Why the UN is more than worthless but horrid

Mark Steyn is a well reasoned writer and had turned his eye towards the UN. And he kills it. Ruthlessly. Check out the criticism here if you want to get a very detailed account on why the UN needs to go. It has one part that really sticks with me cause its a good analogy.

It’s a good basic axiom that if you take a quart of ice cream and a quart of dog mess and mix ’em together, the result will taste more like dog mess than ice cream. That’s the problem with the UN. If you make the free nations and the thug states members of the same club, the danger isn’t that they’ll meet each other half-way but that the free world winds up going three-quarters or seven-eighths of the way. Indeed, the UN has met the thug states so much more than half way that they now largely share the dictators’ view of their peoples—as either helpless children who need every decision made for them, or a bunch of dupes whose national wealth can be rerouted to a Swiss bank account.

Does either theory or experience teach us that this is a good idea?

Please, Sir, I'd like some more...

Got good beer yesterday. Went to Nicks last night with Sara, Jamie, and Dutt (now that i think about it, I'm going to make an efforr to start to call him Tom, he deserves a first name) and man we got good beer. Started off the night and I ordered a Red Hook, Sara got an Amberboch, and Tom got a Blue Moon. Nothing amazing but it was pretty good. Then Jamie showed up and the beer took a turn for the better. Jamie started himself off with a Heffer, and my second beer was a Hobgoblin. Mmmmmm, Hobgoblin. After I had that, we all started on the good beer. Sara's next beer was a UFO, always a good draft. Jamie, on my suggestion, got a Riggwelter and he might have found a new favorite beer. Tom, surprising all by getting a second beer, got a Black Sheep, and i finished up my nite sipping on a Wexford. It was a good day for premium beers for sure. And it stayed pretty cheap. In addition to the beer that ordered, I paid for Sara's and for Tom's first beer as well as ordering a double order (12 total) of cheese sticks. Total was just under 20 bucks for it all. Very good for food and 6 beers in my opinion. Andy totally rules and deserves the good tips i leave him. Next on my list is to try the fiddlers's elbow, never had it but heard it was good.

My sleepy little town

There is a certain paper at clemson, the Tiger Twon Observer, that is engaging in an activity that is being discussed throughout SC. What are you doing you ask? Well, they are a conservative paper and in support of the 2nd amendment, they are selling raffle tickets to a WASC-10. A WASC-10 is the non military version of the AK-47, single shot and all. Similar to comparing an AR-15 to the M-4. This seems to be a contensious issue about whether this is a good idea. Me, I think its pretty cool. The money will go to help out with operating costs of the paper and 20% will go to forwarding democracy in Iran. You can read more about this raffle here

New direction for the blog?

Well, this is post 141 on my blog. Thats in about 4 real months of solid blogging so i am averaging a little over a post a day. And after this period of time, i think its a good idea to reflect on what i have been writing about. After originally getting into a much more argumentative discussion with Madcow (aka Kent, who thought he would play off of the nick name i got from my sister 5 years ago), it has been much more of an informative posting site since then. I do try to give my impressions of news and stories, and do my best to supply actual fact. Nothing annoys me more than people who make accusations that are reputed to be true but are based on bluster and opinion. Or just plain wrong information, like mistaking a IFC for a Tank.

So where do I go from here? Thats something that i am not sure of at the moment and am working on deciding. I am going to keep talking about different current events and let ya'll see what i think of many of the main stream news sources. However I think i will try to limit the amout of posts that i make in regard to that stuff and while i will continue to be as complete as I can, I think i will try to make singular long posts or very short posts. Not the 5 good sized ones a day.

Also, there will probably be several other posts on different subjects. The first of these is going to beer, as often as I can. Its pretty sad that there isnt more posts on beer but i don't get to go out much anymore to get odd beers. Its usually the more same ones. So thats a little sad but I will do my best. Shaving, if you cant tell, has become one of my more favorite things to talk about lately. Since its becoming more interesting and important, thats gonna be high volume posting. Other than that, probably up to my whims of the moment. If there is anything that interests anyone who reads this, and I find it interesting, then i'll probably write about that too. Enjoy!

History of Modern Shaving

This is reprinted directly from Classic Shaving's website. They have lots more useful stuff there that really looks shaving, and how to do it well. Enjoy!

In order to have a better understanding of the various safety razors presently available, the manufacturer's claims of what their products will do for you, and how a safety razor might fit into your life, it is really necessary to begin at the beginning - with the first safety razors.

The earliest safety razors, which were actually invented in the 1880's, were for the most part, high quality well-made products, they were not intended to be used and disposed of like modern razors. Even the blades were intended to have a long and useful life. Blades at the time were actually made of forged steel and looked like a "section" of a straight razor blade. They were re-sharpened when they became dull and went back into the rotation with several others. Together with the razor handle they would serve the owner for a lifetime.

It was with just such a razor that King Camp Gillette was shaving in 1895 when his revolutionary idea came to mind.

Gillette had been working as a salesman for the Crown Cork & Seal Co. of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. While employed there he learned his profession well. You see his employer was the inventor of the cheap, one-time-use crown style bottle cap that reigned as the standard for beer and soft drink bottlers worldwide until only recently when it was replaced with a screw-off cap. Gillette learned that the path to fortune was to invent a product that was not intended to be re-used, but instead used once and disposed of, assuring a steady stream of buyers and repeat sales.


Gillette's idea was that if he could develop a cheap and disposable razor blade that was viewed as an improvement over what was currently available, he could sell millions of them and the sales would keep on coming day after day - year after year.

The purpose of illustrating this concept is to point out that from the very beginning the disposable blade safety razor was not developed to be an honest improvement over what was available, only to "Look Like" an improvement. The safety razor had only been invented 10 years earlier and hadn't yet found its market. Gillette's real purpose was to seize market share by using clever (and often deceptive) marketing and thereby assuring a never-ending stream of sales for his products. What Gillette actually invented was the "Loss Leader" the concept of virtually giving away a product (the razor) in order to create a customer for the high profit replacement blades. Selling safety razors and blades (cartridges) has been all about profits ever since.

The original concept has never really changed right up to today. In the beginning it was the "Gillette Safety Razor" vs. all others. Since becoming the world leader in the industry, Gillette has been competing with itself as much as anyone, selling you on their "new" model over their old model by using the same tactics it once employed against its competitors. It is still only about profits.

What seems to have gotten lost in the razor wars is the shave. In today's sophisticated high-tech marketing the consumer is dazzled with important-sounding words and processes that are used to describe the "Shaving System" (nobody calls it a razor anymore) and how it was developed, how much money was spent in research, what it's made of, etc., etc. Little of substance is actually said about how or why it will improve your shaving experience.

The reality is that the razor is only one part of the actual process of shaving. The other parts are equally as important and deserving of just as much consideration as the razor or blade that you use. Beard preparation, soap or cream used to produce the lather, how the lather is applied, how the razor is weilded, and a score of other factors, all working in unison, are what determines the quality of the outcome. If you buy a safety razor - any safety razor, and depend on it alone, based on the maker's or seller's claims, to provide you with a good shave you will surely be disappointed.

It would be useful at this point to suggest that you also view with suspicion any manufacturer or supplier who is touting any "System" of products or practices that they claim will revolutionize your daily shaving experience - but only with the continued use of their system exclusively. Most such claims are unsubstantiated opinion at best and are intended only to promote the products made or sold by the claimant. Shaving is not rocket science, men have been doing it for centuries. Since long before Safety Razors, King Gillette, and the plethora of commercially available products presently being sold, men have experienced a wide range of shave quality outcomes. Then as now improvement generally follows learning how to shave, not spending more money.

All that being said, the modern safety razor does fill a need for many men. Today time and convenience are determining factors in how we structure our lives and schedule our time. The safety razor does offer convenience and makes the daily shaving ritual a faster and less complicated process. But like making any other choice it involves a series of trade-offs - cost for convenience; shave quality for simplicity; etc. By choosing the right razor for your needs your shaving experience will be enhanced and the resulting shave will be more satisfactory.


The Double-Edge Razor


Today the double-edge razor still represents the best value for most wet shavers. Its blades are inexpensive and widely available and provide two shaving edges thereby doubling the value. It will provide an exceptionally close and comfortable shave when used properly, and is 100% biodegradable. The razor handle itself is inexpensive, sturdy, and long lasting. The razor is available in a wide variety of styles to accommodate any special needs and there is a model to suit virtually everyone's style or budget.


This venerable model has changed little from the day it was first seen in 1903. Once the king of all safety razors, this was the model that most of our fathers and grandfathers learned to shave with and the model that Gillette's fortunes were founded on. Bearing in mind what King Gillette's original concept was based upon - his supplying the replacement blades, the double edge razor fell out of favor with Gillette when hundreds of other manufacturers both in the US and Worldwide began producing a wide variety of replacement blades that fit Gillette's razor. For no good reason other than to be able to control what blades went onto their razors, Gillette went in search of a replacement for the double-edge. Introducing -


The Two-Blade Razor


This second-generation safety razor and its subsequent "improved" models were made in several different versions by a variety of makers. The theory was that two blades would shave you twice as fast and twice as close with half the number of strokes needed. Its blade cartridge design offers quick and easy blade changes without the need to handle open blades. On the other hand, each different maker uses a different means to attach the blade cartridge to the handle making them non-interchangeable. The two closely placed blades routinely clog with lather and beard hairs rendering them ineffective. The cartridge itself is made from a non-biodegradable plastic and they can be costly both to make and use.

It was with this razor that the major razor makers, Gillette and Schick, declared war and began spending fortunes trying to out-do each other. For a while there was a new version of the twin-blade razor being introduced almost constantly by one company or the other. When finally it seemed that there was no more that could be done to improve (or re-market) the twin-blade it was time to introduce -


The Three-Blade Razor


The primary purpose of this Gillette Mach III "shaving system" was to one-up the two-blade competitor. This razor is in reality no different in performance than its two blade predecessor except for the third blade. Both the advantages and disadvantages are virtually the same, only multiplied by 50%. The cost-per-shave however is now reaching the point where blade cartridges are a major expense item. This fact may account for why it is currently the "most shoplifted item in the World."

Since the blade cartridge and handle of this "System" are very much integral, and producing a cartridge that would fit the handle would surely incur patent infringement litigation, the only way to compete effectively with a three-blade "Shaving System" is to develop -


The Four-Blade Razor


Now being introduced by Schick is the all-new revolutionary "Quattro Technologically Advanced Shaving System." Similar in many respects to Gillette's Mach III except this razor uses four blades in its cartridge.

In preparation for Schick's introduction of the "Quattro," Gillette has redesigned the "Mach III" and reintroduced it as the Mach III Turbo" again with little more than cosmetic changes and offering no real improvement in performance or value.

Again, in reality no particular advantages present themselves to the user but now the cartridge price and resulting cost-per-shave is nothing short of absurd.


After 100 years, multiple redesigns, hundreds of millions of dollars in development and marketing costs, and a thoroughly confused and frustrated consuming public the razor wars continue.


When shopping for a safety razor don't be misled or induced by the claims of whoever made it or is selling it. Use a bit of common sense. Ask yourself "what's in this purchase for me and what's in it for them." If you can't realistically see where the product itself will significantly benefit you, but buying it will serve the purposes of the maker or seller (either in the short term or long) maybe you should reconsider the purchase. Stick with what is proven to work well - A good double-edge razor with a quality blade, high quality soap or cream, a quality badger brush, and a bit of practice. You'll save money and enjoy the experience.

Old Core, Hard School Shaving

New razor still isn't here. I am quite the pissed off man about that as its been a weeks since it shipped. Granted it was sent only first class with no tracking number, so i have no right to be, but its still there. Guess pissed isn't the right word, more of a dissappointed. I want to get it to get used to using it and i can't yet.

On a similar note, the shaving brush and such have been ordered. The brush i am getting is from Classic Shaving and it looks like this: Its not the badger brush that i really wanted, but to get those we are talking about 50 bucks for a decent one and they go up into over 100. I can't get that now though at some point having that with the ability to get a 'true' straight blade is on the list. The one i got is a pure boar bristle brush. Spose to be much better as regard to creating lather and holding water in the bristle compared to synthetics and more than good enough. The bowl I am getting is pretty hot too, its a covered black stoneware bowl in all black and its getting imprinted with the army seal. More than hot in my opinion. It looks like this:

Hopefully that stuff will be here soon but i am much more excited about the razor. Thats really not the way it should be as the lather has the bigger impact on my shave since i am using the DE. And since Sara has informed me of a store that has good shaving supplies, I am going to see the selection there and look for feather blades. If you don't know what feather blades are (and i assume no one does) its blades that are made by a company in Japan. They started out making surgical cutting tools like scapels but have lended their crazy sharp blade making ability to razors now. Their primary product is a very nice disposable bladed straight razor known as the "Artist Club." The blades are reported to be even sharper than you can get with a normal straight blade with honing and stroping. Like crazy if you even touch it to your skin it touches you sharp. Yeah, thats scary sharp. But they also make DE blades that will fit easily in my razor. Still pretty cheap and once you get used to shaving with a DE, its supposed to be a better shave and the blade is good for more shaves without losing the edge. That might be fun to use. Oh and here is a picture of the Artist Club:

Shaving

With their massive media blitz, Gilette has come out with their new "shaving system" in the last few weeks known as the fusion. The latest and greatest in shaving. But how well does this sucker actually shave? Sadly, not that good. Friend of mine got this new razor and planned on using it. He used it exactly 4 times before giving it up. Why? Well its so larger than the head of the Mach 3 so it doesn't fit very well on the hard to shave parts like the nose and he chin. Also, he gets even more irritation than with the Mach 3. Add that on the fact that the new blades average 50 cents more per blade to a tune of 3-3.50 a pop, its a big waste of money for him.

Since his new razor just wasn't what he was looking for, I asked to borrow it and tried it with the last new blade. He wasn't kidding. Wow this razor is not worth anywhere close to the money. I just started to have my skin get back to normal after using the Mach 3 last weekend and now its gonna be another week from this new sucker. Everything that my friend said was true, its too big, irritates my skin, and really, doesn't make that close of a shave. It doesn't cut me, but it doesn't cut my hair either. And then i looked up how much they cost for blades, and wow. I give up on all the new systems of shaving.

In case you were wondering, this is what i shave with:


Thats not it exactly but its pretty dang close. Its a single blade, double edged safety razor from Merkur. Its quite nice and pretty easy to learn to use. Finding good articles from websites like Classic Shaving helps alot as to technique. Soon, as in when it comes, I will start using a straight blade and one of the old style brushes in a mug for lather. Given my lack of free time and dedication that would normally be needed for straight blades, I am going in a slightly different direction. Its got a disposable straight blade. Cheating? Yes, probably. But the blades are only used for about 5 shaves and they cost almost nothing. Like a quarter or 20 cents a blade, so its a better shave with less irritation and much cheaper. Also better for the environmnet. Seems like a good idea to me and hopefully in a week er so i can write on how well its going. And really, which one of these two razors do you want to be seen shaving with?