Last week I met with Ronald Lee Tanner of Turbotville to recount one of the scariest moments of his life: the day his mother’s boyfriend came after him with a chainsaw.
Long story short, Tanner successfully fended off Guy Allen Black and his chainsaw, in part using an umbrella in the back of his truck.
Tanner had the umbrella when I met with him and showed me the mangled remains of instrument. Here it is:

I would not have known what that was if he hadn’t just told me the story. It was incredible.
And it made me think: nowadays things keep getting smaller, cell phones, computers, umbrellas. We want tiny things to just pop in our pocket and carry with us.
But I don’t think my little pop up would have done much good against a chainsaw.
Sometimes, bigger is indeed better.
P.S. Everyone stay safe out there as Hurricane Sandy approaches!