Something to think about

There's this poll on the Internet this morning asking which people which party they think is more responsible for the country's current financial situation, Republicans or Democrats. Now, while there has certainly asked some odd poll questions in the past, I think this one ranks right up there on the stupidity level.

How, exactly, is a specific political party responsible for a financial crisis? I read an article predicting exactly this type of financial situation about five years ago -- and the reasons for it made a lot more sense then blaming any specific group of people with the same political ideals. The article said people would start saving more and buying less (they have). It said that the housing market was a bubble that would soon pop (it has). It said that inflation would soon cause the price of staple items to increase disproportionately to wage raises (it has). And it said that rising oil prices would put a crunch on people as gas prices went up (yep, that's happened too).

The only one of those items that I can even associate with any political party is the fact that oil prices are connected to the war somewhat. But the price of oil is dependent on so many other things too (Katrina, Rita, and Ike ring any bells?), and it was going up prior to the war, so even there I think the connection is a little shaky.

Despite my opinion on various people in Washington (or lack, thereof, as some of them frankly don't deserve one), I think this poll is shooting in the dark. It's just one more attempt at passing the buck off on other people. The situation is frustrating, there's no doubt about it, and we want someone to blame for it. But the truth of the matter is, there really isn't anyone to blame, because the crisis has happened because of things we've all done, not just one particular person or group of people.

*sigh* Ok, off the soap box.

Ravelympics and other things

Ok, so this is rather late, but I thought I'd post about what all UFO's I got done during the Olympics. This isn't officially my Ravelympics projects (mainly because I knew that if I posted it and made it official, nothing would get done. I do know that much about myself), but I did want to see if I could get them done while the Olympics were going on.

So I decided to work on a few of my UFO's and just see if I could get them done.

UFO #1: My rosebud socks, knit for myself, started last spring.
Progress prior to 080808: Halfway up the foot of one sock
Yarn: LionBrand Microspun.
Pattern: Invented on the fly. Ask me nicely, and I might consider sending it to you.




UFO #2: White Shawl, started last May to be completed for a friend who is expecting a baby this fall
Progress prior to 080808: All done but the border
Yarn: LionBrand Sportweight
Pattern: Debbie Macomber's Alix Prayer Shawl




UFO #3: Big Green, started last fall, to be a Christmas present for an undisclosed recipient. Despite what the picture looks like, it really is made out of green yarn.
Progress prior to 080808: back complete, front done to the armholes
Yarn: Cascade 220
Pattern: Patons' Aran Raglan, adapted to a vest




UFO #4: Hooded Cardigan, started sometime last winter, to be another Christmas present for another undisclosed recipient. There is no picture of this, not because I wasn't able to finish it, but simply because I just never got around to it.
Progress prior to 080808: Both fronts, back, pockets, and one sleeve complete
Yarn: Caron Rainbow Tones Blue Ombre
Pattern: Ummm, the name of the book escapes me at the moment, but it's a hooded cardigan knit from the top down with a knit-on button band and divided kangaroo pockets.

You're just going to have to believe me when I say that this one is all done (except for the buttons, because the undisclosed recipient has insisted on putting them on herself and confiscated the sweater to do so -- I hope).


Prompts? You bet. Here are three:
A tall oak tree, half dead, standing against the sky.
A pink ribbon nestled among blond curls.
Someone came to my door last night...

Ready for a Brand New Beat

School starts today.

Oh bliss, oh joy, oh wonder of wonders. School starts today. School starts today. School starts today.

And even though it is ending, summer still is here, and truly the time really is right to go dancing in the street.

Join me, won't you? SCHOOL STARTS TODAY!!!!