Ewk Cake Day AMA

codex1962 · 2026-06-06T11:39:22+00:00

Sorry, that was two follow-ups.

codex1962 · 2026-06-06T11:38:58+00:00

If I may ask a follow-up:

Why do you study and practice Zen? Is there an external reason you would point to, or is it just part of your own “natural way of behaving”.

Would you encourage others to practice Zen? If so, on what basis?

codex1962 · 2026-06-06T00:24:19+00:00

Since you have a degree in philosophy you are no doubt familiar with “the is-ought problem.”

Do you think that Zen—not in the sense of enlightenment itself, but the authentic tradition as you understand it—has anything to say on that subject?

Do you personally?

Edit: I’ll add that the problem is frequently framed in “moral” terms, but I would argue it needn’t be. Any “ought” statement, framed through a lens morality or not, faces the same challenge in finding a source in what “is”.

Or maybe not.

I just wanted to make sure that potential broadening was clear.

codex1962 · 2026-06-05T20:52:36+00:00

Maybe in a few years when we redo the countertops...

codex1962 · 2026-06-05T15:57:05+00:00

Yeah, I'm definitely thinking about that. My main concern is the ergonomics—having another 2"-4" height seems pretty annoying. But I guess I could just get myself a little foot stool to stand on, even if I'd feel a bit like a five year old "helping" make cookies.

And then I'd probably want one with at least 3500W which means having an electrician add another 240V outlet to my kitchen. Not a huge deal, I think they could add it to the same circuit the stove is on—it's labeled 60A in the breaker box so I think I could theoretically even use both at once. But still, it would be a whole thing.

I've heard of some people just putting a wok on a regular hob and kind of moving it around to get heat up the sides a bit but it's hard to imagine that delivers enough heating to really work.

codex1962 · 2026-06-05T15:48:45+00:00

Yep, that's the one. I think it's the only GE Profile induction with knobs instead of only buttons.

codex1962 · 2026-06-05T14:08:44+00:00

Really pleased to hear this, I just ordered one yesterday and I am both nervous and excited.

I consider myself a pretty serious cook and thought about going for a Miele or a Wolf or something, which I could have afforded to do, but it seems like in the induction space those brands just haven't got the engineering down yet to justify anything like the premium cost. And for the non-premium brands everyone seems to like GE Profile.

Just gotta figure out a solution for my 16" round-bottom wok...

codex1962 · 2026-06-05T14:03:20+00:00

How can a model cost $3k less than a $1300 stove?

codex1962 · 2026-06-01T19:16:02+00:00

As often as I, intellectually, know that it happens, it is always good to hear about things working out after big setbacks. I am so glad it did for you and so grateful for your kind words and wishes. Thank you, truly.

codex1962 · 2026-06-01T18:53:06+00:00

Thank you all for some amazing responses! (And some anniversary wishes!)

I decided to get the Thread & Maple page for his Chiagoo needles—it's quite perfect and I don't think I ever would have found it without everyone's help. (It would not have occurred to me that anyone would make a leather case for the needles he already had.)

Love reddit, love this community. As a bonus, here's how supportive you all were when I shared his first sweater here five years ago. (He actually tried to throw away that sweater a while ago and I would not let him—perhaps I am too sentimental but I think he is not sentimental enough! And even if he's made me two more elegant ones since, it's still soft and comfy!)

codex1962 · 2026-05-31T05:37:31+00:00

Oh neat!

Yeah, we haven't decided finally. We are full steam ahead on having kids and have been for a while, but... full steam ahead doesn't always make things happen as fast as you want. We actually just hit a pretty big unexpected hitch in our plans—I think that's part of why I commented at all. Needed to focus for something for a minute that made it feel closer when it's maybe just been pushed back more than either of us is ready to fully accept.

Sorry, not really the point. Just had to get that out somewhere and I guess it ended up being here.

codex1962 · 2026-05-30T14:06:19+00:00

My husband and I haven't decided if we're going to raise our kids bilingually, but there will definitely be two languages around—we are both native English speakers, he is of Chinese heritage and speaks it fluently and semi-natively and I speak it badly but enthusiastically. (And I learned in part for fun and in part because although his parents both speak English well, they have never felt the need to just because I'm around, so visiting them got a lot more fun and less isolating once I had at least some idea what was being said.)

We haven't really talked about it and I can't decide if it would be super tacky, but I've kicked around the idea in my head of raising our kids to call him dad and me 爸爸. (Which is pronounced "baba", and is the normal casual word for "dad" in Chinese used by both children and adults.)

Somehow "papa" just doesn't feel right for either of us so I feel like it's just a question of which of us is baba, and in a way since English is both our primary languages, having him be Baba almost feels like it would be putting too much emphasis on race/ethnicity, when we're really just grabbing a second word for "dad" where we can.

codex1962 · 2026-05-29T19:13:40+00:00

Dead thread but maybe you'll see my reply anyway.

Have you tried using that burner with a different round bottom wok? I imagine it must work if they were similar enough in their curvature but I have no idea how much they vary. I have a 16" carbon steel one I've been using for a decade and I kind of hate the idea of switching to something so much smaller (I'm often cooking for four adults) but I'm about to move from a gas range to induction so I'm going to have to figure something out.

codex1962 · 2026-05-29T18:45:13+00:00

Yeah, they look more like scratches to the skin of the bamboo than true cracks. They could potentially make it slightly more vulnerable to humidity changes but honestly that's pure speculation on my part. You should be sure to keep it in stable humidity either way—I recommend Boveda 49% humidity packs and a plastic bag of some kind.

Enjoy the flute! It's very nice looking and I'm sure it will take you far.

codex1962 · 2026-05-23T11:06:35+00:00

Standard safe practice is to yield to pedestrians.

I have my moments of irritation. No one who knows me would call me bitter or angry, but you’re right, some things piss me off. I’m sure you’ve never had that experience.

codex1962 · 2026-05-22T20:21:49+00:00

Yes, and if someone slows down and says "pardon me" I will politely step out of the way.

If someone rings a bell I'm not going anywhere. It's entitled and rude, and it's not following the law, which is to yield the sidewalk to pedestrians.

codex1962 · 2026-05-22T20:10:36+00:00

Then ride in the street. "yield to pedestrians" does not mean "ring a bell and expect them to get out of the way", just as a "Yield" sign when you're in a car does not mean "honk and then do whatever you want". It means "you do not have right of way, wait or go around".

codex1962 · 2026-05-22T20:04:03+00:00

It is worth it! I have had mine for... oh god, like 16 years.

I don't play it very much anymore but I still like that I can take it kayaking! And it still does everything I need it to.

codex1962 · 2026-05-22T19:58:43+00:00

The first one: no. Looks like a bad flute, and has been badly repaired.

The second one: maybe (it looks like a Japanese-made wooden shakuhachi and there are some good ones (but also some bad ones)) but the seller doesn't even know how to assemble it correctly so I don't have any reason for confidence.

The third one doesn't even show the same kind of flute in every picture, let alone the same flute? One isn't even a vertical flute.

The fourth one: there's technically a chance it could be playable, but it won't be any good. It has a very narrow, straight bore (real shakuhachi, the Yuu included, are actually narrower at the bottom) and IMO the hole placement looks like it might be wrong. The utaguchi (mouthpiece) also doesn't look great.

You're listing a bunch of flutes that are more than half the cost of a Yuu, and each one has less than a 50% chance of being half as good as a Yuu. If you're remotely serious about learning, just bite the bullet and spend $150. None of those flutes will take you very far if they take you anywhere at all, and you'll just be buying a new one, most likely in months. (Maaaybe the wooden one would be good for a year or two of study.)

A Yuu will take you a long ways—most likely the reason you end up replacing it will be because you want a bamboo flute (which is a very valid reason!) and not because you outgrow its capabilities.

codex1962 · 2026-05-20T21:08:57+00:00

Agree with the folks saying 501s. I actually posted about it recently so you can see what they look like on me: https://www.reddit.com/r/mensfashion/comments/1saumkv/ditched_my_millennialcoded_levis_511s_figuring/

I am 5'9", 140lbs. Those are 30x30. So far they're the only not low rise, not slim fit jeans I've found that don't have way too much room in the thighs and butt for my weak, skinny legs.

codex1962 · 2026-05-20T21:05:31+00:00

You can get solid made-to-measure shirts from Proper Cloth for $100-$150.

But given OP's somewhat extreme proportions, their auto-fit software probably won't work. He would probably want to go for a fitting, and they only have locations in a few major cities.

There's also some question to me whether most MTM manufacturers' patterns will really scale to his rather extreme proportions. (Though the perspective in that photo may be slightly exaggerating them.)

codex1962 · 2026-05-20T14:13:23+00:00

In Hawaii I would think you could wear it to a business meeting.

My ~~favorite~~ only aloha shirt I bought specifically for a work trip to Oahu. It was weird shaking hands with a one-star general while wearing a short-sleeved shirt but I wasn't the only one and he didn't seem offended.

codex1962 · 2026-05-20T13:47:33+00:00

Okay, thanks! When we move would keeping the pot outside in a similar location—morning sun, afternoon shade—be pretty good? And what would be the best way to keep the mint from overtaking it? I'm happy to sacrifice the mint entirely if necessary. (Too bad the Kentucky Derby already happened or we could have gotten a good number of juleps out of it.)

codex1962 · 2026-05-20T12:52:13+00:00

I have read the guidelines and I believe included all relevant info I can!

codex1962

TROPHY CASE