As a proud Scot, Paul, you should know that we enjoy ourselves a wee snifter on the porch from time to time. Make mine Islay.
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"Carl's Lounge" (Off-Topic Discussion, Traditional Knife "Tales & Vignettes")
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As a proud Scot, Paul, you should know that we enjoy ourselves a wee snifter on the porch from time to time. Make mine Islay.
silenthunterstudios
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There is a certain motorcycle club, whose founding member was shot by police officers at a famous Baltimore stripclub several days before I witnessed what I am to tell you. The shooting was in the news, and more so back then, because the founding member was a police officer himself. Anyway, the club is the Chosen Sons, and the members are noted by their wearing of a denim shirt with the sleeves cut off, and a large patch on their back, denoting where their chapter is located. This guy was on a huge bike, with the high handlebars. His bike was one of the loudest bikes I've ever heard. It was a Friday morning and he was merging onto traffic from the Baltimore beltway onto my exit. He was a couple cars in front of me, and almost got tapped several times. Loud bike, big biker, high handlebars, his club was in the news, and still people almost hit him.
People just do not pay attention. I know some rough and tumble characters on bikes, some ride with clubs, some on their own. I worry about them out there. I also have a lot of family and friends who ride their bicycles on the main roads, and worry about them too. I have gotten quite angry in the past at bicyclists cutting me off, many give the average bicyclist a bad rap. I used to holler at bike riders to find a trail, especially when hogging the road.
One of the former members at BF, Ren, and his son used to go long distance bike riding. His son was in a bad accident. That changed my mind on bicyclists. Share the road. Plenty of a^&%$$$les on two wheeled and four wheeled vehicles, let's not get started on the tractor trailers (no offense to our trucker brethren).
Just make sure you are cognizant of everyone on the road. Glad your injuries were not worse Connor.
People just do not pay attention. I know some rough and tumble characters on bikes, some ride with clubs, some on their own. I worry about them out there. I also have a lot of family and friends who ride their bicycles on the main roads, and worry about them too. I have gotten quite angry in the past at bicyclists cutting me off, many give the average bicyclist a bad rap. I used to holler at bike riders to find a trail, especially when hogging the road.
One of the former members at BF, Ren, and his son used to go long distance bike riding. His son was in a bad accident. That changed my mind on bicyclists. Share the road. Plenty of a^&%$$$les on two wheeled and four wheeled vehicles, let's not get started on the tractor trailers (no offense to our trucker brethren).
Just make sure you are cognizant of everyone on the road. Glad your injuries were not worse Connor.
Some motorcyclists are guilty of this as well (generally, but not always, those on a bike meant to resemble purpose-built grand prix rockets), to the point where they will often knock mirrors off mounts or gouge long scars into bodywork without even realizing it in their zeal to get through traffic jams. I've seen a motorcyclist clip a sheriff's dept. cruiser and continue on his merry way completely oblivious to whatever felony hit&run+fleeing/eluding charges lay on the other side of traffic for him. I've also tipped back beers with proud four-wheel drivers who tell stories about opening up truck doors to knock passing motorcyclists off their bikes -- a moronic thing to do, but one borne from frustration with the way many motorcycle riders flout both traffic laws and common sense.
Around here, it's a lose-lose. The automobile drivers are generally idiots and make riding a bike that much more dangerous, while the two-wheelers often treat the entire road, sidewalk, and even grass/concrete medians as their personal race tracks or express lanes. Makes it hard to justify buying that sweet cafe racer I've wanted for years. :grumpy:
Henry Beige
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Connor,
Glad to hear you walked away from one (riding away would have been better, though), and just as glad to see you are keeping old steel bikes on the road. My own bikes are all steel, mostly 3-speeds (or started life that way), mostly Raleighs
( there's a Hercules, a Triumph, a couple of Bianchis in there).
My son got my lovely green Schwinn Racer. He keeps it around for the old man to ride when I visit. My father was a newspaperman who pedaled his Raleigh eight miles to work, in tweeds. His last bicycles were Schwinn 3-speeds. I think of old steel bikes as the traditional knives of the bicycle world. Or maybe it is the other way around; perhaps I was drawn to the porch because the knives reminded me a bit of the 3-speeds.
Glad to hear you walked away from one (riding away would have been better, though), and just as glad to see you are keeping old steel bikes on the road. My own bikes are all steel, mostly 3-speeds (or started life that way), mostly Raleighs
( there's a Hercules, a Triumph, a couple of Bianchis in there).
My son got my lovely green Schwinn Racer. He keeps it around for the old man to ride when I visit. My father was a newspaperman who pedaled his Raleigh eight miles to work, in tweeds. His last bicycles were Schwinn 3-speeds. I think of old steel bikes as the traditional knives of the bicycle world. Or maybe it is the other way around; perhaps I was drawn to the porch because the knives reminded me a bit of the 3-speeds.
5K Qs
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I enjoyed the story and its moral, Frank! :thumbup:
Unfortunately, many things have changed in our society since 1948, and not all of the changes are improvements IMHO. But we have to keep fighting the good fight, even when it looks like it's a losing battle.
Glad to hear you aren't seriously hurt, Connor!
:thumbup:You give good advice. My daughter was a huge Harry Potter fan when she was growing up, so my wife and I read all the books, too. One of my favorite characters was Mad-Eye Moody, and I used to often quote him whenever my wife and/or my daughter would venture out into the world: "Constant vigilance!!!"
True facts, meako! :thumbup: I quit riding bike about 20 years ago because of too many close calls, and most of my colleagues who are committed bicyclists have had at least one serious injury due to bike wrecks.
Like meako, I can't believe all the distractions drivers think they can handle, and the fact that many of the distractions are now "desirable features" intentionally built into vehicles and advertised as selling points is totally incomprehensible to me! 
You're right in pointing out that bad behavior is shown by operators of vehicles of all types, TB; it's a jungle out there!!
Happy First Anniversary, Randy; hope you have many more!:thumbup:
:thumbup: I've never been a fan of any kind of knife other than traditional folders, but other than that, what you wrote describes my experiences here on The Porch very accurately. I've hung around lots of internet "news-groups" and discussion boards and list-serves etc, and the atmosphere here is so different than any of the other places I've been. Thanks for all the contributions you've made, Randy, in making this such a great community! :thumbup:Nice word picture, Paul!! :thumbup:
- GT
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Randy,
nice post (and I liked Paul's answer very much). Glad to have you here with us.
Dan,
somehow, the "car vs motorcycle" thing is ubiquitous...yet I feel that, in some parts of the world, there are so many motorcycles around that when people learn to drive, they just get used to them and to paying attention. Obviously, certain behaviours (on both sides) do not help, but I assume a good share of the problem is people not being used to driving among bikes and motorbikes. I lived 6 months of my life in Rome (one of the places in the world with more two wheeled vehicles) and they would literally swarm around you at certain hours
Fausto
nice post (and I liked Paul's answer very much). Glad to have you here with us.
Dan,
somehow, the "car vs motorcycle" thing is ubiquitous...yet I feel that, in some parts of the world, there are so many motorcycles around that when people learn to drive, they just get used to them and to paying attention. Obviously, certain behaviours (on both sides) do not help, but I assume a good share of the problem is people not being used to driving among bikes and motorbikes. I lived 6 months of my life in Rome (one of the places in the world with more two wheeled vehicles) and they would literally swarm around you at certain hours
Fausto
Yes, Tsar hit the nail on the head. We have had a lot of bike lanes put onto our roads in my town, and while the bikers use them, they still blow stop signs, don't signal, and generally do as they please. We almost hit one who ran a stop sign two days ago.
"Constant vigilance" applies to the rules of the road too!
Connor
"Constant vigilance" applies to the rules of the road too!
Connor
meako
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Connor - glad to hear you didn't get hurt badly, as others have said; bikes can be replaced or mended, you not so easily
Randy - loved your post about discovering the porch. I always imagine a long, worn wooden deck with battered old well used wooden chairs and stools. Folks dropping by for a yarn and a blether on their way to and from everywhere and nowhere. Pipes and cigars being smoked, mugs of tea and coffee being sipped while the laughs come easily amidst the incredibly serious discussions of traditional cutlery.
It's a grand wee place to tarry.
Paul
And don't forget that spot under the porch with cobwebs and rubbish accumulated over the years. There is an old beer carton which has been rudely fashioned into a little house... a club house....the Texans And Other People Not from Texas Club HQ. current membership 2.
:thumbup::thumbup:Club meetings first tuesday of every month.
meako (Pres.)
Waynorth (Sgt at Arms)
New members welcome.
Free membership for anyone from Texas or anywhere else except NZ($3.50 service fee applies)
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r8shell
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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:thumbup: I have an old no-speed Hercules with coaster breaks and steel fenders that I need to get some new tires for and take out for a spin. I've had it for about forty years, and used to ride it to school and work before I got a car. Nowadays, if I ride a bike, it's my mountain bike with more gears than I know what to do with. It's more comfortable in some ways, but there's nothing like coasting downhill on that old steel frame bike.
:thumbup: I have an old no-speed Hercules with coaster breaks and steel fenders that I need to get some new tires for and take out for a spin. I've had it for about forty years, and used to ride it to school and work before I got a car. Nowadays, if I ride a bike, it's my mountain bike with more gears than I know what to do with. It's more comfortable in some ways, but there's nothing like coasting downhill on that old steel frame bike.
Turn it into a fixie. Coast down those hills at breakneck speed while wondering if the impact of the crash might do more damage than trying to jam your feet into the thresher of those 9000 rpm spinning pedals.
If I could score a good coaster hub I would certainly be cobbling together a geared coaster brake bike with some bags or racks, a good sized rear tire with plenty of grip, and a baseball card on the rim.
Heck, why not make a bicylce based sharpening setup (no pedal powerd grindstone just carrying cases) and ride around to restaurants and sharpen their knives?
I think I've got a good idea here,
certainly a way to feed my knife fund.
Connor
Heck, why not make a bicylce based sharpening setup (no pedal powerd grindstone just carrying cases) and ride around to restaurants and sharpen their knives?
I think I've got a good idea here,
certainly a way to feed my knife fund.
Connor
Henry Beige
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How about a Sturmey 3-speed coaster hub, a Sturmey drum brake on the front, in a Schwinn cantilever frame?
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waynorth
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And don't forget that spot under the porch with cobwebs and rubbish accumulated over the years. There is an old beer carton which has been rudely fashioned into a little house... a club house....the Texans And Other People Not from Texas Club HQ. current membership 2.
Club meetings first tuesday of every month.
meako (Pres.)
Waynorth (Sgt at Arms)
New members welcome.
Free membership for anyone from Texas or anywhere else except NZ($3.50 service fee applies)
You have to carry a large knife named after a bird to be a member!
Campbellclanman
Platinum Member
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- 15,821
And don't forget that spot under the porch with cobwebs and rubbish accumulated over the years. There is an old beer carton which has been rudely fashioned into a little house... a club house....the Texans And Other People Not from Texas Club HQ. current membership 2.
Club meetings first tuesday of every month.
meako (Pres.)
Waynorth (Sgt at Arms)
New members welcome.
Free membership for anyone from Texas or anywhere else except NZ($3.50 service fee applies)
Why thank you my very kind thoiughtfull neighbour
What we must note is that Meako would know only too well what under the porch would look like- it was of no surprise that he has been slipping and sliding on his belly beneath us on the Porch, I find this quite fitting, as Australia - a Nation born from Cast off's and criminals that this would feel like home, and as the civilised people that we are on ( top of ) the Porch understand this and welcome even those who come from Australia.
Here..... $3.50? was it?.......... no no no my dear friend here's $5 New Zealand Dollars and please keep the change for there are showers at the local camp where you can bath with the change.
meako
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Why thank you my very kind thoiughtfull neighbour
What we must note is that Meako would know only too well what under the porch would look like- it was of no surprise that he has been slipping and sliding on his belly beneath us on the Porch, I find this quite fitting, as Australia - a Nation born from Cast off's and criminals that this would feel like home, and as the civilised people that we are on ( top of ) the Porch understand this and welcome even those who come from Australia.
Here..... $3.50? was it?.......... no no no my dear friend here's $5 New Zealand Dollars and please keep the change for there are showers at the local camp where you can bath with the change.
I admit that oft times my puerile humour has been known to get me in trouble and a few times I've copped a smack in the head for my efforts.
Upon reflection I generally conclude that it was my fault ,I was rude and it offended the other person.
Example -
at Nth Gong Pub once I was at a sendoff for a couple of firies who were retiring. There was about 50 of us. It was packed. I was in possession of a pair of humorous Elvis Presley sunglasses with sideburns attached. Everyone was trying them on and having a great laugh. I was trying to see who looked the most like the King if he was alive today.Doing the karate moves and thangaverrrmuctch-ing.
At a table by themselves at the edge sat 5 bikies (outlaw MCC patched wannabes or something) One of them could have been the King himself . So I went over (having drunk lots of beer by this stage) and said gday. Just wondering if you'd like to take part in my "Who looks a lot like Elvis" game? Their response was a less than enthusiastic "f^%$ off !*%t". OK mate sjust a bit of humour,have a good one.
I rejoined the crew inside. One asked what was going on out there with those guys. Nothin,theyre just sitting out there with all their mates,all 4 of 'em.
Were they hassling you meako? I could sense some agro brewing and I'm not talking about boutique pilsener.
I told him they had no sense of humour thats all.
Now there were dudes craning to check these blokes out. The bikies were glaring around at everyone (like they do).
Can't say what happened after that because I was out the front hailing the nearest cab.
Anyhow -Duncan I apologise for my anti NZ rudeness if it offended you. We both know it has to be done. Your response was like a polite tap.Kind of a double whammy actually considering my unwashable English heritage
.I responded in kind yesterday but the site was down so luckily I saved it-
Touche my Kiwi comrade
I think however you must be part Aussie because you dont like the idea of being unfairly and mysteriously taxed .
Join the club .
Let me talk to the committee and well see about waiving that silly old fee. The club is after all completely in my mind.
I simply thought it a good idea to make it open to everyone* and try not to take up too much porch (probably too late for that now) space by repurposing an unwanted area with low cost recycled materials.
Not to worry.
I believe the sub porch dirt and squalor has appeal for all Australians. Or at least those who prefer it to being used as a doormat by Prime Minister Turnbull and his bevy of big business bandidos to wipe their taxpayer funded imported brogues upon.
I intended to spend most of the club money on strong drink, drugs, gambling and strippers .the rest Ill fritter away wastefully.
Sadly due to the exchange rates 5.00NZD is only worth 3.36USD so there wont be any change leftover for me to get a shower but Im thinking of putting in a sweat lodge so I can really stink it up under there.
An all Aussie themed nitespot "Down Unda" is in the planning stage.
*everyone with the strength to name their 98 and get it on there.
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Henry Beige
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Campbellclanman
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Oh Meako my good mate.
ABSOLUTELY NO offence was taken- I actually love the ribbing you give me - and it is I ( ok this is reeeeeealy difficult apologising to an Australian) who offers an apology if I came across as harsh.
Here in New Zealand - any time we can take a shot at our Aussie neighbours - then we are in- BUT in saying that in times of war we would fight to the death to protect your land from invasion when at war 😄
I truly am sorry that you received a double whammy ........... Ok I'm not but it looks good for others when an apology is written down
My thoughts are to go ahead with the club - I insist on paying the $3.50 - and ok I will pay this in US $ but not a penny more.
This way My vote counts as I am the only financial member of the club and its existence relies totally on me.
Charlie as SOA will be a very respected member -even if he is Canadian. 👍
You will need a Kiwi in this club- for quick thinking- money of course- for references when a clean record is needed with no convictions, and for just plain good looks.
ABSOLUTELY NO offence was taken- I actually love the ribbing you give me - and it is I ( ok this is reeeeeealy difficult apologising to an Australian) who offers an apology if I came across as harsh.
Here in New Zealand - any time we can take a shot at our Aussie neighbours - then we are in- BUT in saying that in times of war we would fight to the death to protect your land from invasion when at war 😄
I truly am sorry that you received a double whammy ........... Ok I'm not but it looks good for others when an apology is written down
My thoughts are to go ahead with the club - I insist on paying the $3.50 - and ok I will pay this in US $ but not a penny more.
This way My vote counts as I am the only financial member of the club and its existence relies totally on me.
Charlie as SOA will be a very respected member -even if he is Canadian. 👍
You will need a Kiwi in this club- for quick thinking- money of course- for references when a clean record is needed with no convictions, and for just plain good looks.
