My poem "The Green Man Answers the Classifieds" has been accepted by inkscrawl. It was written for ashlyme. He attracts green things.

I have nothing else to report about today, but that's all right.

(Strange Horizons is still looking for volunteers.)

From Huffington Post, A Message to Girls About Religious Men Who Fear You. It's long, but it's well worth reading. The writer, Soraya Chemaly, covers a number of stories that have been in the news of late, with links, from the girl softball player who was made the center of a fuss when a rival school pulled out of the state finals so they wouldn't have to play a team with a girl on it, to girls maimed in "honor" crimes, to investigations of the Girl Scouts, to girls who are stoned for going to school.

I will add, Chemaly says there are globally connected networks of women and men who will help and support girls, but there are also networks of girls, more than ever, who are coming forward to help and advise each other. Communication gives you more power than you have ever had--don't hesitate to use it. Over and over I read of girls and young women speaking out for themselves and each other in all kinds of ways, be they help projects, films, music, and blogs. You don't have to wait for some well-meaning adult to step in (and take the credit).

Chemaly also points out that not all women will support you. You've probably noticed this for yourselves, but it was a hard and honest thing for her to say. Too many adult women side with men, thinking it will earn them status and a place at the top table with the men. Too many girls suck up to guys and bash other girls for the same reasons, thinking this will get them a piece of guy power. It doesn't. Female and male alike, they will attack your looks, your sexuality, your body, your chastity, your honesty, all the things that Chemaly mentions, all out of fear.

I'm not suggesting that you bash other girls. I'm hoping that you'll ask such girls why they're going after their own natural allies, when guys are too well known for dumping them the first time something (someone) better comes along. They may not get it. They may continue to go with where they believe the power and the status is. All you can do is stand up, and keep standing up, for girls and women.

These people who come after you under the guise of religion and caring for your soul? They only care for their own, male, power. Don't let them grind you down. Know that you can change the world in spite of these jealous, fearful people. Take pride in yourself and in each other, and be wary of those who use the language of faith to make you feel bad about yourself.

I aten't dead. I am not, however, sleeping very much, which makes me about as communicative. Possibly less so, depending on the haunting.

That said: announcement!

Strange Horizons is looking for proofreaders, webmasters, and editors.

That last includes poetry. Deadline is June 10th. Spread the word.

And I expect to recognize some of the names on those applications . . .

I'm looking for some of the usual suspects (and welcoming some new ones) who might like to help out here and there, either with Haiku Earring Party set-up and hosting, or with a bit of table-minding while this Lioness goes for lunch or panels.

Interested?

Of course I haven't seen or read the testimony, but as best I can tell from what I've heard about the case within the media, I think the verdict seems about right. Oh, heavens, how can I say? I'm so glad I'm not a judge forced to make these agonizing decisions. There can be no winners in this sad matter. The judge explains his reasoning here, and his thinking seems measured and well-considered.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

One point that particularly caught my attention was the judge noting that the man who was with Tyler Clementi, identified in court documents as "M.B.," had written to the judge asking that Ravi not be deported. The judge granted his request by recommending that (but noted that his recommendation may be overruled).

Edited to add: Here is M.B.'s victim impact statement. I'm glad to have read it, as I had been wondering how he was doing.

This entry was originally posted at http://pegkerr.dreamwidth.org/1601349.html. There are comments on the post.

Despite the direst of emergency veterinary predictions after Sadie took a turn for the worse on Wednesday night, she is now home and back to her normal slap-happy bouncing bullet pillow eating wall climbing self. I never thought I would be so happy to have a naughty puppy back in my home! Here she sits, basking in the sunshine as if nothing ever happened.

SCENE: The postgrad room. DSM, emerging from a borrowed office, sees me slurping the dregs of the tea I made half an hour ago, when I made her some too. We have been marking, each in our respective space.

She looks shocked and betrayed.

"You've made more TEA!"

I blink. "...No I haven't."

"I can HEAR the KETTLE!"

Silence. In the distance, a rumbling begins. We look at each other in confusion, as the rumbling gets louder and louder, all but rattling the door, before resolving itself into the thundersome clatter of groundskeeping machinery. Confusion gives way to sheepishness as DSM shrugs.

"Sometimes the kettle sounds like that."

SHE ISN'T WRONG.

Finishing two out of three priorities for a day isn't bad.

I did write. Hit 1k for the day, which was good. If I had a week off work, this book would be finished. Time is the issue, not plot or knowing what happens, or how to get to the end. It's all about the number of hours in a day.

Priority two was posting pendants in my Etsy shop. I got 12 up yesterday, with more to come. Photographing those suckers and getting a good picture is difficult. And everything in life takes longer than it should.

I did put a permanent link to the shop in the sidebar on the left. This is not going to become the pimp Etsy all the time blog, but selling a few of these would be good.

Now off to the dayjob, which doesn't pay near enough.

Today is pleasant, cool, and sunny. Last night was oppressive and overly warm; I didn't get to sleep until after 2, and Himself not until much later. Twin A reports that she didn't fall asleep until about 2 herself, and then woke up again, and stayed awake, at about 5:30.

(No news yet from my brother or Twin B, but I suspect there will be similar reports from them.)

Also, the air is full of pollen. Not only does it fill my sinuses with crud, it's making my skin itch.