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Writing Groups

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As part of my quest to get better at writing I've decided to actually follow the advice I keep seeing out there - yeah, I know, that's a radical idea and all, but it just might help... So, I found a nearby writer's group and intend to go there next week.

But that leads to my question. What to expect?

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You HAVE to read this one

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I hardly ever write for the blog. I've recently read a story that deserves all the praise I can heap on it. It's very good. There are a few grammar and spelling errors, but you quickly lose your critical thinking as the story gripes you. Got your attention? heeheehee

The Story is "Zapped" by the late Bob Arnold.

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Focus!?

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I have all these story ideas in my head, mostly just taking up space and gathering dust unfortunately. I try to get them written down, but by the time I start to actually do so, my mind has wandered off to the next great story idea. I just can't stay focused on a story long enough to actually really write it. I even made a long list where I have written down the gist of most of these story ideas, though many are still not even in that list, but the actual writing of a story never really happens.

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Review: The Stormlord trilogy by Glenda Larke

The Stormlord Trilogy by Glenda Larke (called the Watergivers trilogy in Australia, and maybe some other countries) is a secondary world epic fantasy, consisting of three volumes, The Last Stormlord, Stormlord Rising, and Stormlord's Exile. I wholeheartedly recommend it as a fine adventure epic with nifty political intrigue, knotty moral dilemmas, clever and consistent worldbuilding, and emotionally affecting characterization. The reason I'm mentioning it here is one particular character, a FtM transsexual. He doesn't appear until the third book, but he has a fairly major role to play when he appears.

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Financial Crisis

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Hi.... So a couple weeks ago I posted asking for help, and I was given a lot of info that did help.

We have next week, an appointment with WIC and an appointment next month with a few other services.

Unfortunately, because Amy is on SSD (Disability), the state of NJ considers her money "Un-Earned Income" so it counts against us double/triple when it comes to SNAP/FoodStamps and similar services.

Right now, if we can make it through this month, and the next, December and on are looking QUITE WELL....

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stories

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I have a couple of post that are the same with just a different format to them .. If you want to run with the story line in them you can .. As i see three different directions for them to go. . So feel free to take them over and put your own spin on them ... Lets make these Stories BCTS.. I would luv to have every one put there shilling's worth in to them...

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Walk on the Wild Side walks no more

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The BBC is reporting that Lou Reed has died.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24697765

I wonder how many people have been inspired by 'Walk on the Wild side?'

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30 million hits!

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I don't know if anyone else pays any attention to the hit counter at the bottom of the page, but over the past day, we've hit a big milestone.

30,016,985 hits

So, everyone, give yourselves a pat on the back as we've all contributed to that figure! :)

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Tell me it's getting better?

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Just feeling a little melancholy and shaky this morning, and I have to sleep before I get up at 7:00 AM. I've been approached my a PHD Doctor from a big local university who tells me that he knows that we have not been treated very well, and he wants me to help him make that better.

Those who know me, can confirm that I live a quiet life, and try to avoid the drama and hand wringing that makes so many of us miserable. I am no activist, not one bit. And, I am pretty much a prude, just trying to do the best I can to live like billions of other women.

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Big Closet access blocked

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I did a day trip to York (UK) yesterday. The purpose of the trip was to see the 6 remaining LNER A4 Class Pacific's (Steam Engines and yes I can hear some the groans from a few readers). They are on show at the UK National Railway Museum. They include the loco 'Dwight D Eisenhower' that is on loan from the US Museum in Green Gay and 'Dominion of Canada' which is on loan from Canada.

The event was organised to remember the 75th Anniversary of 4468 Mallard reaching 126 and a bit mph. It is half term holidays here and I had to queue for almost an hour to get into the Museum.

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Help for me as an author?

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I had originally planned to release the second part of the story I posted here on the 31st of this month. However alarmingly I have become aware that there could be some kind of major fault in my work so a question...

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Requesting help with a name for a race of aliens....

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This has been driving me slightly mad on and off since I first made mention of this race of aliens in my latest story Battle for Earth and since I've been unable to find the right spelling myself I thought perhaps I would turn to the folks here for the solution. The name of the race is the 'Ferlesh'. The main issue I've having is with the spelling of the name itself. I actually like how it sounds, but I loath the way I've spelt it. I've tried every variation I can think of and this is sadly the most tolerable of the lot.

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No Bike - technical hitches

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We have had a series of power cuts here, which after working a twelve hour day did little for my temper. It also caused the computer to go down three times. I am therefore not risking anything tonight. I hope to restore normal Bike service tomorrow. (This is what happens when you sell off all the utilities to foreign companies - idiot politicians, shoot the lot of them).

Angharad.

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got a nice compliment today

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"of all the people like you I've met, you were the one most comfortable in their own skin. You're a very pretty woman, and you're very lucky."

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New Story posting.

Barbie Lee has graciously allowed me to edit and post her new story, "Jessica Rabbit." It was originally posted last week at Fictionmania and, having read it, I felt it deserved to be here with so many other great stories.

I have corresponded with Barbie several times since then, doing the edit and making sure I would be able to do the story justice and abide by Barbie's requests that certain parts of the story remained unchanged regarding coloqualisms and other things. We have exchanged several emails and I believe I got it right.

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New story

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My apologies that the promised 'few weeks' before starting my next story has turned into nearly five months. It has been a busy summer! However, I have now written 25,000 words towards a new story entitled Dancing Queen. This should be enough to keep me going with weekly postings until the New Year (by which time I hope to have written the remainder). Bronwen is currently correcting my punctuation and pointing out mistakes, and I am looking for a suitable title image so that I hope to begin posting next week.

Louise

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Been Getting Some Add Requests

Hi. As some here know, I chat and correspond with some of my BCTS friends via Yahoo Messenger. Yes, I know YM's pretty old, and it's not exactly Google+ or even Facebook, but I am a child of the nineties and I grew up with Yahoo. Well, anyway, I use Yahoo Messenger for chatting.

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The next step

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So I'm sitting here debating whether or not I should post the unreachable on the site. The problem, it's long.... really really really (don't make me write it 100 times) long. It comes in at 185k words. The transgender part doesn't show up until 150k words in. So I'm wondering if I should or would people think it a big waste of time.

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What the Hell !!!

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I guess I will never understand the denizens of this site. "Severance Pay", has in my opinion ALL the elements that would make most of you go goo goo, yet the kudo count is low! How come?

I can see Authors not being impressed with my writing but this is beyond the pale.

G

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Coronation Street - An unlikely guiding light

We often see comment here about some of the more repellent representations of the Transgender community on TV. However...

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News of my recent writing, and call for beta readers

I haven't posted anything here for a while, but I haven't been idle. I've finished several first drafts recently, and would like to get feedback on them from beta readers before I do final drafts and post them here, or offer them for sale on Smashwords and the Kindle store.

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This week

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you can read the usual updates both here and on my site but also if you weren't lucky enough(!) to attend Gabycon last month you can at least get a feel for it with the Gabycon guide! Its available on paper and ether and contains some exclusive Gaby scribblings!

http://www.lulu.com/shop/maddy-bell/gabycon-2013/paperback/p...

enjoy
Mads

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I have a growth on my foot

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spent most of yesterday at the hospital because I have some kind of growth on the bottom of my foot. I love the fact that I can go to the hospital without worrying about how I'm gonna pay for it ....

The best they could tell me is it isnt a bone spur or something like that. They think its an infection, so I will be on antibiotics ...

ah, well.

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Small steps - the final one on the first part of my way

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In a few days I will take the final step on the first part of my way:

After Halloween I'll drop my male disguise completely.

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A Happy Occasion, Piper's BIRTHDAY!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY to one who works SO hard to help keep our site open and running, with little in the way of thanks for her efforts. God Bless your day and life, Piper.

Remember...CARPE CAKEM!!!!!!

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Costume contest

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I just wanted to say that there are so many great Costume contest stories it is going to very hard to vote for the best story KUDOS to all thank you for your writing skills and time posting :-) Richie2

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Interesting times

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The reference is to the old Chinese proverb, of course. Did I expect to settle down to a quiet life? What do you think?

Apart from the various medical issues, there are a number of other upcoming activities which have to be addressed, of which writing is, regrettably, only one.

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Lost chance

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So I've finally come to the decision. I don't need my family anymore. So I've disowned them. I'm tired of caring what they thing. I'm tired of hurting. To follow a story recently on the site, Masks, I've determined my male self, Dan, is a mask lined with thorns. a Mask that is so heavy that if I let it sit on me. It hurts so much eventually I will be no more.

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WE NEED TO TALK

Just an announcement of my posting an entry to the October contest. This is my first self posting so if it is not as neat as it should be it is all my fault. There is nothing seriously intended by this entry in fact it should be considered as a bit of humorous fluff exploring the most dreadful phrase a person could hear. We Need To Talk.

Bailey,s misbehaving Faerie Huggles

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AWWYYY

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Today I had to go to the Dentist & I had to have 2 Teeth Pulled.I'm in pain right now too.But I am doing alright otherwise.I hope all my Little & Big Bother's & Sister's on here are doing good right now.;)

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My Stories

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Sorry but I'm done for now. I'm tired of writing. I write for a bit but as the story goes along I get bored with it. Sorry to anyone who was counting on me to finish things but I don't want to finish a thing anymore.

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Transgender PC Emma Chapman

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Anyone picked up on this today? According to a report on BBC Radio 5 Emma is not asking for monetary compensation, just a better understanding of the issues she and other trans women have to deal with.

http://metro.co.uk/2013/10/18/transgender-police-officer-sue...

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Happy Dance Time

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I am overjoyed! Yesterday I had a Cardiac PET Scan Stress Test and they just called me to tell me that my cardiac arteries both large and small are in great shape and if you knew my heart history for the past 15 yrs you would be amazed too. No results on Echo-cardiogram or Carotid Ultrasound till 11/5 but that is good news in and of itself. If there were bad things she would have me in sooner.

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I need your guys' opinion

Well, I have a quandary, and I need opinions.

See, I was thinking about publishing some stuff on Kindle, but I am conflicted as to what I should publish.

So here are the choices:

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Masks and New Chapters.

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I'm just Posting to let all of you know that I will be increasing the times in which the new story chapters will be posted so that I can get the story done buy it's contest date.

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What if you are an Alien?

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Are you an Alien? During a surprising encounter with a rather highly placed member of my faith last night, he made the observation that the reason I like to write about "good aliens", is that I feel like an alien. I immediately knew this to be true, though it is doubtful that the joy of writing stories that have good aliens will grow tiresome.

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End of the line

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I just posted the last of God Bless the Child and published Unreachable. That is going to be it for me. It has been a great ride. I had some laughs, shed some tears, but I'm really not cut out to be an author. I don't have what it takes and it has become obvious. There is a certain level of attention to detail to produce a good story, and I don't have that ability. It is more than just not getting reads and comments and kudos and reviews.

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Gangsta's in Drag

When I saw this article on the BBC website about some of the more desperate attempts by Jamaican criminals to avoid arrest three thoughts went through my mind:

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Technical Question

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I've gotten in discussions about books a few times now, either in comments or PMs. Is there a way to embed links to Amazon in our messages so this site gets their affiliate credit? I see the ad in the corner of the site that lets the site get a commission from Amazon shopping, but don't know if we can make that more general.

Just wanted to know in case we can make those links ourselves. Might as well - I'd be quite happy to see the site get some credit when I shop there.

Thanks for any help.

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Of Muses and Mallets...

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Well, my muse has spent the last few weeks beating me over the head with a mallet in her attempts to get this story out. I've even enlisted the aid of our own Maggie Finnson in this endevor, both as a partial editor/proofreader and as a co-writer for the story itself.

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Is anyone interested in a Quest type forum-RPG?

Hi everyone,

surfing around the net I've found several interesting role playing games that are played in forums. One form, where the gamemaster essentially write the story, fascinated me very much. The players decide by vote what the character does and the game master rolls to decide wether that action succeeds and what the consequences are.

I thought that we could maybe do the same here and wanted to ask if some of you would be interested. That wouldn't mean commitment to anything, I just want to know if people would be willing to check in and vote for the next action once in a while.

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Wonder what is going on?

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Usually, I actually am reasonably pleasant woman at peace with myself and life. Oh, I have my moments but they are few and far between. Today, every time I've encountered even mildly abusive stuff in my reading it has triggered my inner Mama Bear and trust me that is scary.
Something is going on but experience has taught me that attempting to "figure it out" is fruitless. Best I sit quietly with the feeling and allow it to become clear in its own time.

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Never thought this would happen

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So how do I begin this one. I guess I'll start out by saying my transition is going well. If anyone wants a link to my Transition log or E-log as I like to call it, feel free to PM me and I'll see about sending you a link to it. but anyways I digress, This past week I took adive off the deep end. in a matter of speaking. The past week, I met this guy in my reading class who asked for my number to do a study group session. later that week I got a text asking if I wanted to go out. At first, naturally I was scared. I hadn't been on a date in years.

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This has Got So Bad I Can't Even Blog

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Finding it hard to complete a sentence in a review, never mind contribute any new fiction. It's a long-standing struggle with bureaucracy thing.

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Survivor?

I wasn't really ready for this when I found it on Facebook, but I think it needs to be widely shared and read. The author has done what I never could do, and expressed it well.

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Content Subscriptions and Notifications

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We're going to try a new capability here after a recent request. Now you can subscribe to your favorite authors to be notified when they post new stories. :) At least, we hope this works. Consider it to be in test mode right now.

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Story Update Tracking

I have looked through the FAQ page but didn't find the answer to one question. Is there a way to track a story to know when the next chapter has been posted? Or is the only way to know is to look at the home page?

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Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

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Well, today is Canadian Thanksgiving, and has become tradition, I will list some of the things I'm thankful for:

For Kyile: Because she has become something precious to me.

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New Book Available

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I am pleased to announce the release of my new book "Unreachable". It may be my best story yet and considering God Bless the Child and Finding Jenny, I think that is saying something. There isn't the religious overtones like there were in Wrestling Against Myself, so it should appeal to all.

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I'mmm Baaaack

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It's three fifty-six and my wife and I landed at SFO an hour and a half ago from Italy. Got up at 4am local time and flew to Paris for an hour and a hlaf layover. We then flew direct to San Francisco, yep it's a long flight and to make matters worse my Kindle died half way through Karin Bishop's I should have known. Need less to say I'm just a little tired right now and will start editing Lashes as soon as possible, probably tomorrow afternoon, but I have some real life issues to take care of first, Like making enough money to pay the mortgage.

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Twisted Tales, or Demented Fiction.

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Well, I am compiling my list of stories I have written that are suitable for inclusion in an anthology to be published on Amazon or some other publisher in both paper and eBook format.

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Reader Participation Result.

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Results of which of my serials you'd like me to write a new episode is - Totally Insane.

I will therefore endeavour to produce one of these in the next couple or so weeks.

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Being a thick talentless writer...

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I am stuck once again on the way something should be written.

In trying to write the next chapter of Get A Life, I am in a bit of a quandry as to how I should write this:

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I'd like to ask for your prayers and good wishes

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Beverly Taff's wife is in hospital suffering from an incurable brain tumor. They have operated and removed all they can get of the tumor. Beverly is such a good person and I would like to ask all of you, whatever your faith or beliefs, to send prayers and good wishes to Beverly and her wife.

Bev is a great writer and a good friend.

Thank you all.

Catherine Linda Michel

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Bad week, Inauthentic day

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Well, today didn't go according to plan.

I was supposed to have a day with my daughter, but instead I ended up tagging along behind her and my ex as they walked around a local mall.

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Gulf States consider transgender ban

It would appear that the Gulf States Cooperative Council are considering a Kuwaiti proposal to carry out sex tests on immigrants wishing to work there with the intention of preventing entry by transgender people.

I do wonder if I came to the wrong planet because I was seeking one with intelligent life forms!

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/11/gulf-countries-...

I wonder if you can spot my comment? (no prizes).

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National Coming Out Day

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I wasn't previously aware of this, but courtesy of Wikipedia's Main Page, I've discovered that today is (or has been for those in UTC+3 or greater) National Coming Out Day.

It is apparently "an internationally observed civil awareness day celebrating individuals who publicly identify as bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender–coming out regarding one's sexual orientation and/or gender identity being akin to a cultural rite of passage for LGBT people. The day is observed annually by members of the LGBT community and allies on October 11."

So if you weren't already aware of it, consider yourself informed :)

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