Bob Kramer Knives

As an actor at Renaissance Faires, I've seen my share of smithys and forges. I've always been impressed by the patience and skill required to produce anything with little more than fire and a hammer. To produce a working blade is an amazing feat in and of itself. Bob Kramer is a Master of such feats.



Mr. Kramer is accessible online via his website, which also showcases some of his work and collaborations: Bob Kramer Knives

While my own tastes and research disincline me from wanting a Damascus blade for culinary work, I would not be opposed to commissioning a razor of that steel, as the constant honing would likely mitigate the unique serrating properties of Damascus steel it wears.

Mr. Kramer is not currently accepting orders, but you can add yourself to his mailing list to be informed of when his schedule opens up. I would also recommend doing a little reading yourself on the properties of blades and steel, since it is always adviseable to have some cursory knowledge of most things, and especially those thing in which we invest or choose to associate or immerse ourselves, and it is fascinating reading anyhow.

Moderate Justice for an Extremist in a Conservative State

Scott Roeder was sentenced to life-imprisonment today for murdering Dr. George Tiller, one of a precious few late-term abortion providers in the country. Dr. Tiller was killed while serving as an usher at his church.

Roeder defended his murder as "justifiable homicide," claiming that, by killing the doctor, he was saving the lives of countless babies. Had his argument succeeded, it would be arguably legal to begin killing hard-line religious extremists, because if they were permitted to live they would no doubt perpetrate many such murders of abortion and birth-control providers and cause even further suffering and death by forcing women to the nightmares of "back alley" services.

The Court and the citizens of Kansas who heard his case are to be lauded for not only rejecting his argument outright, but for handing down the harshest permissible sentence for this dangerous, fanatical zealot. While the issue of abortion is still far from resolved in this country, and especially in the Bible Belt, it is comforting to know that the abhorrent acts advocated and perpetrated by Roeder, the Army of God, and their ilk are unwanted and actively rebuked by their peers.

In the unlikely event that Scott Roeder should survive his sentence and be approved for parole, he will be released from prison at the age of 103, hopefully to a world where his hate and his cause has been wholly abolished and he can die alone, utterly defeated to the last.

Rest in Peace, Dr. George Tiller. Take what comfort there is in the fact that Justice has been served and the bloodshed is done.