In non-political news, I swam, and then walked home in, the most thunderless thunderstorm ever. There was even hail. And it is still going. It's dark out there.

Oh wait, climate change. Sorry!

It's remarkably Darwinian of them, this "successful people get good things" thing.

It's far worse than Darwinian (since the theory of natural selection is way more nuanced than that), it's actually medieval. The medieval Church believed that even giving a woman medical care during childbirth was an arrogation of God's will.

Or am I thinking of Calvinism? My theology is suspect.

I'm reminded of that wonderful quote from Babylon 5: WTTE of "I have to believe life is unfair, because think how horrible it would be to believe you deserved everything that happened to you."

I am terrified that the power will go out. The Derecho totally left me spooked! (and I would totally lose my shit if power went out for any amount of time tonight. I have hours left of work to do. Bob is out of town. When I am finished my work I want to watch some of my stories I've been saving for Bob being out of town!)

I'm looking forward to it getting out that Akin used to be a union rep. Let's just say that his bio no longer mentions when he used to be a teacher in the Mehlville school district, and served as a representative for the teacher's union. I'd love to see his handlers try to spin that one for the Tea Party crowd.

I need to look up new knots.

Modified Windsor, all the way. My dandy-ish father taught me, noting "It's a symmetrical knot that creates a perfect dimple."

It requires an extra loop-over compared to a three-in-hand so you need to leave yourself more tie to work with.

Here's a demo.

Take some time to get the "V" correct before you do the last loop and draw the tie through. Once you draw the tie tightly (if the "V" is taut) it will come perfectly into shape and create the dimple.

I don't leave as much on the short side as they do in this video.

Cash and I were talking today about what constitutes "real" cock-punching.

I'm looking forward to it getting out that Akin used to be a union rep.

Time for a letter to an editor or 12?

I'm looking forward to it getting out that Akin used to be a union rep. Let's just say that his bio no longer mentions when he used to be a teacher in the Mehlville school district, and served as a representative for the teacher's union. I'd love to see his handlers try to spin that one for the Tea Party crowd.

Sort of along those lines, I saw a thing (totally unverified) that said Mitt Romney voted in MA after selling his house here -- he was registered at his son's address. OMGWTF actual voter fraud??

If they had done everything right then the treatment would be covered, only people who did something wrong are the ones caught in these bad situations so they get what they deserve.

Just world fallacy. I think it goes hand-in-hand with authoritarianism, but that's my completely uneducated hypothesis.

It requires an extra loop-over compared to a three-in-hand

When I looked up what I was doing, it was called a four in hand--is that loose labelling?

I looked but didn't listen to that video. Is the dimple inherent? I kind of didn't see it with the second knot he tied. Is there something to do to make sure you get it? That looks nifty and maybe not too hard. I'll try that next time.

I'm sure it's all psychology, but I don't mind ties as much as the guys here seem to (bar the few that dress in suits despite the casual dress code, and one guy who's just fashion forward, because now his thing is flashy buckles with his tie and jeans--most guys really don't seem to care). It's a bit hot, but it's not bad at the time I'm leaving for work, and the neighbourhood of the office has a great sea breeze.

Also, since I'm not sizing my shirts by the neck, so I probably have more space than a properly sized men's shirt.

Problem is, I'm pretty sure I need tie pins now...a whole new world of jewellery...