Medium vs. Medium

Well, as promised here is some knitting news. I have been working on the new project from the VK pattern, following the medium size. However, whilst it looks really good its looking a bit small, like it might not quite go around my middle. There's enough length now to measure the guage and yes, it looks like I should have used bigger needles. Of course that also means that there's enough that I don't really want to rip it back. I always say I should do a tension square but I never do.

While I decide what to do, I have gone back to the bolero, also knitted to a medium size - on the suggested needle size!! I've started sewing it up in preparation for adding the beaded trim. It is too big! The sleeves are too long and the body instead of being a cute cropped cardigan style is almost long enough to be a full cardigan, especially once the trim gets added. Such Drama!

I know this blog would be better with pictures - I finally tried my phone and software on a different computer to see if I could download the photos, but it still doesn't work. So I guess there is a problem with the phone/camera and/or software. Guess its time to check out an expert.

Footballer Fever

There’s seems to be a lot of evidence of misogyny in the paper at the moment. The inquest for the case of Dianne Brimble has recommenced. This is a sad story of a woman who saved up to go on a cruise with friends and family, but was found dead in strangers’ cabin after the first night out. One of the persons’ of interest, a man staying in cabin where she was found and who had sex with her gave an horrific interview where he blamed Ms Brimble for ruining his holiday by having the effrontery to die in his cabin.

LETTERIO SILVESTRI thought Dianne Brimble had "f---ed up his holiday" by dying in his cabin.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, he describes her as ugly, old and fat and that he only had sex because she wanted it and he was out on sleeping pills. There are plenty of stories of that evening of this man and his friends harassing and intimidating women with offers of sex and party drugs so it doesn’t seem that far fetched that things got out of hand and Diane Brimble just got caught up in the middle of it. However, if this guy had something to hide surely he would have made some effort to sound like less of a pig. Or is his misogyny so deeply ingrained that he doesn’t realise that what he says reinforces a callous disregard for women as people and that it makes him look like a guy who wouldn’t take any notice of woman in distress and would let her die, only worrying about his holiday.

The other article that annoyed me was about women who try to sleep with footballers (of all codes). Whilst I can appreciate the reminder that even footballers are capable of acting like human beings and will not always succumb to available sex, the article focuses on making these women look like sluts and power crazy idiots. The writer mentions that football is all about men and that women’s only way to attain some power is to get close to the guys, but only glosses over this point and goes on tell the women to get over it. To me that is the whole point: both men and women are attracted to power and fame, and in football (like many aspects of life) there is no role for women to attain power directly. With society and the media reinforcing for women that the best way to obtain money and fame is to be looked at (modelling, in a revealing dress on the arm of a famous bloke, beauty pageants, even supposedly talent based singing and acting are better for young slim ogleworthy women), rather than doing something such as education or business pursuits, of course some women are going to try to use shortcuts to power. Instead of blaming these women for the way they act, we should be looking at why they feel this is their best option.

Well, that's my rave for the day. I blame the antibiotics I am on. During the review of my wisdom tooth extraction the dentist decided I had an infection and upped the antibiotic dose. As well as giving me nausea, I have broken out in a rash from knees to neck. Luckily it matches the top I am wearing today - pink with dark pink dots.

Knitting update next time - I promise

Football Fever

Go Socceroos!

How good was the Australian win over Japan in the soccer World Cup! I have to admit I was a bit cynical to begin with. I had been thinking about going out to watch the game, but the hole in my gum where a wisdom tooth used to be was aching. So I popped a pain killer and tried to stay awake during the first half just watching it at home. However, by half time with Japan up one goal, I was convinced it was all over and went to bed. Of course, the news all morning was about the 3 goals in the last eight minutes.

At least I have a Socceroos flag. When the newsagent was giving them away with the paper a couple of weeks ago, he told me I was the first person to actually take one!