Thursday, August 15, 2013

The Elephant in the Corner

In this case our Cyrsti's Condo pachyderm in the pink tutu has her hand out.

As far as I can tell there are three basic ways you can "finance" your blog:

1.-not at all- no ads
2.-ads which do pay the blogger a minimal percent based on factors such as people "clicking" on them.
3.- the "tip jar" where you are encouraged to make a donation.

Of course you have seen the ads on my blog. In fact there is probably one flashing at you right now. Do I like them? No. Do I need them? Yes I do make a minimal amount when and if you think they are compelling enough to look at. Yes I do value the minimal amount I make. Finally, no I don't have very much say in which ad's they are.  Truly I might if I was smart enough to learn the system more.

Speaking of the almighty "system", it is bigger than the elephant in the corner.  "Back in the day" I basically played with starting blogs on a Word Press format and here on Blogger. As time went along, my very limited idea of the technical side of a blog led me here and off of Word Press.  Nothing they did...just me.

Occasionally I think about updating the format/template I work off of here. There are many and I see several pros and cons of maybe attempting an "upgrade" of sorts which will allow us to "grow" here. So we will see. Obviously I'm paranoid about doing something dumb and not being able to recapture the work I have done.

In the meantime, I figured I would fill you in about the pink tutu which is not mine. Mine is purple!

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

And You Thought this was Easy?

No silly's not writing Cyrsti's Condo. As any blogger will tell you, be careful before a labor of love, hope and understanding becomes a job! Some days I have writers and world block and keep asking my dog for ideas. I'm sure you remember several of those posts and thought "just what the hell was she thinking?"

I'm sure videos must be the same and even worse from the technical end and here's an example. This drag queen looks good doing it too!


Boxers and Binders and Street Signs

All too often here in Cyrsti's Condo I feel as if I don't mention the "other" side of the transgender street, the trans men.

Trans guys should be mentioned if for no other reason in my part of the world, FtM guys are becoming very dynamic and public. Dare I say the testosterone effect may play a part?

I have always wondered about the different dynamics both genders face when we decide to "jump fences" if you will.  The shallow comparisons come in the form of changing appearances which seem to favor the trans guys.  It's easier to masculate a body than feminize one after puberty.

On a deeper level is the question of gender privilege. I prefer not to discuss privilege again but to simply say it's in the mind of the beholder and in the imaginations of certain groups. I do follow the "other side of the street" closely and my latest "discovery" is Anthony Doubek's blog and writings "Boxers and Binders"

When I read Anthony's thoughts, I invariably come up with all kinds of questions such as - is there any division in the trans male community being identified with the lesbian/butch group?  I do understand that after a certain point in the FtM transition process the groups would naturally separate. Furthermore, I'm always on the outlook for signs of the perpetual bickering which goes on here on our side of the street.

For a closer look at the "other side of street" go here and check out Anthony Doubek!

In the Passing Lane

JJ Hart. Early on in my life as a very serious cross dresser before I came out as a transgender woman, I obsessed about my presentation as a...