Comments on: Spring in 2’22″

By: ksbel6

ksbel6 — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:38:14 +0000

@Ginjoint: No problem, no big deal. It also hit me while I was typing, that might explain my success with the straight ladies. Why I never thought about that before escapes me!! I would rather chalk it up to my patient nature

By: Ginjoint

Ginjoint — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:20:31 +0000

@ ksbel: *forehead slap* Sheesh. I totally forgot you’re trans. I’m sorry, ksbel, I didn’t mean to make you bring up something personal here. I thought it was just some interesting youthful indiscretion that led to you being placed on some “no-fly” (is that what they call it?) list, and I was looking forward to a fun story. Again, apologies.

By: ksbel6

ksbel6 — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:44:30 +0000

@hoh: Yep…and for me the risk isn’t worth the reward. I would rather drive for two days than bother with the stress.

By: hairball_of_hope

hairball_of_hope — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:07:03 +0000

@ksbel6

And then there’s the little problem of showing a “government-issued ID,” which may list a gender identification and first name that don’t match other documents and/or the screener’s perception of the traveler’s gender identity.

It doesn’t take much to fluster the screeners. I have a straight, twice-married, twice-divorced female friend who has a wallet full of cards and documents with so many permutations of her last name(s), she has to look at each card before signing to make sure she’s signing with the correct signature. And depending on which name is on her airline ticket, they may or may not like her driver’s license as gov’t-issued ID.

A coworker who was born in Hong Kong has both a Chinese and an English first name. Some of her HK documents use one name, some use another. I forget which name is on her US naturalization papers, her Chinese name is used as her middle name on her driver’s license, but some other documents have only her Chinese name, not her English name. This also throws TSA for a loop, and you can add in some anti-Asian racism in the mix, which doesn’t help. I’d wager if she were from a Middle East Arab country, they wouldn’t let her on the plane at all.

By: ksbel6

ksbel6 — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:58:28 +0000

@Ginjoint: I’m trans, but don’t plan on changing anything for quite some time. I would explain, but it would take years, and is too personal for such a public forum. Anyway, I am often mistaken for male and because of that, the idea that something I have on my possession would trigger any type of search scares the crap out of me. Once they decide you are a threat, they can keep you as long as they like without any notification to anyone. The idea of me not having the option to just walk away scares me. When you live like I do, in a situation where the average person expects you to be one thing, but then you turn out to be another, you realize just how much the average person does not like surprises!! And, since I believe the average person in charge of airport security to not be the most tolerant individual (I’m sorry, I’m stereotyping), I avoid them like the plague.
I’m still pulling for something to happen with the crush

By: Therry and ST. Jerome

Therry and ST. Jerome — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:06:11 +0000

@NLC — a lovely list of spring music, but you left out my favorite piece, one my husband plays every spring, and alas, rarely heard because it’s a bloody impossible score:

Britten’s Spring Symphony!

It’s bliss, set to a cacophony of spring poetry. It only requires four of the best voices in the world to sing, not to mention the boys’ chorus, but there’s a gorgeous recording available with a quartet of brilliant English singers. You can dowload it, or buy it on Amazon or at Arkivmusic.com. John Eliot Gardner recorded it, also ANdre Previn, both favorite conductors.

By: MaryE

MaryE — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:03:05 +0000

that ad is real, and has been airing on local channels here in Iowa for a while… I live in Iowa City so most of the people I know just laugh, but I can only hope that the rest of the state doesn’t take it more seriously :/

By: Ready2Agitate

Ready2Agitate — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 03:25:58 +0000

H_o_Hope, My ma is fond of Haikus. So I sent her yours. This was her reply to me:

Thanks for the Haiku
Well written and fun to read
Time for chametz now

Don’t get me started on Oprah-I’m-so-fat-what’s-wrong-with-me. Can’t say I’ve read much but I’ve heard enough here N there to feel kinda annoyed with her (sorry j.b.t. – my good buddy reads her religiously!)

There’s wildly uncreative conservatives out there. And I am afraid….

By: Ginjoint

Ginjoint — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 02:31:01 +0000

j.b.t.: I can’t read that magazine for the simple reason that Oprah features Herself on every friggin’ cover. Why can’t she feature some of the amazing (non-famous) folks that have crossed her path, many of whom she’s had on her show, or at least herself with those people?

By: Ginjoint

Ginjoint — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 02:24:39 +0000

Re: that anti-marriage ad: “There’s a storm gathering. The clouds are dark, and the winds are strong. And I am afraid.”

{clapping my hands in glee} Oh, I am so totally going to start uttering these words during every possible situation in life! What an awesome catchphrase. (Catch…sentences?) I especially love the flashlight-under-the-chin tone in which it’s said.

Ksbel: Spent the day with the crush last week, which was wonderful, but don’t look for anything to happen. And why are you so afraid of security?