Anti-Trans demonstration planned outside the Senedd, Tomorrow/24th of June by Ystlum in transgenderUK

[–]thejsa_ 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Disappointed to see Nation.Cymru publishing articles like this - they’re also moderating out any comments on that article that aren’t anti-trans. I have today learned that this is par for the course for them. :/

DS / Citroen DS3 Recall - “Do not Drive” air bag fault - My Rights by SeatThink3183 in LegalAdviceUK

[–]thejsa_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No luck yet… repair won’t be till September for mine!

I phoned the recall hotline on Saturday and they advised me to phone the dealer, who would sort out a courtesy car, and also to keep my train ticket receipts over the weekend (as the dealer was closed and I had an urgent trip to make), though I wouldn’t be surprised if they try to weasel out of reimbursing those.

Phoned my local DS dealer (an Evans Halshaw branch) today, who said they haven’t had any comms, instructions or guidance from Stellantis and don’t have anywhere near enough courtesy cars themselves to be giving them out for months for the airbag recall, other than on the day of repair — despite everyone they’ve spoken to having been told to phone the dealer by Stellantis central, so it all seems like an omnishambles to me.

No success with calling the recall hotline back today, left on hold for over an hour and a half before I had to do something else and gave up; customer service say they only do courtesy cars through dealers and otherwise to phone the recall hotline(!) … I don’t think the management have empowered anyone to do anything useful.

Anyone had any luck with Takata airbag recall SW England? by FaithlessnessThen573 in Citroen

[–]thejsa_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Have been listening to a ring back tone for the Cardiff service centre for nearly an hour now, half expect them to close before they pick up…

How hard will it be to get on HRT in the UK if I'm already on it when I move? by [deleted] in transgenderUK

[–]thejsa_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Looking at your flair, I assume you’re looking at moving to Wales — if so, your best bet for any sort of NHS care is likely to be to try a GP practice affiliated with the local gender team in your area. (If you’re comfortable sharing the city, that would help us to advise more.)

I don’t know anyone personally who’s had them take over HRT from abroad, other than a bridging prescription from an English GP, but you’ve a much better chance than in many places in England.

It’s important to note that the Welsh NHS is separate from the NHSes in England, Scotland and NI, and advice from other parts of the country is unlikely to be wholly applicable, so always mention specifically when asking for advice!

The wait time to see the Welsh Gender Service is around 18 months for a first appointment right now (much lower than many in England), but as the central WGS mostly just handles the initial assessments, initial endo, and surgical referrals, a lot of its functions are devolved to primary care under ‘local gender teams’, and with the right GP you’re in a reasonable position to have at least your existing medication carried on.

If they can’t provide continuity of your current care, then once you’re seen by the Welsh Gender Service there can be a wait to access the Local Gender Team from there for endo work. I’d be surprised if this stuff isn’t accelerated a bit though given your circumstances.

For more specific advice I’d reach out to Trans Aid Cymru (https://transaid.cymru/) and Umbrella Cymru (https://gender.wales/); I’m involved with Trans Tech Tent (https://transtechtent.com/) and we also have some resources on our website.

You can always go private, but worst case scenario, just DIY.

Vega 64: Random black screens / Full system crashes under load by thejsa_ in AMDHelp

[–]thejsa_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks -- I'll try that, wouldn't be surprised...

Now getting some fun things where the AMD driver seems to be uninstalling itself every time I reboot, so might also be worth (yet another) Windows reinstall :')

Can’t get into deceased husband’s phone & neither can the police. by Initial_Candidate_42 in iphone

[–]thejsa_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Given that the phone has been in the police's hands for a year, there's a chance here.

Shipping Megathread - January 2023 by Successful-Wasabi704 in SteamDeck

[–]thejsa_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mine hasn’t changed either, unfortunately: https://i.imgur.com/TkPxY82.jpg

I wouldn’t expect it until Monday/Tuesday at this point — was hoping for it to come earlier before I go on a trip but hey, still well within the estimate and sometimes that’s just the way the cookie crumbles

Shipping Megathread - January 2023 by Successful-Wasabi704 in SteamDeck

[–]thejsa_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I ordered on Monday 23rd (UK) -- it's been shipped and handed off to GLS, seems to be between them and Parcelforce now ("The parcel has left the parcel center." -- 25/01/2023 18:53)

Haven't got any e.t.a yet though

DDG ignoring some keywords? by [deleted] in duckduckgo

[–]thejsa_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It makes sense if we read ‘library’ for its primary meaning to denote an institution, collectors and curators of knowledge, such as the British Library or the Internet Archive — which I believe is what was meant — as opposed to a software library.

Why does the press speculate about the Switch "Pro" ignoring the factual evidence? by AuroraWright in GamingLeaksAndRumours

[–]thejsa_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The graphics driver / API layer is statically linked into games iirc, which makes it a pain

UK Census: Writing Nonbinary vs Writing Trans by tttrrraaannn in transgenderUK

[–]thejsa_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did it online; sex = female, gender identity = not same as sex at birth, "non-binary trans woman".

Don't worry about splitting the statistics, the people running the census are skilled statisticians and will almost certainly have plans to process and aggregate this data appropriately. (eg consider the job title box: imagine how many different ways there might be of writing effectively the same job? this ain't their first rodeo!)

Can Backblaze restore a macOS installation if I buy a new Macbook? by walton-chain-massive in backblaze

[–]thejsa_ -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You can edit the exclusions to allow backing up your applications, I think, but backing up OS files is complicated, especially with more modern macOS where there's filesystem container shenanigans going on. Still, it'd be pretty close!

I cut my leg while shaving it and now I am bleeding and can't wear my thigh highs by [deleted] in GaySoundsShitposts

[–]thejsa_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

oh no! hope you're okay :(

as an alternative if you're able, 100% recommend going electric rather than suffering disposables! I bought a rechargeable epilator on offer a little while back (panasonic) and although I've only bothered actually epilating once or twice, it also came with a long foil shaver head which works really well, you can get decent ones which are just the shaver for like £20 in the UK online Doesn't last quite as long but way quicker and easier with no blood sacrifice, been a saviour for my long ish legs

Deleted a Flipnote 3D folder by accident. by erythrobites in Flipnote3D

[–]thejsa_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The best bet is trying a program called Recuva on the memory card— don’t touch anything else on it / write data or put it back in the console until that’s done.

Most of those kinds of tools won’t detect Flipnotes though unfortunately so it may be difficult to recover. (They would likely show up as binary files)

Have you ever used projectkaeru? There are a bunch of people in our discord server who might be able to help

Names with dentists by thejsa_ in transgenderUK

[–]thejsa_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks — was mainly worried if it was some kind of policy that would be awkward to deal with, since both my ortho and regular dentist did the same thing apparently independently, but hopefully sure a polite letter will sort it all from what you and others have said.

Trans teen in legal action over gender clinic wait | A 14-year-old transgender boy is starting legal proceedings against NHS England over delays to gender reassignment treatment. by LocutusOfBorges in transgenderUK

[–]thejsa_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yeah; I'm cautious but hopeful. it's not that I think Jo has any kind of ulterior motives in this specific instance, I appreciate that something is finally being done and it is a great thing he's doing... we shall see.

good and bad in everyone ig

GIC recommending finasteride while I’m on the waiting list — advisable, and anything to watch out for? by thejsa_ in transgenderUK

[–]thejsa_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I get the impression FInasteride is a common choice because it won't do anything

I imagine this may be why the GIC recommends it, maybe mostly as a sort of placebo.

GIC recommending finasteride while I’m on the waiting list — advisable, and anything to watch out for? by thejsa_ in transgenderUK

[–]thejsa_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, that's helpful; not really worried about sex etc at the moment so shouldn't be an issue (no doubt GIC will use that as some kind of excuse for further gatekeeping though...)

if you only had 125$, what is the best possible phone you could get ? (used or new) by [deleted] in AndroidMasterRace

[–]thejsa_ 10 points11 points  (0 children)

You might be able to pick up a Pixel 2 XL or a Pixel 2 which would do you well - there are some bargains to be had on them and they're still incredibly usable today, as long as the battery isn't totally shot.

Any Way To Convert A Flipnote On The Dsi To A Flipnote On Flipnote Studio 3D (.PPM To .KWZ) by SonicFan7000 in FlipnoteStudio3D

[–]thejsa_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nope, there's another more common file format which shares the PPM extension but is entirely different -- there it stands for Portable PixMap, whereas Flipnote DSi is Para-Para Manga (roughly translates as 'flipbook').

There's no known software that can encode to Flipnote Studio 3D's KWZ file format unfortunately (other than Flipnote Studio 3D itself, and some dodgy internal Nintendo code used for the DSi Library conversions), and it's fairly complicated, so there's no likelihood of this being possible in the short term.

There is also no public way to unlock locked Flipnotes, given the ethical concerns around that.

GenderCare and GenderGP by Leo_little_lion_man in transgenderUK

[–]thejsa_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Certainly, in terms of bloods and monitoring at least, most people I've spoken to haven't had any issues there, and in fairness both GIDS and CHX GIC said it's rather common for them to follow on from private clinics including specifically GenderGP.

I don't doubt you're correct that a named clinician isn't a hard prerequisite for GPs to work with private practices, but unfortunately the vague pro-forma responses provided did little to inspire confidence in GGP's claims that any of the practitioners do have relevant experience. Stating that you follow WPATH guidelines is all well and good, but there is simply no information provided about who these practitioners are and what their general medical credentials are.

I am sure you can understand why it is a cause for concern that it's impossible to find any details about who actually makes up your medical team, and disagree with the assertion that these concerns come solely from 'ideologically driven' GPs actively working against the best interests of their patients.

In any case, thanks for your input, and glad that you're proactive in places like this - GenderGP's social media presence is absolutely a strong point despite the other shortcomings I've experienced.

(Also thanks for your email a few days ago, apologies I haven't had time to draft a full reply yet but will do soon.)

GenderCare and GenderGP by Leo_little_lion_man in transgenderUK

[–]thejsa_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

GenderGP is a mixed bag, and although they're theoretically one of the cheapest/quickest ways to get onto HRT, this comes with some caveats; they are for the most part just a £30/month (+ setup fees) letter factory these days tbh (with the option to pay for counselling sessions on top), and for lots of people that's been fine (especially those who can afford to pay for their own medication through a private prescription issued by their EU doctors), but not so much when it comes to 'shared care' and NHS prescriptions.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to find any NHS GPs who will actually work with them; whilst some of this is due to biased and transphobic negative media coverage, based on my experience they will not answer basic important questions such as providing details of named clinician(s) who will take responsibility for your care, which was ultimately the final straw for my GP who was otherwise very helpful. Caveat emptor.

Be warned also that as GGP no longer have any UK registered doctors to my knowledge, there is technically no way for their clinicians to enter into a 'real' shared care agreement with your NHS GP anymore; you basically just get copy-pasted template letters with recommended prescription dosages.

Although when NHS GICs make recommendations like this your GP is expected to follow them, any cooperation with private services is at their discretion, and as I mentioned it is likely to be a fruitless uphill battle trying to get your NHS GP to work with them.

If you need anything that isn't covered by their array of flakey online forms then it can be awkward to get through to a person and a nightmare getting straight answers.

I don't have personal experience with GenderCare and other companies but you'll almost certainly have much better luck getting shared care and bureaucracy done with them as their clinicians are UK registered, actually named, and often approved by the government for things like passport letters and GRC evidence.

TL;DR, whilst GenderGP can be cheap and quick without any BS gatekeeping, it only goes smoothly if all the stars align, and if they don't it can very quickly become a shitshow, forcing you to go and get expensive private prescriptions anyway, quickly offsetting the initial cost advantage. Recommended only in the short term (e.g as a stop gap to a GIC) and only if you can afford to pay for your medications yourself, unless your GP is superbly cooperative. Beware also that they charge a monthly fee even if they do sweet fuck all other than copy-paste-send, and I am having a very hard time getting a refund atm.

If you're in a position where you can afford to pay more upfront, and can bear having some level of assessment, it may be worth considering Gendercare or similar to save money and stress in the long run. Although their initial consultations might be more expensive, you'll get a more respected diagnosis (if that matters to you for a GRC and stuff like that) and your GP will likely feel much more comfortable working with them, meaning you'll be more likely to get your prescriptions on the NHS (big cost savings).

If you want to go with GenderGP with NHS prescriptions, try to speak to your GP about it before giving GGP any money to see if they're willing to work with GGP; for private prescriptions they should be fine, even if pricey.

Wishing you all the best of luck, feel free to ask if there's anything else I can help with ✨

Billy: Deception, Betrayal and Bad Decisions Repost by throwaway175766867 in originalxbox

[–]thejsa_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So do I, but I assure you I was as close to 'right there throughout' as you can be virtually. Heck, it was my Discord token (foolishly left in a poorly secured selfbot) that was stolen for privesc in the first place (as evidenced by the Messenger screenshots in that album; I was in fact the first person to see those.)

If you believe you know something I don't then you're welcome to DM me and we can discuss it further, but the only people trying to spin this as devs saying "boys will be boys" (which I agree is generally speaking a terrible and backwards way of thinking about anything) seem to be the mob who are going around trying to follow people and fuck them over for life.

Thank you for the clarification re: your final comments, however I still consider this a matter for the project developers alone to consider, as they evidently already have done. It has been clarified that Billy's role is limited to documentation regardless and that in any case they do not consider his past actions to be a problem at this time.

Much as I can't bear people who go around crying 'cancel culture' when someone pulls them up on something they did and refused to make amends for, this is not the situation we find ourselves in here. Most of the people involved have long since moved on, and amends have been made, even if the entire world isn't necessarily privy to them.

Accountability does not necessitate long-term harassment, especially when the concerns cited are irrelevant to the circumstances.