3Suns's New Writeups

Dream Log: June 30, 2004 (idea)

2004-06-30T14:34:12Z

In this dream there were these little pixie women who were maybe 5 inches tall. They were very smart and could do magic. There were also these Shrek-like ogre men, although they were only about 2 feet tall. The ogres were all stupid, but were rumored to have great magical power. The pixies worked together with the ogres to collect food; the ogres would lift the pixies over their heads so they could pick grain. This was all very unfair because the pixies hardly did any work, but the ogres were too stupid to know better.

In this dream I was an ogre. There were three pixies that I took harvesting every day. I fell in love with them because they were very beautiful and smart. One day I picked a small wildflower for them, and held it out to them. As I was standing there, the flower slowly started turning into a beautiful white rose. One of the pixies slowly turned into a gorgeous princess with a white dress, while the other two shrunk away into nothing. At the same…

Spinner (thing)

2004-06-24T23:56:03Z

A spinner is a time-tested and very effective type of freshwater fishing lure. It typically consists of a swiveling side-mounted spoon at the front of the lure, a weighted midsection, and a treble hook dangling from the back of the weight. Very often the hook itself will be dressed with some kind of hair or feathers to disguise it. Spinners come in many different sizes, colors, and dressings.

Spinners are not usually designed to look like anything per se, but when fished normally they probably imitate a minnow. When pulled through the water at almost any speed, the spoon attached to the front of the weight will spin quickly around the lure like a helicopter blade, hence the name. This creates a disturbance in the water that attract the fishes' attention. For finicky fish, an over-regular vibration might seem suspicious, especially if it resembles a boat propellor. For this reason, spinners are best fished by reeling in slowly, then…

spoon (thing)

2004-06-23T02:24:16Z

A spoon is a simple, yet effective and versatile variety of fishing lure. It is shaped like its namesake, minus the handle, and in fact I've seen handmade lures made from teaspoons. Typically, it has a hole on the front end for attaching your line, and a three-pronged treble hook dangling from the back. Some varieties have a single hook soldered to the concave side of the lure instead. Spoons come in many shape variations, from thin and almost flat, to thick and narrow and wavy. Any color may be used, although the standard is just a polished silvery finish. Any lure that is simply a piece of metal with a hook, shaped to move in the water, may be called a spoon.

A standard spoon's action in the water roughly imitates a minnow or other small baitfish, and the flashing metallic glint adds to this. As the spoon is pulled slowly, it wobbles back and forth with little resistance. As it is pulled faster, it can spin completely…

spatula (thing)

2003-12-30T12:40:02Z

This is an attempt to get this whole spatula business under control. Far too many things can be referred to as a "spatula" and there is little agreement among regional spatula-users as to what a spatula actually is.


  _____ __________
 {_____|__________}

The oldest definition of a spatula is probably what Webster1913 claims: a thin, flat, dull, whippy metal blade with a rounded tip. Apparently these can be used to spread plaster and paint, but you should not confuse it with a trowel, which is what bricklayers would use to apply mortar. These days most people use either a trowel or a putty knife (also spatula-like) to spread plaster, and a palette knife to spread paint (not palettes). Webster1913 also implies that spatula might have also once referred to a digging spade (or shovel), but I've never heard it used in that way.

This definition could be considered identical to a cooking implement of basically the same design,…

palmball (thing)

2003-10-20T15:47:13Z

You could describe the palmball as a curveball that is delivered off-speed, or an off-speed pitch that has a lot of motion. It is especially dangerous because the pitcher's motion will be identical to their fastball (including arm speed!), but the ball will come off at an odd angle, off-speed, and (hopefully) sink dramatically into the strike zone. It is probably the easiest way to put a lot of spin on the ball without the additional arm strain of the curveball or other breaking balls. Thus, it may be the most appropriate breaking-ball pitch to teach to young pitchers. My father taught me way back when I was in little league, and I ended up doing rather well with it.

The Grip

To grip a palmball, hold the ball diagonally across the seams with your middle finger and thumb, with the ball tucked against the palm of your hand and the webbing of your thumb. Use the seam of the ball for leverage against your middle finger. No other fingers should touch…

Sittin' on Top of the World (idea)

2003-01-09T04:16:31Z

This traditional blues song has been recorded by many artists over the years. Originally written by the Mississippi Sheiks around 1930, it was the Sheiks' biggest hit, selling several million copies. That's right, it went platinum, by today's standards, way back in the 30's, when the music recording industry was in its earliest infancy, and during the great depression no less!

The original version version goes like this:

Worked all the summer, and all the fall,
Just tryin' to find my lil' all in all,
But now she's gone, I don't worry.
I'm sitting on top of the world

Was in the spring, one summer day,
Jus' when she left me, she gone to stay,
But now she's gone, I don't worry.
I'm sitting on top of the world.

Don't you come here runnin', holdin' up your hand,
Can't get me a woman, quick as you get a man.
But now she's gone, I don't worry,
I'm sitting on top of the

…