Also, I Lost a Knitting Needle

[ricevermicelli]

Today made me realize how annoying yesterday was. I hadn't realized that about yesterday while I was in the middle of yesterday. And while yesterday had some good bits, it also had some crud. Like my Global Business class, which, yesterday, was a lecture on culture. The problem was, it was a lecture on culture delivered by an idiot, working from a textbook composed of the most cogent copy that fifty or so monkeys could produce if they banged away at typewriters at random for five or six years.

Here is what this textbook (and my professor) had to say about the Sunni/Shi'a conflict:
There is one. You should know about it.

Also, my professor had some freakish idea about Voodoo (which I am undoubtedly spelling wrong and otherwise mangling) being a major cultural influence in New Orleans. I have some problems with the man.

Today, I realized that I misplaced the size 8 Harmony interchangeable I've been using. I have no idea where it is, and I've checked everywhere. I do not have a comparably sized wooden circular to use as a replacement. I can get replacements off the 'net, but not soon. I think, if I just don't knit for a week, there will be hell to pay.

Comments

[tisana.livejournal.com]

I don't think Voodoo is incorrect--I think Haitian voodou and African vodun are related things that might cause confusion. But I was under the impression that in some respects, voodoo is a major part of the culture of New Orleans--or at least a big part of what helped define the culture over the years--do you think that's not the case?

I'm not being sarcastic--it's entirely possible I've fallen victim to "what everyone knows" about the history of places, that has some basis in truth, but in the present isn't really relevant. I'm trying to think of an equivalent for Boston, and coming up blank.

[drwex]

Insofar as N'orlinians have told me, voodoo has been a big influence on the culture but not so much on day-to-day living.

[kitmf.livejournal.com]

Does this needle have your knitting project on it? Or did you cast off a piece and not keep the needle with your knitting? If the latter, perhaps it might be near the location where you cast off.

I haven't used the harmony needles. I'm a big fan of ebony needles myself.

[valkyriefire.livejournal.com]

My social work/psych stats book had a chapter in it on diversity that said the world is broken up into two groups: Westerners and Everyone Else. Westerners are masculine, science-loving individualists and "Everyone Else" are feminine, earth-worshipping, group-mind socialists.

I was openly mocked and insulted for disagreeing with this. By the people who had never been out of the Midwest in the minds, let alone geographically.

I'm of the strange opinion that people writing textbooks about non-cultural subject have no buiness trying to write about cultural issues.

[macthud]

I'm curious about what your professor's freakish idea was, and what your own thoughts along those lines are or were. Voodoo, Vodun, Voodou, Voudoun, and several other spellings are related practices and belief systems descended from Africa and the Caribbean islands which traveled further to New Orleans, and so far as I'm aware *have* had significant impacts there. My own understanding is based on what I've heard from natives, and transplants, and visitors, and what I've read in various histories ... but I've never yet visited, myself. So I remain curious and educable. :-)

The Sunni/Shi'a points stand without argument. And I think I am probably about as appalled as you that this was as far as either textbook or lecturer went into their details. But I'm not surprised by that, either.

I'm sorry to say I have received no word on the size 8 Harmony. I hope the gremlins will (have?) relent(ed) and release(d) it without ransom.