I moderated a comment on the Construction Knowledge Forum about masonry techniques from the early 1900s and came across the video below. Seemed like an instructional video for laying block, but I clicked on it out of curiosity. Just watch a minute or two.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VGjA66RSm0&feature=player_embedded#!

Isn’t that mason incredible? His fluid motion and strength (yes those are 12″ normal weight concrete blocks) mesmerizes. I’d like to shake his hand, but he’d probably crush mine.

It makes me happy to see someone do a job so well. We work in a great industry that allows so much varied expertise. As technology moves the world to sameness, the construction trades remain a bastion of skill and competence.