Heh. Yes, if the choices are:

1) We can give you and 9 strangers $10,000 to split up evenly at $1000 each, or
2) We can give you $5,000, but the others will only get $500 each;

How many people would HONESTLY choose option 1?

I want 5gs. lol =]

You know, Nigel is somewhat right. We are, by nature greedy and selfish, this dates back to prehistoric days. We can sum this up with Mazlow's Heirarchy of Needs. The top one is Self Actualization where we want to feel important and needed in society. Having "things" makes us feel like we're someone.

If I go by what Nigel says I should just quit my job now and go live in the woods 'cause there's no hope for any of us.

As for being greedy, I don't think that's entirely true either.

Most people just want the most they can work for to give themselves and their families a better life. That's survival of the fittest, not greed. I want to work as hard as I can so I don't have to be in controlled slavery later on in life and so I can have enough money so my kids (not yet) don't have to pay for education and so on. I'm not wiping my ass with $100 dollar bills, I just don't want to have to worry and be able to live comfortably, like everyone should.

If those other 9 strangers were out of work and had hungry kids, I'd keep enough so I could eat and give the rest to them and I think most people would do the same.

This example is not a greed mechanism, it is a fear based response.

Who gets the last $500? i'll take the $5000 and the "forgotten" $500

I used to believe this way but the more i get exposed to the "real world" persay I find that our society is wrapped up in greed and materialistic things. People will always want more and will do surprising things to attain those items.

If we all could be content with what we have and truly be happy with that then society would be drastically different. Life is what you make it for yourself and what makes YOU happy. Maybe that be providing for your family or running the multi million dollar corporation. everyone is different but a large portion of our society is wrapped up in whos house is bigger, who has the better car, nicer clothes, etc.

Greed/Jealouly is inherent in our nature. That is what has happened to the banks in the US and many other sectors. Fight for yourself because no one is going to fight for you.

Well maybe I'm a dying breed then but I still don't think it's the vast majority of people that are greedy. The auto workers union was greedy and paid uneducated people way too much money but does that make those workers greedy? I'm not sure.

I guess it all depends how you look at it. I don't need to make $100k a year but if my boss was going to give it to me I wouldn't turn it down. Greedy or opportunistic?

What do you guys think?

The problem is that everybody wants Freedom 35!

That just gave me an idea!

Pave your drive-way with hash?

No, thats just redicolous. Im going to watch some trailer park boys.

lol =]

Beside all the money is in change.

The question would be, your boss offers to pay you $100k, but also has offered it to a co-worker. Only ONE of you can take the pay raise.

Canadians are a little more prone to this, as we were 'raised' with more of a need to help each other out. When I worked as a tech for a university, they offered a position to me or the other tech. A pay raise, and guaranteed job security... Both of us deferred to the other, but I pressed the issue as he was older, married, and lived in that area, so he could make better use of the opportunity, even though it would have been REALLY good for me to take.

In retrospect, I think I do stuff like that TOO much, which is why I'm so far behind the curve financially.

Don't worry those who were perceived "ahead of the curve" financially are now stuck like pigs anyways. American Markets approaching 15 year lows... So everyone who enslaved themselves to the almighty dollar for the past decade has little to nothing to show for it besides... Grey hair, heart failure, marriage failure etc...

Bah, Just had testing for a local tool and die company. Said they would let me know tomorrow. If so it will be my highest paying job since I quit my union job at 12.85/hour.

Im in the same trade. Its good money but very hard and stressful work. I hope you like working alot of hours. I average somewhere around 50-55 hrs a week.

its a continental shift. one week 5 12 hour shifts next week 2 12 hour shifts.

I honestly don't mind it at all. Something like a call center I would be bored to death working long hours. As long as im active Im good.

Thats cool. What the company called? What do they do? Progressive dies?

Stegg, I know they make bullets, I believe bushings for cars. I only know of bullets for sure. I have been inside just testing phase to make sure I had the jist. Passed it, Go for an interview tomorrow. Once I start I should know better what all we do there. Just heard stories from my bro so far.

I just checked out the web site. Seem like a cool place. But I think they do just production machining. I hope you dont end up a certified tool and die maker who pushed buttons all day. Seem like thats what the trade is becoming now.

http://www.concepttooling.com/

Thats the site to my employer. We build progressive Dies for automotive stamping.

As of now this will be my first tool die job. If nothing else is right down the alley of what I would like to do. Maybe get more into it once this economy picks up.

Yeah, Don't know for sure just have a jist of what they do. Definitely a cool field.

If you love working with your hands youll definatly love the trade. The best part is that you can make stuff yourself that you would normally pay someone else to make.

lol yeah it seems like it will be good. =]

Congrats Jay, a great step forwards! Looks like they are not just automotive, but into medical and electronics as well? Good thing, as a lot of the Automotive tool & die and mold shops are going bankrupt.

Sounds excellent!

yeah apparently they are getting busy. Not to mention they might get another contract or something. That will require more people.

sounds like if I do get in I wont lose this job in 6 months. Im sick of switching jobs. More so the unemployed part I should say I hate.

Look at this more money for you Ziggy =]

All the best Jay, here's hoping.

thanks man. Here is hoping.

One of my good friends used to work at Stegg as a qualtiy technician till he was fed up with the place. Don't remember details but remember him telling me stuff about no raises, wierd hours that constantly changed he went fron straight day to shift to continental and the politics in the place were horrible. Hopefully things have changed as this was at least 2 yrs back.

Sometimes i wonder if i've made the right choice in picking the desk job career. I also, very much like to work with my hands and i barely ever get to go in the lab at work anymore since getting my last promotion. tool and die is definitely a skilled trade and which i were more skilled with a manual mill and lathe.

Yeah, it's not tool and die, its a machine shop... Multi-spindle screw machines, and cnc lathes, mills, etc. We make all kinds of parts, automotive, medical, arms, lots of stuff. It's kinda stressfull work, but it's always busy and the pays not to bad.

There you go =] lol thats what Stegg is.

Well the talon has a good chance to be on the road. I start friday.

Congrats!!

Congradulations! When it comes to start buying tools I recommend looking for a retired guy whos selling. Thats what I did. Its a good way to start your collection.

For now I think all I need they don't supply is a micrometer. But they take 30 a pay out till its paid off. 300 dollars! lol =]

Oh! Then your all set. Just from that it seems like you picked up a pretty sweet job.

Hope you aren't planning to spend $300. on a micrometer??

The Chinese make decent tools...not Mitutoyo or Starret quality, but not the same price either. You should be able to pick up a 0-1" micrometer for no more than $35. Buy two, put one away for the "fussy" jobs, and use the other for the everyday stuff. I would do the same with calipers. I buy cheap dial calipers for around $20 - $25., pick up a half dozen at a time, and throw them out if they get damaged,

Remember Jay, as of this year, you can now claim your tools on your tax return!

Soooo true. In the early stages of my apprenticeship I used to knock stuff off the bench all the time. Including micrometers and calipers. Thank god they werent mine.

I would imagine that dropping a $30 tool feels different than a $300 one.

I've learned that a lot of tools, you pay for the name.

Case in point:
Guy at one of our shops bought these allen key sets (SAE and Metric) from the Snap-On Truck. $35 a piece, they were 10 key sets.

Buddy went and bought the same sets at Wal-Mart, $9.99 a piece. Showed the guys what he bought and turns out the part number embedded on the plastic case was the EXACT same number as the Snap-On one!

My torque wrench, that I use daily, is an On-Sale $60 1/2 drive special from Mastercraft at Crappy. Works like a charm. Don't go thinking you will need to spend a high amount on tools. You will learn over time, there is a certain feel to tools you will get sick of; I've got a Powerfist Impact from Princess Auto, 450lbs torque.. HATE IT!! It's too heavy, and I'm looking at the IR Titanium 2135Q Gun, weighs 4lbs, and 780lbs torque.

However, I've got a Powerfist die grinder, 24,000 rpms, love it! Good feel, light, easy to work with.

A lot of guys in the shop feel they need all the big names like Mac, Gray, Snap-On, etc. Granted, there are some things that are worth the money (Genius makes a killer deep impact socket set from 3/8 to 1.5") but some things aren't. A 12mm wrench is a 12mm wrench (I.E Mastercraft vs Mastercraft Maximum - Difference: Polished, little thinner)

Congrats on the job man!

The $300 is for a set, 0-1" micrometer, and 0-6" vernier, both digital and mitutoyo. It's actually a little less than 300. I know you can get them cheaper, but it's nice not to have to come up with the money up front. And for now you can use mine anyway Jay,