Who and or what inspires you?

[FTMDiaries]

I'm inspired by the following people:

Teachers and thinkers

Carl Sagan - the man who gave me answers when my teachers were frightened of the questions. He was the greatest teacher I never had: he taught me how to think, not what to think. He's the reason why I studied science, as well as the reason why I became an atheist.

George Carlin - one of the greatest comedians of our age. Such a shame he's gone now.

Eleanor Roosevelt - one of the wisest women in history.

Winston Churchill - our greatest leader.

Mohandas Gandhi - peaceful resistance is an extremely powerful force.

Johnny Clegg - the White Zulu. This musician did a great deal to popularise Zulu culture in South Africa. His groups (Juluka / Savuka) helped bridge the gap between our nations.

Eratosthenes - worked out the circumference of the Earth, the tilt of the Earth's axis, and the distance between the Earth and the sun - amongst many other things. He did all this with the most primitive resources way back in 276BC. Despite his achievements, he was known to his friends as being the 'second-best' at everything. I'd love to know who came first!

Trans People

Lando - Seeing him on Maury made me reconsider FtM transition. I'd decided many years ago not to transition because the results didn't seem convincing. But if my transition is even half as good as Lando's I'll be very pleased with the results.

Caroline Cossey - she was the first trans person I'd ever heard of. Reading her story made me realise what was 'wrong' with me. I owe her a lifelong debt of gratitude for helping me understand myself.

KingGutterFace - a controversial choice, but he's clearly been through a lot of hardship in his life and it has built his character. I admire him for surviving and becoming a strong individual.

My friends at Susan's - every single one of us is brave enough to do whatever we need to do to feel comfortable with our gender identities; that's why we're here. I salute you all!

Fictional People

X-Men - I was a huge fan of the X-Men growing up. I always felt like a bit of mutant who was hated & feared by those around me. The X-Men made me think it was OK to be different and that there are other people who go through the same thing. It's just a shame that I can't shoot laser beams out of my eyeballs too.

Star Trek - I love the humanist ethos that is central to the Star Trek mythos. I love the fact that their future is about peaceful exploration and self-improvement whilst being humane to each other. I also love their acceptance of a wide variety of people. Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combination.

[Jenna Stannis]

I'm glad he became a better person but - with respect - the man was no saint. He and his organisation sanctioned some pretty evil things that hurt a lot of innocent people...

The perennial question of whether revolutionary change should come from within (using state political apparatus) or from outside (military force or, as the oppressors call it, "terrorism"). Personally I don't believe that the change required to oust an oppressive government can come from within, as the dice are too heavily loaded in such regimes.

[FTMDiaries]

The perennial question of whether revolutionary change should come from within (using state political apparatus) or from outside (military force or, as the oppressors call it, "terrorism"). Personally I don't believe that the change required to oust an oppressive government can come from within, as the dice are too heavily loaded in such regimes.

In our case, it did come from within. Do you know how Apartheid ended? The South African government took the very brave step of holding a referendum (of predominantly white voters) asking us whether we wanted to end Apartheid by giving the black majority equal rights as full citizens with the right to vote.

Because the black population hugely outnumbers all other races, we knew that this would mean an end to any privilege that had previously been enjoyed by some white South Africans. So we went to the polls... and 75% of us voted to withdraw our privilege. Not because of external forces, or sanctions (which we barely felt), or even because of terrorism... but because South Africans are decent people and it was the right thing to do. I'm very proud that this was how I used my first opportunity to vote.

Bombing innocent people in restaurants just to strike fear into the populace is terrorism, any way you cut it. Our schools were surrounded by barbed wire, and we had to undergo bag checks for explosives every day, because of repeated threats by Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the ANC. That's right: they threatened little children in schools. Who was Umkhonto we Sizwe's first leader? Mandela.

I'm glad he changed.

[Jenna Stannis]

In our case, it did come from within. Do you know how Apartheid ended? The South African government took the very brave step of holding a referendum (of predominantly white voters) asking us whether we wanted to end Apartheid by giving the black majority equal rights as full citizens with the right to vote.

I'm fully aware of what eventually happened. But that didn't happen in a political vacuum. Mandela would never have got to the negotiating table – or received the international recognition that he did – without initial violent opposition. I'm not condoning it; it's just a reality of the world we live in. It's the same with the Israel-Palestine problem and the English-Irish question. Unfortunately, a pointy stick is the only thing that will prod oppressive regimes into considering change.

Who was Umkhonto we Sizwe's first leader? Mandela.

Well, yes, that's the point. Members of the MK were members of the ANC, and the MK were active right up until the dismantling of apartheid.

[Lesley_Roberta]

Eratosthenes, I can never remember that durned man's name

I have also read that in modern parlance, Plato likely was a jerk

I like Star Trek for a variety of things, but, there always seems to be a careful omission of pointing out the 'great future' only happened after WW3 had trashed our civilization.

I'd like to have the Federation if possible, but without the WW3 road to it of course.

I rewatched the first 4 films just the other day actually. They often call the first film the dull one. Me, well nothing quite compares to the power of the opening score when it was used in that film for the first time. I have also heard a lot of people didn't care for the last series called Enterprise. To me, the opening tune alone made me want to watch the series. It was so damned uplifting sounding. I also liked that the show was not so perfect, the uniforms looked like work clothes and not fancy dress regardless of function in the show as they were in Next Generation.

[FTMDiaries]

I rewatched the first 4 films just the other day actually. They often call the first film the dull one. Me, well nothing quite compares to the power of the opening score when it was used in that film for the first time. I have also heard a lot of people didn't care for the last series called Enterprise. To me, the opening tune alone made me want to watch the series. It was so damned uplifting sounding. I also liked that the show was not so perfect, the uniforms looked like work clothes and not fancy dress regardless of function in the show as they were in Next Generation.

The way our politicians like to run things, I fear it is inevitable that we might not achieve global peace until we have either a devastating war or a common threat from outside. The world is becomg unmanageably overpopulated and I fear they're gearing up for a cull.

One of my favourite things about the first Star Trek movie - apart from the wonderful slashy scene between Kirk & Spock about 'this simple feeling' - is that Roddenberry got away with incorporating the original 1978 Gay Pride flag into the cover artwork. If you haven't noticed this yet, look it up.

Enterprise had some good moments, and (like you) I enjoyed the fact that the uniforms seemed to be halfway between NASA and StarFleet. It lended an air of authenticity to it.

[FTMDiaries]

I'm fully aware of what eventually happened. But that didn't happen in a political vacuum. Mandela would never have got to the negotiating table – or received the international recognition that he did – without initial violent opposition. I'm not condoning it; it's just a reality of the world we live in. It's the same with the Israel-Palestine problem and the English-Irish question. Unfortunately, a pointy stick is the only thing that will prod oppressive regimes into considering change.

I'm not convinced that giving in to the demands of violent people is the correct way forward. It may temporarily buy us peace, but at what long-term cost?

Well, yes, that's the point. Members of the MK were members of the ANC, and the MK were active right up until the dismantling of apartheid.

...when they were rewarded for the 'struggle' by being put in positions of authority in the ANC administration. I would argue that that hasn't proven to be the smartest of policies. Maybe they aren't bombing innocent people any more. But are they qualified, capable leaders? History will judge.

[Lesley_Roberta]

A terrorist is really just a person that has been pushed far enough they no longer care how to obtain their goals.

You rarely see people go all the way until they have no other way to go.

Look at the US and it's own independence. You would not be the US of A if you had not decided 'enough is enough' and decided it was going to be independence over someone's dead body(s).

Canada gained freedom probably more so because the British could no longer really force the colonies to be colonies by force any more. We still call a monarch a head of state here, but it means nothing really. She's on our money, and so what.

It has rapidly become likely, that the US has a need to once again have the schmucks rise up and get suitably angry and do something about all of the state and federal level crap that saturates their country. I know this much, Stephen Harper is pushing a lot of buttons lately and making it so the next government likely will be liberal regardless of how much we hate them. Because I have lost count of how many reasons I hate Harper for.

I am not as of yet though, 'inspired' to do anything drastic myself. But, I think I might become a bit 'distracted' if he was being beaten up by someone else, and I walked past it.

Our world sure needs some truly inspiring politicians that's for sure.

[Jenna Stannis]

Violence is an aspect of human nature that I don't think we'll ever transcend. I like to think I'm a pacifist, but I don't believe that pacifist doctrines are effective. I don't believe in capital punishment, but I would kill anyone who tried to kill any of my family. And so on, and so on...

[Jayne]

Star Trek - I love the humanist ethos that is central to the Star Trek mythos. I love the fact that their future is about peaceful exploration and self-improvement whilst being humane to each other. I also love their acceptance of a wide variety of people. Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combination.

Whilst being a huge Babylon 5 fan I would love for the world to become like the Star Trek universe (without the Borg).
I know that one day we will all realise that the only race on the planet is the human race, one day we will be able to devote our energies into bettering the whole species instead of running around like headless chickens, our time & energy being consumed by pointless jobs.

i said to my support worker last week that the petty squabbles on this planet will only be resolved when we find definate proof that there is life out there other than us, unfortunately that unity will probably just be a result of us joining forces to fight what we perceive as a new enemy but I live in hope of a peaceful world where the only thing that truly matters is the soul & not the flesh that holds the soul

[Lesley_Roberta]

I like Elves of the sort made popular by Lord of the Rings and as a result Dungeons and Dragons.

They live WITH the land, not just on it.

We have a few groupings of humanity that likely feel a lot like that. But I know enough history to know our native first peoples of the world are not always perfect. They just didn't get on the industrial band wagon like the old world did.

I have had many a goof ball dream wish in my time. One of my personal favourites is 'the world is covered in 200 year old forest growth everywhere without limit, no open space larger than an acre permitted and very few of those as well, and all buildings larger than a single family home are deleted. Roads are removed and the contour of the land is nowhere flat but rather it is all hilly underneath the canopy. I'd leave the water alone though. It would be nice if humanity had to walk everywhere and it took a LONG time to get anywhere far. It would be nice if our power needs were not focused on running machines to make 'stuff' just for the sake of making stuff.

I don't think I would miss a lot of our technology some days. And I would like having it used a lot more sparingly.

[peky]

Well it is not right of me to scoff at the who inspiration response, it would be a personal foul that I would be called on if I did (I hope).

But I must confess, the what response took me by surprise Sounds a bit paranoid.

There are many "friends," "foes," and "potential foes" who keep a well-funded research enterprise with the sole objective to surpass our technological edge. They actively steal technolgy from us, and most of them have made no bones about their intention towards us.

Ask yourself what technological advances -and there is 3 major ones- allows us to win WWII?

[Jenna Stannis]

Ask yourself what technological advances -and there is 3 major ones- allows us to win WWII?

As the US is the only country to ever use nukes in warfare (and continue to use uranium-based weaponry today. Yes, parts of the middle east and its children are glowing), clearly technological advancement and wisdom are not a package deal.

And no, I don't buy into the argument that the two bombs dropped on Japan saved thousands of lives.

[Lesley_Roberta]

Hehehehe WW2, I know more about WW2 than I do about being a man. This is my backyard, and I would be impressed if anyone here could keep up let alone surpass me in this topic.

WW2 was won for a lot of reasons. The Germans for instance were wiped out in Russia. The British held firm, but most never hear the real truths. The British only survived because of an over reaction. The bombing of London saved England. The airfields were due to collapse when Germany switched to the bombing of London. It never gets more close.

Japan was already defeated. The nukes were for many things. Finishing the battle sooner than later and preventing the Russians any option to be occupational forces. Japan was being squeezed pretty harshly by the blockade. And most are not aware, a firebombing strike was actually more complete than a nuke. Tokyo suffered more from incendiaries than Nagasaki or Hiroshima did from nukes. But a single bomb was a quick and efficient use of aircraft. The thing is, they were unsure of the weapons working. They were unsure of a lot of things. And they didn't have stacks of them available either.

The liberty ship was likely one of the greatest weapons of the war. The cargo truck again, an unsung hero. WW2 was a war of mobility. A tank is only able to drive a limited distance before it needs maintenance. A battleship or a carrier need fuel to operate.

Germany actually managed to go to total war WHILE being regularly bombed. It is good that Hitler was a fool and misused the Jet in 43. It is good that Hitler did NOT give the Ukrainians freedom as they would have loved. Not everyone liked Stalin. But Nazi racism was blind to the opportunities it threw away.

The Island of Malta likely cost the Axis the war.
It kept Rommel out of Cairo and the middle east and linking with Japan and hitting Russia in the south and cutting off lend lease.
One lousy little island.

The US did not 'save our bacon' they were just a member of a team that enjoyed a lot of successes at the most gravest of hours when the enemy dropped the ball and did it badly too.

Stalingrad should never have happened. Hitler was not the genius he thought he was. The 6th army was a veteran formation and not expendable.
Midway was a close thing even with foreknowledge. A handful of dauntless dive bombers won that battle after scores of devastator torpedo bombers committed suicide.

Patton only sat in England the perfect ruse because the jack ass pissed off the folks at home for slapping a soldier for battle fatigue something Patton thought was bull. If he had not gotten sent to the doghouse the Germans would not have been so faked out and Overlord might have been much worse. The Germans thought it was idiotic that Patton might need to answer to mouthy civilians.

That war was won for a lot of reasons you won't see in the movies. It takes a lot of very intense background first.

[peky]

As the US is the only country to ever use nukes in warfare (and continue to use uranium-based weaponry today. Yes, parts of the middle east and its children are glowing), clearly technological advancement and wisdom are not a package deal.

And no, I don't buy into the argument that the two bombs dropped on Japan saved thousands of lives.

That is because they did not save thousand but millions of lives, both Japnese and American. Just the invasion of japan would have cost us 1 million Americans casualties.

As far as the atomic bombs, consider that they caused about ~ 180,000 casualties. The conventional bombing (including fire bombing) of Japan cost over ~ 800,000 deaths. You do not consider this statistic on your overall assessment of the horrors of the war, do you?

More important dear, that war was started by japan invading China (say something about the "rape of Nanking and Shanghai) in the 1930's to which we responded with an embargo, to which the Japaneses responded with peace talks while planing the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the invasion of the Philippines.

Do not forget that America did not start WWI or WWII, and the atrocities perpetrated by the axis (Ethiopia (Mussolini), the holocaust (Nazis), rape of china and the Philippines (Japan), the firebombing of Coventry (Nazis), the bombing of Darwin (Japanese), the march of bataan (Japan), etc..were not perpetrated by Americans...

[peky]

Hehehehe WW2, I know more about WW2 than I do about being a man. This is my backyard, and I would be impressed if anyone here could keep up let alone surpass me in this topic.

WW2 was won for a lot of reasons. The Germans for instance were wiped out in Russia. The British held firm, but most never hear the real truths. The British only survived because of an over reaction. The bombing of London saved England. The airfields were due to collapse when Germany switched to the bombing of London. It never gets more close.

Japan was already defeated. The nukes were for many things. Finishing the battle sooner than later and preventing the Russians any option to be occupational forces. Japan was being squeezed pretty harshly by the blockade. And most are not aware, a firebombing strike was actually more complete than a nuke. Tokyo suffered more from incendiaries than Nagasaki or Hiroshima did from nukes. But a single bomb was a quick and efficient use of aircraft. The thing is, they were unsure of the weapons working. They were unsure of a lot of things. And they didn't have stacks of them available either.

The liberty ship was likely one of the greatest weapons of the war. The cargo truck again, an unsung hero. WW2 was a war of mobility. A tank is only able to drive a limited distance before it needs maintenance. A battleship or a carrier need fuel to operate.

Germany actually managed to go to total war WHILE being regularly bombed. It is good that Hitler was a fool and misused the Jet in 43. It is good that Hitler did NOT give the Ukrainians freedom as they would have loved. Not everyone liked Stalin. But Nazi racism was blind to the opportunities it threw away.

The Island of Malta likely cost the Axis the war.
It kept Rommel out of Cairo and the middle east and linking with Japan and hitting Russia in the south and cutting off lend lease.
One lousy little island.

The US did not 'save our bacon' they were just a member of a team that enjoyed a lot of successes at the most gravest of hours when the enemy dropped the ball and did it badly too.

Stalingrad should never have happened. Hitler was not the genius he thought he was. The 6th army was a veteran formation and not expendable.
Midway was a close thing even with foreknowledge. A handful of dauntless dive bombers won that battle after scores of devastator torpedo bombers committed suicide.

Patton only sat in England the perfect ruse because the jack ass pissed off the folks at home for slapping a soldier for battle fatigue something Patton thought was bull. If he had not gotten sent to the doghouse the Germans would not have been so faked out and Overlord might have been much worse. The Germans thought it was idiotic that Patton might need to answer to mouthy civilians.

That war was won for a lot of reasons you won't see in the movies. It takes a lot of very intense background first.

I am not impressed at all...no in depth knowledge at all...more important...you did not answer my questions

[Lesley_Roberta]

I admit, I did not answer the question.

Granted, I was not trying to impress either. As for indepth teaching, maybe after we discuss payment terms

Three advances.

The ASSEMBLY LINE. Good luck with out it. But everyone was using it so it can't be claimed by a single nation in WW2.

The COMBUSTION ENGINE was made dominant. It made tanks effective, it made planes effective. And of course it powered transport.

The radio and radar (sort of a similar technology). I made it possible to detect ships, planes, and listen in on communications, to enable resistance, and coordinate troops.

By the time the first nuke was detonated, the war had been already resolved. And again, like I said, the war was rushed by the nuke to a conclusion. The allies could have sat back and staved Japan if it had desired it. They were a defeated people. You want to be careful what coffee table history you believe in though. Not only could the US not afford a million deaths to attack Japan, they simply didn't have the cash to pursue the war either.

[peky]

I admit, I did not answer the question.

Granted, I was not trying to impress either. As for indepth teaching, maybe after we discuss payment terms

Three advances.

The ASSEMBLY LINE. Good luck with out it. But everyone was using it so it can't be claimed by a single nation in WW2.

The COMBUSTION ENGINE was made dominant. It made tanks effective, it made planes effective. And of course it powered transport.

The radio and radar (sort of a similar technology). I made it possible to detect ships, planes, and listen in on communications, to enable resistance, and coordinate troops.

By the time the first nuke was detonated, the war had been already resolved. And again, like I said, the war was rushed by the nuke to a conclusion. The allies could have sat back and staved Japan if it had desired it. They were a defeated people. You want to be careful what coffee table history you believe in though. Not only could the US not afford a million deaths to attack Japan, they simply didn't have the cash to pursue the war either.

Close but no cigar: 1 out of 3 + D


1) Radar (invented by the Brits, perfected by us gringas,
2) sonar, invented by Canadians and french, perfected by us gringas, specifically by US Navy scientist who invented terfenol ( a super piezo electric, key for real-time sonar applications)
3) high altitude bombing sight, invented and perfected by us gringas

1) The radar was the key technological determinant that allow Britain to win the "Battle of Britain" thus negating Hitler the possibility of invading England,

2) The sonar (the American one) allows to sink Japanese and Nazi submarines.

3) The Norden bomb sight, after the illustrious Navy Scientist Carl Norden allowing High altitude precision bombing. was in use until the 70's


Seems to me that you ow me some monies for the lesson dear Lesley Roberta....I take credit cards and other forms of payments...LOL

[Jenna Stannis]

American historical myopia rears its ugly head yet again. It's a shame that such a culturally rich and diverse country is tainted by so many reactionary screwheads.

[Lesley_Roberta]

Don't take it personal Peky, but you won't be teaching me history any time soon with that resume.

"Ask yourself what technological advances -and there is 3 major ones- allows us to win WWII?"

Your own answers

1) The radar was the key technological determinant that allow Britain to win the "Battle of Britain" thus negating Hitler the possibility of invading England.

Ah that is a big fat no. Radar made a big difference, and yet, if the Germans had just kept hitting the airbases, your radar answer would not have done a damned thing in the final analysis. It didn't save Britain at all. Stupidity from fat boy and his cpl buddy saved Britain.

2) The sonar (the American one) allows to sink Japanese and Nazi submarines.

Ahh sonar is sonar, including the American usage. It didn't come in flavours. And you might want to read up on that a bit more. You seem to be forgetting the guys in the planes here. Sonar didn't singularly drive off the wolf packs. And the Japanese submarine force didn't operate the same way as the Germans. You did know that correct?

3) The Norden bomb sight, after the illustrious Navy Scientist Carl Norden allowing High altitude precision bombing. was in use until the 70's

As I already commented on and you have not managed to refute by the way, the Germans were able to conduct total war UNDER allied bombing, including those using the Norden bombsight by the way. You know what made those bombers dangerous, Escort fighters made those bombers dangerous. Because the norden bomb sight didn't stop bullets very well.

Dear I won't be teaching you any, until you make it through remedial history.
And try not to teach granny how to suck eggs while you are at it