Open Thread WE 13 JUL 22 ~ knotting

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 6:29am

When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Welcome to another full moon. My favorite definition of a knot is anything that can be untied.
Once prided myself with being able to tie a bowline around my torso one handed. Handy for
lashing oneself to the helm in a storm.

Ridicule often cuts the knot, where severity fails.
-- Horace

When a knot gets to tight, you can always cut the rope.
-- Dean Koontz

Battle, n., A method of untying with the teeth a political knot that would not yield to the tongue.
-- Ambrose Bierce

We might knit that knot with our tongues that we shall never undo with our teeth.
-- John Lyly

Even though you tie a hundred knots, the string remains one.
-- Rumi

Dreams are stories made by and for the dreamer, and each dreamer has his own folds to open and knots to untie.
-- Siri Hustvedt

[video:https://youtu.be/nYdPtcx-4mo]

But first, it helps to know a few strange terms. Put it simply, a knot is some kind of fastening or splice made by intertwining one or more ropes or some other flexible material. After tightening a knot, it should hold on its own. A hitch is a little bit different. It’s like a knot, but it generally involves another object like a stick, a post, a ring, or occasionally another rope. Properly tied, hitches can hold their place, or they may be able to slide, depending on the hitch you choose. A lashing is like a hitch, but slightly more complex. Lashings involve the use of a rope or similar material to secure two or more objects together. To grossly oversimplify all this, the knot is just rope fastened together; the hitch is a rope fastened to an object; and a lashing is a rope fastening multiple objects together.

https://www.outdoorlife.com/photos/gallery/hunting/2012/02/essential-kno...

Ok, this ties it up. Add whatever you've got. Not necessary to tie-in. Be creative.

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Open Thread

knots

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Comments

Submitted by Lookout on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 7:18am

You forgot Don Knotts

aka Barney
https://www.directexpose.com/don-knotts-andy-griffith-secret/15/

Then there's wood knots...
https://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-tips/techniques/skills/working-...
You wood, but I would knot.

However, it is a nicely tied up OT. Thanks!

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 7:42am

Knots are not a wood turners friend

@Lookout @Lookout

Met a wood turner at a fair this weekend. He turned out some amazing bowls. The most
interesting are the ones spun out of burls. Some of his work ..

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BurlDoctor

and other examples of burl turnings ..

2ab213_2c489d21a1474a5cbfa3526331c7b401~mv2.jpeg

2ab213_d2afaaa140294e15a7373d61000d3634~mv2.jpeg

https://www.loupignoletbowls2.com/turning-a-burl?lightbox=dataItem-j0137jyl

burl origins ..

In burl formation, the tree’s growth hormones get disrupted when the metabolism of the tree is hijacked by some other organism – a virus, fungus, or bacterium.

The crown gall bacterium is responsible for many burls (although many are too small for woodturning). That common bacterium is especially interesting, said Smith. It carries within it a little extra DNA, called a plasmid, which infiltrates the tree’s genetics. The plasmid prompts the tree to make special amino acids and growth regulators to produce the burl, which apparently is the preferred habitat for the bacterium.

https://northernwoodlands.org/outside_story/article/go-figure-how-tree-b...

turn your knots into burly Q's
good day!

—

question everything

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 7:18am

A follow-on from Snoop's post in last night's EB

From Bernhard at Moon of Alabama ..

The U.S. is the current global empire which is way down on this path. It is hostile to all societies that do not open their financial markets to be robbed by U.S. oligarchs. This is at the core of the current global conflict as China, Russia, Iran and Venezuela developed from different traditions and reject to give in to U.S. demands. The U.S. is used to solve such 'problems' by force but is now likely too weak to achieve that.

https://www.moonofalabama.org

From Michael Hudson - The End of Western Civilization

Politically at issue is the idea of “democracy” that has become a euphemism for an aggressive financial oligarchy seeking to impose itself globally by predatory financial, economic and political control backed by military force.

.. oligarchic control of government has been the distinguishing feature of Western civilization ever since classical antiquity .. (the solution being) a civil government strong enough to prevent a creditor oligarchy from emerging and monopolizing control of land and wealth, making itself into a hereditary aristocracy, a rentier class living off land rents, interest and monopoly privileges that reduce the population at large to austerity.

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2022/07/michael-hudson-the-end-of-wester...

cherry picked for brevity

—

question everything

Submitted by snoopydawg on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 11:49am

In so many ways

@QMS

The U.S. is used to solve such 'problems' by force but is now likely too weak to achieve that.

I followed the link from a saker essay and have read a few of this guy’s essays. He’s worth a look at on how the Ukraine conflict is going to play out.

The United States Could Not Win and Will Not Fight a War Against Russia

I continue to be convinced the US/NATO could never win and will never fight a war against Russia in eastern Europe – unless the #EmpireAtAllCosts death cult somehow seizes the reins of power, in which case, it will become the biggest catastrophe in US military history, and very possibly result in a civilization-ending nuclear war.

For me, one of the most intriguing aspects of the unprecedented levels of propaganda beclouding the ongoing Ukraine War are the incessant claims, from the very beginning, of the alleged strategic, tactical, and logistical ineptitude of the Russian military.

The theme of the bumbling Russians was clearly preconceived and coordinated, and commenced in earnest within the first 24 hours of hostilities. CIA/MI6 fronts like Oryx, Bellingcat, and the war-mongering Kagan family propaganda mill The Institute for the Study of War have pumped out this narrative so relentlessly that it has now been almost universally enshrined as “received wisdom” in the western state-controlled corporate media and among large numbers of clueless, arms industry-compromised former generals – even to the point of entering into the body of assumptions embraced by many “experts” who I expected to be more discerning.

It took a year for all equipment for the Iraq war to be put in place and if NATO decided to take on Russia directly instead of doing it behind the scenes it’s doubtful that Russia would just sit back and watch them getting ready for war. Besides we would probably have to empty every US base spread across the world and that would lead to more conflicts because of their absence. And we are sending Ukraine a lot of our military equipment which will take time to build up again. The pentagon has noticed how worthless the javelins are in combat and won’t be using them much again. But this is just another transfer of money to the defense industries while America falls further into a 3rd world country. And too many people are cheering for it because they’ve been brainwashed by unrelenting propaganda. Too many reasons why Americans have lost their critical thinking skills.

I found this picture in this essay.

Abraham Lincoln and Union officers at Antietam

It looks like Lincoln only has 1 leg. Did he? If so has it been common knowledge and I just missed it? Anyone?

—

The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists.
~Hannah Arendt

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 11:56am

pretty sure Lincoln had both legs

@snoopydawg

must be the angle of the shot?

The projection involved with the chicken hawks is fairly obvious.
The insecurities of the 'security state' can not be understated.

thanks for posting!

#2 The U.S. is used to solve such 'problems' by force but is now likely too weak to achieve that. I followed the link from a saker essay and have read a few of this guy’s essays. He’s worth a look at on how the Ukraine conflict is going to play out. The United States Could Not Win and Will Not Fight a War Against Russia I continue to be convinced the US/NATO could never win and will never fight a war against Russia in eastern Europe – unless the #EmpireAtAllCosts death cult somehow seizes the reins of power, in which case, it will become the biggest catastrophe in US military history, and very possibly result in a civilization-ending nuclear war. For me, one of the most intriguing aspects of the unprecedented levels of propaganda beclouding the ongoing Ukraine War are the incessant claims, from the very beginning, of the alleged strategic, tactical, and logistical ineptitude of the Russian military. The theme of the bumbling Russians was clearly preconceived and coordinated, and commenced in earnest within the first 24 hours of hostilities. CIA/MI6 fronts like Oryx, Bellingcat, and the war-mongering Kagan family propaganda mill The Institute for the Study of War have pumped out this narrative so relentlessly that it has now been almost universally enshrined as “received wisdom” in the western state-controlled corporate media and among large numbers of clueless, arms industry-compromised former generals – even to the point of entering into the body of assumptions embraced by many “experts” who I expected to be more discerning. It took a year for all equipment for the Iraq war to be put in place and if NATO decided to take on Russia directly instead of doing it behind the scenes it’s doubtful that Russia would just sit back and watch them getting ready for war. Besides we would probably have to empty every US base spread across the world and that would lead to more conflicts because of their absence. And we are sending Ukraine a lot of our military equipment which will take time to build up again. The pentagon has noticed how worthless the javelins are in combat and won’t be using them much again. But this is just another transfer of money to the defense industries while America falls further into a 3rd world country. And too many people are cheering for it because they’ve been brainwashed by unrelenting propaganda. Too many reasons why Americans have lost their critical thinking skills. I found this picture in this essay. Abraham Lincoln and Union officers at Antietam It looks like Lincoln only has 1 leg. Did he? If so has it been common knowledge and I just missed it? Anyone?

—

question everything

Submitted by TheOtherMaven on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 5:46pm

Yep, it's the angle.

@QMS
If you enlarge the pic in the original essay, you'll see both legs are almost exactly in line with the camera.

—

There is no justice. There can be no peace.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 12:43pm

Here’s an article on military weapons supplies

@snoopydawg

https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/return-ind...

Who wins the battle comes down to who has more weapons in supply and how fast they can be created. The US is lacking in that regard and since it has been sanctioning counties that supply lots of stuff used in them it’s going to be falling further behind. Our weapons are made for profit. Russia uses theirs for defense.

#2 The U.S. is used to solve such 'problems' by force but is now likely too weak to achieve that. I followed the link from a saker essay and have read a few of this guy’s essays. He’s worth a look at on how the Ukraine conflict is going to play out. The United States Could Not Win and Will Not Fight a War Against Russia I continue to be convinced the US/NATO could never win and will never fight a war against Russia in eastern Europe – unless the #EmpireAtAllCosts death cult somehow seizes the reins of power, in which case, it will become the biggest catastrophe in US military history, and very possibly result in a civilization-ending nuclear war. For me, one of the most intriguing aspects of the unprecedented levels of propaganda beclouding the ongoing Ukraine War are the incessant claims, from the very beginning, of the alleged strategic, tactical, and logistical ineptitude of the Russian military. The theme of the bumbling Russians was clearly preconceived and coordinated, and commenced in earnest within the first 24 hours of hostilities. CIA/MI6 fronts like Oryx, Bellingcat, and the war-mongering Kagan family propaganda mill The Institute for the Study of War have pumped out this narrative so relentlessly that it has now been almost universally enshrined as “received wisdom” in the western state-controlled corporate media and among large numbers of clueless, arms industry-compromised former generals – even to the point of entering into the body of assumptions embraced by many “experts” who I expected to be more discerning. It took a year for all equipment for the Iraq war to be put in place and if NATO decided to take on Russia directly instead of doing it behind the scenes it’s doubtful that Russia would just sit back and watch them getting ready for war. Besides we would probably have to empty every US base spread across the world and that would lead to more conflicts because of their absence. And we are sending Ukraine a lot of our military equipment which will take time to build up again. The pentagon has noticed how worthless the javelins are in combat and won’t be using them much again. But this is just another transfer of money to the defense industries while America falls further into a 3rd world country. And too many people are cheering for it because they’ve been brainwashed by unrelenting propaganda. Too many reasons why Americans have lost their critical thinking skills. I found this picture in this essay. Abraham Lincoln and Union officers at Antietam It looks like Lincoln only has 1 leg. Did he? If so has it been common knowledge and I just missed it? Anyone?

—

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 12:54pm

Interesting perspective

@snoopydawg

For the US to act as the arsenal of democracy in defence of Ukraine, there must be a major look at the manner and the scale at which the US organises its industrial base.

thanks for the link!

—

question everything

Submitted by lotlizard on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 9:45am

Book of poetry about human relationships: “Knots” by R. D. Laing

http://eyesontrauma.org/books/book-review-knots-r-d-laing/

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/97181/knots-by-r-d-laing/

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 10:40am

Thanks for the link and jogging the old memory

@lotlizard @lotlizard

I remember reading some of his work during my psyche education in the 70's.

R. D. Laing’s work with ‘Knots’ is an incredibly creative way to explore the subject (unravelling emotional binds), and was surely pushing the boundaries back in 1971 when it was published. Maybe a psychedelic trip inspired it?

Ronald David Laing , usually cited as R. D. Laing, was a Scottish psychiatrist who wrote extensively on mental illness,
in particular, the experience of psychosis.

Is psychosis a journey and a breakthrough to somewhere more authentic? Should unhappy people be made to adjust to a mad society? Laing was a fierce critic of the mental health system, and saw madness as a rational adaptation to irrational family and social constraints.

Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent.
-- R. D. Laing

—

question everything

Submitted by usefewersyllables on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 11:03am

Different philosophies

A favorite image from R.C. Fulwiler...

—

Twice bitten, permanently shy.

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 11:25am

great photo! interesting symmetry

@usefewersyllables

guess I would identify
more with the loose tail on the
right side of the dock

thanks for posting

—

question everything

Submitted by usefewersyllables on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 11:44am

Yup.

@QMS

The Flemish coil always says "I'm a neurotic SOB" to me, somehow. Just set the line up so it flakes half-decently, and as always: mind the bight...

Be safe (and non-neurotic!) out there!

—

Twice bitten, permanently shy.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 11:23am

Good morning QMS. One's definition of knot says a lot.

First, however:

Once prided myself with being able to tie a bowline around my torso one handed.

. Believe it or knot, I learned to do that with my eyes closed at a ridiculously young age, like before I was 5, because handy for lashing yourself to a rail or anything else in "weather". Later, fwiw I learned is also one nautical mile (roughly 6,000 feet or 1,000 fathoms) per hour, between 1.1 and 1.2 mph. But, sea where that leads?

alternatively, a knot is the base of a tree branch where it intersects the trunk and or where the trunk wood grows around said base. When the tree is made into planks, the knot is a slice through said junction and, if it is loose, can fall out leaving a knot and a knothole as separate things. Would one focus on that, it bespeaks a different, non-nautical orientation.

Then, to quote da wiki

In mathematics, a knot is an embedding of the circle S1 into three-dimensional Euclidean space, R3 (also known as E3). Often two knots are considered equivalent if they are isotopic.
A crucial difference between the standard mathematical and conventional notions of a knot is that mathematical knots are closed — there are no ends to tie or untie on a mathematical knot. Physical properties such as friction and thickness also do not apply, although there are mathematical definitions of a knot that take such properties into account. The term knot is also applied to embeddings of S j in Sn, especially in the case j = n − 2. The branch of mathematics that studies knots is known as knot theory, and has many simple relations to graph theory.

( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knot_(mathematics) ) Some great examples on that page. This usage is not to becornfuzed with the locution or "a knotty problem", which does not necessarily pertain to knot theory.

All that said, it's kinda grey and gloomy and, once again, errands to do so that, subsequent to their performance, other stuff can get done, or at least started.

be well and have a good one

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 11:41am

there are no ends to tie or untie

@enhydra lutris

your mathematical definition brings to mind an endless splice used in rigging work

A splice is usually significantly stronger than a knot and is intended to be permanent.

good luck with the chores

—

question everything

Submitted by usefewersyllables on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 12:29pm

Marlinespike seamanship

@QMS

is one of the most righteous pursuits available to the sailor (well, that, and the whole "not sinking" thing). Yeah, mon! There are few more pleasant ways to spend an afternoon than whipping the ends of a new set of lines, with some nice tunes and an Adult Beverage...

—

Twice bitten, permanently shy.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 2:09pm

For all those lacking their own hard copy, allow me to recommend

https://archive.org/details/TheAshleyBookOfKnots downloadable, y'awl.

be well and have a good one

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by usefewersyllables on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 2:24pm

And this excerpt from

@enhydra lutris

the good old Navy manual: think of it as the Cliff's-notes version of Ashley.

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/navy/nrtc/14067_c...

"If it moves, salute it. If it doesn't, paint it." That is all...

—

Twice bitten, permanently shy.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 4:34pm

Hold your left hand in a semi loose fist 6 to 8 inches

@usefewersyllables

from your chest,with the index finger sticking straight out. Now crook the index finger into something approximatly 2/3 to 3/4 of a circle. Hold your right hand roughly level with your chin with the first and middle finger separated by about 1/4 inch and the thumb and other fingers turned inward.

Congrats, you just made CPO.

be well and have a good one

HINT: cuppa joe and a smoke.

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by usefewersyllables on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 5:04pm

Nice!

@enhydra lutris

By the fact that a) I didn't know that one, b) I don't drink coffee, and c) I don't smoke: you can tell that I was never in the actual Navy...

However, having said that- I like big boats and I cannot lie. Civilian sailor only.

—

Twice bitten, permanently shy.

Submitted by on the cusp on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 3:15pm

I have a knot story.

A county employee was assigned a truck. One morning, he opened the door, saw a rope tied in a noose. Only county employees at that facility had access to the truck keys. he brought it to the boss' attention, and the boss said it was just an accidental knot. The employee insisted he investigate, so he was fired on the spot.
He was the only black employee at the facility.
Nooses are not accidental.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981