Tamora Pierce's Blog, page 7
December 17, 2011
Over and over it happens. You shouldn't have been drunk/...
Over and over it happens. You shouldn't have been drunk/drinking. You shouldn't have been there. You shouldn't have gone into his apartment/room. You shouldn't have dressed that way. (I mean you, granny, in your sexy flannel pastel birdie print floor length Lantz nightgown.)
It was you, person who was assaulted/battered/raped. You used your mysterious power for pain, dragged that man over, forced doors to open, close, lock as you made him batter you, as you forced his hands to lock around you, constrain you, and you continued to make him do all those other things that followed. It was all your fault. If you hadn't made him do it by your behavior, presentation, actions, he wouldn't have raped you. He's not that kind of guy. He wasn't in your house looking for someone to rape. He didn't approach you at the bar/club/restaurant/grocery story/playground because he was looking for someone to rape. He didn't follow you because he was looking for someone to rape. He didn't rape you because he wanted to rape. You came on to him. You dresses provocatively. You went to dinner with him and didn't put out. You dressed like a prostitute. You wanted it.
I have an idea. It doesn't matter who the one who was assaulted is; what condition s/he was in; how s/he was dressed; what social activities s/he was engaged in; whether s/he was married to the rapist; if s/he supposedly came on to that person.
The blame is with the rapist and only the rapist. Can we all say that together? The Blame Is With the Rapist.
Now let's go to our ignorant and disbelieving and shocked governmental and judicial officials, our prosecutors, and our law enforcement personnel, and to every loudmouth who sounds off on the subject and say
THE BLAME IS WITH THE RAPIST.
It was you, person who was assaulted/battered/raped. You used your mysterious power for pain, dragged that man over, forced doors to open, close, lock as you made him batter you, as you forced his hands to lock around you, constrain you, and you continued to make him do all those other things that followed. It was all your fault. If you hadn't made him do it by your behavior, presentation, actions, he wouldn't have raped you. He's not that kind of guy. He wasn't in your house looking for someone to rape. He didn't approach you at the bar/club/restaurant/grocery story/playground because he was looking for someone to rape. He didn't follow you because he was looking for someone to rape. He didn't rape you because he wanted to rape. You came on to him. You dresses provocatively. You went to dinner with him and didn't put out. You dressed like a prostitute. You wanted it.
I have an idea. It doesn't matter who the one who was assaulted is; what condition s/he was in; how s/he was dressed; what social activities s/he was engaged in; whether s/he was married to the rapist; if s/he supposedly came on to that person.
The blame is with the rapist and only the rapist. Can we all say that together? The Blame Is With the Rapist.
Now let's go to our ignorant and disbelieving and shocked governmental and judicial officials, our prosecutors, and our law enforcement personnel, and to every loudmouth who sounds off on the subject and say
THE BLAME IS WITH THE RAPIST.
December 16, 2011
Saudi Witch Beheaded
It's true. These are our allies. Our government gives them our tax dollars. They forbid their women to drive alone. They forbid them to travel out of the country without the permission, and often the escort, of a male relative. And if you are accused--by an anonymous caller--of telling fortunes or dabbling in astrology, you can go to prison for live--or die. Witchcraft and sorcery charges will get you killed.
Amina bint Abdul Halim bin Salem Nasser is the second to be executed for witchcraft this year. And the burden of proof is rarely more than the accusation. In the case of Fawza Falih Muhammad Ali from Jordan, she was beaten to coerce a confession. Furthermore, the crime of witchcraft is not defined under Saudi law.
Others have been arrested, held, battered, and killed in previous years: a Sudanese, a Lebanese, and an Egyptian. And the Saudi government lets it happen. Our government lets it happen.
Who will stand up for these people if their own government won't?
Amina bint Abdul Halim bin Salem Nasser is the second to be executed for witchcraft this year. And the burden of proof is rarely more than the accusation. In the case of Fawza Falih Muhammad Ali from Jordan, she was beaten to coerce a confession. Furthermore, the crime of witchcraft is not defined under Saudi law.
Others have been arrested, held, battered, and killed in previous years: a Sudanese, a Lebanese, and an Egyptian. And the Saudi government lets it happen. Our government lets it happen.
Who will stand up for these people if their own government won't?
December 15, 2011
Affordable sparklies!
I'd like to introduce you to my new dealer jewelry vendor, Adelaide. I just purchased and received (within days) a few bracelets and pairs of earrings from her, and drooled over more photos of her work, some of which I plan to pick up in the near future. Because I know some of my fans and friends share my taste in jewelry and appreciate good prices as much as I, I thought I would share the offerings.
She makes these pieces herself, and in addition to everyday jewelry, she has holiday pieces, Goth jewelry, and steampunk pieces. Check them out--you'll be glad you did!
cross-posted to my fan lj
She makes these pieces herself, and in addition to everyday jewelry, she has holiday pieces, Goth jewelry, and steampunk pieces. Check them out--you'll be glad you did!
cross-posted to my fan lj
December 10, 2011
Clark the City Kitty
Originally posted by
![[info]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1380985649i/3683640.gif)
kylecassidy
at postClark feels better.
He had surgery and they removed two pieces of corroded metal from his stomach which he likely ingested while trying to eat food attached to it. He can stand on his own now and enjoys people and mealtimes.
The best way you can help Clark or cats like him is by fostering or adopting. City Kitties is currently filled to capacity and in desperate need of foster homes -- people who can care for a cat for a minimum of three months (six months preferred) City Kitties pays all the vet bills. Their foster link is here. There are many cats with stories just as sad as Clark's who are looking for a person who will be kind to them.
Click to donate.
Add me: [LiveJournal] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Google+] [Tumblr]
kylecassidy
at postClark feels better.He had surgery and they removed two pieces of corroded metal from his stomach which he likely ingested while trying to eat food attached to it. He can stand on his own now and enjoys people and mealtimes.
The best way you can help Clark or cats like him is by fostering or adopting. City Kitties is currently filled to capacity and in desperate need of foster homes -- people who can care for a cat for a minimum of three months (six months preferred) City Kitties pays all the vet bills. Their foster link is here. There are many cats with stories just as sad as Clark's who are looking for a person who will be kind to them.
Click to donate.
Add me: [LiveJournal] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Google+] [Tumblr]
December 3, 2011
loving and loveable cat needs a forever home
edited to add: if things don't work out, we'd take her back. We don't want her to end up homeless or in a shelter! Oh, and she's a year old!
The guy who helps us keep house is just as big a mushball for cats as well are. Unfortunately, he is up to his limit with 5 cats. He knew about this girl, one of the cats in the area around his yard, and when he saw her developing a little football belly, he brought her straight to us. She isn't feral like the other cats he keeps an eye on, so she came along very willingly, and because we already have a houseful, she's been living in our mud room. She would VERY much like a forever home and family of her own!
For obvious reasons, we've named her Ms. Moustache (pronounced the French way, moo-STASH). If you live within driving distance of Syracuse NY and can convince me you will take care of her and can keep her on a permanent basis, she is yours. She has had her shots, and she is spayed. Something happened to her tail, so it isn't as long as she would like, because you know she's the kind of sweetie who would love to wave her tail in the air!
The guy who helps us keep house is just as big a mushball for cats as well are. Unfortunately, he is up to his limit with 5 cats. He knew about this girl, one of the cats in the area around his yard, and when he saw her developing a little football belly, he brought her straight to us. She isn't feral like the other cats he keeps an eye on, so she came along very willingly, and because we already have a houseful, she's been living in our mud room. She would VERY much like a forever home and family of her own!
For obvious reasons, we've named her Ms. Moustache (pronounced the French way, moo-STASH). If you live within driving distance of Syracuse NY and can convince me you will take care of her and can keep her on a permanent basis, she is yours. She has had her shots, and she is spayed. Something happened to her tail, so it isn't as long as she would like, because you know she's the kind of sweetie who would love to wave her tail in the air!
November 30, 2011
Three Good Books: Wrede, Sherman, Stiefvater
Two weeks ago, I had a particularly excellent run of books, and this is the first moment I've had to share. A run of three riveting books is just too good not to shout about.
ACROSS THE GREAT BARRIER by Patricia Wrede
Eff is growing older and practicing her blend of magics more, as well as working part-time at the university in her alternate-history American Frontier. When she is given the chance to accompany a scout who's a friend and an irascible female professor on a biological research mission across the magical barrier that keeps the terrifying magical creatures on one side of what might be our Mississippi and Missouri, she jumps at it. There she and her companions discover a mystery: animals frozen in stone down to their blood vessels and muscle tissues. Other things are happening to Eff and her family: the deterioration of one sister's marriage in a settlement that bans all magic; her brother's mysterious and near-fatal accident that turns his university career around; and Eff and the others return to face a deadly threat to the lives of the settlers.
THE FREEDOM MAZE by Delia Sherman
In 1960 Sophie's wish unexpectedly results in her trip back in time to her family's plantation in 1860. Tanned dark by the summer sun, Sophie is mistaken for one of her family's mixed-blood children and put to work as a slave, first in the moderately gentler "Big House," then as a more harshly used kitchen and field hand. This is a riveting, edge-of-the-seat story to read. Sophie finds even the supposedly easier life of waiting on the old mistress far harder than she is used to, with random blows and punishments falling on her and on the slaves she lives with. The beatings, starvation, injustice, cruel accidents, and death that are the common lot of a plantation slave come closer and closer to her until they catch her up. How will she get home at this rate--even if she can remember what her true home is?
THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater
On a small island in the Scorpio Sea, men and boys strive to capture the deadly, killer water horses that come onto the land from the ocean. If they can master these mounts, they can ride in the yearly races for honor, glory, and big cash bets. Sean Kendrick races for his father, killed by the same water horse he rides now, and for the horse farm he works for as chief hostler. He has won the Scorpio Races four times and understands the water horses like no one else. Puck Connolly, on the other hand, has everything against her. She is a girl. She has never ridden a water horse, and plans to ride her own normal horse in the races. And if she doesn't win, she and her younger brother will lose their family farm. Both of them are outsiders. Sean is feared by some, treated with awe by others, hated by the son of the man he works for. Puck is despised and scorned--no girl has ever ridden in the races, though they began in honor of a goddess whose rites were observed--are still observed--by a priestess. The reader is constantly reminded that blood and pain are the cost of the games and that Puck and her gentle mount Dove really have no chance at all. But there is something about Puck, her understanding, and her stubborn courage that speaks to the loner Sean, and that might make the difference for both of them and their mounts.
All three of these books are smashing, each in their own ways. Lives are at stake in each book, and knowledge, and honor, and courage. All are very different, but each book has characters I cared about, characters who kept me up reading VERY late at night!
ACROSS THE GREAT BARRIER by Patricia Wrede
Eff is growing older and practicing her blend of magics more, as well as working part-time at the university in her alternate-history American Frontier. When she is given the chance to accompany a scout who's a friend and an irascible female professor on a biological research mission across the magical barrier that keeps the terrifying magical creatures on one side of what might be our Mississippi and Missouri, she jumps at it. There she and her companions discover a mystery: animals frozen in stone down to their blood vessels and muscle tissues. Other things are happening to Eff and her family: the deterioration of one sister's marriage in a settlement that bans all magic; her brother's mysterious and near-fatal accident that turns his university career around; and Eff and the others return to face a deadly threat to the lives of the settlers.
THE FREEDOM MAZE by Delia Sherman
In 1960 Sophie's wish unexpectedly results in her trip back in time to her family's plantation in 1860. Tanned dark by the summer sun, Sophie is mistaken for one of her family's mixed-blood children and put to work as a slave, first in the moderately gentler "Big House," then as a more harshly used kitchen and field hand. This is a riveting, edge-of-the-seat story to read. Sophie finds even the supposedly easier life of waiting on the old mistress far harder than she is used to, with random blows and punishments falling on her and on the slaves she lives with. The beatings, starvation, injustice, cruel accidents, and death that are the common lot of a plantation slave come closer and closer to her until they catch her up. How will she get home at this rate--even if she can remember what her true home is?
THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater
On a small island in the Scorpio Sea, men and boys strive to capture the deadly, killer water horses that come onto the land from the ocean. If they can master these mounts, they can ride in the yearly races for honor, glory, and big cash bets. Sean Kendrick races for his father, killed by the same water horse he rides now, and for the horse farm he works for as chief hostler. He has won the Scorpio Races four times and understands the water horses like no one else. Puck Connolly, on the other hand, has everything against her. She is a girl. She has never ridden a water horse, and plans to ride her own normal horse in the races. And if she doesn't win, she and her younger brother will lose their family farm. Both of them are outsiders. Sean is feared by some, treated with awe by others, hated by the son of the man he works for. Puck is despised and scorned--no girl has ever ridden in the races, though they began in honor of a goddess whose rites were observed--are still observed--by a priestess. The reader is constantly reminded that blood and pain are the cost of the games and that Puck and her gentle mount Dove really have no chance at all. But there is something about Puck, her understanding, and her stubborn courage that speaks to the loner Sean, and that might make the difference for both of them and their mounts.
All three of these books are smashing, each in their own ways. Lives are at stake in each book, and knowledge, and honor, and courage. All are very different, but each book has characters I cared about, characters who kept me up reading VERY late at night!
November 22, 2011
Anne McCaffrey
Anne McCaffrey has died, aged 85.
This isn't so much the case of an author going on to the Summerlands for me as it is a seismic event. I haven't read Ms. McCaffrey's recent books in years, and a number of her books were not my favorites, but that's nothing compared to the impact that DRAGONFLIGHT left on me in the mid-seventies, when the available female heroes in fantasy, though wonderful, were gay or celibate (I was neither), and the available female heroes in science fiction were few and far between, and so often possessed of a dignity I could never aspire to. Lessa of Pern was one of the very few female heroes I understood at a heart-and-soul level.
DRAGONFLIGHT, THE SHIP WHO SANG, THE MARK OF MERLIN (romance), DRAGONSONG, DRAGONSINGER--these are books that are stamped on my heart, like tattoos. I know there are feminists out there who think they are flawed; I think there are some interesting things about SHIP myself. But these books left their mark. They showed me women who took their lives in their own hands as well as the kinds of women who weren't threatened by such women. The kinds of men who didn't walk ahead or behind but beside. The kinds of women who soared and climbed and ran and rescued animals, who had tempers and stumbled ahead, getting into and out of trouble. They were powerful in a way that spoke to me as only a handful of female characters did speak to me across three decades.
At Dragon*Con a couple of years ago I was told she was one of the other authors in the group signing that I was in. I forgot about it until nearly everyone else between us was gone and I looked over to see that famous head of silver poufy hair, bent over a book. I didn't dare get up to say hello, of course. Her fans were waiting and so were mine. And I'm kinda incapable of introducing myself to an author I look up to that much.
But I'm glad I saw her, just that once.
I know they're waiting for you in the Summerlands, Ms. McCaffrey. I know they have plenty of stories they want you to tell.
This isn't so much the case of an author going on to the Summerlands for me as it is a seismic event. I haven't read Ms. McCaffrey's recent books in years, and a number of her books were not my favorites, but that's nothing compared to the impact that DRAGONFLIGHT left on me in the mid-seventies, when the available female heroes in fantasy, though wonderful, were gay or celibate (I was neither), and the available female heroes in science fiction were few and far between, and so often possessed of a dignity I could never aspire to. Lessa of Pern was one of the very few female heroes I understood at a heart-and-soul level.
DRAGONFLIGHT, THE SHIP WHO SANG, THE MARK OF MERLIN (romance), DRAGONSONG, DRAGONSINGER--these are books that are stamped on my heart, like tattoos. I know there are feminists out there who think they are flawed; I think there are some interesting things about SHIP myself. But these books left their mark. They showed me women who took their lives in their own hands as well as the kinds of women who weren't threatened by such women. The kinds of men who didn't walk ahead or behind but beside. The kinds of women who soared and climbed and ran and rescued animals, who had tempers and stumbled ahead, getting into and out of trouble. They were powerful in a way that spoke to me as only a handful of female characters did speak to me across three decades.
At Dragon*Con a couple of years ago I was told she was one of the other authors in the group signing that I was in. I forgot about it until nearly everyone else between us was gone and I looked over to see that famous head of silver poufy hair, bent over a book. I didn't dare get up to say hello, of course. Her fans were waiting and so were mine. And I'm kinda incapable of introducing myself to an author I look up to that much.
But I'm glad I saw her, just that once.
I know they're waiting for you in the Summerlands, Ms. McCaffrey. I know they have plenty of stories they want you to tell.
BAD Internet Laws Heading Your Way
Most of you probably know about this already, but I'm adding to the inforama. I want to see this stuff die horribly and those who promote it lose their political offices. I don't ask much, do I?
Originally posted by![[info]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1381699587i/5202418.gif)
write_light
at BAD Internet Laws Heading Your Way
From the flist:
Spread the word, even you're not a US citizen, it is important for everyone!! It easy to do and it can change everything. More info by clicking on the banner.
<center><a
href="http://americancensorship.org/"&...
src="http://pics.livejournal.com/justmyb0n...
Website Blocking
Read this analysis from boing-boing.net
Get on the phone and call your representative. Express your disapproval. Tell him or her exactly how you feel, and that you don't support this. Tell your friends to call their representatives, their Congressperson, and complain. Mention that you are a registered voter that takes your civic responsibility seriously and that you will use that vote to express your feelings about this.
http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_60/Internet-Companies-Boost-Hill-Lobbying-210345-1.html?pos=olobh
“We support the bill’s stated goals — providing additional enforcement tools to combat foreign ‘rogue’ websites that are dedicated to copyright infringement or counterfeiting,” the Internet companies wrote in Tuesday’s letter. “Unfortunately, the bills as drafted would expose law-abiding U.S. Internet and technology companies to new uncertain liabilities, private rights of action and technology mandates that would require monitoring of websites.” The chamber-led coalition in support of the bill includes Walmart, Eli Lilly & Co. and Netflix.
Google and other opponents of the legislation argue that restricting the Internet in the U.S. sets a bad international precedent and that the language defines infringing too broadly.
SIGN AND FORWARD THESE PETITIONS
American Censorship
Whitehouse Petition
Fight For the Future
DemandProgress
Save the Internet
Originally posted by
write_light
at BAD Internet Laws Heading Your WayFrom the flist:
Spread the word, even you're not a US citizen, it is important for everyone!! It easy to do and it can change everything. More info by clicking on the banner.
<center><a
href="http://americancensorship.org/"&...
src="http://pics.livejournal.com/justmyb0n...
Website Blocking
The government can order service providers to block websites for infringing links posted by any users.
Risk of Jail for Ordinary UsersIt becomes a felony with a potential 5 year sentence to stream a copyrighted work that would cost more than $2,500 to license, even if you are a totally noncommercial user, e.g. singing a pop song on Facebook.
Chaos for the InternetThousands of sites that are legal under the DMCA would face new legal threats. People trying to keep the internet more secure wouldn't be able to rely on the integrity of the DNS system.
Read this analysis from boing-boing.net
Get on the phone and call your representative. Express your disapproval. Tell him or her exactly how you feel, and that you don't support this. Tell your friends to call their representatives, their Congressperson, and complain. Mention that you are a registered voter that takes your civic responsibility seriously and that you will use that vote to express your feelings about this.
http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_60/Internet-Companies-Boost-Hill-Lobbying-210345-1.html?pos=olobh
“We support the bill’s stated goals — providing additional enforcement tools to combat foreign ‘rogue’ websites that are dedicated to copyright infringement or counterfeiting,” the Internet companies wrote in Tuesday’s letter. “Unfortunately, the bills as drafted would expose law-abiding U.S. Internet and technology companies to new uncertain liabilities, private rights of action and technology mandates that would require monitoring of websites.” The chamber-led coalition in support of the bill includes Walmart, Eli Lilly & Co. and Netflix.
Google and other opponents of the legislation argue that restricting the Internet in the U.S. sets a bad international precedent and that the language defines infringing too broadly.
SIGN AND FORWARD THESE PETITIONS
American Censorship
Whitehouse Petition
Fight For the Future
DemandProgress
Save the Internet
October 21, 2011
Well, here we are
I am off on book tour until November 8, so you folks will have to hold the fort. I almost feel like I'm deserting my post, with all the political stuff that needs to be broadcast, but what can I do? I'm hoping some of you will use this space and your own to cover for me.
For those who will be coming to my appearances, there's something new this year. I'm having Fun With Wrists, also known as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. It's gotten bad enough after 20 years that I'll have surgery next month (no big deal, one day and I can use my hands again), but in the meantime, it's going to change my book signing policy for the first time in years.
I can't personalize four books per person and straight sign the rest as I have in years past. I just can't. What I will do is personalize one book per person--including books you bring for friends (no penalty for doing a good deed!). Then, instead of straight signing everything else, what I will do is stamp my name and add my thumbprint. Think about it--since this is going to be a limited run solution, there won't be that many books out there with my actual thumbprint, and the name to prove whose thumbprint it is. It's a limited edition signature. I would only do this again if, for some reason, my signature hand was lame again.
I trust you will understand. I don't really have a choice. 8-P
So I'll see you when the madness is done--five days after I come home I'm off to NYC to appear at Books of Wonder--and I'll try to peek in from the road. Fight the good fight!
For those who will be coming to my appearances, there's something new this year. I'm having Fun With Wrists, also known as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. It's gotten bad enough after 20 years that I'll have surgery next month (no big deal, one day and I can use my hands again), but in the meantime, it's going to change my book signing policy for the first time in years.
I can't personalize four books per person and straight sign the rest as I have in years past. I just can't. What I will do is personalize one book per person--including books you bring for friends (no penalty for doing a good deed!). Then, instead of straight signing everything else, what I will do is stamp my name and add my thumbprint. Think about it--since this is going to be a limited run solution, there won't be that many books out there with my actual thumbprint, and the name to prove whose thumbprint it is. It's a limited edition signature. I would only do this again if, for some reason, my signature hand was lame again.
I trust you will understand. I don't really have a choice. 8-P
So I'll see you when the madness is done--five days after I come home I'm off to NYC to appear at Books of Wonder--and I'll try to peek in from the road. Fight the good fight!
October 13, 2011
Because today didn't suck enough already
I just learned
the House has passed H.R. 358
and
my college gynecologist and friend has been running a murderous abortion mill for at least 30 years.
the House has passed H.R. 358
and
my college gynecologist and friend has been running a murderous abortion mill for at least 30 years.
