Publishing Stuff

(And the professional authors on my f-list mutter into their coffee, "What does she know about publishing stuff?")

I don't always like Neil Gaiman's writings, but I always find him entertaining, which is why I'm on officialgaiman. Which today published an officially awesome letter from Teresa Nielsen Hayden (Tor) which Neil calls "the kind of comprehensive post that aspiring authors should read with care. Study, even. Mark it and copy it and use it as a resource."

Too cool not to note. Plus I wanted a link in my LJ for future reference.

Where Religion & S&M cross

The childfree groups, of all places, are commenting on the battle to get a 'correction tool' called The Rod off the market. The maker called it safe and the "ideal tool for child training."

Now, I'm neutral on the subject of corporal punishment. There are times when I think a child needs a whop or two, but there are also things that I think should never be used against another human being outside of a well-negotiated scene in an S&M dungeon.

'Cause I saw the picture and, rod-maker dude? That thing is a cane. Safe my ass. ( Cut for the non-kink readership. )

Also, that whole "hand as an object of love" quote? I called bullshit when I first saw "hands must only pet" in a ferret newsgroup and I'm calling louder bullshit now. My hands do caress. My cats know that, and butt against them begging for a scritch. But my hands also pry open jaws to insert medicine, clip claws, run through fur checking for skin problems, lift off the ground. Just as my Mother's hands stroked my hair, patted my back, held me down to iodine cuts, grabbed me and yanked me roughly back from danger. Even if you never smack, sometimes hands have to hurt to help.

And still, after clippings, carryings, force feedings, and shoved-in-carrier-ings my cats nudge my hands for attention.

James Dobson, do you really think children are dumber than my cats?