September 18

 Good morning again. Not much going on in either the weather (thankfully) and the needlework progresses. A number of crafters call hand needlework slow stitch for a reason. Handwork has always been slow which is why various machines were created to speed up the process. However, one reason I like crochet so much is because, according to a history of fiber work I read ages ago, nobody has found a way to mechanize it. Spinning was hooked up to water power in the mid 18th century and later to electricity. Weaving followed not much later. People had found various ways to speed up knitting like knitting looms of various kinds. But the looping pattern of crochet stitches has somehow eluded mechanics. Good.

Well, another late night comedy/talk show host has fallen to the new "cancel culture." Jimmy Kimmel had the temerity to accuse the MAGA crowd is using the Charlie Kirk murder for political ends and that the accused assassin was really MAGA. The first is somewhat obvious but the second is questionable and is on the same objectionable level as the MAGA insistence that somehow a shadowy liberal cabal is involved. The news/commentary shows noted that ABC which pulled the Kimmel program (under not at all veiled threat from the head of the FCC) is involved in an acquisition which requires the government's approval. Shades of the Colbert mess. The commentators noted that these media conglomerates are both deeply connected to the right wing/MAGA/conservative politicians and businessmen and are deeply dependent on the Federal Government. That makes them susceptible to government pressure.