The author's titanium glasses broke and he sought repair at multiple optician shops, only to encounter staff unfamiliar with fixing eyewear. A manager eventually agreed to install replacement temples if sourced online, highlighting how post-communist Czech society has lost the repair skills and culture of necessity that once defined it.
Mongolia has a rich chess tradition dating back to the 12th century. Khaan Chess LLC, founded by Bat-Oyun and her husband Nasanbat in 2015, creates handcrafted historical-themed chess sets depicting Mongolian history from ancient empires to modern times, with over ten different designs produced since 2018.
A 2013 essay argues that the future of work is brighter than commonly assumed if people embrace tradesman-like "schlep work" rather than romanticizing artisan crafts. The author contrasts conspicuous, prestigious production (like bard work) with unglamorous but economically vital work (like chimney-sweeping), suggesting most people will and should become digital-era tradespeople rather than seeking fulfillment-focused artisan careers.
A software engineer and game developer reflects on their crisis of motivation amid the rise of generative AI, which devalues creative work and makes traditional craftsmanship feel obsolete. After initially despairing, they find perspective from a colleague who continues building meaningful projects without AI, recognizing that choosing the harder path—like making a custom game engine—is about personal fulfillment rather than competition.