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user-inactivated  ·  84 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: January 3, 2024

Christmas was a quiet one. Usually, about 40 of my extended family descend on one person's home for the day. This time our family was fractured across a couple of countries, so I spent it with my brother and Boxing Day with my partner's family.

Felt weird not being surrounded by the cacophony that is my family, but I did crush some excellent naps over the break.

I have four tomato plants growing in my greenhouse, combined with the cucumbers and the mystery plant that turned out to be pumpkin, it's a mini rainforest. However, one tomato plant has blossom end rot, apparently a problem caused by a calcium issue, but the true catalyst is infrequent/too frequent watering. The other plants are producing like mad, and they all get watered at the same time, so unsure what my approach is here. They're fussy plants these. Good lessons for the future though, this is the first of many attempts.

Strange update. Once upon a time I played a lot of Battlefield V, across two accounts, probably about 1000 hours in it. Enough to be a menace. Back in the day I was in a 'clan' and we'd typically just have a bit of fun in a server, if we ever started to dominate a match we'd split ourselves up to make things even. Since Battlefield 2042 came out, most of us have stopped playing, because it was hot trash and it burned our love of the game. Now we hear that the BF V servers are popular again, and there's a new clan running the roost. Allegedly they're talking shit about us and other old clans, so we've been summoned, to come back for a shitfight.

Is it stupidly childish? Yes. Could we ignore it? Entirely. Am I reinstalled and testing my aim? You bet.

This weekend the battle begins, the glorious old guard BDSL (Basement Dwelling Sweat Lords) vs the whiny upstarts EZPZ.

Oh! So turns out my partner loves, and I mean fuckin' looooves, The Great British Bake Off. It's surprisingly hard to track down, legally or not. Most streaming services don't have it in NZ, and those that do, have like a season at best.

I didn't know she adored this show, and apparently she had been trying her best to solve this access issue, on and off, for the better part of two years (we have been together for almost seven..). She finally told me this week, about her deepest desire. I checked which Netflix region had the show (USA does!), flicked my VPN on in our NVidia Shield, changed to USA, and restarted Netflix. Great British Baking Show was the first thing that appeared as a suggestion and my partner lost. Her. Shit. She was wriggling, actually wriggling. I asked, once she had stopped writhing on the couch, why she never told me about this before? Took all of five minutes to rectify. She didn't want to bother me with it, apparently. Which sucks, cause she can bother me with anything and I'll take it off her plate. The new job environment is still paying dividends it seems, my partner feels comfortable coming to me with things she thinks are inane.

Reading a book next to her on the couch, cat in her lap, as she critically judges ganache application on the screen filled me with an awful lot of joy.

user-inactivated  ·  63 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: January 24, 2024

Slowly trying to learn Python. It's fun when I get to implement things in little beginner projects, but the content is pretty dry.

Tomatoes are going red, very exciting. Two plants are still going hard, the other two are consistently producing messy/split tomatoes, so I'm considering just cutting my losses and focusing on the two that are succeeding and chalking this up as a lesson in trying too many different kinds at once. Tuh'may'ters.

Next up on my piano-relearning-adventure, Sea Power's ZA/UM. My most played song from 2023.

Hope you're all doing well.

user-inactivated  ·  64 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Nightshade, the free tool that ‘poisons’ AI models, is now available for artists to use

Shit you not, in my previous job I heard this was happening (via a colleague who uses TikTok) and in the next recruitment run I checked some of the documents loaded up in applications, to see if anyone had snuck white font text in.

Of 30 applications, 3 had. Using words that could be found in our job descriptions. Just tucked away in between paragraphs and in page breaks.

We don't use AI in our recruitment so it may as well not have been there but, interesting to spot once you start to look for it. We knew people were using AI to write cover letters, and it was fairly obvious when the letter was a little too immaculate and had absolutely zero personality. White font though, that was a new one.

user-inactivated  ·  101 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: What are you Reading?

My partner and I polished off the Red Rising series (Book #7 still to come). They're not literary masterpieces but it was a very entertaining time, they're accessible page turners. My partner is more discerning than I am, about what she reads, so I wasn't expecting her to give it a go. However one day she began the series herself, while I was reading book #4. Then, because she reads so much faster than I do, she read the first three before I finished #4, then stole book #4 from my bedside table. She read it, returned it, and carried on with the series.

I've just started House of Leaves which is uhhh a tonal shift.

user-inactivated  ·  101 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: What are you Reading?

I got through to book #4 and stopped, I'm not entirely sure why. I was enjoying the story! Maybe I'll revisit soon..

I really enjoyed the show, which hopefully doesn't skew the rest of the books for me, if I do return.

user-inactivated  ·  70 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: January 17, 2024

Gardening!

Tomatoes! (growing very nicely)

Cucumbers (they snuck up, I didn't see these until yesterday, very well hidden)

Chillies! (this is very new, still got the flower at the end but I was excited)

So I will have a bountiful harvest, and likely more than I will be able to eat, so friends and family will have impromptu salads and veggies forced upon them.

user-inactivated  ·  140 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: November 8, 2023

I came across this article yesterday after hearing that the CEO mentioned has officially resigned. I don't know any of the people, but the words "toxic culture" will always have me interested.

Reading through it I had to stop, send it to my colleague and ask "Is this what we dealt with?" regarding our former manager. Examples:

    "One senior leader described having a meeting with George, where they made crucial decisions about an upcoming project, only to be sent an email summary 30 minutes later that wasn’t representative of the things the pair had agreed upon.

    “That’s a typical example of behaviours of, say one thing, formally write down another,” he said.

Yep.

    Another person said they experienced similar confusing behaviour.

    “She’d say, ‘I want you to do A, B and C, please’. And so you do it, then the next week she’d go, ‘No, no, no. I ask for D, E and F’.”

Oh yep.

    Another person spoke about having “meetings before meetings” to figure out “how to not get attacked” or to get something over the line.

It's like I was there.

In my previous role, we had to manage up to such an extent we'd convince our manager that any idea was hers. We'd plant the right seeds at the right time so she'd come to the same conclusion we came to months earlier, and only then she'd allow something to happen. Fuck, we became some manipulative people. Turning up 20 minutes early to meetings, to plan how to approach the entire conversation - and it was just a weekly check-in!

She finished up last week, I got invited to the leaving drinks and it'd be weirder to not turn up. So I was there with my former colleagues and I could see the tension start to ease as she made her farewell speech; knowing she'd not be back in the office the next day.

Anyway they're picking up the pieces and seeing if people are willing to return. People like myself. But I can't. I enjoy my new job too much and also fuck that noise - not even for the money they'd offer. Eyes forward and all that.

I finally got a copy of House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. Looking forward to tucking into it.

user-inactivated  ·  112 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: December 6, 2023

TOMATOES ARE GROWING.

Little green fellas just hanging out.

Am proud.

Joining my 3rd DnD campaign this Sunday. A friend had been running a small group through over the course of the year. It was strictly in person, and they're all in Australia. But with the DM moving cities, they opted to go online. Once online, the DM invited me to join. I get to dust off an old character, very excited.

user-inactivated  ·  141 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: New Post About Historic Meeting with kleinbl00

I love these posts Lil! I'll answer them all because they're good questions and I'm greedy.

    1. Think of something about (the place where you grew up; your family; your school) that gave you your sense of the world and your place in it?

My parents treatment of my brother. He has a bleeding disorder that should probably have claimed his life over the years. A combination of the NZ healthcare system and my parents ensured he's still here today, 35 years young. I grew up the middle child, and with my older brother constantly hospitalised, my sister and I were effectively raised by nannies/carers, I'm not going to claim there wasn't any childhood resentment, but I learned quickly that this was an example I could aspire to. To just look after people. The healthcare system never charged us much, for any of the visits, surgeries, medication (maybe a $5 co-payment for prescriptions?). It was covered by the tax payer, and so I'm happy seeing my tax going towards people who need it. My parents did all they could, and they told me years down the line they felt more comfortable than they expected, focusing on their oldest child - because for whatever reason my sister and I accepted the need for this hierarchy of attention. The odd fight and tantrum, but for the most part we knew he needed more than we did.

I like to think that's carried on. I'm doing well, comparatively, so when other people need and get something I don't, I'd rather give than take.

    2. Are you an open book? If so who’s your best reader. If there’s 100 pages, what page are they on?

Now more than ever. My partner reads me the best - I couldn't tell you what page she's on but I can tell you she's writing the rest of the story with me.

    3. What have you learned recently about your family that wasn’t the story you told yourself?

That we are as dysfunctional as any other.

    4. What important lesson did an earlier romantic relationship teach you that helps you in your current marriage?

To enjoy the little things. A previous relationship had me seeking every major thing in life, she wanted to chase big things and I had to want them as well. It burnt us both out, and my current relationship we call a solid afternoon of gardening together a good outing.

    5. What is one thing you remember from all your changes in the last 10 years that made you feel vulnerable (beyond your comfort zone) or felt a little challenging.

This one is hard. I need to consider it more!

    6. Are you carrying any resentment that you could let go of if you thought about it. Would it be a benefit?

Absolutely. Tiny things people have done that irked me over the years. Sometimes at night when I struggle to sleep, my brain helpfully cycles through these small encounters until I'm angry again. I will be working on letting go of things. Clinging to them does me a disservice and grants them too much time in my head. I doubt they've ever thought of me again!

    7. What are some questions you have about your life now that you’d like answered in the next year.

Can I develop the courage to send any of my writing pieces off to an agent? Will my current vegetables be a bumper crop? Equal importance, now that I have them side by side..

    8. What is an experience of success that you still feel good about?

Leaving my depressing and stressful office management job, to enter an IT realm where I feel 100x better about myself and my work.

    9. What is your road not taken?

Oooh too many. I don't focus on it though. They're just different iterations of me. But I'm the one that's here and now, and I like it.

    10. What idea or attitude did you once believe that you later discovered was false?

I once held quite nasty thoughts about the queer community in general. I've long since changed from that, but I don't forget that I was once an absolute shithead for zero reason. I consider myself a staunch ally, and thanks to the behaviour of the past I know what crap to call out when I see it.

    11. When you realize that everything is made up -all religions, nations, patriarchy, democracy, etc are ideas made up by people, what then do you believe?

Just here for the ride. To enjoy what I can, with whoever I can, and hopefully leave a small segment of the world better for having me in it.

    12. What does an equal relationship mean to you?

When we add to each other. I don't think a relationship will ever be equal in a percentage sense, because we're never at exactly the same levels. But her success is my success, and vice versa.

user-inactivated  ·  100 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: What are you Reading?

Reading Iron Gold I found myself struggling to get through it. There was a timeskip and a sudden shift to multiple POVs. Both aspects surprised me and I found myself trudging through it a little bit. It was hard to suddenly care about these strangers after having one POV the entire time. However about 1/3 of the way through it clicked and I was on board again, as things began to coalesce. The next two books I didn't have any issues with and devoured them greedily. Especially as later on you get the POV of a character whose head I always wanted to get inside of.

I also felt Morningstar finished in such a way that had nothing else been written after, I'd have been happy. That said I'm very glad I got past my initial reluctance in fourth book, it was well worth it and I'm hanging out for the final book now!

user-inactivated  ·  101 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: What are you Reading?

That would make sense. I don't recall a resounding "Ugh" when finishing that particular book, but I must not have been as invested as I was at the start.

user-inactivated  ·  175 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: October 4, 2023

It happened - I finally got Covid. Aches, shakes, brain fog, coughing and spluttering. By all accounts it was a very mild case. I see how it wrecked the more unlucky people. Two days of flu-like symptoms, a further seven days of congestion.

Back at work now, it passed quickly once the peak was hit - but the brain fog remains. As well as the running out of energy immediately. Weightlifting 4-5 times a week? Oh no no, now you struggle to get the rubbish bins in. It's coming right though. Plus side, my employer has Covid leave baked into the system, everyone is allowed up to 10 days a year before dipping into your sick or annual leave. It's certainly nice to have it up my sleeve.

It's two weeks out from the NZ election and this year has been one of the more tiresome campaigns. Lots of shit people lying to everyone. I'm gonna cast my vote as progressively as I can and hope enough people feel the same. I suspect we will have a shift in government though, from 'left' to 'right'. It won't impact me directly, not a huge amount, but the people that I'm trying to protect with my vote will be all the more vulnerable.

user-inactivated  ·  43 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: What are you Reading?

Maybe Andy Weir is the ultimate litmus test, to sort out cheerful idiots like myself, who can't analyse a thing particularly deeply?

user-inactivated  ·  43 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: What are you Reading?

Huh. I haven't encountered people who didn't like it.

I mean I know they're out there, but I'd only heard good things in my circles.

user-inactivated  ·  43 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: What are you Reading?

I really enjoyed The Martian, I loooved Project Hail Mary but Artemis was lower down the rung for me. I think just because of Jazz. I couldn't gel with her, and maybe I'm being cynical but her character felt very 'male author struggles to write a woman'.

Still, I love what he does with his books. The nerd stuff is the action and it's a delight to follow along.

user-inactivated  ·  202 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: September 6, 2023

Three weeks into my role in IT, having finally left office management. It's amazing. The people are friendly, the work is interesting, and I'm so used to a stupidly hectic workload that what they're asking of me is quite doable, even as I'm learning the ropes. Plus there's actual clarity around the role. I have a portfolio of things to take care of, tickets come in when the helpdesk can't solve it, and away I go.

I'm even working from home today, which wasn't ever really an option before.

Is.. Is this, room to breathe? What a concept.

user-inactivated  ·  129 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: November 15, 2023

The joys of enjoying my job and leaving a shitty environment are still being realised. This weekend just past I did so much yardwork. Hedges trimmed, weeds whacked, lawns mowed, veggies maintained. Then my partner and I went out on a wee date to an art exhibition at Tūhura, our local museum. My partner is a big fan of this artist's work. I didn't know much about them but said artist's Instagram handle is 'Flesh_Dozer' so.. I was curious at the very least.

Anyway it was good fun, and even on Sunday night after the yardwork and the date and the socialising, I found myself still with energy to burn. I don't recall ever feeling this full of life. I hope it continues for a while yet.

The moon jellyfish one is fucking amazing too.

user-inactivated  ·  51 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: 563rd Weekly "Share Some Music You've Been Into Lately"

Ooooh thank you for the recommendation. Going through the album now and enjoying it.

user-inactivated  ·  52 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: 563rd Weekly "Share Some Music You've Been Into Lately"

Inspired a whole ass chapter in a writing project, just by listening to it last week.

user-inactivated  ·  266 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: July 5, 2023

So, turns out my employment woes were noticed by a few people within the organisation.

I'm now at the reference check stages for a job that had a timeline like this:

Day 1: I see an IT job posting on our internal network. It pays more and is more complicated than the role I interviewed, but didn't make the cut, for a few weeks back. I ignore it.

Day 3: I get a message from the University's recruitment team. "Hey did you see this role? I think you should apply for it". I explained my reticence, in that if I wasn't up to snuff for a lower paid job I can't see myself getting any further for something higher up. She replied "Please apply for it. It suits your skillset." I said I'd think about it. She replied "I've already told the panel."

Day 4: I apply

Day 5: The recruitment lady thanks me, and asks me to hold tight.

Day 14: The advert closes, I get a notification that it's closed. 5 minutes later, the recruitment lady calls me "Right interview time, when suits?"

Day 17: I have the interview. I think it goes well? I did some research, found the IT roadmap and talked about their past hurdles, plan for the future and what I would do to try and see that plan become a reality. Talked about soft skills, translating requirements and all that jazz. They seem to like me, but are a group of true-blue IT nerds, and I'm an extroverted hobbyist so I temper myself in the interview. They don't need 100% Foveaux. Nobody needs that.

Day 18: I put it out of my mind, certain that the recruitment lady was just doing me a favour because I was this close to getting the other role, but was pipped (out of 44 applicants) by someone who had the right degree. She calls me. "Reference check time! Who you got?" I offer up: The Dean, the head of IT for the Uni and my boss. I note that she specifically mentions I don't need to have my current boss as "we understand it might be detrimental". I offer my boss' details anyway. Don't want to rock that boat.

Currently, Day 19: My references are received, all glowing (even my boss). I get a call from the head of operations wanting me to do an exit interview. I said "I'm... I'm not leaving? Am I leaving?". She panics, because the organisation is going through a lengthy and draining voluntary redundancy process, which will be followed by involuntary redundancies. She follows with "No! No you're not. I heard you.. Might.. have an offer coming your way? Actually ignore me. Sorry. Lets revisit next week!"

So here I am wondering wtf is going on. I call my colleague, who explains it all.

Day -3: My colleague resigns very suddenly. Sudden for others, not for me. I helped her prep for her interviews and write her resignation letter to be juuuust diplomatically scathing enough, without burning bridges. Turns out, after HR received the resignation, they kicked into overdrive trying to keep her. With the redundancies and restructures, morale is at an all time low and good staff are running away. They need people like her. She's really, really good. She explains her reasoning for leaving (our narcissistic boss, the structure, no direction). They ask her to give them time to find a new role for her, elsewhere. She offers "Foveaux has one foot out the door too, by the way. He's the last of us, and the only one who was here before the restructure of 2018." and HR said "Leave it to us."

So it looks like our employers are pulling out all stops to keep us under their wings. My colleague just got offered a project management role after a coffee with the project lead, and I appear to have been politely strong-armed into applying for an IT role I thought I had no chance in, and they seem to be taking me very seriously. Surreal.

I guess I'll know by next Pubski?

user-inactivated  ·  148 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Lil told me to post this.

A Hubski flask!

user-inactivated  ·  153 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: October 25, 2023

Rugby World Cup final this weekend. NZ vs South Africa - the old foe. The winner will lift the Cup for a record 4th time, though NZ have undergone quite the redemption arc. 12 months ago NZ had lost a home series to Ireland (first time that's happened) a first home loss to Argentina, as well as record points loss against South Africa. Looking back even further, the last four years have felt like the swansong of the dominant era of NZ rugby. First loss to Ireland, first loss to Argentina. England in the 2019 World Cup dismantled NZ so thoroughly I think the psychic damage is still being felt. I'd never seen a team unstitch us so effectively.

The coach and the captain were on the chopping block, but in the space of a year they've turned it around. They nearly put 100 points past Italy, toppled No. 1 Ireland, breezed past a fiesty Argentina and will now face the big dogs in the final.

Uhh yeah. Rugby rah rah.

Two months into Spring aaand it's snowing outside my office window. Fingers crossed it starts to settle and my boss tells me to go home, I'll start the weekend early.

user-inactivated  ·  244 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: July 27th, 2023

I've finally worked up the courage to share some of my writing projects with impartial readers, for some constructive feedback.

It's been great. The constructive feedback is on point and highlighting things I just hadn't thought about, or noticed, or thought was working but evidently wasn't. I'm really grateful for it. Already edited things in/out/shuffling around.

The positive feedback has also been lovely to receive (as it would be). One reader assumed I was a woman because of the relatable way I was portraying the female MC in the story, then was pleasantly surprised to discover I'm a dude. Dialogue getting some good praise, realistic interpretations of how people might react to things, world feels connected and sense of both scale and time passing has been captured. Overall, it's viewed as a fun read, and each time the person provided feedback they asked for more to read over.

Another project I got feedback on was a series of short horror/sci-fi stories that I was hoping build a little anthology out of. So far each person has said "Would love to see this a full blown adventure" which I was hoping to hear. I wanted to write some interesting tidbits and capture enough of someone's imagination or interest that they'd like to see more of it, and more fleshed out.

Feels good. Onwards.

user-inactivated  ·  208 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: A tale from my grandfather

That's wonderful you have something from her. I know exactly what you mean about the smell. When I lift the piano lid it still has that same smell of grandma and grandads house. I don't know how long that will remain but so far so good. If you find the time to keep playing it, I hope it brings you some joy!

I am relearning the piano! I played when I was a teen, did grading to a point but couldn't tell you how far along I got. I stopped during high school, to focus on rugby (and I have no doubt, was worried playing an instrument wasn't manly. Stupid stuff). I have a book now essentially called 'relearning the piano for dummies.' for people who have the muscle memory but sheet music to them, is hieroglyphs. Working through it bit by bit!

It's going well and I'm forever grateful that I inherited it, and that I got to spend the time I did with grandad. Growing up he was just that, grandad. But as I got older I realised all the things he'd done over the years. I found a wonderful write up that goes over everything though that would probably dox myself in some way - if I were to post it here. But the list involves two scholarships as a teacher, to travel the world and learn about other countries best teaching practice, working with handicapped students, running the local meals on wheels and reading to the blind as a part of his volunteering, helping to kick start a govt funded sex/health education program that is still in operation up and down the country, coaching sport, teaching music, playing in orchestras (and conducting smaller events) and amongst all of that, just being grandad. The write up even covers his gardening talents. The man practically willed tomatoes into existence.

I need to do more. That's the conclusion I've come to.

user-inactivated  ·  160 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: October 18, 2023

Tomatos? In. Chilies? In. Pumpkin? In. Will Pumpkin or chilies grow in southern NZ? Dunno, let's find out.

Cucumbers? Going in next.

I was sent to a course this week, covering ITIL. That was some dry fuckin' content. Passed the exam comfortably, but wow... I spent three days trying to keep my eyes open.

NZ held off the strongest Irish rugby team in history to go through to the Semi-Finals of the World Cup. I had money on Ireland winning, they were looking imperious and had been the last 2 years. But somehow we fended them off. I really feel for Ireland. They've made it to the quarter-finals in all but one World Cup, and every time they get beaten. This was the best equipped they'd ever been but the curse remains.

I'm going in to town to watch the Semi tomorrow morning 8am kick off for us. Bars are open, though I'm unsure if I want to start my day with a beer. The garden calls to me, afterall.

user-inactivated  ·  62 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: January 24, 2024

Very silly things so far. A janky password generator, a guessing game. Stuff to teach some basics really.

The software I use/support at work uses it and currently anything require coding or messing with a script we go to a vendor for, but they've also been teaching me bits and pieces so I don't have to bother them with small things.

I don't need to learn it but my employer is happy for me to fuck around with it on work time if it means I can fix problems myself down the track!

user-inactivated  ·  387 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: USA Powerlifting to allow trans athletes to compete with women after losing suit

As possibly the only resident powerlifter here.. I say "Yes let them lift", with a sprinkle of "It's tricky". When it comes to team/contact sports, I understand (on paper) the need for division. Rugby: When I was in high school, the girls 1st XV (18 years old) challenged the boys 1st XV to a friendly match. The girls team were back to back regional champs, and had competed in the national comp, narrowly losing the final. They were extremely good, and a number of them have since gone on to play professionally. The teachers and coaches of both teams, said "No". So the girls challenged the 2nd XV (still 18 years, but less good) and again, were told "No."

They made their way down to the Under 15s side (14/15 years old) and they were met with a reluctant "Allright". Come match day, what would have been a 70 minute game of two 35 minute halves, was called off at half time as the boys side racked up 50 points and battered their opponents. It wasn't even close to a competition, and the boys side was reluctant throughout, opting to just attack the gaps and avoid contact as much as possible. Now, as the women's game has grown into a full-fledged professional setup here in New Zealand, we're now seeing phenomenal athletes get the air-time, money and fame they deserve. You couldn't fuckin' pay me to get in front of Portia Woodman. But splitting the genders in a high contact sport makes sense, cause Portia Woodman would get demoed in the men's game, and Portia Woodman is a terrifying powerhouse.

The only question I think worth asking around this in team/contact sports is, "Is anyone going to get hurt by this?". Be it a trans woman playing with women or a trans man playing against men. I will note I never see the latter of these situations making headlines. Nobody seems worried if a small trans dude wants to kick it with his brethren. It's always the trans women wanting to play with her sisters that gets people out of sorts. We certainly aren't seeing a sudden influx of men transitioning to women to play high level rugby with high level athletes bodies. So even then, my only question isn't likely ever going to be asked. Not in good faith, anyway.

But with powerlifting, the old adage is that you're really only competing with yourself. There's no contact. It's just you, the bar and the weights. Do the job right, you get the three white lights. Do the job really right, you get to take home a trophy or a record. Nobody is getting physically hurt by another competitor. While I can understand the fear of the scenario, where a young powerlifting prodigy in the women's grade is outshone by a trans woman who is simply stronger and nobody can compete with them, as far as I know it hasn't happened. Janae Maree Kroc stopped competitve lifting once she begun hormone therapy to aid her transition, and she's about the only person I can think of who could have fit the 'scenario'.

Jaycee Cooper, from the article, has a decidely unremarkable powerlifting record. And I use the word unremarkable to support her in her ventures. She didn't transition to sneak in a world record. In the 2022 comp, she successfully lifted:

Squat: 150kg

Bench: 97.5kg (failed 102.5kg)

Deadlift: 155kg

She, and everyone else, were eclipsed by Amanda Lawrence. Who, in the same weight class as Jaycee, lifted:

Squat: 242.5kg

Bench: 130kg

Deadlift: 252kg

You have to drop down weight classes to about the 60kg range, before finding people that Jaycee would be on par with in the competition, and even then it's only on bench. That could be a holdover from her body having more testosterone pre-transition? But it's not my business. All I know is that typically, men have noticeably stronger upper bodies. Case in point, I can bench more than Amanda Lawrence. No fucking way I can squat or deadlift more than her, and she's about 10kg lighter than I am.

Sorry that's a lot of waffle, it's something I get asked about at work as these conversations come up, and I've been in that powerlifting community for the better part of a decade. A longwinded way of saying I'm with kb and say "Let them lift". Jaycee was never going to set records, and it was never about that. She just wants to compete and be valid.

user-inactivated  ·  69 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: 561st Weekly "Share Some Music You've Been Into Lately"

I clicked on KILLCAM, and skipped to random section. Just to get the full absurd blast.

I was greeted with autotuned Squidward yelling "That's my dick in your main bitch", then Spongebob hit a 720 quick-scope.

Consider me blasted.

user-inactivated  ·  69 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: 561st Weekly "Share Some Music You've Been Into Lately"

and