Connery’s stance on violence as a means of control, not self defense, is documented in a pretty famous Barbara Walters interview.

Connery: I think it depends entirely on the circumstances, and if it merits it.

Walters: What would merit it?

C: Well, if you have tried everything else. And- women are pretty good at this. They can’t leave it alone. They’ve got to have the last word, and you give them the last word. But they’re not happy with the last word. They want to say it again. And get into a really provocative situation. Then, I think it’s absolutely right.

You may not be familiar with all of this, which is entirely fair because it’s not reasonable to have watched every celebrity interview in history, but I would encourage you to watch it as context. He was inarguably talking about hitting women in his life to shut them up.

First time I saw that interview, I remember being shocked by how blunt and honest it was, because like most people I liked Connery as a movie star. He did not sanitize his opinions. Outside a card game with the boys on a Thursday night, you’re not going to hear a more honest endorsement of violence in a relationship.

According to its papers, it was finished December 23rd, 2015. I would have bought it a few months after that. I think the retail price was around $180 at the time.

Even budget knives benefit a lot from being sharp. A Spyderco Sharpmaker will last a lifetime and is enough for most home cooks. The rolling sharpeners are okay for plenty of people, too, particularly if you’re not worried about scratching up the blade’s face.

I would rather use a sharp IKEA knife than a dull expensive knife.

Artisanal Japanese kitchen knives are all up, for obvious reasons, but the Yuki skyrocketed. It was popular because it was affordable, stainless clad white #2 with an okay handle. I think that popularity juiced up the price, which sadly defeats the purpose.

That bunka is a fantastic knife for under $100. I paid $150 for my Yuki gyuto, which was a legitimately good deal even at the time.

The Yuki line really is solid, I like my 240mm Yuki gyuto a lot. Nice grind, some interesting concavity, super thin behind the edge. Really good cutter. I think mine’s closer to 60HRC, retention is only okay but it sharpens insanely easily, just loves any degree of polish you throw at it.

I had one of the sujihikis for a while, too, decent knife but I didn’t like it as much.

Several years ago I wanted a Yuki long petty, say 200mm on the edge. Now it would be more than I’d want to pay.

Chardonnay isn’t usually vinified sweet enough, sadly, to stand up to Corn Pops and Honeycomb. There probably is one, somewhere, but it’s a reach. You’d really want Sauternes or Tokaji Aszu. They’re produced from grapes infected with a rot that gives them honey flavor notes.

Champagne and Port I like. Rice Crispies I’m curious about. Why and from where?

Not sure I like pairing Moscato. It leans very heavily into stone fruit rather than into the berries and cream in Oops All Berries. I like Prosecco better. It can be a bit nutty.

For me, personally, ideally I want something with some lees aging. That often gets into rich, bready flavors. So a demi sec Champagne or Cremant would work. A rose Cremant d’Alsace maybe even?

Edit: Also Sherry.