Abortion, Robots, and The Labia Majora
A few stories to lubricate the mind, if not the machine:
Debbie Nathan on the the ambivalence of how abortion is discussed in the New York Times:
"What is the New York Times' problem with abortion? The editorial page consistently supports sex education, birth control, and the right to legally end unwanted pregnancy.
"The rest of the Times, however, often seems uncomfortable with concrete applications of these principles. Not a season goes by that a news item or magazine feature doesn't imply that women who get abortions are acting with egotism, unhealthiness, and cruelty.
"The most recent instance of this is Annie Murphy Paul's "The First Ache," in last Sunday's Magazine. "When does the experience of pain begin?" the subtitle asks. "Anti-abortion activists aren't the only ones to argue that it may be in the womb."
Debbie's essay is best followed up by a visit, (and perhaps your own entry), to the I'm Not Sorry web site, where women tell, simply and plainly, the story of their abortions— legal and illegal— all ages, all kinds. It's without frills, sunny rhetoric, or apologies.
I am a fan of Circlet Press, the kinky sci-fi and fantasy publisher, who have published Kal Cobalt's essential: 10 Things You Always Wanted to Know About Robot Sex on their blog:
“I write robot erotica” is a great conversation starter. Often, the questions people ask me are things I never considered at the keyboard. Other times, something I consider a basic tenet of robotica startles even the most shrewd of discussion partners. So here they are: the top ten things people either want to know about robotica or are most surprised to discover.
"1. Robots Need Lubricant.
When bringing one’s first piece of robotica to a prestigious workshop, the last thing you want to hear is the chairman saying, “Maybe you know more about this than I do, but if the metal robot is giving a human a handjob…wouldn’t that hurt without lube?”
I don't know why I didn't think of this pairing before, but it's a perfect match: Heidegger Meets Vulva Portraiture:
"The German philosopher Martin Heidegger tells us that when an object or desire passes from concealment to revelation, truth appears..."
These are beautiful and vivid photographs, that remind me a lot of Joani Blank's book, but Femalia, but with a totally different style of photography. I wish I could go to Norway and see the originals!
I'm on a 10-book tour, with Best American Erotica authors meeting me in a few different cities. It's quite, uh, challenging, to figure out how to blog regularly. I've had a few "where's the wi-fi?" meltdowns already, and it's only Day 3! Or sometimes I have the connection, but I'm so bleary I have nothing to say. Do you know any great bloggers who write regularly on the road? Send me their links for inspiration!
Photo Credit: Robot Goddess movie still, by Michael Sullivan.
counterpoint from Warren Ellis:
...Robots do not want to have sex with you. Are you listening, Japan? I don’t have a clever comparative simile for this, because frankly you bags of meat will fuck bicycles if they’re laying down and not putting up a fight. Just stop it. There is no robot on Earth that wants to see a bag of meat with a small prong on the end approaching it with a can of WD-40 and a hopeful smile. And don’t get me started on that terrifying hole that squeezes out more bags of meat...
Even w/ lubricant!
Posted by: monopole | February 16, 2008 at 09:08 PM
Writing while one tour? Why not take us, your readers, along with you on tour. In short, a dose of travel writing. One anecdote per stop (or two or three) would be munificent. I'm still dying to hear how the reading went in that Maine town where it sounds like the entire population was baking cookies, sweeping the sidewalks and ironing their frocks in preparation for your arrival.
Sue
Posted by: Sue Katz | February 17, 2008 at 03:49 AM
the absolute best blog-on-the-go (and quite good at other things too) is the Yarn Harlot at www.yarnharlot.com. she is seriously funny stuff.
Posted by: tea | February 18, 2008 at 09:32 AM
Great link - must try writing something about robot/sex sometime. Only question: Do the Three Laws of Robotics apply or not?
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
Discuss, with specific reference to BDSM play...
Posted by: DC (in UK) | February 18, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Perhaps those anti-abortion apologists from the NY Times (and elsewhere) should pay a visit here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18755277
Or here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4_Months,_3_Weeks_and_2_Days
Posted by: C.S. Lewiston | February 18, 2008 at 04:01 PM
DC (in UK), I think you just gave me my next story idea...
Posted by: Kal Cobalt | February 19, 2008 at 08:05 AM
blech. Does he have to call it the female sex flower? Haven't we suffered enough indignity with Tom Robbins and his peach fishery?
Speaking of truly hot, I went onto your flickr page Susie and had a peek at some of your old IS student activist photos. Smokin' 'fros and high waisted jeans. And the youthful purpose! Oh, the youthful purpose!
Posted by: sasha | February 19, 2008 at 04:56 PM
we need robots that yearn to break the rules. robots that HATE being robots....
Posted by: janeyruth | February 22, 2008 at 12:17 AM
One of the reasons that abortion is demonized is to encourage acts of violence against abortion providers.
Posted by: libhomo | February 24, 2008 at 02:58 PM
Hey, I've got another robot nookie article up, if anyone's looking for seconds...
http://www.circlet.com/?p=73
Posted by: Kal Cobalt | March 01, 2008 at 07:27 PM