US government committees for investigationing

I cannot figure out yet which are truly 'the big ones'. I'm most interested now in those related to Clinton, the Trump campaign, the 2016 election, and Trump's presidency, etc.

Background note: the Senate sets up committees or subcommittees to address specific needs (e.g. the 1950 Foreign Relations Committee Subcommittee Investigation of Charges by Senator McCarthy (The Tydings Committee))

One of the most important nonlegislative functions of the Congress is the power to investigate. This power is usually delegated to committees -- either the standing committees, special committees ..., or joint committees composed of members of both houses. Investigations are conducted to gather information on the need for future legislation, to test the effectiveness of laws already passed, to inquire into the qualifications and performance of members and officials of the other branches, and on rare occasions, to lay the groundwork for impeachment proceedings. (From American History from the colonial period until modern times the University of Groningen in the Netherlands)

Senate Judiciary Committee 
This is a standing committee which votes on federal judge nominees and top appointments to the Justice Department; also deals with federal criminal law issues. Current chair is Grassley, ranking minority is Feinstein. 

They started an investigation - which in the summer was focused on the work of the FBI (what did Comey do? McCabe? Others do? etc). There was some shift during October that led to the Republicans going ahead without the Dems and Dems proceeding without the Republicans. This included investigating the uranium ore thing (Clinton) and the Clinton probe overall. 

MY takeaway is the Repubs starting looking for ways to discredit the hiring of Mueller and how to fire him 'for cause'. 

The role of Strzok came out a few days ago and all kinds of drama are coming from the various Trump Loyalists.


Senate Permanent Subcommittee for Investigations  
Portman is chair, ranking is Carper; the McCarthy investigations may be one of its legacies (name change?). It is under the Senate's Committee for Homeland Security & Government Affairs. The currently available document about its jurisdiction is for the 114th Congress.

It doesn't appear to have any relative investigation underway. 

Senate Intelligence Select Committee

Richard Burr (North Carolina) is chair, ranking is Mark Warner (Virginia); they have oversight (?) on domestic surveillance - and they are pretty much OK with the policies as they are. this committee is pretty close mouthed as to progress. They seem to avoid conflicts with the president (they didn't tell Trump to buzz off when he demanded they stop the investigation). They are currently the one bi-partisan group working on relevant investigations. These links give decent summaries: MotherJones (10.24.17); Politico (12.4.17)

Members: 
Republicans
James Risch Idaho
Marco Rubio Florida
Susan Collins Maine
Roy Blunt Missouri
James Lankford Oklahoma
Tom Cotton Arkansas
John Cornyn Texas

Democrats
Dianne Feinstein California
Ron Wyden Oregon
Martin Heinrich New Mexico
Angus King Maine
Joe Manchin West Virginia
Kamala Harris California

House Committees

Republicans on three House committees have also taken up investigative topics that Democrats and other critics see as tangents aimed at drawing attention away from the Trump administration’s ties to Russia. On Tuesday, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) announced a joint probe by his panel and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee into the uranium deal that Grassley is also looking into. At a news conference, Nunes grew testy as multiple reporters asked him how his role in the probe jibes with his pledge earlier this year to step aside from his panel’s investigation into Russian interference. Nunes’ decision to step aside came after he was forced to admit he had secretly briefed the White House on findings. He said Tuesday that he has not talked to the White House about the uranium matter but will do so “if appropriate.” The House Oversight committee and House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday announced a separate probe into the Justice Department’s handling of its inquiry into Clinton’s email practices.

Dyeing Basics with Fiber Reactive Dyes

See HERE for how I prepare dye 

First consideration:
Smooth colors with a large piece or with a small piece?
Mottled or die-dye effect?

• Some steps are the same, some are similar, some are different

Dye Box: 

(makes it all easier); has a flat bottom to hold my protective items, measuring tools, cups, and spoons. A towel on the bottom collects stray powder, etc. It is easy to move from my 'dye studio' (the bathroom) into the closet. I measure the dye powder in the box to minimize its spread.

• A face mask is used every time working with dry dye powders. All experts say to do this. And, you never know when you'll drop an open canister of dye. It was Bright Orange. 
• To the elbow-high heavy duty gloves.  
• A flexible basting brush used to mix up the dye paste and to collect stray bits of dye on the edge of the cup.
• A funnel to help me pour dye water from the mixing cup into 18-ounce drink bottles. 
• Labels for my dye bottles - telling me the amount of dye powder needed for that color as well as the date of the mixing.
• Small syringe (for dispensing small amounts of liquid meds) for the tiny amounts sometimes needed.
• Once an item goes into the dyeing process, it can never be used for food preparation ever again. 

Chemicals: 

• NOT using Calsolene oil as it seems to irritate me: my hands ache badly and this isn't from dipping my hands in the water with it as I used my gloves - it must happen from fumes. Check out the safety warnings on it (and other chemicals too) if you want to use it. 
• Salt and soda ash now come from pool supply stores. 
• I mix up a large glass jug of soda ash water and keep that in my dye box. 
• I rarely use urea. I've tested it's impact and don't find any- with my water. Your work might go better using urea in mixing up your dyes because of your water supply. 
• Dyes - I use Dharma Trading. I started with them, they have great customer support. 

The Dye Bucket / Vat:

• I use large flat bottom buckets most of the time for full immersion dying. Pedicure ones or storage ones. It's good to have an empty bucket nearby as sometimes fabric is moved temporarily while the dye bath is adjusted. 
• A flat plate so, if I need a break, I can keep fabric submerged with it. 
• Soda Ash Water is added gradually to the vat --- just a bit at a time, and not pouring it onto fabric. Taking time at this steps helps with smoothing colors. It needs to have at least 40 minutes here (longer is OK). 
• Sealing plastic bags seem to make fantastic 'dye vats' for getting smooth colors when working with very small pieces. Of course, 9 inch by 9 inch fabrics fit beautifully in gallon size bags. Pretty easy to squish out all the air. With about 2 cups of dye water in the bag, the fabric floats so stirring isn't necessary. 

pH: 

• To fix the dye (keep it on the fabric), the pH has to go up; soda ash is used. Must be dissolved first. 
• My water seems to have some buffering capability making getting the pH to 10.5 really challenging. I've been adding a lot of soda ash water then testing with test strips. Not ready to make a conclusion. 
• Points out how your local water quality is a significant partner in all this.

Sigh, when will this be memorable?

Each time the tabs need tweaking - I am lost.

THIS did help so here it is for next time:
Categorical Post Tabs by Kurt Clothier

Dyeing Resources

Dharma Trading provides solid basic information; there is no forum and it is difficult to locate answers.

Paula Burch - tremendous resource based on science and professional experience; digging is worthwhile for find answers to challenges

O Ecotextiles - a clear article on the roles of salt and sodium carbonate (soda ash) (The amount of salt no longer is shocking.) Surprisingly helpful resources:

About Color

Color Theory and Mixing - (a beginning place)