View from the Panopticon
As I make my way through the dark forest of the Internet, I find I’m guided through the underbrush by lights from the most unexpected sources, the latest leading to a weblog called The Panopticon.
The blog is written by Franklin Habit, a photographer, educator and website designer who lives in Chicago, is a Zen Buddhist, is perhaps of Middle Eastern descent, is gay and writes mostly about his passion, knitting. Not much in common with us sports-loving, beer-drinking, East Coast he-men who wouldn’t know a knit from a purl.
But, man, can he write. Which is why The Panopticon is the latest addition to our blogroll.
Franklin, truth be told, can get a little bitchy, but always filled with a humor that makes you want to be slapped by him:
Will you non-knitters kindly remember that knitting is not synonymous with ‘crafting’? Using ancient techniques to fashion warm socks, handsome sweaters, or ethereal lace from spun fiber is not akin to making trivets out of Popsicle sticks and Elmer’s glue.
In a recent snippet titled ‘Schadenfreude Corner,’ he writes:
Gym membership: $50/month
New, smaller Levi’s 501s that fit recently refurbished physique just so: $75
New heels for favorite cowboy boots: $35
Round of drinks for old friends at Charlie’s Bar on Saturday night: $35
Running into the ‘younger man’ that Mr. Ex dumped you for and realizing he’s easily put on forty pounds in the past year: Priceless
His account of meeting his imaginary friend, Dolores, a cheeky Romney sheep who shows up at his door one night, approaches high Gogolesque fiction in its dialogue. The sheep, it turns out, wants to be taken out for a drink.
Another conversation, this one real, with a man on a commuter train who pulls his daughter away from her fascination with Franklin’s knitting, shows a more serious side:
I honestly thought he was concerned that she might be bothering me, so I smiled and said, ‘It’s okay, I don’t mind questions.’
To which he replied, ‘You leave my kid alone!’ And then, not directly to me, but just as audibly, ‘Goddamned freaks.’
Rude? Oh yes. But this is not supposed to be another man-knits-in-public-and-attracts-idiocy story. Those are too common to be interesting in and of themselves.
This is a reminder to myself that my own brain’s not so different from his. I may not be inclined to tell a stranger on the subway she’s a freak, but it doesn’t mean I don’t think it. I do it all the time . . .. I look, I categorize, I judge. And just as I believe that man got me wrong in believing me to be a threat to his child, I’m certain I often misjudge others.
One of the aspects of elusive enlightenment I’m pursuing through Zen Buddhism is (I hear) a genuine understanding that between yourself and myself, there is no difference.
So who put us on to Franklin? My mother-in-law, Virginia Sunderman, 82, an avid knitter and Indiana native who has been known to have Republican proclivities. I am considerably to the left of her, but she felt the following note was necessary:
To prepare you, I will say that Franklin is a mid-Eastern-looking male who is gay, a knitter, very artistic . . . and has an imaginary friend, Dolores, who is a sheep.
I often think Virginia is a Democrat hiding in Republican trappings. But she may suspect that beneath my wool, a Republican is hiding. Well, maybe Franklin’s Buddhism has the answer.
– Sid Leavitt
Posted in Uncategorized |
May 31, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Hi, Sid - dropped in from Franklin’s blog to check yours out. Great review! If I hadn’t already been a fan of his, I’d be running to catch up.
I like the idea of your blog, and I’ll be coming back. I can certainly sympathize with the forest/trees feeling. Only been reading blogs a little over a year myself (slow starter [g]), and grief; the choices! But for an inveterate reader, it sure is nice to have an abundance. Even with all the wading.
You’ll no doubt get more of Franklin’s readers stopping by, and probably umpteen of those will also suggest the person I’m about to…but Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, the Yarn Harlot, is another knitblogger who’s superb. She talks about more than knitting, and is a knitting humorist who’s just had her fourth book published. You might want to check out the 18th birthday post she made to her eldest daughter yesterday. It’s a gem.
http://tinyurl.com/22zk7h
(main URL is:
www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/)
May 31, 2007 at 5:01 pm
I came here from Franklin’s blog, too. Besides the Yarn Harlot, do check out the following:
www.crazyauntpurl.com
www.the pioneerwoman.com
http://www.juliezickefoose.com/blog/index.php
I’ll be back… enjoy!
May 31, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Franklin is AWESOME. He’s the funniest thing on the web. I second the mention of The Yarn Harlot. There are several knitbloggers out there whose writing is noteworthy:
Tales from the Den of Chaos
http://denofchaos.blogspot.com/
Rabbitch
http://rabbitch.blogspot.com/
and
Crazy Aunt Purl
http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/
to name a few. Thank you for noticing our community! Wonderful review.
May 31, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Another one dropping in to say hi after reading the Panopticon…
I apologize for my ignorance but what are he-men?
May 31, 2007 at 10:03 pm
Hello Sid,
I’m also a devoted fan of Franklin’s work and want to join in the recommendations for Crazy Aunt Purl, Rabbitch, and the Yarn Harlot. All are fabulous, talented, and funny. Oh, and they knit too!
June 1, 2007 at 5:52 am
Another Franklin reader here.
Dolores is imaginary? Huh? What are you talking about?
Great write up. I love Franklin. He makes me smile.
June 1, 2007 at 7:50 am
Heh. I think you’re about to be over-run with Franklinphiles. And knitters, most of us, I’ll bet.
Another huge second for Crazy Aunt Purl (if she doesn’t make you laugh, you’re dead) and the Yarn Harlot (she’ll make you laugh and also, possibly, make you want to pick up knitting needles even if the thought of doing so has never previously crossed your mind…she’s very inspiring).
Another wonderful blog…for the photography as much as the writing….both are awesome…is:
http://yarnstorm.blogs.com/knitblog/
Now, off to explore your place!
June 1, 2007 at 8:54 am
I also linked from Franklin’s site. I never miss his blog, along with Yarnstorm, Yarn Harlot and Crazy Aunt Purl. (Crazy Aunt Purl is not as well-written as the other three, but it is still one of the most enjoyable).
June 1, 2007 at 9:22 am
Dropped in after visiting Franklin. Men come in all flavors, you know. And, as Sarah just said, “now off to explore YOUR place.” Looks good so far!
June 1, 2007 at 10:05 am
Your definition of a he-man is flawed. Or maybe “he-men” are flawed. In any event, Franklin is plenty of man for me. I’m so glad you noticed him. Other than the irrelevant comment on his manhood, your review was quite good. But I like Franklin’s writing better. MaryB
June 1, 2007 at 10:28 am
Another Franklin fan here. I loved your review. I’ve only been reading blogs for a year now, along with writing my own. (meager as it is) It’s nice to check out the blogs that others like or find interesting. I’ll be exploring yours more along with the ones you’ve recommended.
But I have a question. What do you mean Dolores is imaginary? She.is.so.real.to.me.
June 1, 2007 at 11:28 am
Great review! I am already a fan of Franklin’s Panopticon blog site, as well as the infamous Delores.
June 1, 2007 at 11:38 am
Another Panopticon fan weighing in. I love good writing & his makes me both laugh and think. Seconds again to recommendations re Yarn Harlot, Crazy Aunt Purl, Rabbitch, and also these:
http://gentlemansc.blogspot.com/ and http://shaxophile.blogspot.com/
June 1, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Yet another Franklin (and Dolores) fan. I don’t knit, am not gay, Buddhist or otherwise have anything in common with Franklin. I am a reader, and this guy is the real deal. A new post from Franklin is a sure thing; a few moments of pure pleasure. And Dolores… ‘nuf said.
So glad I’ve found your site. The blogging world is a rich place. I’m off to explore your site.
Please also check out the following for exceptional writing:
waiterrant
queerjoesknittingblog
surgeonsblog
June 1, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Yeah. Ditto.
June 1, 2007 at 7:01 pm
I read The Panopticon everyday. He makes me laugh and I love Dolores. He’s a good knitter too.
June 1, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Glad you found Franklin…he is exquisite and I love him! I second Rabbitch and Yarn Harlot….
June 2, 2007 at 7:56 am
Me, too. Me, too!
Franklin and Dolores fan here, seconding all the recommendations of other blogs to try.
June 2, 2007 at 1:56 pm
love your bloggy-blog… I was just intro’ed to Franklin today, when opposite-friend came by and added him to my ‘must reads’. As a dyed in the wool conservative, I’m often afraid to enter discussions with other knitters about anything. I mean, really, soy and corn based yarns aren’t more ‘eco’, ‘cuz I’m pretty sure tractors still use fuel to farm the damn stuff. But you can’t point this out to most knitters. So, I enjoy the humor, but refrain from (what I consider rational) commenting. Doesn’t do to piss off people with pointy sticks. And if a person knits, that’s enough of a redeeming quality, I guess. Will check back on you later, from my little corner of Indiana. Cami