The recent outcry regarding Transgender toilet issues in the US has pulled Obama into the frame with his strict warning to schools saying that transgender pupils have to be allowed to use the toilet of their choice. This is a great step forward both transgender adults and kids, or just people that feel they are a prisoner in their own body.
Obama’s knee jerk action came after North Carolina issued a bill insisting that people use the restroom of the gender displayed on their birth certificate. But the Deep South is predictable in its discrimination, after all it is the land of the red neck and it is no surprise that their bias should extend to such an issue.
A recent visit to the South confirmed it for me when visiting the Mississippi Dam and I was warned by a random male after hearing my accent, to watch out for gentlemen of a certain colour, a detail I will spare you on this page, but one that you can imagine. My outrage was such that I challenged the person in question, but quickly realized my words were falling on deaf and rather bigoted ears.
The response from the Transgender community over the issue of toilet freedom has been so massive that even Trump, and I am sorry to use the ‘T’ word, has issued a statement saying that he supports the rights of transgender people. Quite a revelation within his already diehard policies on ‘cleaning up’ America, and we know what that means coming from his lips!. It has an unrealistic ring about it, and proffers the question of his credibility as he steps up his campaign. But we accept it as another endorsement of transgender which can only be good.
Miley Cyrus, Ringo Starr, Bryan Adams and Bruce Springsteen all cancelled gigs in North Carolina to support the right of trans kids. ‘Some things are more important than rock,’ said Springsteen, which was a revelation in itself.
But the deep South is also a law unto itself and it is no surprise that they sent a lawsuit to Washington which was immediately overturned and firmly thrown back into the arms of the intolerant court of Colorado.
This issue of transgender loos is a talking point now in the UK, and we must ask ourselves is this something that we welcome, and what if any are the repercussions.
If it a matter of principle then yes, a great step forward for transgender and in my opinion, one that must be passed to enable us to move forward despite the inconvenience (excuse the pun) of perhaps the future being one of unisex restrooms. Well why not, the majority of homes in the UK have shared bathrooms and toilets for families and guests – and as long as the majority of public loos are still regulated and maintained, it should matter less and less as we integrate and eliminate our prejudice of gender, race and sexual preference.
I have just returned from California the land of unashamed beauty, toned abs and flawless skin, which has given me a major injection of OMG and inspired me in ways too numerous to mention.
It is astounding how a bit of sun and sobriety (almost) can inspire you, and this trip certainly did it for me as I hung out with some of the beautiful people, and knowing that I had to lose those extra pounds built up over Winter in London and the absence of visits to the Gym.
So now that I am back, how am I going to kick start my diet and aspire to feel like I can sit around a pool and know that I am in reasonable shape, and even more importantly know that I am boosting my immune system and giving myself a great feeling of well being. Well, juicing of course!
Such are the huge health benefits of juicing that people have cured themselves of major diseases like cancer and diabetes through switching to a solid free diet, and after just a few weeks of juicing are entirely free of any trace of disease or infection.
So how to get started?? The biggest deterrent has actually been sourcing information on how to do it properly and then buying the ingredients and more especially the juicer. It all sounds ‘long’ and very expensive. But it doesn’t have to be.
There are some great juicers on the market, from a simple Lexen Jucer for around £26 to an Omega Twin Gear Juicer for £425 with lots of options in between.
It is probably advisable to begin with the simpler version and work your way up to a more sophisticated model if you discover juicing is for you.
It could be that you decide to juice just one or two days a week to begin, and gradually build up the time spent with this diet. It may be advisable to begin at a weekend when your time is your own and work is not an issue. You can then blend and carry with you on days when away from home, depending on your lifestyle.
Don’t feel you have to make this rather big life change all in one go, because it is major in anyone’s life, and this could be discouraging. Better to have a plan to implement over say two to three months, and then you will be comfortable with what suits you and your schedule. The important thing is that it works for you.
Here is a nice easy recipe from juicerecipes.com that I have tried and recommend to get you started, and remember enjoy the experience and the weight loss and abundance of energy that juicing will do for you.
This is for beginners that are looking for a green juice that tastes great. It’s sweet while having a nice citrus flavor to it.
Depending on the capability of your juicer, you can always juice everything except the spinach, then finish it in a blender with the spinach.
Ingredients
Apples – 3 medium (3″ dia) 546g Celery – 4 stalk, large (11″-12″ long) 256g Ginger Root – 1/4 thumb (1″ dia) 6g Lemon (with rind) – 1/2 fruit (2-1/8″ dia) 29g Orange (peeled) – 1 large (3-1/16″ dia) 184g Spinach – 5 handfuls125g
Owning your own home is a dream most people aspire to and is increasingly tough in these days of rising house prices. But how important is it to actually buy rather than rent. We examine some of the pros and cons of buying versus renting – pointing out the advantages and pitfalls of both.
Renting is something we tend to hide in the UK, as it has become a bit of a shameful secret, whereas on the Continent or in Europe, it seems to be far more acceptable and more transparent in people’s lives.
There are certainly many advantages to living in rental accommodation depending on your lifestyle and plans for the future. Student accommodation is a given in that gives the young adult the first taste of ones own living space, with some of the responsibility, and with the option to quickly move on when the course and tenancy is over. Likewise with young professionals who are starting out in their career without a deposit or ability to obtain a mortgage, although rents are now quite high which is another deterrent to paying out huge amounts of ‘dead’ money which can prevent you from saving for a down payment.
Some individuals prefer to pay out rather than take on the responsibility of a mortgage which they find stifling, and all the added price tags that come with owning a property. If in rental accommodation this is the job of the landlord – and anything that leaks, breaks down or needs replacing can be handed over to the owner.
A word of caution about renting however, a recent incident with a ruthless Landlord with a host of rental properties, always held two months deposit, which was supposed to be returned at the end or on vacation of a property. He consistently over charged for what was mere day to day depreciation of the interior decor, and had had this down to a fine art until one canny tenant reported him to the Fair Rents tribunal and he has never repeated this behaviour since that time. But there are a lot of Landlords who are still ripping off of tenants in the same way.
It has always been a recommendation from Financial Advisors to invest in ‘bricks and mortar’ because even if house prices decrease in a recession, you can bet your bottom dollar that they will pick up with the economy and regain their value very quickly.
The new government ‘right to buy’ scheme is something that a lot of young couples and singles are looking at and provide access to affordable mortgages.
Even for the more mature over 60s some building societies are providing mortgages up to the age of 75 or older. So the options are there for all of us.
It does all come down in the end to our individual values and what is important to us in our lives right now. What I would recommend is that you evaluate and investigate all of your options – and then sit down and make a plan based upon your own list of pros and cons regarding buying versus renting.
October 13, 2026 1915 Cornell Wilde 1921 Yves Montand 1923 Cyril Shaps 1925 Baroness Margaret Thatcher 1940 Chris Farlowe 1941 Paul Simon 1946 Edwina Currie 1959 Marie Osmond 1965 Cherelle
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