Laura Anne Gilman's Blog, page 51
November 21, 2014
Rant: there's none of us here who hasn't once been the stranger somewhere.
Warning: rant ahead, wherein I pull no punches even if I don't name names.
The most terrifying thing about reading US immigration discussions online is seeing utterly gleeful lack of compassion some people are displaying.
To those people (to everyone) I say, go read (not reread because clearly you haven't before) Emma Lazarus' inscription on the Statue of Liberty, and think about your casual 'send 'em back to be killed/ dump them off the boats' comment.
And then ask yourselves how the fuck you think your family was any better, ESPECIALLY if you can trace your family back to the original settlements, who were assuredly undocumented, uninvited, and unwanted by the original inhabitants. Nobody here, unless they're 100% Native American, did not avail themselves of an open gate. This is a country, for better or worse, built not only on immigration, but immigration based on the dream of making a better life, away from persecution and fear. Not a country so afraid that they would advocate violence against those seeking what our grandparents and great-grandparents found...
If that's your thing, you nauseate me.
And before anyone comes in to counter-rant, I'm not advocating unfettered immigration. But compassion rather than absolutism when deciding cases? Absofuckinglutely. And with at least an ATTEMPT to rein in the "but then whites will be the minority" scream you can hear rising from certain people. Maybe we will. Maybe that's not such a terrible thing. GTFOY.
The most terrifying thing about reading US immigration discussions online is seeing utterly gleeful lack of compassion some people are displaying.
To those people (to everyone) I say, go read (not reread because clearly you haven't before) Emma Lazarus' inscription on the Statue of Liberty, and think about your casual 'send 'em back to be killed/ dump them off the boats' comment.
And then ask yourselves how the fuck you think your family was any better, ESPECIALLY if you can trace your family back to the original settlements, who were assuredly undocumented, uninvited, and unwanted by the original inhabitants. Nobody here, unless they're 100% Native American, did not avail themselves of an open gate. This is a country, for better or worse, built not only on immigration, but immigration based on the dream of making a better life, away from persecution and fear. Not a country so afraid that they would advocate violence against those seeking what our grandparents and great-grandparents found...
If that's your thing, you nauseate me.
And before anyone comes in to counter-rant, I'm not advocating unfettered immigration. But compassion rather than absolutism when deciding cases? Absofuckinglutely. And with at least an ATTEMPT to rein in the "but then whites will be the minority" scream you can hear rising from certain people. Maybe we will. Maybe that's not such a terrible thing. GTFOY.
November 19, 2014
Will Write 2 Feed Others - This thing I do, v. 2014
Moving and deadlines and Life have gotten a nasty delay in my plans, but yes, #Willwrite2feedothers is happening.
But what, some of you who weren't around or paying attention last year, are asking, is #Willwrite2feedothers?
It's this.
I'm careful about where I give my charity money. I do my research, I look at the percentage of money that actually goes to the work versus the administration (I'm looking at you, so-called cancer cure charities), and their overall actual impact. And one of the charities I give to regularly is my local food bank. Because a full stomach makes everything else, no matter how hard, seems a little easier to manage. Especially for kids. No kid should ever go to bed hungry.
This isn't meant to be a guilt trip: you can't coerce charity - well, you can, but guilt only goes so far.
A carrot, on the other hand.....
So here's the deal: If I get at least 15 people to send in a screen shot* of a donation made to their local food bank/soup kitchen/whatever, of no less than $10 (or 10 of your local currency)** by 10 December, I will post an original short story to my site on 1 January 2015. Yes, for everyone, same as last year.
If we get 30 people or more...well, I'll up the stakes in a yet-to-be-named way.***
Because Thanksgiving dinner tastes better when you know other people are sitting down to a meal, too.
*send the screenshot to lag@lauraannegilman.net
**last year, people asked if they could send donations in-goods rather than cash. I specify cash because most organizations can make money go further than we can, due to their connections. But yes, a screen shot of at least $10 worth of goods being donated will count.
***oh god, I want people to rise to the challenge but I also fear it....
But what, some of you who weren't around or paying attention last year, are asking, is #Willwrite2feedothers?
It's this.
I'm careful about where I give my charity money. I do my research, I look at the percentage of money that actually goes to the work versus the administration (I'm looking at you, so-called cancer cure charities), and their overall actual impact. And one of the charities I give to regularly is my local food bank. Because a full stomach makes everything else, no matter how hard, seems a little easier to manage. Especially for kids. No kid should ever go to bed hungry.
This isn't meant to be a guilt trip: you can't coerce charity - well, you can, but guilt only goes so far.
A carrot, on the other hand.....
So here's the deal: If I get at least 15 people to send in a screen shot* of a donation made to their local food bank/soup kitchen/whatever, of no less than $10 (or 10 of your local currency)** by 10 December, I will post an original short story to my site on 1 January 2015. Yes, for everyone, same as last year.
If we get 30 people or more...well, I'll up the stakes in a yet-to-be-named way.***
Because Thanksgiving dinner tastes better when you know other people are sitting down to a meal, too.
*send the screenshot to lag@lauraannegilman.net
**last year, people asked if they could send donations in-goods rather than cash. I specify cash because most organizations can make money go further than we can, due to their connections. But yes, a screen shot of at least $10 worth of goods being donated will count.
***oh god, I want people to rise to the challenge but I also fear it....
November 18, 2014
ow in a good cause....
Got my flu shot today. Right on schedule, I now feel like hammered crap. But better 12 hours of this than 2 weeks of please-gods-let-me-die flu, later.
(and yes, I have had the two-weeks-of-please-gods-let-me-die flu. Never again, if I can do anything to avoid it.)
(and yes, I have had the two-weeks-of-please-gods-let-me-die flu. Never again, if I can do anything to avoid it.)
State of the Meerkat: Waiting, and Revising
Two weeks before the move, and I'm living a weird kind of half-life. Ideally, this makes me focus more on the work. Ideally.
Lunch with my agent this week, to discuss projects pending, and new. Which means I really need to get the existing stuff off my desk and onto someone else's (editor and/or formatters). See second sentence of this post.
To that end, am revising and revising.... which is kind of like spending all day on a swing between "hey that bit was pretty good" and "oh shit, this bit sucks." And then the rope breaks.
From the "lines I'm keeping" file:
“The moment you say something’s not possible, someone will do it. But it’s not probable.”
Lunch with my agent this week, to discuss projects pending, and new. Which means I really need to get the existing stuff off my desk and onto someone else's (editor and/or formatters). See second sentence of this post.
To that end, am revising and revising.... which is kind of like spending all day on a swing between "hey that bit was pretty good" and "oh shit, this bit sucks." And then the rope breaks.
From the "lines I'm keeping" file:
“The moment you say something’s not possible, someone will do it. But it’s not probable.”
November 17, 2014
Worldbuilders 2014
So we're a little bit hectic here at Ch. Felidae, getting ready to shift across the continent for a bit, and so we missed the first week of Worldbuilders' fundraiser. But I've got your link here, never fear!
But wait, wait, some of you don't know about Worldbuilders?
Every year, a bunch of us writer- and artist-types throw in to raise money for Heifer International, by offering goods and services for anyone who likewise wants to raise money for Heifer International. If you might happen to be one of those anyones..... now's the time, here's the way.
But wait, wait, some of you don't know about Worldbuilders?
Every year, a bunch of us writer- and artist-types throw in to raise money for Heifer International, by offering goods and services for anyone who likewise wants to raise money for Heifer International. If you might happen to be one of those anyones..... now's the time, here's the way.
November 14, 2014
mid-life not-a-crisis
One third of my belongings are currently wending their way across the continent. One third are in storage. And one third will be handed into the keeping of my sub-tenant in two weeks.
Right now, it's me, the cats, and a lot of quiet space where there used to be physical noise. I'm not sure if I like it or not. Either way, it's doing interesting things to my brain. I suspect there will be at least one new short story coming out of it....
Intentionally shaking up your life just to see what settles, and where. It's a good kind of crazy.
Right now, it's me, the cats, and a lot of quiet space where there used to be physical noise. I'm not sure if I like it or not. Either way, it's doing interesting things to my brain. I suspect there will be at least one new short story coming out of it....
Intentionally shaking up your life just to see what settles, and where. It's a good kind of crazy.
November 13, 2014
A relatively rare TBT
I'm pretty sure this was either junior or senior year in high school.
Oh shut up, I have TOO changed since then. A little. And gotten a much better hairdresser, thank god.
Oh shut up, I have TOO changed since then. A little. And gotten a much better hairdresser, thank god.
November 12, 2014
CatofSize update
The cats have been surprisingly good about the boxes and packing and weird Stuff happening in the house. I mean, other than me constantly having to remove Castiel from an empty or half-packed box. But life-with-cats never runs smooth, especially not when money is tight. It's just a universal law, or something.
Although his glucose readings came back within acceptable ranges, the too-much-drinking-of-water continues, and attempts to get a urine sample from CatofSize have failed (seriously, how do people manage that?), so looks like he's back to the vet for an extraction. (TMI? Sorry!).
My poor middle-aged man. Although he's otherwise seemingly in good health, the spectre of CRF lurks, and it's not doing anyone's stress levels any good.
Although his glucose readings came back within acceptable ranges, the too-much-drinking-of-water continues, and attempts to get a urine sample from CatofSize have failed (seriously, how do people manage that?), so looks like he's back to the vet for an extraction. (TMI? Sorry!).
My poor middle-aged man. Although he's otherwise seemingly in good health, the spectre of CRF lurks, and it's not doing anyone's stress levels any good.
November 11, 2014
In which matters of great import are decided...
View Poll: mixing it up
(for the record, they don't actually MAKE soup bowls in this pattern, far as I can tell. Why? I dunno. Seems stupid, but there ya go.)
(for the record, they don't actually MAKE soup bowls in this pattern, far as I can tell. Why? I dunno. Seems stupid, but there ya go.)
11th day of the 11th month
People who say "war is hell" are too often those who've never been under fire. Those who have too often rarely say anything at all.
(I'm referring not only to those who died, but those who found themselves either unable to speak of what they'd seen, or were unable to find anyone to listen. Because that's the final and IMO most insulting sacrifice we demand of them - to not inflict the truth of war on those of us who are not on the front lines.)
(I'm referring not only to those who died, but those who found themselves either unable to speak of what they'd seen, or were unable to find anyone to listen. Because that's the final and IMO most insulting sacrifice we demand of them - to not inflict the truth of war on those of us who are not on the front lines.)
