An interesting look at how dubious costume choices/designs can significantly increase the level of danger that must be faced by real-life women (stunt performers, in this case) working to portray fictional characters.
An oft overlooked factor when people insist that this is all just make believe and so doesn’t really matter.
It goes without saying, of course, that if trying to do stunts in carefully controlled environments becomes more dangerous due to ridiculous costumes then those same outfits raise the dangers in a chaotic environment (such as a battlefield) exponentially.
An law school professor and former criminal defense attorney tells you why you should never agree to be interviewed by the police. 031408_DontTalktoPolice.wmv
This is a long (but very good) 48 minute video from a criminal defense attorney and an ex-police officer talking about how police interrogations work and the methods used in them to get a confession.
For those of you out there writing cops, criminals, innocents, or verbal interrogations of any kind, I highly recommend taking an hour and watching this video. You’ll learn a lot and you’ll get some really solid information on why some techniques work the way they do.
You’ll obviously get a lot of differing opinions on the subject, but this one is very informative and I recommend that everyone (but authors especially) watch it.
The most common weapon inside is simply a can top. Pulled off a tin of beans and folded over, it doesn’t even need to be sharpened to leave a jagged scar. A shank, also known as a shiv, is not for cutting but for stabbing. It’s called a “gun” in jailhouse vernacular, and the most valuable kind is fashioned out of materials that don’t activate a metal detector. Prison armorers make a good living shaping brass (sourced from structural elements) and aluminum (soda cans, mostly) into knives, though fiberglass and even wood can work, too. Most shanks are made for one specific purpose and disposed of immediately thereafter; getting caught with one is a year in solitary.
Most of the way through the piece, there is an interesting meditation on the ramifications of violence which does apply to your writing. And, of course, a fairly detailed look at improvised weapons in prison.
Why I Write by George Orwell – On egoism, a love of beauty, the quest for truth and the desire to change the world — Orwell’s ‘four great motive for writing’.
Love & Horror – Kindle edition by Kris Noel, Danny Hynes. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Love & Horror.
Looking for some quick reads on Kindle? My new ebook, Love & Horror, is available now on Amazon for $1.99. A few of you have asked me about my writing, so this is a good way to check it out!! Thanks!
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Kris Noel just published her new ebook on Amazon. If it’s anywhere near as amazing as his writing advice then it’s definitely pretty incredible. So, give it a look.
