National Travesty

"We shall all consider ourselves unauthorized to saddle posterity with our debts, and morally bound to pay them ourselves."
Thomas Jefferson

The Spend And Tax Later Administration
Yeah, the Democrats may have a reputation for taxing and spending, but at least we pay our own way.

The thing I have never understood about this current government is how they can justify using the equivalent of limitless credit cards, to achieve their goals (even if the goals are valid). Especially when they have the ability to generate the money to pay for it.

I truly believe that if the current administration had spent as much time telling Americans that added taxes during a time of terror threats was necessary as they did telling us that tapping our phones was necessary would have resulted in one less problem for them today, which is our staggering debt. Americans would have understood the necessity of paying more money to ensure our safety and the safety of our troops. Some even eager to do so. But instead, we get a president who wants to be liked and gives tax rebates. Pathetic is the only word that comes to mind.

Current Reading
I just finished a wonderful book last week.



A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon is a wonderful read, despite the annoying cover that is always begging to be turned right-side up.

Mr. Haddon writes as Christopher, the main character of his book who has some behavioral issues that most agree is a fair representation of a boy with Asperger's Syndrome, although no such diagnosis is ever explained in the text. The book is quite well-written, and the plot is compelling. The unlikely protagonist is very appealing and walks the reader through a well-balanced adventure that evokes strong feelings of both relating with Christopher's reactions and worrying for him as a parent might. The reader goes back and forth between the intimate thoughts of the main character, and then worrying about his well-being, and the result is an extremely engrossing and pleasant reading experience.

Other Non-Knitting
This past weekend was another one focused on spinning. I finished the singles of the Flame Targhee that I got from Carol's Etsy shop.



I then double-plied this wonderful fiber and came out with an incredibly beautiful hank of about 400 yards of sport-weight yarn.



I have to admit that I wasn't liking the color of the singles or the yarn on the bobbin. That coral/peach color is not one of my favorites. But the result after all is said and done is a spectacularly beautiful color that I'm very pleased with.

Finally, I couldn't stand having the Robin wheel stand idle, so I started work on the HUGE bag of white roving I got from the sister-out-of-law.



There was no label to say what breed of sheep this wool came from, but it feels and spins a lot like Romney. I'm spinning it as loosely and bulky as I can and still have it be even (for me, it's a lot easier maintaining evenness in spinning by spinning the fiber as fine as I can without overtwisting).

Suffice it to say, this bag 'o wool should keep me busy for a good while.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Regarding the telephone database the government is amassing, Gail states, "I find that sometimes, people have knee jerk responses about data mining - it actually has many applications that have nothing to do with invading privacy."

I totally agree with Gail. I think there are some great uses for data mining to uncover otherwise indiscernible trends and patterns in data that can be very useful. I even love when web companies like Barnes & Noble and NetFlix recommends books or DVD's that I might like. If a salesperson in a clothing store can see the types of clothes I'm buying and recommend something else I might like, I find that very helpful. I'm just as glad when a computer does that.

k notes, "I see you're knitting is shown outside. Do you sit on the deck and knit?"

Not usually, although I have done it. I use the deck to get natural-light pictures of my work sometimes. Mostly the deck is too hot to be knitting.