Retiring Retirement
Passing the torch
N
A ‘mentor of inventors’ competes with the next generation’s smartphones
o senior can magically pass on talent or genius to the next generation.
But finding those who desire to learn some of the mysteries of science has become in important quest for near-octogenarian John Harlow of East Berne.
John Harlow of East Berne is eager to pass along his love of discovery to a new generation of tinkerers.
The “Mentor of Inventors” spent years in the labs and halls of the famed Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory developing projects that assisted in the development of nuclear power for The United States Navy. Since his retirement over a dozen years ago, he has amassed a considerable laboratory of his own in the hills of East Berne. But the great experiment bubbling up more recently is the concept of handing off both technical and hands-on skills to eager beavers. Harlow pictures this happening as he chases the creative aspect of inventing and building from concept through design to discoveries through “lots of failures” to completion.
sorcerer’s apprentice. Due to the literal explosive nature of some of his experiments, the opportunities would abound for just the right youth or adult who has come across the greatest discovery and the one thing that John Harlow can’t teach: desire. Home is Where
lucrative and fulfilling. The difficulty is competing with iPads and iPhones and tech-gizmos that provide instant gratification in a different way. “I’m part of the old group like Mike Rowe’s Dirty You’ll Find UsJobs. His philosophy is identical to mine. We both strongly favor jobs that require manual skills and not necessarily computer skills.
by
Robert LaCosta
“I want to take something so Whether these projects might satisfying, useful include welding or training and fundamental to on lathes, milling machines, my life and share it with Home is Where You’ll Find Us electronic equipment of all kinds someone else,” Harlow said of coinciding with the magic of his dream. “I’d like to see somephysics, some young apprentice one else have as much fun as who would be luckier than the I’ve had - all the while have it be
“What would be music to my ears - make that an opera
- would be to hear, ‘Grandpa, can we go build something today?’ I wish I would hear those words. In the long ago, a lot of extended families lived in same house and that made it easier to pass on different things to the new generation.” Harlow’s hope for the youth is to come to the realization that the coolest thing that could be on his iPhone is sitting in the next room. Robert J. LaCosta’s “Portal to Heaven” is a daily devotional delivered free through email. Request it at norepcom@gmail.com or visit robertlacosta.com
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CRYPTO ANSWERS: A. wings B. nest C. eggs D. soar
