The door when told to open quietly says loudly was that quiet enough for you, I have read the books and seen the TV shows.

Hi Everyone

One last word on the HHGTTG.

"So long and thanks for all the fish,"

Is the message left by the dolphins when they departed planet Earth just before it was demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass.

Love and Hugs
Sarah B
Official Greeter

Quote from: Sarah B on August 17, 2024, 07:21:52 PMHi Everyone

One last word on the HHGTTG.

"So long and thanks for all the fish,"

Is the message left by the dolphins when they departed planet Earth just before it was demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass.

Love and Hugs
Sarah B
Official Greeter

One of my favorites:

The Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is an alcoholic beverage invented by the ex-President of the Galaxy Zaphod Beeblebrox, considered by the Guide to be the "Best Drink in Existence." Its effects are similar to "having your brains smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped around a large gold brick."

Beeblebrox advised that you should "never drink more than two Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters unless you are a thirty-ton mega elephant with bronchial pneumonia."

Hi Everyone

Zaphod Beeblebrox's famous pan galactic gargle blaster, yeah one cannot, not order one at the 'Restaurant at the End of the Universe".

Memories.

Love and Hugs
Sarah B
Official Greeter

I've got my towel! 
I'm ready for anything the universe dishes me.  

Quote from: Gina P on August 18, 2024, 10:50:42 AMI've got my towel!
I'm ready for anything the universe dishes me. 

That and a hitchhiking thumb are all you need!

A satisfied customer sent this pic. It goes well with her other jewelry.



It is a yellow quartz, but not dark enough to be considered a Citrine gem.
She loves it, so I am happy.

@Lori Dee
Dear Lori:
Nicely done !!!!
Thank you for sharing and posting.
HUGS, Danielle

My thoughts this morning as my brain is still absorbing caffeine and trying to wake up.

In the news lately, are various policies and regulations by government agencies, school districts, and even churches that continue to address things they know nothing about.

The State of Missouri has changed its policy to change the gender marker on driver's licenses and state IDs. "Customers are required to provide either medical documentation that they have undergone gender reassignment surgery... "

Gender cannot be "reassigned", by surgery or any other means. The surgery is A treatment for Gender Dysphoria, but not the only treatment. Many people can live their lives without surgery, and may not want, or be able to have surgery for medical/financial reasons. Their gender remains the same with or without surgery.

Many of the new anti-LGBTQ laws being proposed and passed refer to "gender assigned at birth". Gender is not assigned at birth. Gender is not assigned, it is an inherent part of our personality. Some use the phrase "sex assigned at birth". If you are not required to present a birth certificate, how can they possibly know?

Usually, the purpose of the birth certificate is to establish citizenship, not gender or sex. Children may need it to enroll in school, adults may need it for things like passports and driver's licenses. Very often, they are used to prove identity. The problem is that birth certificates are not photo IDs, so anyone can request a copy and claim it is theirs. That is how identity theft happens.

To help combat this problem, The U.S. Government (Homeland Security) came up with the REAL-ID program. Driver's licenses and state IDs that have a gold star on the front are REAL-ID compliant. What does this mean? It means that sufficient documentation has been presented (birth certificate, social security number, etc.) to positively identify who you are.

On May 7, 2025, U.S. travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities. Homeland Security - REAL ID

In 2022, I received a letter from my Endocrinologist stating that I had "appropriate clinical treatment for transition to the gender of female". I used that document as "evidence" submitted to the  Circuit Court for a Legal Name Change. With the letter and the court order, I was able to change my name and gender on my driver's license (which has the REAL-ID gold star).

As this is now a federally accepted PHOTO ID, I use that (with my legal documents) to change things like my Social Security card, VA Disabled Veterans PHOTO ID, etc.

My point is that, two years later, my birth certificate is irrelevant. My State driver's license is a photo ID that is REAL-ID compliant, and my VA photo ID is issued by a federal agency. There is no longer any reason to have a copy of my birth certificate.

Interrogator: "What sex were you assigned at birth?"

Me: "I don't know. It was so long ago, and I was very young back then."

Interrogator: "What does it say on your birth certificate?"

Me: "I don't have a copy of my birth certificate, do you?"

Interrogator: "We need to verify that you are who you say you are."

Me: < presents two federally recognized photo IDs >

You are not required to reveal ANY part of your medical history to anyone. Law enforcement agencies can gain access to your records through a subpoena or court order, but YOU are not required to reveal anything. Since my letter of gender change came from my endocrinologist, that is part of my medical history and is protected under HIPAA.

The Privacy Rule protects all "individually identifiable health information" held or transmitted by a covered entity or its business associate, in any form or media, whether electronic, paper, or oral. HIPAA Privacy Rule

You are not required to reveal that you changed your name. If someone feels they need to know, they can go through the court records to find out. You are not required to reveal it.

So getting back to these discriminatory laws, they can affect children who do not have court orders, name changes, or driver's licenses. But it is different for adults.

If you live in Missouri or belong to a church that will not allow you to preach The Word because you wear a dress, come to South Dakota and get a driver's license with a REAL-ID gold star on it. South Dakota recognizes nomads and full-time travelers, who may live in an RV/camper or maybe a truck driver. South Dakota Full Time Travelers

There are always ways to fight back against an overbearing government. Many methods are even non-violent. 

I need more coffee.

@Lori Dee
Dear Lori:
Not enough coffee yet this morning... I understand.

Thank you for sharing and posting your venting...
I, along with you and most other transitioners reading your last posting here
on your Forum Blog thread fully understand your frustration with how people in
general and certainly our government agencies consider us... we seem to be an
area of concern for them as they try to legislate us into oblivion.

Again thank you for sharing and posting.... and venting.
HUGS and more HUGS,
Danielle [Northern Star Gir]

NOW.... a big coffee for you!   The barista at my next door to my office Coffee Shop
always puts a PINK lid on the coffee that she makes for me and for my friends.
           

Quote from: Northern Star Girl on August 21, 2024, 01:09:02 PMNOW.... a big coffee for you!   The barista at my next door to my office Coffee Shop
always puts a PINK lid on the coffee that she makes for me and for my friends.

Exactly what I needed! Thank you.

ouch, it's still hot! 
 

From a very old book:

'To know is power' - Let us then be wise
And use our brains with every good intent
That in the end we come with tired eyes
And give to Nature more than what she lent.

~ Count Louis Hamon (Cheiro) 1866 - 1936

To add to that one of my own...

"Knowledge is knowing how something works. Wisdom is knowing why something works. Enlightenment comes when you understand the difference."

My UV flashlight arrived and I have been going through my stones to see which ones fluoresce. The light produces short-wave UV (250nm) and long-wave UV (365nm). So I gathered about a dozen stones that show off some pretty fluorescence in green, yellow, and purple at the different wavelengths.

I had everything ready to go in my bathroom where there are no windows, (therefore no other light interference). And ... 

The flashlight does not produce enough UV energy for the camera to see it. I can see it with my eyes, but the camera does not respond to ultraviolet light.    And if I allow a little bit of light into the room so that the camera works, it still doesn't see the UV light, so doesn't capture the fluorescence.  Bummer.

Oof.

So you don't get any of this?



That's literally the only thing that comes to mind when talking about blacklight, lol.

Quote from: Sephirah on August 22, 2024, 01:54:11 PMOof.

So you don't get any of this?



That's literally the only thing that comes to mind when talking about blacklight, lol.

< inhale > 'ere! < pass > and exhale 

Hahaha, love you, Lori <3

You would honestly hate my accent. I am as far removed from what you get as "British" on shows and movies as it's possible to get. I am as common as muck. Well maybe not quite that far since the Navy made an effort to get me to talk "all proper, like" so I could be an officer.

Think female Sean Bean and you wouldn't be far off. His accent is a little bit thicker than mine, but we're from the same hometown.

I do not do the whole Hugh Grant, received pronunciation thing. That's for southerners in London.

If you want an idea of British dialects, check out this video:

While I was researching my family history, I was curious if any phrases that were common to my great-great-grandparents were passed down unwittingly through the generations.

Most of the family came from Leeds. My great-great-great grandfather was from the Louth area in Lincolnshire but raised his family in Leeds. Their son immigrated to the Toronto area of Canada, so I am sure that he had an accent that his children may have picked up.

Then their son, my great grandfather immigrated to the U.S. when he was sixteen. Having never met or spoken with any of them, I have no way of knowing if a certain way of saying something is actually a family tradition that filtered down to us.

I think that would be fascinating.

Quote from: Lori Dee on August 22, 2024, 03:05:36 PMWhile I was researching my family history, I was curious if any phrases that were common to my great-great-grandparents were passed down unwittingly through the generations.

Most of the family came from Leeds. My great-great-great grandfather was from the Louth area in Lincolnshire but raised his family in Leeds. Their son immigrated to the Toronto area of Canada, so I am sure that he had an accent that his children may have picked up.

Then their son, my great grandfather immigrated to the U.S. when he was sixteen. Having never met or spoken with any of them, I have no way of knowing if a certain way of saying something is actually a family tradition that filtered down to us.

I think that would be fascinating.

Leeds is an awesome place. It's very Yorkshire. Very Northern.