Gunsmoke and Knitting

Art in Science is a blog I look in on from time to time. Today I came upon a profile of glass artist, Luke Jerram, who is creating microbes in glass – glass microbiology. They are just amazing.

I haven’t blogged about knitting for a while, but recently found some clever crocheted skulls on etsy. While I admire the work and the whimsey, I am not going to indulge in crocheted skulls.
I like this one, too. The itsypoo-ness of lace combined with skulls appeals.
Then there’s this – way fun.
I will, however, add this motif to a sweater I am currently knitting. Subtlety is the key.
Halloween is coming. Given the glamoury, who would you turn into a frog?

We heard the news. It could not be true. Then we watched the tower fall. And the world changed. And we cried . . . for the victims, for the survivors, for their families, for our country.

I applauded when my grocery store changed their sign over the express checkout line to read, “12 items or fewer.” The misuse of “less” and neglect of “fewer” is one thing that I find grating. (Fewer snowflakes, less snow.)

Another annoying point is people who say so and so is “a faculty.” I work in an academic institution and this usage comes up often both verbally and in writing. In a spoken conversation, I can accept it as a form of verbal shorthand, but in formal writing, in a proposal, to a federal funding agency – no. Of course an advanced degree means, to some, that they are never wrong even if their degree is in an arcane field that gave them little exposure to the study of English.

The other day our provost sent out a memo and in the first paragraph was touting “new” initiatives. I quit reading at that point.

But my question of the day is how come we talk about walnuts and beech nuts, but not oak nuts?

I admit it. I am addicted to a couple of webcams. I’ve taken the time to watch the cows come home, to monitor the corn crop and to observe the elephants at the waterhole of a South African game park.
One that really intrigues me, however, is the Old Faithful webcam at Yellowstone National Park. As you probably know, Yellowstone is a highly active geologically. It is the probable site of what has been termed a super volcano. One of these days it is going to blow. Geologists say it erupts approximately every 600,000 years and Yellowstone is overdue. I just learned that the USGS, National Park Service and University of Utah have teamed up to monitor the rise and fall of the Yellowstone caldera. They post their reports here. More here at Science Daily.
But I am going to keep track of the webcam. Then when the volcano does go up, I’ll be watching.

Happy Labor Day. The days have been sunny and warm. The leaves are still green. But the I can feel the seasons turning. The birds that had been calling out their territorial songs or answering the calls of their hatchlings are now practicing formation flying in preparation to the trip south.
My garden that put forth enough wonderful mixed leaf salad greens that I did not have to buy any all summer is about spent. The tomato plants still have a few green ones clinging on, but I don’t have high hopes for them to vine-ripen.
The sky at night has been a wonder. The full moon has been at full wattage. Jupiter in the southeast has been a treat to observe for many weeks. The summer triangle is seen overhead earlier and earlier, and will soon be replaced by Orion’s bright stars.
The days are summer soft, but winter is waiting just around the corner from the fall.

I came across this RFT when I was internet strolling and though it was interesting. Made me stop and think about what kind of literary tattoo would consider. I do not have a tattoo, and while I can make a whole lot of smart arse comments on possible tattoos (invisible ink, glow in the dark, skin colored ink to cover my age spots), I won’t go into that.

But the idea of literary brings up the whole idea of copyright, not just the words, but the images – and the idea of ownership. Is a tattoo a work of art. The good ones are someone’s creation. Who owns the image. If you buy a painting, drawing, etc., you own it and can do with it what you will.

But should the tattoo artist be attributed when your tattoo is photographed?

Anyway there is a whole lot of discussion on tattoo copyrights. Some comments are here and here.

I want to get a tattoo of myself on my entire body, only two inches taller. ~Steven Wright

National Aviation Day – August 19 – is the birthday of Orville Wright. Forget the wimpy (albeit historic) Wright Flyer, I would like to recognize one of my favorite aircraft.

The A-10 Thunderbolt – Warthog – Tank-Killer. They have a nice one at Wings of Eagles in Horseheads, NY. If you are in the Finger Lakes area, it is worth a visit.

I recently read that Hank Aaron was interested in having Pete Rose reinstated in baseball in order for him to be elected to the Hall of Fame. While I respect Mr. Aaron’s talent I question this opinion.

In other words, does talent trump ethics. Anyone else who exhibited the same lack of personal and professional ethics would be a cipher in the history of sports. Does talent excuse moral bankruptcy.

In a different arena, should an accused and convicted murderer profit from her sales of murder mysteries. Do time and talent delete the deed.

In a different arena, should a “witness” to a drowning death, continue to enjoy the accolades attendant on a U.S. Senator. Was Monica Lewinsky lucky to have chosen Bill Clinton who fooled around in the Oval Office as her paramour, instead of going to a ride with Teddy Kennedy.

I am having trouble coming to grips with these situations. “Life is not fair” does not go far enough to explain them.

I just read this in an email message from the Lighthouse Depot:
“Some repairs have finally been made at the abandoned Whiskey Point Coast Guard Station in Cleveland, Ohio. The station is now owned by the City of Cleveland, which can’t seem to figure out how to save the historic structure with its amazing watch tower. However, as usual, volunteer preservationists, have stepped forward with a plan to save the structure and turn it into a museum and Coast Guard interpretative center. In fact the U.S. Coast Guard Tug Association is moving the 66-year old vessel, Apalachee, to the site to be restored as part of the future exhibits at the former station.”

The former Coast Guard station and lighthouse is a wonderful old building on the mouth of the Cuyahoga River at Cleveland’s harbor. I remember walking out to the station along a narrow causeway many years ago. The station was already not in service at that point and looked as if its days were numbered.

Over the years a few ideas were tried to make the site an attraction, but they did not last long. The design of the station is compelling, the setting is inspiring, but it is difficult to access and I am sure that Cleveland’s economic woes over the years have contributed to a lack of funding to restore the site.

I think this is a landmark and a historical treasure that should be saved. I am glad to hear that the project seems to be moving forward.

More information and photos can be found here from Plain Dealer.