Livingston Reporting - page 295

The history of vision correction is vast and complex.  Before the invention on contact lenses people relied on glasses to correct imperfections in their eyesight.  Today, contacts have become the norm and LASIK eye surgery is replacing them.  There are advantages and disadvantages to each method in correcting vision and the choices become even more increasing difficult to decide upon when it comes to our children’s vision.

Today glasses are seen mostly as a hindrance.  Glasses are a good source of vision correction but viewed by many as an inconvenient method of vision correction.  The advantage of wearing glasses is the ease at which you can transition from wearing them to not wearing them.  They are also readily available and have become reasonable to purchase.  They also can be seen as a fashion statement. Glasses are also easy for children to be in charge of.  The disadvantages of glasses are plentiful as well. Keeping glasses clean and scratch free is often hard for even the most careful wearer let alone a child in glasses.  They are also bulky when playing sports and can act as a blind spot for some.  Losing track of glasses is also common especially when dealing with children.

Contacts have been a rite of passage for many children as they become teens.  With contacts comes the great responsibility to care for them.  In caring for your contacts you are essentially caring for your eyes.  Bacteria and germs are more susceptible to be passed to the eye with the use of contacts. Contact lenses must be cleaned and maintained daily to prevent infections within the eye.  This is why most of the time children are not trusted with contact lenses.  If a child prefers contacts over glasses often caregivers will choose daily contacts in which the same pair is not worn twice.

Contacts have many advantages over glasses.  It is easy to forget about your contacts and not worry about them for the entire day.  With glasses you have to maintain their cleanliness throughout the day. They allow complete, clear vision in which there is no blind spot.  Contacts are also affordable and can be purchased in a multitude of styles and quantities. The disadvantage of wearing contacts is that they need daily maintenance and need to be removed nightly before bed.  For some this can be seen as a disadvantage but for others it is an advantage over the constant worry and concern over scratching the lens of your glasses.

Today in vision correction options we have available to us LASIK eye surgery.  This is a more permanent way to handle vision correction.  Whether LASIK can be performed to correct a child vision is very situational.  Eye sight does tend to change more drastically in younger eyes.  When considering LASIK on a child it is best to meet with several eye surgeons to determine if such an approach is beneficial or if time will benefit the child. In most cases, unless incredibly severe vision loss is present it will be recommended to wait on LASIK until a child has reached adulthood.

LASIK in adults however is seen as a game changer for many struggling with a vision impairment.  LASIK is a lifestyle changer.  No longer is the concern of bringing a ton of eye lens chemicals with you on vacation or that spare pair of glasses just encase, LASIK eye surgery offers complete eye correction and eliminated the reliance on contacts or glasses. With today’s technology LASIK eye correction surgery can be performed with minimal downtime on eyes affected with a range of severity.  For more information and to see if you are a perfect candidate for LASIK contact a local LASIK eye surgeon for a consultation.

Nothing is manlier than owning a pocket knife.  When you think of the essentials in a man’s life and the items they carry with them on a day to day bases you think pocket knife, wallet and car keys.  That’s it; that is truly how simple it is when you are a man.

The pocket knife has been a staple since first world soldiers and explorers went on exploration and conquests.  It was made in such a way that it could be carried easily, which is why pocket knives continue to be popular today.  Colonial Americans flourished the pocket knives popularity and everyone from farm hands to businessmen was carrying this convenient tool to aid in a variety of tasks.  Soldiers continued to carry pocket knives as an essential tool throughout the several wars in America’s history.

The pocket knife has been a staple in the pockets of American men for generations.  One issue that we face today is the extinction of the casualness in which we can carry a pocket knife.  With recent restrictions on airline flights and entering governmental buildings both state & federal, the pocket knife risks a downturn in popularity.

It is important to remember even while being limited in certain situations men must continue to carry pocket knives.  The reasons are plentiful.  There are so many times a day in everyday life where using a pocket knife has become common practice.  When you are opening a package that has come in the mail it is always taped beyond what we are humanly able to open with our bare hands.  A pocket knife is necessary for this situation.

The list is long but a pocket knife is crucial in a multitude of simple tasks we accomplish every day.  From opening letters to cutting fishing line a small knife that is conveniently located in your pocket is indispensible.

The hard part comes at choosing the style that will live in your pocket.  The three most popular options include; the jack knife, the pen knife and the multi-purpose knife.  Each different style of pocket knife has advantages and certain features that me more desirable to you than others.

For instance a jack knife is an incredibly simple knife.  It is hinged at one end and may have more than one blade.  Jack knives are a popular option for the outdoorsman for hunters, fishers and hikers.

A pen knife is hinged at two ends and has two or three blades at each end.  The original purpose of a pen knife, as its name conveys, was to sharpen and cut quills for writing. A pen knife should be considered if you are interested in using more than one type of blade.  The pen knife is lightweight and is easily disguised even when dressed up.

Finally the multi-purpose pocket knife which as it name implies is used for a multitude of purposes.  Often a multi-purpose knife is referred to as a Swiss Army knife.  This knife is not for the user only in search of one small blade.  Usually a multi-purpose knife has several tools that enclose into the pocket sized knife such as scissors, tweezers, screwdrivers and even utensils.

Finding the perfect pocket knife is an individual conquest.  Often, a pocket knife is handed down from generation to generation.  However if you are in search of a new pocket knife to use, several online retailers offer a substantial selection at affordable prices making it convenient to have a pocket knife delivered right to your door.

If you want to start a controversy among hunters a sure fire way to do this is by asking which company makes the best, finish the sentence.  Every hunter, fisher and outdoors man alive is sure that they know the best rod, the best gun, the best shells to use and the list goes on.  So when I was asked recently what my preference was when it came to skinning knives I bit my tongue at first.  I am not one to start an issue over my preferences in hunting tools because it is my belief that all tools have the ability to work given the right user.  I think that every tool can perform the job it is set out to do but of course some will work better than others when paired with the correct user.

When it comes to skinning tools I do have preferences but I do agree that pretty much any animal can be skinned using most any knife or tool for that matter.  Some tools will make the job easier but let’s be honest in a life and death situation the toe nail clippers on my Victorinox Swiss Army knife if I needed to. It is imperative to remember that there is not one perfect gun, knife, sleeping bag or any tool for that matter that will be considered the ultimate by everyone.  Choosing the right skinning knife will depend on you the end user.  There are some measurements that will help you want to take into consideration though when buying a knife to be used in skinning.

The first thing consumers should consider when purchasing a knife to be used for skinning is the blade.  Blade qualities to consider are the hardness of the blade and the material used to create the blade. When it comes to the hardness of the blade remember the harder the blade the longer the edge will be held however, it also makes sharpening the blade more difficult. A softer blade is easily made razor sharp though is more easily dulled especially when skinning animals with thick fur. When it comes the blades metal stainless steel and carbon steel are both popular options.  Stainless steel requires less maintenance however are on the harder side is carbon steel which needs proper maintenance to prevent rust and discoloration.

The point of the blade is also important.  Some people prefer a drop point or a clip point.  Basically the only thing to consider when it comes to the knife blade is the will it puncture the skin, slice the skin and slice the membranes between the muscle and skin cleanly.  This may take some practice to determine the exact technique you will choose to perfect.

The size of the blade is something to consider as well. Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to a skinning knife and really neither is smaller.  Consider a mid-sized knife when looking for an all-purpose skinning knife.  A large skinning knife on a small animal or a small skinning knife on a large animal just doesn’t make sense.  If you are only going to have one knife in your collection the choice is simple, a mid-sized knife blade.

The main thing any outdoors man needs to remember when purchasing any knife is how it works for them as an individual. Price, style, blade material and the works won’t matter if the knife isn’t perfect for you.  A skinning knife is so important is ensuring the quality of the meat in the end.  Choose wisely.

It is almost that time a year again when we all start to think about getting out into the great outdoors once again.  Whether your passion is hunting, hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing or one of the many other adventures that come with warm weather it is wise to start thinking about purchasing a knife you can carry with you.  A knife is an all-purpose tool that can be used for safety, but for a variety of everyday tasks as well.  For an inexperienced shopper it can be an intimidating undertaking without a little knowledge of knives to take with you.

There are a multitude of knife styles to choose from starting with fixed blade knife. A fixed blade knife is one of the sturdiest, most durable styles of knives.  A fixed blade knife can easily be carried using a sheath attached to a boot or belt.  This style of knife is great for any outdoors man but is especially helpful to paddlers and survivalists as it is incredibly handy.  It can be released from its sheath in a hurry allowing cord, webbing or small brush to be cleared instantly.

Another style of knife is the folding blade knife.  Most folding knives have a locking mechanism in place to ensure that the knife doesn’t release unexpectedly. Folding knives come in a variety of lengths and offer a great deal of versatility.  Small folding knives, such as pocket knives are easily carried whereas larger folding knives can be stored easily in a pack. Some claim that the folding blade is not as durable as a fixed blade knife however with all the latest developments in knife technology this is highly debatable.  Fixed knife blades also can include multiple tools that easily fold into themselves giving you a variety of easy to use tools.  This is great for bikers as you never know when you will need a wrench or screwdriver out of the trails.

Blade type is also something to consider when purchasing a knife.  There are three basic styles to choose from including: straight blades, serrated blades and a combination.  As with anything each blade type has advantages and disadvantages.

A straight blade knife is a super nice tool as it is easy to sharpen and keep an edge on.  Straight knife blades are great for cutting and make any meal easier especially when hiking or camping. Serrated edges have teeth built into the blade, much like a saw blade but not as enhanced.  The teeth make this blade much easier to cut through bone, rope and limbs.  It is also much more difficult to sharpen.  A combination blade offers the advantages of both styles.  The activity that you are partaking in should be considered when choosing a blade type.

The good thing about purchasing a knife is that it is a versatile tool that does not have to break the bank.  You can purchase several knives and depending on the activity you are embarking on choose what to carry with you.