What are good but relatively cheap brands for combat/survival and pocket knives??

Before answering this question, I would have to ask this question. Are you going to actually use it for a survival knife under actual survival conditions or do you just want a nifty looking knife to play with. If you are looking for a knife that will be used under actual survival conditions, you have just excluded everything in the "cheap" category. Buy cheap survival gear only if you have a cheap life. If it will be used as a real survival knife, spend the money and get a good knife that will do what you need and will not break just when you need it.

There are many good brands out there. If you buy something from a maker like Cold Steel, Gerber or Buck, you will get a good knife that will withstand the rigors of a survival condition and may save your life. If you waste your money on the cheap crap that just looks good but is poorly made, you have just decided that your life is not worth much. You get what you pay for. Save up the money and get a good knife, you will never be sorry.

Take a look at the knives at www.cabellas.com or www.basspro.com.

Port Richmond residents helping out after Staten Island fire horror
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. ---  When you’ve been rendered homeless, sometimes your community is all you’ve got.That’s the spirit that inspired a gathering at H & S Cichon Post, America Legion yesterday, which boasted rock ‘n’ roll bands, a bountiful spread...

Sanibel Island in southwest Florida is a popular vacation destination, world-famous for its shelling beaches. Just 12 miles long and 3 miles wide, bicycling is a great way to see Sanibel. Bike rentals are readily available and sometimes it seems there are more bicycles than cars, but why not? Paved bike paths cover more than 22 miles the island, with access to restaurants, shops, beaches, fishing, golfing, the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, and more.

To reach Sanibel take I-75 exit 131 (Daniels Parkway) west to Summerlin Rd., turn left to the Sanibel Causeway (one-way $6 toll). Stop at the Visitor's Center for maps, information, restrooms and water. Parking on Sanibel is fee-based, so this is also a good place to park (for free) to start your bike tour. Be aware there is not much shade - bring water, sunscreen, and bug repellent.

Take Causeway Road to Periwinkle Way and cross to the bike path. Going west the path goes through a busy area and bikers should be careful of vehicles. There are shady canopies at 2 miles (Donax Road) with a view of the golf course, and at 3 miles before the Periwinkle Place shopping center (restaurants, shops, restrooms). The path crosses Periwinkle Way and connects to Sanibel-Captiva Road (San-Cap) at Tarpon Bay Road - go straight on Tarpon Bay for a scenic bay view.

The 7-mile San-Cap path is an escape from the commercial area. Within the first mile, the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum features an array of shell exhibits. The entrance to the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is another 1.3 miles.

This 6,300 acre Refuge is a birdwatchers' paradise. Wildlife Drive ($1 per person/bike, $5 per car) is open from sunrise to sunset. Access to hiking trails, fishing, and an observation tower; the Education Center has maps, exhibits, restrooms, and water. The 4-mile drive on shells and limestone can be rough for biking. For a smoother alternative, ride the drive about halfway and take the Indigo Trail (2 miles) back to the entrance. The full drive ends on San-Cap Road west of the entrance.

Continuing west on San-Cap, there is a cut-off to Turner Beach, a popular shelling destination. Further along, a short bridge crosses to Captiva Island with its beaches, restaurants, shops, cottages and resorts - but there are no bike paths and bikers need to take care on the narrow roads.

For the return trip, ride about five miles back on San-Cap. This is a long, mostly unshaded stretch; restrooms, water, parking, and a playground are available at the Sanibel Recreation Complex. Swing off San-Cap onto the southern path along Gulf Drive by turning onto the Rabbit Road path - named for the marsh rabbits seen along the path, it runs one mile along a canal where heron and alligators can be seen.

After meeting West Gulf Drive, the path goes past hotels and resorts to Tarpon Bay Road (1.5 miles), where Tarpon Bay Beach offers parking, water, and restrooms. Take Tarpon Bay Road back to Periwinkle, or continue on West Gulf to the intersection of Casa Ybel Road and Algiers Lane (2.2 miles). Casa Ybel leads back to Periwinkle, or continue along Algiers to Middle Gulf Drive. Here the path goes into a wooded area, past the historic cemetery, and links to the beach at Gulfside City Park.

Back on Middle Gulf, the bike path passes beachside hotels and resorts. At Lindgren Blvd., turn north and return to Causeway Road and the visitor center. Or, go straight along East Gulf Drive about one mile to Periwinkle Way and Old Town Sanibel with its cafes and shops. Continue to the Sanibel Lighthouse (1884, the oldest structure on the island), beach, and fishing pier.

End your bike tour by returning along Periwinkle to the causeway and Visitor's center.

Listed among the top Florida bike trails for recreational biking, the Sanibel Island bike trails are featured here, with photos and recommendations on the best sections to ride.