If you launch your boat and neglect to insert the hull drain-plug the odds are that your boat will sink. It may not sink to the bottom but what’s the difference between a sunken boat and a swamped boat? Only your insurance company can answer that question.

Firemen Did All My Decorating

If you find yourself having flooded your house, burned it down or promoted yourself to the rank of U-boat captain we’d recommend you buy a T-shirt and have the following phrase applied to the front: “A$K ME ABOUT MY CO$TLY MI$TAKE.”

Does My Common Sense Make My Butt Look Big?

Just because you read about a recommendation on the web or on this site, that isn’t an sore thumbopen invitation to blame somebody else because you cut one or more of your fingers off. At best, a surprise amputation is really just questionable technique on your part.

It’s as simple as this: Know your skill sets and work within those skill sets. Any activity you choose to engage in is exactly that: your choice.

Alcohol Makes Me Feel Funny; Let’s Go For A Drive

And finally, there are people who are safety conscious and there are people who are not. There are people who intuitively identify dangerous activities and there are people who do not. There are people who blow a .18 and drive cars. Know which one you are.

Abs and Glutes Workout

If you’re ‘that guy’ or younger than 18 and you can’t identify the cause and effect of your actions, grab a bag of cheese doodles and go catch a Gray’s Anatomy rerun. You’ve made the right choice.


 

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