Posted on by Miss Brook$

self-publishing award

I entered the Writer’s Digest International Self-Publishing Awards last spring (and totally forgot about it). Today I discovered who the Grand Prize winner was.

She wrote a book on creating a harmonious environment. It’s a lovely book, as you can see here. It looks like a grand prize winner. (An interview of her shows that her book spends a lot of time discussing “energy.” Hmm…writing tips for 2008.)

One thing immediately struck me. Her company is Lingham Press. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that essentially the same as calling it Penis Press? I’m certainly interested to see where she takes her sexually-oriented publishing company.

This isn’t sour grapes. Not in the least. I actually did win an award and I’m thrilled (I never expected the Grand Prize, not even in my fantasies), but I don’t know if I should publicly mention it yet. I don’t want to inadvertently anger the gods of awards and have my one little honor taken away from me. (Besides, in all honesty, with my award and $3 I can maybe get a hot tea at Starbucks.)

Posted on by Miss Brook$

alter egos

I have to wonder what Amanda Brooks, Amanda Brooks, Amanda Brooks and Amanda Brooks think when they Google their name and my site pops up.

Should I be concerned if Amanda Brooks’ movie choices continue to be sub-par? Or if she becomes a parenting guru? Or if I get invited to a NYC charity event? What if they start getting requests for appointments? And should I get Amanda to do a round of photos for me?

Posted on by Miss Brook$

george carlin on prostitution

I don’t understand why prostitution is illegal. Selling is legal, fucking is legal. So, why isn’t it legal to sell fucking? Why should it be illegal to sell something that’s legal to give away? I can’t follow the logic. Of all the things you can to do a person, giving them an orgasm is hardly the worst. In the army they give you a medal for killing people; in civilian life you go to jail for giving them orgasms. Am I missing something?
From Napalm & Silly Putty

At first, his argument is no different from any other common-sense argument regarding prostitution. But as he points out — in this society — “heroes” can be made by killing lots of people. Even serial killers are celebrated celebrities (most of the time their victims are women). But a woman who gives an orgasm to a man (who might not have had it otherwise) is a criminal and despicable human being.

I would ask that someone explain the logic to me in a way that makes sense. That won’t happen because it’s not possible. Even sadder, many of the arguments against prostitution operate off the base assumption that sex is violence. Only violence is violence, regardless of the form it takes.

Consensual orgasms between adults is not violence.

Posted on by Miss Brook$

give me germs!

An article in Newsweek alerted me to a company that produces stuffed-toy microbes. It really does! I’m weird, but I think they’re really cute. (Not that I’m interested in encounters with the real deal.)

According to the article, the shop in Harvard’s Square that sells the germs reports that gonorrhea is a favorite, especially around Valentine’s Day. Cynical? Realistic? Sick humor?

The next time I go in a toy store, I’ll be on the lookout for more germs than usual.