#competent man

[noosphe-re]

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.

Robert Heinlein, Time Enough for Love

[cpluzc]

my spirituality

Hoe belangrijk is spiritualiteit in jouw leven? . is connected to personal growth: becoming a competent person the more I know about my desires, my motivations, my core qualities, the way I communicate, both telling and listening, my relationship to everything around me… the more I am in balance with my spirituality

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[cpluzc]

studio

my artistic and creative brand celebrates its 10th anniversary today my retirement gives me additional opportunities to continue working on my empowerment programs the Competent Man and the Community Man and of course, illustrating short texts (cpluzc.com and cpluzc.gallery) with photos I took and edited myself I find my inspiration in the daily things of life cpluzc’s studio

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[letshopethisisanadventure]

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.

Robert Heinlein

[aandmblog]

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.

Robert Heinlein

[tfielding38]

"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."

Robert Heinlein Time Enough For Love

[drwakanda]

Dao of MacGyver

As a kid, MacGyver was, and still is today, one of my favorite tv shows. His adventures were engaging diverse and I always felt like I learned something from the show either scientifically or philosophically. Angus MacGyver, who hates his first name and typically goes by Mac, Is known for his improvisational and inventive problem solving abilities due to his colorful skill set and life outlook which I am going to attempt to index.

The start of MacGyver's skill set would have to be his childhood. Even as a kid MacGyver had a talent for solving problems with random everyday resources. This and a strong work ethic were cultivated in Mac by his grandfather Harry Jackson. Harry acted as a father figure to MacGyver after Mac's biological father was killed in a car accident with Harry's wife. Harry took Mac on camping and fishing trips and taught Him many of his outdoorsmenship skills. Though most tend to focus on MacGyvers high tech skills, more that half of his clever tricks and escapes are just reapplications of old hunters traps and strategies his grandfather taught him. Harry appears to have been rather well traveled with an eclectic knowledge himself. Harry also gave MacGyver his first chemistry set as a child which was the start of his love of science. Young MacGyver build lots or random toys and gadgets just for fun. Mac has also stated he loved going to Museums as a kid showing a strong interest in history and culture studies.

Mac has two bachelors degrees in physics and chemistry he earned at Western Tech. His physics professor Julian Ryman is one of Mac's biggest mentors after his Grandfather and also had a highly developed skill for improvisational problem solving that he seems to have further cultivated in Mac. His physics training seems to lean heavily into electro-mechanics and programming as he spends a lot of time tinkering with robots and computers. He builds robots to make breakfast in one episode and in another an insurance investigator say that Mac taught him all he knew about computer hacking. MacGyver's chemistry knowledge leans far into the ranges of biochemistry, ecology and physiology. Most of the chemistry he is shown doing revolved around making explosives of some sort. Blowing things up is probably one of the simplest areas of chemistry. One of the first things I learned was what not to mix to keep from catching fire for most of my labs. Many combustible compounds are organic ones so this further pushes the theory that biology plays a big role in MacGyver's knowledge base. He has a strong knowledge of poisonous plants, first aid, and does many environmental surveys. In the episode "Flame's End" He mentions that he did not study physics to get some boring career but because in fascinated and excited him. MacGyver's wanderlust and desire to see and learn new things is key to his open and inventive thinking.

Though the show does not say what his minor was I suspect it might have been a double in sociology and anthropology with a focus in research and culture studies. MacGyver is a skilled investigator and negotiator often doing the work of a diplomat or spy. He says his is more self taught in the area of archeology and is able to discern a great deal of meaning from ancient myths and texts.

MacGyver's Formal education is refined by his life experiences up until the beginning of the series. Right after college Mac oped to start traveling the world taking on various odd jobs. For a brief time he was in vietnam applying his technical skills on a bomb diffusion team. his time with the military is most likely where he learned some government procedure and gains a few contacts in various intelligence fields. He spent some time as a race car driver where he most likely honed his engineering skills even further.

There is a great deal of focus on MacGyver's Mental abilities so his physical skills often get overlooked. As stated earlier, he is a avid and skilled outdoorsmen versed in survival, mountain climbing, hang gliding and boating. His basic camping hunting a fishing skills he has ben refining since childhood and most likely picked up others during college and and his glob trotting. Mac is also a huge Hockey fan and has been playing since he was a child. He is seen playing during "Eraser" and "Thin Ice".  Mac has a some training in the martial arts. He is seen sparring with a friend using chinese styles in "the Wish Child" and he has demonstrated applicable knowledge of Japanese martial arts such and recognizing Karate strikes and using Jujitsu throws. He is probably somewhere between a green and brown ranking in Jujitsu and and some form of Kung Fu. He does not practice his martial arts as oftern as some of his other skills as he is very non violent by nature. He seems more focused on the zen philosophies of the arts than there combat applications as he often reflects on spending morning in a quiet meditative appreciation of his surroundings.

MacGyver's skill set is must put in context of his personality. On a basic level Mac has a great love and respect for all things, nature and people. Causes he has fought for include environmental conservation, social equality, better education, and general undermining of crime syndicates and corrupt government organizations. He bounces from retrieving stolen missile designs from foreign agents to running after school program for troubled youths. Putting drug dealers out of business to protecting a pair of mating bald eagles. Any form do goodery he can get involved in.  He prefers non violent solutions to problems and only does harm is there are no other viable options. He hates guns do to a childhood accident and is a huge advocate of gun control. He is not blind to human faults and is in fact very skilled at detecting deception from others. More so he never stops reaching out to people to strive for their full potential. Even characters who seem like irredeemable villains Mac has often turned to good using sound reason and dedication.

What makes MacGyver really special in my mind is his normality. There is no doubt that he is gifted in intelligence but I would say he is not a genius like some of the scientists and organization leaders that would appear on the show. He is not physically better than any one who does some regular exercise each day. It is more that he chooses to think rather than he is better at it than others. Most people are locked into very simple boxes of logic, a wrench is a wrench cooking oil is for cooking, these are the world problems and they cannot be changed. Mac is not locked in those boxes. He looks at things for what they are as opposed to what a system would tell him they should be. He is the greatest "everyman" because he is and average person who's love of knowledge and adventure lets him reach his maximum potential. There is something in his hobbies and lifestyle that reflects a part of everyone. and He is a symbol that everyone can do great things if they are determined and willing to get a little creative.

So in review, MacGyver is and average guy probably with an above average to gifted IQ   and has a an above average level of athleticism. Academically, he is trained in the physical sciences with a high focus on electromechanics and biochemistry and the social sciences with a high focus on social research and applied anthropology. He has extensive wilderness survival and tracking, climbing and hang gliding;  expert levels of training in race car driving and hockey; moderate levels of training in martial arts; plus lots of experience with military and intelligence agency procedures. He is an optimistic but practical character with a deep respect for the environment, a love of learning and exploration and a profound faith in the human spirit others. He does what he can to make the world a better place and have a little fun at the same time. Definitely one of my favorite tv heroes ever.

[hipstersscience]

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

Robert Heinlein.