Monday is not a kind day to me, this semester. After years of running a business where Monday was essentially my weekend (coming as it does after two-three days of performing) I have four classes and have to be 'on' from 8:30 to 9 for those classes.
Which is why you're going to start seeing what I call link round-ups in the morning on Mondays.
Funnies
This isn't even 'don't do this' to my fellow Indie authors, whom I assume have the intelligence to know better. This is sheer amusement and awe at the chutzpah of whomever thought they were a good idea.
Oh look, this guy did the three-boob thing before the fake girl on the internet did it.
Body paint! And, um, what the heck is that thing behind Telzey?
This comic just made me snort out loud. I had to share with you all.
*snork*
Dave Freer on the End of the World
Don't fall into the parentheses!
Great Science Fiction is how the people cope with it. Indeed sf and ordinary fiction too (literary fiction is another matter entirely. It’s purpose is to make us feel less inadequate about our piteous efforts. Strangely enough, writers of this think that’s our purpose) don’t need earth-shattering disasters to be great books (they do usually need a conflict or problem to be solved – but that can be quite mundane. Of course mundane is relative (some of mine are not): to Cthulhu cosmic evil is pretty mundane). But it’s about the people, and how they deal with their own troubles, and those of others.
The Past is a Distant Land
And on a completely different subject, I found a blog series that might have been good for my younger self, the one who still can't talk about it, because she was/is watched all the time, judged and found wanting. This young woman's experiences are an odd parallel to my own, but yet very different. Sarah Hoyt quoted this in her blog on the Meek yesterday, and it resonated with me to the bones.
This poor little caryatid has fallen under the load. She’s a good girl—look at her face. Serious, unhappy at her failure, not blaming anyone, not even the gods…and still trying to shoulder her load, after she’s crumpled under it.
But she’s more than just good art denouncing bad art; she’s a symbol for every woman who ever shouldered a load too heavy. But not alone women—this symbol means every man and woman who ever sweated out life in uncomplaining fortitude until they crumpled under their loads. It’s courage…and victory.
Victory in defeat, there is none higher. She didn’t give up…she’s still trying to lift that stone after it has crushed her…she’s all the unsung heroes who couldn’t make it but never quit. ~ Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land
Free Fiction
Again, on an unrelated note, you can still get The Dwarf's Dryad for free until tomorrow night. Pick up a copy and share the link, thank you so much for helping!