Random Things.

M. Kane Jeeves is the bestest!

I'd never heard of Rockridge Institute, this is one of those "follow the links" finds, but I read George Lakoff's book "Don't Think of An Elephant." It's a great book, and very, very infuriating, because it made me realize how we were set up and conditioned to accept the neocon position by the clever use of language. Say what you will about Chubby Butt Karl, he is a freaking genius. Of course, so were several of Hitler's buds.

Take this newly minted hysteria about "illegal aliens." I can't be the only one old enough to remember when they were "undocumented workers." Workers who are here working at jobs without the proper papers, because, you know, that describes what they are. Now they are Illegal Aliens! "Illegal" makes them criminals, and Aliens - well hell, didn't Sigourney Weaver fight those scary bastards in that movie? It's designed to trigger a "get mah shotgun" response. Meanwhile, our borders at both ends have been merrily leaking like a sieve since 9/11 and nobody in BushCo gave a shit until his poll numbers tanked and gay marriage didn't get much traction and they needed a new demon to demonize.

I posted the above link on KR and it lured out a predictable response. Did you know that Republicans respresent "the little guy" and progressives are actually a bunch of smartypants socialists? One can just sigh. Of course, I visited this poster's blog and read that she'd tatted some adorable little antique lady figure and someone was going to sew it to a sweatshirt. Jesus Wept. So did the girls at Go Fug Yourself.

My daughter observed a week or two ago that KR isn't what it used to be in terms of interesting non-knitting discussion. Oh well, it happens.

I didn't make it to the office - I have a milder version of the Girlchild's dreaded virus, I feel punkish but not flat on my back sick. It's a 24 hour bug at best, I should be okay in the morning. I did finish the latest Clapotis - I love Lion and Lamb like I love good coffee and good wine, it's just so worth the price. I still have to drop a lot of stitches, L&L does not drop easily, it tends to grab onto itself and hang on. Dropping stitches with force is so satisfying, maybe that's one reason I love the pattern and the yarn. The pattern is pure genius - easy but clever as hell in its construction. And I realized - after I bought it - that it is a perfect scarf for my elderly Nice Winter Coat, that I wear once every 2 years for a few days when I go somewhere Northern during the winter. I hope to use it this winter in Asheville when I visit the Boy and scope out the possibilities.