Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Palio Composite Cutter Cigar Accessory Review

Palio Composite Cutter Cigar Accessory Review (matte black)

A long while ago I drove around for a long while in a Hyundai Accent. It was rigid, zippy, and I felt every mile I ever miled. It came and ran cheap, never needed a lick of repair, and took a heckuva licking. It was grey, still, this cutter puts me in mind of that hatchback.

Thanks to finger/leverage grips on each side, you can use this if you're an amphibian lol. Back to cars... my dad had a VW Bug that he liked because it had like three moving parts and he knew how to fix them all. He says he never had to. It was cream-colored if I recall his recollections.

This thing is as sharp as sharp can be and never once mangled a smoke. (I'd stay at/below 50rg.) It feels a tick less than luxurious in the mitt and operates stiffly but evenly-so. I feel like I'll be real close to almost perfectly pleased with this guillotine for a very long time to come.

FINAL GRADE: B+

::: very ::: 

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

XIKAR Astral Single-Jet Torch Lighter Cigar Accessory Review

XIKAR Astral Single-Jet Torch Lighter Cigar Accessory Review

I want to write a few words regarding this product because I need content for Tuesday. It's on my to-do list. 'Find content for Tuesday,' it says.

So here goes. First off, I am a soft-flame fan and really, darn-near advocate. That said, I've found this sleek single-flame thing to be quite handy. For retouches, particularly. Smaller ring gauges, as well.

Also, the fuel window is pretty neat and what's more neat is that it seems to hold more fuel than you'd think (remember: sleek). Maybe the fact that it's not a triple-jet monster just means it uses less per click. In any event, it's a handy and reliable single-action jammie that's always at the ready.

Being slightly-build (but also apparently durable) it would lend itself easily to portability. Furthermore, its cool classy and understated design is sure to please the eyes of horrified looker-ons as you prepare to bully them with plumes of sweet 'baccy smoke. Kinda hand-feels like a slick futuristic Zippo, sans flippy-thing.

I recently went to a Domino's Pizza joint and felt as though I walked onto the set of The Fifth Element. Although that's neither here nor there. Tuesday post: check.

FINAL GRADE: A-

PS: mine is 'Gunmetal.'
::: very ::: 

Monday, June 5, 2023

1st & 15th Podcast | FASTER

1st & 15th Podcast | FASTER

"In this episode of the 1st & 15th, Kap and Phil try to give an update on the most recent 115 XTRA, Phil might be running with God, convertibles get things moving, Kap’s venture into arm wrestling goes off the rails, and somebody has to clean up after 50 hamburgers." - Phil Kurut, co-host and show producer.

Listen to this episode on: 
APPLE PODCASTS or SPOTIFY.

About the 1st & 15th Podcast: Twice a month (see show name for dates), Phil Kurut and I chat too long about nothing of any consequence. A pure waste of time. Cool.

::: very :::

Friday, June 2, 2023

Kaplowitz Media. Commentary on Moby-Dick; or The Whale (1851) by Herman Melville (Ch. 4 The Counterpane)

Kaplowitz Media. Commentary on Moby-Dick; or The Whale (1851) by Herman Melville (Ch. 4 The Counterpane)

"Upon waking next morning about daylight I found Queequeg's arm thrown over me in the most loving and affectionate manner. You had almost thought I had been his wife."

What happens at Spouter-Inn stays at Spouter-Inn? We don't know what happened that night. We can only imagine, and since there are some who openly and creatively imagine what might have happened 'tween Holmes and Watson with so much less to go on--well, we can only imagine as I'm quite sure so many do.

We never get clarification on whether Ishmael and Queequeg are odd friends or odd lovers. The simple truth is that 'odd' is the only case that sticks and furthermore not much else would fully matter. My 'gripe' is that I sense no beauty in whatever their relationship is, or at least not enough. Even as Ishmael eyes the strange tattooings on Queequeg's hugging arm it is of morbid fascination moreso than kindly intrigue.

We go from that opening to reminiscences of Ishmael as a child with his stepmother and I really dislike psychoanalysis because people often give me the willies without my needing to scratch their surface. Of interest in his particular childhood recollection: "whether it was a reality or a dream, I could never entirely settle." Funny how that is what is used to elaborate his feelings on waking up in Quequeg's surprising arms.

Each of the two times he is both trapped and accepting. As if wishing to be so and the other two characters, Q and Mom are simply put in place atop and quite unbeknownst to them. A glutton for punishment and cruisin' for a bruisin'. You know, a masochist.

Then Ish watches as Queeequeg cleans and preens for the day ahead and leaves, harpoon in hand. A lil show put on for Ishmael and the potentially peering-through-the-window neighborhood. A flatly told but deeply-searching short chapter which tells you nothing of what you want to know and much of that which you hadn't asked. I appreciate it very much indeed for this. A tantalizing vignette wedged in for quick funsies and maybe down-the-road fodder usage.

A line to ponder from Ishmael beneath/engulfed by Queequeg, "as though naught but death should part us twain," sounds no small bit like a vow of marriage, and one accepted under no small amount of perhaps self-inflicted duress.