Pretty pictures: how small can you go?

Last week was a really word heavy post, so I thought this week I would make it visually fantastic. Check some some shots from 35 years of the world's best microscope photography:

2009: Florescent actin protein filaments

2009: part of flowering plant

2006: mouse colon

2004: quantum dot nanocrystals deposited on a silicone substrate

2003: filamentous actin and microtubules

1996: doxorubin in methanol & dimethylbenzenesulfonic acid

1987: crystals of influenza virus neuraminidase isolated from terns

1985: formalin-fixed whole mount of a spiral nematode

1981: collapsed bubbles from an annealed experimental electronic sealing glass

1978: gold, vaporised in a tungsten boat, in a vacuum evaporator

Some very cool pictures. What I find fun is my brain trying to put some meaning and order into the image before I know what it is (and sometimes even afterwards). It's like entering another, weird and wonderful world.

Music: Tiki Taane
Currently reading: 'Blaze of Memory' by Nalini Singh

Plotting

I'm blogging over at the Black Roses of the Wild Rose Press Blog.
Talking about plotting and the difference between plotters and pantsers, feel free to come over and join me :)

Christain Romances

I was browsing the Harlequin website (as you do) and came across the guidelines for writing a Christian romance. Once I had stopped laughing, all I could think was – I’m so totally glad I’ve no interest in writing for Steeple Hill.

I can’t imagine writing a romance and avoiding all of the following (what’s left?).
Direct from the website:

Terms that cannot be used in a Steeple Hill novel:
Arousal
Bastard
Bet/betting
Bishop
Bra
Breast (except for breast cancer if necessary)
Buttocks or butt (alternatively, you can say derriere or backside)
Crap
Damn (try "blast" instead)
Darn
Dern/durn
Devil (except in the religious sense, but the circumstances would be rare)
Dang or Dagnabbit
Doody
Father (when used to describe a religious official)
Fiend
For heaven's sake (can use "for goodness' sake" instead)
For the love of Mike
For Pete's sake
Gee
Geez/jeez (but "sheesh" is acceptable)
Gosh
Golly
Halloween
Harlot
Heat (when used to describe kisses)
Heck
Hell (except in the religious sense, but this would be rare)
Holy cow
Hot/hottie
Hunk
Need/hunger (when used to describe non-food-focused state of being)
Pee
Poop
Panties
Passion
Priest
Sexy
Sex
Sexual attraction
Tempting (as applied to the opposite sex)
St. [name of saint]
Swear, as in "I swear..." - Christian characters are not supposed to swear.
Undergarments - of any kind
Whore

The following are allowed only in the context mentioned:
Angel - only when used in a Biblical context
Miracle - only when used in a Biblical context
Oh my God/Oh, God - ONLY allowed when it's clearly part of a prayer
Heavenly - only when used in a Biblical context
Although you can say “He cursed” or mention cursing, do not overuse. Furthermore, only non-Christian characters can curse.

Situations to be avoided:
Kissing below the neck
Visible signs or discussions of arousal or sexual attraction or being out of control
Double entendre
Nudity - people changing clothes "on screen" or any character clad only in a towel
Hero and heroine sleeping in the same house without a third party, even if they're not sleeping together or in the same room
Also, Christian characters should not smoke, drink, gamble, play cards or dance (except in historical novels they may dance but please limit to square dances and balls, no “sexy” dancing like waltzing cheek to cheek), and terms associated with these activities should only be used in connection with bad guys or disapproving of them or such.
Bodily functions, like going to the bathroom, should be mentioned as little as possible and some euphemism may be necessary but we don't want to sound quaint or absurd.

Good lord, you’re right that’s the last thing we’d want “to sound quaint or absurd”.

I will say though, they have made a few good calls. Unless the story includes a two year old the following should never been see in a romance (or any really book, unless for the pure stupid humour value): Dagnabbit, Doody, poop, & pee (does this leave room for pee-pee?).

Okay, I can understand that the goal to living as a good Christian is to avoid the bad things like swearing and drinking to excess, but on what planet do no Christians ever do these things; smoke, drink, gamble, play cards or dance (dance – what century are we in – the waltz was no longer scandalous in the 1800s. The Prince Regent himself blessed the waltz in 1816, and by the end of Victoria's reign, waltzing had become the dance of choice at many a private ball and public assembly). And how can you be redeemed if you’ve never slipped even once?
It feels like they are sucking all the fun out of life (I notice sucking is still allowed ;) ). If I’m going to read something with such a huge disconnect from reality I’m going to stick to paranormals & fantasy.

The other thing that got to me: Why can't a religious official be referred to as Father? And you can’t even mention priests? I understand we don't want anyone to say "Crap!" (I notice they left out the F-bomb), but what do characters do when a priest walks by? Do Catholics, Anglicans, or Episcopalians not exist in Steeple Hill? I’m sorry but I’m starting to get the heebie-jeebies about the level of fundamentalism involved here.

Harlequin do add that because Steeple Hill sells to both CBA and ABA bookstores, they must adhere to CBA conventions - that's the Christian booksellers association.

All that said, my curiosity is aroused (oh wait, can’t use that word)… I’m intrigued, I might have to read one just to see how they do it. My admiration goes out to the writers who actually manage to write a good romance sticking to these guidelines.

Music: Airborne
Currently reading: ‘Ultimate Weapon’ by Shannon McKenna

Crazy hair

Yay for long weekends, as far as my brain is concerned today is Monday.

As those of you who know me are no doubt aware, when it come to dealing with my hair I'm a brush-and-go kinda lass -- I don't even own a hairdryer. My hairdresser looked at me like I was a freak from another planter when she discovered that -- it's not my fault it broke after I defrosted part of the freezer with it (patience is not my middle name) and I wisely decided I didn't want sparks near my hair (I might not fuss much with my hair, but I don't want it burnt to nothing).
So, when I saw these pictures I simply had to post them - my goodness the time involved, and getting your hair to look normal again afterwards!























And since I putting up pictures that completely twist my brain...Music: Daft Punk
Currently reading: 'Dead Beat' by Jim Butcher

Award ceremonies

Uber frustration - no internet all day! Nada, nothing, zip. Fie on you Mr. internet for thwarting my will.

Suffice to to say my internet provider will not be winning any awards - if there are awards to for that sort of thing, which there probably are. There seem to be awards in almost every industry, even New Zealand building contractors have an awards ceremony. This year the awards looked at projects from million dollar bridges to removing a pedigree cow stuck in a boggy ravine. There's even an "Oh Sh*t award", based on people submitting pictures of embarrassing moments in contracting, such as diggers stuck in rivers and tipped rollers. The Oscars it's not :)

And I'm not sure if there's an award to this either, but there should be. The Italian state police have received a customized Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, capable of 325 km/h. I'm betting police around the world are green (or should that be blue) with envy.

And if you're after a bit of buff, Ancient Greek male body, tough and toned - check this out.

Okay, I may have outright lied about body, but the song cracked me up :)

Music: The Chemical Brothers
Currently reading: 'Hunter's Prayer' by Lilith Saintcrow

Actual Vampire Killing Kit

As someone whose first book includes vampires I simply had to post this:
A genuine, antique, vampire killing kit. (It's a legitimate antique being offered at auction by Steven Auctions in Mississippi).
Lot #1553 (description): Rosewood case with mother of pearl cross inlay, pistol, silver bullets in coffin case, Holy water vials, cleaver, prayer book, looking glass & silver occult daggerI think we can all take this as a warning. If there are genuine vampire killing kits, then logic says there must be genuine vampires out there to kill :)

Music: The Clash
Currently reading: 'Night shift' by Lilith Saintcrow

Mapping sin

In my wanderings around the web I came across this: American Vice: Mapping the seven deadly sins. It so intrigued me, I had to share it with you.

They say - "We're gluttons for infographics, and a team at Kansas State just served up a feast: maps of sin created by plotting per-capita stats on things like theft (envy) and STDs (lust). Christian clergy, likely noting the Bible Belt's status as Wrath Central, question the "science." Valid point—or maybe it's just the pride talking."

As a romance writer I thought I would post the 'lust' map. Number of STD cases reported per capita.
On a side note: Writing my last post reminded me about Hopscotch by Rebbecca York, a book I'd forgotten I had till thinking about spies. I couldn't remember reading anything else of hers so I popped out to the library and grabbed a few others. Very pleasant, light Intrigue reads.

music: Chris Isaak
Currently reading: 'The Final Sacrifice' by Patricia Bray
Last book in the trilogy, and it's a re-read so the series gets a thumbs up from me.