Splitear

For a local trip, we rent a cabin near Stowe, VT a few times a year. That is absolutely a reset button for me, I would take it over Maine any day.

We did our trip to Italy through Groupon. For what we got, it was a steal. Just structured enough for us to see a lot, but plenty of time to do our own adventuring. It sounds like you guys had a great trip.

Just added this Boker Urban Trapper Gentlemen to my rotation today. Should make a great dress/office knife.

Italy (Tuscany) and Scotland. I bought a rail pass in Scotland and spent a week bouncing around wherever I wanted to get off the train. I saw some of the most beautiful country I’ve ever seen and had beers with some of the nicest strangers I’ve ever met.

Very cool! I carried a Gerber Dime for a little while before I lost it (I think I pulled it out of my pocket with my keys). I would have rather had a small Leatherman like this, I really like that is has the carabiner clip rather than a keyring. Looks like a great carry knife.

A few months ago my buddy got me started on "flipper" knives. I've always been a traditional folder type, but after playing around with his Kershaw, I decided to dip my toe in the water and got a Civivi Elementum, and then an Artisan Cutlery Hyperion. I really liked the quick deployment on the flippers, and especially like that I didn't need to use a nail nick to open, since I'm a habitual nail bitter. I'm also a fidgeter, and the flipper knives are kind of fun to just sit around and open/close. So, all pros on them for my book, especially since the Elementum and Hyperion didn't look too "tactical". So, what was the major drawback on these knives for me? Both of them had a little spot on the blade that said "Made in China". Now, they are great knives, but I've just had engrained in me that if a knife doesn't say "USA" or at the very least "Germany", it's not worth keeping. Even though I know this isn't anything that holds water, it's always there in the back of my mind. So, I searched out a reasonably priced made in the USA flipper, and discovered that Buck was making some. I first grabbed a Buck Vantage Avid, but I'm not a huge fan of it's action since it's riding on brass washers, it's definitely one you have to "flip and flick" to get open. Today I got my Buck 841 Sprint Pro in burlap micarta, and this thing is a dream. The blade is BOS treated S30v, and it runs on ball bearings. It flies open, locks up tight, and is wicked sharp out of the box. Most of all for my peace of mind, it's say "Buck USA" loud and proud on the blade. I'm very happy with it so far, and plan on carrying it quite often.

I saw this question asked on this forum sometime ago, and got turned onto "Darn Tough" socks. Since then, I've pretty much replaced my whole sock drawer with Darn Tough. They are super comfortable, come in a variety of weights, and are made in the USA (Vermont). A little pricey, but they have a lifetime guarantee. So far, I haven't been able to wear them out.

Saw this video the other day, it’s nuts. That driver has ice water in his veins…

Happy birthday man, I hope it’s a good one.

Hadn’t heard this, thanks for the heads up.

I definitely don't want to do topsoil in the whole thing. I'm thinking about going out to our woods and picking up some of the junk logs/branches, just anything that will fill-up some of the space. Our ground is really sandy, so anytime I do a yard project, I end up with some sand in my corner pile, so that will take up some space to. A local place (Saratoga Sod) does 3 cubic yard bags of topsoil, so I'll probably grab a couple of those to top it off.

Just got these 2 monstrosities delivered yesterday (a local guy builds them). They are 4x8, and probably 2 1/2-3 feet tall. Any suggestion of how to fill them up? I'm going to start throwing yard debris in and some sand from previous projects. It's going to take a lot to fill these guys.

Sounds like you are making the right call. I made a move from sales to education a little over 10 years ago and haven't looked back. I'm sure I would be making more money if I'd stayed with sales, but there's not a lot that can replace being happy in your work. Good for you!

I don't have a lot of experience with Bullhead, but did fish for cats a lot back in Illinois. If you are using bait that breaks apart easily, like chicken livers, wrap and tie them in pieces of pantyhose. For livers, I like the method of cutting and wrapping in hose when frozen, then setting out to spoil. I've caught a lot on stinky liver. I've also caught a lot on nightcrawlers as well.

It's almost like playing at "conditioning". I knew a guy who would put "dummies" in his tree stands before season, as he thought this conditioned the deer into getting used to seeing something in that tree. I don't know that it ever worked, he did kill deer, but I don't know that it was because of his dummies. I'm sure there's some truth to the thinking that deer become accustomed to humans. I would think this would be common like the article says, on public ground near places where there are trails. Certainly something to think about. I always try to be sneaky, but at 6'4" and 250, I'm sure a candid video of me "sneaking" through a woods would be pretty funny.

It looks like he wasn't charged. This story says that 4 people were charged, though maybe not for this incident.... https://www.kptv.com/news/unlawful-assembly-declared-after-protesters-blocked-streets-near-oregon-state-capitol/article_a1106cba-903b-11eb-b856-4bb96f5bab11.html

I’m not defending anyone. Wrong is wrong. In re-reading my original post, I see where you got that from, so I'm sorry about that. I meant the "lack of civility" in a general form, not just at this video. I've seen plenty of despicable things from the right and the left over the past few years. If we are focusing on this video though, you are right, there's clear escalation coming from one side, and it's not the guy with the gun.

I’m not justifying anything. I’m not sure how you drew that conclusion from my post.

A lack of civility on both sides. I really don't understand what drives some people to the extreme. That being said, can we keep political stuff in the political section? Just a request.

Not saying this is an answer, just sharing. Back in Illinois, once you turned 16 you had to apply for a Firearm Owners ID (FOID). You got a card from ISP, and you had to renew every 5 years. There was a wait period of 24 hours on long guns, and 48 hours for handguns. Private purchases did not have a wait for either. I know there was a push for all purchases to go through an FFL, but I’m not sure of that ever happened. Last I knew you had to keep the each other’s FOID number in file in case they needed to trace a gun back to the owner.

It looks like it’s discontinued. I don’t know much about this type of knife, but seems like decent steel. Honestly, I’ll probably hang onto it for a while until it’s sold out everywhere and then flip it eBay. Not my usual MO, but if I can double my money on it, so be it.

I’m not much of a “tactical knife” guy, but Midway USA has this on a really good discount if anyone is looking for a new folder. Really, they’ve got some good deals across the board right now. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1023330650?pid=434933

I’m in!

Thanks for the insight Chris, and I hope you don't think I'm trying to say CC is wrong. I guess that maybe the answer is that CC isn't right for everyone. Though I'm sure there are a few exceptions, I would say the biggest majority of folks who carry hope they never have to draw. Like I said, I don't know that I'll ever CC, but I realize that is totally my own choice, and not one I want to make for anyone else.

I'll echo this. I'm not a fan of AR or military style guns, but that's a personal choice. However, most of the people I know who have them, and this is the feeling I get when they tell me about them, is that they are more of a "toy" than a "tool". I would compare it to someone having a muscle car in their garage that they drive on the weekends. Sure it's a car, but it's a toy to them. Again, this is just the feeling I get when I talk to the few guys I know who enjoy their "black guns".