Pride heels

Pride heels, a photo by Miss Batz on Flickr.

Pride heels

Self Image...

Watching My Transexual Summer made me think about whether I'd go full time at some point. Thing is though would the result match with my idealised version of 'girl me'. I'd prefer natural hair over a wig long term*, a more feminine face, a slimmer figure and slightly less clompy feet. Of course this is all a pipe dream, I guess seeing girls like this just makes me jealous. I don't think boi me is a looker but it's all I've got to work from. Best work on my make-up/wig styling.

Mind you I really need to get out more, though I don't think Exeter is the best place for such things. The clubs all seem to be based around whoring out freshers and I always seem to get hassle in Vaults (the local Gay Bar where you'd have thought they'd have been tolerant), think I'll have to try travelling for a few nights out next year (though that causes it's own problems if you meet someone)

* Boi me has very little hair of his own - I lost it at 19!
**I do wonder how the permanent MtF's deal with waking up with receded hair pre-wig. I guess I'll have to source that Finasteride

My Transexual Summer

I've been watching My Transexual Summer over the last week or so and while I'm enjoying the series, I do feel that they are concentrating on a couple of people out of the seven, much as Drew and Lewis's stories need to be told, I'd like to find out more about Donna, Fox and Max who haven't really been featured outside of the retreat. Donna is fabulous though, I love her confidence and wish I had as much as she does! UK Types can see the series on youtube - for non UK types the series is available via Bittorrent/Pirate Bay and other dubious sites

Halloween dominatrix

Halloween dominatrix, a photo by Miss Batz on Flickr.

Halloween dominatrix

Video: Leather Opera Gloves

A short video of my new leather opera gloves for Whitby. This year's Manic Monday theme is S&M so I'm going as a Dominatrix! Mind you I do want to improve my fetish looks and definitely have a preference for leather after an aborted flirtation with a boi who was into it (turned out he had a girlfriend and wanted to see me behind her back. While I'm open to polyamorous relationships, I do believe that all parties should be consenting!

Travel: Wave Gotik Treffen

Well it's official. Next year I'm going to the world's biggest Goth festival; Wave Gotik Treffen in Leipzig. I last went in 2008 and had a blast despite the 15 hour drive, this time I'll be going with a few friends and instead of driving we are going to fly from Bristol to Berlin with Easyjet, have a stop overnight in Berlin before getting the train onto Leipzig the following day. Plane tickets have been bought, Hotels are booked, now just need to sort out the train and festival tickets.

WGT itself is an experience for the UK goth used to small events like Whitby. Firstly the Agra (the main venue) holds more people then attend the entire WGW (and it is one of about 10 venues), secondly the whole thing is very well organised (as you would expect from the Germans) as the city council support the event (even down to giving festival goers free use of the city's public transport system for the duration).

Of course, the line up usually pretty good, with 160 bands spread over multiple venues there is usually something for every taste on the dark spectrum. With VNV Nation having a new album out I'm hoping they are playing next year!

I'm also looking forward to the chance to see a little bit of Berlin, though I'll only be making a flying visit I'll try and make the most of it. Mind you I could try and make a second trip later in the year....

Make-up

I’m giving a lot of thought to investing more in makeup and improving my skills. I’ve just ordered this brush set as my current ones are getting a bit rough around the edges. My thinking is that I can always upgrade incrementally to better brushes when my budget and travels permit (Exeter’s department stores don’t have full ranges, though that might change if and when John Lewis finally opens – Oct 2012 is the latest date I heard)

So do you guys have any recommendations or tips?

Another interesting look…

I love Jennifer Morrison’s boots but Louboutins are way out of my league!

(via Booted up)

Team Fortress 2 and Free-To-Play

This is quite a geeky post - you have been warned.

Valve recently made their game Team Fortress 2 Free-to-Play, with ancillary revenue from the in game MANN CO store providing Valve's income. This has caused some controversy from those that have already purchased the game, but I can't see the issue. If you paid £20 on the game's release back in 2007 you've had four years of play, that works out at £5 per year. I wonder if these people complain when other things they have previously bought are discounted, would you be upset if a game you bought a few years ago is now in the Bargain Bin? If you bought a DVD player before they became available in supermarkets for £15 would you feel aggrieved?

It's not just Valve - other companies are also exploring the Free-To-Play model, with income coming via other sources. I guess it is a reaction to the rise of Facebook games like Farmville, where it is possible to play for free with income coming from people buying things they don't need for gameplay. Things like buildings in Farmville, Hats in Team Fortress are all unnecessary but people still buy them. I can see dynamic in-game advertising becoming more common as well.

I guess a good analogy would be the Low Cost Airlines. Flying to Dublin with Flybe in May, the actual fare was £0.00, of course I had to pay airport tax etc which made it £40 but on the fare breakdown the airline claimed that their share of the amount paid was nothing. (how much they add to the taxes is unknown). However then come the optional extras (the Tractors, Buildings and Hats)

• Seats are assigned automatically - but if I wanted to chose my seat on the plane = £6 each way
• Hand Baggage was free, however hold baggage was extra.
• There was advertising both in the in-flight magazine, on the seat backs and headrests.
• There was a stand promoting the airline's credit card in the departure lounge.

It's possible to avoid these extras (apart from the advertising), much like I've yet to buy anything from the Mann Co. Store in TF2

Of course airlines take things further. Ryanair have advertising over the PA during boarding and flight and have many many more extra charges and have grown to be the largest airline in Europe.

Could we see more of the Games industry going this way with games being free or very low initial cost and optional extras providing the company's profit.

A Gothic Fetish Look

I must say that I love this look....

Not sure about the hair though and obviously it would be for gothy/fetishy things :)