Sarah A. Hoyt's Blog, page 391

Something about Money (and cake) – Francis Turner

Something about Money (and cake) – Francis Turner

Money is one of those human inventions that is about as fundamental as the taming of fire. Every civilized society and many (possibly all) savage tribes of humans have some form of money. Societies that have attempted to do away with it have generally ended up both failing to and in the process killing people. Yet not many people understand money properly and, as a result, much suffering is brought into the world.

So what is money?

The glib answe...

Men, Women and Prophecy

*Yes, three of you have sent me guest posts. But I woke up very late, and I hate to put guest posts up late. I like them to have their full exposure. So, they’ll run later. I’ll also sometime today put up the ATH FAQ compiled for me by our inestimable Alma Boykin.*

When I was little, there was a half baked slew of prophecy floating around the consciousness of the village. Somewhat based on the Bible, somewhat based on stuff heard from grandparents, it held that fifty years before the end of th...

It’s A Free-Range-Oysterific Promo Post

*But first a word from your sponsor — me — if you’re low on Hoyt books, remember the novels are all on sale until Jan 7. Most of them are 2.99, and Witchfinder is 3.99 a price which you should not pass up! And now for the Oyster one.*

Welcome back, one and all! I hope your festivities were joyous, whatever their form. The Oyster Clan has had a hectic but pleasant holiday season this year. A fattening one too, as the Oyster Wife is a marvelous cook, and my sainted mother not a whit behind her....

When Luck Comes In

We were too young. Who the heck lets 22 year olds get married anyway?

We were doing it for all the wrong reasons. I was on the rebound and wanted to prove to myself and the world that someone still wanted me, really. He was escaping a zombie relationship.

He had the name (except for two letters) of the boyfriend I’d imagined to myself at 14. (Hey, I was a very lonely geek girl.) Our engagement announcement caused at least one old friend to tell me I’d finally gone around the bend and needed to...

The Longest Night

I don’t know when Solstice was this winter. I think it was around the 23rd.

However, I do know I woke up at my normal time this morning – 6:30 am, and thought it must be three. The darkness around the room was impenetrable, a combination of snow and being close enough to the winter Solstice as makes little difference.

I could say that I understood why our ancestors might think the sun would never come back, except I don’t think our ancestors were that stupid. It flatters us to think so, but no....

Mercy Mild? – CACS

Mercy Mild? -CACS

This all is in reaction to our esteemed hostess, who made the following two comments in a post titled Sheep Who Think They’re Wolves:

Unfortunately over the years this has morphed into the more sinned against than sinning villain, into the repressed/tortured villain. Into the person who lashes out because, like a tortured dog, they can’t help it.

and

The problem with this is that all of us, every one here, I’d bet, knows someone who had a horrible childhood, was beaten, was kept...

Someone Else’s Words

*Oh, and if some of your relatives got Kindles for xmas, don’t forget all my Goldport Press novels and one of the collections are on sale! Also, go to MGC and read Kate’s post. Warning, DO NOT DRINK ANYTHING while reading it, or your monitor will be Wassailed.*

It’s late, there’s two beasts to roast (not the boys) and I have spent the last two days cleaning and setting up (late minute travel and illness make the holidays so much fun) so I haven’t written in two days and I’m starting to get the...

Women in History or Women’s History? – Alma Boykin

Women in History or Women’s History? – Alma Boykin

They’re different. The End.

Ow! [Rubs spot where blog owner poked her.] Oh, you wanted details? Sorry, OK. Gotcha. This will gloss over a lot of details and academic points, OK? Right, onwards and odd-wards we go.

In the beginning there was no such thing as Women’s History. This is not to say that women never played a role in history, or that women were not important during that ever-lengthening period we call “history.” But the first people to...

The Light and The Darkness

As you know I’m working really hard to finish Through Fire, interrupted by some health stuff which is getting me down. So the world’s most awesome husband took me away from the keyboard yesterday night and on a date to the Denver zoo, to see the Christmas lights.

It was just starting to snow, as it approached and we were afraid we’d get frozen but it was surprisingly mild the entire time we were there, and the lights were awesome.

We’d gone once with the kids, when they were little, and the lig...

Hold my Beer and Watch This- Cedar Sanderson

Hold my Beer and Watch This- Cedar Sanderson

There is some debate over what jobs men and women are best at. In the current cultural push to make women fit into slots previously held mostly by men, some inconvenient truths are overlooked, ignored, denied, and finally, outright lied about. Because the honest truth is that if we discard outliers on the data set, there are some jobs in which a man is better suited than a woman.

Let’s take for instance a snow-shoveling job. Yes, if it involves autom...