If you look carefully you can see that this is just a family of
Ironworkers. I have had the occasion to work with Iron workers inside shops
and they tend to be rough around the edges, have trouble dealing with others
in a reasonable manner etc.
Ironworker to Ironworker there is no problem because you see what you
get. They will call you every name in the book then sit down and have
coffee with you talking about last nights game. If you carry a grudge about
what was said a few hours or days ago you will drive yourself crazy with
baggage.
I work with a rather mellow ironworker who is between jobs and goes all
over the world. He has seen a guy throw a spud wrench into a crane
operator's window. I did my apprenticeship training adjacent to the
Ironworkers classes. There is lots of verbal abuse between instructor and
students. It would make an office worker wilt or go running to the human
resources department complaining of harassment. When I discuss the goings
on in a steel shop to a salaried suit and tie type they think I am
embellishing and exaggerating.
I get the feeling that Papa has given the boys a free ride rather than
put them out in the field where they would be "moulded" pretty damn quick or
run off the jobsite.
I also get the feeling that Vinny is in from his ironworking job for
extra change. He knows who pays his wages and isn't about to screw up a
good thing working inside for a change.
They got a good thing portraying a slightly rougher side of life that TV
audiences lap up. Wish I had thought of it.
Still I would like to see the goings on of Orange County Ironworks.
Randy

"SteveB" wrote in message
news:VIpGb.39018$BQ5.35833@fed1read03...
I love this show. At first, I thought, "Just how many ways can you build
a
bike that has two wheels, an engine, and some handlebars?"

Well, a hell of a lot more than I ever thought of. I thought it was going
to be another Monster Garage where people build ridiculous things to prove
they can MIG weld and use a plasma cutter. I am personally not interested
in a minivan that doubles as a garbage truck.

But watching the American Chopper show, I have a few things I would like
to
mention:

Pauly - What's up with this kid? At first, I thought he was fighting back
against his domineering father, but have come to believe he is somewhat of
a
Grinch. Evidence: the Santa bike. Couldn't suck it up and just say,
"Lets
do this for the fun of it and the kids." Had to say, "This is below the
standards of OCC." Or something equally stupid. The guy welds and grinds
without PPE, how much can he know? Too prissified for me.

Vinny - Simply put, the guy that makes Pauly look so good. If Vinny died,
Pauly would be dead in the water. Like Mikey got to do, I would like to
see
Vinny get a project, and a couple of helpers and see what they came up
with.
But then, it might show who REALLLY has the brains and talent between
Pauly
and Vinny. Or maybe they are just equals.

Mikey - Mikey has come a long way. He has a heart as big as his ass, and
a
sense of humor that runs very deep. He jumped right in there with the
Santa
bike project, and the Christmas tree and the angel on top were classic.
Pauly would never have acted so "childish". I love shows that have Mikey
in
them.

The two elves who helped with the Santa bike - A couple of classy dudes.
AND, unlike Pauly and Vinnie, wore their PPE while grinding. The reindeer
head fender came out great, although I was having misgivings when first I
saw it going together. They are not to be passed over lightly.

The Old Man - Really showed he had a soft heart with the Santa bike. But
then, pulled over a double yellow line to pass the camera truck. WTF was
HE
thinking? And him clowning with Mikey showed he is just a big teddy bear
with a big mustache.

Looking forward to another season of AC.

Happy Holidays to all.

Steve