Random Thought Thread

Mike157 said:
I’m hesitant to post much about my own experiences with this subject just because it seems like we’re all very close to “too much information”. But, here goes anyway..... and I guess I’m saying this, on a more serious note, because in the past, I’ve had two work associates pass away due to colon cancer. The fight against it was brutal and ugly and they both lost after a year or so. If “screening” helps, I think the temporary discomfort experienced is worth it. I’ve had two colonoscopies, one at 50 and one at 60. I was fully awake for both of them and got to watch the “exploration” on a screen next to me. The procedure itself was not at all painful but I did feel a bit like Matty stated - like an alien was running loose in there. By far the worst part was the the pre-procedure “clean-out” drug I took the first time. That, indeed, screwed my GI tract up something fierce. It took a few days to get back to normal. The second go around was much more mellow and I recovered within the day.

Most have probably seen ads for the “sampler” home test available now. Seems they are a viable alternative in many cases.

Okay, I’m sure that was TMI, I apologize. Back to our rectalular programing.:rolleyes: Mike
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TMI...o_O I do agree that Colon Cancer is no joke! Early detection is key in fighting all Cancers so Guys! Man up and go get the test done!:thumbsup:
 
Mike157 said:
Oh man! After seeing Dan's KOD chopping videos, I can't wait to give it a go. I may have to go to the lumber store to find some clean 2 x 4's this week, just to have them on hand when the time comes. Mike
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Much. Knife. Stoke!

On this note Mike, I’ve already been paying closer attention to how Dan and Big Chris set up their chopping boards. Looks like both use a 2x6 base (at least) under the 2x4. I don’t have any handy setup to secure those.

I may also search the local junkyard for discarded robot appendages in place of tatami mats. ;)

So yeah...tatami mats are another thing I know squat about other than watching Joe P hack them up.
 
mb> said:
Much. Knife. Stoke!

On this note Mike, I’ve already been paying closer attention to how Dan and Big Chris set up their chopping boards. Looks like both use a 2x6 base (at least) under the 2x4. I don’t have any handy setup to secure those.

I may also search the local junkyard for discarded robot appendages in place of tatami mats. ;)

So yeah...tatami mats are another thing I know squat about other than watching Joe P hack them up.
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Back in the day when I was cutting in the backyard more often, tightly rolled newspaper was a challenging tatami substitute:)
 
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WValtakis said:
Back in the day when I was cutting in the backyard more often, tightly rolled newspaper was a challenging tatami substitute: )
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That would be a cost saver if you still get newspaper. I see The river site has tatami for sale...of course. And the more you buy the more you save! Looks like about $8-10/roll. :/

I have access to alligators for free. No one cares for them much here.
 
mb> said:
Much. Knife. Stoke!

On this note Mike, I’ve already been paying closer attention to how Dan and Big Chris set up their chopping boards. Looks like both use a 2x6 base (at least) under the 2x4. I don’t have any handy setup to secure those.

I may also search the local junkyard for discarded robot appendages in place of tatami mats. ;)

So yeah...tatami mats are another thing I know squat about other than watching Joe P hack them up.
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WValtakis said:
Back in the day when I was cutting in the backyard more often, tightly rolled newspaper was a challenging tatami substitute:)
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I don’t have a convenient set up for chopping 2x4’s either. One of our members here gave me the plans for a competition bench, just need to build it - and find a place to set it up.

I watched James Williams demonstration at Blade last year. At the end of the demo, he let whom ever was interested, come up and take a cut at a tatami Mat with one of his wakizashis. It was a fun experience, but is the extent of my experience with tatami also.
Didn’t know that they could be had from the jungle river site. Thanks for the heads up.

Have to look into the rolled up newspaper. That could be pretty convenient. Thanks! Mike
 
mb> said:
Mike157 Mike157 Was the tatami whack harder than it looks? I understand it can reveal poor form, but it doesn’t look too difficult. I always wonder if that’s just a skilled cutter making it appear easy.
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WValtakis said:
No problem, just work your way up in size...you can f-up a blade pretty good blowing a cut on a 2" roll
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I can’t say that I have much practice or skill cutting substantial things and I think, for the more difficult cuts, it does take skill. Joe is a pretty darn skilled cutter and I think he was going through some double rolls in some of his videos. From what I’ve gathered, single roll tatami cutting is not overly difficult for someone with some experience and a decent blade, and the success and shape of the cut is more of an indicator of the cutter’s skill.

I’m pretty sure that, at Blade, we were cutting, maybe, half rolls of tatami and most of the participants, did get through it.

I think that if one practices and works their way up, as WValtakis stated (thank you for that), progress can be made. I’d imagine a 2” diameter tightly wrapped and soaked (I think that's the process) newspaper roll would take some effort and skill. With the few things that I have cut (lots of cardboard tubes:), hanging rope, and branches), I find that warming up adequately helps a lot. Mike
 
If I were a few years younger when this KoD show and even me finding out about the blade sports ... I sure would have jumped right in and gave it a go.

I still have the want to grab the big blades and try it just to see and challenge myself ... but if I'm being honest with myself ... I'm afraid I am about 5 or 6 years past the time I could have given the competitors a run for their money.
 
JJ_Colt45 said:
If I were a few years younger when this KoD show and even me finding out about the blade sports ... I sure would have jumped right in and gave it a go.

I still have the want to grab the big blades and try it just to see and challenge myself ... but if I'm being honest with myself ... I'm afraid I am about 5 or 6 years past the time I could have given the competitors a run for their money.
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What amazed me about the show is how many people there were who didn't seem to have any idea what they were doing. I understand that the conditions were rough, but they showed totally unprepared.
Maybe that was the producer's plan. I dunno.

This comment is from an old fart who couldn't get through the first stage without having a heart attack.:D Just like the fatass fans who criticize professional ball players.
 
UffDa said:
What amazed me about the show is how many people there were who didn't seem to have any idea what they were doing. I understand that the conditions were rough, but they showed totally unprepared.
Maybe that was the producer's plan. I dunno.

This comment is from an old fart who couldn't get through the first stage without having a heart attack.:D Just like the fatass fans who criticize professional ball players.
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In a lot of these cases, they're looking for 'colorful' characters to generate viewer interest, especially in the earlier seasons (until they can determine how wide the viewership/interest is).

I don't know if you've watched Sasuke/Ninja Warrior, both the original Japanese version and the spinoff American Ninja Warrior (a show that required even more athleticism).

Especially with the earlier seasons, they obviously weren't basing their selections solely on athletic ability. They always included contestants who were obviously not very athletic and had pretty much zero chance of completing the course, but were just off-the-wall quirky, or had some interesting backstory.

Especially with ANW, as the show proved its broad appeal with viewership and the producers determined that the viewers appreciated the physicality required of the contestants, they began narrowing the selection to athletes who actually had some kind of shot at doing well on the course.

Aside from us knife nuts, I'm not sure how broad the interest in KoD is. Even amongst fans of FiF, there's a decent percentage who don't particularly care for KoD (not saying they dislike it. It simply doesn't catch their interest).
 
bluemax_1 said:
In a lot of these cases, they're looking for 'colorful' characters to generate viewer interest, especially in the earlier seasons (until they can determine how wide the viewership/interest is).

I don't know if you've watched Sasuke/Ninja Warrior, both the original Japanese version and the spinoff American Ninja Warrior (a show that required even more athleticism).

Especially with the earlier seasons, they obviously weren't basing their selections solely on athletic ability. They always included contestants who were obviously not very athletic and had pretty much zero chance of completing the course, but were just off-the-wall quirky, or had some interesting backstory.

Especially with ANW, as the show proved its broad appeal with viewership and the producers determined that the viewers appreciated the physicality required of the contestants, they began narrowing the selection to athletes who actually had some kind of shot at doing well on the course.

Aside from us knife nuts, I'm not sure how broad the interest in KoD is. Even amongst fans of FiF, there's a decent percentage who don't particularly care for KoD (not saying they dislike it. It simply doesn't catch their interest).
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As a car guy, I like TV programs like Wheeler Dealers, Chasing Classic Cars, Jay Leno’s Garage and Top Gear (the UK version and sparingly!) but I wouldn’t be caught dead watching NASCAR or Formula 1.

FiF is a competition based on knowledge and skills while working under challenging conditions trying to beat a clock using mostly challenging salvaged metal objects to mine for the needed steel to make a cutting tool / weapon. I find the concept interesting :) On KoD, had it not been for Jo’s initial foray followed then by sole of our own forumites and the connection with this place, I doubt if I would’ve really cared that much at all!
 
Casinostocks said:
As a car guy, I like TV programs like Wheeler Dealers, Chasing Classic Cars, Jay Leno’s Garage and Top Gear (the UK version and sparingly!) but I wouldn’t be caught dead watching NASCAR or Formula 1.

FiF is a competition based on knowledge and skills while working under challenging conditions trying to beat a clock using mostly challenging salvaged metal objects to mine for the needed steel to make a cutting tool / weapon. I find the concept interesting :) On KoD, had it not been for Jo’s initial foray followed then by sole of our own forumites and the connection with this place, I doubt if I would’ve really cared that much at all!
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That's the general impression I get about KoD. Aside from our tight knit group, enthusiastically supporting our own, there doesn't currently seem to be quite as much interest in chopping/cutting bladesports.
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
open for a week
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