Enthusiastically Ambiverted Hopepunk
Stuff I find around the web that interests or amuses me.
Singapore sounds like a rather odd place at times. Never having been there, of course, all I can judge by is the occasional news story that makes the rounds over here, when I find out that in Singapore, prostitution is legal, the age of consent is 16 — but oral sex is illegal.
Like the title says…;)
(via Prairie)
While for most people these days, any discussion of men with breasts will immediately lead to quotes from Fight Club (“This is Bob. Bob had bitch tits.”), it’s a very real medical condition called Gynecomastia, sometimes developed as a result of Klienfelter Syndrome.
Klienfelters is a genetic condition, caused and characterized by having an extra bit of gene make up. Where most people have either a 36 YY or 26 XY Genetic make up depending if they are male or female, some people have variations of the standard. Klienfelters Syndrome people typically have a 37XXY Gene. Technically this makes them neither male or female. Klienfelters Syndrome people appear and are accepted as male. In many cases, people who have the condition may not realise they have it.
Some symptoms of Klienfelters include:
- Slight outward turning of legs, similar to Downs Syndrome.
- Slight to significant brain retardation and hence slow learning.
- Problems with linguistics; reading and language skills.
- Short attention spans.
- Development of breasts at puberty.
- Wider hips than normal.
- Appear to be overweight from puberty (some Internet sites say the opposite).
- Infertility.
- Short life spans.
The best and most definitive way to work out if a person has Klienfelters is to have a test for the 37XXY genetic makeup from a blood sample.
I happened across one person’s website about their experiences growing up in a small town with Klienfelters Syndrome.
His story fascinated me. While you’d expect that someone in his position in a small town would be regarded as a “freak” of some sort, he actually was lucky enough to be very accepted by his (predominantly female) family and the community. Raised with three sisters and a mother who didn’t enforce the usual gender stereotypes, he lived mostly as a girl from an early age. At the onset of puberty, the development of his breasts enforced this, and while he knew he was a boy, he was able to spend most of his childhood comfortably, without being ostracized, harassed, or abused by the people around him.
As he grew older and moved out into the world, of course, things didn’t always go as smoothly, and he now lives most of his life in public appearing masculine, but still primarily self-identifying as feminine — though not homosexual — when he’s at home. Even in a society that is (slowly, but finally) becoming more tolerant of homosexuality, trans-gendered people, and the entire GLBT spectrum, it’s interesting to hear from people like this who still “fall through the cracks,” and don’t quite fit into any of the nice, neat little boxes that we’re forever trying to fit people into.
(via Something Positive)
[Update:]{.underline}
Sure, it’s possible that his story is a load of hooey. I still find the gender identity issues interesting.
Some days I think I’m doing okay in my life. I may not have a set career or a ton of money or anything along those lines, but I’m not doing too badly.
Then, I find things like this: Things Other People Accomplished When They Were Your Age…
At age 30:
Mark Twain published his first short story, “Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog.”
Danish novelist Hans Christian Andersen published his book of fairy tales.
Nat Turner led a slave rebellion.
U.S. mariner Moses Rogers made the first ocean steamboat voyage.
Donald Trump persuaded bankers to lend him \$80 million so he could buy the Commodore Hotel.
Samuel Morse’s assistant, Alfred Lewis Vail, devised Morse code.
Physicist Armand H. L. Fizeau measured the speed of light.
Dr. Narinder Kapany invented fiber optics and designed a glass gastroscope which can be snaked down the throat for a detailed view of the stomach.
Hank Williams overdosed on drugs and alcohol.
Bill Gates was the first person ever to become a billionaire by age 30.
Earl Vickers started the Dollar Project, in which dollar bills were rubber-stamped as being lost, with a reward offered for their safe return.
(via MeFi)
For the first time in their three decades of existence, the disco band The Village People have inducted an openly Episcopal man, igniting a controversy that threatens to tear the fabled group asunder.
Holding a press conference in New York City today, The Construction Worker, a prominent member of The Village People since its inception in the 1970s, urged “tolerance and understanding” for its latest member, The Episcopal Guy, who joined the group over the weekend.
“From the start, The Village People have been all about inclusiveness,” The Construction Worker said. “And introducing The Episcopal Guy as our latest member is part of that tradition.”
While The Indian Chief and The Fireman were reportedly in agreement with The Construction Worker about including The Episcopal Guy in the band, The Policeman, The Cowboy, and the Leather-clad Guy were reportedly opposed, creating speculation that The Village People might split up into two smaller, somewhat less influential disco bands.
(from Dad)
According to CNN, Prince Charles has come out to publicly announce that the allegations are “totally untrue and without a shred of substance.”
Just to further clear up the matter a bit:
I certainly hope that this clears up some of the misinformation, and that the rumors surrounding this incident cease forthwith.
Thank you for your time.
(via Neil Gaiman)
After far too much controversy — which is, unfortunately, far from finished — Gene Robinson was consecrated as Bishop on Sunday. It sounds like, while there were objections raised and protests held near the site of the consecration, overall it went pleasantly and without any undue problems.
After the objections were raised, [Presiding Bishop Frank T.] Griswold thanked attendees “for bringing their concerns before us.” But he also seemed to make a case for unity when he related a story of a primate who told him that “the Holy Spirit can do different things in different places,” adding, “That is precisely what we are doing here.”
Robinson received a more effusive endorsement from the Rev. Douglas Theuner, who he is replacing. Concluding a humorous and wide-ranging address that lightened the mood in the arena, Theuner told Robinson that his consecration is not the defining battle in the history of the church that some have made it out to be.
“When a young man unsure of his sexual orientation reads ‘The Episcopal Church Welcomes You’ on a sign outside the church and enters that church, that’s a defining moment in Christian life,” he said.
Many congratulations and best wishes go out to Bishop Robinson.
As I start to get caught up with my e-mail and get back into the swing of things, I’ve been bouncing around my usual haunts. What in the world happened to Boing Boing? While the current page is certainly friendly and cheerful, it’s not quite the Boing Boing I’m familiar with.
Odd. I just hope everything’s okay over there.
New from Mattel, just in time for Halloween — Secret Spells Barbie!
By day, Barbie, Christie and Kayla are fashionable school girls, by night they turn into magical enchantresses. Each doll comes with 2 outfits, spell book, case, edible potions and potion cups. Transform Barbie from an ordinary girl to one of the Charm Girls. Just put on Barbie’s enchanted Charm Girl jacket and she’s ready to mix up delicious potions that you can really drink. Barbie comes with costume, dragonfly, mixing pot, stand, spoon, stirrer, three bottles, book with a secret compartment, and two packets of magic powder (sugar-based mixes you mix with water). Barbie measures approximately 11.5 inches tall.
Just imagine all the fun you could have! Mixing up “love potions” with your friends. Finding spells to turn all the clothing of your best friends (or worst enemies) bright pink. Having tea parties with your Secret Spells Barbie, Hermione and Harry Potter (isn’t he the lucky little stiff?). Painting pink pentacles on your body as you dance around the bonfire in your backyard under the full moon.
Hrm. Did I just go too far?
(via Mark Morford, via Burningbird)
…and I still don’t have a costume. Maybe I should go as Bill Gates? ;)
(via Phil)
The lengths that people will go to in their homophobia in the name of religion is really scary. Bishop-elect Gene Robinson is currently under 24-hour FBI protection due to death threats.
The first openly gay man to become an Episcopal bishop is under round the clock FBI protection following threats on his life, according to media reports.
Gene Robinson is to be formally installed as Bishop of New Hampshire on Sunday.
“The only thing that will stop this happening is if I am not around any more,” Canon Gene Robinson, who is to become the Episcopalian Bishop of New Hampshire, told the British newspaper The Independent in an interview published today. “We have to take that seriously.”
(via Atrios)