Weekend Open Thread: Witch of November Edition

H. Clay Aalders
Weekend Open Thread
·22 Comments··125 views

Hey All,

Happy Veteran’s Day Hocky, and to any other veterans to whom this applies. Thank y’all for your service. It is also the birthday of the USMC according to all the posts on FB, so Happy Birthday to America’s favorite Crayon Eaters.

November 10th is also the anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

There aren’t that many, but more than I imagined when I searched “Edmund Fitzgerald memes”.

That kid is going to lose a lot of lunch money.

He already did.

So obviously you all could guess tonight’s musical feature…

 

2 months before I was born. Growing up in Cleveland, the story always fascinated me.

Ok, Enough of that. Truth is there really isn’t much memworthy going on at the moment. Except maybe the world is ending.

It doesn’t appear to be actually ending this weekend, so you can take in one of the 4 shows…

Friday Night Blade Affair

Wanenmacher’s Tulsa Arms Show

Fall California Custom Knife Show

NCCA Peabody Show

 

If the world doesn’t end before next weekend, you can head to Nashville…

Nashville Custom Knife Show

It used to be the New York Custom Knife Show, then it had to move to NJ because NYC’s knife laws are so bad. Then NJ stayed closed post-covid, so it was moved to Nashville. It has since been relaunched in New Jersey, if I recall correctly.

While I was working on this this morning, Del sent me a couple of texts. I always find it funny what topics take off in the comments and leads the conversation. Bears have been one of those lately, and motorcycle talk seems to be a recurring theme. Del sent these pictures to me today.

That grizzly is fantastic.  He said his buddy is the airbrush artist and he has featured him in MC magazines in the past. (I did not know that you worked for a MC magazine Del).  He also made this knife for the Kamloops show from Harley chain Damascus…

I know I still have a batch of Hocky pictures to share.  I promise I will get to them by next week.  Hopefully monday.  These past couple of weeks have kicked my butt.

I haven’t heard it yet this year, but I need to do some shopping this week. It is inevitable.

Make it stop.

Using that logic, you would need to wait until March I believe.

 

Moving on, this relevant to the season. .

Related…

 

The A-Team has apparently fallen on hard times. Maybe they could use a free knife.

Stuart B won last week, but hasn’t told me which of the Rosecraft Blades he wanted.

All but the Physicians are available. Stuart gets first pick, and this week’s winner, Cmeat, gets the second.

Usual rules apply for next week’s drawing.  Up to 5 comments or replies are your entries, new commenters get double-credit, and their comments get held in moderation the first time out until I can approve them. Good luck everyone.

History in action…

Too soon?

Of course it is.  About 50 weeks too soon. Halloween was 2 weeks ago.

That warning remains evergreen no matter the time of year.

My dogs this week…

My wife this week…

My daughter was out of school today. About 20% of the student body is sick.

If your school came before or after all the “Saint” schools in Cleveland, you had a long wait if “St. Agnes” was scrolling.

Or you watched the school closings on scroll.

My limited classwork in linguistic anthropology suggests that there is more than a nugget of truth to this.

NPC’s say wut?

It’s all been a lie.

That was my favorite of the week. ^^^

But that is pretty good too.

That is a couple of hundred at least.

It is more than 3…

The world may never know.

Imagine if the parrot sounded like Morgan Freeman…

“Dude…you are never going to believe this…”

Didn’t have a good Dad joke, so I went with a Your Mom joke.

Apropos of nothing at all, it turns out that Your Mom jokes may date back more than 3000 years.

Let us know in the comments.

As I said last week, moving this to the bottom of the post is not an indication that my support for Israel is not waning in the slightest, rather it breaks up the flow of the post. But as we witness mobs  in the street calling for genocide, I will continue to use my voice to call out evil when it so clearly presents itself. I will not be silent.

That cartoon is by famed cartoonist Michael Ramirez and was pulled from the Washington Post, not because it is wrong, but because it was offensive for people who don’t like having a mirror held up in their face. It is the same reason that they tear down the posters of the kidnap victims. The cognitive dissonance is too much for them to handle.

I am not a huge fan of NSC flak John Kirby, but he sums it up best when he said (you can find the clip here)

“We’re one month after this and we ought not forget what happened one month ago. 1,400 people slaughtered in their homes and at a music festival and when Hamas decided to conduct operations, it was with the intent of killing people. You know, I heard this word genocide tossed around about. Hamas actually does have genocidal intentions against the people of Israel. They’d like to see it wiped off the map. They said so on purpose.”

People supporting Hamas bought into a lie, and it makes them angry when they are confronted with this fact. So they lash out in their anger, in the way that so many have over the centuries.

Bridging the subject of Hamas’s lies and humor, because this is a humor post after all, there is this bit of silver lining…

They call him Mr. FAFO (F Around Find Out) and he is the face of “Pallywood”. People began to notice this “crisis actor” showing up repeatedly in Hamas propaganda clips. It has been one of the few bright spots for those following the situation regularly.

HotAir has a hysterical piece on Mr. FAFO, where you can see all he has been up to. Busy guy.

In closing…

 

How can a people who predate the founding of Islam by more than 1000 years be “colonizers” in their homeland?

 

(Hint: They can’t, and they aren’t.)

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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22 Responses

  1. Hey Rick,that sounds like a nasty thing you had, happy to hear you are doing well.

    So cool about your friend’s nomination. Love the Blues, when I was 17 rode to a concert that had John Lee Hooker as the featured act. There were numerous buses that came from the Seattle area. Was not familiar with him or the blues at all. Man, it was such a memorable experience. One of the best concerts ever! Good luck to your friend!

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  2. marine’s birthday is the other day i send my brother wishes, he was in korea with our older brother (navy, r.i.p. motorola 50yrs started blowing vacuum tubes by breath).
    i might have paid .79cents for lightfoot’s sundown 45rpm. i’m only once removed from people who worked those ship yards.
    ww3 starts here. let them in, permit atrocities, gin up support for disarmament. ain’t seen nothin’ yet. imagine who waltzed through having intentions other than assimilation. repeal 19th, jus’ sayin’.
    harley chain damascus. the brits invented the roller chain (and tool steel) but it’s been awhile since i’ve seen a rider ask for a renolds or regina this side of pond. oem is usually enuma (ek), aftermarket largely tsubaki or d.i.d. but any primary chain design later than an ariel is a hyvo type although i think shovels had duplex. not sure where they were sourced. amf maybe used japanese. del?
    i’m still curious about jamie lee curtis’ equipment.
    i get why retailers start early, but why do folks skip thanksgiving right to xday stuff?
    lots of elves died in the movie fatman, i assume the same is true of violent night, haven’t seen it yet. we had a band around here called zuzu’s petals. “i been savin’ this money for a deevorce, if’n i ever get a husband!”
    he’d have to do his shocked face at the cashier if they updated.
    when i had two vans the neighborhood gals dubbed the white one the pedo.
    visigoths vs. the legions. little seizures pizza (worse than dominoes).
    there were some toxic jungle juice concoctions back when.
    i love black licorice but that was very funny.
    time change, “only the government could cut one foot off of a blanket, sew it onto the top and expect it to be longer.” or something.
    snow days were cause for cheering, until you had to stay extra in the spring. just turning on the tube(s) in the morning was warming.
    fanner50, pony boy not sure. i had a dual set with holsters. later the much louder wasp guns replaced them.
    i like the word polyglot.
    ai may be preferable to offshore english customer service.
    the iceland/ greenland scam is one of the first geography lessons.
    loved turtle choking. we take six pack rings and make cormorant necklaces. (i saw the loons dance in the reeds at sandy beach portage).
    penal colony. like here, it only makes sense away from the coasts.
    my math books all had these dumb cylinder/ rod bundles. new math sux.
    i had one cherry red tootsie pop during all hallow’s eve. superb. “cuando el tecolote canta, el indio muere.”
    freeman narrates much these days, the baton’s been handed from j.e.jones. watching one of those our planet or whatevs because it has new dino renditions (still love them things) i can hear his dentures slipping. they had me at tricerotops vs. trex.
    there was a pet store owned by some big crazy witchy lady when i was in grade school. the myna bird by the front door blew my mind, i had seen cartoons but was not prepared.
    mom jokes were either tolerated or not, it depended on the neighborhood. similarly was the acceptability of calling another male a bitch. in my circles we were ruthless (she couldn’t make it). great fodder that continues to this day.
    until i realized she was playing with a capo my brain was like what’s up with her left hand? definitely ave maria. or “all!” by the descendants.
    mr.fafo changed my life, krauthammer speaks truth, although we are the longest uninterrupted government in history (not counting vatican and other tinies).
    if judaism began out of egyptian slavery then it could predate muslim by almost two thousand years.

    Reply

    1. I’ll see what J can find out about the AMF parts Hocky? Thought you might like that I made for Al Parret. Al was quite a rider, fir fun he ran the Baha races regularly. You would have liked my friend Brian Lyttle. He was one of the best knifemakers I knew. Reminded me of Bob Loveless, was an extra in “The Edge” movie with Anthony Hopkins. Brian made the folder Hopkins carried that the movie was featured around. He made props for Brad Pitt for The Legends From The Fall movie. Was good friends with Pitt and Hopkins.

      Reply

      1. I mean Cmeat! 🙂 – Long days in the shop as I finish one month of prednisone. Darn virus got in my lungs and messed up my heart rythym a bit. New BP meds and we are off! All good now as I am finishing 18 drop-points, 10 for a friend in AB, other 8 are 5 Year Service Knives, the Ranch I make those for need them first part of December. No time to be sick, making 18 leather sheaths will be a chore s the hand stitching takes time. Have another 6 kitchen and other models to make before Christmas. One large bowie and a high end folder with stainless damascus and mother of pearl scales. Guess lunch is over,have a great week Cmeat!

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  3. way to guard your pick, stuart (have you ever heard the paeon to your name by the dead milkmen? it’s got trailer park burrow owls and other goodness). i remembered your choice from last week. i’m torn between the buttonlock red castorea, the drop point (maybe) purple tarcanis and the (maybe) green tanto ma11. the latter would fare well in wifey’s grasp- she rode the redline to bridgeport alone sunday… if no ones got there heart set on the tanto i’ll take that.
    thanks. i’ll be glad to alter my choice if somebody is jonesing that one.

    Reply

    2. CMEAT – funny thing is that of the Rosecraft full line up, the ones I was jonesing for are all sold out/unavailable. That said, who doesn’t like a new knife to play with. I was thinking of decorating those garish white bolsters with a sharpie.

      Reply

  4. “Western Sizzlin” put on an outstanding buffet for Veterans yesterday. I am a “chicken leg” man and the half-dozen I ate were mighty tasty. Salad bar boasted all the fresh vegetables that are exhausted by the 2nd week of a ‘Boomer’deterrent patrol! I lunched with a Navy vet named “Jud” from Smithsburg, Maryland. He served on the USS Samuel B. Roberts DD-823 in the 1960’s as a Gunner’s Mate. Two hours passed quickly as we talked about growing up in Washington County, Maryland; our Navy experiences; and, enjoying life as septuagenarians (Not the dinosaur, that is a stegosaurus, Aaa-rr-ghh!!). I told him about the “Bill Moran” foundation and asked him to visit the website. We compared pocketknives. He had a “Schrade+” single-blade muskrat engraved with his initials that his daughters gifted him. Well cared for with excellent “walk and talk”. Me? . . . silver-inlay on curly maple handle, “file forged” two-inch blade by Steve Nuckels; Omnipresent DF2 “Wharnie”; Case USN “Whaler” in my jacket pocket . . . and, then, we broke out the “peddler bag” and my bag of custom forged knives from the recent “Moran Show”. I think I will see “Jud” at the “Moran” member’s meeting on Saturday, November 18th.

    I sat down last night and wrote an e-mail to “Big Al” Konetzni, Vice Admiral (Ret.). I did this in my capacity as the “Commander” of the “USS George Bancroft SSBN643-Association”. A crew mate of mine from the “Bancroft” met him at a recent USS Grayling SSN646 reunion in King’s Bay, Georgia. The admiral expressed an interest in helping our organization. During his naval career, he was known as “Big Al, the Sailor’s Pal”. Hopefully, I will hear back from him in the affirmative to help us reach our goals for the “Association”.

    Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns on soon . . . Hocky

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  5. Clay: I believe that StuartB coveted the “Waya” . . . read it in a comment. Congrats “CMEAT” on having the “RNG” choose you.

    Today, November 11, 2023, is my 50th Veteran’s Day. These past couple of years have found me re-connected with my crew mates from the “USS George Bancroft SSBN643”. I am now serving as the “Commander” of our “Bancroft Association”. We are working on plans to hold our “Picnic” at King’s Bay Submarine Base**, Georgia on April 27, 2024; and, our “Reunion” at King’s Bay in March 2025. (**The “Bancroft Sail” memorial is at the entrance to King Bay’s Sub Base. The reunion in 2025 will be the 60th anniversary of the “Bancroft” launch on March 10, 1965)

    Nearly 3,000 men served on the “643” between 1965-1993 (Decommissioned). “A-OO-GAH” to ALL!

    Meme Favorite: “Cap Gun” . . . Mine was a “Fanner 50”. I remember the smell of black powder very well! Most dangerous thing to do to a roll of caps . . . Hit it with a hammer! Somehow we survived with our ears ringing for quite a while!

    Going out for a tour of the places feeding “vets” for free!

    Reply

    1. Happy Veterans’s Day Hocky!
      CMEAT-congrats on the new blade! I did both appreciate and laugh at the French broad comment btw!
      I had that cap gun! In fact I had 2 with a fancy double holster! I blew through a lot of caps!
      I’m not sure what she’s singing; I’m guessing either Rocking Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu or Johnny B Goode. But it could be the scream from any Little Richard song!
      And there’s got to be a “You may be cool, but you’ll never be Del Cosi Harley Chain Damascus cool” meme out there. If not there should be!

      Reply

      1. Too funny Mark! I need to get more damascus soon, especially the MC chain. I do have an order for a kitchen knife out of damasteel, haven’t used this material yet. Pricey steel but sure has a following!

        Reply

          1. The two Magnacut knives were interesting to grind Mark. One hunter and a caper model. This customer camps out and hikes in the high country after rocky mountain sheep. He wanted something light, so skeleton handles. I will shoot Clay a couple pics to post on the WOT.

            They were a bit hard on belts to grind, showcasing their wear-resistant qualities in this annealed state, which was good to know. This guy didn’t want to have to sharpen after one animal. They get some nice mulies along with the sheep.

            He came back a couple times to remove some steel and modify the design, so awesome to have a customer this serious about small details. Have known him and his friends for about 15 years, they are all avid hunters and great local customers. Will let you know how he makes out once he gets them bloody!

  6. Clay – I left my selection for the Rosecraft blade in last weeks comments. I picked the Waya black and white model, second from the top. CMEAT – congrats on the next pick.
    Today is both Armistice Day (Veterans) and my Wedding anniversary, not a coincidence, a day for reflecting on peace and thankfulness.

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  7. Happy Veterans Day, and Remembrance Day for our northern friends. Always good to stop and reflect on what all of that actually means. Especially as we seem to be barreling head first towards WWIII…

    Glad to be back among the living. Going on week three of having Shingles. Still dealing with weird nerve issues on my right side but am back to work and dealing with the world. Spent two weeks where I didn’t leave the house except to go to the hospital. Thought I was going to die until they figured out what was going on. Blessed that I have a really strong relationship with my employer. They have been more than accommodating.

    If you have not been vaccinated for Shingles I strongly urge you all to go do so. I would not wish this on anyone. Can be completely incapacitating and the severity of the pain is hard to describe.

    I truly appreciate the Rosecraft Castorea and can’t wait to check it out! It really caught my eye when looking through their designs. I wish Rosecraft all the success and blessings.

    Have some cool non-related projects going on too! Building a couple of WWII era Astatic JT-30 based harmonica microphones for a dear friend’s recording studio. (He was nominated for a Grammy yesterday in the Traditional Blues category for recording John Primer’s new record). Running into supply chain issues on some needed components. May have to fabricate my own. Is what it is.

    Hope you all have a great week and appreciate all who have served.

    Reply

    1. Good Heavens Rick. I glad you’re on the mend.
      You’re the third person this week I’ve heard dealing with shingles. I hope you continue to improve.

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  8. Almost Veteran’s Day, so much appreciation to Hocky and any others who have served.

    We have Remembrance day here.

    What a crazy world we find ourselves in. Thanks Clay for the weekly laughs! Would rather check out your meme harvest than watch those news channels!

    Congrats Cmeat on getting drawn!

    Those dogs are my favorite, dinner time has nothing to do with clocks!
    Iceland/Greenland, AI – Yikes, like we ain’t seen nothing yet! And you found my cap gun!

    Speaking of AI or possibly a great meme, when I type gun a cool brown revolver comes up in the tab, but when I tap to post it, this shows up – ! An orange squirt pistol!

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  9. Too cool Clay. Thanks for sharing pics of my bikes and that knife. Primary chain damascus from a shovelhead engine. Forged the bar with Brian Lyttle. This was a 30 Year Anniversary knife for Al Parret, owner of our local Harley shop. Al was great friends with Willy G. Davidson. He was also responsible for keeping the Harley brand alive in Canada through the years when AMF owned the HD brand. I also made a 20 Year Anniversary knife for Al., that knife had a water buffalo handle with a huge 20 made out of silver inlaid. In the bowie pictured the fluted guard had a lovely gold bath to give it some lustre.

    Blades and bikes just naturally go together. I helped a local guy for almost 2 years, basically just the 2 of us took the pulication from regional to national publication. I did the photography, advertising, lots of writing. The owner/publisher who I helped was a genious on layout and design. Time came to write a contract once the big MC companies came on board. Things kept stalling and I walked, well rode away I guess is a better way to put it!

    The painter that did both of my bikes is Yves Thibeault from Québec. Had to ship my paint accross Canada, but it was worth it! I got to know Yves through B.C. Bike, when I left that mag I sent stories on Thibeault to CrossRoads mag out of Florida, EasyRider and other MC pulications. Four or five years ago Yves was delivering a Mettalica themed custom bike and went down hard in a bad rainstorm. He was in hospital for about 6 months, recovery took another year. The bike was totalled. He is semi-retired now but still gets the airbrush out for special projects. I do see a Street Glide in my future….

    Reply

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