h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Oh man, I can see it now.

"If straight people are allowed to get them, it will devalue the civil partnerships of all decent law-abiding and god-fearing gay people!"

Or not.

#protectourcivilpartnerships

Straight people are threatening civil partnerships! Civil partnership = one man/woman and one man/woman!!!

Am I missing something here?

From reading that article, I fully support this "smug" couple.

As I understand it, they are against a gender specific ban on civil unions. They also seem to be against a gender specific ban on marriage. "It just seems so logical and reasonable that any social institution in a democratic society should be open to anybody."

The civil unions were put up as an alternative to marriage for same sex couples, a "separate but equal" alternative that doesn't have a religious primacy.

You're right, of course. There's really nothing wrong or bad in what they're doing. You probably don't have the same cultural influences as I do (nor are you as cynical as me perhaps) which are necessary to see the same thing as me - a pair of comfortable, right-on, trendy white liberals. I make no apologies for being such a cynical old git and reading things into the story that might not be there. I'm simply tired of the news these days.

Well, that's not the whole story. There is more to my irksomeness with the item, but I can't adequately put it into words at the moment.

Are you familiar with the saying 'You've got a face as long as a wet weekend in Accrington/Halifax/Blackpool/Margate'? Yesterday was exactly the sort of day that might have inspired it. Yes, it was a Saturday, and it was bleak, grey, cold, wet and dismal. And it went on and on and on.

Speaking of Halifax, isn't that where John Noakes is from? I've heard no news of his demise but he must be getting on now.

It's Accrington here today as well.

Yep, it's been exactly that kind of weekend. I was looking out of one of the windows at work yesterday at some poor bloke doing a bit of trench digging, on his own, in the mud, in the cold and the drizzle, on a Saturday afternoon.

Very bleak.

The came out a treat by the way. Although I made it to the same recipe as last year, apart from reducing the amounts, it's one of the best I've ever had

I've never bought a replacement cutter for an electric shaver. By the time it gets so blunt that it's pulling the whiskers out rather than cutting them off, the shaver is either discontinued (and so are its replacement parts), or a new one would be cheaper, because electric shavers are like inkjet printers - the initial purchase is relatively cheap but they sting you on the parts you need to keep the thing running.

I actually did replace the heads in my shaver last year. I don't recall them being overly expensive. I can't remember offhand which model of Philips/Norelco shaver I have but a quick look on Amazon suggests that the shaver was probably $40-$50 and the replacemnt heads about a third of that.

My heads seem to last quite a while. I may not have actually needed to replace the old ones. I didn't realize how simple it was to remove them for cleaning so I never had done so. The old heads were just clogged full of ginger beard dust.

They do seem to last a very long time. I'm not sure exactly how many years I've had this one but it went with me to the UK when I visited last time, and that was more than six years ago. The battery can barely hold a conversation, let alone enough charge for a shave.

Panasonic, since you ask.

The same is true (ripping you off for the parts you need to make it work) is true for ordinary razors too by the way. And the blade holders will usually disintegrate before the blades are blunt enough to be of no further use.

Speaking of shaving...


One of my Robmass presents to myself was a two sided Japanese water stone set for sharpening blades (1000 & 6000 grit). I own a few knives. I also own a few straight razors. I won't consider myself competent at using the stones until I sharpen and polish my modern (non antique, a thicker blade than older straight razor blades) straight razor enough to shave my nape hair.

Honing blades is a very exercise. It takes a delicate touch and a lot of mindful concentration.

Unfortunately, my wrists develop a lot of pain when doing such tasks. However, I think the satisfaction I will have when I'm done will make it all worth it.

Nice When I'm solvent again I might get myself a straight razor and all the accoutrements to keep in good, sharp condition. Using on the bonce as well as the face might take a bit of practice.

"It must be done, it must be done,
So out of the window she stuck her bum."

I wish I could remember the rest of that childhood doggerel

I went shopping today but it was a fruitless expedition - all the greengrocers were closed.

I'd tell you about trying to find a sharpened pencil today, but it'd be pointless.

If you keep this up, there will be punishment all around.

Homemade pasta. Why not? I think I'll have a crack at this http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/01/best-easy-all-purpose-fresh-pasta-dough-recipe-instructions.html