h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*s Amy very very carefully*

(Slightly belated low-calorie for Kelli, medicinal for Amy).

B, I noted your corrected e-address, and will be dropping you a line. In fact, I think I'll do it now.

Sorry about the Hypatia.

for Amy as well.

cool

Was it someone's birthday?

* snaffles left over crumbs *

Not much to report apart from a hangover, a one-nil defeat at the football and a £10 win on the lottery.

* wanders off again *

MR dear it's polite to refer to people as the sex that they prefer to be treated as, and as Sandra Bullock obviously prefers to be female, therefore she isn't a man. Whether or not she has a Y chromosome.

Have just got back from a lovely party, with the most bizarre mix of people, inlcuding an actress of Doctors, (a rather bad daytime TV series) and a Ladies Premiership Rugby Player. We all got on splendidly well, apart from when one rugby player punched another in a face causing a nose bleed, and then tried to get the TV doctor to treat it.

It is 3 am and I anm totally blootered, thatnak you for all the gofts and good wishese - havie been tryig to explain to the assorted group of friends what you guys neen to me. Have failed miseralbyb.

Am too pissed to attenmtpt further posting

<cheers
kelli
x

[GDZ]

[MTG home from the bar, but not a drop (of alcohol, redbull and water don't count) to drink]

Z, you make a good point. A very important point, indeed. I would never refer to someone I know personally as a man if she prefered to be a woman, and vice versa.

(But I still maintain that she is either physically still male, or was at one point in her life, and given her social presence as a movie actress, and the current prejudice against transgendered people, it'd be nice if she came out of the closet, as it were.)

Went to a dinner party tonight and throughly stuffed myself. Lovely. And then we played the 90s version of Trivial Pursuit, which the BF and I won. Next month, Italian food and Cranium. I love finally having "adult" friends.

>> one rugby player punched another in a face causing a nose bleed, and then tried to get the TV doctor to treat it.




>> havie been tryig to explain to the assorted group of friends what you guys neen to me. Have failed miseralbyb.



I have the same problem, Kelli - these days I tend not to explain. My other problem is that because of h2g2 the demographic of my circle of friends is so damn wide. I found myself explaining to my landlady the other day, (bearing in mind she is 26 and starts sentences 'I am a prude...'), that the reason I thought the police would know what BDSM is (Bondage Domination Sado-Mascochism) (we were watching a detective show on tv) is that a friend of mine who's into it is a member of the Crown Prosecution Service. I suddenly realised she might find that worrying. Hmmmm.


>> it'd be nice if she came out of the closet, as it were

Er... for any given value of 'nice'.

You know the complete mauling that newspapers and other print media will give celebrities? They slaughtered Julia Roberts for having underarm hair, and they crucified Sarah Fergusson for the size of her bum. It is impossible to tell which way they'll jump. I was delighted when Nadia (a MTF transsexual) won Big Brother this summer - but she showed her vulnerability on screen, (and showered in high heels - which has set a new standard for 'glamorous' across the nation). But she took the most phenomenal risk, and some of the papers were publishing pre-transition photos of the 'real' Nadia. Why should Julia Roberts, or anyone at all, put themsleves through that?

Yes, in a perfect world influential transsexuals would out themselves. But this is not a perfect world, it is a prurient and judgemental one. People will still say "It isn't a man, and it isn't a woman, so it must be an it". (I can actually feel myself getting enraged as I type that). And no-one should be expected to idify themselves like that.

Also, when a transsexual comes out they don't only out themselves, they out their partners. Pre-transition partners who stay partners are often admired for their loyalty, but it is different for post-transition partners, who most definitely come into the category of 'queer'. If I am squeamish about shocking my land-lady with the fact that some of my friends are into BDSM, then you can appreciate that I would pick and choose who I would talk to about that kind of thing to. Prurience is one of the nastiest of things to deal with, combining slaciousness with judgementalism.

So - if Julia Roberts, or the actress who plays the tall one in the Golden Girls, or anyone else, is a transsexual - then so what?

Sorry.

End of rant.

*hangs head in shame*

You should be in bed, anyway, my dear! It is a bright and sunny morning here, so it is way past sleepy time for you.

B

*listens carefully to Ben and nods sagely*

All is well in the ant world again . For the last two days, for reasons too complicated to go into, I have been forced to put up with a houseguest whom I found disagreeable. But she's just driven away (hooray!) and there is now no reason why I should have to see her ever again. I have fulfilled my obligations. End of annoying chapter.

By the way, I can't believe that Sandra Bullock's name can't be real and I am actually slightly affronted that she didn't take the bother to get something a bit more glamerous and movie star like. This is what they are _for_. I don't want my movie stars to be called Joe Smith: I want them to be Cary Grant. Neither Sandra not Bullock quite cuts the mustard.

It's like the royal family having a duty to behave in a certain manner no matter how much they would wish not to every now and again. You takes the cash, you plays the game.

Hell, we all have a duty to behave professionally. I take your point that Sarah Fergusson can be criticised for her behaviour, but I stand by my point that she should not be criticised for having a hour-glass figure.

What is interesting, though, is that no-one should have to put up with sexual harrassment at work, but sexual harrassment (by the press) seems to be par for the course for celebrities if they put a foot wrong.

You do know why I am tetchy, don't you? I should be doing Tax-Things.

B

Ooops - when I inadvertently started this ball rolling I did say I was merely being curious about Bea Arthur's chromosomal origins. And I think I did use the phrase 'not that it matters'.

So I will admit to curiosity, ok a teensy-wee soupcon of prurience, but not to prejudice - there was certainly none intended.
I would have been just as curious about whether a person was orphaned, adopted, emigrated, had a previous career as a clown or had lower-leg lengthening surgery. Yes, none of these things truly 'matter' but they do contributute towards 'who' a person is. And people are endlessly fascinating.

I entirely take Ben's point about the media treatment of those in the public spotlight.
Woohoo for Julia Robert's hairy armpits - it's just a pity lots more of us, famous and otherwise, didn't do the same to show solidarity with her.

And do you know what the strangest thing is? Dorothy was always my most favourite character in that show - yet I had to refer to her as The Tall One because I couldn't remember her name.

*s away to hide until Ben has forgiven me

*hopes Z knows that Teuchter s him and forgives her if she's upset him

*still feeling curious, waits for more details from the nest

for Teuchter.

One of the things I love about the Atlelier is that it is such a safe space. Ironic when we end up on the Busiest Convos list of course! I confess that I had always assumed that the Tall One was born with a Y cromosome too.

Anyway, baths to have, expenses to write up, journeys to make, films to watch, stuff like that.

B

By the way. I have discovered that men either don't notice or don't care about underarm hair. I *hate* stubble, you see.

Of course, it is possible that that they do notice and care but are too polite to comment.

B

Phew only 52 postings this time.

Yup, the London Eye is shiny brilliant and it's hilarious listening to people trying to guess what they are looking at. I could have earnt myself a tidy sum by doing a little tour guide of the sights. Having once lived in east, central and west London for nine years, I still know it pretty well. Everyone who visits London should go on it.

That is the best thing about daily disposables, wearing them for swimming, I wear goggles on top of course, as I love swimming under water and snorkelling, you can't swim properly if your face isn't in the water. They have made swimming so much more enjoyable and to go on holiday and being able to see the below is magical.

Oooh Kelli, I wasn't around to wish you Happy Birthday, please accept my belated congrats and this of calorie and carb free bacon butties (makes a change from doesn't it?) and I hope you had a spiffing day

My dear old Dad is coming to lunch today. Hopefully No2 son and girlie are coming too.