Weekend Open Thread: Turning the Page Edition

H. Clay Aalders
Weekend Open Thread
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It is an odd time indeed. What better way to pass the time than the KNIFE Magazine Weekend Open Thread?

It is a tough time of year for everyone.

 

“Bunch of Savages in this World” (to paraphrase Clerks)

Didn’t work.

The still for this meme is actually from a movie, We’re the Millers, which I hadn’t heard of until I looked up the backstory on the meme. Typically the tagline is “you guys are getting paid?”

Anyone else feel that way? Or this…

Not much can be more relevant than that.

I must have blinked and missed it.

Winners never quit.

Tis the season…

Until next year…

Unfortunately, “Next Year” is only days away.

Since there are no knife shows until after SHOT Show, we are going to jump to this weekend’s musical selection. I wasn’t quite sure what to choose this week, but I think that this fits the theme.

 

The pride of Athens, Georgia.

Be sure to have a look at the KNIFE Magazine Events Calendar after the new year to plan for your next weekend knife trip.

Moving on with more topical memes…

A gift from my buddy Scott, who has commented here a time or two.

 

I hope that we are all still standing this time next year. Things are a bit catawampus these days.

But hard times make hard men, and the cycle continues.

So we do have that going for us.

The whole “men think about the Roman Empire thing” has become a running joke between my daughter and me.

It is time.

Time for our drawing that is, which is for a CRKT Provoke. It is a “Two Token” drawing, which means that you need to be drawn twice to win. Steve T. and Heather R. are our two current token holders, and Zach S. will be joining them as this week’s “Drawee”.

I actually drew Hocky comments three separate times, but as I mentioned last week, he has decided to forgo entry as he is not interested in the Provoke. Speaking of Hocky, we want to thank our favorite Bubblehead for dazzling us with tales of underwater Christmases past.

Usual contest rules apply, up to 5 comments or replies count as your entries, and if you are a new commenter yours count double. If you are new to the blog, your comments will be held in moderation until I can approve them. Please be patient, I will get to them in a day or less. Good luck everybody.

Onward, to the themeless memes…

G’day Mate.

John Kerry ftw.

I don’t know why 😉

They are Emotional Support Nuggets.

 

 

Yeah, that’s it.

 

Good camouflage.

Or crosswalks.

Stop Big Small.

I don’t care what it takes to make that movie happen, but it needs to happen.

Related…

This made me laugh for real…

Hang that map in the British Museum.

The “Baby Yeet Machine” meme has been around a while. I love those responses.

That was unexpected.

Keep your kids from experimenting with Paleontology. My Masters was paleo-anthropology. I have nightmares about taphonomy.

missed opportunity.

Indeed.

My kids have been pretty much sick since Thanksgiving.

I blame Joe Flowers.

How old is Keith Richards in people years?

Damnit Gandolf…

Gotcha.

Besides, they will shoot their eye out.

Combining the Christmas theme from last week with the ongoing situation in Gaza…

Or blame it on Israel….

 

I don’t have much to add to my previous statements of support for Israel’s war against Hamas. The situation has remained fairly static for the last week. But I intend to at least make mention of the conflict each week until Israel declares its objectives accomplished, subject of course to Israel’s continued efforts to minimize civilian casualties to the greatest extent possible, which I expect that they will continue to do.

At least there are some “Palestinians” who are making the best of the situation…

(from Eretz Nehederet – the Israeli “SNL”, for lack of a better description)

Meanwhile, we in America have less pressing things to worry about…

My wife is about as far from a “couples costume” person that there is. Which means it was even more surprising that she found these Tshirts and ordered them for us for Christmas…

Nat’l Lampoon Christmas reference for the uninitiated.

Seemed like it fit better here than at the top.

That’s about it for this evening. I am wrapping this up early so I can get ready to watch the Cotton Bowl. I may have put my roots down in Tennessee, but Ohio will always be…

Fingers crossed that the Bucks come to play tonight. I have a feeling they will. Devin Brown has the potential to slam the door on next year’s QB decision. I hope he balls out.

I admit. get too wrapped up in college football…

That’s my plan and I am sticking to it.

Have a good New Years everyone.

 

 

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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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26 Responses

  1. I’m late checking in, having spent the New Year out in the desert, enjoying some peace and serenity. The Bull Trout got some sand in its gills, but fared well, thanks Hocky. Some spectacular sunsets, moon rises, shooting stars and some fun exploring. Axes and knives prepping fires, good food and some rum drinks; a good way to start the new one.
    Happy New Year to y’all!

    Reply

    1. “Sand in its gills” . . . hilarious, StuartB.

      Welcome to “2024”, . . . Day 4. On Day 3, I went to the “J&S Gun and Pawn” (nee Washington Street Pawn”). Oodles of “MIBs”: SOG, CRKT, GERBER. Alas, “Made in China” on the majority of tactical folders and fixed blades. There were two (2) SOG “Targa” folders stamped “Made in Japan” . . . Hmmm-mm-mm. Unusual blade pattern and too expensive for the peddler bag.

      Two “Off-Grid” folders (MIB): “Viper” and “Badger”. Interesting . . . unfamiliar brand to me, so I looked them up. California-based company. Blade steel is cryo-D2, ceramic ball-bearing pivot and FRN/G10 handles. “Made in Taiwan” according to the spec sheet. Company is associated with “Besttech”. Reasonable “asking price” on both. Under consideration . . .

      Reply

      1. The “Viper” I am most familiar with is the throwing knife of that name made by my good friend Harald Moeller. Harald licensed these throwers to Spyderco. They come in a nice set that includes a throwing booklet rewritten and updated by the legendary Michael Janich!

        I have 2 sets, these are so much fun!

        Reply

    1. We’ll be having a quiet evening at home. We were blessed this year with 2 new healthy grandsons. They got to meet each other over Christmas. We had a wonderful, loud, hectic Christmas with all of our kids and families. Lots of laughter and good times. So we’ll be having a quiet evening at home. Bubbly is in the fridge-there will be a toast at midnight! And we will count our blessings.

      Reply

  4. Are my “Random Number Generator” picks “bankable”? They might qualify as “NFTs” . . . The “shampoo” meme is a current topic for me. Taking a shower (. . . THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SEEN MY PHOTO CAN NOT UN-SEE THAT!), I reached for my generic bottle of shampoo and “duh”, it is gone. My son’s cinnamon coconut-infused body wash and a hair conditioner product are there (I did teach him that these “fancy” items are made from leftover plastic solvents), but zero “keep it simple shampoo”, yes, “KISS” shampoo . . . patent pending. Being a former submariner**, I saw my bar of “LAVA’ . . . what the heck. It lathers well and the pumice is good for my scalp. My full head of gray-white hair was squeaky clean!
    (**There is an “Atmosphere Control Manual” on a submarine. It details “what is NOT ALLOWED” on the boat when underway underwater. Prohibited items: Aerosol deodorants and anything else that sprays out of a can; flammable liquids, e.g. Zippo lighter fluid, BICs et al; “Brut” (It was the ’70s) and other colognes, aftershaves; and, any substance that “off-gassed”. The “ACM” listed about 200+ items that would contaminate our breathing space.
    “Smoking” is permitted on a submarine . . . cigarettes ($2 per carton at the Navy
    Exchange circa 1976. Ten cartons per visit.) Cigars, pipe tobacco . . . The “ACM” had an entire chapter dedicated to the adverse effects of smoking on the human body. I think it described thirty-seven (37) known carcinogens in burning tobacco.
    I did not smoke and never have smoked. Conservatively, of the one hundred forty (140) men comprising the crew, 90% smoked something . . . Finding a submarine crew of 100% non-smokers was not a reality. Fortunately, most of the airborne contaminants like CO2 and carbon monoxide were “scrubbed out” by mechanical means. The tar and residues from smoke were filtered through HEPA-filters. Ventilation ducts were stainless steel; thus, cleaning them wasn’t difficult. Grab a putty knife to scrape off the thick, gooey crap and use a hot, soapy “greenie” to shine that “SS” to a mirror finish!
    There were two atmospheric contaminants that were omnipresent in the boat: “2190 TEP*” lubricating oil (*TEP = Turbine Extra Protection), notably in the “Engineering” spaces; and, “FART” . . . “Captain, PLEASE ventilate the boat!!! Gasp!!”. AA-RR-GG-HH!
    Went on a tangent, no apologies. The shampoo meme was a trigger. “Dive! Dive!”

    Reply

    1. skiing cullarada in the ’80s on a budget had me washing my hair with pink liquid for dishes. martin sheen, it’s a floor wax, and a dessert topping.

      Reply

        1. haha “sniff it on tiles.”
          “and isn’t that a nice reflection on you?”
          “you’re soaking in it.”
          “a silly millimeter longer.”

          Reply

      2. “Cullarada”: See CMEAT atlas for “Colorado”, I think. Pink dish washing liquid for oil-coated waterfowl is “Dawn”, I think. Floor wax? In the ’80s, linoleum was still a floor covering . . . Recently, I learned that “linoleum”, aka vinyl sheet flooring, is extinct. My brother, Tim, who has worked in the flooring industry for 40 years came over to our house to discuss a flooring project. I wanted the entire first floor laid in linoleum. Nope, it is no longer manufactured. I remember driving my Dad’s Ford Econoline van to Lancaster, PA, in the late ’60s to pick up 12 ft. wide rolls of “Congoleum” made by “Armstrong”. Had to leave the back doors open and hang a warning flag . . . I have options on the flooring. I am thinking “plywood” . . . our cats will be stymied.

        12 hours until “2024”.

        Reply

        1. a long gone (most of them are) small, family hardware store at dodge and main had a display case for knives, maybe barlow. i still have the wood handled hawkbill i purchased there for a couple bucks. we thought these were cool as hell until informed that they were, in fact, linoleum blades.

          Reply

    2. When it comes to you and knives Hocky, your magnet is always on. so nothing to bank when you have the gift – Happy New Year!

      Reply

      1. Del: Yesterday, I pulled out the peddler bag to prepare for “2024”. I have a couple of Leatherman’s: Wave; (2) Wave +; Free P2; Sidekick; Micra. The “Wave” is the original w/the “Heritage” leather sheath. Good multi-tool, no longer used by me. The “Wave +”, ballistic nylon sheath, came into existence circa 2013 or thereabouts. Improved the “Wave”, in my view, due to locking tools and slightly larger knife and other tools. Keeping a “Wave +”. All others are in the “bag”.
        I did not gift the “Arc”. The “Free” series of multi-tools, e.g. P2. Arc, use Leatherman “rare earth magnets”. I am not a fan of this technology.

        Reply

  6. I don’t really care much about college sportsing, but as long as Ohio State loses, I’m happy. I mean I’ve experienced two cool things from Ohio in my life. 1. a washed up fishing guide i met, and befriended. 2. a monster buck a buddy shot there years ago. other than that…

    Reply

      1. Clay; How about those “Browns”!! I saw a head-line: “Flacco Saves Cleveland”. Going to the play-offs . . . I liked “Joe” as QB for the “Ravens”. MVP in Super Bowl XLVII . . . throws the tightest spiral a country mile (5,241 feet). Watson should give “Joe” a $100 million. “Njoku” is “Top 5” TE in NFL. Sometime down the line, maybe it will be “Ravens vs. Browns” for AFC Champs. If so, then my dollar is on Baltimore.

        These “bowl games” have looney-tune sponsors. I get that it is a money game at all levels. A college team wins six games and goes “0.500” on the season and gets their ticket punched for the “Salad Bowl” sponsored by “Golden Corral”. I had not heard of the “Duke Mayo Bowl” nor the “Gasparilla Bowl” (I did not bother to look up “Gasparilla” on Google . . . is that aka “Bean-X”?). Maryland plays Auburn in the “Music City Bowl” today . . . Maryland’s QB, “Tua’s brother”, opted out of the game. I reckon he is saving himself for the NFL draft . . . 80% of NFL teams need QBs.

        Post-Christmas pawn-shop browsing this week was not fruitful for knife finds. I always enjoy the hunt.

        The Ohio State football moment that I remember is the “Woody Hayes” tackle . . .

        Hocky

        Reply

        1. valero is a gas station.
          the browns should have grover’s pic on their helmets. only single president elected, at 51 yrs of age. almost got ousted due to having child out of wedlock (1880’s…). married a lesbo who was involved with a paramour. his sister performed first lady duties.
          ohiowa is solid midwest so i root for most, as much as i root. little girl went to ames where i unexpectedly discovered feijoada. i’ve spent much time near athens in the smiling skull saloon, rip wolf. that area gives us the triple nickel, state route 555 not to be missed.
          that being said, go sox.

          Reply

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