I hope I get this link right- http:/www.straightdope.com/classics/a961108a.html -well that’s as good as I can do! Have’nt got a clue how to make it go blue so you can click on it.
On to the spoon! My parents owned a spoon with a serrated edge, which I was always told was, in fact, a runcible spoon. Said spoon was about the size of a common teaspoon and had a round green handle of something like fake jade. It survived my childhood but sadly ran afoul of my own kids last year. We used it chiefly for eating grapefruit. I think I still have the pieces!
Close. You left out a slash mark.
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a961108a.html
Give it 2 slashes before the www and it automatically makes a link.
Welcome.
When I was a kid we had a “runcible” spoon too, zoogirl, although your sounds nicer. Ours had the tines Cecil told us about but no serrated edge, and a regular steel handle. It was good for getting pickles out of the jar though.
As for the bong tree, I have one in my garden. The dried roots can be made into pipes using a method like this (although my lawyer told me to I say I have no connection with that company). The leaves of the bong tree produce an interesting herbal smoke too :).
I have only just recently stumbled across the straight dope website and I feel compelled to comment on the runcible spoon. It sounds suspiciously like a “SPLAYD”, the great Australian invention. http://www.splayds.com has more information.
I have recently purchased a book that refers pictoraly to the runcible spoon as a double ender kind of affair. Cherries I can deal with, but doubling up on a spoon I find difficult. I laughed loads and I’m sure Lear would have approved.