Knitting and Working and Living

Global Mobility

2009-09-15T10:57:00.003+01:00

In preparation for the beginning of my MA, I've been reading two recommended texts: Zygmunt Bauman's Society Under Seige and Pierre Bourdieu's Firing Back. I haven't gotten too far in Bourdieu's book, but I'm about half way through Bauman's. Though the writing is not the easiest, I find myself getting pulled in since he uses real examples of how sociology and the world order work. Specifically he argues that our world has shifted: the space ("society") that used to be ruled by the nation-state is becoming increasingly disjointed. As global economics (supranational corporations and the "market") are ruling the world, the power of the nation-state is decreasing. This means that our society is becoming lost. Since I've not finished, I don't know yet what his solution is; he has only presented the problem.

One of the things that struck me about the most recent reading is the increasing importance of mobility. Though technology means that people can communicate and do business instantaneously, globalization also means that in order to be competitive, one must be willing to move and change. Bauman argues that since corporations inherently now move quickly to the location that most benefits them, people also need to be wiling to live this way. This means that when an opportunity arises, one needs to pick up and go. His main point is that this has divided the world: "capacity to move has become the major, perhaps the paramount stratifying factor of the emergent global hierarchy" (page 83). In other words, for the vast majority of the world population, moving or traveling at a moments notice is not possible - this increases the divide between the "haves" and the "have nots". He goes on the point out that 98 percent of the world never live outside of the country of their birth. This is not particularly surprising as moving out of one's country of birth is still a huge deal (in the future, this will become less of an anomaly). Even more striking is that 50 percent of people in Britain still live within 5 miles of where they were born. (statistics are from 2001). In some ways I find this hard to believe, but then you think about the general population. Sure, most of the people I know have moved at least 5 miles from where they were born, but I tend to know people that are highly educated and motivated, those that are in the upper part of the "global hierarchy". These people have the economic means and knowledge to go where the opportunities lie.

In short, get ready to move.

From what I've read, the consensus is that while my generation's parents may have began their lives expecting one, maybe two careers, my generation will not have that "privilege". I use quotes because each person has different views of if this is a good or bad thing. I personally view it as a positive thing - one must adapt and learn new things constantly to stay competitive (Bauman mentions this too). But, that also means that one is constantly having new experiences and new challenges. Hopefully gone are the days of sitting in a cubicle, pushing papers year after year. Long ago, I promised myself I would not do that job; I would find a job that involves being out in the world and hopefully making a difference. Maybe that sounds overly optimistic, but if one doesn't hope, the chances of what you want happening are dismal. There may be a lot wrong with the world, but that also means there is a lot to change. Dare I hope that I'll get some ideas on how? And in the process, if that means I have to move, so be it.

Another one of those things that's going around

2009-02-05T20:57:00.002Z

While I'm waiting for a frustrating online system to cooperate, I'll follow Natalie and Richard by filling this out.

Where is your cell phone........................desk
Your hair.......................................curly
Your significant other..........................amazing
Your mother.....................................cook
Your father.....................................chauffeur
Your favorite thing.............................knitting
Your dream last night...........................forgotten
Your favorite drink.............................hot chocolate
Your dream/goal.................................life
The room you are in.............................attic
Your fear.......................................fire
Where do you want to be in 6 years..............warmer
Muffins.........................................okay
One of your wish list items.....................Mac
Where you grew up...............................Uptown
The last thing you did..........................swore (at online system)
What are you wearing............................clothes
Your TV.........................................laptop
Your pets.......................................imaginary
Your computer...................................semi-broken
Missing someone.................................always
Your life.......................................existing
Your mood.......................................peeved
Your car........................................non-existent
Favorite store..................................LYS
Your summer.....................................outside
Your favorite color.............................purple
When is the last time you laughed...............today?
Last time you cried.............................frustration
Where were you last night.......................Emily's
Something that you are not......................rich

Sweater Update

2009-01-23T23:11:00.004Z

Yay! I'm way further on my sweater - I've got the back and the two fronts done and am working on the sleeves! The only other part after that are the button bands (to put the buttons on the sweater...) and putting it together.

Yesterday I pinned the three pieces together and took some pictures with my new camera and it's turning out really well. So, lo and behold, a couple pictures!

You can't really tell that it's all folded up, but it is...

I'm working on one other thing, but it's not ready for public exhibition yet!

This picture says it all

2009-01-21T01:22:00.010Z

From Huffington Post

So much has been said today about the history of today, I just want to point out how great it is that the first family really loves and respects each other! They provide a great example to the rest of the country and the world.

Plus they're so cute!

For more generally cute pictures of the new First Family see here and here

Tagged

2008-12-17T22:39:00.003Z

From Margaret

What were you doing five years ago?
(December 2003)
1. Finishing fall semester of senior year
2. Applying to college and waiting for answers
3. Playing a lot of violin
4. Helping plan our yearly New Year's party
5. Having fun with friends

What are five things on your list for today?
1. Start packing
2. Help with dinner
3. Go to Sophie's dance performance
4. Put the garbage can at the street
5. Clean my room

What are five snacks you enjoy?
1. Chocolate
2. Chocolate covered raisins
3. Quesadilla
4. Goat cheese and crackers
5. Yogurt

What are five things you'd do if you were a billionaire?
1. Hire a financial adviser (like Margaret!)
2. Pay off my college loans and set aside money for grad school and my sister's college
3. Travel, mostly to England
4. Support Child Protection International, Centro Legal, and other awesome nonprofits
5. Buy a couple condos in cool places

What are five jobs you've had?
1. Babysitter
2. Lifeguard
3. Museum Guard
4. Executive Assistant
5. Grant Writer

Who are five people you want to tag?
1. Elsabeth
2. Richard
3. Um... Natalie and Margaret already got tagged
4. and I don't think
5. anyone else reads this blog

Knitting Updates

2008-12-17T22:19:00.004Z

My sweater is coming along! I bought the yarn and started it last Wednesday. It's a cardigan and for you non-knitters, that means that you start by making the back (bottom up for this pattern), then each of the front sides, then the sleeves, and then you put it together. So far, I'm almost done with the back, just have to finish an inch more on the arm holes and the collar! Here's a picture:

I'm really happy with how the yarn is knitting up, how soft it is, the color (the picture is a pretty good representation of the color). I also like the pattern, the lattice pattern at the waist took a little of getting used to and I had to count after every row to make sure I didn't lose stitches (it uses left and right twists which involve k2tog or ssk and then knitting one of the loops again. I kept forgetting the second part...).

I've also finished the mittens for Clare and they also turned out well!

I've been working on a few other things but for reasons of Christmas, they won't be pictured here!

In other news, it's almost time for Christmas and visiting England! The rest of the time will be spent working, wrapping, and packing. Also, Minnesota is way too cold. We shouldn't have days on end where temperatures are below 5 degrees fahrenheit, not in December! It's sad that I'm looking forward to England where temps are a bit above freezing!

The Congo

2008-12-11T20:52:00.002Z

Please watch this video on the Congo from the New York Times.

Conflicts in Africa can seem to mesh together, but as with everything, this issue is complicated. I summarized it in two posts for Child Protection International's blog a few weeks ago. For more up to date information, see this article from the BBC.

Add the that the recent cholera problems in Zimbabwe. The President Robert Mugabe today claimed that the Cholera epidemic is over while just about the rest of the world is saying he's wrong...

The world can be very depressing some days.

Great Clip from the Colbert Report

2008-12-04T16:35:00.002Z

This made me laugh... The combination of a crazy knitter and the Department of Homeland Security!

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Nailed 'Em - Radical Knitting

Colbert at Christmas
Colbert Christmas DVD

Green Screen
Bill O'Reilly Interview

In other news - I'm *hoping* that my yarn for my sweater will arrive at the store today (I called on Monday and the owner said it should). Then I can go and pick it up on Saturday! I'm about 2/3 of the way done with the second of the Druid Mittens so that's good too!

West Wing

2008-11-18T03:30:00.003Z

After a 1 month hiatus from watching the West Wing (all the way through from seasons 1-7) because of campaign overload (I was at the end of season 6 where the campaign for Jed Bartlett's replacement takes center stage), I have finally returned. I'm sure I'm just about the last person to remark on this, but wow did the creators of the West Wing predict the candidates from this previous election well. An old moderate Senator from the West who can't use technology and picked a conservative governor as his running mate versus a minority, inexperienced, charismatic Member of Congress (yeah, the wrong chamber, but still), who picks a seasoned VP who has foreign policy experience. Yes, there are many differences among them but the differences are far outweighed by the similarities.

This election was certainly an interesting one and for those of us in Minnesota, it isn't over yet. Tomorrow the canvassing board is supposed to meet and certify results. We'll watch and see what happens... It's sure helped us political junkies to have something to hold on to as we go through withdrawal!

Pictures of knitting projects!

2008-11-16T16:27:00.008Z

I finally went around and took some pictures of some of the projects I've been working on.

Oldest to newest:

iPod case (I still need to add a button...):

Purple mittens (for myself):

Black mittens for Robyn (she saw the purple mittens I had made last Sunday and really liked them so this last week I knitted her a pair since it was her birthday yesterday. It was really nice last night because she really liked them and loved that I had knitted them since last week when she had expressed her appreciation for my pair).

And now a picture of Clare's mittens (I really must be on a mitten thing right now...). These are the Druid mittens and they're way more difficult than the other two pairs I made. I've only just started these so the picture is only up through part of the cuff:

In this picture you can sort of see the detail of the stitch better. It's pretty complicated with two cabled braids, some bobbles, and another cable section around the bobbles.

I still have to take pictures of the baby sweater and hat so that's for another day.

Winter

2008-11-11T14:37:00.002Z

Winter has clearly arrived. No snow on the ground yet, but I'm sure there will be soon. I'm not a huge fan of it getting cold though. Unlike most people, I actually would prefer more snow rather than being colder. But, since it's the weather, naturally none of us have a choice.

In other news, I finally found someplace that would order the yarn that I want for my sweater! They claim it will take 7-10 business days so that's not too bad (considering I was giving up hope of finding it anywhere!). Yesterday I also bought some pretty green yarn for my druid mittens. If you look here, I believe that it is color 9824.

That's all for now. I really am going to post some pictures soon as I found my camera charger!

Beginning

2008-11-08T16:15:00.004Z

Since finishing school and homework, I've started knitting a lot again. Projects finished recently include: a case for my iPod, a pair of fingerless gloves for Sophie, a hat and sweater for the baby of a former coworker, a pair of mittens for myself. Planned: my first sweater! and a pair of mittens as a Christmas present. I've been having issues with the sweater. I found a great pattern - Maude Louise - that I really like. I've been looking for something classic, but still interesting. A first sweater is something important, something you want to be able to wear for a long time, and consequently I've been laboring over patterns and yarns for awhile. Last weekend I went to a yarn store and spent an hour looking through yarns to find the right one - something wool, soft, in a good color, that has the right gauge. I finally found one that I really like - Lana Grossa's Cool Wool Big - in a really pretty navy blue/purple. Unfortunately they didn't have 10 balls and it would take 4-6 weeks to order it. I bought one ball in a burnt orange/red color. I've knitted up a swatch and it's the perfect gauge. But now I can't find anywhere that carries it. I've called all the places that their website lists for Minnesota and Illinois, started on Wisconsin. I have one lead of a place that says they might be able to order it in 7-10 business days which I can live with (and ship it directly to me!). I just want to start this sweater so that I can bring it with me to England for Christmas! I may just give up soon and go for a different yarn but after putting this much effort into it, I want to use the yarn I liked in the first place!

Another project I've got in mind: The Green Autumn Druid Mittens from the Fall 2008 Vogue magazine. They're really pretty and I've been wanting to make them for a long time, and now I have someone in mind for them!

In other news, I thought I was going to be able to mail the end of my Cambridge application today but yet again a problem with a letter of recommendation and I can't.

And finally, it snowed yesterday!

At some point I'll go through and actually take pictures of the projects I've finished...