?

Every time I make flour based sugar cookies, dropped not rolled, they almost invariably turn out too flat or too cakey, I can almost never seem to get it right even though I follow the recipes correctly. The consistency of the dough is the problem. Everyone just says mix to "cookie dough consistency" but no one ever really says what that really means. So, what... dare I ask the question... is the proper consistency of regular sugar cookie dough at room temperature just after you mix it and before you cool it? What is that supposed to look like? What is it supposed to act like? Should it be sticky? Should it be firm? I'm going insane trying to bake a decent cookie! So, please, define it for me. :)

While looking for ways to clean mineral stains from one of my tanks, I ran across some favorable reviews of Melamine foam pads. These are the white spongy pads that work as a mild abrasive to remove algae and minerals from glass very easily. One of the common brands available in supermarkets is called "Mr. Clean Magic Erasers".

While I'm convinced that the foam is chemically inert enough to use in a fish tank, I'm still fairly concerned about the fact that these sponges break down as you use them. If you look at the sponge structure in a microscope, it looks like a net of rather sharp barbs and wires...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Melamine.jpg

When the pad is scowerd against a dirty surface, these wires are broken and the pad breaks apart. My main concern is that the microscopic particles that break off the pad may be sharp and hook-like, which could easily harm the fish.

Does anyone have any opinions or expert advice about the use of these pads in live tanks?