08.05.06
Shaver revolt
In the current issue of Business Week, one shaver writes about reaching his limit:
Recently, faced with the encroachment of middle age and more than a few gray hairs, I decided to return to the world of shaving. I figured I would pick up where I left off, with my trusty twin-blade. But then someone suggested this was an opportunity to put cutting-edge razor technology to the test. What if Gillette’s R&D labs really had cracked the secrets of the beard-cheek boundary? My face, preserved as a kind of old-growth forest, would be the perfect proving ground.
I ventured forth to the local drug store and selected a new Fusion Power razor and pack of eight replacement blades. The clerk rang me up: $39.98, before taxes. Hello? Good thing my employer is paying for this little exercise. In my household, $40 is what you pay for a month of cable TV, not a grooming tool. Read the rest of this entry »
Slant-Bar warning
I just received my Merkur Slant Bar in gold (scroll down), and discovered that the one I received seemed to have the top for the Merkur HD (Heavy Classic): the top did not slant, so that at one end, on both sides, there was a gap. That top would grasp the blade firmly at one end and leave the other end hovering in space: not good at all.
I immediately emailed Em, who provides superb customer service, so it will all work out well. But if you get a Slant Bar, make sure that the top, when tightened, is tight across the whole width. I would guess that at the factory a batch of HD tops got accidentally assigned to Slant Bar razors, so I doubt that this is the only occurrence. If this has happened, it could account for some of the Slant Bar’s “Satan’s Razor” reputation.
UPDATE: Got an email from Em, who will mail me a replacement on Monday. She did check the other razors in stock, and they were all okay, so the one I got is an anomaly. Still, if you have or get a Slant Bar, do check the fit of the top.
The old gods abandoned
The family Classics Scholar is going to be disappointed in this:
What the Rev. Kent Svendsen first saw as a direct defilement of the Ten Commandments, sculptor David Seagraves saw as a monument to fertility and agriculture — what he considers the roots of civilization.
Either way, the statue, originally dubbed “Demeter Over Illinois” by Seagraves, will stand in front of the Ogle County Judicial Center as early as this fall, with one major modification: its name.
Warned by some area religious leaders and several board members that the name “Demeter,” Greek goddess of the harvest, might unnerve some of the county’s Christian residents, the county board voted to change the name last month to “Agriculture, Mother of Civilization.” Read the rest of this entry »
Time for a vacation?!
The Israeli-Hezbollah war is destroying Lebanon, one of our allies and one of those valuable Middle East democracies. Iraq is moving quickly into a civil war. In Afghanistan, the Taliban has made a comeback and attacks are becoming more frequent. The energy crisis, especially as Mid-East conflicts threaten supplies, becomes more and more critical, with strong leadership needed to direct the search for solutions. Global warming must be addressed now if we are to have a chance to counter it. The national deficit is spiraling out of control and strong leadership is needed to cut expenses (e.g., bloated Pentagon projects aimed at fighting major wars) and increase revenues (more taxes from the wealthiest and a hard crackdown on tax cheaters, rather than ignoring them (and the $70 billion a year they cost the country), and reforms that disallow the tax avoidance taken by companies when they incorporate in tax havens).
But our president has decided that the most important thing he can do is to go to his ranch in Texas for a two-week vacation and clear brush. This is the guy who left early from the G8 meeting because he “had to get home” (no scheduled events, he just didn’t like listening to talks)—and it never occurred to him to meet with the leaders there and shape events.
In fact, George Bush likes being President because of the perks. He doesn’t like the responsibilities and work. So he avoids them. Molly Ivins pointed out long ago that Bush likes to campaign, but doesn’t like to govern and can’t govern. She was right.
Too many variables
I did try the Taylor Herbal Pre-Shave Gel again, this time following the instructions to let it sit two minutes. That was fine: it took me a couple of minutes to ready the lather, since I used the Moss Scuttle—with the Sunbeam Hot Shot I can put boiling-hot water in the reservoir, which did a much better job of keeping the lathered brush hot. (I follow President Carter’s advice to set the hot-water heater so that pure hot is right for showering. This not only saves money and energy, it eliminates the danger of scalds, a common household injury. But it means that pure hot is not quite enough for the Moss Scuttle.)
I used for the first time a slim-handle Gillette adjustable, set at 3, and Derby Extra blades. Geo. F. Trumper Violet shaving cream.
I got a smooth shave and no nicks or cuts, but it took more effort than normal. I blame the blades, primarily: the Derby doesn’t seem to be as sharp as the Feather. The slim-handle razor is head-heavy, which felt odd, but it helped in reminding me to let the weight of the razor do the work—no additional pressure.
So far as I can tell, the pre-shave gel didn’t do much. I will not replace it once it’s gone. I’ll give the Derby blades one more chance before I unload them. Same with the slim-handle Gillette adjustable. It looks good—gold plated, in A-1 condition—but it doesn’t seem quite suited for me.
As usual, finished up with alum block and Pinaud’s Bay Rum.
