It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel queasy

This is the trailer for a new documentary called H2Oil, which has just been released. I'll be looking for it when it comes out on dvd or is screened locally, but I won't be looking forward to it. It's about the oil sands, water and our agreements with the US that lock us into giving them away.

The film highlights the environmental destruction caused by oil sands development which, on its own, even without any regard for climate change or peak oil, should have us pursuing radical conservation starting now. I think the path of aiming towards the same lifestyle only with more efficient lightbulbs is really a dead end. I say this while writing on a very new, large computer in a poorly insulated, nuclear-powered (and heated) house which is too far to walk to anything. Sadly, I don't think there are any vacant caves within walking distance of any place I ever go, so my conscience and my creativity are going to have to cooperate to find an arrangement we can live with.

Bragging of socks and kid

A few days ago, I received a fabulous gift from my daughter. She handed me a hand-knit (by her, of course) pair of wool socks. I have never owned hand-knit socks in my life and I'm thrilled with these. They are soft and warm and the perfect thing to wear around the house or in rubber boots.

Have I mentioned that Madeleine is 13 and that I'm very proud of her accomplishments? She's published a couple of original patterns on Ravelry and is getting a lot of very good feedback from knitters around the world. She's also getting way more hits on her blog than I've ever gotten on mine.

I hope I haven't made anyone who doesn't have a beautiful hand-knit pair of wool socks knit by their kid feel jealous. I'm sure your kid is special too.