Pass National Health Care With Public Option Now

Movie Monday

I don't know when I first decided that I wanted to study history nor do I know when I decided that I would only be happy reading primary historical sources. But it has lead to the gathering of quite a wild assortment of books in my house. like The Children of Pride (letters from a large family living during U.S. Civil War times) and Lay My Burden Down (ex-slaves recall slavery and emancipation.) OK, I know there are very good historians out there with secondary source books but you have to understand the shock I got as a child.

I used to watch way too much TV and I used to watch a lot of historical movies. Not The History Channel with its cheesy historical recreations; but movies about history with their pathetic recreations.

I would watch these movies stirred by the heroics and music, and then I would go and check in "what really happened in history" sources. And, damn it!, the movies got it all wrong. Like in Khartoum, Gordon was really more a nut, than a hero (though Queen Victoria was not amused when he died.) Or a current "classic", Beowulf. He never slept with Grendel's mom. OK, I know this is myth, not history, but I think you see the pattern.

For the sake of a good story, movies really don't care if they get history right. The horror! But there are very few things I would go to the mat for. History as accurate as possible is one of them.

So, at a tender age, I was fact-checking the movies. (I must have been a delightful child.) Plus, I've been reading every primary source I can get my hands on, whether on global history or cultural history. And, yes, I do know that primary sources can be propaganda or presented to be such. That's why I'm such a proponent of courses in logic, starting in elementary school. You have to be able to tell the accuracy of what you read - and see.

All this brings me to Doubt. (Pun intended.) I still think it's a must see for Streep's performance (apparently, that was a Brooklyn accent; though my sorry ears hear Boston.) However, to me this movie was only a vehicle for the POV of the author. It was not culturally accurate for 1964 and the Catholic Church.

No young nun would question a priest for putting a shirt in a male student's locker. Sister James says: Why didn't you hand it to him? What? That line doesn't even make sense. He places a shirt in a locker; he waves to the nun; he drinks from the fountain; he walks away. We move from this to pedophilia?

Then there's Meryl Streep's nun. I have no doubt that there was tension between the convent and the rectory in the 1960s. I have no doubt that a strong-willed, conservative Mother Superior would lock horns with the young, Pope John XXIII inspired, priest. But this type of nun also knew the pecking order. She even tells Sister James: You report to me, I report to the Monsignor. She might decide to bring Father Flynn down, however she would not confide so closely in a young nun in order to do this.

So, like the historical movies which so disappointed me, Doubt, in the end, does the same. Adding to its cultural inaccuracies is the fact that the movie is too brisk and brief to flesh out what is a very dramatic conflict. You move from: the opening sermon, the scene of the priest at dinner; the scene of the nuns at dinner, the basketball scene, the classroom inspection scene..... not the actual order but presented more like tableaus to advance the author's theme.

I believe in the end, he (John Patrick Stanley) wants us, all to have doubt. Why was it necessary to re-write history?

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Knitting Friday

(OK, it is Saturday, but this was written Friday morning. However, my photographer didn't get home until dark and suggested we wait till morning for the picture of the blanket. Who am I to argue with my photographer?)

Someone suggested when I told the story about the boy asking how long it takes me to knit a Mario row that I use this as a math lesson: It takes 60 minutes to knit 4 squares (I timed it; boy, am I slow), there are 17 squares in one row. How long will it take to knit one row of squares?

Or, then there is this possible Language Arts lesson: I knit six squares. Then I notice that the first square is the wrong color. Take a pencil and paper and write down the new words you will hear me say. Be sure to watch your spelling.

However, I do seem to have gotten over the learning curve for the blanket. Take a look at the picture. I'm just about half way done, excluding the border. I can see the "Mario" beginning to take form. My next big hurdle is the face since that has got to look like Mario.

Well, that may be only one hurdle because I have gotten two opinions that I should not block this beauty. Two people like the texture of the squares unblocked.

If you look at the right boot, that's blocked. The left one isn't. I did discover that blocking really doesn't add height or width. However, blocking will add the evenness I'm looking for and I'm going to have to get a few more opinions on this.

I could ask the boy re: blocking but I think that's a concept he can't wrap his mind around at his age. (Or, probably, as a boy, at any age.) He does have definite opinions though. The pattern I'm following calls for two squares for the eye but he doesn't like that look so I'm down to one square for the eye. I hope Mario 's eyes don't have that little, beady look.

One thing I won't like without blocking are the yellow button squares. I made those squares thicker to stand out and they are my wonkiest squares. I'm planning to get matching Mario button (sewing type and not the pin type, I hope) to place there. I thought tomorrow, a Saturday 2 weeks before Christmas, would be a good day to shop for them....

And did I mention that the girl looked at the blanket and said: What about making triangles instead of squares? Then you could get finer detail. She's right. My next project?

Next week, I hope to start posting the How-To for this blanket.

Happy knitting.

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Website Wednesday

Two interesting (for me) things from yesterday:

1. The boy asked: How long does it take you to make one row of the Mario blanket? I punted since I had no idea. But later that night I started timing. I took about an hour to finish 4 squares. At which point, I was getting bleary and packed it in for the night. So I learned that I'm very slow with this blanket. Which means I've got to squeeze some "quality" knitting time for it today.

2. We called the NJ Division of Taxation re: the problem I discussed yesterday. The branch office, whose number our town tax office gave us, was answered by a human who told us to copy the check and letter and send the proof in. OK, no problem. But then we decided to call the number (phone number for the main Trenton office) on the actual letter hoping that since we had a reference number from 2006 the matter could be handled over the phone. The call was answered by a robot. We were told that they were experiencing an unprecedented amount of calls and could not even put us on hold. We were told to call back before 10 am (it was 9:30 am) and not on a Monday (it was Tuesday.) Hmmmm...... unprecedented phone traffic and it's not even peak tax season......I wonder how many letters such as ours were sent out at the end of last week......

I have two websites for Website Wednesday:

http://www.ellf.ru/photos/print:page,1,27049-lyuvo-yeto-18-foto.html

These are pictures. Take a look at them. Many of them made me think (I like that with pictures.) It seems to be mainly people interacting and most of the interaction is between young and old(er) people.

I can't tell you much more since it's written in what looks to me like a Slavic language so I wouldn't be able to find an "About Us" if it's there. For all I know about photography all the pictures may be posed, but who cares? Movies are "posed" and I love watching them.

My second website is the "manly" one I promised last week:

http://www.esquire.com/

Ah, the iconic Varga girl photos of the past Esquires from Albert Vargas! I have a feeling this is not your father's (grandfather's) Esquire. The current issue has articles on Alberto Gonzales, the Kennedys, Tiger Woods, and 25 things you don't know about women.

It looks like you get to read the articles and see the pictures without registering. (Thank you, Esquire.)

You may not reading Seymour Hersh-type articles here but it is a "do visit" site. Definitely slated towards men (and why not?) but interesting for women. (Hey! Isn't that a famous ad line?)

I'm looking at the "How to Direct Robert De Niro" piece.

There's a lot here for you. Enjoy.

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Thoughts on Tuesday and Some Movie Monday

It was 4 pm yesterday when I finished my all day project and I had the time to post Movie Monday. I didn’t. I sat and knitted the boy’s Mario blanket and then awakened in the middle of the night to finish the girl’s armwarmers. I bad!

But here’s my excuse:

The New Jersey Division of Taxation. The name strikes fear in the hearts of valiant men. Some background:

In 2006, our tax-preparer put down a deduction on the NJ state tax form which was not allowed. (When we checked the NJ tax code and pointed out her error, the answer was something like: I do it this way for all my clients. - and she is a well-respected CPA)

The state caught the error, we paid the tax (no fine accessed) and closed the book; so we thought.

Saturday, we get a dread NJ Division of Taxation letter. You guessed it; asking for the same amount (again, no fine) for the same 2006 error. So we got the documentation together and today, since we’ll have a big block of time to wait on hold, we’ll call them. This time however, we will not close the book on the issue but keep the documentation handy for the next state sweep.

We were lucky. 2006 to 2009 is a long span of time to keep records in a handy “go to” place. Of course, this was taxes and that’s kept in chronological files. But I got to thinking: What about all the paid bills, banking material, receipts, etc., which are thrown in envelopes with generic labels like “2007.”

So yesterday, I took every manila envelope I could find and removed hundreds of pages of paper and put them in piles. Like phone receipts, water receipts, etc.

I think I got a lot of exercise walking among the piles. I even used my Dollar Tree reading glasses to be sure I got the dates right as I filed.

Now, my “turning over a new leaf” system is to store a month’s receipts in a box and at the end of each month sort them into file cabinet folders. It's too early to laugh at or applaud this idea. I'll let you know.

So by 4 pm, I was through with anything having to do with words. It was a tiring and rewarding day. Oh, and one FYI: when a cash register receipt has faded to white, chuck it. CSI is not coming in to restore the lettering.

Some quick movie thoughts:

1. I watched Living the Legacy: The Untold Story of Milton Hershey School. Well worth a watch. I know it’s good PR for the school but I came away with reinforcement of my belief that we have to try and save every child. Not only for the child, but for a beneficial society. (And, it also makes me want to scream that abortion is still being denied poor woman [unavailable on Medicaid.] It’s not that these anti-choice yahoos are pushing contraception as an alternative or caring for these babies after birth - except cute, white ones, perhaps.)

2. Saw the missing sections of Doubt during the night. Still a powerful movie just for Streep’s performance but I have serious issues with so much of this movie. However, as the Samurai Knitter does with topics in:

http://samuraiknitter.blogspot.com/ - great, irreverent blog

I want to prepare some information for a detailed look at this movie and how it presents twisted social viewpoint.

More on this I hope next week, though I still haven’t discussed Approaching Union Square as I promised weeks ago. I really have got to wrap my mind around something more than Mario.

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Knitting Friday

Yesterday, I wound up at the Paramus Park Mall in Paramus NJ (which was very, very empty in spite of a crowded Route 17) looking at a large photo of Mario. Well, I didn't go to the mall to look at Mario - charmer that he is - but I was killing time while my husband was in Radio Shack. So there was Mario is full splendor and I got to compare my blanket to his happy, bouncy portrait.

I think I have two problems. 1- My yellow buttons are an anemic yellow. Mario is wearing vibrant yellow buttons. Unfortunately a vibrant yellow was not going to be available in wool from Knit Picks until this month and unless I wanted to wait and order the one skein I need and pay shipping (shipping is free after $50), I had to go with yellow, pale wool I had in my stash. 2- Mario's denims are a bright, medium blue. Not really denim-looking as my wool is.

But on the bright side, as you can see from the picture; the gloves look good, the sky is a very light, clear blue and the boots pass muster.

Should the green grass be lighter? Probably, but it'll do.

I'm 1/3 through the rows, not counting the border. I find I get to sleep at 2 a.m. or awaken at 1 a.m. because knitting this baby is addictive. Today, my plan is knitting two full tiers (34 squares.) One tier per day was my goal when I started but I soon realized that was madness.

Right now, I'm thinking ahead to blocking. I'll have black, red, blue and white wool (plus various other colors) and at least three of them are going to bleed. I plan to do a "block and bleeding" Google search and send out an S.O.S. to Ravelry before I ever attempt it.

I'm toying with putting a plastic, cloth-backed tablecloth on the dining table, then some very thick bath towels and then pinning out the blanket. Then, I would steam press it. I just don't want a disaster for the blanket - or the table.

The second picture today is Maggie's Armwarmers:

http://subliminalrabbit.blogspot.com/2008/12/maggies-armwarmers.html

which comes from the same site as Bella's Mittens. If you remember, the girl had decided on the mittens but then she decided on the armwarmers.

The picture shows the left one which is finished except for the gusset. I decided to finish that for both mittens at the same time.

Ravelers, who had made the armwarmers, mentioned potential problems so I wasn't surprised when I finished increasing to 17 stitches for the thumb to find it was a thumb fit for a giant. I scaled back to 11 stitches and that works.

Plus, the M1P and M1K (make one stitch knit or purl) for the thumb area was just wicked. I kept getting a hole at the M1.

Here's how I worked around this (it was cumbersome but it produced no holes):

1 - The RS of the thumb area between your two markers is worked so the purl side of the stockinette stitch faces out.
2- On Row 35, work your stitches to where you should place your 1st marker (it varies for each armwarmer.) On the last stitch before the marker, work the stitch in pattern but also purl an increase into that stitch before you take it off the needle. Cumbersome part: You have made one increase and he pattern stitch and a purl stitch both came out of one stitch. Separate these two made stitches so it's: pattern stitch, marker, purl stitch increase, marker, then finish the row in pattern. So Row 35 has a one stitch purl increase between the markers.

2- On Row 36, you'll be making the increases in knit to get the purl look on the right side. Work in pattern to stitch before 1st marker. Work in pattern in this stitch and then knit an increase in the same stitch. Separate the stitches as above. Knit your increase stitch from Row 35. Remove your second marker and knit an the increase in the next stitch and then work a pattern stitch in the same stitch. Separate the stitches as before (you now have 3 stitches between your markers) and continue in pattern to the end of the row.

Continue to increase this way (on the wrong side, the increases will be in knit) so that every row you get two new stitches in the thumb area (1-3-5-7 etc.) until you have made all the increases you want. While these increases write up tediously, they are really pretty easy.

Now, having pointed out this problem I had with the pattern, let me say, it's a very easy pattern and can be modified for size. Once you start a few rows, you'll see the pattern and won't need the directions. Don't worry about ending on the right or wrong side for the cuff; this is a simple cable pattern with a ribbed cuff. so just use common sense. Oh, I used US 7 for the cuffs and US 8 for the body.

Happy knitting. Now, it's time for my day with Mario.

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Website Wednesday

Some day I have to spend time and try and spiff up my blog. After all, I just finished punching up my newsletter, which I do every month so I should be able to make a blog "pop." I'll put that on my "To-Do" list.

I was thinking that Tiger Woods really got screwed (and absolutely no pun intended) because he struck a fire hydrant. If he had only driven around his own property. I'm sure there's more to this story - I probably don't even have my facts straight because I'm only picking up pieces from headlines and TV news which I catch in passing. So of course you know, I know very little because the MMM is spending all its time on Obama's troop surge and national health care.....

For Website Wednesday, I have Peppermint Bliss:

http://peppermintbliss.com/

Obviously, I am in a holiday mode because my sites are becoming so happy!

PB says about itself:

Hi. I’m Bailey. I’m 23, which means I’ve been in school almost my entire life. So, last year, when faced with the scariest of all scaries “what will you make of yourself” question, I froze. “Follow your bliss!” people would say. But, what was mine?! WEDDINGS! DESIGN! FASHION! FOOD! And, most of all, BLUEBELL PEPPERMINT ICE CREAM! How could I abandon one bliss in pursuit of the other? I couldn’t–I’m just not that kind of gal. So, come on over! Check out my blog, where I’ll share with you some of my bliss and, hopefully, inspire you to find yours! See you soon!

The late, great Joseph Campbell used to talk about following your bliss alot as he wove his tales about common human myths.

Good for Bailey! Life is too short not to do something you love.

Today, Bailey has pictures of Allison and Wes' wedding. She gives advice on how to have a successful wedding. She presents lovely pictures. It's a delight to read. All that's missing are wedding recipes but then you know I'm a sucker for recipes.

Click Design Bliss and read about the home she is building. Take a look at a gorgeous white kitchen. As you know, I'm looking to redesign my kitchen and I love the all white look.

Click Style Bliss for some neat clothing ideas. Click Career Bliss and read about Bailey's interior designer job in Chicago.

I know Bailey is writing as a young, relatively care-free woman, before children arrive with their angst and aging-producing formulas. But it's refreshing to read Peppermint Bliss. It's Eye Candy plus. Definitely worth repeat visits.

And don't forget to check out Bailey's favorite blogs especially Small Space Style. I love small spaces. I love storage ideas for small spaces.

Enjoy.

Next week: I'll try for a manly blog.

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I know I missed Movie Monday and the cyberworld is crying. But this is newsletter week, or rather this is budget newsletter week where I try to explain the budget to the community without inciting them to arrive at the homes of the Board with flaming torches.

So the entire day yesterday was spent formatting the newsletter and working on a detailed and complicated budget article.

I did want to discuss Doubt yesterday but I couldn't wrap my mind around that since I think there is a subliminal theme in that movie which needs some close examination. However, anything non-newsletter related has been banished from my mind. At least until we print on Thursday.

Plus, I just opened the fridge and discovered unless I really, really like sliced turkey and carrots I'm going to be dieting for a while because: the larder is bare! How did that happen? It used to be full of stuff.

Enough ramblings. I have to go and print out and proof the newsletter.

See you tomorrow. There will be a Website Wednesday.

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Knitting Friday

This will be a short post since everyone is probably shopping, resting, or surfing to find recipes for leftover turkey. I just made this with very, very dry turkey (fresh from Trader Joes and the worst turkey I've ever eaten, very sad):

1 onion cut-up
1 can baked beans
cut-up leftover turkey
thinly sliced cheddar cheese
lettuce mix cut into small pieces
chips

Fry the onion in oil. Add the turkey and stir. Add the baked beans and cook. Season to taste. Cover with cheese. Cover pan and melt cheese. Serve on a plate of cut-up mixed greens. Serve with chips.

It was so much better than the Thanksgiving meal. Same turkey but much better.

I'm about to begin the Bella mittens from Twilight:

http://www.subliminalrabbit.com/

It's the first pattern under Free Patterns.

Last night, during Michael's 4 hour, 30% off everything sale, I took the girl and she picked out Paton dark gray wool; the same shade as the mitten pattern. It looks like a complicated pattern but all the Ravelers making it say it's a breeze.

But right now the most important thing on my needles is the Mario blanket for the boy. I'm on tier 5 of the squares and I think I've solved some minor problems. A picture is below:


You're looking at the bottom of the blanket. That's green for the grass, brown for the boots, light blue for the sky and denim blue for Mario's overalls. These are mitered squares. The whole blanket will have an edging of denim blue once I block it.

I'm finally getting the rhythm of this baby and I'm now hoping to finish two tiers a day. It's a little tricky because I had to get sport weight and fingering weight yarn from Knit Picks to get all the colors I needed for Mario. So, I'm using US 7 needles for the sport weight but US 5 for two strands of fingering to get the same-sized squares.

Next week, Ill give the pattern for this blanket. It's really just a ubiquitous mitered square pattern which I have tweaked very severely.

Happy knitting.

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Website Wednesday

A dismal, rainy day in NJ as opposed to a rainy day without the fog and dank. It's all half-days this week for school so I have about a little over one half-hour free time.

First, the website I didn't post, due to time constraints, last week:

http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/kitchen-tours/michelles-gracious-craftsman-kitchen-kitchen-spotlight-101135?image_id=884730

As I said, this is a throw-away website, not really for Website Wednesday this time but I'm including it because of this picture linked above.

I have a very problematic kitchen layout. You enter the door from the living room foyer area and to your left are the dishwasher, sink, stove, counter and cabinets. To the right and perpendicular to the above is the fridge with a counter and cabinet just beyond it and just beyond that is the door to the dining room.

So when I saw this picture with the cabinet on the right of the door (my dining room door), I thought: I could do this. My counter area is even smaller than the picture. Maybe I could buy a ready-made piece of furniture. After all, this counter/cabinet is a distance from the sink counter/cabinet. Maybe I don't need granite here.

So this is the site I didn't get a chance to list last Wednesday. I love this site and it will be my Website Wednesday pick soon.

But for this week, it's:

http://thebigfoto.com/

The "About" tells us:

This site is inspired by The Big Picture, a photo blog for the Boston Globe/boston.com, where entries are posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday by Alan Taylor.

The Big Picture is intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery – with a focus on current events, lesser-known stories and, well, just about anything that comes across the wire that looks really interesting.

The Big Foto is also intended to highlight high-quality imagery that people want to share through Internet:

• Flickr Creative Commons
  
• NASA/ESA
• and all other free contributors

The Big Foto is not about news but about every small beautiful things that surround our lifes, from a drop to the universe.

This site is developed by Joaquín Duaso.

This is both a visually and verbally must-see site.

For example, scroll down to Stonehenge for a short article. Click at the end of the article to listen to Celtic music. Then click "More pictures" at the bottom of the Stonehenge picture for 25 visually stunning photos of this ancient landmark.

There is so much good stuff here. Click through "Categories" for old favorites and new photographic friends.

Sorry, I can't spend more time describing this site for you but you don't need me.

You know the drill. Enjoy.

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Movie Monday

What with this week being three half-days in school and my starting the boots on the Mario blanket, this posting will be short. Just some movie thoughts; which I will flesh out at a later date.

Doubt with Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams.

Be sure to see it if only for Streep's performance. Hers is what transcends acting from a craft into the sphere of magic. OK, that last line was hokey but most of the time, if you're lucky, you get to see good actors play roles to which you can connect. But all the time watching them you know that they are very good actors playing role.

Streep, however, is the nun she plays in Doubt. This is not Meryl Streep' s interpretation of a nun with a Boston flat accent. This is Sister Aloysius Beauvier who lives in Boston and whose slice of life you are watching.

Now, once again, I missed huge portions of this movie due to falling asleep and right now I'm only as far as the two nuns discussing a possible problem with Father Brendan and young boys. So I have a long way to go to see if the drama holds up to Streep's performance.

I'm having a minor (major?) problem already though because of the scene where Amy Adam's Sister James watches Father Brendan place something in a boy's locker. (A deed done without any suspicious undertones.) Then she goes to the locker and removes what he put in.

The year of the movie is 1964. (Brendan's opening sermon mentions JFK died last year.) The nun's are still in full garb. Sister Aloysius talks about the pecking order of the RC. No nun in that time period would have spied on a priest without very, very good cause.

A quibbling point? Perhaps, but a lot is hanging on the nun's suspicions of Father Brendan.

Then a few scenes later, Sister James tells Sister Aloysius that Brendan called a boy out of her class to come to the rectory and that she noticed the boy was bothered when he came back. A good observations - for our times.

Is the author interjecting today's knowledge of pedophiles in the priesthood back to this time? Was this common knowledge in the 1960s?

I should go back and read some cultural/social history of the time period but I think I'm going to settle for IMDb reviews to see if anyone else picked this up.

Well, that's it. I told you it was going to be short. A more complete review of Doubt with follow - as soon as Starz runs it again and I stay awake.

Next Week: Approaching Union Square. A movie or just acting class?

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Knitting Friday

Yes, it is Saturday because yesterday started with some whirlwind Thanksgiving shopping. The stores were rather tame and I was able to get a load of stuff without the long lines - which may start today and continue through December. So I was tired but content when I arrived home with the goods and found the mailman at my mailbox considering whether a huge package he was carrying was going to fix into my puny, but federally-approved and association-approved mailbox.

I solved his dilemma by being there and within minutes I was inside cuddling with the yarn I had ordered for the Mario blanket.

And that kiddies is why there was no Knitting Friday because, until I found myself nodding off, I worked on the Mario blanket all day yesterday. OK, to be truthful, I was up 7 squares before I ripped out. But awakening at 3 a.m. has me now at 6 squares so you could say I’m just humming along. (Edit: Since I wrote this I'm up to 15 squares, just about ready to start the second tier of squares.)

What put me in the frog pond with the first 7 squares is the fact that these mitered squares are my invention; or rather my drastic tweaking of a designer’s mitered square. I’ve been using this variation for ages but I never wrote down the directions and after the first 7 squares were completed I noticed (and yes, I was in denial until the 7th square) the mitered point flared out. Now, this is a problem with bias but I solved it in my second attempt by ending the squares with one less row.

Early this a.m., I finally wrote down the pattern, which is always a good idea but even “gooder” with this pattern because on some squares I do ssk and K2tog and on others, it’s ssp and P2tog.

I’ll share the pattern and pictures once I get two tiers of squares finished. With two tiers, I’ll have all the variations down since the tiers are: A, B, A, B, etc.

Right now, I want to stop typing and get back to Mario because after the second tier it gets interesting because the boot squares start on the third tier.

I’ll leave you with a picture of my dusty rose wool cardi/shrug (left). I made it as long as a cardigan with sleeves ending just before the wrist watch area of the arm - much easier when you wash dishes. So it’s really a cardigan with a touch of shrug in that it doesn’t meet in the front. I decided I like that look and my fourth one is on the needles.

Also, the purple shawl got gifted last week so I have to renege on the promised photo. However, the shawl to the right is the beginning of the same pattern as the purple. shawl. It’s done with Knit Picks lace and an N crochet hook. I’m finding that if I have at least two skeins of lace, this is also a favorite pattern. (One skein will work but you’ll get a shawlette since crocheting does use more yarn; that’s not a myth. ) And, with three skeins, it becomes a luscious wide and long rectangular shawl which can be wore for three seasons.

OK, got to go. Mario calls.

Happy knitting.

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Website Wednesday

How to get a little behind in your work? Find out the night before that School Visitation Day is this morning. That is, today. The morning the DDS' office gave you for an appointment when you called on Monday. Talk about running fast. I spent an hour in the school before going to the dentist.

I only got to see one class: Technology aka Computer Class. I have a tip for the new NJ gov: If you want to save money don't let kids print out page-sized black backgrounds for their work. They must go through ink cartridges like water.

I had two websites picked for today. One was just a throw-away but it was going to take a bit of a set-up and I'm really tired after this morning so I'll save that site for next week.

But take a look at:

http://www.thrillingdetective.com/

Don't be put off by the "doll/moll" on this page. (Clicking on the titles of books on this page gets you excerpts of various up-and-coming detective writers.)

Inside the site, expect to read about tough private eyes because the site explains:

This site is for private eyes, and other tough guys and gals who make trouble their business. It's not about cops, plucky librarians, nosey old spinsters or talking cats...

If you go to the annotated list of Private Eyes & Other Tough Guys:

http://www.thrillingdetective.com/eyes.html

you'll learn all about these characters and the books in which they appear.

Click on "Buy the Book" after the short descriptive blurbs for a trip to Amazon.com where you can read hundreds of customer and editorial reviews for the books.

The private eyes/tough guys list is quirky. You have Sherlock Holmes but not Hercule Poirot. You'll learn about Doc Long from the radio show, I Love A Mystery. You'll get to revisit a 1960's TV series, Hawaiian Eye which looks ghastly. You'll learn all you ever wanted to know about V.I. Warshawski, who appears in some good books and one dreadful movie.

Kevin Burton Smith heads the staff at The Thrilling Detective as the editor-in-chief. He and his staff all seem to enjoy a love for a good detective yarn.

So, if you, as I, love a good mystery with an edge. Take a look at The Thrilling Detective. I think you'll be browsing for quite a while.

Pass National Health Care Now With Public Option

Movie Monday

I so feel like Cato The Elder when I type my banner. I also feel like a fool, though a hopeful fool.

I like Chris Hedges when he wrote Obama should admit he believes in socialism as his enemies insist; socialism for corporations that is:

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20090914_stop_begging_obama_to_be_obama_and_get_mad/

But this is Movie Monday so let’s talk about movies.

This is going to be a posting of this and that which means I didn’t sit through any movies this week long enough for a review. But I do have some movie thoughts.

1. Apparently, there was a Golden Age of movie reviews exemplified by reviewers like Pauline Kael and James Agee. Now, we’re in the age of Thumbs Up and Thumb Down reviews but read Agee and Kael for a very interesting look at what movie reviews can be - when people wrote.

2. Which brings me to observation two: Can an average person (like me) review a movie from one movie visit? I don’t think so. Case in point: Michael Clayton. I get more out of that movie with each viewing. My recent thought: Is the part of Michael Clayton gender specific? Could a woman play that role?

I’m the fixer. I’m the janitor. Clayton says. Could a woman say that (or a variation) believably?

3. How did I miss the wall color in Three Days of the Condor? WTF? You ask.

I think I have seen 3 Days.... at least one time all the way through and then have picked up sections along the way. But some things never registered until a viewing about a month ago. Perhaps for the first time I took in that the CIA research office where Redford worked was in NYC (I guess all the obvious references to NYC just didn't register) and that Faye Dunaway had a walkout basement apartment in the city.

But this time, I noticed that her bar/counter divider was painted in a bright burnt-orange and I thought: Whoa, Nellie. Those are CA colors. What were they thinking? Very seldom are such musings answered but mine were. A few scenes later Dunaway “mistakenly” opens CIA Director Cliff Robertson’s NYC office door. And there is Robertson at his desk with the entire window wall behind him painted in the same burnt-orange. I guess the set designer got a good price on that color paint.

This, of course, is a trivial point but does give me an excuse for watching the same movie again and again - I’m just trying to be sure I miss nothing.

4. Pirates 3 and terrorism. Having the boy alone last evening and it being Sunday, he got to watch a movie. Yep, it was Pirates 3. He didn’t last long. Even he got bored, but it started me thinking. Looking at the movie from the POV of the establishment, the pirates can easily be classified as terrorists and yet we are asked to make them our heroes and hiss when Cutler Beckett and his henchman appear. Then I started to think about other good guys vs. bad guys movies. Often, movies extol the heroism of the “pirate” as he battles an evil establishment.

Another example is Elizabeth: The Golden Age. Walter Raleigh is decried by the Spanish. However, Raleigh is one of the heroes of this movie. It does go back to the old saw: One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.

Remember Mel Brooks’ famous cave man skit where Cave 1 is fighting Cave 2 and is chanting: Let's hear it for Cave #1. There’s something primal in jingoism. Our caveman altruist who said: What, Cave 2 has no food? Have them eat with us, probably left the human gene pool without a trace eons ago.

Well, that’s it for movies this week. Just random thoughts which hopefully now that they are down on paper are no longer cluttering my brain so I can write a real review for next Monday.

Happy movie watching.

Pass National Health Care With Public Option Now

Knitting Friday

This is my 201st post. Wow! I'm impressed.

The wool has arrived from Knit Picks for the Mario blanket. However, the blanket has changed to this one:

http://www.spritestitch.com/?p=1226

For months, I was searching for a Mario blanket I could knit. As you know, I discovered I had no skill with intarsia but once I stumbled on Mario quilts I discovered so many possibilities; all of which I could knit, thanks to the mitered square.

Unfortunately, I measured and ordered wool for this Mario blanket which I posted last Friday and which is no longer my choice:

http://www.wiinintendo.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/3773324169_2145459190.jpg

I'm happy that my final choice has a Mario with two feet on the ground but notice the absence of black in my final choice. I ordered 5 skeins of black wool based on my first Mario choice. Well, I've been meaning to make a black shawl for ages and I think the sport weight will be a good choice. However, I've been told that my Mario should have black hair and moustache not brown so some black wool will be used.

However, the good news is that it looks like my original Knit Picks order has right amount of skeins for my second choice blanket. I only have to order the face color since my original Mario had the same color for hands and face and my final Mario has white gloves. Plus, I've decided to make this into a rectangular blanket. (Remember I was going make a free-form Mario? What was I thinking?) So I have to order the traditional Mario background: blue for the sky and green for the grass.

Right now, I trying to finish up all my unfinished projects so I can concentrate on Mario. I finished a lace purple shawl which is a Christmas gift (pictures next week) and I'm on the last sleeve of my cardi/shrug. Also, I have to work a swatch in the Knit Picks wool since I wasn't able to do this before. So the swatch I used in deciding what to order from Knit Picks was in a cotton sport weight

My dread is that my Knit Picks swatch will show me that I need more yarn. That won't be a problem with the red shirt and hat or the brown boots and hair/moustache since they are in separate areas on Mario. But if I need more blue, I could be in big trouble. I guess I could just order a load more (8+ skeins) and use the 8 skeins I have for this Blue Jeans lace shawl:

http://ramblingdesigns.blogspot.com/2008/04/have-look.html

which is an easy knit.

OK, it's time for me to get back to my knitting since I'm in a time crunch right now. Not only is there a time crunch due to the upcoming holidays but there a time crunch in that I have to get this finished before the boy loses interest in Mario.

But I'll leave you with something I learned: Knit Picks colors on the Internet are not accurate but the written description which pops up when you click the color is very accurate.

For example, scroll down to Cardinal on this page:

http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/Telemark_Yarn__D5420152.html

Does that look like "true red" to you? It doesn't to me but the written description says it is; and it is.

Happy knitting.

Pass National Health Care With Public Option Now

Website Wednesday

Just to finish my review of Frost/Nixon from Monday. I did get to see the rest of the movie and it did hold up. It got a little dramatic when Nixon's aide stopped the interview and I don't know if that really happened. I do know Frost wrote a lot about the background to the interviews and that Nixon did make late night phone calls (another dramatic scene) so perhaps the drama shown did occur.

And on to Website Wednesday:

http://www.thehydetube.com/tube.php

This is probably my most unusual choice yet. It's French (nothing unusual there) and it's all videos. That's the unusual part since the site says of itself:

The Hyde Tube is an international data bank that allows to see on one single website short films directed by hundreds of directors likely to direct commercials, music videos and virals.

The films or clips that you submit to The Hyde Tube must be original works directed by yourself. The films or clips should not last more than 3 minutes without title nor credits. To submit a film, you imperatively must choose a pseudonym different from your last name and from your company name.

The jury will screen films once a week in order to make selections.

Clients will contact The Hyde Tube in order to pass on a project to a specific director, who is then free to decide whether or not to accept it.

So, it's really not a site set up for the general public but it's out there for all of us and it's well worth clicking about the videos. They're short, many are wacky, all of them are clever.

Taking just two, Mrs. Saylor and Mr. Zolrack, with the first you get some interesting photo-shopping, with the latter you get a cartoon dilemma of two sidewalk building posters.

These videos are all by aspiring directors hoping to achieve a standing in their profession. You may get to see future "hot" talent here. For sure you'll get to see the work of some very creatively talented people.

Enjoy.

Pass National Health Care Now

Movie Monday

I was pretty depressed about writing any movie review since this weekend I got to see that waste-of-space movie, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. What a disappointment! You know how with teens sometimes they seem to replace "and" with "fuck" in their speech and you get to hear that explicative (Edit: Sorry about that. The word is expletive. I don't even know what explicative means but for some reason the spell checker here gives you wild suggestions and obviously I clicked the change without looking.) so often that it loses all impact? Well, this movie was so horrible, so devoid of the raunchy charm of the 2004 Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle , that you need to use the word "gross" so often, that it, like "fuck", loses its moral authority.

So I approached Movie Monday with a What the hell attitude. We're all doomed. Screw the arts.

Then I stopped to see Frost/Nixon during lunch today. I didn't have much hope for this movie either since I consider Ron Howard the Opie of directors: competent but always playing on the safe side.

Full disclosure, I still have 45 minutes to go with this movie and perhaps it's going to bomb. But even if it does bomb in the last 45 minutes, till than you will be treated to a fast-paced, thorough look at a very problematic president. Forget that he was a crook and a war criminal; this is a fascinating look at a very bright man pitted against a very superficial performer, David Frost. Watch how these famous post-presidency interviews were negotiated between a failed president and an Australian entertainer. Then watch how Nixon, as played so well and so astutely by Frank Langella works verbal jujitsu on a researched-prepared but not mentally-prepared Frost. Nixon washes the deck with him in the first interview. It looks like things are changing at the second interview but that's where I'm going to have to pick this movie up at another time.

It's masterfully written, directed and acted. Watch it for a lesson in the craft of movie making. Watch it for a slice of history this country should never forget.

Medicare For All - Public Option Now

Knitting Friday

Last night, I spent over an hour plotting a Mario blanket. Why is this special you ask? Because in all the time I've been knitting this the most time (and the only time) I have bothered to plot out (let alone think out) a project.

Some background: You may remember I showed the boy the spectacular Mario blanket a woman crocheted for her husband.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31676807@N08/3393263514/

I, naively thinking: What a great project! He would love to see that.

He thinking shrewdly: What a great project! I want that!

And so began my quest for a Mario blanket pattern. And what a futile search it was. There are some Mario dish clothes out there and some Mario and pals graphs. However, I soon learned the dishcloth Mario patterns didn't "pop" and also that intarsia was not my forte.

Now you know how it is with kids. They forget. Not this boy. How's the blanket coming? or Are you finished with my blanket yet? appeared in his conversation at least once a week.

I didn't want to shatter his confidence in me and my knitting skills but I had hit the proverbial brick wall. I knew I could not make a Mario blanket based on available patterns.

And then.....sometimes serendipity does occur. I can't remember how I found it but I discovered this picture:

http://www.wiinintendo.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/3773324169_2145459190.jpg

And I thought: I can do this. It's a bunch of squares which I can miter and join as I knit for a continuous knit. Oh, Happy Days!

Yesterday, I showed the boy the picture. You know how it is with men. Wives/girl friends/significant others say: Oh, they don't pay attention. They don't listen.

Not the boy. He has always had a steel trap for a mind and when he is told something; he remembers. Like when I hurt my back. Two week later, he asked: How's your back?

So, I should have known. He looked at the picture. He liked the picture, but...... What about his shoes? he says.

Sure enough, this seems to be a Mario in the flying mode, shoes to the side. The boy did not like that.

So last night I graphed a modified Mario with feet on the ground and facing to the right.

But that wasn't all. Then I took a J crochet hook and chained 24 stitches to make this mitered square.

http://www.hookedonneedles.com/2008/07/mitered-squares-baby-blanket-crocheted.html

which I've mentioned before. This is a big to small mitered square which I like better than the CO 2 and then increase type.

I made the crocheted mitered square, knotted the end of the wool when I finished the square, pulled out the square and then measured how much yarn I used. It was 11+ yards in crochet and 5+ yards in stockinette stitch on US 8. After some more swatches. I've decided to us garter stitch with US 6 and a cast on of 24 stitches. which will take a little more than 6 yards per square. The pattern is:

CO 24 stitches (Always slip the 1st stitch as purl. Mark the right side of your work.)
Row 1 & all odd WS rows: K across and place marker between stitch 12 and 13.
Row 2 and all RS even: K to 2 sts before marker; ssk, slip marker, K2tog, K to the end.
Continue these two rows to 4 stitches.
Next row RS row: SSK, K2tog
Next row: K2tog. Do not break yarn.

From the RS, pick up 12 stitches along the edge of the 1st square (which will be easy if you slipped the 1st stitch purl), put marker, CO 12 more sts.
Start at Row 1 and complete another square.

See how it's going? You connect the squares as you go and if you're doing this right the slant of the mitered centers should be going in the same direction.

Looking that the Mario blanket, I'll do both shoes separately then join for the blue of his overalls. Since I'm using Knit Picks Telemark wool sports weight I'll be able to splice the ends and voila! no pesky ends to weave in.

OK, got to go and try and finish up as many projects as I can before the wool order arrives.

Happy knitting.

Medicare For All - Public Option Now

I went into a bad depression after George W.'s gang stole the presidential election of 2000 until Peter Jackson's LOTR movies snapped me out of it. (More on this perhaps someday.)

Yesterday, Corzine lost in NJ; Christie won. But no depression this time though I do think this victory does not bode well for NJ. However, pulling the lever for Corzine needed some real intellectual musings and most people don't vote that way. When it comes to Jersey, voters were looking at some of the highest taxes in the nation and most of them without children in our over-priced, wasteful educational system were not seeing any bangs for the buck.

Unfortunately, the Democrats have forgotten that you have to give your base a few crumbs, just like the Republicans do. For Republicans while they are so toxic for so much of their hard-core base by sending their sons to war, reducing their welfare benefits, and sinking them deeper into poverty, brilliantly give this base some crumbs: their anti-abortion stand; their anti-gay stand; their anti-immigrant stand. This base may be like the frog thrown into the cold water to boil but at least their party is taking stands with which they approve and with which they can wrap some good old-fashioned bigotry around.

While the Democrats........ Oh, yeah, they're going to go to the mat and give us national health care. Well, wait a minute. Maybe they're not.

Website Wednesday

Two websites today.

http://www.hostessblog.com/ and

http://onlycreative.com.au/glenn-jones-glennz/

The second listing, Only Creative says of itself: OnlyCreative handpicks awesome designers from all over the world and showcase their design portfolios. Currently we have showcased loads of talented designers on our site and we will continue hunting for more.

Sort of what I do on Website Wednesday except I'm not creative enough to even recognize the awesome. Be sure to enjoy Only Creative's archives but be sure to concentrate on the above hyperlink which features designer, Glenn Jones. View his work and then think about it.

Of the first listing, the Hostess (With the Mostess) Blog, you may say is too "girly." Mea culpa. But this is a great blog for entertaining. Just take a look at the "Tabletop" link in Modern Moroccan section of bridal shower themes. Not only do you get to see how the decorations will look but you get a "What You Need" section with practical items like:
• Large colored glass or ceramic vase
• Costume jewelry (or strands of craft beads)
• Tropical Leaves (real or faux)
• Gold curly willow or other branches

This is a site which gives you practical ideas for entertaining. You'll come away with knowing: I can do this.

There is so much to visit on this site but don't forget to click The Recipe Box. Take a look at Mustard Pecan BBQ Slaw or Goat Cheese Truffles. These look like few ingredients, fast recipes.

Want dessert? Try All Grown Up S'Mores. This recipe is a great user of the egg yolks which are left over when you make Forgotten Cookies. OK, these desserts will not qualify for dieting but you can improvise. Like with Chocolate Truffle Pie, eliminate the crust and pour the filling into a PAM coated pan. It'll be eating a pound of dark chocolate. Now, how fattening can that be?

Enjoy!

Jon Corzine for New Jersey Governor

The New Jersey election for governor is tomorrow and I think it’s important that we don’t elect Republican Chris Christie.

I don’t know if New Jersey is fixable but I do know that Chris Christie is not going to fix it. He may pull a sleight of hand like Christie Whitman and do funny stuff by borrowing from the state workers’ pension fund so that the deluge of debt occurs after his tenure.

But there’s something else that bothers me about Christie. He has the arrogance of a prosecutor, a judge, a sheriff. The shrug of the shoulder he gives reporters which accompanies his answer of: So what? when he’s questioned about unsavory deeds is not the reaction of a man who understands the workings of a representative democracy and its accountability.

Remember, we, as a country, are just about clawing our way back from the abyss of eight years of totalitarian governmental thinking.

So think beyond your pocketbook in this election. So think beyond the latest corruption convictions and remember power and money corrupts all parties.

Ask yourself this question: Do I really want to reward the Republicans with this plum prize of New Jersey?

Because that’s what you’re doing. Once your anger at rising taxes and venal politicians has abated, you’re going to wake up in bed with Chris Christie and all sorts of Republican political thugs.

You and New Jersey are not going to be the better for it.