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I want to make this skirt. Pretty! Fairly simple! Not sure whether I should follow the pattern and knit it or just do my usual "adapt to crochet, make up pattern as I go along" method.

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Folks, look after your bodies. You get one, one only, and just a handful of really good surgeons in the world. This is part of the reason I am so upset over my own collection of mild symptoms - my body is my tool for being in the world. I use it for every thing I do, and if it isn't working correctly, every thing I do is affected. My body is my instrument, without which I cannot make good music. My body is the only way I can communicate with the world, whether that means holding a loved one or enjoying their caress, putting dots on paper for other people to play music, writing letters to the bank to get my money back or shouting a warning to a child who runs into the road. My body is the only me/world interface that I have.

Yes, some people do get the short end of the 'body' stick - juvenile diabetes, unexplained illness, mental health problems, the rest of it. Few people are blessed with perfect physical health. But we owe it to ourselves to treat our bodies - the physical representation of our Selves - with love and care and respect. All other things being equal (and yeah, I know, all other things aren't equal), someone who looks after their body will be healthier than someone who does not.

Treasure your body, for all that may be 'wrong' or imperfect about it, and treat it well.

What do you do to honour, love, respect and enjoy your body?

Link Roundup

OOOOOOoooooohhh. this bag by TUMI tickles all the right bits - it is geeky and ethical (proceeds from teh sale go to Doctors Without Borders) and designed ergonomically (I've worn a TUMI bag and they are wonderful and I want one). Shame it's so expensive, and the solar panels look kindof small and they don't tell me things like voltage and so on, which is a bit useless. But... but...

Okay, so something like this is more affordable, and a lot more specific. And 4 watts isn't bad going. But where can I try one on (and wander around wearing it for half a day) to make sure it doesn't kill my back? Voltaic say that the Science Museum shop has them, but I can't find them on the website...

I'd clearly be better off getting something like this and adapting it to take a couple of these or these, wired appropriately to give me a good 12V supply... but I bet they're a lot heavier than the ones on the Voltaic, and they're going to be big and clunky. These, on the other hand... hmmmm.... okay, who wants to help me hax0r a backpack? best plan I think is something that can be removed easily and the cord for charging etc. could go through an ordinary media cord port as on many bags.

I'd like a one of these. Such a simple, and pleasant, idea. Not sure there's space for it here, though, and it wouldn't work for umbrellas that have neither a hooked handle or a fabric loops. But who needs those anyway?

Today's SinFest made me laugh.

The Complete Works of Darwin online. Free.

Some of you told me this wouldn't pass. Sorry.

Good rendition of some Wagner.

I should fill out forms and enter this if my elbow ever gets around to healing and I can play properly again.

Warning Signs for Tomorrow. I like the "Lack of Internet Connectivity" and "Group Intellect" ones.

Step-by-step guide to reclaiming bank charges. Slightly annoying in tone for some reason, but good enough instructions.

shiiiiiiiiiiny. Yeah, I know it's just another Mac.

My wishlist. No, it isn't quite complete. Yes, it has been updated since the date indicated. I'll fix it eventually; but I don't think there's anything on there that isn't relevant. My brithday is 27th October - that's next Friday. Guess I should stick that on the wishlist page too. (No, you don't have to get me a present, I do not want anyone to feel guilty. I just like them.)

Yeah, I know, I haven't attributed these links. Most of them are old or convoluted.