That's right, I finally got a new poll up. I realize that I've been slacking a bit on the weekly polls, but hopefully I can fix that and make that be a more regular/consistant thing. In the mean time feel free to take the new poll about discrimination and review the results of last "months" poll.
H: And now for the final part, i hope you could share a bit about yourself and your life.
7. I notice in your vlog you talk alot about your music or photography. I'd like to hear more about what kinda projects you have on the go and what other interests and talents you pursue. I also love when you just post videos of just playing around on the guitar. How is the band doing? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wPgEgRZ-1Y
Ah yes, music. I discovered a love for music when I was 13. As soon as I was 16 and could afford to buy an instrument, I was hooked for life! Photography too has been a keen interest of mine, but sadly as my health has been in decline its becoming harder and harder to carry the equipment that I need. I used to be a professional photographer and really enjoyed doing a lot of photography for the magazine that I used to run. Now its much more difficult for me and I feel like a small part of my career prospects have died along with it. Its not too bad I suppose as Im always a very busy body!
I really love to draw illustrations, particularly manga. I realise that its really difficult to break out into the professional world of illustration and I have my music, so for me its more of a hobby than anything serious. Of course, I do a lot of artwork for my bands promotional material and then it becomes serious, but I could never place drawing as more important than my music.
Im also a real geek when it comes to anything technical. I build or heavily modify a lot my musical instruments and Im also the sound technician and do all the recordings for my band. I have my own studio, which is in fact my bedroom. Its not for general commercial hire, but more for making the music that I make and sometimes for recording other artists. I used to be an avid gamer too although if I sit down to play computer games, I forget that I have a life with important things to do, so I try to keep myself active. Computer games are really, really fun, but its no substitute for real life! My Nintendo DS gets a decent workout though. I love my DS and find that I can pick it up whilst travelling or waiting for people and put it down when I please. Its great because it generally goes where I go and theres a tonne of great programs for it that make it fabulous for more than just games! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HqTGBZQkxc
I love making videos (of course) and if I had more time, money and better equipment, I'd seriously consider making much better Youtube videos! I tend to spread myself a little thinly sometimes over these things because my music and Japanese studies take up so much of my time. But I find at least that a lot of my hobbies tend to lend themselves towards inspiring me with my music or learning Japanese. Oh, and as much as Im sometimes shy to admit it, Im also a real anime and manga geek. I tend to stick to the really dark stuff. Or the really girly drama ones: Im a sucker for a good, tear-jerking romance!
And now the thrilling continuation of yesterdays Almost Famous - Part 1 and Hollys interview with MercuryNeedle. Part 3 (the final part) will be coming tomorrow, so look forward to that.
4. What do you think the trans community would be like if it wasn't for youtube?
The trans community without youtube? Thats a difficult one. Ive met a lot of trans people both in person and online and often I find theres little crossover with the various online communities. In person can be really difficult too as many trans people dont want to be noticed as being trans.
Forums and BBSs are great places for transgendered people looking to remain anonymous and those hoping to explore their transition safely. Youtube is very interesting because it cuts a fine line between an internet safe-space and a loss of anonymity. People cant physically harm you on Youtube, but they can know your face and your voice which adds a much more personal interaction from the perspective of the people in the video. It gives you a chance to be heard and to be listened to. You dont get that kind of intimacy with forums, but you reveal a very personal part of your identity. Personally, weighing the advantages and the disadvantages, I find myself enamoured with the idea.
The Youtube trans community is mostly really positive and a great way to find support for those who have none or close to in their area. Its a fairly unstructured community too and it can be quite a joy to keep discovering new people and videos that youve never seen before. You really dont know what one video to the next are going to bring by following related video links, so its really exciting. You can obviously find out specific information too, which is great.
The open, unstructured nature of the Youtube community is a really positive thing and without it I think people within the global trans community would be more bottlenecked into smaller communities with less eclectic ideas on transition, gender politics, etc. The Youtube community really lends itself to new thoughts and I think thats nothing short of progression for the wider communities. And progress is usually powerful, especially in the hands of an uncensored and vocal minority.
I suggested to Erin that as well as having a video of the week section on her website she should also do something like a "youtuber" of the month as well. She liked the idea so much she put me to actual task of doing the article, so I figured I'd give it all I got and hopefully create something wonderful for this website. Originally it was to be a small shout out to people I like to follow on youtube, but as things progressed the project quickly took off and grew into a much larger piece.
For this first article I selected a youtuber who I have been watching for quite sometime now, pretty much since I started watching peoples video blogs on youtube. I always look forward to new videos by her, as I find her such a fascinating and remarkable personality within the trans community of youtube. Her videos are ecclectic at times, but have always kept me smiling and engaged with her opinions and discussion topics. Every now and then she may comment about her dissatisfaction with her own voice, but I keep reminding her that she speaks her mind quite eloquently, and that it is the content of speach that matters most. Certainly she has inspired me in my own personal transition, but she is such an inspiration in a wide variety of subjects -- be it music, photography, or simply Hairstyles.
Maxie (youtube mercuryneedle) is a talented vlogger and musician, and quite honestly an all around wonderful woman. I thoroughly enjoyed our correspondence not just for the sake of youtube or this website, but on a personal level as well. She has inspired me in my own hopes and dreams for what i wish do in my life.
It is my great honour to share this conversation with you the reader, and without further ado, I present to you my interview with Maxie.
There is just so much amazing stuff out there on youtube i just had to fill in again and share this awesome video. I stumbled upon this person's channel and also saw that she had some guitar videos. I noticed one of her favourite musicians was Frank Zappa, someone i like to listen to as well, so i requested her to play a Zappa Tune. To my surprise, she actually did! So yeah, check out http://www.youtube.com/ShredGuitarGirl for some pretty great videos!
That's right, I finally got a new poll up. I realize that I've been slacking a bit on the weekly polls, but hopefully I can fix that and make that be a more regular/consistant thing. In the mean time feel free to take the new poll about discrimination and review the results of last "months" poll.
H: And now for the 
And now the thrilling continuation of yesterdays 
I suggested to Erin that as well as having a video of the week section on her website she should also do something like a "youtuber" of the month as well. She liked the idea so much she put me to actual task of doing the article, so I figured I'd give it all I got and hopefully create something wonderful for this website. Originally it was to be a small shout out to people I like to follow on youtube, but as things progressed the project quickly took off and grew into a much larger piece.
