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The Chatsubo, or simply The Chat, is the bar made famous by William Gibson in his 1984 cyber-punk masterpiece NEUROMANCER. The Chat is where the cyberjocks, razorgirls and joeboys came to gather information and kick back. Please feel free to do the same here.

by JoAnn Roberts - CyberQueen

"The interval between the decay of the old and the formation and establishment of the new constitutes a period of transition which must always necessarily be one of uncertainty, confusion, error, and wild and fierce fanaticism." -- John C. Calhoun

The furor over the Winslow Street Foundation (WSF) "loan" to the International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE) has died down, but the issue still remains -- what of the WSF? Almost everyone thought the WSF was a separate entity and found out it isn't. The IFGE board meeting at the end of January will have as its major theme the WSF and what to do with it. My thoughts, and I've shared them with several IFGE board members, are to spin off the WSF as an independent entity and appoint a new governing board made up of representatives from other national organizations. In other words, make the WSF truly a community fund. This way the WSF survives regardless of what happens to IFGE.

According to Nancy Nangeroni, Executive Director of IFGE, what may happen to IFGE is going to be only good stuff. Nancy says when she took the helm in November IFGE was $80,000 in debt and losing money. Today they're no longer losing money and they've started chipping away at the debt. I hope those are good predictions for 1998 because past performance left a lot to be desired. I'd estimate IFGE received between $60K and $80K in donations each year for the past few years and they were still in the hole in December 1997. Good Luck!

It's been announced: the Third International Congress on Sex and Gender takes place at Exeter College, Oxford, England from the 18th to the 20th of September, 1998. The theme of the third Congress will be "trAns-GENDER Agenda." The keynote speaker will be Professor Louis Gooren, Endocrinologist and head of the Gender Clinic at the Vrije University Hospital of Amsterdam. Dr. Gooren was also the keynote speaker at the Second Congress hosted by the Renaissance Transgender Association last June. If you can volunteer to help at the Third Congress please contact Stephen Whittle at s.t.whittle@mmu.ac.uk.

A Pennsylvania transgenderist finally won her battle to change her name legally to Lisa. This person had been living as a woman for 22 years with a male ID. Last year she finally got around to asking a county court for the name change and the judge denied her request because even though she had extensive cosmetic surgery on her face and breast implants she had not had reassignment surgery. (It's a damn good thing for the judge that Phyllis Frye wasn't in the court room when he made that decision!) The decision was reversed by a three judge Superior Court panel which said, "We believe that the better-reasoned approach is to require such a petitioner to demonstrate that he or she is permanently committed to living as a member of the opposite sex." So, there you have it. In Pennsylvania you do not need to have reassignment surgery to get your name legally changed. All you have to do is show a commitment to living in the opposite gender role.

A new and very interesting publication crossed my desk this month. The International Court Communique is the new newsletter of the International Court System, founded in San Francisco in 1965 by Jose J Sarria. The International Court has 66 chapters in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico with more blossoming all the time. The Communique is 24 pages filled with information about Court happenings. I've been very impressed with the court members I've met in New York and Omaha, so it was very cool to see what many of the other courts were doing. A subscription to the quarterly is a mere $15 a year. The Court also has a web site at http://convex.uky.edu/~jajone00/court.html.

Speaking of Courts, the Imperial Court of New York is hosting its 12th annual Night Of A Thousand Gowns Charity Ball and Coronation on March 28. This year it is a benefit for Body Positive and PWAC/NY . The venue is the New York Marriott Marquis. Gold Tickets are $125 which entitle you to reserved seating (advance sales only), with doors open at 6:30 pm for cocktails (cash bar), an 8:00 pm a full 4-course sit-down dinner, with entertainment, award ceremony, and Coronation at midnight, dessert buffet at 12:30 am, and dancing until 1:30 am. Silver tickets are $75 and include general admission with doors open 10:00 pm for entertainment, award ceremony, Coronation at midnight, dessert buffet at 12:30 am, and dancing until 1:30 am. For ticket information please call Matt at 212-741-3115. Accommodations at special rates are available at The Marriott Marquis by calling 800-843-4898 or 212-398-1900. Please mention Night of a Thousand Gowns when making your reservations.

I had no reservation last month touting my Fall 98 Paradise In The Poconos weekend. Now, however, I have to take back some of what I said. The Pines resort is being sold for sure and we will not be hosting the event there. I have found a new resort and it is fabulous! We'll have exclusive use of a heated indoor pool, a jacuzzi, a pub, restaurant and a night club. Zip on over to my Pocono web page for all the details. I recommend registering early 'cause I've had to turn away people for the last three years. The new date is November 5 - 8, 1998 and I sincerely apologize to the Fall Harvest 98 committee for "stepping" on the date of their event. This is all I could get on such short notice.

One of the early adopters of the web for tg-commerce is Best Value Products and they've done pretty well with their web site according to Laine and Tyler who run the site. They called to let me know that after several years in development they have finally produced their own line of clothing for crossdressers. These are top quality clothes made expressly for Best Value and designed for a male body. The best part is the price. For example, a simple black dress with long sleeves and high neck is $69.95, which is a great price. It's not high fashion but really basic stuff, just what many people need. And they've left two inches at the hem and sleeves for adjustments. Among other items available are a black mini skirt ($34.50), and a blouse in gold lamé ($56.95) or white ($54.95). There are a few other items and more will be added. In addition, they have everything else you'd need to complete a wardrobe. You should write for their catalog. Best Value can be reached at PO Box 156, Wyncote PA 19095, or hit their web site.

The fashion world had its share of faux pas last year. Here are several fads that failed to click with real women... Power Suits with sharp shoulders, too, too retro... Hard Candy nail polish for men, got any candy apple red while I work on my Vette?.... Anything sheer... Fur trim anywhere but on the collar and cuffs of a coat... Stilettos (gasp!, oh no!).

The hottest new heel is called the Kitten Heel. It's short, maybe inch and a half, tops, but it's skinny, shaped, easy to wear and quite easy to walk in.

Maybe the fashion designers didn't get the hint when sheer didn't take off. Now they're trying netting in layers over clothes. I saw one outfit that was a net mini skirt over trousers. Who is thinking this stuff up and what are they smoking?

Last month I dubbed the mini with a slit a dumb idea. Several people poo-poohed that idea, But Jami Ward agreed with me. To wit; "I agree with you 100 percent, but how much you wanna bet a lot of CDs buy those skirts? Since when has the choice between showing lots more leg and being graceful and ladylike been won by the latter? How much stuff from Frederick's of Hollywood do you see at conferences? I hope your note causes some folks to think twice. I know it made me reconsider buying one." Jami could wear one and get away with it, too.

Josie Natori has been creating sexy, glamorous lingerie for over 20 years and this year she's designed an exclusive Eveningwear Collection inspired by those designs. Camisoles, bustiers, blouses, dresses, and long tunics with high side slits are all included. You can find Natori at the more upscale stores like Saks and Bergdorf Goodman.

It will look like LaVerne & Shirley invaded the stores come Spring. You'll see pleated skirts everywhere and in every style -- accordion, box, knife, whatever. Poodle anyone? If you go for this retro style drag, then top it off with a snug fitted twin set (very 50's) or a little tee. Expect to see longer lengths in the stores, too. The most popular will be mid-knee length, with some just a little above and some just a little below.

Along with the skirts, we'll see other 50's styles trying to make a comeback, like chintz party dresses and Capri pants in pink. I don't think it will take. But there is another movement to bring 40's retro style back and that I think will take off, especially with the guys. Pencil thin moustaches and Ricky Ricardo jackets will rule. You heard it here first.

To go along with the 50's retro style, makeup artists have brought back a trick from the 60's, white eye makeup. Powders make the greatest impact, creams are more subtle and pencils are easy to handle. Where to place the color? You can make your eyes really pop by placing the white on your browbone. Other accent locations are under the eye and on the lids. I suggest you stick with the browbone for a tasteful application.

The dress for the season is very simple and uncomplicated. It's basic black, a somewhat fitted sheath, no sleeves and cut with fairly high neckline. Tres chic. Keep the length just to mid-knee or above. Dress them up for evening with strappy high-heel sandals or D'Orsay pumps, clutch and you're stylin'.

Last month I made a tiny mention of Wolford hosiery as being expensive. They are, but they are also considered the world's best. Andie Blank sent along these tips for buying Wolford at less then full retail... "As a user (exclusively) of Wolford hosiery, I have to stand tall and defend them as the greatest hosiery that you can wear. The texture is unbelievably soft and smooth. The durability is beyond anything I have ever experienced before. As to the price, let me give you some tips. Twice a year, the Wolford Boutiques (in NY, NJ, Chicago, San Francisco, and others) have sales where all styles are marked down between 30 and 70 percent. I have been the first in line for the last 2 sales, and have gotten some real bargains. In addition, Neiman-Marcus also puts a limited stock on sale more often. But the best prices are found in Vienna, Austria. On a trip to Austria last year, I purchased 40 different pairs for myself. (You can imagine what I was thinking as I went through customs. I was afraid that I would be accused of illegal importing.) The prices there are 40-60 percent less than U.S. prices. If someone is interested, I can give people advice where they can go, or fax orders. If a few friends get together and share the UPS charge, you can still save a bundle. It is worth the effort."

So, those are my opinions, but, hey, what do I know? I think, therefore I am... I think. Comments? Write care of this publication or email them to CyberQueen@cdspub.com.

© 1998 by JoAnn Roberts

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