Lurker > ElatedVenusaur

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/6/0/7/AAIAInAAC3QP.jpg

Marsha P. Johnson was a leading figure in the Stonewall Riots(though she, by her own admission, wasn't there when it started) and a lifelong advocate and activist for trans rights and also involved in anti-AIDs protest group ACT UP.
The "P." stood for "pay it no mind"- Marsha was referring to her gender. She was a drag queen and a transvestite, and didn't identify as a man, though it does not seem she ID'd as a woman either. Since Marsha isn't here, it's best we pay all that no mind, as she said, and focus on giving thanks for her bravery, advocacy, and undying spirit.

Femputer posted...

Welp. Dis shit is startin kinda strong here in NY.

Godspeed lass, good luck to you and yours. Hope you're all safe

Oh yes, I'm home, safe and warm, ate some chocolate, and am burning some incense. Got nowhere to be until Monday. Stay safe bro.

Femputer posted...

Sorry about your situation sis. Are you up in the blizzard path?

Yep. I at least dont work this weekend.

SauI_Goodman posted...

17 is a decent wage tho. Depending where youre at.

Southern Connecticut. But its only decent in relative terms.

Im busting my humps in a damned Whole Foods for $17/hr. pushing carts while people panic buy tons of food, subjecting myself to an extremely elevated risk of COVID in the process.
Like, they can at least pay us more. All of us. A lot more. For less work. A better world is possible, but a lot of people dont care to imagine it.

Questionmarktarius posted...

Didn't the "actually for bridges" bill already pass?

It was maybe 10% of what we actually need for that stuff.

MrMallard posted...

No problem. I was questioning my gender for a while there, and frankly I'm still not 100% on how I feel. A big concern I have is that I don't have a great relationship with masculinity - it's like I don't know what masculinity expects from me, I don't see eye to eye with the role I'm expected to play.

But I also don't think I'm a very happy person in general, and both my feelings regarding masculinity and my overall unhappiness are informed by a lifetime of being bullied and "othered". Like, I've just never fit in. I've gotten by to a degree by masking aspects of myself that aren't socially palatable, but even that can only go so far y'know. And while it's one thing to imagine life being better under a different set of circumstances, like having been born a girl, I'm also concerned about neurodivergence and the possibility that I'm as bad as I am because all the bullying led to stunted social skills. It's a real mixed bag, and I don't have the answers. And with the past year of my life being such a massive shitstorm on so many other fronts, I haven't had time to really unpack gender stuff alongside that general negativity with my counsellor.

But with all that being said, I feel strongly about gender and I'm invested in the zeitgeist within the queer community. If there's anything I can do to start a mature and reasonable discussion that normalizes aspects of queerness that people aren't familiar with, I want to start that discussion and I want to maintain a positive, educational environment where people can come to terms with those aspects.

Parts of my posting about the dysphoria bible, in hindsight, don't apply universally - the idea of male and female brains can come across as bio-essentialist, and a thought I've been considering lately is that whether there's an underlying biological need for gender transition or not, gender transition and non-binary self-expression is something that anyone should have the freedom to experiment with. And yet if a biological necessity to transition rings true to people, if gendered brain chemistry is indeed an aspect to the transgender experience and that avenue genuinely helps someone come to terms with a sort of disconnect they feel with their assigned gender, that's equally as valid.

Honestly, the only thing I've learned in the past couple of years is how subjective the trans experience can be, and that I shouldn't be preaching to one expression of that experience because when people are convinced that there's a single path, anyone they perceive as straying from that path can potentially be harmed with bigotry. Gendered brain chemistry made sense at the time, and I still believe that it's a significant explanation behind the reality of gender transition. But today, I don't necessarily believe it's the one and only reason behind gender transition. I just don't know.

At the end of the day, I'm happy to have made a positive difference in somebody's worldview. My opinion doesn't always stay the same, and I'm always looking for another way to look at things that may expand upon a prior stated opinion or straight-up usurp it if it seems like a better idea. But whether I carry a point forward or leave it behind for something new, I'm always glad to hear that something I said helped another person come to terms with something about themselves.

Yeah, everyone's experience of being trans is different. Even amongst, say, people who identify as trans women (I very much consider myself a woman, though some trans people start there and shift elsewhere in search of a better fit to themselves. Some arrive on it from those very same places others go. Some end up rejecting labels altogether), everyone has their own, unique experience. It goes for everything in life, really. We're the only people who fully understand our own lives and our own experiences and our own feelings. We're the only ones who can determine what is right for us, and when the time is right for us.

Fine, I'll bump this, because I want to talk about this beauty, then this topic can die in peace:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfCS01MkbIY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvleI-_qivA
Amelia Zheanna Erose "Z" Huff, with her fancy degree in music theory, voice dysphoria, and a hunger for knowledge, reforged her voice from masculine to feminine, and now produces reams of free videos to help other trans people do the same, discussing everything from vocal exercises to sound theory to the biomechanics of the human voice, and using her unnerving vocal range in order to highlight dos and don'ts. She also makes strange and beautiful microtonal music, and can be seen on Instagram wearing elf ears and jamming on completely incomprehensible synths.
She embodies goals in so many different ways.

DespondentDeity posted...

This is so beautiful. I believe the most meaningful thing you can give another person is the inspiration to be their self, and if you can give that just by being true to YOUR self, then how wonderful is that?

It was amazing and beautiful. I gave her a family recipe just like that! No regrets though.

No wonder they're my favorite kind of orange!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ite2vY5qihc
That's Kim Petras, front-and-center.
I knew of her back when she was only famous for being trans (she was the youngest German person to undergo bottom surgery, took puberty blockers as a tween, etc. etc.), an interest that was driven by a deep (and totally cis) curiosity about trans women.
She used to have a YouTube channel where she would just talk about her life and occasionally cover a song, and the comments would be full of people saying what a great voice she had and how she should make her own music.

And, well, here she is, singing about the joy of breasts, while I'm growing my own pair. She performed this song live at the EMAs in Hungary, which def rustled some jimmies (and rightly so. Fuck the fascists that run that country), but the fucked up her mic so the sound quality isn't great (major props to her for singing live though).

I have thick hair that never thinned and, of course, will never thin, now.

But I have a few friends who have lost quite a bit. Just, look: if your hair is thin garbage you can see skin through, just pack it in. Shave it off and own it! Itll look better. Especially if youre in shape.

I feel like Blazing Sword (i.e. the first GBA FE in the US) had a pretty good plot. Path of Radiance was pretty decent too though Ashnard not doing anything after conquering Crimea was kind of lame.

I don't really mind being asked, but I then I feel really comfortable describing myself as a "woman" ATM. I agree it's important to talk about this kind of thing. I posted about myself a bit on Facebook: both coming out there, but also discussing feelings and process.

Anyway, over the weekend, an old college classmate of mine messaged me there, telling me she's really proud of me and that she considers herself to be a queer non-binary femme (her profile pic def has that vibe) and she's not out to everyone yet. She said I inspired her. We hung out one time, me, her, and her partner (who to my knowledge is a cis dude) and I made borscht and garlic bread for them (explaining the former would be *quite* a digression lol, it made sense at the time, ok?), so I snapped a pic of the garlic bread recipe and sent it to her to commemorate us meeting as our true selves.

And so that's why I take it upon myself to talk about myself. My experience is my own, but it is a trans experience. And anyway Mona Eltahawy wrote its important for women and queers to command attention, and that resonated with me.

Maybe Ill get to admire the flash for a few seconds before it vaporizes me. Might be pretty.

2Pacavelli posted...

He was elderly, almost 80 years old, a senior citizen

He still fit the description.

I never minded my nickname, so I picked a female name with the same nickname. Boring, I know, but it fit perfectly.

I haven't gotten CK3 quite yet. Want to wait for some major expansions to hit, since end-of-life CK2 was such a content-rich experience. And I'm addicted to EU4 and Stellaris has finally rounded out into something good and fun. And I'm getting Vicky 3 at launch.
Glad CK3 is excelling though. CK2 basically marked an inflection point where Paradox started maturing as a developer and started really trying to improve the UI and put information in accessible places. Plus CK is probably the best one for doing crazy alt-history.

BlackOmnimon posted...

It's just declining superpower anxiety.

And force of habit. Most our leaders were adults during much of the Cold War and are conditioned to see Russia as our foremost enemy.
Plus were offended when other countries have interests that arent identical to ours. Russia has been pissed off about the expansion of NATO since the 90s.

Any war with Russia will be a disaster, and the only real winner will be China.
Assuming it doesnt end in nuclear fire, of course.

I make approximately $20K/yr. , dont cry to me about making 5 times as much money as I do

I wonder who President Manchin will select as his replacement.

Ubergeneral3 posted...

i've heard that some people that went on HRT felt different almost right away. Like their body wasn't ever really compatible with testosterone and as soon as it was blocked and replaced with Estrogen they felt right. Was it like that for you?

I certainly felt better immediately. It is my understanding that sex hormones are a component of brain chemistry.
And I can tell you, almost 7 months later now, that my brain chemistry was all wrong, and now it is what it should be. I can feel in a way I never could, and am a lot happier.

Awakening is good, and most of the characters are interesting enough once you get far enough into their support chains to get past their gimmicks. The first two arcs are good and great, but Validar, Aversa, and Grima are just such a flat, flavorless villains that they drag down the 3rd act hard.

But I must give it props for the scene where you meet with Tiki as she wakes up. She sees Lucina and mutters, "Mar-mar?" - which was the childish nickname she gave Marth, who has been dead for about a millennia at this point. She then brushes it off, but it's a great little piece of writing that illustrates the tragedy of living as long as a manakete does. It's also a nice touch that Walhart specifically charges out as soon as you step into range, unlike most bosses, as it dovetails nicely with his characterization. And it's a nice subversion that he knows all about Excellus' scheming with Aversa and forces him into the vanguard with naked intimidation. They do a legit great job of establishing Walhart as a terrifying smart bad ass monster.

It's definitely way less of a mess than Fates. Not that Fates is all bad, mind, but Revelation makes even the dumbest, most contrived aspects of Awakening seem brilliant by comparison. Neither Birthright nor Conquest are winners in the writing department either.

CE_gonna_CE posted...

Durian gelato

Im good with that and not trying the real thing

I had durian mochi once. It was like a slice of mango and the stinkiest cheese imaginable.
Sounds gross, I know, but I kind of liked it.

Actual durians are scary to look at. And hurt to touch. Those things don't want to be eaten.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmUbpn7DXwE
Lyrics (lifted from comments):
"Yeah
Evil doctor with rad genius, and bad minions
To help enslave the planet; try to intervene
I've been moving like you-like you've never seen
I'm the greatest, finest evil to have ever been on your screen
I'm iconic, with my bionic animatronics
I'll finally manage to catch that hedgehog they call Sonic
Fabled and atomic, my mustache of fire
Welcome to the new world: Eggman Empire"

Everyone who decides on what the atmosphere of our stores should be like is mega wealthy and they're almost certainly white as the driven snow.
Don't want to offend any of our customers, you understand. Especially not the racist ones.

Une was pretty bad. Duck tongues too.

greyfox747 posted...

I just get called sir a lot at work

Ugh, I'm sorry honey, that blows. I still routinely get misgendered by customers (my name and pronouns are on my name tag) and that always stings (even though most of them never look at our name tags lol).

Yeah girl! Welcome aboard the Estrogen Express!

I have great coworkers. A lot of them just treat me like a girl. Even the sweet old Haitian maintenance worker, who called me by the wrong name for a year(another coworker's name, not dead-naming me), who insisted on buying me coffee (and was disappointed I only wanted the 70 cent team member coffee) told the barista, in her endearingly shoddy English, "No no, is not for me. Is for her", indicating me.
But the most interesting is one of the women who works in the supplements department. She's a gorgeous redhead. I sought her advice on skin care products one night, then I showed her my then freshly-shaven arm, and she ran her hand over it, giggled, and goes, "Oh, did you shave it because it feels good like this? That's ok, that's why I shave!" then giggled some more, and so I told her the real reason, and ever since she's been much warmer to me. I had tried to get her to hang out with me before (over the summer, so like 6 months before I came out to her), and she flatly refused, but she recently intimated that "we" should go to this new Korean place she had gone to, and yesterday stopped me and told me she had put in her two weeks but wants to keep in touch. I kind of get the feeling she's unsure and even anxious: she gets creeped on a lot and intimated she's quitting because she's not doing great, but we're supposed to be working together for the last time Wednesday, so hopefully she'll be up to exchanging numbers then. She's super sweet and a really lively conversationalist, even if she ultimately isn't up for being anything more than friends.

It's just great being seen as a girl. I get lots of compliments on my nails and also recs on colors (Purples clashes with blue, I like your cool color look...and gel. Do gel, they say, it's more durable).

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Yeah, a streak of that length requires not only great skill but also great fortune.

Sir_Gawain posted...

I don't think "dictatorship" is the right way to frame it. Functionally one-party state with sham elections seems more accurate.

I mean, that's how a lot of them do it these days. Except our system is easier to spoof than most.

Smackems posted...

Long as you're passing (is that the right word?) No one will say anything anyway

Well, what would you qualify obvious breasts, androgynous clothing, and a five o'clock shadow as? 'Cause I decided I needed to go where I belong.

Femputer posted...

thanks

https://i.imgur.com/MgT7SF0.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/jS7oo1M.jpg

not that it makes a diff for me rn, but top or bot? im in a very rare "want to be owned" mood :O

Must be a chaser, lol.

Femputer posted... holy shit lmao. im so sorry youve had the pleasure. yea, hes very homophobic and transphobic on here. ya might wanna delete that cuz his phone number is there tho

Oh, good catch.

Are you new to this?

Im still using the mens room at work, but I did breast up and start using the womens locker room at the gym. Its a confidence thing, but I know I belong in the ladys room.

Oh man! Im coming up on 7 months, and loving it.

UnholyMudcrab posted...

Even excluding all the other factors, the party in power nearly always loses seats at the midterms. I don't think anyone with realistic expectations is surprised at all.

I mean, yeah, but it would be one thing if they had gotten a ton done and the president was reasonably popular. Instead, Biden hasnt accomplished much and is an additional drag on the Dems. Possibly in 2024 as well.

Damn king! How many months in are you again? Your face has really softened up!

Jabodie posted...

Many of the leftists on CE anticipated disaster for the Dems from this administration and here we are lol.

This is more or less what I was afraid of from a Biden administration, yes.

QBs w/ one NFC Championship:
-Brad Johnson
-Matt Hasselbeck
-Donovan McNabb
-Tom Brady
-Drew Brees
-Rex Grossman
-Cam Newton
-Nick Foles
-Matt Ryan
-Colin Kaepernick
-Jimmy Garropolo
-Aaron Rodgers

https://twitter.com/KyleNeubeck/status/1485102264540880900
https://twitter.com/DrawPlayDave/status/1485103186553626625
https://twitter.com/RichardStaff/status/1485102207338954755

Also, uhhh...
https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1485103658782150656
They only had 10 players on field for the 49ers game-winning field goal.
Which occurred after a time out.

Just...LOL.

mustachedmystic posted...

I wear a mask whenever I leave the house(with the exception of when I'm going out to walk the trail).

Same. It's the easiest damn thing to do, and even a relatively crappy mask is leagues better than none at all.

EnvoyOfTheLight posted...

Has something changed for the case to be solidified? There were significant doubts not a week ago.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/18/books/anne-frank-betrayal-arnold-van-den-bergh.html

Yeah, this just seems like someone seizing on circumstantial evidence to make a big pile of cash.

Femputer posted...

whoa that's awesome, good for you! i hate hinge lol. HER is good but everyone is so damn far from me. plus i don't feel like i belong at all. i know it's an inclusive app, but how am i supposed to not feel like a piece of shit if a lesbian girl is hitting on me? i aint a chick

Ah yeah, thats true about HER. But I actually really like Hinge.