British Comedy

Its fair to say there's a sad terf'y steak running through British comedy at the moment not just lazy hack writers using a deliberately masculine crossdresser to get a cheap laugh although that's bad enough (excusing the fine subversive gender queer pantomime tradition). From a co-writer of a sitcom you really liked to other male self appointed defenders of women and those bravely making other jokes that punch down to other marginalised groups like the poor and sex workers.

It matches the widespread anti trans media from all wings, possibly that's what is acceptable today that will be unacceptable, one can only hope.

Old Jokes

There is the problem with a lot of old pieces of entertainment. Culture moves on not just songs written in the immediate post war period but in my lifetime. There are many things I enjoyed that are not repeatable. Gay panic jokes while admittedly still a thing were much more prevalent and racial jokes generally mocking Asians though one bigoted comedian was still doing his Chalky character on prime time TV. Who knows what will be unacceptable that was accepted today?

Baby Its Cold Outside

The staple of many a festive playlist Baby It's Cold Outside is no longer such a staple, with some banning it. Having re-listened to the song, I think the most generous thing to say about it is that it's problematic, displaying attitudes that were common at the time but are no longer acceptable. Less generously it's downright rapey, where she says no many, many times and he's still trying to have his way with her.

Brussel Sprouts Flavoured

I tried the Brussel Sprouts flavoured crisps today.

I can confirm that, as you'd expect, they were vile.

Fighting Nazis on Many Planets

Based on past experience I was expecting the faceless trolls to pile into the current series of Doctor Who and newspapers to cull these unrepresentative tweets as evidence of a backlash, given ratings are up, many collum inches written and there is actual evidence that new fans of the show have been created the BBC will be hoping for many more of those kinds of backlashes. 

Those talking about the Darleks conveniently forget they weren't exactly subtlety coded as space nazis who frequently preached racial superiority and purity, I can also point out attacks on Thatcherism or just Robert Holmes essentially moaning about having to pay tax.

Is Die Hard A Christmas Film?

Been pondering  that not-so age old debate about whether the film Die Hard can be counted as a Christmas film. In the end its a subjective judgement, much like compiling a list of companions from Doctor Who, there's a definite yes pile, and then there's a few up for debate does Kamelion count? Or Adam from the post 2005 series'? In the end its just a bit of fun, much like Alan Rickman's performance.

Btw it is a Christmas film.

Binders

So the Mail on Sunday, following on from their expose of food banks a few years ago which gave the shocking revelation that they were willing to help someone who said they were in need. Comes their wont-somebody-think-of-the-children comes the story of a organisation helping young trans men access safe but not cheap binders. The alternative being trans teens resorting to methods that are potentially dangerous and among the many things this blog supports is that if you're binding do it well, and take care of yourself.

Eating at Desk

One thing I've noticed after having many office based jobs is that the smellier your lunch is the more likely it is that you're going to inflict your weird onion and garlic fishy diet on everyone around you by eating it at your desk. Which is certainly near the air conditioning / heating unit which amplifies the smell further and makes those not next to you smell it and hate you as well. All the while you go into some strange state of oblivion to everyone glaring daggers at you and start thinking of a egg, very mature cheese and extra onion mix to bring in tomorrow.

Monday

It's only Monday and I'm shattered already, politely opted out of the work secret Santa and treated myself to a dress partly using the savings from not buying someone a gift they probably wont like and buying something I definitely will. 

Mummified Hands

Being around with a free period to spare I took a look at the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery in what is a converted house with a little extension for the art displays. Being a converted house there are lots of little rooms and narrow stairs to navigate and explore while enjoyable, the whole collection is crying out for a more modern and accessible space, which hopefully they will get one day.

Blogmas 2019

I've hired Shakin' Stevens (ably assisted by his elf) in his chart topping era pomp to say merry blogmas everyone!

Its Christmas month, a time of traditions none more than my miscellaneous series of short blog posts leading up to the 25th.

Reworkings in minor key are not allowed.

Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone (Official Video)

Transgender Day of Remembrance 2018

On November 20th we remember them.

Another year, another grim list of those trans+ people whose lives were lost because of anti transgender hatrid and violence. One such person was Naomi Hersi who died after being found with knife wounds, of the few reports several misgendered her and/or tied it into their agenda over knife violence in London and coded comments on race ignoring the specific issues which contributed to her death. There's many places around the world where it is unsafe to be openly trans, more closer to home the current coverage from the UK media of misinformation and moral panics from the 80s Section 28 play book can only make things potentially riskier and encourage those already emboldened in their hatrid over the last few years to take it out on a trans/ nb + individual.

If only that powerful trans cabal the media talks about actually exists.

After The Shitshow

So after the shitshow of the GRA reform consultation, the relentlessness of which was way too triggering for many. Still it enabled us to see many in their true colours and be grateful for the support of allies who came out in support. You can probably work out my responses were on favour of a non beuroctatic (I'm trying to avoid the loaded and slightly misleading term, ' self declaration '), that it poses no threats to women's rights and the Equality Act and to more recognition in law for non binary people.

I'd like to say you can rest but with other attacks like trans erasure happening you sadly can't.

Students Starter Kit

As term starts and students start accruing debts they will spend the rest of their working lives trying to pay off Waitrose were being roundly mocked for putting out a very Waitrose type student starter kit containing such ingredients as Rose Harissa paste and after spending over a tenner you've nothing actually to eat. My own starter kit included a big bag of dry pasta, jar of coffee, pepper, tins of spaghetti and tomatoes, cheese and some frozen vegetables. That along with jacket potatoes (something so simple even I couldn't mess it up) along with far too many takeaways and Guinness' formed a large part of my student diet.

But apart from the diet or lack of, it is a great time to find yourself and come out, (like spending your bouillon money on a pair of tights) if that's what you want to do and please don't isolate yourself there are many great support network's and councillors, on and off campus.

Finally one essential piece of advice it is to not buy value bin bags, they will disintegrate as soon as you take it out the bin, let alone to the door and you really don't want to clear up what your flatmate put in the bin a few days ago believe me. Love your blogging mum.

Curly Hair Problems

..and more of my curly hair problems. Sadly living in an intemperate climate moisture of some kind will land on your head turning wiggly squiggly and not in the direction you prefer.




My top tips for those with curly hair are as follows;

1. Shampoo and condition.
2. Buy a good anti frizz cream.
3. Find a hairdresser whose done a lot of curly heads, preferably specialises.
4. Move to a dry climate.

Or spend several hours with your hair straighteners and cover your hair with a plastic bag.