Hurray for pre-season
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cupcake transport module
Every once in a while you run into a single-purpose piece of technology that reminds you how multipurpose pieces of technology lack the power of self-explanation and the elegance of single-mindedness. For example, when you need to reshoe your horse Lightningbolt, you can probably get by with a 14-ounce claw hammer, a few nails, and an old screwdriver for cleanup. But isn't the job better done if you have the farrier's hammer, a custom pick and brush for cleaning, and square-cut horseshoe nails? And what would you think of a blacksmith who couldn't produce the special tools? Hack? Amateur? Wannabe?
This contraption (depicted herewith) is a farrier's hammer for birthday parties.
It is a two-deck, self-sealing, level-maintaining cupcake transporter. Each deck -- we'll call them the Lido Deck and the Engineering Deck -- handles a cool dozen cupcakes. Individual cupcakes are ensconced in properly deep divots, and there is enough room between divots and between decks for tidy frosting clearance. The transluscent roof grips the sides securely, providing an ant-tight barrier all the way around the edge. The Engineering Deck itself is non-stick coated, dishwasher-safe aluminum cupcake baking tray -- just detach the Lido Deck and the clear lid, whip up your favorite recipe, start thinking "butter cream", and bake away. For a family breakfast picnic, you could use muffin batter rather than cupcake batter. That's not really multipurpose, just flexibility in a single purpose.
There are some things that the cupcake transport module can't quite do. It can't handle 25 or more children without cupcake division or without forcing some of them to Go Without. For mini cupcakes, you need to choose a size that lets you make and store three mini-cupcakes per divot. You'll get some frosting overlap, but nothing like the usual gooey icing smear that rewards the usual party-chef who tries to move a half-gross of mini-cupcakes in an ordinary plastic tray covered with aluminum foil.
If you are proficient with knots, you could use the device to raise cupcakes to the treehouse, two dozen at a time.
(The contraption is sold under the Oneida brand. So you get one of those conversation-starters at every party. Want to talk about tribal politics? Towns in New York? Manufacturing? Sprinkles? You are all set.)
Posted by David Sloo
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Laser v. pointy stick
The technology for creating dolsot bibimbab is shockingly superior to the technology for transliterating Korean.
Posted by David Sloo
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night and day
It turns out that a lot of my life is made of rebar and sand.
Posted by David Sloo
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spelling dictionaries make me curious
Gmail didn't like the common word "advisor" when I typed it today. I am used to having an average of one word per paragraph complained about by spell checkers. Usually, it's a personal name, a brand name, or a word from a language that isn't English. But this was strange - and almost as frustrating as the fact that the Iphone SMS program consistently re-spells my word its as "it's". Yes, that is probably the Worst Apostrophe in English, designed entirely to confuse second-language learners and to make people who know how to spell think they know something useful.
But I like having advisors, and I like being an advisor.
Posted by David Sloo
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Zeep. Bloop. Wugga wugga.
Has anyone noticed that going to a wedding is now a lot like being in a Space Invaders game?
"If anyone has a reason...". Zorp. Vlip. Brrrrzach! "...that this couple...". Shhhvvoooo. Chacka-ping-ping. Now that the movie-going public has learned to silence their mobile phones during the trailers, maybe the wedding-going public can learn how to silence their digital cameras during the processional. But probably not.
Posted by David Sloo
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Is your local collection secure?
How well armed is your local public library? Could it repel copyright violators and audio-visual pirates, crossing the narrow strait from a neighboring state and/or province?
This tough little building - perhaps the strongest on Isle La Motte - is prepared! If any Anti-Dewey forces dare to strike from Plattsburg, they will be met with vigorous first- and second Amendment principles.
Posted by David Sloo
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Highly recommended
R. Slifer and L. Crittenden. 1938. The giant quiz book. New York: Crown.
"6. What is the English name for an aard-vark?" "10. Who was the first talking jackass?" "7. Is it necessary for a gentleman, invariably, to walk on the curb side of the street, when with a woman?" "2. Some people like sorghum and clabber. What is it?"
Posted by David Sloo
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