First big road trip in the MINI!!! wooooooohooooo can't wait to get going. I'll get loads of knitting done and get to see some parts of the east coast I haven't seen in years. The hubby's never been to Charleston so that should be fun. Dad's doing well and that's something to be especially thankful for this year.
Dratz...had to rip some of the heel flap today at the doctor's office. I was looking at the purl side and something just didn't look right. No one would have probably noticed but me but it's a gift and it's got to be right. I've got all my projects ready to go. Heck that was the first things I packed. MINIs don't have a trunk really so I'm trying to pack light. Otherwise the Man is going to have to go with a toothbrush and briefs. :)
Seriously though, I've got it whittled down to 2 pairs of shoes so that's good eh?
The Troll-elect was on the telly in the waiting room. I just get nauseous over this 'office of the president-elect' seal. I've known too many people like him in my lifetime. Arrogant and in love with being in power. Never mind that the majority of them were incompetent boobs like Obama that only got where they were because of 1) their sex/race/gender identity or 2) because they were mean as snakes and manipulated their way in to positions of power. I think Obama is a bit of both. But it's a waste of energy to go on about how inexperienced and dangerous he is. Anyone reading this would already have that info and anyone else that wanders in by accident AND has been drinking from the Fountain of The One would have some sort of mental breakdown at the suggestion that he is anything other than the second coming.
I do hope he, through Rahm Emanuel, tries to start up their Obama Youth program. We'll see just how jazzed they get over forced volunteerism.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Worst.Game.Evah.
What can I say? No team can win against an opponent that is known for cheating and dirty tricks with blind or incompetent referees.
What I'm reading? The writings of Thomas Paine. I guess I am beginning to take comfort that so much of what he said is applicable to now. So human behavior really hasn't changed much. Does that mean there will be another Revolution? Maybe not in the way of 1776 but I do think there's going to come a time and point where those that really love freedom and have a strong belief that government has just gotten too bloated will seek redress from this overlord. We haven't hit critical mass yet. It's going to have to get a whole lot more painful.
I got quite a bit of work done on MILs lap afghan this weekend. I should make good progress or perhaps finish it during the big road trip. While we were in Miami I stopped by Tropical Yarns and picked up Nancy Bush's Estonian lace book, some beautiful blue-red wool and a nifty clear tote for the upcoming plane trips. Maybe this'll make the security go smoother?
What I'm reading? The writings of Thomas Paine. I guess I am beginning to take comfort that so much of what he said is applicable to now. So human behavior really hasn't changed much. Does that mean there will be another Revolution? Maybe not in the way of 1776 but I do think there's going to come a time and point where those that really love freedom and have a strong belief that government has just gotten too bloated will seek redress from this overlord. We haven't hit critical mass yet. It's going to have to get a whole lot more painful.
I got quite a bit of work done on MILs lap afghan this weekend. I should make good progress or perhaps finish it during the big road trip. While we were in Miami I stopped by Tropical Yarns and picked up Nancy Bush's Estonian lace book, some beautiful blue-red wool and a nifty clear tote for the upcoming plane trips. Maybe this'll make the security go smoother?
Saturday, November 22, 2008
I have to post this
I just have to. It's another cry in the wilderness but said very well.
No He Can't
by Anne Wortham
Fellow Americans,
Please know: I am black; I grew up in the segregated South. I did not vote for Barack Obama; I wrote in Ron Paul’s name as my choice for president. Most importantly, I am not race conscious. I do not require a black president to know that I am a person of worth, and that life is worth living. I do not require a black president to love the ideal of America.
I cannot join you in your celebration. I feel no elation. There is no smile on my face. I am not jumping with joy. There are no tears of triumph in my eyes. For such emotions and behavior to come from me, I would have to deny all that I know about the requirements of human flourishing and survival – all that I know about the history of the United States of America, all that I know about American race relations, and all that I know about Barack Obama as a politician. I would have to deny the nature of the "change" that Obama asserts has come to America. Most importantly, I would have to abnegate my certain understanding that you have chosen to sprint down the road to serfdom that we have been on for over a century. I would have to pretend that individual liberty has no value for the success of a human life. I would have to evade your rejection of the slender reed of capitalism on which your success and mine depend. I would have to think it somehow rational that 94 percent of the 12 million blacks in this country voted for a man because he looks like them (that blacks are permitted to play the race card), and that they were joined by self-declared "progressive" whites who voted for him because he doesn’t look like them. I would have to be wipe my mind clean of all that I know about the kind of people who have advised and taught Barack Obama and will fill posts in his administration – political intellectuals like my former colleagues at the Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
I would have to believe that "fairness" is equivalent of justice. I would have to believe that man who asks me to "go forward in a new spirit of service, in a new service of sacrifice" is speaking in my interest. I would have to accept the premise of a man that economic prosperity comes from the "bottom up," and who arrogantly believes that he can will it into existence by the use of government force. I would have to admire a man who thinks the standard of living of the masses can be improved by destroying the most productive and the generators of wealth.
Finally, Americans, I would have to erase from my consciousness the scene of 125,000 screaming, crying, cheering people in Grant Park, Chicago irrationally chanting "Yes We Can!" Finally, I would have to wipe all memory of all the times I have heard politicians, pundits, journalists, editorialists, bloggers and intellectuals declare that capitalism is dead – and no one, including especially Alan Greenspan, objected to their assumption that the particular version of the anti-capitalistic mentality that they want to replace with their own version of anti-capitalism is anything remotely equivalent to capitalism.
So you have made history, Americans. You and your children have elected a black man to the office of the president of the United States, the wounded giant of the world. The battle between John Wayne and Jane Fonda is over – and that Fonda won. Eugene McCarthy and George McGovern must be very happy men. Jimmie Carter, too. And the Kennedys have at last gotten their Kennedy look-a-like. The self-righteous welfare statists in the suburbs can feel warm moments of satisfaction for having elected a black person. So, toast yourselves: 60s countercultural radicals, 80s yuppies and 90s bourgeois bohemians. Toast yourselves, Black America. Shout your glee Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Duke, Stanford, and Berkeley. You have elected not an individual who is qualified to be president, but a black man who, like the pragmatist Franklin Roosevelt, promises to – Do Something! You now have someone who has picked up the baton of Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society. But you have also foolishly traded your freedom and mine – what little there is left – for the chance to feel good. There is nothing in me that can share your happy obliviousness.
November 6, 2008
No He Can't
by Anne Wortham
Fellow Americans,
Please know: I am black; I grew up in the segregated South. I did not vote for Barack Obama; I wrote in Ron Paul’s name as my choice for president. Most importantly, I am not race conscious. I do not require a black president to know that I am a person of worth, and that life is worth living. I do not require a black president to love the ideal of America.
I cannot join you in your celebration. I feel no elation. There is no smile on my face. I am not jumping with joy. There are no tears of triumph in my eyes. For such emotions and behavior to come from me, I would have to deny all that I know about the requirements of human flourishing and survival – all that I know about the history of the United States of America, all that I know about American race relations, and all that I know about Barack Obama as a politician. I would have to deny the nature of the "change" that Obama asserts has come to America. Most importantly, I would have to abnegate my certain understanding that you have chosen to sprint down the road to serfdom that we have been on for over a century. I would have to pretend that individual liberty has no value for the success of a human life. I would have to evade your rejection of the slender reed of capitalism on which your success and mine depend. I would have to think it somehow rational that 94 percent of the 12 million blacks in this country voted for a man because he looks like them (that blacks are permitted to play the race card), and that they were joined by self-declared "progressive" whites who voted for him because he doesn’t look like them. I would have to be wipe my mind clean of all that I know about the kind of people who have advised and taught Barack Obama and will fill posts in his administration – political intellectuals like my former colleagues at the Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
I would have to believe that "fairness" is equivalent of justice. I would have to believe that man who asks me to "go forward in a new spirit of service, in a new service of sacrifice" is speaking in my interest. I would have to accept the premise of a man that economic prosperity comes from the "bottom up," and who arrogantly believes that he can will it into existence by the use of government force. I would have to admire a man who thinks the standard of living of the masses can be improved by destroying the most productive and the generators of wealth.
Finally, Americans, I would have to erase from my consciousness the scene of 125,000 screaming, crying, cheering people in Grant Park, Chicago irrationally chanting "Yes We Can!" Finally, I would have to wipe all memory of all the times I have heard politicians, pundits, journalists, editorialists, bloggers and intellectuals declare that capitalism is dead – and no one, including especially Alan Greenspan, objected to their assumption that the particular version of the anti-capitalistic mentality that they want to replace with their own version of anti-capitalism is anything remotely equivalent to capitalism.
So you have made history, Americans. You and your children have elected a black man to the office of the president of the United States, the wounded giant of the world. The battle between John Wayne and Jane Fonda is over – and that Fonda won. Eugene McCarthy and George McGovern must be very happy men. Jimmie Carter, too. And the Kennedys have at last gotten their Kennedy look-a-like. The self-righteous welfare statists in the suburbs can feel warm moments of satisfaction for having elected a black person. So, toast yourselves: 60s countercultural radicals, 80s yuppies and 90s bourgeois bohemians. Toast yourselves, Black America. Shout your glee Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Duke, Stanford, and Berkeley. You have elected not an individual who is qualified to be president, but a black man who, like the pragmatist Franklin Roosevelt, promises to – Do Something! You now have someone who has picked up the baton of Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society. But you have also foolishly traded your freedom and mine – what little there is left – for the chance to feel good. There is nothing in me that can share your happy obliviousness.
November 6, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Off to the game
I have to gather the MILs lapghan to take with me. I figure it's 3.5 hours one way so that's 7 I can knit. If the hubby drives. My car. Which he won't the whole time but I should get some good knitting time in anyway. This weeks going to be just nuts. We'll be back briefly then it's off to see the parents for Turkey day. Maybe we can get some Christmas shopping out of the way while we're at it. Not going to spend much either. Heaven knows where this economy is going to go (my guess would be down more) and it just doesn't make much sense to overspend. Never has really and I know my folks don't really want anything. They'd rather us come up and spend time with them, knowing that alone costs plenty, instead of buying them some new socks or a shirt.
I didn't work on the heel today. Just didn't feel like it really. A friend wants to go out tonight so I probably won't work on it then either. I'll have it with me next week and I've put the instructions on my Kindle just in case. Not much else in the hopper presentwise. I never want to be the kind of knitter that constantly inundates people with things I've made. Some may appreciate a little but too much and they probably would resent it.
I didn't work on the heel today. Just didn't feel like it really. A friend wants to go out tonight so I probably won't work on it then either. I'll have it with me next week and I've put the instructions on my Kindle just in case. Not much else in the hopper presentwise. I never want to be the kind of knitter that constantly inundates people with things I've made. Some may appreciate a little but too much and they probably would resent it.
Personal responsibility
I'm big on this. Maybe it was how I was raised but also the result of experiences that made me believe that I had to do for myself and relying on others often had unpleasant consequences. Like Barry Goldwater said, 'a government strong enough to give you everything is also strong enough to take away everything you have'. Or something like that.
Take my knitting. If I go out and buy the yarn, I can't expect anyone else to do the project for me. If I'm slack, as I have been on the socks, then it'll be my fault that I don't get done by Christmas. All of which leads me to a story about a woman who because she was moved to part time lost her health benefits from work. She then gets a cough and doesn't go to a doc. Self medicates and all that. At some point she finally goes for help. But here's the tragic part. She dies because it's really some lung disease and although the paperwork for Medicare was filed, since it's the government it was too late.
The comments to the article are a smorgasbord of whining and calls for universal health care. What's missing in all this is what did the 34 year old woman do to help herself? Did she disconnect her cable or sat TV? Clip coupons? What was more important to her--her health or her luxuries? I don't know what her situation was. The article does not indicate if she tried to get insurance or not on her own. But this brings me back to the personal responsibility thing.
It is a fact that a young person can get basic health insurance for around $100 per month. But when polled those informed of this said they'd rather party, go out to eat and the like. One cheeky woman bragged that she uses health departments and never pays for anything. She's right of course. She's probably not paying even in taxes. But someone is. A gainfully employed neighbor or relative. That's a big problem with that age group. The same age group that probably voted for Obama. Clueless and stupid. And their stupidity is going to cost us all dearly but that's another subject. One poster said this is why we must have universal health coverage. No it's not. What is needed is for people to take responsibility for their own health. Insurance is available. You just may not be able to get that 60 inch flatscreen like you want. You may even need to cut back on partying or eating out. Do I feel sorry for the woman who died. Until I know the whole story I can't say. But if her death was the result of bad decisions she made the answer is no. And none of us should have to suffer for those decisions by the implementation of government health care.
Take my knitting. If I go out and buy the yarn, I can't expect anyone else to do the project for me. If I'm slack, as I have been on the socks, then it'll be my fault that I don't get done by Christmas. All of which leads me to a story about a woman who because she was moved to part time lost her health benefits from work. She then gets a cough and doesn't go to a doc. Self medicates and all that. At some point she finally goes for help. But here's the tragic part. She dies because it's really some lung disease and although the paperwork for Medicare was filed, since it's the government it was too late.
The comments to the article are a smorgasbord of whining and calls for universal health care. What's missing in all this is what did the 34 year old woman do to help herself? Did she disconnect her cable or sat TV? Clip coupons? What was more important to her--her health or her luxuries? I don't know what her situation was. The article does not indicate if she tried to get insurance or not on her own. But this brings me back to the personal responsibility thing.
It is a fact that a young person can get basic health insurance for around $100 per month. But when polled those informed of this said they'd rather party, go out to eat and the like. One cheeky woman bragged that she uses health departments and never pays for anything. She's right of course. She's probably not paying even in taxes. But someone is. A gainfully employed neighbor or relative. That's a big problem with that age group. The same age group that probably voted for Obama. Clueless and stupid. And their stupidity is going to cost us all dearly but that's another subject. One poster said this is why we must have universal health coverage. No it's not. What is needed is for people to take responsibility for their own health. Insurance is available. You just may not be able to get that 60 inch flatscreen like you want. You may even need to cut back on partying or eating out. Do I feel sorry for the woman who died. Until I know the whole story I can't say. But if her death was the result of bad decisions she made the answer is no. And none of us should have to suffer for those decisions by the implementation of government health care.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Second Sock Syndrome
I need to finish this thing. I mean really. I figure if I did an inch a day it would be done by Christmas but I just can't seem to get cranking. Ugh. It took me a week to get 2 inches. Two measly inches. The yarn is great, I have time. I'm just a slacker I guess. There's always something distracting around here too. Right now I'm waiting to pounce on the mail lady. We got our neighbors mail yesterday and I've been waiting for a package that pony express says has already been delivered. So yet another reason I can't knit.
So I've finally figured out how to get going on the second sock. I mark where I'm currently stopped, then set a timer for an hour. I HAVE to knit during that time. I don't care if the house catches fire I will stay seated and knit. It works. In two days I've gotten the cuff finished and am now on the heel flap. If I keep this up I'll make the turn and be on the foot by Monday. *\o/*
I noticed some new info coming out about the cooling temps. It's freaking freezing here and pretty early in the year for this location. Of course the AGWs will be ramping things up but they might as well realize that even Mr. Hopeychangitude will be hard pressed to do anything with the deep recession we're in. And given just a bit more time this scam will become more apparent. I know quite a few people in the east coast that would love them some global warming about now.
In other news, Mr. Yes We Can is stacking his cabinet with Washington insiders, players and people he owes favors to from Chicago. There's your change. Like I said on a post in a social group, he now will have to make a decision about things and in the glaring light of the national and international stage, the media will not be able to protect him as much. No one placed on a pedestal this high can stay there and the only way to go is down. I'm gleefully waiting for the fall to begin.
So I've finally figured out how to get going on the second sock. I mark where I'm currently stopped, then set a timer for an hour. I HAVE to knit during that time. I don't care if the house catches fire I will stay seated and knit. It works. In two days I've gotten the cuff finished and am now on the heel flap. If I keep this up I'll make the turn and be on the foot by Monday. *\o/*
I noticed some new info coming out about the cooling temps. It's freaking freezing here and pretty early in the year for this location. Of course the AGWs will be ramping things up but they might as well realize that even Mr. Hopeychangitude will be hard pressed to do anything with the deep recession we're in. And given just a bit more time this scam will become more apparent. I know quite a few people in the east coast that would love them some global warming about now.
In other news, Mr. Yes We Can is stacking his cabinet with Washington insiders, players and people he owes favors to from Chicago. There's your change. Like I said on a post in a social group, he now will have to make a decision about things and in the glaring light of the national and international stage, the media will not be able to protect him as much. No one placed on a pedestal this high can stay there and the only way to go is down. I'm gleefully waiting for the fall to begin.
My Kindle
I love this thing. I whined for three months about it. Told the hubby that's what I wanted for Christmas. He pops up on Halloween with this box looking all excited and there it was. I wish he had waited though, this is a big expense but it's wonderful. Naturally I had to knit a pouch to hold all the things that go with it--you know...usb cable, light, charger, ear phones and extra sd cards. I'm please with the way it turned out. It's not professional looking but it gets the job done for me and I got to use up some leftover yarn. How perfect is that?
On the political front, this is a stunning website with a video. You should check it out. These are the people who selected the most underqualified person to ever run for any office to lead this country. I don't think this is an unusual situation either. I guess it could be argued that this is only one location but Howard Stern did a man on the street thing in Harlem prior to the election that paired the GOP platform with Obama and the people asked said they would still be voting for Obama/Biden. Djimon Honsou was asked by TMZ who he was voting for and he replied 'who do you think, look at me.' Race was definitely an issue in this election but the media ignored the real racists/bigots. Actually the media ignored an awful lot and we're all going to pay the price.
Playing nice for a change
Welcome to my new blog. I have another one but that's just a place for me to vent and don't we all need that sometimes? This one's going to be for knitting related stuff and occasionally some political stuff. Hey, if other more well known bloggers can do it I can too. You don't have to agree with me but one thing I ask is if you don't, be able to support your opinion with irrefutable facts and that means unbiased sources. None of this 'you're crazy if you like (insert name of conservative politician here) stuff because he's/she's stupid' stuff. That's not making your point. It just shows that you are unable to make a coherent point without using schoolyard tactics. So let's go, have fun here, hopefully we'll all learn something and appreciate knitting or other crafts more in the process.
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