Leith at Being T lets us know that ABC has posted online updates of the three small children featured on 20/20 last summer. Riley, Jazz and Jeremy are all living in the gender that matches their minds and each has amazing parental support. I've watched that episode several times and I just feel in love with little Riley. She's so awesome and so amazing but I just see so many problems for her, none of which are her doing. Anyways, check out the update here. Finally, 20/20 has a short video of adults talking about what it was like to be a kid and know you were transgender.
To see this kind of support from families is just so heart warming and makes me feel good about others having the same experience. I have no idea how my parents would have reacted had I come out to them as a child, but I like to hope that it would have been the same way. Granted, it was a different time then, but my parents are awesome people and I think they would have done the right thing. As far as my earliest memories, well, that's a hard one. I can't exactly pinpoint an age or time when I began to know that I was really a girl but it was pretty young. The thing is, I just didn't know how to express it or come to grips with it. I assumed that I was the only person who felt this way and as a result, I did everything I could to repress those thoughts and feelings.
Sometimes I wish that I too could have come out at such an early age and begun transitioning young, but the truth is, I just wasn't ready. Transition is one of those things that can only happen when you are ready for it to happen. I wasn't ready till my mid 30's. I suppose I wasn't emotionally ready to do it but more importantly, I don't think I was stable enough to transition. It happens differently for all of us and there is no wrong way or wrong time to transition, only your time to transition.
Among Women
Of a staff of about 55, only 3 are men. This time, I'm not one of them and it feels great. Friday was my first day back to work and to say that I was nervous would be an understatement. Starting at a new school is always tough but due to the surrounding circumstances, it was especially hard for me. I needn't worry as it went great, I had a wonderful time and even got to go out for drinks after work. Everyone was wonderful in so many ways and they made me feel so at home. To the group of women I went for drinks with, all treated me just like one of the girls. Tomorrow is day two and the last without kids. It's be a busy one but I'm looking forward to it. Tuesday, now that's a whole different story.
Off To Work I Go
Where the hell did my summer vacation go? I swear, it seems like the last day of school was just yesterday and now it's time to start a whole new school year. While kids won't report till Tuesday, all teachers and staff must report to work in the morning, the first of 187 days. I know I shouldn't complain, most people would just kill to have 16 weeks of vacation a year, but after 11 weeks of sleeping in and doing what I want, it's kind of hard to face the fact that tomorrow morning I will awake not on my own but with the aid of the alarm clock.
Elites
The Washington Press Corps, doing it's best to help John McBush win the presidency, likes to spout off about how those of us on the left are a bunch of latte drinking, New York Times reading, caviar eating uppity elites who have no connection to the average Joe. (Think of Al Gore and his working for environmental issues while living in a big house or John Edwards and his work on behalf of working Americans and the fact that he is a multi-millionaire) It's not true of course. I don't drink lattes, I don't read the Times and I sure don't eat caviar but the thing is, I can speak in complete sentences, I am well read and I believe in causes that are just and fair. If they want to call us elites, so be it, but when it comes right down to it, most Americans care about the things I care about.
And when did it become crass to want to elect a well spoken and very intelligent person to the highest office in the land? Have the past 7 years of Dubya not proven that putting dim witted men in charge is a bad idea? Barack Obama might not be the perfect candidate and perfect person, but I have no doubt that he won't start a bunch of unnecessary wars, he won't make the rest of the world hate us and he won't put the interest of corporate America ahead of the interest of Average America. So go ahead, call me an elite if you want, I can take it. As the picture below shows, being an "elite" might not be a bad thing. It's time to put adults back in charge.
And when did it become crass to want to elect a well spoken and very intelligent person to the highest office in the land? Have the past 7 years of Dubya not proven that putting dim witted men in charge is a bad idea? Barack Obama might not be the perfect candidate and perfect person, but I have no doubt that he won't start a bunch of unnecessary wars, he won't make the rest of the world hate us and he won't put the interest of corporate America ahead of the interest of Average America. So go ahead, call me an elite if you want, I can take it. As the picture below shows, being an "elite" might not be a bad thing. It's time to put adults back in charge.
McCain Loves Him Some T&A and Other Campaign Hilarity
Senile Presidential candidate John McBush made his way to Sturgis, South Dakota today for the annual bikerfest. While there, he suggested that his wife should enter the "Ms. Buffalo Chip" beauty pageant.
Problem is, the pageant is a bit on the racy side. Well, actually a lot on the racy side:
To add insult to injury, McBush rambles on about God knows what and makes a further ass of himself. The man is seriously losing his mind and makes Regan in his second term look awake.:
Meanwhile, Barack Obama goes on the attack and calls out Conservatives for what they are: "Ignorant":
Problem is, the pageant is a bit on the racy side. Well, actually a lot on the racy side:
To add insult to injury, McBush rambles on about God knows what and makes a further ass of himself. The man is seriously losing his mind and makes Regan in his second term look awake.:
Meanwhile, Barack Obama goes on the attack and calls out Conservatives for what they are: "Ignorant":
Collapse
Yesterday, I was at Mall St. Matthews, a very upscale mall in Louisville, and was surprised by how empty it was. With school starting back next week, I fully expected some pretty big crowds. Now it wasn't exactly empty, the parking lot was about three fourths full, but for a hot weekend day a week before school, it should have been mobbed. Anyways, it appears that the scene in Louisville is being played out all across the country. As the economy sinks into a recession, one that I think will never end, major American retailers are closing shop. Here's just the latest news:
Ann Taylor closing 117 stores nationwide. (Not here in Louisville)
Eddie Bauer to close more stores after closing 27 stores in the first quarter. (Two Louisville stores have closed)
Cache, a women’s retailer is closing 20 to 23 stores this year.
Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Catherines closing 150 stores nationwide
Talbots, J. Jill closing stores. Talbots will close all 78 of its kids and men's stores plus another 22 underperforming stores. The 22 stores will be a mix of Talbots women's and J. Jill.
Gap Inc. closing 85 stores
Foot Locker to close 140 stores
Wickes Furniture is going out of business and closing all of its stores. The 37-year-old retailer that targets middle-income customers, filed for bankruptcy protection last month.
Levitz - the furniture retailer, announced it was going out of business and closing all 76 of its stores in December. The retailer dates back to 1910.
Zales, Piercing Pagoda plans to close 82 stores by July 31 followed by closing another 23 underperforming stores.
Disney Store owner has the right to close 98 stores.
Home Depot store closings 15 of them amid a slumping US economy and housing market. The move will affect 1,300 employees. It is the first time the world's largest home improvement store chain has ever closed a flagship store.
CompUSA (CLOSED).
Macy's - 9 stores closed (None here in Louisville)
Movie Gallery – video rental company plans to close 400 of 3,500 Movie Gallery
and Hollywood Video stores in addition to the 520 locations the video rental (All Hollywood Videos are now gone from my market)
chain closed last fall as part of bankruptcy.
Pacific Sunwear - 153 Demo stores closing
Pep Boys - 33 stores of auto parts supplier closing
Sprint Nextel - 125 retail locations to close with 4,000 employees following 5,000 layoffs last year.
J. C. Penney, Lowe's and Office Depot are all scaling back (Not here)
Ethan Allen Interiors: plans to close 12 of 300 stores to cut costs.
Wilsons the Leather Experts – closing 158 stores
Bombay Company: to close all 384 U.S.-based Bombay Company stores.
KB Toys closing 356 stores around the United States as part of its bankruptcy reorganization.
Dillard's Inc. will close another six stores this year.
Ann Taylor closing 117 stores nationwide. (Not here in Louisville)
Eddie Bauer to close more stores after closing 27 stores in the first quarter. (Two Louisville stores have closed)
Cache, a women’s retailer is closing 20 to 23 stores this year.
Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Catherines closing 150 stores nationwide
Talbots, J. Jill closing stores. Talbots will close all 78 of its kids and men's stores plus another 22 underperforming stores. The 22 stores will be a mix of Talbots women's and J. Jill.
Gap Inc. closing 85 stores
Foot Locker to close 140 stores
Wickes Furniture is going out of business and closing all of its stores. The 37-year-old retailer that targets middle-income customers, filed for bankruptcy protection last month.
Levitz - the furniture retailer, announced it was going out of business and closing all 76 of its stores in December. The retailer dates back to 1910.
Zales, Piercing Pagoda plans to close 82 stores by July 31 followed by closing another 23 underperforming stores.
Disney Store owner has the right to close 98 stores.
Home Depot store closings 15 of them amid a slumping US economy and housing market. The move will affect 1,300 employees. It is the first time the world's largest home improvement store chain has ever closed a flagship store.
CompUSA (CLOSED).
Macy's - 9 stores closed (None here in Louisville)
Movie Gallery – video rental company plans to close 400 of 3,500 Movie Gallery
and Hollywood Video stores in addition to the 520 locations the video rental (All Hollywood Videos are now gone from my market)
chain closed last fall as part of bankruptcy.
Pacific Sunwear - 153 Demo stores closing
Pep Boys - 33 stores of auto parts supplier closing
Sprint Nextel - 125 retail locations to close with 4,000 employees following 5,000 layoffs last year.
J. C. Penney, Lowe's and Office Depot are all scaling back (Not here)
Ethan Allen Interiors: plans to close 12 of 300 stores to cut costs.
Wilsons the Leather Experts – closing 158 stores
Bombay Company: to close all 384 U.S.-based Bombay Company stores.
KB Toys closing 356 stores around the United States as part of its bankruptcy reorganization.
Dillard's Inc. will close another six stores this year.
In My Prayers
I just feel like someone knocked the wind out of me. My friend Sallie emailed me to let me know that my former principal was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and will be having surgery on Wednesday. She's an awesome person and I love her to death and I'll be praying for her in a big kind of way. If that's your sort of thing, say a prayer for her if you can. If not, just think good thoughts.
This Is So Fucked Up
I never could find this on CNN but it's the big story in Canada today. An Edmonton man stabbed and decapitated the man sitting next to him on a Greyhound Bus in Manitoba. As the horrified passengers fled the bus, the attacker stabbed his seat mate 60 times and then cut his head off. He then taunted the driver, passengers and police by carrying around the head and sticking it out the window. The only thing I can say is that I'm surprised it was in Canada and not America.
Internet Search Gone Awry
It started innocently enough. As I was drifting off to bed last night, I remembered something from my recent trip to Chicago. I was curious as to who the Dan Ryan was in the Dan Ryan Expressway. This of course led me to wikipedia this morning which led me to Dan Ryan which led me to Robert Taylor Housing Projects which led to Carbini-Green Housing Projects which led me back to Dan Ryan which then led to Edens Expressway which led to the Purple Line of the CTA which led to Metra which led to this...
Now to figure out how a page on Metra led me to that you need to read the page on Metra, specifically this little part...At around 5:53 p.m. on August 26, 1991, Mary T. Wojtyla, 41, of Chicago, was walking with her lawyer across the tracks at the Fairview Avenue grade crossing in Downers Grove, directly in front of a westbound train which was stopped at the Metra station. Apparently distracted by ongoing divorce proceedings, she crossed the center track and was struck by a westbound Burlington Northern EMD E9 pulling a "Racetrack" express train, estimated to be traveling at 60 miles per hour. Wojtyla was killed instantly; her lawyer saw the oncoming train and was not struck.[7] The accident delayed between 12,000 and 15,000 commuters on the Burlington Northern line for more than an hour.[8] Trains were further delayed when Downers Grove police ordered the engineer to back up the train in order to re-enact the incident. According to an account in the Downers Grove Reporter, "the engineer was so seriously affected by the re-enactment, where he had to pass by the dead body still on the tracks, he was unable to continue and had to be relieved of his duties."[9] A railfan captured Wojtyla being stuck by the train.[10] The video, dubbed "Traingirl", has been shown with the impact edited out at many Operation Lifesaver events, and unedited on shock site web sites and YouTube. A wrongful death lawsuit brought by Wojtyla's estate was dismissed in 1996.
Now to figure out how a page on Metra led me to that you need to read the page on Metra, specifically this little part...At around 5:53 p.m. on August 26, 1991, Mary T. Wojtyla, 41, of Chicago, was walking with her lawyer across the tracks at the Fairview Avenue grade crossing in Downers Grove, directly in front of a westbound train which was stopped at the Metra station. Apparently distracted by ongoing divorce proceedings, she crossed the center track and was struck by a westbound Burlington Northern EMD E9 pulling a "Racetrack" express train, estimated to be traveling at 60 miles per hour. Wojtyla was killed instantly; her lawyer saw the oncoming train and was not struck.[7] The accident delayed between 12,000 and 15,000 commuters on the Burlington Northern line for more than an hour.[8] Trains were further delayed when Downers Grove police ordered the engineer to back up the train in order to re-enact the incident. According to an account in the Downers Grove Reporter, "the engineer was so seriously affected by the re-enactment, where he had to pass by the dead body still on the tracks, he was unable to continue and had to be relieved of his duties."[9] A railfan captured Wojtyla being stuck by the train.[10] The video, dubbed "Traingirl", has been shown with the impact edited out at many Operation Lifesaver events, and unedited on shock site web sites and YouTube. A wrongful death lawsuit brought by Wojtyla's estate was dismissed in 1996.
Internet Service in America Sucks
Americans like to think that we live in one of the most technologically advanced nations. This isn't true of course and nowhere is it more evident than in internet service. John at Americablog has a great post about the comparison of internet speeds between the US and Europe. It's sad really how pathetically slow and expensive our service is as compared to other countries. One of the contributers to that blog lives in Paris and his download speed is 15964 kbps and his upload speeds are 8048 kbps. I just tested my internet connection speeds and they come in at a shameful 7456 kbps for download and 952 kbps upload.
As if that weren't bad enough, Chris has service that includes high speech Internet, telephone service (which includes free calls to Europe and the US), and digital cable TV all for 49 euros a month (about 75 bucks, and that's at our lousy exchange rate). Just for internet, I'm paying $45 a month and that gets me no TV and no phone. This is just another example of how American consumers get screwed by Republicans and their cronies in big business. Go here to test your internet speed.
As if that weren't bad enough, Chris has service that includes high speech Internet, telephone service (which includes free calls to Europe and the US), and digital cable TV all for 49 euros a month (about 75 bucks, and that's at our lousy exchange rate). Just for internet, I'm paying $45 a month and that gets me no TV and no phone. This is just another example of how American consumers get screwed by Republicans and their cronies in big business. Go here to test your internet speed.
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