A week ago, our Japanese friends suffered a massive catastrophe in the form of a 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami.  The disaster killed many people and completely destroyed several towns.  It also caused a nuclear emergency at several power plants near the area, which is still ongoing at this time.  Their careful preparation could not withstand the onslaught.

People who survived the initial disaster are displaced.  Humanitarian organizations, the US Navy and Japan’s own forces have been helping as much as they can.  The heart of the entire world goes out to the Japanese people and everyone wants to help in some way.

This page contains links to organizations helping in Japan.

http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/03/11/6246445-japans-earthquake-how-to-help

Before you give to any charity you might wish to check it out.  Legitimate organizations will make their financials available so you can see where your money is going.  The links on the page will take you to their websites where you can make a donation.

Recovery from this disaster will take a long time.   We have earthquakes in America; we’ve had disasters that were just as bad.  Let’s keep Japan in our thoughts and prayers.

Large earthquakes are no fun, I’m sure.  And tsunamis freak me out.  Here is a sound recording of the quake taken by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC).  There is also a video of the tsunami that shows why they’re so damn scary!

Okay, I wrote most of this a week ago, but I wanted to share it. I got my pictures from my trip organized this week and I’ll post some in the next day or so.

I’m actually writing this on an airplane, on the way to see Certain Someone.  Anyone who has flown in the last few years will be able to relate to this post.  So will anyone who is old enough to remember when flying didn’t suck.

It’s kind of  cool that I can actually take a computer on an airplane (wireless disabled, of course), but the surroundings leave much to be desired.  If you haven’t flown in years, you must be warned.  In no particular order, here are five ways flying sucks today.

#5

Tiny Seats

In order to make more money, the airlines have crammed in extra seats.  I’m not a fat girl, but I’m a tall one.  My legs are long, my arms are long, and now there’s nowhere to put them.  Right now I’m in the aisle seat in the back of an S80, by the galley, and the butt and hips of every single person on their way to the bathroom is helping me type this.

#4

No more free food

Want a snack?  Bring one.  Really.  Most airlines are phasing out the peanuts (because of allergies) and even the pretzels aren’t a freebie anymore.  The only thing left is a tiny cup that holds a third of a can of soda, and ice.  If you get hungry, you can purchase a single serving bag of chips for $4.00.  I put a baggie of pears and a little Jack Links snack packet in my backpack.  But on the initial leg of my flight, the plane was so tiny I had to cram it in the overhead compartment and spent the entire time gazing mournfully at the ceiling where my food sat, mocking me.

#3

Fees, fees, fees

A fee for checking a bag.  That used to be free.  A fee for the snacks.  A fee for calling someone on the phone to book your ticket.  (Hint: do it online for free, and don’t go through those travel sites.)  A convenience fee for buying a ticket.  A 9/11 fee, presumably to cover the gubmint’s efforts to squash dem nasty terrorists.  Who the hell knows what that is, anyway?

At least the carryon is still free, but watch out.  Spirit Airlines already tried to stick that one in.  Next they’ll cut off cabin pressure and charge you to use the oxygen masks.  “You wanna breathe? That’ll be $10 for every hour you’re in the air.”

#2

Overbooking

Yes, I know airlines have done this since the beginning of time , and I’m not a frequent flyer, although the long-distance thing has had me crammed into that little metal tube more and more lately.  And nearly every flight I’ve been on has been stuffed to the gills.  Why is overbooking even necessary?  You bump me, and there will be tears.  You don’t want to see that.

#1

TSA

Transportation Security Administration!  With checked baggage fees, packing for security sucks.  I managed to get most of my things for a four-day weekend into a duffle and a backpack.   A three-ounce bottle of conditioner won’t cut it for my thick hair.  And just remember, tiny planes don’t hold big bulky carryons, people.  I packed right; your giant rolling bag that just hit me in the head needs to be checked.

A lot of people are calling this security theater.  When Adam Savage of Mythbusters got through the line with two twelve-inch razor blades in his clothing, I had to agree.  (Link contains a bit of language.) It’s very true that it’s a reactive agency, and unfortunately TSA security personnel aren’t experts.   If you want real security, do it the way the Israelis do.

Until we come up with a way that actually works, here are some tips to get through the line, from the horse’s mouth.   This is the first time I’ve flown with a computer too, so I was a nervous wreck worrying someone would nick it.  Luckily I’ve chosen smaller airports with less people and shorter lines, plus I didn’t wear or bring anything TSA peeps would need to stop me for.

I’ll be flying again, and you probably will be too, since we don’t have a better alternative just yet (transporters, anyone?).  Let’s all remember our manners and make it less sucky for the next guy.

Working a front desk for a living isn’t always as simple as it looks.   Receptionists are the gatekeepers to companies. Whether you’re a walk-in sales representative or a prominent bigwig with an appointment, it’s best to treat us with dignity.

In no particular order, here are ten things receptionists won’t tell you (but would probably like to):

#10 – Jerky sales tactics won’t work.

If we tell you your target doesn’t see people without an appointment, believe us.  Don’t try to argue, because we’ll just tell the person you were a jerk, if we give him your card at all.   Don’t try to trick a name out of us either.  “Your purchasing manager…what was his name again?” won’t work on a savvy receptionist.   We’re onto your tricks.

Also, if we tell you nicely that our bosses don’t allow you to set up your scammy vending machines in our break room, don’t yell and stomp out in a huff.   We didn’t make the rules.

#9 – We have other things to do besides chat.

As social creatures, most humans enjoy small talk.  But not everyone does, or has time.  Most receptionists are also the company’s switchboard operators, not to mention saddled with a plethora of clerical tasks.  We can’t always talk to visitors  while they wait for their appointments.

We know how much waiting sucks.  Carry a magazine in your briefcase, or use the time to go over your presentation / sales literature / notes before your meeting.  If the receptionist seems open to chatting, keep it away from personal topics.

#8 – We already have a job; we’re not YOUR assistants.

The receptionist’s job is to welcome you and notify your appointment that you’re here.  If asked by our bosses, we will gladly make a copy, fetch a file or even a coffee for you.  Please don’t ask us to phone your dentist, your wife, or anything else you’d ask your secretary to do.  You may be our customer, but we don’t work for you.  Use your cell phone and make your own personal calls.  In fact, you shouldn’t be asking your own secretary to do personal crap either!

#7 – We can’t always answer your questions, but we’ll try our best to find someone who can.

We’re not usually trained on product information or tech issues.  We’re happy to get you to someone who can help you.  That’s what we do.  We may have to ask you a few questions to do that, so bear with us.  If we transfer you to the wrong person, either it was a simple mistake or you didn’t give us clear information.  Please don’t call us back and bitch us out.

#6 – Our execs and salespeople don’t always tell us their schedules.

A big receptionist pet peeve is when people leave without telling anyone.  Some offices have sign-out boards or policies set up to notify the switchboard when someone is gone.  Others, especially large companies, don’t.  We transfer your call automatically and if the person isn’t there, we may not even know it.  Companies have voice mail so people can get back to you if they miss your call.  Leave a clear message with your contact info.  If someone is out indefinitely or has left us, we’ll probably have an alternative for you already.

#5 – We can’t make anyone do anything.

In most companies, the receptionist is the underground part of the totem pole.  We can’t make someone pick up the phone, be in the office, or call you back, etc.  Please don’t launch into a tirade at us if we transfer you and you get voice mail.  We’re sorry you aren’t getting through, but once we transfer a call it’s beyond our control.

We’ll be happy to transfer you to a manager if necessary.  We don’t like it when our co-workers don’t answer their calls either, but often we aren’t allowed to say anything.

#4 – Our lobby is not a public rest area.

This is a business.  Our facilities are for our employees.  Don’t come in and ask us if you can use the bathroom.  Chances are we aren’t allowed to let you past the desk.  Find an alternative.  Emergencies happen, but we may be risking a reprimand or even termination if we let you in.  Don’t put us in that position.

We’ll call 911 for you if you need us to.  Make sure it’s not because you lost your cell phone and your fast food burger didn’t have ketchup on it like you wanted.

#3 – If you’re applying for a job at the company, treat the receptionist with respect.

HR will sometimes ask us what we thought of an applicant because they know people often treat the servants badly.  If you’re rude to us, the hiring manager will know it.  We’ll either paste a note to your resume or tell on you after your interview.  Sucking up is much better.  Practice until you can do it without sounding fake, and we’ll tell our boss we really liked you.

#2 – We love it when you acknowledge us at holiday time.

Vendors and customers often send or bring goodies for a little Christmas suck-up.  If we deal with you on a regular basis, it’s nice when you remember us with a candy box, a cookie tin or card just for us.  It’s torture to watch packages loaded with chocolate march by, knowing the recipient won’t share.  And when something yummy gets put in the break room for everyone, by the time we can get away from the phone, it’s usually gone.

#1 – Keep your crazy to yourself.

It’s scary working the front desk, especially where the general public passes through.  Some of the people we see are certifiable.  We don’t care about your Martian neighbors.  We don’t want to hear your whole life story while you fill out your job application.  And for God’s sake, DON’T PULL UP YOUR SHIRT AND SHOW US YOUR SURGERY SCAR.

See?  It’s not so hard.  All you have to do is remember your manners.  We want to like you when you walk through our door.   And thanks for the cookies. *wink*

UPDATE:

In response to overwhelming pressure to remove it, Amazon has taken down the offending book.   Good for them.  I’ll get into the problems with self-publishing in a later post and probably mention this ill-conceived, misspelled piece of garbage then.

See more about Amazon’s decision here.

Today I read something on MSN that I wasn’t quite sure how to take, but it involves censorship, a thorny issue for writers.

According to this article by Helen A.S. Popkin, Amazon is selling an e-book in its Kindle store about dealing with pedophila…from the pedophile’s point of view.

I won’t mention the title; you can find it in the article, and I don’t want to give the writer the attention, frankly.  The book apparently offers advice for people in adult/child sexual situations, to help make it safer for the pedos.

Amazon has defended its decision to sell this material by issuing a statement about why they refuse to take the book down.  It reads in part:

Amazon believes it is censorship not to sell certain books simply because we or others believe their message is objectionable.  Amazon does not support or promote hatred or criminal acts, however, we do support the right of every individual to make their own purchasing decisions.

There’s a problem inherent in this.  Having sex with kids IS a criminal act, in every state.  Pedophilia is a paraphilia, a psychosexual disorder marked by abnormal and intense urges toward persons or things that fall outside the norm of sexuality.  Since children are not able to make viable decisions in this area, sex with kids is illegal.

But removing the book is technically censorship.   And nonfiction books describing other criminal acts or advocating questionable activities, even for entertainment-–The Anarchist’s Cookbook, George Hayduke’s Revenge books come to mind—aren’t restricted.

Where does that leave writers with something controversial to say, even if it’s horrifying?  And where should booksellers draw the line?

Amazon doesn’t sell porn in the Kindle store.  Is this book porn?  Bnet’s Style Inc. blogger Lydia Dishman reports that because it has no pictures or illustrations,  it doesn’t even qualify as child porn.  Thus, it’s breaking no laws and Amazon can’t be charged for selling it.

Booksellers have a right to carry whatever material they like, if they think they can sell it and they’re not running afoul of the legal system.  They can sell adult pornography, graphic crime novels and other fictional works describing the sexual abuse of children.  We as consumers are free to avoid or boycott the store or the writer if we like.

In my opinion, maybe the law is too lax on this kind of material.  I’ve seen child pornography (in a Citizen’s Police Academy course).  If I had to name the worst scourges on this earth, it would be right up there with genocide, war and slavery.  I can’t imagine anything instructing pedophiles on how to conduct these activities as acceptable in any context.  I’ve heard sexual abuse described as “soul murder.”  That’s what it is, and that’s what it does to kids who go through it.

Is it okay to talk about it? Well, yes, we have to, in order to save children from it.  There are good tips here for preventing child sexual abuse.  Children whose parents or guardians don’t pay much attention to them are prime pickings for pedophiles.

Is it okay to write about it?  Authors can write about anything they want.  I’ve read well-written books both fiction and nonfiction that contain scenes of child rape.  Makes me sick, but in the context of the narrative, the scenes were necessary to establish character motivation and show the degradation of a person’s psyche.

So should this book be taken down?  Amazon isn’t going to remove it.  They won’t take down the Holocaust denial books they sell either, even though they are illegal in certain countries.  It’s still okay in the United States to say it never happened, even if it makes you look like an idiot.

Barring certain wartime situations or yelling “Fire!” in a crowded theater when there isn’t one, one of our basic freedoms in the U. S. is the right to say or think whatever we want without fear of reprisal.  If we insist libraries, booksellers and authors restrict their content to that which is sanitary and uncontroversial, do we undermine that right?  I think we do.

As a writer, if you pen something questionable, remember we have this freedom.  But I would take this particular incident as an object lesson.  There are some subjects people feel extremely strongly about, and you must be prepared for a possible backlash if you choose to tackle them.

As a consumer, you control your money.  You can vote with your wallet.  You don’t have to buy the book or read it, and if you disagree with Amazon’s policy, you can walk away from them.  If you have knowledge of a crime committed against someone, you can report it (and please do).  Under the law, the fact that the book may be sick is not a crime.

I myself don’t plan to boycott Amazon because of this.  I won’t buy the book, I won’t mention the author’s name, I will exhort anyone not to buy it out of curiosity.  This twit might be able to publish it, but if it doesn’t sell, it will eventually vanish.

If you have an opinion about censorship in general, or about this particular issue with Amazon, feel free to share in the comments.  Please be respectful of others’ opinions. No personal attacks or your comments will be deleted.  It’s okay to disagree as long as we remember that we each have a right to do so.

I apologize for the time between posts.  My stomach has decided to eat itself and sometimes feels like I’ve been gutshot.  Let’s hope I get in to see a GI doc pretty soon.  Ulcers are no fun.

We’ll be working with the letter E today.  Thanks to the SST people for their suggestions!

Early – a time when some absurdly dedicated and crazy people get up to write.  I’m lucky if I make it out of bed on the second snooze.
Ebullient – excited, high-spirited.

Echolalia – repetition of someone’s words. “I think he went in there,” Fred said.  “Rin rere?” Scooby said.  “Ry rould re ro in rere?”

Edifice – this one has two meanings.  1.  A large building, of imposing size, or 2. Any complex system or organization.  Both could apply in an adventure story.  Your hero could find himself dangling from an edifice while investigating an evil edifice.

Eerie – what you hope a horror story will be.

Effluvium – an offensive emanation or smell.  Joker’s lair gave off such a stale effluvium of garbage, unwashed clothing and blood that Batman nearly puked.

Egregious (eh GREE jus) – glaringly bad, astonishingly so.  The trumpets coupled with digeridoos in that anime soundtrack launched an egregious assault on my ears.

EH –  initials of Ernest Hemingway, one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century.  Famous works by Hemingway include The Old Man and the Sea, The Sun Also Rises, and A Farewell to Arms. His work is characterized by extremely spare prose and strong imagery.

Eidetic (eye DEH tik) – having a photographic memory.

Ejectamenta – stuff that gets thrown out of a volcano.  Who knew it had a name?

Eke – stretch, make laboriously.  “Heh, we had to eke out a living on clamshells and rocks!” Grandpa Squarepants cackled to tiny Spongebob, who perched precariously on his knee.

Elderberry – the fruit of the elder tree, used in making wine and jelly.  Warning:  NEVER eat any wild plant, mushroom or berry unless you are absolutely certain you know that it is safe to eat!

What your father smelled of.

Image by olibac / Flickr.com

Emicate – to sparkle.  Edward emicated brightly in the sun, allowing Buffy to fire her crossbow directly at his heart.

Eon (or aeon) – an insanely long time; in geological time, several eras.  Both spellings are correct.

Epilogue – an extra scene at the end of a book or play.  Like a prologue, but in closing.

Equestrianism – pertaining to horseback riding.

The most expert of all dressage riders are those who train with the world-famous Lipizanner horses.  They have such exquisite control over the animals that they appear to work with one mind.   I have seen this fine spectacle, and I say it is worth the price of admission.

Pretty horsie and rider doing a cool trick!

Erotology – the description of erotic behavior in literature.  Sex scenes, people!

Espalier (es SPAL yey) – a lattice on which trees are trained to grow sideways.

Ethnocentrism – a high-handed belief in the superiority of one’s own ethnic group or culture.  What this country is sadly moving toward more and more.

Eurythmic – having a pleasant or harmonious rhythm.

Evanescent – scarcely perceptible, fleeting.  Commissioner Gordon watched Batman’s cape melt into the shadows in an evanescent swirl.

Ewer – a pitcher with a wide spout, like the ones in Victorian washbasins.

Expiate – to amend one’s wrongs.  “I will expiate my sins!” shouted the errant warrior, seconds before he flung himself into the volcano.

Eyrie (AIR-ee) – the nest of a bird of prey.  Also aerie.

EZ – common abbreviation for “easy,” what this list certainly was not!

That’s all for today.  See you next time!

Today, September 11, 2010, is the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, USA.

For my readers across the world, I thank you for the support you lent to stranded Americans the day of the disaster who were unable to get home.  I thank all people in countries other than mine who sympathized with us, cried for us and prayed for us.  Some of you know what terrorism is like on a daily basis; for us it was an ugly and shocking wake-up call.

The aim of terrorists is not to kill, but to demoralize by using fear.  Each person who shows kindness and tolerance to those not of their race, creed or culture takes a step to eliminate terrorism.  If we become fearful or angry because of someone’s color, clothing, sexual orientation or religion, the terrorists win.  When we talk about burning another faith’s holy book, we fall directly into their hands.

Despite what some people would have you believe, Islam is not an evil religion, nor does it preach hate.  God does not hate gays (there are gay animals–look it up) and you should not either.

Do not use the Lord God to condemn others because they are not like you.  Black, white, gay, straight, young, old, we are all human.  We are the same more than we are different.  We all want enough to eat, a safe place to sleep and to be with our loved ones.  We all bleed red when we are cut.

Any time you hurt someone because of hate, YOU are the terrorist.

Today, do something that will crush hate.  If you don’t know how, try one of these suggestions.

• Embrace someone you never thought you would.

• Learn something about another culture or creed.

• Educate yourself on a subject you don’t understand.

• Speak with someone different from you and find common ground.

• Thank a service member, a firefighter or a police officer for all they do to protect and help others.

• Smile at someone who seems to need it.

The goal is not to win; it is to bring everyone together.  Only then will fear and hatred recede. Do not feed them.  Starve them with your openness and generosity.  The world needs you for this purpose.

Be a friend, not an enemy.  Be human.

Hey all, I had a great post today but I didn’t save it to my flash drive, and it’s stuck in my work computer.  I swear, it was a good one.  I’ll post it tomorrow, and do Z also.

Blargh!

On Sunday, I watched Super Bowl 44.  (Okay, I admit, I watched the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet first!) Since I’m not a football fan and don’t have a particular team allegiance, I like to root for the underdog (in this case, the New Orleans Saints, trailing up to the second half) and then switch to whoever is winning (Saints again, in a streak of luck thanks to an intercepted pass and a clear field right to the end zone).

The ease with which professional athletes move about the field got me thinking how many hours of practice these guys have to go through before they make it to this point.  The Super Bowl is the penultimate football game, the Holy Grail for fans and players alike.  It’s the football equivalent of winning a gold medal to wear that ring.  No one can ever take that accomplishment away from the Saints, even if their next season blows.

You have to practice to do anything well.  Few of us arrive on earth with perfect skills in anything. It takes practice to learn to walk, to eat, even to talk.  We practice when we learn to scribble our names in cursive, to do math, to paint, figure skate or play the cello. When we struggle, we don’t tell ourselves “Work a little harder;” or “You can do it,” or even “I think I can, I think I can.” No, what’s the first thing that pops into our heads?

“I suck.”

Why do we do that? I do it when I’m fighting to learn a figure skating move.  I’ve been trying to learn the Lutz jump for a long time now. I can do a half Lutz (not a full rotation), and it’s a beaut:  I vault up off the ice like Michael Jordan.  Attempting the full jump one day, I got some hang time in which I felt the pull of gravity leave me for a second.  It freaked me out so much I popped the jump and hit the ice like an anvil.  If I could only get the full rotation, my Lutz, even though it will probably always be a single, will be spectacular.

If only I didn’t suck!

I think the reason we say that to ourselves is because sometimes the effort tires us so much we lose sight of why we’re doing it. Our reward is the prize, accolades, medals or that coveted spot on the bestseller list. Who cares what number it is, just so our name appears under that heading in the Sunday paper?

Do the football players dream of the Super Bowl? Sure they do.  But why do they play? Their chance of making it is slim, at best. Being picked for a team that has the chops to make it and consistently plays its best game every week throughout the season is no guarantee.  Actually playing at the Super Bowl is no guarantee of winning.  Look at that lovely moment on Sunday, where the stars aligned and the underdog team’s player caught the ball and turned to see a blessedly empty field in front of him, and ran toward the beckoning end zone like a lover through a meadow.  The opportunity was there, and he was ready, because—say it with me, kids!—he had practiced.

Lots and lots of practice.  When the moment came, he was ready.  We can do it and we will because we take the time to rehearse the scenario.  What will we do if we win the bestseller lottery? It’s almost guaranteed NOT to happen, really.  If we don’t, what’s to stop us from berating ourselves and giving up entirely?

We do it because we want to.  Because we love it.  I don’t skate because I’ll ever win a gold medal (although I did, just not at the Olympics).  I go out there in the cold wet rink because I love doing it.  It’s the only sport I do.  I can’t play tennis or basketball, and I can’t run either. Even when I hit the ice repeatedly or get hugely frustrated because I can’t get my arms and legs to do what I want, I keep doing it.  Eventually, with practice, I’ll get it.

Writing is the same way. Granted, with skating you need coaching, but there’s a lot a writer can learn on her own.  At some point people will have to read it so you can get feedback and know you’re on the right track.  But it takes practice to get it right, so don’t tear yourself down if you’re having trouble.  The same things I said in a previous post, Feed Me, about criticism that it’s best to ignore, apply here. You’d be upset if someone arbitrarily said you sucked, wouldn’t you?  You shouldn’t do it to yourself either.

Don’t be hard on yourself; learning is a process. It takes time.  Learn to take that negative thought pattern and nip it in the bud.  Put a rubber band around your wrist and snap it every time you tell yourself you suck.

If you have any hints or tips to help banish negative thinking, please share them in the comments.