Who needs the armchair critics?

General Ramblings, Gripes, Health 3 Responses »

Aug 182008

I’ve been quietly seething over the armchair critics who are bitching in the media about how *badly* our people are performing at the Olympics because they are *only* coming home with silver or bronze medals instead of gold.What a crock of crap this is!!

Just qualifying for the Olympics makes them heroes in my book. Getting any medals at all in any sport or discipline puts them so far ahead of the rest of us that in sporting terms at least they are beyond criticism!

Every Olympic competitor who takes part has this *one* opportunity to make their mark on the record books and each one wants to be *the* winner. It isn’t a case of one wants it more than another… just that on the day, on the hour… on the minute… *that one* competitor is stronger or better than everyone else.

There’s no shame whatever in coming second… or third… or even last in the field. No matter if you come 100th in the race… you are *still* the hundredth fastest out of a world population numbered in billions.

A case in point was Tamsyn Lewis who yesterday sobbed herself out of the stadium having come last in her 800 metres semi-final. She was so overwrought she was unable to talk coherently to reporters who wanted to know what happened. Later she defended her performance… but in reality she shouldn’t have to! She’d worked hard to get as far as she did and whilst it might have been personally disappointing, just for her to have fought through to the semi-final was an achievement!

Yes… when I see the Green and Gold up on the podium having creamed all opposition, I feel a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye… but I feel a surge of national pride just seeing one of our people taking part in any event!! If they win it’s just a bonus.

Good onya guys… one and all. First or last… we’re proud of you just for being there.

So… the Beijing Olympics?

Entertainment, Health 1 Response »

Aug 122008

As you will be aware my new ISP did *not* connect me to the net overnight as was promised and in fact kept me waiting almost 8 days before they let me loose on the world. During this time I had a choice of getting on with the housework… or watching the TV. And what is dominating TV coverage lately? The Olympics.

So how is it all going you ask? I did after all complain about the appalling coverage we usually get from our local stations and suggest (not untruthfully at the time) that I was going to ignore it entirely. Well given the choice between housework and the olympics, I buckled and chose the TV.

And for a change I have to admit I’ve enjoyed what I’ve seen. Perhaps the TV companies have learned something from the floods of complaints they’ve received through previous sports extravaganzas and made changes. At least so far the coverage has been reasonable. I hesitate to say ‘good’ but let’s say it could have been worse.

We watched the cycling road races, we’ve watched swimming, we’ve watched some equestrian… and the coverage has been ok. Yes they chopped and changed between events and venuses but they did at least concentrate on one event and saw it through to the end.

Of course this is still early days, but so far I’m accepting what we’ve got with good grace.

Off we go to mens gymnastics. Good stuff.

Go Christina!!

Entertainment, Health No Responses »

Aug 042008

Our best wishes are sent for a speedy recovery to Christina Applegate, recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

Kelly Bundy - Christina Applegate

My memories of her are mostly from her role as the ditzy kid ‘Kelly Bundy’ from Married with Children and this is perhaps her best known role, at least for most males around the globe.

Kelly was the archetypal airhead bimbo and Christina played her gloriously. The series which wasn’t particularly well known in the UK was actually one of the funniest ‘toilet humour’ series ever and Christina was perfectly cast as Kelly. We watched her grow in the part, physically if not mentally, from a cheeky 15 year old into a 25 year old somewhat promiscuous blonde bimbo who’s lines and vacuous expression could easily lead you to believe she was character acting, whereas in fact the opposite was true.

Since the series ended some years back she has appeared in several successful series including the lead in ‘Jesse’, and (currently ) as an amnesiac in ‘Samantha Who,’ and is doing ok thank you, even allowing for the recent death of an ex-boyfriend in unusual circumstances.

Christina (now aged 36) has been a long time campaigner for research into breast cancer partly because her mother developed both breast and cervical cancer though is currently in remission on all fronts.

She’s a fighter and I wish her well. Hopefully Christina will make a full and complete recovery.

Fat enough for you?

Entertainment, Health No Responses »

Jul 312008

Hot on the heels of my last post complaining about what a backwater the UK has become, is news of a Disco that has taken on board Homer Simpsons edict of “No Fat Chicks” and run with it barring them from entry to the club!

The manager of the club who it seems is no lightweight himself finally abandoned his attempts to bar people he considered ‘large’ after a furious protest erupted. Still, the point has been made… not only that for women ‘thin’ is the only acceptable body form allowed, but that sexism, mysogeny and the rest has been confirmed as alive and kicking!!

I suppose there are some who would suggest that Jersey isn’t really a part of the UK… especially when it gets this sort of publicity… but hey… I’m sure they have a point, even if it’s only on top of their heads!

Story: BBC News

Public Breastfeeding in Wales? Nope.

Gripes, Health 1 Response »

Jul 292008

I was reading a little straw poll on the Wales Online website which asked a question I’d have thought shouldn’t even need to be asked today.

The question is “Do you think it’s acceptable for women to breastfeed in public?” The answer was so obviously ‘yes’ that I was amazed that the results of their poll showed 78.4% actually voted *no*! No doubt these are descendants of the same people who put bras on cows, and skirts on piano legs for fear of overstimulating their little brains with lascivious thoughts.

Breastfeeding Icon World Breastfeeding Week 2008 runs from August 1 – 7 2008 and it looks like this would be a good time for antiquated backwaters of the world to learn the facts of life. Are people really still embarrassed by doing something so natural?

Come on Wales… get a grip. What do you think those lumps of fat hanging off a woman’s chest are actually there for?? Decoration?? Geez.

Edit:
On re-reading this I thought I should make it clear the comment “get a grip” was in no way intended to refer to the parts of the females under discussion…

Vale Randy Pausch

Health, Society No Responses »

Jul 282008

To add to the mixed news in today’s blog entries, we have to pass on news of the sad if inevitable death of Dr. Randy Pausch.

Dr. Randy Pausch and family Some of you may remember Dr Pausch who made headlines a while back when, suffering from terminal pancreatic cancer, he made a life affirming lecture on September 18, 2007 called literally “The Last Lecture” which became extraordinarily well known.

Sadly Randy finally died on 25th July 2008 with friends and family surrounding him.

For those who’d like to know more, all necessary information and links can be found at the Randy Pausch Wikipedia article entry. Reading his lecture is a wake up call to all of us.

Sick as a Dog

General Ramblings, Health 5 Responses »

Jul 142008

Sorry to report that I’m still suffering with the flu I didn’t mention I had.

I came down with the Australian version of the lurgy a couple of weeks ago and I’ve gone steadily downhill since. Strangely even before it arrived I knew it was on the way.

Over the many years of my life I’ve discovered that whenever I feel really well and suddenly get really ‘workish’ it is in fact a precursor to a total physical collapse! It’s happened too many times to be a coincidence and I’ve started taking notice of it.

Perhaps my body is doing a form of ‘nesting’ so that I feel I *can* collapse because the house is clean and tidy so I don’t feel so guilty about it… who knows. One thing tho is that now I am aware enough to make sure I have supplies of medicines and snack type foods around to make sure I don’t have to venture far until it all blows over and I recover.

This time, for some reason, the kids actually helped out a bit as well instead of leaving me to battle on with it. Also the wife has done sterling duty keeping everything working as it should in the house.

My head still hurts and the throat feels like someone is scouring it with sandpaper, but this is actually an improvement! At least my sinuses don’t feel as if they’re about to explode.

I’ll be back sooner or later of course… but right now please accept my apologies for the lack of updates etc. I’ll be back, but maybe not ‘in force’ for a few more days yet.

The time has come… or something.

Health No Responses »

Jul 022008

The time has come to bit the bullet and admit to myself that my back really *is* giving out. I actually pointed out in the ‘family forum’ a few days ago that I’ve finally let myself get a ‘mobility card’ to let me park closer to shops etc.

I’ve not got one before, partly because I’ve been (illegally) using my mothers ‘disability card’ when I’ve been in pain, but mostly because I just didn’t want to accept the fact that I really *do* have physical issues that need attention. Over the past couple of weeks it’s just got worse than ever.

Anyway I went down to the RTA, got my photo taken and now the card is sitting in the sun at the front of the car, and there it will stay until 2013, unless of course I cark it first. There’s a pleasant thought.

Actually, it’s strange to think of that selfish baggage… niece… who stayed with us over Xmas complaining because I wasn’t willing to continue slaving after her and her layabout, workshy… “socially phobic”… husband as the condition of my spine deteriorated and the pain increased.

Perhaps as they age they too will develop some similar physical problem and I wonder if they’ll recognise the irony when it hits them? Personally I doubt it. Either way it won’t help me any, I just have to manage as best I can starting with a trip to a specialist tomorrow to see if he has any suggestions for treatment that might alleviate the wort of the problem… i.e. the pain!

Regardless… I can at least park close to his office now!

Sexperts!

Health No Responses »

Jun 042008

As usual when having a mid-morning cuppa, I was perusing the online version of one of the local rags. In this case it was the Sydney Morning Herald and saw for the first time a section at the bottom right of the page entitled’ Videos’. Nothing much being in the news I went to have a look. You can get to them easily by clicking on this link.

As you’ll see there is a list of ‘topics’ to look at which are, in order, Ask Sam, The Girls Guide, Fashion, Essential Baby, About the House, Health and Fitness, and Sexperts.

Being a bloke the one that attracted my interest first was the last one… Sexperts. So what was on offer?

Surprisingly enough, what was on offer was a lot of highly useful if occasionally uncomfortable information about, of course, sex.

It seems each heading releases a short video each week with useful information. For ‘Sexperts’ this weeks video discussed Sexual Injuries, and very nasty some of them were… no examples, just discussion with a few drawn images (and they were painful enough). Previous weeks available were on Sex Surrogates, Impotency, STD’s, and Genital Piercing.

I ought to point out that none of the stuff I saw is in the least erotic… but it *is* informative so again I’d suggest popping over there and having a look if you’ve a few minutes to spare. You might just learn something. I for example (as I sit here squirming with my legs crossed and eyes watering in sympathy) have learned never to try some of the things that caused injury to the guys!

It was painful enough just hearing about them!

Alzheimer’s Test?

Health No Responses »

May 302008

I lifted this from the pages of the UK Daily Mail and it purports to be a ‘test’ anyone can take to determine if they have Alzheimer’s Disease. Basically you answer the questions below and if you say yes to one or more… go talk to your doctor..

Atzheimers - crucial questions test

Well that’s all very well and good… but exactly do they *mean* by ‘an impact’? I think I could tick a few of those boxes and say they have had ‘an impact’ on my life… but they’ve been having ‘an impact’ since I was *very* young.

For example I’ve had constant comments on my forgetfulness. Also I repeat myself in conversations constantly. I’ve even been known to repeat stories to people who told *me* the story originally as if it was me who said it first (embarrassing or what??)! I get depressed *and* anxious about having such a bad memory yes… but it’s been like it my entire life. Ok it’s worse now than in the past but still I once drove home leaving the baby in the shopping trolley and I got regular calls from the shopping mall telling me I’d left my phone behind somewhere… again!

Also I find it hard to follow conversations or programmes on TV… but that’s mostly because I can’t hear clearly and partly because sometimes (mostly?) the programmes are such dross you have to force yourself to pay attention!

My point here is that I doubt very much if I could yet be considered to have developed Alzheimer’s Disease despite quite clearly having a few of those ‘symptoms’ listed above and I think it is a tad irresponsible to print them so baldly telling people to rush off to their doctors for help. I’d have thought GP’s had enough on their plates without people popping in for a psychological test or two just on the off chance they might be suffering from something that might take 10 years to develop even if they have it and can’t be fixed anyway!

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