Help Haiti auction one closes, some linkblogging

[soc_puppet]

I was totally going to do a post warning about how the main auction at help_haiti was closing soon, except A) I slept in until noon today, since school was canceled, and B) I got the closing time mixed up, not realizing it meant noon instead of midnight. W-whoops.

In any case! Bidding ended today a few hours ago. Here's something you may want to take a look at: Auction Closing Procedures. I will definitely be reading it closely myself at some point in the very near future.


In other linkblogging news: Liberal Bloggers to Obama and Dems: We Told You So


Also, while I normally have the utmost respect for Neil Gaiman, I really can't approve of his use of the word "bitch." (Trigger Warning for last link.)

Thanks to a lightbird777, I was expecting the Depp-seems-to-be-on-Team-Polanski thing. Even if I don't care much for Gaiman's solo work, however, this feels like more of a slap in the face.

Edit: Neil Gaiman, when negative reactions to his use of "bitch" were presented to him, has just said he will try to do better in the future". While he doesn't seem to feel contrite about its use in the George R. R. Martin post (where it is definitely used to mean "Someone who is at your disposal to use however you like", with the sexual implications all but out loud), it is at least slightly encouraging.

Edit 2: Aaaaand now we're moving backwards. *sigh*

-Trigger Warning-

Dear Mr. Gaiman,

On the off-chance that you are reading this post, I would like to take the opportunity to be a little clearer:

It makes me uncomfortable that you are using the term "bitch" to convey your sense of safety as a writer. As a woman, I am not afforded this same level of safety in regards to my basic personhood. There is as much as a twenty-five percent chance that I will become someone's "bitch" in my lifetime, and not in the sense you use it. It makes me cringe when I think of my friends and family members who have the same odds, or who already have been someone's "bitch".

The fact that you are comparing this to writing, or the idea that someone "has" to write something, is alienating and hurtful to me. I hope that, as someone who ostensibly makes a career out of being able to see things from the point of view of another person, fictional or otherwise, you may yet be willing to consider things from mine.

Comments

[lightbird777.livejournal.com]

Depp didn't sign the Polanski petition as far as I know but he did make a statement on video that leaves many people questioning just how he would think and feel if someone did something similar to his own daughter, who is three years shy of being the same age that Polanski's victim was at the time. I'm not surprised though. When the petition first came to light I assumed that he would sign or take that side - I'm only surprised that he waited this long for him to take a stand. Not only did he work with Polanski, he's good friends with Emir Kusturica and Terry Gilliam, two of the first directors to sign the petition. If you watch the video, Kusturica is there next to him filling stuff in and influencing him. Depp pretty much regurgitated what Kusturica, Gilliam and others had to say months ago.

I think life would be a lot easier if we didn't actually have to see and hear celebrity interviews. There have been tons of people whose work I enjoy, either books that they've written, music or films that they've made, etc. and when I see/hear an interview in which they reveal themselves to be a total douchebag it's very disappointing. It kind of taints all the good things they've contributed, you know?

[soc_puppet]

Ack, you're right >_< Also, I now remember it was -you- who prepared me for this. Clearly, I should have done my checking better. *slinks off to correct*

That's true, yes. Still, I find it a million kinds of heartening when someone I admire turns around and reveals themselves to be an anti-douchebag. And sometimes, we can talk them around, too.

[lightbird777.livejournal.com]

LOL, it's okay. You don't need to correct or credit me with anything. I was just venting about the topic.

And yeah, that took a lot of courage on Emma Thompson's part. Not only will she get flack from many of her peers who support him, but it's not easy to come out in front of the vast public and admit that you made a mistake. That really took guts.

[soc_puppet]

But I like being right! :<

So true. She has a lifelong admirer in me for that, let me say.