So, yesterday I saw a dude on Twitter posit whether or not the residents of Themyscira would be able to survive a fight with the Dora Milaje. (He said he was betting on the Dora Milaje.) I get it. Boys love nothing more than to grab up their action figures (dolls) and smash them together, and I'm sure that was all there was to it--consciously. However, there is a vast amount of social pressure on women to dress, act, and be something pleasant for men. And one of those things that first popped to mind when I read that was "mud wrestling." These inclinations being so prevalent in American society, combined with the Patriarchy's need to keep women divided has been a big issue throughout the Feminist Movement's history. It's why I was so disappointed when American Horror Story ventured into the witchy part of the forest. They did the right thing, bringing in Stevie Nicks. Absolutely. They did the right thing when they mentioned America's history of  slavery, racism, and the problems around White Feminism--at least that's what I chose to believe it was doing. (It didn't do it very well, I must say.) What they did absolutely wrong was to make those things impossible obstacles. They aren't. And, in fact, solidarity with all womb-having and non-womb having people who identify as women no matter their race, history, financial background, able-ness, or belief systems is absolutely vital for Feminism's future. I firmly believe this. And that's why my response was: "I strongly suspect they wouldn't fight at all. In fact, they'd group up and form a battle formation against the Patriarchy. #sisters" Here's the deal: both groups' homelands are Patriarchy free. Both groups are fully aware that Patriarchy exists outside their homes. Both of those countries are heavily protected too. There is no way they'd fight. Both groups are far too smart and aware for that. I have similar feels re: the new Mary Queen of Scots series. First, Mary was raised in France not Scotland. Second, Mary and Elizabeth were never friends. They were two powerful women who were manipulated (one more than the other) by the men around them. I hate that such a interesting story has been reduced to a cat fight. Because, you know mud wrestling.

Okay. Now, today's videos:

There wasn't a post yesterday due to a minor routine medical procedure, involving full on anesthesia. (The test results were perfectly normal. No worries.) I decided since driving, signing legal documents, and drinking were off the table--maybe blogging should be too? It seemed wise. So, I took the day off. Thus, NEW IDEAS happened. This is a good thing.

Just before the procedure in question, a nurse anesthetist showed up. As it turned out he was, ironically enough, a Libertarian. (Of course, he was a white cis/het dude.) He gave me the standard post-anesthesia  restrictions which led to Dane and I immediately joking about going out on an all-day booze fest, flying lessons, and selling/buying a house. The nurse looked a little serious. So, I stopped and said, "That's a joke. We don't own a house." He then decided it was time to go off on how that was a good thing because TAXES. ZOMG! TAXES! "You don't get anything in return!" I blinked and thought, You've got to be fucking kidding me. Right? In an instant, I realized he wasn't. Therefore, I returned with, "Oh, sure. Nothing at all. Because paved roads, libraries, support systems, and everything else are nothing." He said that everything I was talking about re: civilization was based upon faith in the system. "Yes," I said. "The only way civilization works is that we all agree on certain principles." He nodded. "Like law." I said, "Not murdering people is good. I think we can agree on that." And then he went off on hippies[1] and how free loaders happen, and leaving the work for a few, and "The Prize must exist" and blah fucking blah. He had to leave the room before he completed his Gospel Of Ayn Rand™.[2]  And, unfortunately, before I had time to gently rip huge holes in his religion. But I tucked that discussion away in plastic wrap for later like a piece of insufficiently chewed gum. And my brain unwrapped it this morning.

Good morning, y'all. I hope your weekend was wonderful and restful because we've got a lot of work to do, and you are much needed. Ready for some inspiration? Let's go!

While searching the internet this morning I came upon a chart that listed Wonder Woman as one of the most influential Feminist events of last year. Here's the thing. If you're listing films and use Wonder Woman and neglect to list Black Panther, then you're not as Feminist as all that. Because Black Panther is, hands down, the most Feminist film I've ever seen--and the women weren't even the center of the story. Watch those two films back to back and you'll see what I mean. In Wonder Woman, Diana is running up against the usual misogyny and blocks to her power. The film isn't telling us anything new. It's merely portraying the day to day struggle of women everywhere. There is no big revelation--no new lessons learned. It's just the usual: "Hang tough there, little lady. Eventually, men will come around if you show them you can perform twice as good as they do." There's a reason I adored the first part of the film set on the Amazon island while the rest of the film left me a little cold, up until the Dead Man's Land push. That was real. That demonstrated the day to day struggle in terms that were hard to argue with. It illustrated the vehemence of the attacks women endure online. That felt like progress. Still, toxic masculinity was everywhere. Sure, it was mocked, but here's the deal: humans often use humor to demonstrate the working power dynamics. This frequently underlines those power structures instead of destroying them.

It wasn't until I saw Black Panther that I understood what Feminism really looked like. The women in that film truly were equals. They didn't have to prove shit. They weren't struggling. Women were thriving. And the best part was the whole country was thriving with them. There was no toxic masculinity to push against--except that which existed outside of Wakanda. It wasn't assumed that women were lesser. Every character who happened to be female had their own life outside of their relationship with men. They had agency. And every plot point didn't rest upon a man's choices. I adored that. It was like a bomb went off in my head. I saw Wonder Woman for what it was: an attempt to show progress but only so much progress. It only allows women to go so far and no farther. It was as if women were being told "Dream of your fight against Patriarchy, but never imagine a world without it." I learned a lot that day.

We need more imaginings of a world without Patriarchy. We need less about the struggle of living with it. The same is true of all the bigotry. We cannot create in reality what we cannot imagine. And that's the truth.

​And now...videos.

Look, if your job is to listen to the majority of the citizens over which you have power, and you refuse to listen during office hours (I know my representatives often have full mailboxes and no one answering the phones.) then you're leaving the people with no other option than to confront your ass during off-hours. This is how Americans react to burgeoning dictatorships. Get used to it. Also, perhaps you should stop blowing off 70% of the population that disagrees with your policies. Otherwise, this is the least of your worries. It goes nowhere good from here.

And now, today's links.

Last week, I got some happy news. In case you didn't see it on FB, I sold a second story this year. That's pretty great since I've only completed two stories in the past six months. I'm a very slow writer when it comes to non-novel length stories. I find that I need to know where the thing is headed and what it's really all about, and well, a lot of fumbling around results before I can discover those things. Yeah, being an organic writer is a pain in the ass sometimes. Nonetheless, my bar story (technically a novella), Second Verse, Same as the First, has a home in the Genius Loci anthology, and my mermaid story (technically a novelette), A Siren's Cry is a Song of Sorrow, will be published in the September issue of Apex Magazine. I'm thrilled to death for both. It's hard to get stories in magazines. There's a great deal of competition. I've been trying (on and off) for my whole career. (Novels are my natural story-telling length, and that has something to do with it.) Five novels later, though, I finally did it. I am super happy about that.

Never give up. :)

And now, some things I like. First, there's this series of Fantasy travel posters by artist, Chet Phillips. I love them. I can't decide between the Scotland with dragon or the England Cthulhu poster. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm probably going with the Cthulhu poster--not because I like Lovecraft. (I really, really don't.) But because I love Cthulhu pastiches, and that image pretty much sums up my feelings of lurking horror these days. He also does a series featuring SF films. Under the music category...well...I haven't done much venturing into new territory since most of the writing I've done since the first draft of Persephone Station is complete has had a strong nostalgic bent to it. So, have some old favorites.

Good morning, y'all. I hope you had a relaxing weekend and are energized for fighting through another week. Here are today's videos.

Regarding that second video: taking into consideration when those statues were erected, they were intended to show support of Jim Crow laws and during the second wave (in the '50s and '60s) the anti-civil rights campaign. And who gathered a majority of the funding to create these monuments? The Daughters of the Confederacy--that's right, white women. Yeah. Personally, I think John Oliver should've pointed that out. Just because you're part of a marginalized group doesn't mean you can't participate in the oppression of another marginalized group. ​Have doubts? Rewatch the first video. Okay. On to the links you came here for.

"There's this weird idea that whoever is calmest in an argument is clearly correct. As though no one has ever angrily screamed a fact, or calmly lied." -- Mishell Baker

On Wednesday, some pretty egregious news cropped up on my social media feeds. Everything from a Supreme Court Justice retiring (thus allowing for the least qualified man who has ever acted as president to select a second judge for the most powerful court in the US.)[1] to reports of what's really going on in those immigration 'detention centers' aka prison camps. We also understand that the most unqualified, corrupt president the US has ever had is being given the opportunity to choose another supreme court judge. It's been a tough week to be an American. The United States is in a precarious position. 

But hey, her fucking emails.[2]

Yes. I'm angry. So is just about everyone with any common decency.

Anyway...on Wednesday night my husband reminded me that I can be angry one moment and then (once things are resolved) suddenly I'm just not anymore. He says it gives him (and others) whiplash sometimes. I've been thinking about this because most of the men I know are slow to anger and slow to recover from it. It occurred to me this morning that switching off my anger is not something that is natural to me. It isn't "just how I am." It's what I've been trained to be. I used to never get visibly angry. I internalized everything. Five years of therapy gave me permission to have my anger. However, it's only given me the right to have it the length of time it is useful. The instant this is no longer the case, I shut it off and process the rest internally.[3] The men I know don't do this. They stay visibly angry until they've processed. There's a reason for this. They are allowed anger and have been their whole lives.

Here's the deal y'all: marginalized groups are not allowed anger. Anger is power. Anger is almost impossible to ignore. Anger is a catalyst for change. Therefore, only those in power are allowed outrage. There are two typical responses to a member of a marginalized group's rage: 1) mockery (awww. snowflake's feelings are hurt.) and 2) the overwhelming reaction to a dangerous threat that must be policed at all costs. There is no in between. This is why the call for civility is problematic. If those in power are not also called to be civil--if they are not including themselves in this behavior requirement, then the mandate is not about "going high". It's fucking silencing. Courtesy and respect is not a one way street. If you expect respect, you give respect. Americans are supposedly all about equality--at least they were the last time I checked the constitution.

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[1] And if you don't understand why that's a problem let me direct you to the fact that not only is the Voting Rights Act in dire straits, but so are LGBT+ Rights as well as Roe v Wade. 
[2] I'm pissed off with every white (mainly male) person who told me there was nothing to worry about in 2016, but not as angry as I am with those who couldn't be bothered to vote and/or voted third party.
​[3] I generally do the remainder of the work at home and/or with my husband. He described my process as an earthquake. "The first blast is all over with, but you know there are going to be aftershocks." He knows me really well. The best part? He then asked me if I felt this process was helpful for me. And I feel it is. The deal is, anger can hurt just as much as it can create change, and I'm not interested in hurting other people. Get the thing that is wrong fixed? Oh, hells yes. Create more problems? No.

Good morning, y'all. I hope you had a restful weekend. I know I did. Shall we get started? All right, then. First, the videos. 

People are arguing that these are just kids who don't really understand what's going on and that somehow their liberal parents are coercing their children to be transgender. That's complete transphobic bullshit.

Okay. So, the video names and shames quite a few movies I actually like. The fact that I like them doesn't change the fact that they're extremely problematic. (Although, in Knight and Day, the roles are, at the mid-point, reversed, and Red is obviously styling itself after a trashy spy Romance...but yeah. [sigh])

​And now, those links.

The other day Dane and I went to see Solo, and one of the trailers they played before the movie started was this one:

I'll be the first to admit, I like action movies. I'm picky about them, however. I feel the less enlightened ones tend to glorify toxic masculinity. This film is no different. What is different is that this one triggered my "Why do white dudes think they're the exception to everything including gravity? Because the entire system tells them they are." thought bubble. I mean, in the first thirty seconds of that trailer Cruise's motorcycle is hit full speed by a car twice. He rolls down the pavement without a helmet.[1] Miraculously, he doesn't hit his head--not even once. Thank gods for computer animation, right? Is he even dizzy after rolling fifty feet? Bruised? Scratched? Nope. Reality--even physics--has zero effect. That was when I got to thinking about the real cost of these kinds of stunts--the stunts that require greater and greater risk in order to give a bigger and bigger thrill. Where does that illusion lead? What does it say to the audience? What does it mean when we can't even name the people who make this illusion possible?

I thought about Jackie Chan, who, at the age of 57 said that he was retiring from the more dangerous stunts because he wasn't fast enough anymore. Speaking of Jackie Chan, here's a list of injuries he's accrued over time. (And that one is an old list. There are more.) That's a lot of damage for a human being to take. Long term, it can result in arthritis, cartilage loss, restricted movement, and pain. Of course, that's assuming one survives.[2] He has hearing loss too. And here's the deal: he's Jackie Chan. He was compensated well for that. Stunt people don't necessarily  get paid all that well. If you’re newer to the industry, you may only make $5,000 per year. Of course, most people will quote the high end when talking about industry jobs. However, on average a stuntman gets about $70,000 a year. And that's a stuntman. Stuntwomen make half that, remember.

Imagine the insurance premiums. Assuming they can get health insurance these days. They are independent contractors.

Good morning, y'all. I hope your weekend was a good one. Mine was. :) I got to write at a coffee shop, do some vintage shopping (and found some good things), and I saw Solo with Dane. I enjoyed it quite a lot.[1] There were multiple women characters with agency--and even though two of them were romantic prizes as it were, one of them wasn't at all. In fact, she was a black woman who then starts the Rebellion. I loved that. I really liked Chewy and Han's meet cute too. Overall, well done. It may even be one of my favorite StarWars films. IT WASN'T ABOUT THE DAMNED DEATHSTAR! W00t! Okay. In other news...today's videos...

The weekend is here, and that means it's time to relax a bit. I'm feeling extra stressed due to another round of "Clinton was robbed." stories because, yes, every liberal woman on the planet knew this and was fucking told to shut up about it. Gaslighting and silencing. Isn't it fun? No. No, it fucking isn't. Anyway...I'm trying to focus on other things because I need my energy to finish another short story. Mind you, I've finished two and sold one of them so far this year. That's more short stories finished in a year than...well...ever. And yes, that's sad for a professional writer. Anyway, I'm making progress.

I'm excited about seeing Han Solo this weekend. I hear it's a heist movie, and I particularly love heist stories--particularly when paired with car chases. (Starship chases count. ;)) My porch garden is filling out nicely. One of the blooming plants isn't blooming right now--and I'm not sure it's because it's slowing dying on me or it's just done blooming. Hard to tell with me. Texas summer makes it very difficult to establish any plants. Seriously, growing things in Texas is not easy. I haven't decided whether I'm going to WorldCon (in San Diego, CA) or World Fantasy Con (in Baltimore, MD). I've been to San Diego. I haven't been to Baltimore or Maryland. I was sexually assaulted (a man grabbed my breast) at the last big SF convention I attended in San Diego. (Yeah. I was part of that mess.) My agent and my editor will be at WFC. I'm not so sure about WorldCon. So...I'm inclined to attend WFC, but I don't know. I sure looks like most of my friends (the ones I only see at cons) will be in San Diego. Hmmm. All in all, I'm happy to have the opportunity to do either.

Oh! At the end of the month (June 29th) I'll be at the Writer's League of Texas' Agents and Editors Conference. I'll be talking about writing historical fiction. (Both of my Fantasy series count as historical when you think about it.) I'm definitely looking forward to that one.

​And well, that's it for now. I hope your weekend is wonderful.