April 27, 2006
Swarf! Choil! Bolster!

Via Boing Boing, a nifty article about knife maintenance and sharpening from the eGullet Culinary Institute. This baby has it all: cooking, metallurgy, geometry, charming prose, and sharp objects. Also vocabulary expansion opportunities:

By the way, “swarf” is one of those cool terms you get to toss around when you discuss sharpening. Swarf is the slurry of metal filings and stone grit that builds up as you sharpen. Throw that into your next cocktail party conversation and just watch the expressions of awe appear as people realize that you are a sharpening God.

And I would have been perfectly content with the word "slurry"! But now there's swarf! Swarf! It needs an ad campaign, something like, "Look out, chum -- there's a new slurry in town."

But wait, there's more! We haven't even gotten to the choil yet:

If you’re really nuts you can create a dual edge on your knives. This would be a slightly coarse section at the back of the blade near the choil or bolster. The rest of the blade would be finished on a fine or extra fine stone. That gives you a toothy section for cutting through tough materials as you begin your stroke and a finer edge for push cutting through the rest. Yes, this is only for the seriously deranged.

Now that just sounds like a dare to me.

April 18, 2006
DIY Tip of the Day: Exorcisms

Exorcisms are best conducted in Latin and also with attendant religiosity, because otherwise you're just left with boring ol' English and psychology. And really: "Get out of my head!" just doesn't have the same zip.

April 13, 2006
So I Was Going to Post Something about a Dick Cheney Sighting...

...but screw that, 'cause I just found out Strange Horizons accepted "Mayfly"!

April 09, 2006
Hunting the Elusive Sentence

It's there, lurking in the bushes, I just know it. If only I had some way to flush it out. Perhaps a convincing attempt at the Mating Call of the Elusive Sentence...

Oh, who I am kidding? If I knew the Mating Call of the Elusive Sentence I'd be far more productive than I am now.

I think I'll hunt snark instead.

April 06, 2006
My Shining Moment

Be the hamster. Love the wheel. Be the hamster. Love the wheel.
Be the hamster. Love the wheel. Be the hamster. Love the wheel.
Be the hamster. Love the wheel. Be the hamster. Love the wheel.
Be the hamster. Love the wheel. Be the hamster. Love the wheel.
Be the hamster. Love the wheel. Be the hamster. Love the wheel.
Be the hamster. Love the wheel. Be the hamster. Love the wheel.
Be the hamster. Love the wheel. Be the hamster. Love the wheel.
Be the hamster. Love the wheel. Be the hamster. Love the wheel.
Be the hamster. Love the wheel. Be the hamster. Love the wheel.
Be the hamster. Love the wheel. Be the hamster. Love the wheel.
Be the hamster. Love the wheel. Be the hamster. Love the wheel....