Weekend Open Thread: Treason Day Weekend Edition

Hey Everyone. Sorry I never got a thread out last week, I was playing catch up upon my return home, and was working on other pieces for both online and print.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, Independence Day memes are the order of the week.
Unless you live across the pond. Happy Monday .
So I am not planning on taking pictures of my fireworks, but holy cow, I think the price of what I bought today was up 30%. Thanks Brandon.
Well in that case. It is like “strenuously objecting” in court.
Freedom Fries > Liberty Cabbage
I love that they lit the cigarillo before posing him for the picture. We grew up in a better era.
The more you know.
Thug Life chose Tommy Boy.
As opposed to blowing a career of good will in a single moment.
No knife shows this week, but those in the Midwest have one to look forward to next week.
Be sure to keep an eye on the Events Calendar for the latest.
As I mentioned, I was in Asheville for the first half of last week. My daughter’s camp roomate’s parent’s got the WuFlu and she had to withdraw from camp. We switched Em to “day camp” which ran from 7:30am-8pm. So she only missed out on dorm life for a week by crashing at the Hampton with me. I spent the 12 hours in between visiting Sport Hansa (importer for Helle, Hults Bruk, and other European brands) on Monday, Fishing at Cataloochee Creek on Tuesday, and visiting Sierra Nevada Brewing with a couple of Fraternity Brothers who live in town on Wednesday.

Sport Hansa
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Wednesday:
Our Fraternity chapter at Kenyon closed its doors this year. A victim of 2 years with no Rush activities due to Covid. Don’t get me started on that one.
After dropping off Thing 1 at l at camp on Thursday, I headed on to Greenville to meet up with Dan Eastland, and then drove out to his river property, aka Camp Morning Wood.
“Raise the Black Flag and we’ll pitch a tent for you”
It is also the rally point for our Zombie Apocalypse Team.
I helped Dan get things set up for a gathering of knife friends in a couple of weeks. Cutting firewood, helping Dan side his new shed, eating well around the fire, and spending Friday on a very long kayak fishing trip on the Saluda River.
It didn’t suck.
A couple of other current event-type memes…
It has been a while since we started our Red Horse Hell Razor giveaway. Since it has been two weeks, I drew our first two token holders. Steve T. and David McCarty are both now just a single drawing away from winning.
The first time someone is drawn they get a “token” and we move on to the next week. First person to be drawn for a second time will be the winner.
Usual rules apply. Up to 5 comments or replies count as your entries. If you are new to the blog, your comments will be held in moderation until I can approve it. You will free to comment at will from that point on.
One last topical meme before I get on with the random funnies.
So topical it is Evergreen.
And now for the rest.
Strong indeed.
Is that suitable for work?
Good answer.
Xanax and Pepsi ftw.
If you understand, your joints probably hurt in the morning.
That one too. (I learned to drive on a 3-on-the-tree 1972 Chevy Custom 20)
The world may never know…
(Get it?)
Gross. But I guess it is better than having the cat stick its butt in your face.
Ugh. Dad jokes.
*rimshot
Speaking of dads…
On the other hand…
Truth.
Joe Diffie was one of the first celebrity Covid deaths early in 2020. RIP.
RIP Duane Allman as well.
Elvis isn’t dead. He is living in a trailer park outside of Tulsa with Roy Orbison.
I couldn’t really come up with a segue to this one, but it makes me laugh…
If you missed the fine print, it says “angry Penguin noises”.
This is my favorite one though…
That is about it. Have a safe 4th of July everyone.
Mark R
Congratulations Steve and David on having your names drawn.
Happy Independence weekend all!!!
History trivia: Today (7/02) was more important than the 4th, fore on this day the Continental Congress passed the resolution “That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.” Adams thought it would be celebrated as the 4th is today!
I love the 4th.
Amish baseball and John Deere Green cracked me up!
And the answer is 3.
s23taylor
Thanks Mark. Happy independence day to you too. My in-laws are visiting to see the grandkids, otherwise I’m just laying low and enjoying the long weekend. Maybe I’ll make it over to SMKW for a few hours.
cmeat
ya know, i’m slow. but i can’t find a john deere meme up there. hang on, ok must be the dear john one.
drove a chevy van in the ’70’s that had “three on the tree.” about five years later i did a brake job on an old buck rogers saab 96 with a ford v4. this thing had a four speed column shift, and reverse was elusive (from neutral, pull lever “out”, back towards yourself and down). never understood why the pads and calipers were canted.
mom had a college story about goin’ downtown in a galfriend’s isetta. the parking garage attendant was still in the car when they got back as he couldn’t figure out reverse and so couldn’t exit the car due to the door being a front open affair.
the dicerox kalina is currently serving lime slice duty in the motorbike garage.
Mark
Sorry. Obscure country song reference.
“In John Deere green
On a hot summer night
He wrote “Billy Bob loves Charlene”
In letters three-foot high
And the whole town said the fool should have used red
But it looked good to Charlene
In John Deere green
Ah, paint it green boy”
It was that last line that popped into my head when I saw the meme.
davidmccarty
Thanks
cmeat
i sort of pigeon hole what i consider nashville pop into a cubby apart from country. no doubt some incredible contemporary stuff, but what hits the radio is twang rock. obscure references online have led me to robert earl keene and james mcmurtry, but if it wasn’t for college radio i’d be unawares. i had to search up the billy bob deal and once i knew watertower i convulsed in rib splitting knee slapping hysteria. almost. these memes keep me younguish.
ok, so it’s coincidence that billy used deere green and there was a dear john reference. what are the odds?
davidmccarty
Thanks, Happy 4th of July to all.
StuartB
I had to renounce all allegiance to the Crown when I became a US citizen, that is made so much easier by the rise and fall of the ‘dutchass of Malibu’ and her whipped consort.
s23taylor
When did you jump over the pond Stuart?
StuartB
Long story, but I spent a dozen years in Hong Kong on the way over. Been here 20 years now. But some of the old Brit habits die hard, like I keep wanting to tax my neighbors tea!
Mark
Try throwing a crate or two into the harbor. That might help!
s23taylor
Anyone going to any large fireworks displays this year?
Mark R
In Addison-another Dallas suburb-there is a huge fireworks display called KaboomTown. It is massive! Think “grand finale” of most smaller cities but going on for 25 minutes. Then the grand finale is 5times that number of fireworks going off. It is a truly awe inspiring show..
Most years there are WW2 vintage planes in the air from noon until sunset. Not sure about this year. We’ve gone several years. All depends on how the grands are feeling. Granddaughter has been under the weather the past few days. Otherwise we’ll be close to home. High school parking lot provides a great view for our local, more humble display.
s23taylor
Sounds awesome Mark. Best I got is a neighbor who puts on a decent show most years.
Del Corsi
What a spectacular fireworks display that would be, the best show I have seen was flying into Kona just around midnight on New years eve, really cool to be above the event. Think “Kaboom Town” would be better though, a 25 minute “Grand Finale” would be pretty cool!
davidmccarty
Good memes this week.
I really like the Elvis one.
Del Corsi
Congrats Steve & David on getting your names drawn on the Red Horse folder giveaway, interesting design. Great lineup as usual Clay, my fav is, “A schwing and amish.” Happy Independence Day to everyone, we are still figuring that one here!
s23taylor
Thanks and happy independence day to you too
Hocky
“Labor Day, September, 1966 . . . My parents bought a brand new Chevrolet Impala station wagon. We went on our first and last “family vacation” . Six kids: Denny (15), Rick (13), Steve (11), Lori (5), Tim (3) and Brenda (2 months), two “metal” coolers, a gallon water jug with a spout . . . and miscellaneous other stuff. Destination: NYC. We saw Jim Kaat (Twins) vs. the Yankees (Whitey Ford). Mickey Mantle hit a home run in the 9th to tie the game and then it rained . . . to be continued. Headed south into New Jersey stopping at Wild Woods (?) where the mosquitoes were big as birds and nasty. Took the Cape May, NJ – Lewes, DE ferry. Pinball machines on the ferry were challenging! After two days we got back home. Yes, we stopped often along the road for family meals.
“3 on the tree” was my Dad’s “Econoline” van. It was his work van, “Hockensmith’s Floor & Wall Coverings”. Dad was a sole proprietor and the best at his craft. (He was well-known for “no seams” in his linoleum). So, I went with him to a post office job in Ellicott City, MD. (Commercial work = $$$$ in 1968). Around lunchtime, he handed me the keys to the Ford and told me to go down the road and get some sandwiches . . . oh, I was “15” and had never driven a “stick”. I was thankful for the “H” etched on the column. Don’t pop the clutch was his only advice.
Got some “knives” at the Washington Street Pawnshop over the weekend. Two minty “Buck”s, 703 & 705, in commemorative tins, circa 1997 (Christmas gifts, probably). There was a GERBER “Paul” P2 . . . almost made me cry. An idiot had ground that blade to an unknown shape.
Enjoy a safe 4th of July!!
cmeat
we never had a shooting brake, but my uncle jim did. i’d find my way to albany and he’d caravan half the kids in scotia up to the adirondacks or the quetico. big buick century all piled in back with sleeping bags and no ac. we did more than make faces at the cars passing by until one bothered to mention specifics at a stoplight.
my pops had ordered a buck 102 from gander mt. for me, 1
$15. it came along always, my sons now.
StuartB
My first car was a Citroen Diane, a 2CV upgrade, with similar H pattern shifter in the front ‘console’. No one else could work it out, and despite leaving the keys in it a few times no one tried to steal it. Fantastic car though, 29HP, 0-60 in 29secs (down hill, wind assist) with the roof pealed back, a true French muscle car.
Mark R
Hocky- Congrats on the Buck pick ups. I remember the 700 series. A little nicer than the 300’s. I followed your example and spent the morning hitting a couple of local pawn shops. As has been my experience, nothing knifewise worth picking up. I’m happy you have such a place.
Now, should you ever want a mystery metal Batman Baterang shaped folder with dual unsharpened pen blades, I can hook you up! Must have been a dozen or so at each place. Oh, did I mention the large “made in China” stamps? (Ducking as I run for the door before Hocky throws something).
Hocky
You do not need to “duck”, . . . I do not throw “things”. Re “Bucks”, I owned the “500” series a few decades ago . . . I carried the little “Executive” in the 5th pocket. That coping blade was a favorite.
On another subject: Laser etching on knives. Why? It does wear off over time . . . if the knife is actually put to use. My inspection of the “703 & 705” escutcheons (aka shields) revealed that “BUCK” is laser-etched on a thin strip of “something” that I can get my fingernail beneath . . . Cheap, cheap, cheap. These “700’s” are date-coded as 1997 (Inverted “U”).
My “Kabar 1026” (circa 1959, . . . my kindergarten No. 2 pencil sharpener) lost its shield several years ago . . . “KaBar” , USA in Olean, NY sent me a replacement. Engraved like the original! I had to slightly shape the oval-shield to fit neatly into the vintage scale. Super-glued, the shield is secure . . . I carry this jack knife on occasion.
Del Corsi
My Dad had a three on the tree Ford Falcon, man that thing would go! I do remember a station wagon when I was very young, nothing cooler than sitting in the back making faces at the cars behind! “Stop It or I’m pulling over” is the only communication I can remember!
cmeat
ah yes, there were two more. hand me down brother in law ’64 mercury comet capri 3/ tree.
and a friend from indiana had a ’63 dodge lancer 225 slant that was a column shift but had been converted to a very strange pattern via hurst and slots cut into the bell housing. top right was first to bottom left second and top left third. easier to adapt to than right side one up four down bikeys.
Del Corsi
I was running a gear-jammer skidder logging when I tried my Dad’s car, the shifter on the skidder was right on the floor in front of you, clutch was a pain. The company traded two of them in for Clark Ranger 666s, man those things had a high range that allowed you to go around 40 MPH on the logging roads.. Just what a 16 year old needed! 🙂
Hocky
Green beans, black-eyed peas, fish-shaped brown-grilled steak, an orange-bladed knife, blue & green & yellow prints on the plate and a white plastic fork** . . . almost a ROY G BIV moment. (**Plastic, really?)