Caps Lock Madness

I have previously refered to the world of the conspiracy thoerist and espoused my belief that most thoeries are lacking any evidence that would survive any credible examination. Since then economies and financial institutions have gone belly up leading to the reserection of one of the oldest conspiracies, namely the accusation that there is a jewish banking cartel, by the usual bunch of anto-semites and neo-nazi's spouting the usual crap AND THEY ALL TYPE LARGE CHUNKS OF THEIR RANTS WITH CAPS LOCK ON as if that lends credibility while in no way making them seem even more insaine.

Here's another exhibit on a different topic from the entertaining spEak You’re bRanes site.

Januaryland

There's a great mock-ad in this months Viz.

"Come visit Januaryland, the most depressing month of the year, all year round!... See it get dark at half past three... our computerised climate control has it dull, overcast and a bit cold all day long... (Closed Dec 31 to Feb 1)". 

The warning signs that things were about to be a bit bobbins when I watched a disappointing episode of Jonathan Creek on New Years Day. Later on there's the colds, coughs and chills to contend with. The prospect of mass unemployment and payments to HM Revenue and Customs coming up.

Perhaps I have a serious case of the winter blues, I have slept an enormous amount and if I could the rest of the month would be spent in bed. One night, though, I did feel better walking home with the thought that I like myself more when I'm this and not being a boy, which is a sad, almost pathetically small pleasure which encourages me to keep on going.

A year ago around this time a wonderful but sadly tormented woman who took her own life . I still wonder if there was something I could have done even if rationally the odds of being successful were long. I feel so sorry for her family at this time their sense of loss being far greater than mine especially at this time. My thoughts are with them. May she continue to rest in piece.

Postscript. I am so sorry for being compleatly and utterly downbeat.

Battle Of Who Could Care Less

You join me here as the war between factions continues, inflicting numerous casualties along the way while the rest of the world looks on at the sheer pointlessness of it all.

Yes I am talking about the transgender wars. Now into another year of who knows how many years of upset, hurt feelings and loudly flouncing out of chartrooms, the battle continues as it has done every day except for one Christmas day where the sides met in no gender specific land and played slightly pointless games like word association before resuming the next day.

Currently a group of transvestites are employing their shock troops with their visible stocking tops to go over the top (for which they need no encouragement) unfortunately their 5 inch heals are stuck in the mud and are soon beaten by a set of transexuals in jeans, t-shirts and sensible shoes using their overwhelming sence of superiority. All seems lost until the tv's special agent behind enemy lines a Tracey Roll, starts a debate about stealth and all hell breaks loose.

Can the transvestites advance and claim victory? Or will they have to return to bob mode before then? Stay tuned.

Don't Call It A Comeback

For those new or relatively recent to the blog, hello I'm Lucy. This blog will probably continue to follow the formula I have used previously, a journal of my life along with witterings on subjects that take my interest. I could separate the two but I'd have difficulty running two blogs.

So this is my first post of the year, (151st overall) a chance for a new start. My writeing performance flagged a bit towards the end of the year and a few threads have been left hanging and not followed up. Thank you for your comments though, they have all been read with interest and I will get round to writeing little notes eventually.

My depression comes and goes along with my gd like many others, thankfully it has not been too disableing recently and the dark thoughts have stayed away. If there is one thing I really should have learnt from last year it is that depression needs to be addressed. I am at the begining of a long path (I've stopped useing the word 'jouney' because of its overuse in programes like Strictly Come Factor, X Danceing, Masterchef and other reality shows) its not a straight A to B and will probably have many up's and down's before the final chapter. Thankfully I am blessed to have people prepared to take time from their own lives who have helped me.

I did say I would write a second part on the law of privacy, again I will scribble it down but with a potentually important case being brought by everyone's favourite footballer Ashley Cole regarding embarrissing revelations about his night with a hairdresser. I probably delay comment until the court has had its say and adjust my comments in light of.

One post from the end of October about my wardrobe mistakes deserves a little update. I did eventually delve through my clothes organiseing and removing some horrors. The space created has been filled by my purchaces over christmas. I think its time to create some more space. Hopefully I am more selective without having to rely on mere luck.

So That's A Whole Year Ended

My invite to Kerry Katona's glamorous party with all her fantastic frozen nibbles including the intriguing King Prawn Spoons and great guests like Jason Donovan, has obviously been lost in the post. So I will probably do what I did last year,  sit at home listening to Big Ben ring in the new year and watch the fireworks. Not that I would have it any other way, its the one time where you need a ticket to go down the pub and I'm never that organised.

The beauty of life is that its often uncertain and throw good and bad things your way unexpectedly I hope you can navigate your path next year with ease.

The Girl Who... would like to thank you for reading thus far. Some blogs are either or all of the following witty, informative, moving, intelligent or inspiring. Mine is ... er, ...

..anyway, happy new year!

Have A Cracking Christmas

I give you a cheesy but topical advert from the 1980's. No wonder they went bust in the end, the amount they must have paid the Goodies during this extravaganza.

I'll be back after I've bought some C90 cassettes for only £2.99.

Woolworths "Have a Cracking Christmas" UK TV Advert (1981)

A very merry Christmas to you all, 

Lucy Haylie Tolliday. 

Balancing

Even a few months ago I probably would have hid somewhere or ran away.

It was drizzly evening and I was late. As seems to be the case whenever I attempt to get ready recently other people unwittingly hinder and delay me, that day was no different. I get ready eventually, makeup's a bit rushed and my sister turns up. Outside people were out and about, one double take but alright. Until...

The man in the fake Burberry cap turns up. It wasn’t until we passed each other that I heard him shout a string of expletives aggressively.

Uh oh.

I continued to walk away, picking up a little, not turning back, listening for the sound of footsteps just in case. QUEER, GAY, QUEER was his passing shot as I disappeared off to pass others who indifferent or more tolerating of this tranny in their midst.

I had a comeback ready but decided to take what I decided was the safest course of action. I have had homophobic and a instance of transphobic abuse before, depressing though that statement is. There will always be bigots about but they can’t be allowed to stop me or turn me into a permanent victim.

Writing about this I am aware that I may be dissuading some thinking of coming out but I can’t paint a rosy picture all the time, just be sensible and for me the joys outweigh the pains and knob heads encountered. I am not brave nor do I have high self esteem.

The rest of the night was pleasant enough, it was nice to have an excuse to get out even if my application of blusher wasn’t the best. I can be the quiet on and I apologise to anyone who met a slightly monosyllabic tranny, that was probably me being awkward at social gatherings again. My posture failed me at times and needs more work. The photo was taken on the way home, I forgot to activate the control for dim conditions so I’m a little in the shadows and my photography skills need a little work.

I did take a mirror this time, next time remember some flip-flops to put on if walking home.

No Longer Quiescent

My post frequency has dipped giving anyone who read's this a break from reading about my gender gubbins. Actually I haven't had the time to develop ideas, some of my thoughts have though, run their way to twitter.

A few may have noticed they are a "friend" lighter on Facebook, its because it was increasingly becomeing a ghost profile and if you are member on social sites you probably should be active. I also think it brought out the worst in me as I seriously considered accepting a total stranger I knew nothing about just to add a friend to my tally. Life should not be a popularity contest, though many acted as if it was. Perhaps I'm being too uptight as to the definition of a friend that it has been devalued in the modern world. And what about a delete profile button as well instead of having to fire off emails.

I am planing for next year, some of the things are that I feel my mind is going to mush at the moment need a challenge and mental stimulation above the occaisional sudoku puzzle. Need to push my development to being a female on top of that, grow my esteem and fight my deamon's and dark thoughts.

And above all DON'T EVEN TOUCH A LABEL DEBATE, however well meaning I am.

Currently trying out Pidgin as an alternative to running seperate IM clients, seems to be running fine my messenger login is lucytolliday AT live.co.uk provided you're not a spammer or troll feel free to add.

The Cure

Like economists if you ask 10 transgendered people their opinion of something you will often end up with 11 different views*. All honed independently and often developed by looking at the same source material yet coming up with a different conclusion.

Some are flexible in their ideologies than others like the great John Maynard Keynes said "If the facts change, I change my mind...", others are ridged zealously defending their view.I would like to think I'm the former rather than the latter. Always open to new ideas and adjusting accordingly.

You may be wondering where am I going with this? Personally I have no idea.

However there are issues which everyone seems to agree on. With economists it doesn't matter if you adhere to the Chicago school or are a neo-Keynesian, you agree that free trade is good thing. The extent and implementation is debatable but on the principle it gets your seal of approval.

In the trans grouping the thing which gets similar agreement is that there is no cure. A brief search will turn up lines like, "there is no cure" numerous times. Allowing for the fact that if anyone has been cured then they are no longer in the community, there is the belief that the statement is true. But if true why are there individuals offering hope to vulnerable people like myself. At times I want to believe them.



* I haven't asked any transgendered economists, there must be one as I'm sure not every tranny works in IT (though sometimes it seems so).

Did I disappoint anyone who saw the title and were expecting to read some words on Robert Smith et al?

Woolies

Think I found a collectors item. Sadly a company can't survive on warm fuzzy feelings from the public alone or as it turns out being lumped with a lot of your parent companies debt when demerged.

Catch Up

I finally have an internet connection, even if it is of poor quality, but enough about that. Try to catch up over the next few days sorry if it takes a while got a bit of work related gubbins to clear first as I took a few days off for reasons some may guess at.

L

What Next?

Still here, need a drink.

Transgender Day Of Remembrance

Today, 20th November, is about remembrance of those from the transgender community who are no longer alive and those who are victims of bigotry and mindless hatred while being themselves.

More:
About TDOR at Transgender Day of Remembrance.
San Francisco Sentinel... National Transgender Day of Rembrance (2007) .

Inconsiderate People

I hope you are not eating while reading this.

I had the misfortune to visit a mens toilet, as I really couldn't hold it in any longer. Nearby you could hear the sounds of someone spending more than a penny. As I was washing my hands I heard the cubicle open and the guy walking out. All my hand washing would be undone by opening the door to get out and it doesn't bear thinking what else, the keyboards, chairs and handles we probably both have touched that day. Although a recent study suggests that its people not washing their hands properly there are some who don't wash at all.

One gram of faeces contains, 10,000,000 viruses, 1,000,000 bacteria, 100 parasitic eggs.... Infection causes serious illness like diarrhoea, E.coli and results in the death of many each year especially but not exclusively in the developing world.

A stream of urine seems minor in comparison.
You are not a child. Wash your hands and flush the chain you rude, inconsiderate, dirty man.

Myths and Lies About Article 8 and the Human Rights Act

Long post alert! So long I have split it into two parts. Sorry if I dip into legalese at times, I am also afraid that BDSM is not something I'm too knowledgeable about, so if I've got anything wrong please let me know.

The European Convention Of Human Rights.

"Article 8

1. Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence.

2. There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others."

There has much moaning and groaning among certain sections of the press concerning the judgement by the Honourable Mr Justice Eady in the case of Mosley v News Group Newspapers Ltd. ([2008] EWHC 1777 (QB) (24 July 2008)). More recently by the Daily Mail editor-in-chief Paul Dacre (BBC NEWS | UK | Mail editor accuses Mosley judge).

In the original News Of The World 'exclusive' which in their typical style they called a "Sick Nazi Orgy" images from a concealed camera were published in print and online of Max Mosley head of the governing body of world motorsport taking part in BDSM with five prostitutes.

After independent evaluation of the film by a respected Q.C. no evidence could be found of any Nazi activity.

When it went to the High Court Mosley won his case claiming breach of privacy dismissing the defence that it was in the public interest.

This was the right decision because.

1. He has not displayed hypocrisy by publicly supporting any anti-prostitution or anti-s and m cause.
2. The participants were consenting adults.
3. He is a victim of his parents being prominent fascists, the crimes of the father should not automatically pass to the child.
4. By the nature of the scene he was engaged in privacy and discretion is pretty much inferred and should not require a written agreement. "Woman E" breached that duty of confidence.
   
5. Paying a dominatrix is not illegal.
6. There is no legitimate public interest other than a bit of titillation, his employers probably are entitled to know but the public isn't.
7. The claim it affected him doing his job is laughable other than the fact he probably sits down a little gingerly.
   
8. He's not a public servant (and even then its debatable).
9. He has not made a living out of selling his private life to the media.
10. Adulterous or unconventional or "perverted" behaviour does not automatically give the media permission to intrude.
11. It was not responsible journalism.
12. It was on private property.
    

The losers for invading his privacy had to pay £60,000 a mere drop in the ocean for the Murdoch empire, although with costs it will be a lot more.

The response from the NOTW was predictable claiming it was a restriction on press freedom. This despite the fact that Eady had weighed up the rights (and responsibilities) afforded to press freedom in Article 10 and dismissed them.

The newspaper reporter also behaved wretchedly in effectively blackmailing "woman A" and "woman B" for as Eady put it.

"This would appear to contain a clear threat to the women involved that unless they cooperated with Mr Thurlbeck (albeit in exchange for some money) their identities would be revealed on the following Sunday. He was as good as his word and attached photographs and also some extracts from their websites. This was obviously to bring home to them the scale of the threatened exposé."

"Perhaps to their credit, the two women concerned resisted these blandishments and thus risked the further exposure he had threatened."

While hindering the sort of investigations perpetuated by the NOTW and others. I can see nothing that affects serious journalistic investigation of corruption or crime etc. which the NOTW has also done and broken some great stories.

Which brings me to the claims of the Mail's editor. Firstly it wasn't an amoral selective judgement for the reasons above and that important point he applied the law, he didn't make it. All he wants is carte blanche to condemn individuals in pursuit of the Mail's standards of morality. The laws applying the provisions into law were debated and passed by a democratically elected body, the judgement can be appealed.

The right to privacy included in the Human Rights Act is not too dissimilar to the old common law claim for breach of a duty of confidence. Something I will continue in part two alongside the misconceptions about the ECHR and critique of some media coverage.