"Carl's Lounge" (Off-Topic Discussion, Traditional Knife "Tales & Vignettes")

[jc57]

I am about to be rather knifeless. First a business trip for a week starting tomorrow*, then jury duty the week after that.

Maybe when all of that is over there will be a shiny new Buck forum knife in the mailbox to help me break my "fast."


*Not a valid complaint, since I tossed a Vic Pioneer in my checked luggage. Just during the actual travel days.

 

[Jack Black]

Just heard about the Pittsburgh shooting on the radio What a terrible thing to happen

 

[r8shell]

Just heard about the Pittsburgh shooting on the radio What a terrible thing to happen

It is indeed terrible, and especially upsetting for me. My grandfather was Bar-Mitzvahed, and my parents were married at Tree of Life.

 

[Jack Black]

It is indeed terrible, and especially upsetting for me. My grandfather was Bar-Mitzvahed, and my parents were married at Tree of Life.

Oh crikey Rachel...

 

[Peregrin]

Just heard about the Pittsburgh shooting on the radio What a terrible thing to happen

It is indeed terrible, and especially upsetting for me. My grandfather was Bar-Mitzvahed, and my parents were married at Tree of Life.

Oh crikey Rachel...

It was a shock, Jack. Another sad experience for America.

Very sorry, Rachel. My family is from Pittsburgh and Squirrel Hill is a wonderful neighborhood. Just a horrible tragedy.

 

[veitsi_poika]

My wife Terri loves animals, sometimes maybe more than me but I'm OK with that as long as it's "sometimes" Over the past few weeks we have been having what seemed to be a stray cat showing up in our yard. Of course it happens to be the time of year that the temps start getting toward freezing, so naturally Terri starts to get concerned about the kitty. So she puts food/water on the front porch, builds a "cat house" out of an Amazon box, insulates it and puts one of our old cat beds in there. Since we have enough cats she decided that if she could eventually capture it she would bring it to the local shelter. As nights go by it becomes routine that he (the cat) would show up shortly after dark, eat, drink, sleep and then leave before I head out to work in the morning. We had no idea where he went during the day One night she decided to go outside and see if she could get near the cat. Well, he just runs up to her purring and rubbing against her legs. Soon after, I went out to see him and he was just a great, playful and loving cat. We immediately knew this cat was likely someones lost kitty since it was so affectionate; most strays would run away. So Terri found a FaceBook page for a local charity where people can post pictures of their lost pets and sure enough we found a cat on there that looked a lot like him. She contacted the owner and he asked if there was a scar near the tip of his right ear and sure enough, there was! Turns out this cat was over 5 miles away from home AND has been missing since June 24th! Last night the very grateful owners got reunited with their kitty that they had lost hope on

End of the story? Of course not... the man's wife came to our house about 8 O' Clock last night to get him, she grabbed "Bing" (which was his name) and teary eyed started to give him kisses on his head. Bing was her late Dad's nickname and the other cat they have is named "Emil" which was her husband's late Dad's name... the cats, Bing and Emil, are brothers and were lost at the same time, Emil found his way home but Bing, obviously, did not (until now). So she gets Bing into her car then turns to give my wife a thank you hug and wouldn't you know it? The cat steps on the door lock button and locks himself inside the car! Well an hour or so later, after the local sheriff jimmy's the door open, she finally got headed back home with her Bing.

This morning when I got out of bed there was freezing rain/sleet and 30 MPH winds... meanwhile little Bing is home, nice and warm, playing with his brother Emil and the grand-kids "Sometimes" things do happen for a reason

View attachment 1006570

A follow up to my rescued cat story... the owners sent us a gift card for $20 at a local convenience store, but more importantly they sent us this picture of the reunited "brothers" after being separated for 4 months. Bing (the cat we rescued) is on the left and a very happy looking Emil is on the right The little guy is a new cat they adopted for Emil because he was having bad separation anxiety after Bing went missing. This picture completed the circle for Terri and I, one good deed complete

 

[Prester John]

It is indeed terrible, and especially upsetting for me. My grandfather was Bar-Mitzvahed, and my parents were married at Tree of Life.

Very sorry to hear that, Rachel. Very horrible thing to happen to anyone anywhere.

 

[r8shell]

A follow up to my rescued cat story... the owners sent us a gift card for $20 at a local convenience store, but more importantly they sent us this picture of the reunited "brothers" after being separated for 4 months. Bing (the cat we rescued) is on the left and a very happy looking Emil is on the right The little guy is a new cat they adopted for Emil because he was having bad separation anxiety after Bing went missing. This picture completed the circle for Terri and I, one good deed complete

View attachment 1011073

Is it my imagination, or is Bing giving the new guy a bit of the stink eye? Oh well, I'm sure they'll all work it out.

 

[veitsi_poika]

Is it my imagination, or is Bing giving the new guy a bit of the stink eye? Oh well, I'm sure they'll all work it out.

"They thought he could replace moi?"

 

[Fodderwing]

Just heard about the Pittsburgh shooting on the radio What a terrible thing to happen

It is indeed terrible, and especially upsetting for me. My grandfather was Bar-Mitzvahed, and my parents were married at Tree of Life.

It was a shock, Jack. Another sad experience for America

Unfathomable hate and infinite cowardice.

A follow up to my rescued cat story... the owners sent us a gift card for $20 at a local convenience store, but more importantly they sent us this picture of the reunited "brothers" after being separated for 4 months. Bing (the cat we rescued) is on the left and a very happy looking Emil is on the right The little guy is a new cat they adopted for Emil because he was having bad separation anxiety after Bing went missing. This picture completed the circle for Terri and I, one good deed complete

View attachment 1011073

Thank you Kevin. You can always be counted on to bring happiness to us.

 

[Ramrodmb]

A follow up to my rescued cat story... the owners sent us a gift card for $20 at a local convenience store, but more importantly they sent us this picture of the reunited "brothers" after being separated for 4 months. Bing (the cat we rescued) is on the left and a very happy looking Emil is on the right The little guy is a new cat they adopted for Emil because he was having bad separation anxiety after Bing went missing. This picture completed the circle for Terri and I, one good deed complete

View attachment 1011073

Great story, Kevin.
Emil looks completely satisfied.

 

[Gevonovich]

A follow up to my rescued cat story... the owners sent us a gift card for $20 at a local convenience store, but more importantly they sent us this picture of the reunited "brothers" after being separated for 4 months. Bing (the cat we rescued) is on the left and a very happy looking Emil is on the right The little guy is a new cat they adopted for Emil because he was having bad separation anxiety after Bing went missing. This picture completed the circle for Terri and I, one good deed complete

View attachment 1011073

Heart warming, Kevin !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JohnDF]

Unfathomable hate and infinite cowardice.

Very well said.

 

[jc57]

A follow up to my rescued cat story... the owners sent us a gift card for $20 at a local convenience store, but more importantly they sent us this picture of the reunited "brothers" after being separated for 4 months. Bing (the cat we rescued) is on the left and a very happy looking Emil is on the right The little guy is a new cat they adopted for Emil because he was having bad separation anxiety after Bing went missing. This picture completed the circle for Terri and I, one good deed complete

View attachment 1011073

5 lives saved.

 

[Will Power]

I noticed a controversy beginning to erupt (perhaps an apt word...) over the vexed question of Chili and its authentic composition in the Totin Thread. So, I thought I'd bring it here for greater amplification. What sources - or sauces - can we turn to? Personal prejudices and anecdotes seem slanted, insufficient and leading to a quagmire of binary hatreds and dogmatism

Clearly, an expert opinion that has no axe to grind is the key to unlocking the door of this mystery One voice commands respect and awe over the ages and it is that of Lieutenant Columbo LAPD Chili the Measure of All Men ...

Fortunately some Geeky type; or what the British refer to as an 'Anorak' something we would be connoisseurs must confront on a daily basis; has put together what appears to be definitive scholarship. Yet for all that, it leaves us with the feeling that Chili remains a very Broad Church - Temple, Mosque, Synagogue etc

http://www.columbo-site.freeuk.com/chili.htm

 

[Will Power]

More Kat Kontent

My Tabby has become Keeper of the Black Boxes Actually she's just worn out from all night partying otherwise she'd be hunting the knife as well

 

[Jack Black]

I noticed a controversy beginning to erupt (perhaps an apt word...) over the vexed question of Chili and its authentic composition in the Totin Thread. So, I thought I'd bring it here for greater amplification. What sources - or sauces - can we turn to? Personal prejudices and anecdotes seem slanted, insufficient and leading to a quagmire of binary hatreds and dogmatism

Clearly, an expert opinion that has no axe to grind is the key to unlocking the door of this mystery One voice commands respect and awe over the ages and it is that of Lieutenant Columbo LAPD Chili the Measure of All Men ...

Fortunately some Geeky type; or what the British refer to as an 'Anorak' something we would be connoisseurs must confront on a daily basis; has put together what appears to be definitive scholarship. Yet for all that, it leaves us with the feeling that Chili remains a very Broad Church - Temple, Mosque, Synagogue etc

http://www.columbo-site.freeuk.com/chili.htm

A debate that has the potential to get heated Will (groan)! Excellent link my friend, if a little weird (someone has gone to a lot of trouble there)!

Obviously, I am not in a position to give an informed opinion on the chilli debate, but enjoy hearing about it from our friends across the pond

(Beans, but no meat in this one!! )

Edit - Just thought of a question - As well as a good splash of Henderson's Relish (obviously ) I sometimes add a little dark (up to 100% cocoa solids) finely chopped chocolate, just a couple of squares, about five minutes before I finish cooking the chilli. You can't taste the chocolate, but I think it kind of brings out the chilli flavours. Does anyone else do that, or have I behaved abominably?

 

[veitsi_poika]

A debate that has the potential to get heated Will (groan)! Excellent link my friend, if a little weird (someone has gone to a lot of trouble there)!

Obviously, I am not in a position to give an informed opinion on the chilli debate, but enjoy hearing about it from our friends across the pond

(Beans, but no meat in this one!! )

Edit - Just thought of a question - As well as a good splash of Henderson's Relish (obviously ) I sometimes add a little dark (up to 100% cocoa solids) finely chopped chocolate, just a couple of squares, about five minutes before I finish cooking the chilli. You can't taste the chocolate, but I think it kind of brings out the chilli flavours. Does anyone else do that, or have I behaved abominably?

I believe adding chocolate would definitely qualify your chili to be more of a Southwest U.S. (Tex-Mex) or Mexican style chili, at least on this side of the pond... and that sounds delicious

 

[Jack Black]

I believe adding chocolate would definitely qualify your chili to be more of a Southwest U.S. (Tex-Mex) or Mexican style chili, at least on this side of the pond... and that sounds delicious

Thank you my friend I forget where I first came across the idea. I am currently using some fancy raw organic 100% cacao stuff a friend brought me back from Ecuador I'm really not sure anyone would want to eat it as a snack, it is quite bitter with an almost savoury flavour

 

[r8shell]

Edit - Just thought of a question - As well as a good splash of Henderson's Relish (obviously ) I sometimes add a little dark (up to 100% cocoa solids) finely chopped chocolate, just a couple of squares, about five minutes before I finish cooking the chilli. You can't taste the chocolate, but I think it kind of brings out the chilli flavours. Does anyone else do that, or have I behaved abominably?

Chocolate is used in mole (pronounced mo-lay) sauces, so it's acceptable.

Traditionally, Texas chili is made without, but I'll bet poor folks often added beans to stretch the food budget.