Posted on by Miss Brook$

end violence against sex workers

Today is a day of awareness and memorial for sex workers around the world. Because of the illegal status of sex work and the low status of women in many countries, sex workers are a particular target of violence. (Transgendered sex workers face the same levels of violence as female sex workers.)

I don’t have any stats handy right now, but a large number of sex workers have been murdered through 2007 in the US and Canada. Most of these cases will never be solved. (Many other sex workers have simply disappeared and are presumed dead.) And every day sex workers are assaulted (sexually and violently). Their abusers have no fear of being brought to justice.

This is only the 5th Annual International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. But awareness of the issue is growing. We can’t actually hope to end violence against sex workers until we erase violence against all women, but at least we can make the world aware that sex workers are humans and deserve basic human rights. Their abuse or loss of life affects more than themselves.

It’s easy to join us. SWOP-East is hosting an online vigil and live discussion. Or, if you’d like to physically show your support, carry a red umbrella today or find an event near you.

Posted on by Miss Brook$

sex with coworkers

I’ve been remiss in my Advisor Amanda idea. This jumped out at me from the Advisor column. It hit me on so many levels. This is either a guy with some serious issues, or rather sensitive man pursuing love in the wrong way.

December 07’s Question

I work at a restaurant. Last week I slept with a co-worker. Earlier this week we were waiting around after our shifts and I asked her out for a drink. She said she was waiting for one of the kitchen guys to finish because they had made plans. When I got upset she said I had no right to act like a jealous boyfriend. Although I know we’re not a couple, I feel it’s disrespectful for her to spend time with somebody else we work with. How does the Advisor interpret the rules of dating here?
Advisor’s Answer: We’re sorry to disappoint, but the rules of dating apply only if the woman agrees you’re dating. She is free to work her way through the entire restaurant without consulting you.

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Posted on by Miss Brook$

a better book cover

It’s only taken them six books, but the cover designers for Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel series have finally figured out how to make a cover for the story inside.

Yes, everyone knows how much I love the series — but is is just me, or is this cover hot?

It’s the last book in the series so I can’t wait to read it. Gotta wait until June.

Posted on by Miss Brook$

girl-on-girl “outing”

I debated whether or not to post this, but decided to (obviously). This is my personal blog, so I feel it’s ethically okay.

An online competitor of mine sells e-books (something I’ve been encouraged to do by several different people, but I don’t see it happening anytime soon — sorry). Competitor in the sense we’re presumably going after the same market. Since I don’t trust e-books or e-book sellers (the exceptions can be named on one hand), I never bought her book, plus it was too expensive for mere research purposes.

In my Google Alerts, I noticed she had a new blog. Its subject matter seemed a little odd, but okay. Then I discovered she outs people on her blog. In particular, customers who order her e-books. I found this out because an escort paid for the e-book, never received it and got blasted when she dared contact the seller about the issue. Not only has the poor girl not gotten her money back, all the information she put into the ordering system is now posted online in connection with the escort book.

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Posted on by Miss Brook$

#1 secret of business success revealed!

In an interview with the founders of California Pizza Kitchen, a Newsweek article revealed their #1 business-success secret. Hold on to your hats, folks, it’s gonna be a shocker: they were really well capitalized.

In other words, to make money they needed money — lots of it.

I know this is a revelation to all those out there who hope to make a go of it without any money behind them or believe in the power of prayer to run a business, but it might not be so shocking to anyone who has actually tried to run a business.

In the same issue a few pages later was an article gushing about this obscene yacht built by the guy who used to run HP. What’s the message?

Money makes the world go round.

PS: This is a toss-off post, I’m swamped right now and this has been sitting in my admin panel for a couple months now. I found the story hilarious in a way the journalists never intended. I’m sure it’s on the Newsweek site, but I’m not feeling like digging for links at the moment.