[LMB] Australian Military Complications and other matters

[Zoe Brain]

> From: Elizabeth McCoy <arcangel at io.com>
>   
> Actually, I just recently had a mammogram, and while it was uncomfortable,
> for me it was mostly that the platform poked my ribs a bit and the skin
> around my _neck_ felt stretched. It wasn't OMG PAIN at all.
> PAPs are uncomfortable, but again, not OMG PAIN. Getting my goatee and
> whiskers lazed off is _much_ more painful than either. Or getting my blood
> drawn for my regular TSH tests.
>   
I should be getting a mammogram soon, things have developed enough. And 
it's been nearly a year since I had my last IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) 
session to clear up the facial hair. From here on it's electrolysis, as 
the only remaining facial hair is white. I feel your pain.
I won't mention the regular blood tests.

Yes, I have to have prostate exams, and also something like a pap smear 
in about a year, when the cells have changed. I have no cervix, but am 
still vulnerable to various vaginal neoplasms. The joys of (Inter)Sex.

From: "Peter H. Granzeau" <pgranzeau at cox.net>
> At 04:28 AM 11/26/2007, Katrina Allis wrote:
> > >I keep telling myself it can wait until I'm having sex on a
> > >regular basis[3].  I suppose I should get around to it soon...
> > >
> > >[3] Or a non-regular basis.  Or indeed, at all.
>
> And just WHOSE fault is THAT?
Pass.
I'm in the situation where regular sexual intercourse is medically 
recommended. OTOH this can be risky, literally life-threatening, and 
prosecution of the murderer would not be guaranteed.
I genuinely expected to live a life of complete chastity after 
transition. But I think I'll leave it at that.

From: I <iosef at gothic.net.au

> Unfortunately the Military, and to a lesser extent the Law 
> Enforcement, are still ruled by the "Boys Club". "B*st*rdisation" is 
> still practiced, if not officially tolerated, and sexism, racism and 
> religious bigotry are rampant. Occasionally this gets out to the 
> general populous and minor heads roll, but it is far from the norm 
> any longer. The last 5 years or so have been regressive however.
>
> Iestyn
> (Ex law enforcement with family members in/ex all three arms of the 
> defence forces.) 
I used to teach at ADFA, the Australian Defence Force Academy, up until 2000.
There's still a strong remnant of the old Duntroon Bastardisation (very Barrayaran), not so much in the actions, but in the culture.

One student I had, one of the brightest I've ever taught, didn't fit in and "she" had a truly terrible experience, far worse than I knew at the time. I was terribly disappointed when "she" dropped out.

He is now just recovering from surgery in Belgrade, where one of the best FtoM surgeons in the world has his practice. He's just completed his PhD too, and has accepted a very prestigious post-doctoral research position. It's a funny old world.

Zoe