In the news

That may be but shit-house penguins are still vastly inferior to tim tams!
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yeah it's old news but still currently "in the news" because of the latest coroner's report.
I missed it at the time and just thought it was a really tragic story.

It is. I didn't realise there were still guys in hospital from the exercise.

Doesn't mean we should halt the dialogue though. Plus the Russia situation is in escalation. There is legislation and decriminalisation taking place now which wasn't before. The world of culture and sport can do a lot to highlight this and potentially embarrass entire countries to amend their approach.

The problem I think is if russia can't host because of their homophobia, how many countries can actually go to the olympics in light of their racism/misogyny/no homo/no anyone-who-disagrees-with-the-government...

Like.. 5? And the Scandinavian Games just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Maybe the better option would be using them as a showcase to show what freedom can do (as per Jesse Owens)

• Gay athlete comes out on podium as receiving medal from Putin?
  
• Lycra clad female runner wins gold in front of Saudi royal house (who are all averting eyes, of course)
  
• etc
  ?
  
  

That said there's a big difference between participating and hosting, and it is a poor show when international sport would rather chase money than consider any greater good (qatar // russia // etc)

I wonder if gay athletes will boycott the event?

I find it hardly credible that a developed country would legalise gay-bashing, but they've done it.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/07/31/russian-lgbt-network-dont-boycott-2014-winter-olympics-boycott-homophobia/

What is remembered from 1968 is neither the number nor the names of those who boycotted the Games, but the ‘human rights salute’ by Tommie Smith and John Carlos who rose black-gloved fists and bowed their heads on the victory stand as a sign of resistance to racial injustice and solidarity with everyone who fought for equality and human rights.

there's a lot of discussion around how best to respond. it's more feasible to ensure the safety of gay athletes than it is gay spectators, and the IOC will just give some feeble statement about how all of the athletes will be safe. personally, I don't think there is any hope of getting the winter olympics out of russia, but it is a valuable way of bringing attention to a fucked-up and worsening situation.

I would love to see athletes on the podium giving Pride salutes though. with rainbows.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23620775

The Irish edition of the Sun newspaper has dropped pictures of topless women from its Page Three, replacing them with shots of women in swimwear.
I guess this is progress ... ?

This quote is pretty awesome:

Clarkson, who became editor of the Irish Sun last October said: "Page Three is a hugely popular pillar of The Sun in the UK and part of a package of great journalism which engages, entertains and informs in equal measure.

Ha! Great vid
http://www.bebo.com/#

Kahn is a twat should speak to some cyclists before pronouncing on them.
I was more surprised to read this para: "Martyn Brunt, development manager for the Sustrans charity's National Cycle Network, denied motorists and cyclists were "two warring tribes" and said that conflict between road users was rare."

'Rare' seems a bit optimistic doesn't it?

...almost normalised when teamed with a casual shirt and a trilby. Until the shorts wear out after a bit of light use.
Pfffft :)

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/07/31/russian-lgbt-network-dont-boycott-2014-winter-olympics-boycott-homophobia/

there's a lot of discussion around how best to respond. it's more feasible to ensure the safety of gay athletes than it is gay spectators, and the IOC will just give some feeble statement about how all of the athletes will be safe. personally, I don't think there is any hope of getting the winter olympics out of russia, but it is a valuable way of bringing attention to a fucked-up and worsening situation.

I would love to see athletes on the podium giving Pride salutes though. with rainbows.
The Gay Games are coming up aren't they? Yes: http://gaygames.org/wp/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23620775

I guess this is progress ... ?

This quote is pretty awesome:
*
Quote:

  Clarkson, who became editor of the Irish Sun last October said: "Page   Three is a hugely popular pillar of The Sun in the UK and part of a   package of great journalism which engages, entertains and informs in   equal measure.  *

Well it certainly wasn't something I was taught in my journalism degree!

Anyway, great packages are far more likely to feature in Cosmopolitan. ;)

I was more surprised to read this para: "Martyn Brunt, development manager for the Sustrans charity's National Cycle Network, denied motorists and cyclists were "two warring tribes" and said that conflict between road users was rare."

'Rare' seems a bit optimistic doesn't it?

I think if you could somehow compile statistics for this, it would seem like quite a reasonable statement. For example, Compare the number of journeys a day by bike, with the number of incidents of conflict. I dont count shouting at a person or vehicle to get thier attention as conflict- it is because I don't have a horn. Beeping a horn in the car isnt a 'conflict'. So while I probably have to shout a warning once or twice a day, I would say the majority of my rides pass without an altercation.

Also, london is a particularly cramped, fraught space for road users, so our overall view is probably skewed.

'Rare' does seem optimistic. I choose to be optimistic. If I go out looking for agro, I am more likely to find it.

I ended up shouting "YOU ARE A CUNT, WHAT ARE YOU? A CUNT" into a motorcyclists face this afternoon.

Did it make the BBC website?

I suppose 'rare' makes me think of rhinos and Baiji dolphins, not outbursts of road rage which I witness almost daily between all types of road users (or read about on here ^^).

Fair point. I definitely see more altercations than Rhinos on the walworth road. Though I did once see a pig in Brixton. :)

I suppose 'rare' makes me think of rhinos and Baiji dolphins, not outbursts of road rage which I witness almost daily between all types of road users (or read about on here ^^).

You may witness almost daily bursts of road rage, but how many people are you riding past every day who are having no conflict at all?

An hour of commuting around London is probably thousands of people not having arguments, compared to the two people you notice.

One in a thousand is rare isn't it?

Fair point. I definitely see more altercations than Rhinos on the walworth road.

Just take Portland Street, much nicer.

You get rhinos on portland street? Cool.

^ Well it is a stone's throw from London Zoo.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/troopers-texas-probe-genitals-women-traffic-stops-article-1.1414668

there's a lot of discussion around how best to respond. it's more feasible to ensure the safety of gay athletes than it is gay spectators, and the IOC will just give some feeble statement about how all of the athletes will be safe.

The IOC.. That corrupt and rascist band of @#... At the London games they refused to remember the murdered Israeli athletes of the '72 games.. A rare chance with the magic 40th... And the excuse passed around at the meetings? They'd annoy the Arab and Muslim countries and would be forced to keep balance to also honour the 5 Arabs of Black September that died in the action! And the official excuse for the press releases "We feel that the opening ceremony is an atmosphere that is not fit to remember such a tragic incident.”

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/hostile-policing/Content?oid=17445843

The Gay Games are coming up aren't they? Yes: http://gaygames.org/wp/

What's next..
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

You Tube -- Putin Putin

The top rated comments on this BBC article are depressing. 'Closet racists' indeed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23618487

'we want an ethnic breakdown of the population explosion'

errrm, why does it matter?