The Knitting Diary :: Counting on lifelines [Open Thread]

I’ve made some progress on my sweater and I’m binding off the body of the sweater (next step — the sleeves!) … But, it’s been a challenge. Well, the whole sweater has been a challenge. Now that I’m way too far into it to quit, I’m realizing that this isn’t a project for a beginner. And it might have been better if I’d started with something simpler.

Well, I didn’t — this is the project I’ve got and I’m kind of impressed that I’ve made it this far!  At least that’s what I told myself as I tore out the bottom trim 4 times over the weekend.

Has that happened to you?  It’s maddening.

Here’s my got-cha: The pattern for that trim isn’t a simple ribbing (Knit/Purl or K2/P2) it’s a pretty devious idea.  Row 1, Knit all stitches, Row 2, K1/P1.  It’s devious because with a simple ribbing pattern, you knit into knit stitches and purl into purl stitches and once you’ve got that first row set you just fill in the pattern.  But, with THIS pattern Row 2 (which I had to do 4 times) was a nightmare.

I’d start daydreaming while I knit and after a row or so I’d check my work and find that I’d gotten off about 3 stitches from the start!  One time (the first time) I messed up so much I couldn’t even tell what the pattern was supposed to look like.

I tore it all out so many times, I cut that bit of yarn off.  I think it was jinxed.

God Bless Oklahoma

Sgt. Jason McCluskey

From Tulsa World:

Members of a Kansas church that protests at military funerals may have found themselves in the wrong town Saturday.

Shortly after finishing their protest at the funeral of Army Sgt. Jason James McCluskey of McAlester, a half-dozen protesters from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., headed to their minivan, only to discover that its front and rear passenger-side tires had been slashed.

To make matters worse, as their minivan slowly hobbled away on two flat tires, with a McAlester police car following behind, the protesters were unable to find anyone in town who would repair their vehicle, according to police.

The minivan finally pulled over several blocks away in a shopping center parking lot, where AAA was called. A flatbed service truck arrived and loaded up the minivan. Assistant Police Chief Darrell Miller said the minivan was taken to Walmart for repairs.

Even before the protesters discovered their damaged tires, they faced off with a massive crowd of jeering and taunting counterprotesters at Third Street and Washington Avenue, two blocks from the First Baptist Church, where the soldier’s funeral was held.

Miller estimated that crowd to number nearly 1,000 people, and they not only drowned out the Westboro protesters with jeers, but with raucous chants of “USA, USA.”

A few motorcyclists interspersed among the crowd also revved up their engines to muffle the protests.

More than two dozen law-enforcement officers – state troopers, sheriff’s deputies and city police – formed a security cordon around the Westboro protesters.

“We’re here to protect everyone,” Miller said.

Westboro members picket military funerals across the country, spreading their message that “God hates America” because it tolerates homosexuality.

Charlie Rangel walks out of ethics hearing

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Politico:

Complaining bitterly that he was denied the right to have an attorney present, an emotional Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) walked out of his highly publicized public ethics trial Monday morning, an unexpected twist in the ethics inquiry has tarnished Rangel’s four-decade congressional career.

The ethics panel, after an unexpected 40-minute private session, rejected Rangel’s request to delay the trial and went ahead anyway. The witness chair where Rangel was supposed to sit was empty, a dramatic sign of Rangel’s refusal to participate.

With Rangel gone – foregoing the 10 hours he was granted to defend himself – the committee moved very quickly through the case and spent just 80 minutes reviewing the allegations before retiring to decide whether it would approve a “motion for summary judgment.”

If that motion is approved the Rangel trial is esentially over, just several hours after beginning.

But it hasn’t been without fireworks. Rangel asked for more time to get a lawyer and then walked out. His request was later denied.

“The committee has decided not to continue this matter,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), who is overseeing the trial, said in turning down Rangel’s demand for more time.

“We recognize that Mr. Rangel does not intend to participate. It is his right not to participate.”

Maybe it’s just me but something stinks here, and it’s not the Representative from Harlem.

What’s the urgency? Rangel was just reelected, and if he’s not afraid of the incoming GOP majority then why should the Ethics Committee care?

The worst thing that they can do to him (now or later) is expulsion. The outgoing and incoming Governors of New York are both Democrats, and Rangel’s seat won’t be going to a Republican if there is a special election.

Are they worried that a GOP-led Ethics Committee won’t be harsh enough?

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Accountability before Austerity: Peter Orszag says, “Let’s turn Social Security into a Welfare Program!!”

Ok, he didn’t exactly say that because that would make people mad.  But what he writes in the NYTimes is essentially the same thing:

You know, I can’t even excerpt parts of this flaming piece of crap.  It’s so full of misdirection and propaganda that it would be obscene and irresponsible to repeat any of it.  If you want to poke holes in his argument, go read it yourself.  He must think we are incredibly stupid.  He reminds me of the Grinch who baldly lies about stealing the Christmas tree and we are the naive and gullible Cindy Lou Who who is no more than two.

He thinks the proposals from Simpson and Bowles last week were fine and dandy!  Peter Orszag was until recently Barack Obama’s Director of the Office of Management and Budget.  So, I think we can safely assume that Barack Obama is on-board with dismantling the most successful program the Democrats ever produced, that has served millions of Americans faithfully and at low cost for decades and decades.  Hey, don’t blame me or Conflucians or Correntians or Anglachelians.  We saw this coming and don’t want any blame for voting for this fraud.  We tried to warn people.  We did the responsible thing and for that we were called racists and losers.  Paul Krugman explains how the Obamacans got it wrong in his post today, The World as Obama Sees it. (I think he’s been reading Anglachel)  The signs have never been good about Barack Obama since he was a candidate, Paul.

Monday Morning News

Facebook is taking over the world. The latest news? They plan on coming out with a full email product!

At this point the unrolling of an e-mail product is pure speculation, however could fast become a reality if sources are spot on with their assessments. Popular technology blog, TechCrunch, seems to indicate the rumors about what has been referred to in the past as “Project Titan” are indeed true; the blog is well-known in the industry as a reliable source for breaking news in technology.

Is social networking changing our lives in a negative way? Email me your thoughts at littleisisisbada$$@facebook.com.

Having problems with hair loss, graying or just need to grow out your hair a little bit? Rosemary oil is the solution.

A study conducted in Scotland showed that rosemary can work for alopecia areata in helping to grow hair. Participants of the study rubbed a mixture of rosemary oil along with other essential oils such as cedar wood, thyme, and lavender onto their scalps. You can make your own rosemary hair tonic by purchasing these essential oils form your local health food store, and they can be directly applied to the scalp to prevent hair loss and graying. One such concoction calls for rosemary oil to be mixed with apple cider vinegar, and after shampooing, it can be used as a rinse to help strengthen your hair.

Some people do not wish to use prescription medications and chemicals which are now available for the treatment of hair loss, and this is a natural treatment. For those who are adverse to using drugs and are looking for a more holistic approach, the use of rosemary oil is worth a try. Pregnant women should avoid using rosemary oil as it can harm the fetus and possibly cause a miscarriage. Please consult with your doctor before using rosemary oil.

I’ve personally found that natural remedies tend to work better than drug store products. And since I look fantastic, I’d say I’m a reliable source. Rosemary is also excellent for relieving sinuses and headaches.

Edsel Obama

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Via Politico, the Smartest President Ever:

President Obama: ‘Campaigning is different than governing’

President Obama offered a lesson for Republicans that he learned the hard way during his first two years in office.

“Campaigning is different than governing,” Obama told reporters Sunday when asked about his meeting with GOP leaders later this week.

“They are flush with victory after a campaign of just saying ‘No,'” he added. “But I’m sure the American people did not vote for more gridlock.”

The president was speaking to reporters when he made a surprise visit to the press cabin of Air Force One during his flight home from Asia. It’s rare for Obama to come to the back of the plane to talk to reporters, but he’s done it twice in the last month.

Obama, who said in India that Republican gains in Congress will require him to make some “midcourse corrections,” blamed his mishandling of politics for his Democratic losses – not his policies.

He vowed to work to make sure his policies are better understood by Americans.

Suuuuuuuure, that’s the ticket! More speeches and Potemkin townhalls. That’s like the CEO of Ford saying: