Thread: Kung Fu and the Art of Wood Splitting

All the Same.

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Well Rob1276,

As far as time… I get out’a bed every day between 4:00-5:00 AM, sometimes earlier. I make the coffee and sit down at the computer to check weather, read a couple of news services (I almost never watch TV, anytime of the day), and then I log into AS (and a couple other boards) and read all the new posts… all the new posts. That usually works out that the coffee pot is empty about the time I’m done reading.

And as far as memorizing… that ain’t much work for me. I remember threads and posts from well over a year ago with clarity. I remember what user posted what comments, pictures, quotes, etc. I could write you a report on books I read over 20-years ago and score an A or B high school grade easily. I literally can close my eyes, concentrate, and see the pages in my mind. In school I never took one single note… not one. My wife says I have a mind full of more useless information than most peoples have useful information.

So although you find it amusing that I would spend the time to read and memorize all that… it really didn’t take me any time or effort at all. It just is-what-it-is.

Originally Posted by Whitespider

I don’t believe it is either.

I’ve been trying to put together a profile of the man… trying to sort through the obvious BS and grasp the underlying. That’s part of the reason I’ve egged him on a bit in a couple threads… tried to push a button or two.

Here’s what I have so far…

1. There’s a streak of insecurity present. The biggest clue to that was the thread he started about his decision to move to northern Minnesota because “it doesn’t get cold enough where he lives”. The next was his commenting he wished it would get “sub-zero again” so he could “wind up some two-stroke on some oak”. It’s as though he needs to “prove” to us he can handle the cold… insecure about the fact that he lives below the 45th parallel. In some way he believes we’ll look down on him because he doesn’t live where the extreme cold is… doesn’t live where the heat from a fire can mean life or death (in his mind).
2. He also feels inadequate at times. For example, his signature contains not only specific brand names, but even more detail so we’ll know he has the best (in his mind)… he’s making up for his feelings of inadequacy with material things. We not only know he has a Dodge with an intercooled Cummins, but he felt the need to add that it was “First Generation”. We even know the brand of his felling wedges, brand and color of bar oil, saw mix uses Stihl Synthetic, and his Redwing boots are “Pro Logger USA”. Then there’s the taekwondo stuff, the girls (but he has kids at home?), training, etc. I have a gut feeling that some of his inadequacy feelings are because he’s of small(er) build (but that’s just a gut feeling). Even a 200,000 BTU wood boiler… 200,000? In southern Illinois? He just had too make sure his was the biggest.
3. He’s bored, or his wife is working and he’s the stay-at-home dad, or both. It’s been a slow week at work and I’ve been in the office so I’ve been able to log into AS several times a day if I want… and every time I do log in throughout the day he’s made at least one (if not more) posts. Something has him tied to the house… I’m thinking he’s out of work, the wife is workin, and he’s forced to be Mr. Mom (which could also add to the inadequacy feelings). That explains the sudden exits to walk the dog or kill the neighbors woodchuck… it’s a kid or two.
4. He wants us to believe he’s a non-conformist, a rebel, a revolutionary… hence the “I promise to move firewood” thread (fits in with the insecurity and inadequacy). He builds guitars... really? That’s quite a time consuming hobby for someone who’s profile pages says he “Love Live Eat Sleep Breathe Woodcutting and Woodburning, has interests in “Pyrolysis and Bowhunting”, and has an occupation as a “Building Contractor and Part-Time Tree Removal”… wherever does he find the time to build guitars, be a rebel and post for days, multiple times on AS?

I’ll let y’all know as I come up with more.

This reads like one sociopath's dissertation abstract on another!

Originally Posted by Misfit138

This reads like one sociopath's dissertation abstract on another!

We are 138 WE ARE..........138!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wilkomen in Meinen Haus! How's Eerie Von these Days?
Chuck Biscuits is my Cousin.

Originally Posted by Woodcutter TV

We are 138 WE ARE..........138!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wilkomen in Meinen Haus! How's Eerie Von these Days?
Chuck Biscuits is my Cousin.

Heh. Eerie (Eric Stellman) used to live across from my girlfriend's girlfriend, incidentally. I think I still might have an old autographed Tee that he signed in 1989 somewheres....
I used to see all those guys around the neighborhood.

Originally Posted by Misfit138

Heh. Eerie (Eric Stellman) used to live across from my girlfriend's girlfriend, incidentally. I think I still might have an old autographed Tee that he signed in 1989 somewheres....
I used to see all those guys around the neighborhood.

NOW I saw that NJ. Rock and roll, Brother. A group around here used to play that tune. They were Pork Chop Shifter. I was the only one in the crowd that knew it.

I like Green Hell and Mama Can I Go Out and Kill, Tonight?
Thanks for stoppin' by.

Originally Posted by Eccentric

Just for that I'm sending you a saw UM.

Will get it out tomorrow or Monday. Thanks for your patience Josh.

Awesome! I'm on pins and needles. I'm all ready with the camera for pics and vids of me playing around with it!!

Originally Posted by Whitespider

I don’t believe it is either.

I’ve been trying to put together a profile of the man… trying to sort through the obvious BS and grasp the underlying. That’s part of the reason I’ve egged him on a bit in a couple threads… tried to push a button or two.

Here’s what I have so far…

1. There’s a streak of insecurity present. The biggest clue to that was the thread he started about his decision to move to northern Minnesota because “it doesn’t get cold enough where he lives”. The next was his commenting he wished it would get “sub-zero again” so he could “wind up some two-stroke on some oak”. It’s as though he needs to “prove” to us he can handle the cold… insecure about the fact that he lives below the 45th parallel. In some way he believes we’ll look down on him because he doesn’t live where the extreme cold is… doesn’t live where the heat from a fire can mean life or death (in his mind).
2. He also feels inadequate at times. For example, his signature contains not only specific brand names, but even more detail so we’ll know he has the best (in his mind)… he’s making up for his feelings of inadequacy with material things. We not only know he has a Dodge with an intercooled Cummins, but he felt the need to add that it was “First Generation”. We even know the brand of his felling wedges, brand and color of bar oil, saw mix uses Stihl Synthetic, and his Redwing boots are “Pro Logger USA”. Then there’s the taekwondo stuff, the girls (but he has kids at home?), training, etc. I have a gut feeling that some of his inadequacy feelings are because he’s of small(er) build (but that’s just a gut feeling). Even a 200,000 BTU wood boiler… 200,000? In southern Illinois? He just had too make sure his was the biggest.
3. He’s bored, or his wife is working and he’s the stay-at-home dad, or both. It’s been a slow week at work and I’ve been in the office so I’ve been able to log into AS several times a day if I want… and every time I do log in throughout the day he’s made at least one (if not more) posts. Something has him tied to the house… I’m thinking he’s out of work, the wife is workin, and he’s forced to be Mr. Mom (which could also add to the inadequacy feelings). That explains the sudden exits to walk the dog or kill the neighbors woodchuck… it’s a kid or two.
4. He wants us to believe he’s a non-conformist, a rebel, a revolutionary… hence the “I promise to move firewood” thread (fits in with the insecurity and inadequacy). He builds guitars... really? That’s quite a time consuming hobby for someone who’s profile pages says he “Love Live Eat Sleep Breathe Woodcutting and Woodburning, has interests in “Pyrolysis and Bowhunting”, and has an occupation as a “Building Contractor and Part-Time Tree Removal”… wherever does he find the time to build guitars, be a rebel and post for days, multiple times on AS?

I’ll let y’all know as I come up with more.

But do you like him?

Originally Posted by Woodcutter TV

Many of the tenants of serious martial art study are applicable in your every day life. Self-control, Discipline, Perseverance, Efficiency: these are all attributes which when applied through constant practice will enhance the ability to set goals and attain them.

Martial arts are based on three main roots; physical development, mental development and spiritual development. The physical and fine motor skill development inherent in the pursuit of martial art training will enable one to employ better technique in any physical endeavor. Life is not about flowery fists and embroidery kicks it's about what actually gets done. Indomitable spirit speaks for itself. Successful practitioners turn problems into opportunities. The proof is in the pile.

There’s no doubt that the practice of cutting firewood is good exercise. And wood heat is uplifting for the spirit of people who consider it a primary function of life and for people standing next to the stove. Many of us would do it just to fire up a chainsaw. Saving $300-500 per month on propane is also good for the mood. Cut and burn enough wood and physical and spiritual development grows.

What does mental development have to do with splitting wood? Upon reaching expert level martial art ability you have long been seeking to improve every task in the day. You no longer take it for granted how you walk and breathe because you have cultivated an awareness of these things. When you have been going to a training facility for awhile and you’ve mastered basic technique, you graduate to the next level ---Sparring! In the first few months no matter really what is the difference in physical condition between the instructor and student, students can never figure out why they are being scored upon at will and are totally worn out while the instructor doesn’t appear to be breathing heavy or sweating. At around the Blue Belt level you are informed that you were holding your breath. There is much more energy spent in executing any physical manuever under a high degree of muscle tension than in a state of relaxation. You are tense and holding your breath, he or she is cool and relaxed. Translate this to the physical tasks you do each day. Use proper breathing and conscious relaxation to help you get more work done.

Relaxation will also prevent injury. Take for example the fact that a drunk is less likely to get injured in a car wreck. If you asked them, they might say, “we’ll I wasn’t feelin’ no pain.” But why does it happen that way really? The alcohol or dope has the nervous system detached from the brain. And the same delay in reaction time which often causes or contributes to the situation also prevents the muscles from contracting upon impact. When a muscle stretches and contracts at the same time, you can imagine what happens.

When you relax, you can focus the mind with intensity. Employ presence of mind. Consciously apply this to your work. Channel it through the splitting maul, and the wood stack grows.

Originally Posted by Skip Klassik

Why dont you jus put some lizzard poop on it!

you could have asked that without a computer..........being in the same room and all.

Originally Posted by Misfit138

This reads like one sociopath's dissertation abstract on another!

Sociopath? I don’t fit the profile of a sociopath very well, and I don’t believe we know Woodcutter TV well enough yet to hang that type of label on him. I surely have anti-social tendencies, but lack the key symptoms of a “sociopath”… I’m not a pathological liar (but how would you know?), I don’t act impulsively (I carefully think things out before action), I’ve never in my life cheated on my wife or girlfriend (any of them), I can laugh at myself (I can “take it” as well as I can “dish it out”), I’m almost never bored (I can always find something to do that occupies my time constructively), I don’t blame others for my mistakes or problems (I admit them readily, and actively work to remedy them), I know I have faults and what they are (I try to minimize their impact, but don’t get overly concerned, everybody has faults), I’ve never had a problem holding a steady job, I’m not subject to fits of rage (and never enter into conflict unless I’m perfectly calm and collected), and I’m fully capable of feeling remorse and empathy (although I have none for those that refuse to help themselves).

But… Along with dropping out of school, some minor scrapes with the law, and some drug abuse as a young man/teen… I can be manipulative at times, believe myself an authority on occasion, I’m a secretive lone-wolf type, and I’m certainly charming … … … anti-social, but not sociopathic.

Originally Posted by unclemoustache

But do you like him?

Well uncle, I certainly don't feel a dislike towards him… at this point I’m neutral. If he’s truly here “just for the laughs” he’ll get bored and move on before I know that answer. But if he sticks around, settles in, removes the protective shell he’s built around himself, and drops the meaningless drivel… Being I’m an old bow hunter myself, I have a certain respect for people possessing the self-discipline to achieve proficiency in that sport, so there's something... And (so far) it appears he’s fully capable of remaining objective (or non-emotional) in the face of criticism… gotta’ like that. Only time will tell, and I don’t hold a man’s past against him… even past posts on AS.

Originally Posted by trimmmed

you could have asked that without a computer..........being in the same room and all.

Yup. Kinda reminds me of when Gypo would log in with three different user names and start arguments with himself.

Coulda put money on that one!!