Weekend Open Thread: Faster, Higher, Stronger Edition

H. Clay Aalders
Weekend Open Thread
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Howdy Folks. After a crazy couple of weeks, I am ready to settle in and watch some Olympics for the next two.

But first I need to knock out the Weekend Open Thread. Press Day is next Wednesday as well, so I will be working all weekend I am sure. But I will have all manner of obscure sports I don’t really care about on in the background.

Like Synchronized swimming.

 

 

We (I) made homemade ice cream and homemade ice cream for the Opening Ceremony.

I agree with the East German judge. He does suck.

Dreams shattered in a fraction of a second.

I could get behind that, or this…

For someone as globalism-skeptical as myself, I like the Olympics too much. I have mentioned it before, but as the son of a Dutch immigrant, some of my favorite childhood memories. Especially watching speed skating which the Dutch dominate. Team Orange is a little less formidable in the Summer games.

I am old enough to remember stuff like that.

She didn’t look amused.

 

Related…

Strange, but true…

 

This is probably more true than folks care to admit…

They are certainly easy on the eyes…

The Olympic rings are classic…

But the logo for these games wants to speak to the manager…

Who saw this guy coming?

Speaking of names…

Still waiting for a Triple Lindy…

 

 

Of course he will.

Everyone into the car. Or bobsled…

In fairness, this is every Olympics, G7, Political Convention, etc…

 

I might not amount to much…

…but my meme-game is top-notch…

Of course the Olympics aren’t the only thing going on this weekend. The KNIFE Magazine Events Calendar shows us that there is a knife show in Michigan…

Great Lakes Rendezvous

Next week is the Natural State Show…

Natural State Knife Show

Rogers, Arkansas is also the home of AG Russell Knives. Drop by their Brick and Mortar and check it out.

It is getting a bit harder to come up with musical guests for the WOT each week. I have a fairly wide ranging musical taste, but even I am running out of artists to share. But somehow I have not yet selected the King of Rock and Roll…


I am not a massive Elvis fan. I like his music, but am too young to truly “get” the whole Elvis thing. I suppose that he was a cultural figure analogous to Michael Jackson in my childhood, but I never really liked Michael Jackson, so I wasn’t riding the wave. Elvis died the year after I was born, so I never witnessed him as a cultural figure myself.

As is typical for the second section of the WOT, the memes are somewhat topical, or relate back to previous Open Threads. Such as the ongoing vendetta against the metric system…

The news has been crazy lately, even without politics…

Kinda telling that that flew (swam) under most peoples’ radar this week.

Hard to believe that my “Barbenheimer” WOT was a year ago…

The Cloudflare internet outage continues to cause havok in the airline industry…

Apple’s ad team was there for it.

It probably would have been last week’s theme except it was swallowed in all the other news.

Speaking of Apple…

That thing will still be running long after the rest of the world collapses.

Meanwhile in Canadia…

151441 is a long time from now.  I don’t think we will last that long…

Clevelanders…

People in the South…

Soon. Very Soon.

I am voting for the Sweet Meteor of Death. Twice as hard now.

 

Moving on to tonight’s giveaway drawing. We are still in the middle of a CRKT M16 drawing.

It is a “two token” drawing, which means that you need to be drawn twice to win the knife. Hocky has a token, and Del is joining him this week. They only need to be drawn once more to win. Everyone else is still in the running. Up to 5 comments or replies are your entries. If you are new to the blog, your first comments will be held in moderation until I approve the first batch, but your first week’s comments count double.

Good luck everyone.

Much scarier…

Not so scary…

Speaking of the hood…

I plead the 5th…

Unfortunate billboard placement…

Without a doubt…

Cyberbox…

I got nothing for this next one…

This is a great insult…

 

Never say never.

If it walks like a duck.

What tipped you off?

That is actually pretty accurate.

 

I forget what tv show I saw where a bunch of young dads were placing bets on the See-N-Say. That is brilliant.

 

That is brilliant too.

I laughed out loud twice to that one. First when I found it, and then again when I showed it to my wife.

As I have every Friday night since October 7th, I have dedicated a portion of the WOT to calling out the rise of antisemitism in the West, and to use my platform to voice my support for the State of Israel as they fight the genocidal terrorist group Hamas.  Israel managed to recover the remains of 5 more of the kidnapped this week, but no live hostages. This conflict can end tomorrow, if Hamas would simply release any remaining hostages, return the remains of those they killed, and step down from power. Until then, or until the Israelis declare an end to operations, we will continue to support the IDF.

Prime Minister Netanyahu came to address Congress this week, and Hamasniks were out in force. While I support the act of political speech that is burning a flag, I do not support acts of public violence or destruction, and the flags that were burned were public property. That comes with rather hefty penalties, if there was the political will to actually enforce the law. The perpetrators will not face significant repercussions because “shut up Zionist”.

I try to keep things as light as the subject matter allows, and that is an amusing retort.

From the “Chosen People” to the “Promised Land”, once again, I bring you our musical guest…Elvis.


Is it wrong that I like the Dead’s cover better? I think I remember Hocky saying he was a big Elvis fan a while back. What songs should I use next time?

My feed is 90% memes at this point.

The struggle is real.

 

Priorities.

I do my best for you.

Have a good weekend everybody.

 

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H. Clay Aalders

H. Clay Aalders is a lifelong edged tool user. He spent the past 20 years as a woodworker and fishing guide in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Tennessee. While guiding in Idaho, Clay worked part-time writing for a local newspaper, and upon moving to Tennessee began writing for the blog The Truth About Knives - spending his last 5 years there as Managing Editor. His background is in fixed-blade hunting and bushcraft knives, but has jumped into the world of vintage slipjoint collecting with both feet since coming to work at Knife Magazine. Clay’s primary role is as Digital Editor, curating and creating new content for our website and blog, as well as maintaining the Knife Magazine social media accounts (FB/IG: @theknifemag, Twitter: @knifemagazine). He is also a contributor and Associate Editor of the print magazine.

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30 Responses

  1. “THE AMERICAN BLADE”/The Magazine For Cutlery Enthusiasts”; March-April, 1974. VOL. 1, NO. 6 has been read by yours truly. My recent acquisition of vintage knife magazines, i.e. “The American Blade”; “EDGES”; and, “BLADE”, which covered several decades beginning in the ’70s and into the 21st century totaled “200+” items.
    This “No. 6 issue” had an article titled, “Finishing the Blade” by Blackie Collins, Editor. It was “Part 4 of a Six Part Series” from “HOW TO MAKE KNIVES” by Blackie Collins. I reckon that “Part(s) 1,2 and 3” were in the preceding issues . . . But, “Part 4” starts with the process of finishing a “440-C blade” after its heat treatment. I enjoyed the full-page size “B&W” photos on pages 33-thru-37.
    Bob Loveless is listed as “Technical Editor”; William F. Moran, “Board of Directors”; and James F. Parker contributed an article, “Flea Market to Blue Chip”, which focused on the value of “Case” knives.
    I plan to pace myself perusing through this trove of knife literature. I get a kick from seeing the ads, e.g. “Buster’s Knives”. Classic Bowie, Stainless and brass fittings; Brass back strap; 8 1/4″ blade-440C Steel; Cocobolo hilt – $225.00. BUSTER WARENSKI, Box 214 Richfield, Utah 84701. (Pre-“King Tut”)

    Reply

    1. Cool Hocky!

      There was a guy in my town that started collecting knives in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was a musician. made drums, and bought knives. He passed away last year. He read those early issues and started contacting R.W. Loveless, Buster & Julie Warenski, so many others.

      I met him in 1998 and was amazed at the knives he had, but the stories of ordering knives from Loveless and others were even more fascinating. I priced one Loveless “Little Bear” for him about 5 years ago, sent a pic to John Denton and details. $20K U.S. wouldn’t buy it at that time!

      Sounds like you found some real treasures, awesome!

      Reply

  2. Rescue knife: “Craftsman/U.S.A./95322” in the “$5 box of forsaken knives” at “First Cash Pawn” in Hagerstown. “Gunked up” with what appeared to be “axle grease”, I rubbed it’s tang and saw “U.S.A.”. Took it home and gave it a hot, soapy bath. Wiped it dry and then gave it a good blowing with the heat gun on “low”. I had a “Schrade LB7” years ago. This knife looked a lot like it. “Google” time!! Well, the “Craftsman” was most likely made for “Sears” by “Camillus”**. The “LB7” came into existence circa 1978.
    **Albert Baer owned “Camillus” in 1963. He owned a number of American cutlery companies. “Baer” had a long-standing relationship with “Sears” dating back to the 1930’s.
    This knife is riding “shotgun” in the F150. It looks and works like “brand new”.

    Reply

    1. It is the eternal circle of knife. One soul is lost, as another is found, a continual rebirth in another form.

      Reply

      1. StuartB: You been watching the “Lion King”? The concept of “rebirth” for a knife sits well with me. Knives wear differently depending on use, notably the blades. I have “modified” well-worn blades to different purposes, e.g. carving; silver wire inlay; punches. I re-use wood handles. It is not efficient to start over. Besides the “feel” of a well-maintained wood handle is comforting.

        Reply

  3. Recent comments involve “Lost Knives”. Del, I believe that your “WharnieSalt” was hijacked. It’s bright yellow handle, or maybe sea-green like my LC200N Wharnie, makes it easy to “spot”. But, then again, you used it while fishing . . . perhaps it rests in the tackle box. MarkR: “Never Give Up . . . It Will Turn Up” times two with your “where did they go?” A clothes hamper and the pocket . . . About seven years ago, on a icy cold and gusty day in late January, I “lost” my “Barney, never leave home without it” custom fixed blade. I had stopped my F150 to check the mattress tied on top of the bed . . . (My son’s mattress and belongings were being moved to his new apartment. He was afraid that his mattress was going to “blow off” the truck.) I used my knife to loosen the ropes holding everything down. The freezing cold numbed my fingers and I could not sheath my knife, So I laid it on top of the “Weatherguard” truck box. I got everything tied down and got back in the truck and drove off over the mountain to Frederick . . . twenty miles down the road. Arrived at location, I reach for my knife. Empty sheath and realized what I had done. Everything off the truck, I high-tailed it down US40 and pulled up to the “spot”. I spent several hours walking the shoulders of that highway in both directions. No houses on the eastbound side going up the mountain. A couple of ranch-style homes on the westbound. I left “Lost Knife” notes in the mailboxes. I still stop at that “spot” on US40 and walk along the shoulder for a half-mile or so up the mountain. Somewhere, an “A.G. Barnes” tang stamped knife with a “F”** etched on the ricasso rests along that road. Maybe someone found it. “Barney” has the sheath. I figure I will find my “Barney” at a yard sale or an ad hoc knife show. “Never say Never”.

    Reply

    1. I wish it was in the tackle box Hocky, distinctly remember rolling it inside a T-shirt and putting it along the bottom, so when they zipped it open it wouldn’t fall out.

      It was the bright yellow handled one, will replace it.

      Reply

  4. My iPad is conspiring against me. Last couple of posts went to “awaiting moderation “ finally noticed it had added a letter to my name and taken a letter off my email. I love technology! (sarc)
    Congratulations on the draw Del. I think Hocky’s earth magnets worked to your advantage!
    I love the Olympics. And I love how every 4 years we all become experts in obscure sports, esp if one of our countrymen is contending.
    I thought Bears Cave was hysterical!
    If Chevy vans in the 70’s looked like the ones in the meme, I doubt the song would have been written!

    Reply

  5. The “RNG” selects “Del”. I am switching “On” my electro-magnets: Coils of 12-gauge copper wire around my arms and legs . . . it’s “DC” not “AC”. What is the worst that can happen?
    Regarding knives, I garnered two “GERBERS” at the pawn shop: “Pack hatchet” and a “Moment” fixed blade caper. Strictly “P-Bag” filler at $8 each. “Chinese GERBER” with 3Cr13MoV in the hatchet head; and, 5Cr13MoV in the “Moment”.
    “See-N-Say” . . . The Farmer Says, “Pull my finger . . . Oink.”
    On the Olympics, a Hagerstown man, Aaron Brooks, will wrestle for the USA at 189 lbs (Metric?). Aaron was a four-time NCAA National Champion while attending Penn State. His “toe-pick” just disables his competitor.
    “Give It To Me One More Time”: What is the specific model of the “M16” giveaway? (Made in Taiwan).

    Reply

    2. Scotty, – “We’ll Need More Power”.

      I am down a knife after my favorite Spyderco Salt Wharnie somehow bailed out of my suitcase on the flight home from my recent fishing trip.

      Are you sure it was in the suitcase I was asked, how many knife people forget where they put their knife?

      None!

      Reply

      1. Del-my son lost an Alox SAK in his suitcase. He and I checked that thing multiple times. A year and a half later my wife was helping him pack. She found it in a zippered pocket. It had somehow folded over itself so it looked like the pocket was empty. Look for interior defects that may have created pockets, opened up space between multiple layers of fabric etc.
        Also, I lost a knife after a trip when the knife was accidentally tossed into the dirty clothes hamper during unpacking. It was missing for a month before I saw it when the hamper was empty.
        Happy hunting!

        Reply

  6. I made it back from the UK. I flew over a lot of haze from the wild fires, and 2 new fires in the Sierras. Also great views of Greenland and the glaciers.
    Nice to be back home, with Clay’s package of SPIT waiting for me! Looks like an interesting knife, would be a dreamer in 14C or NitroV rather than the 8Crs, but the ergos are good and its nice, thin stock, and the orange looks cool. Big thanks.

    Reply

    1. Glad your healed and have returned safely. I’ve never seen Greenland or Iceland from the air. The couple of times I’ve flown to Europe, it was either nighttime or we were too far south. I bet that was spectacular! I’m jealous.

      Reply

  7. That graffiti is hilarious Clay, that meme might help our city out, apparently we have the highest rate of crime in the country.

    Tesla’s MC and that panel are hilarious, some great memes! Welsh bobsled team was hilarious!

    The Dutch speed skating team are Rock-Stars Clay, will get some points from my Mennonite wife for that one! 🙂 Don’t know why but the speed skating is one of my favorite winter Olympic events, especially exciting are the team events.

    Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

    Reply

  8. Thanks Stuart.

    Hopefully some rain comes along and cools things off somewhat for Jasper.

    As for the Paris Olympics, I am puzzled that Clay only posted the maple syrup meme? There should be the odd soccer meme next week I guess? 🙂

    The Opening Ceremony was a touch puzzling for sure!

    Reply

  9. Del, congrats on the draw, but sad for Jasper. it’s a tough week up in the GWN.
    Also, WTF on the Opening Ceremony! so bizarre, not sure if Blue Scrote Guy or upside down flag won best in show, what was I watching!!!

    Reply

      1. Hey thanks, agree with you and Stuart on the opening ceremonies, especially after seeing what I missed!

        Reply

    2. I was wondering the same thing about the opening. A video game assassin leading us through a somewhat bizarre history of Paris?
      When they got to the library scene I wondered just how many of the “7 Deadly Sins” they were trying to work into the opening.
      The cauldron is very cool. I still think the archer with the flaming row in Barcelona was the all time greatest lighting of the Olympic flame!

      Reply

  10. I love the Olympics. I love how every 4 years we become experts in obscure sports we only see every 4 years!
    The Sparta Trojans just made me shake my head.
    I remember seeing See-N-Say roulette in Toy Story 3.
    If a Chevy Van in the 70’s looked like the one in the meme, the song would have never been written!
    And Bears Cave was hysterical.
    Congratulations on the token Del. I think Hocky’s pocket os magnets worked to your advantage!

    Reply

        1. And competitive rock wall climbing! I’m thinking the later you go the advantage you have figuring out the fastest way to the top. I’m courious if they award points for difficulty! (SARC)

          Reply

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