As I was coming through junior high and high school (1995-2001), shop classes of all types were being thrown out of school districts in favor of computer tech classes. I count myself lucky that I was able to get into most of the ones offered at the schools I attended before they were tossed aside in favor of a bitchy 1990s era CAD/CAM that befuddled all but the most tech-savvy kid. I learned how to take a chunk of metal and turn it into what I wanted. I learned how to take wood and create useful works of art. And I learned that spending an hour and a half each day spinning wrenches on a car in the school’s garage beat the hell out of a study hall period by a mile.

I bring that up because simple classes teach so much to people, and they take with them abilities that they keep through life. Nobody ever stops learning, and if they do they are a fool. I’ve harped on many times before (and will continue to do so) that if there is one area of focus that more people need serious work on, it’s automobiles and driving. It’s so easy to ace a driving test in the United States that it’s ridiculous, and all you are expected to know when it comes to vehicle operation is how to start the car, how to make it go and make it stop, and something involving “turning your wheels into the skid”. That’s really about it. Nobody from the DMV tests you to see if you are capable of properly maintaining your vehicle, and only certain states check your car to see if you actually are keeping up with services. I’ve run into so many people who are ignorant of how their car works that it boggles my mind. The automobile is the second-biggest purchase a person will make in their lifetime, after a house. You would think that a little time learning something about the wheeled vehicle powered by millions of explosions sitting in the driveway would be a good idea, but then videos like this come out of the woodwork.

The story goes that this car (which nobody seems to know what kind) was overheating, so the owner filled the engine with water. Not in the radiator, not in the radiator overflow tank…in the engine. I guess it’s a positive that this individual recognized that their vehicle had a problem and tried to fix it, but fifteen quarts of water on top of the oil capacity of the engine…well, you all know what that means. I may have had some people at the store come in who didn’t know squat about their cars, but at least they were smart enough to ask for help. This is something entirely different.

Mind the language, mechanics at work.

(Thanks to Ben Strait for the tip!)