Archive for July, 2010
What is a Tactical Knife?
The term “tactical” gets thrown around somewhat haphazardly in the knife world, but what does the distinction actually denote? Typically when a knife is referred to as a tactical knife it is in order to highlight the versatile quality of the blade. While some blades are designed for a particular purpose, tactical knives are a jack of all trades.
If you are constantly using your knife to skin fish or some other specialized activity, it would behoove you to invest in a variety of task-specific knives. For general use, however, tactical pocket knives will do. No matter what knife you end up buying, it is always a smart idea to go with a trusted manufacturer like Boker or Gerber.
Family Fun During a Power Outage
Parents of small children know that power outages can be a potentially unnerving experience for youngsters. Power failures are often accompanied by fearsome storms; the flash of lightning and roar of thunder can be frightening indeed. It’s up to parents to subvert that scariness, turning a power outage into an opportunity to bond as a family and have fun despite the hectic conditions outdoors.
It’s the perfect time to dust off a few board games, sit down at the dining room table and grab a few Pelican flashlights. Light a few candles and place them at the table as well. Before long, the kids will become so wrapped up in the game that they will forget about the lack of electricity and the storm outside. Technology can be a great thing, but occasionally it’s nice to get back to basics.
The Old Man and the River
When I ride my bike through the crowded, bustling city streets, I occasionally miss the simplistic ways of country living. When I’m feeling especially nostalgic, I pedal over to a local suspension bridge, where fishermen cast their fishing hooks into the roiling depths below, hoping to land a city-dwelling trophy fish. Sometimes I even stumble upon old men with waders who are waist deep in the river.
On one day in particular I stopped to ask an older gentleman if he’d had any luck so far. He trudged up out of the murky riverbed and onto dry land, water streaming off of his waders all the while. I noticed he was wearing a fly-fishing vest in lieu of carrying a tackle box. He undid one of the front buttons, reached in and cupped some object in his hand. “Here ya go,” he said, “Have a look at what I’ve caught so far.” I looked down into his palm and saw a tiny minnow wriggling around. “Just kidding,” the man said. “That’s just one of my bait fish.”