While reading Health magazine this week, I came across an article on the secret weapons that should be in every woman’s purse. I was intrigued that in addition to such things as moist towelettes, sunglasses, a ponytail holder and a safety pin the authors included a mini-flashlight and a multitool to the list. It makes sense – for women who may have to walk to their car alone, a flashlight can be handy and can ward off predators. And a multitool is the mini-answer to all sorts of problems both big and small.

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Hot enough for ya? The northwest is experiencing some of the hottest weather in several years. The temperature is soaring above the 100 degree mark and people are scrambling to find a pool, sprinkler or river to jump into to beat the heat. Hundreds of enthusiasts are getting some mileage out of their boats. I live near the Willamette River so I have had fun watching all the speed boats, jet skis and sail boats moving up and down the river. It’s exciting to see the activity grow the last few weeks. I can’t help but think, however, that many of those boaters should take a moment to review their boater safety before they head out for a day of fun.

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Black Friday is quickly approaching. The comfort of a Thanksgiving meal with family and friends, an afternoon of football and naps on the couch are followed by utter chaos on the city streets as men and women scramble to pick-up the best bargains for holiday gifts this season. Electronic retailers, department stores and outdoor equipment shops will all be hyping up their best gift buys. The unfortunate part will be that you and a hundred other people will all be diving for that same item.

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To the uninitiated, fishing at night may seem a rather foolish venture, since it combines hooks with darkness. However, night fishing is gaining in popularity among experienced anglers for several reasons. First, in hotter climates where the midday sun can scald, it’s often more comfortable to fish in the cooler nocturnal air. Many also prefer the jetboat-free silence of fishing at night. Most important, though, is the activity of the fish themselves: some species, including bass, white bass, crappie are at their most active at night. Longtime fishermen and fisherwomen often find they get more bites at night, especially during the full moon.

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Flashlights have come a long way. The first hand-held electric torches were considered novelty items, and were named “flashlights” precisely because they couldn’t deliver steady light. Russian immigrant Conrad Hubert (nee Akiba Horowitz) is the entrepreneur we have to thank for the transition to reliant flashlights. In 1897, Hubert was struggling to make ends meet in his new homeland. Since he was flat broke, he took work anywhere. He worked in a cigar store and ran a hotel and restaurant. He even repaired watches for a while. But he never seemed to have enough money.

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