2/02/2007

Scientists Hope Global Warming Report Will Serve as a Call to Arms

Scientists Say Earth Could Heat Up for Centuries to Come

Scientists Hope Global Warming Report Will Serve as a Call to Arms

Feb. 2, 2007 — - In Paris, representatives from 113 countries have banded together and come out with headlines about climate change that could change history.

The most extensive report on global warming to date was released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change today. In the report, an international collection of leading scientists warn that the Earth's climate will continue to heat up for centuries. For the first time ever, the report confirms that global warming is very likely man-made.

In Paris, ABC's Sam Champion listed the report's most significant and shocking findings.

With more than 90 percent certainty, man's burning of fossil fuels is heating the planet.

Hurricanes are very likely the result of global warming.

By the end of the century, sea levels could rise by nearly 2 feet, swamping coastal areas worldwide

The temperature increase this century may be the most significant in thousands of years.

Arctic ice could disappear during summers by the year 2100.

Heat waves and downpours will be more frequent and ferocious.

A Tool for the Future

Back in Washington, the White House called the report a significant and valuable tool for policymaking.

Global policy changes typically move slowly, but scientists feel the report will give them the scientific backing they need to take quick steps to control what many call the most significant problem facing the planet.

After the world's leading scientists made their troubling predictions, Champion spoke with the report's authors.

Asked by Champion whether the report will actually make a difference, co-author Kevin Trenberth of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research said, "We sure hope so…It's the best chance we've ever had."

My Hand-Made Shuttle Beater

WOOOOOooohoooooo! Done! I've been seeing these on Ebay and it looks simple enough to make, and it was simple to make. I used 1/4 inch thick oak board from Menards to make this one and a routing attachment gadget for the dremal. As soon as I figure out how to put on a fresh sand paper cover on the drum sander bit...I'll pretty up the inside of the yarn holding...hole. I don't know the technical word for it. It's a shuttle...it's a beater...it's a Shuttle Beater! Took about 20 minutes to plan, cut and sand out.








Until next time...

1/31/2007

Toe-Up socks done; The Starbucks Wishing Cup

YAY! It didn't take me very long to knit up these tow up socks. I like the square toe, and that is 18-20 stitches to start the socks with, and work those up to 30 (instead of my usual 32 on each needle because my gauge has loosened from knitting lace). And I thought I would add a picture of my Starbucks wishing cup. Cool story with this. This was the last cup with Wish on it at the local starbucks cafe. I had my eyes on it for several weeks but I was waiting for it to be reduced after Christas. It did and I snatched it! I place my spare change in here, for wishing, and when it gets full I plan to donate the spare change to my local library. By helping others, I am helping myself....right? I keep wishing for a drum carder...LOL!

I wanted to point out something on the heels for others who may be trying the after-thought heel. Try to pick up as few stitches as possible. The right hand sock I picked up 5 stitches on each side, the left, only 3 on each side. The one on the right has a flap and a bump because the heel did not decrease in size enough by the time it reached 2 inches (my prefered heel length). The left one did and has no such flap or bump. Cool aye? They don't match exactly, but who cares, they will be in my shoes! No world ending or sky falling here!












Until next time...

Nature Walk-Pictures

Here are some pictures of the nature walk we took over the weekend. There were turkeys out in the open so we figure they must be very hungry to risk exposure. There is a photo of turkey tracks in the snow, and one comparison to my new boots. Then we found a lone pincone still hanging onto the tree. Got some great shots of that one. Then some wintery sky and a picture of a turkey in mid wing stretch. Walk this way!















Until next time...

1/30/2007

We have contact!

Well flippin -A- Man! My SMAT secret pal contacted me today, all upset because I was scolding about being flaked on this damned thang....or so I had thought. Turns out that there was an extension to the swap and I never got the email! She said the hostess had emailed everyone...apparently she missed a few. On top of that, I had emailed last week to check up on her, and the email never made it! ARGH! So now my thoughtful SMAT pal is upset and thinks I really don't give a rats ass about the yarn she spun. Understandable considering I am accusing her of flaking me. Well yeah, I do give a rats! Look at that yarn! It's beautiful! She sent me a picture and description:


"This yarn was inspired by the pagan interests of my swapee; it is called Triple Goddess.

This treasure is comprised of three skeins
Maiden – (1 3/8 oz) Spindle spun Navajo ply of Merino & Tussah Silk in vibrant red, purple, blue, gold and crème.
Mother – (1 3/8 oz) Hand-dyed BFL & Merino, Tussah Silk a two ply of the singles of the other two yarns.
Crone – (3 3/8 oz) Pale blue and green hand dyed BFL spun into a single "


OOOoh...how thoughtful! SO here I have been sittin, thinkin I had been flaked and bitchin about it too, and now I hear there was an extension on the mailing deadlines, AND the hostess I emailed never got back to me to let me know a gosh darned thing! ARGH! HOW FRUSTRATING! Now I done made my SMAT pal all pissed at me. Wonderful. Sassafrassin-blahmugflubber-butt! Heh...*twitch*

Today has been nothing but frustrating...one bad thing after another. You would think with two inches of fresh snow on the ground that people would SLOW DOWN on the roads! Hell no, not in Wisconsin were people have too much confidence in their cars. No car is safe in snow and ice, no matter what those car commercials tell you. So I have to dodge these dumb-asses who try to turn in front of me and then can't get out of the fuckin way because their tires are spinning in the snow! DUMB-ASSES! *twitch-twitch*

Then I get a certified letter from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (while I am trying to practice my self defense no less) saying I owe twice as much in state tax then they had originally told me I did last July! WTF? So I called them up, was told there was a wait time of 23 minutes, so I opted to leave a message. I requested that they send me an itemized sheet telling me the charges, fees, penalties and other what-have-you's they like to charge because last time I looked I didn't owe that much. Originally they told me I owed $250 (and this is from my employer not filing my W2 correctly when I started at Hobby Lobby and me never noticed that taxes weren't being taken out...save $12 worth for that year). So this mean old man calls me up and talks to me like I am an irritating gnat flying around his head bothering him. He tells me that I owe $150, and whatever is left from my tax return will be refunded to me. WTF!!? I've gotten three letters from the WDR, each time the amount I owe went up about another $100 till it was near $500! Did I call them on their shit by asking for a itemized list of charges? I asked if he was sure, and he repeated what he had already told me. Real nice. Take that stick and shove it up your ass some more cause I don't think it is up as far as it could go. So I said (now all this time I am trying to be nice to the man...lot of good it did) I want to make sure this is correct because I keep getting letters saying I owe different amounts and I don't want to be paying for someone elses mistakes again. He said that I would be getting another letter in the mail stating this final amount. I'll be sure to keep it in a safe and findable place because I have a feeling this will not be the last I will have to deal with them on this. *full out seizure*

So to my SMAT pal, whom I called BAD and a flaker...I'm so sorry things ran this way and I wish I had known there was an extension before now. Forgive me?



Until next time...

1/29/2007

Understanding ugly yarn, SMAT

I don't understand it. I am seeing some majorly, in my opinion, UGLY yarns online that have been hand-spun! I was taking a look online at some handspun yarns...and one yarn...oh...I cringed! It looked like someone took a handful of trash and spun it together! Why? I'm told it's called "punk" but I don't get the yarns with the extras in them (I'm talking HUGE things like scramble word tabs, charms...large plastic beads). IT'S HORRIFYINGLY UGLY! What can you possibly make from such yarn that you will be able to use? How do you even work with yarn with so much trash in it? Um and hello, if you don't like my opinions GO READ SOMETHING ELSE! I ain't here to please. I am here to tell it how it is, when it is, and how I see it. It's what blogs were made for.

I must have practical yarn because if I am gonna spend time on making something...I had better damned well better be able to actually USE it after I've put so much work into it.

Speaking of SMAT, I think I have been flaked. It's been a full TWO WEEKS past the send deadline of January 15th and no hand spun treasure for me. BAD SMAT PAL-BAD!! I sent some suggestions to the hostesses of this swap stating that next time it should be required that participants make contact with their secret pals at least three times-or more, so that we don't feel neglected and forgotten about. I've heard from mine, once...and never again. I hate being flaked. I hate flakes. If I can find out who flaked me, they will definitely be listed on the swappers blacklist as a flaker and thief. I followed the rules, I sent out in plenty of time...and I get nothing in return for playing nice. Grrrrr. I HATE FLAKES!

Until the next rant...

Ammendment: See next entry for explinations as to why I had not been contacted by the SMAT pal and my appologies to that Pal. I will not however be editing the entries (or prettying them up to PC standards) because this is a page in my history...no matter how far the foot in my mouth goes...

Miami Vice the movie (SNORE!), Inkle loom, more training

OMG...I have to rant. The movie Miami Vice is absolutely NOTHING near the series and is a disgrace. It is not worthy of the name Miami Vice. It has NO action and what action there is...doesn't last more than one or two minutes! The opening was promising with some rockin beats...but after that it was down hill real fast. I little booty action here and there which I cannot figure out what it adds to the story plot at all...other than to establish the characters are REALLY in love...OOOookay. The choice of actors for the main characters was pittifully poor, the dialog was slow and boring...along with the action and story line. Oh man...if you like Miami Vice the series...this movie is a pathetic failure at capturing the series' action and the charactures. Blah! What a waste of a good rental. I'm really pissed about it! HA! BOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRING!
 
In other news, I got the inkle loom that a kind and generous lady from the swap I am hosting sent me. I traded a couple pairs of stitch markers for a Strauch inkle loom, Card Weaving book, and a set of 50 cards. WOW! The loom looks like it has never been touched! I cannot wait to find time to begin a weaving project!
 
I was practicing the self-defense training when the mail man knocked. I was in the middle of screaming "Kick-punch-break!" and then "hu!" when he knocked. The guy was well away from the door when I peeked out,  LMAO! Must have thought a little space would be a good thing! *snicker-snort* I love learning this and it a great workout. I finally got through the learning of moves and am now into the training for fitness and exercise. Chuck encourages participants to scream and HU! when executing the moves as a way to keep breathing. I noticed I was holding my breath...through most of the moves! So this has loosened that up and got the circulation going. WHEW! I love it!! Now, I wonder how much wieght I can loose doing this? I now need a punching back or something to practice blows on. I dunno if the BF would be up for that. *snicker-snort*
 
I got yarn today as well from the same lady that sent me the inkle loom. It is sooooooo soft and billowy! She says it is cormo...OOOoo something else to try! Eventually I will have wool from every kind of sheep there is.
 
Time to switch movies. I left Miami Vice running as I typed up this entry to see if it picked up...nope. YUCK.
 
Until next time...