Monday, March 28, 2005

Vroom!
Or, how hard it is to incorporate WTO and blogs into a title.


Becoming more and more obsessed with the sheer volume of vox out there.

Recently, there were more visits to all the blogsites hosted by blogger than visits to nytimes.com. (Maybe though the fact that the NYT requires login for access turns other readers off as much as it does for me-- bugmenot has the honeypot-spot on the firefox toolbar in this house...)

It may sound flippant, but it's really the heart of it, isn't it? I don't read the news to hear a person's voice behind it, much as I don't read blogs for sterile media. The fact a person chose to sit and write about *thatthingyoudo* tells me something about them, whether they've told me explicitly or not. I don't care about the nyt since they feel compelled to datamine, grooming me like a flea-ridden monkey instead of someone who's stopped by for a chat about them and what they think. I like listening in to these voices, who're passionate enough about *something* to air it and find out about me by watching their referrals and comments, and only if they're interested. I *give* them that information willingly in exchange, where I feel somehow dirty when the nyt puts their tentacles (r-rated!) on me.

On that verb, technorati's celebrating
with a blog tagging contest. And eats at Chevy's in SF... I should go, if not only for the strawberry margaritas :) How long do you think it'll be, guys? ((::echo::)) I think Thursday sounds like a good day, and four:twenty pm a good time. It certainly can't be Tuesday (r-rated x 2!).

...

eta. I don't think media is evil. Nor do I think it is voiceless... Here is a voice I heard from a Utah paper, afraid that if the WTO decision goes against the US, internet gambling will be legal and huffing-puffing their homes down. Will the US bow to international pressure over its moral/national obligation to keep us from the sin of online poker? Prolly not... our ivorytowered politicos think we need protection from ourselves and our online choices, and don't really have much face to lose if Antigua declares trade embargos against the US or not. Do I think the doj has some serious interest, and won't just let online gambling slipslidingaway-- sure, as they took the time to warn NoDak that they still considered online gambling a violation of federal law, as they sent letters out to broadcast media warning against "aiding and abetting" felonious activity in airing ads for poker rooms (pdf!), and as they have fought the WTO decision tooth and nail, I think we'll be seeing more fight than naught.

More than anything, it will be yet another howl that the United States is embracing insularity and protectionist methods on one hand and not on the others. one, two, THREE?!

What do you think? :)

I know: April 7th! Finally some news to look forward to :) And Utah can't be all bad, at least thru Edward's eyes.

aK
gamesgrid

10:08:40 PM  
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all clap, all the time


Of course, first things first, clapotis is still rocking my world. I am now on the last (6th + 1) row of increases (my prev post said 12+1, I need to correct it)... and am readywillingable to drop stitches! :)



Here she is, on my knees and lap, resting on the still unwound hank. (Can you tell knitting has replaced *something* in my life?)

I also have to say how nice the malabrigo - handpainted yarn is. I'm relatively new to knitting, and also new to trying different types of fiber. I've mainly stuck with CTH supersock fingering, and basic 100% 2-4 ply wool, and I'm thrilled that the one ply means no splitting for me. Clap is "eyes free knitting" for me, so I can read news and not have to watch my hands. I find eyesfree knitting difficult in a way with yarns that are plied (so therefore have a tendancy to split); I have split zero all the way up the increase rows. I also haven't dropped a stitch, which is uncommon on my slippery addis (love em though). The yarn just hugs the brass tips... knits into a heavy material.

Which does lead me to wonder the drape of clapotis in the malabrigo, its so sturdy it's almost "stiff" when knit on US 8. Maybe the dropped rows will give more drape, but even so I am in love still with this yarn-- knitted or no. I've got to find some winter patterns for myself, or something... I have no idea how many skeins a sweater will take, or even a pattern for myself (I've not knit a sweater for myself, am actually considering it now! Just to pet more of this yarn!)

aK
gamesgrid

8:06:49 PM  
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