A couple of years ago, there was a thread called Ask Spence here in the Scuppers. I thought it would be nice to bring it back because there are a lot of new members who may have questions about things unrelated to fishing and aren't sure where to ask.

Spence is an expert when it comes to fashion, food and interior/exterior design, but his knowledge extends well beyond those areas. The only area where his knowledge is clearly limited is politics, but that would be a different forum, anyways.

I'm going to start off with a question that's right up Spence's alley, as I know he's an avid cyclist.
Spence, why do recreational bicylists who aren't in a race wear the spandex bikers shorts and shirts while riding? When I go out in the yard to play baseball with my son, I don't put on a full baseball uniform and cleats.

Funny, I've been thinking the same thing. Saw a gent just yesterday in full race gear, about 3 bills walking his bike up a small hill.

To attract other cyclists of the same sex....

Spence, why do recreational bicylists who aren't in a race wear the spandex bikers shorts and shirts while riding?


They keep my boys feeling good.

If I may, I have a question. If I'm riding 18 mph and the wind is in my face, I believe the apparent (?) wind will feel 28 mph. If I'm riding 18 mph and the wind is at my back at 10 mph, what will the apparent wind feel like

I'm going to start off with a question that's right up Spence's alley, as I know he's an avid cyclist.
Spence, why do recreational bicylists who aren't in a race wear the spandex bikers shorts and shirts while riding? When I go out in the yard to play baseball with my son, I don't put on a full baseball uniform and cleats.

Generally speaking it's a matter of comfort and safety.

Loose clothing flapping around is distracting, can get caught on the bike and doesn't wick sweat as well. Most bike shorts have a pad (natural or synthetic) that conforms to the crotch to provide padding without friction.

The jersey can be skin tight or semi-form fitting depending on personal preference and beer consumption. Good cycling jerseys have long zippers that are easy to operate with a single hand for ventilation, are usually cut shorter in front/longer in back so they fit right while in the drops and have pockets to stash your extra gear.

Gloves provide padding and protect your hands in case of a crash.

Shoes are very stiff and on most road bikes clipped to the pedals so you can "spin" the pedal around the crank rather than just push down.

The aero factor is important for competition, although to be honest it less of an issue unless you're in a solo time trial.

-spence

If I may, I have a question. If I'm riding 18 mph and the wind is in my face, I believe the apparent (?) wind will feel 28 mph. If I'm riding 18 mph and the wind is at my back at 10 mph, what will the apparent wind feel like
You won't "feel" it you'll just ride with less effort :grins:

-spence

Funny, I've been thinking the same thing. Saw a gent just yesterday in full race gear, about 3 bills walking his bike up a small hill.
I hope he had a mechanical problem and forgot his cell phone.

-spence

do you own pink ties? :grins:

do you own pink ties? :grins:

Raven, I actually DO own a pink tie and I am not gay. ....at least I don't think so.:gh:

i don't own a single tie nor ever will

because of being forced to wear them
in high school which i loathed to no end

i also have a very strong aversion to PINK
except when it comes to lures....:uhuh:

i think a pink tie on a man whether
he's gay or straight looks dreadful

i am not anti GAY. i am anti media trying
to force the acceptance of ANYTHING
via television.

CNN video's right now broadcasts the exact
same commercial.........EVERY SINGLE TIME
before every single video :doh: they suck !!!!

do you own pink ties? :grins:

Yes, but only a few. Pink is actually a classic mens business color, along with light blue and white (shirts).

Unless you're in finance or work in a city people don't wear ties all that often any more.

My business dress is flexible so I usually avoid ties in the summer and wear them more when it's cooler.

-spence

I know plenty of straight men who wear pink ties. I have one, along with some pink shirts and I'm definitely not gay(not that there's anything wrong with that). I've met Piemma and he doesn't strike me as gay at all. Spence, well I'm not sure about him. He just might be more refined than most straight men.

True story.

I had just landed in Alabama and walk up to the rental car counter wearing a pink long sleeve polo. The woman, in all seriousness says, "be careful walking around downtown like that."

-spence

New question: Having ties to a state once referred to "Is this Heaven" in a movie, where or what is Heaven?

Mine is sitting in a boat and having the reel go ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ, I don't think I've ever prayed more than for the chance to hear that sound.:uhuh:

Some days just sitting in the boat is satisfaction enough to be close.

When you apply your shaving lather, do you use a shaving brush? If so, do you think a badger hair brush is really worth all that extra cost?

Part Deux: Do you make espressos at home and if so, how do you avoid the espresso from turning slightly bitter while the milk steams?

A couple of years ago, there was a thread called Ask Spence here in the Scuppers. I thought it would be nice to bring it back because there are a lot of new members who may have questions about things unrelated to fishing and aren't sure where to ask.

Spence is an expert when it comes to fashion,


No he isn't. I asked Spence what has happened to short sleeve dress shirts and why are all the people, men, I see on TV and elsewhere wearing only long sleeve dress shirts in the hottest of weather and climates, and our boy Spence never got back to me.

So again I ask, where did the short sleeve dress shirts go to? Are these guys just to cheap to buy both long and short sleeve dress shirts? Well?

All the short sleeves are in my closet, practically all I wear year round.

Andy Sippowitz did it!

New question: Having ties to a state once referred to "Is this Heaven" in a movie, where or what is Heaven?
It's a Japanese tourist trap :hihi:

-spence

When you apply your shaving lather, do you use a shaving brush? If so, do you think a badger hair brush is really worth all that extra cost?
I actually use an electric as a blade gives me terrible razor bumps. But some cremes can be applied equally by hand or brush.

If you're going to use a brush I'd make sure it was a damn good one, just in case you get caught.

Part Deux: Do you make espressos at home and if so, how do you avoid the espresso from turning slightly bitter while the milk steams?
First off, espresso is espresso, there's no milk in it.

Now assuming you intend to make a cappuccino, latte, or other milk based drink...the espresso shouldn't turn bitter that fast once the shot has been pulled. If it does, I'd wager it's coming bitter off the pour...

Fess up, are you establishing a nice thick crema or is the espresso thin and lifeless?

Try a finer grind and make sure your pack is tight an even. If you don't have an air conditioner be sure to compensate for the humidity.

All of this assumes you have top quality equipment of course. If not, throw it all away and get a cup of joe at the corner store. You're not ready to make espresso at home.

-spence

All the short sleeves are in my closet, practically all I wear year round.

Naturally,
you have to show off the big guns from fightin Bigguns' :)

so you'll know why....

was the HATRED i felt
yes HATRED ! down and dirty downright HATRED

when i saw this interview on the news
about this LAWYER and his new business scheme (company)
of going after people who copy and paste anything
copyrighted that was reprinted without permission online
@ 150,000.00 per offense.

Generally the accused settles for ten % and has to mail a check
for 15 k to get out of trouble. The guy was SMUG saying he has millions
of people he's gonna go after.

He was wearing a PINK TIE. :fury:

First off, espresso is espresso, there's no milk in it.
You got me on this one. Firing this off too fast, I misspoke. Meant when brewing the espresso, not making.
Now assuming you intend to make a cappuccino, latte, or other milk based drink...the espresso shouldn't turn bitter that fast once the shot has been pulled. If it does, I'd wager it's coming bitter off the pour...
Now to learn you something... Espresso begins an oxidation process as soon as it leaves the machine. A typical shot is only good for 20-30 seconds from the time the shot is pulled - you can almost watch it turn from a nice creamy looking tan to a dark brown. When I get a latte from Starbucks, I can tell from the first sip if they let the shot sit too long before pouring in the milk (quite frequent when there is only one person working and there is a line.)

Fess up, are you establishing a nice thick crema or is the espresso thin and lifeless?

Try a finer grind and make sure your pack is tight an even. If you don't have an air conditioner be sure to compensate for the humidity.

All of this assumes you have top quality equipment of course. If not, throw it all away and get a cup of joe at the corner store. You're not ready to make espresso at home.

-spence
I have a pretty good machine that does a good job. However, I do need a better device for tamping the grounds. Generally, my better half doesn't care so she'll make one first and II steam the milk for both of us at the same time and make mine second.
Only thing I don't like about my machine is that I can't steam milk while it's brewing.

Now to learn you something... Espresso begins an oxidation process as soon as it leaves the machine. A typical shot is only good for 20-30 seconds from the time the shot is pulled - you can almost watch it turn from a nice creamy looking tan to a dark brown. When I get a latte from Starbucks, I can tell from the first sip if they let the shot sit too long before pouring in the milk (quite frequent when there is only one person working and there is a line.)
Starbucks doesn't sell espresso, they sell black colored coffee drink.

First off, everybody knows Starbucks over roasts their coffee. If you roast espresso beans to far they loose all their oil and will never, and I mean NEVER form a proper crema.

Your beans should be medium brown with a hint of oil on the surface and between 3-7 days old.

Secondly, I don't believe there are any Starbucks left that don't use anything but super automatic machines. These are designed to pump out a 70% product that's never good and never bad. Nobody cares because 80% of the time it's going to be jacked with milk, whipped cream, flavor shots and other nonsense that will mask any real coffee flavor.

Third, espresso doesn't really get bitter because of oxidization. It is bitter because of over extraction which happens during the pull. If your grind is too fine, you compact the puck to much or your water isn't the right temp for the entire pull you pull too many bitter resins from the beans.

After 30 seconds a shot will loose the perfect mouth feel (assuming it was right to begin with) but won't get so bitter that it's going to make for a bad cappuccino. If it's taking you that long to steam milk you need a better machine with a much faster boiler.


I have a pretty good machine that does a good job. However, I do need a better device for tamping the grounds. Generally, my better half doesn't care so she'll make one first and II steam the milk for both of us at the same time and make mine second.
Only thing I don't like about my machine is that I can't steam milk while it's brewing.
No serious discussion about espresso can omit the grinder which is nearly if not as important as the machine itself.

I had a commercial Mazzer grinder in my kitchen a few years ago before I sold it to the coffee shop down the road :hihi:

-spence

No he isn't. I asked Spence what has happened to short sleeve dress shirts and why are all the people, men, I see on TV and elsewhere wearing only long sleeve dress shirts in the hottest of weather and climates, and our boy Spence never got back to me.

So again I ask, where did the short sleeve dress shirts go to? Are these guys just to cheap to buy both long and short sleeve dress shirts? Well?

Pay attention will ya.
He just said he landed in Alabama while wearing a pink LONG sleeve polo. It's a freaking 100 degrees in Alabama.
Short sleeves are out.:rotf2:

Pay attention will ya.
He just said he landed in Alabama while wearing a pink LONG sleeve polo. It's a freaking 100 degrees in Alabama.
Short sleeves are out.:rotf2:

Read again...

Had.

-spence

See what you guys started???

Look at his post on expresso! He wrote a small article.

I still wear a tie. Not all the time like never on the West Coast. You would get laughed at. At my HQ is Larkspur CA the whole office is flip flops, shorts and T-shirts. I show up with chinos, a dress shirt, open collar and a sport jacket and they think a customer is in the building.

Major meeting at a bank or law office I am in a dark suit, white shirt and rep striped tie. Just too old to change. That and 23 years with IBM.

Dear Spence,

Do parallel universes really exist?

Dear Spence,

Do parallel universes really exist?

Dear Spence
How many dimensions in parallel Universes?

Are striped bass legal at 28" there?

What is a "string" in the sting theory of the dimensional universe?

Dear Spence,

Do parallel universes really exist?

In science fiction? Well, yes they do...

In real life? Who really knows...

I don't think it matters though. The few people on this planet who possess the cognitive horsepower to make useful sense out of these theories (i.e. not read a book and get the concept but rather build and apply new theory) is so small that they all might just be crazy anyway.

Most people just say WTF and go to church.

-spence

Dear Spence
How many dimensions in parallel Universes?
About a dozen according to string theory but that's from memory.

[QUOTE]Are striped bass legal at 28" there?

No, but humans are 2 @ 62" per aqunid time unit.

-spence

Dear Spence, if you dont fish, why do you spend so much time on a fishing website?

What is a "string" in the sting theory of the dimensional universe?
A one dimensional particle that has characteristics determined by it's vibration.

Having read several books that talk about the subject, and even fooling myself into thinking I understood a few pages, I can only wonder what kind of secret geek weed these guys smoke to think of this stuff.

-spence

Dear Spence, if you dont fish, why do you spend so much time on a fishing website?
"Don't" isn't an accurate statement.

I've fished quite a bit, and plan to fish more in the future. A "don't" at this time indicates a fixed sample rate which is impossible considering you don't know the future.

-spence

"Don't" isn't an accurate statement.

I've fished quite a bit, and plan to fish more in the future. A "don't" at this time indicates a fixed sample rate which is impossible considering you don't know the future.

-spence

I think "dont" implies present tense, not past or future. For example, If I asked if you have a dollar I can borrow, and at the current time, you do not have one. You would reply, "I don't" Its irrelevant if you had money before or plan to have it another day.
I also think "fish" means an ongoing activity, passion or pursuit. Fish, to me, does not mean "going fishing", theres a big difference.
This is the last question I ask, this thread is dull. :devil2:

He is living his life vicariously through those who do.

He could live his life vicariously through me who is typing this from his 5th different Marriott Courtyard in 9 days. Norfolk VA right now.

Philly and Chester PA this morning Chesapeake VA tomorrow morning and DC tomorrow afternoon.

I think "dont" implies present tense, not past or future. For example, If I asked if you have a dollar I can borrow, and at the current time, you do not have one. You would reply, "I don't" Its irrelevant if you had money before or plan to have it another day.
I also think "fish" means an ongoing activity, passion or pursuit. Fish, to me, does not mean "going fishing", theres a big difference.
This is the last question I ask, this thread is dull. :devil2:
"Present tense" would be "Spence isn't fishing."

You know I have fished as you've taken me out on the S.S. Eelslime :hihi:

Granted, my fishing has slowed to a halt, but there are legitimate reasons and I don't plan for the hiatus to be permanent. If this wasn't the case I wouldn't still have a wall full of plugs, 1/2 dozen rods etc... (including a plug display I still have to photograph :wall:)

If by "fish" you mean some die hard surfcasting (opps, forgot you're a boat guy) lifestyle where one sacrifices many things in the reckless persuit of fish...then no, I don't think I fish.

-spence

If you were Barack Obama for one full day, what would you do with your presidential power?

Hey Spence,

Is it true that you can catch crabs from sitting on a public toilet seat? I always cover the seat with paper, but I have to assume they can rip through the paper and hop a ride.

I ask because after my trip to Vegas, I had crabs, even though the hooker assured me she was clean. I figured it had to be from a toilet seat then.

If you get crabs, and apply some "Old Bay", will that make them go away? :biglaugh:

If a hen and a half laid an egg and a half in a day and a half, how long would it take a grasshopper with a wooden leg to kick all the seeds out of a dill pickle?

[QUOTE=If a hen and a half laid an egg and a half in a day and a half, how long would it take a grasshopper with a wooden leg to kick all the seeds out of a dill pickle?[/QUOTE]

trick question, we all know aardvarks don't chew gum!

If you were Barack Obama for one full day, what would you do with your presidential power?

That's a really excellent question.

First I'd declare August 10th as Island Girl day and make it a National Holiday :wave:

Second I'd declare martial law and sign an executive order making my first term permanent.

Hopefully, Hugo Chavez would congratulate me with a delegation from the Miss Venezuela pageant :devil2: :hihi:

-spence

Hey Spence,

Is it true that you can catch crabs from sitting on a public toilet seat? I always cover the seat with paper, but I have to assume they can rip through the paper and hop a ride.

I ask because after my trip to Vegas, I had crabs, even though the hooker assured me she was clean. I figured it had to be from a toilet seat then.
The most logical answer is that "she" was a "he" and yes, "he" did catch them from a toilet seat.

I doubt "he" got them in Vegas though, they keep things pretty clean in those parts. It's good for the family business.

-spence

August 10th sounds like a wonderful national Island Girl day :buds: As usual though I am a day late

I was going to ask you a question spence but my mind is shot right at the moment from work so I will get back to you in a day or so!

I was going to ask you a question spence but my mind is shot right at the moment from work so I will get back to you in a day or so!

Don't worry, you still probably have baby lag...

I'm going to have it again by weekend :hihi:

-spence

Oh congrats :happy: Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?

Oh congrats :happy: Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?

No clue :uhuh:

-spence

Spence - your family in increasing size this weekend? Congrats :btu:

Thanks, looks like it will be soon. I'm at the hospital right now :hihi:
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Great, Spence. :btu: The very best to you and your wife.

Thanks, looks like it will be soon. I'm at the hospital right now :hihi:
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Are you naming the child Barack Barney Spence if it's a boy and Nancy Hillary Spence if it's a girl?

Not sure. My wife doesn't give me much say in these matters.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I hope it's a girl :love:
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Congrats, hope it goes quick.

I got dibs on being a godfather. I'm trying for double figures.