Key Posts Category
Ambush advertising in sport – a history
AMBUSH!
Olympic boss Lord Coe put his well-shod foot in it this week by announcing that people wearing the wrong logos would not be permitted access to the Games.
He was referring to Pepsi t-shirts rather than ordinary punters wearing non-adidas trainers, and the real subject of his concern was ‘guerrilla’ or ‘ambush’ marketing – the attempt by non-sponsors to invade the cordon sanitaire that is placed around venues to protect companies that pay millions of pounds to endorse sporting events. All the same, he has been accused of overreaction in many quarters. (Others, of course, argue that protecting sponsors allows the games to thrive.)
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Posted: 23rd, July 2012 | In: Flashback, Key Posts, Sports | Comment
James Eagan Holmes shot 71 people, killing 12 – blame the Occupy movement and the Tea Party
JAMES Eagan Holmes, 24, shot 71 peoples in the Denver suburb of Aurora as they watched the Batman film The Dark Knight Rises. Twelve are dead.
What else do we know?
* Ben Leung, 27, lived neat Holmes. He tells the Times: “Nobody really knew him…He wouldn’t acknowledge you when you passed him in the corridor.”
* The Times looks for a pattern: “The Century 16 cinema where Holmes attacked his victims row by row is less than 20 miles from Columbine High School, the scene in 1999 of one of America’s worst mass shootings.”
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Posted: 20th, July 2012 | In: Key Posts, Reviews | Comments (14)
John Terry escapes the thought police – real racism exists beyond football
THANKS to Chelsea captain John Terry and Anton Ferdinand, the court of Great Britain and Northern Ireland know that ‘FBC’ stands for “fucking black cunt”. The other thing we know is that an innocent man – Terry might be a dislikable oik but he is no racist – can be condemned by the right minded with a cause.
Comments on Terry have come thick and thicker. Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand showcased his stupidity with a tweet about Ashley Cole being a “choc ice”. Cole held the sensible opinion that the matter should never have reached court.
Duwayne Brooks, Stephen Lawrence’s friend who was there that night when the black teenager was murdered by racists, tells The Times’ readers:
So there can be no denying that the “not guilty” verdict at Westminster Magistrates Court is a setback for those of us who want to drive racist language out of the game… A guilty verdict would have been a breath of fresh air for football at all levels in Britain.
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Posted: 19th, July 2012 | In: Key Posts, Sports | Comment (1)
Nadya Suleman’s strip show photos – Octomum gets covered in cash
OCTOMUM took her clown car-size womb to the Playhouse Gentlemen’s club in Florida. Nadya Suleman, for it is she, wowed the paying punters – although it is not known how many paid to get in or were smuggled in via Octomum’s generous caverns. Nadya scored $5,000 for two 12 minute slots. Autographs were $10 a pop. Pictures were $25 each. Private dances were $200 for four minutes.
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Posted: 18th, July 2012 | In: Celebrities, Key Posts | Comment (1)
Nazi-confused French National Front threaten to sue Madonna over Swastika image
MADONNA is in trouble with the French National Front. They might be suing her after she showed a video of party leader – Marine Le Pen – with a swastika on her forehead during a concert in Paris. Of course, most of the fans at the show whooped with delight at the image, but Le Pen’s crew are not pleased at all.
“The images that were projected draw a terrible link between the party and an ideology that we reject,” party Vice President Florian Philippot said Monday. “Just because she is rich and well known does not mean we should accept such atrocities. It’s an insult against Marine Le Pen and an insult to all the National Front party members.”
After the image of Pen appeared in the video, it melded into that of one of Adolf Hitler.
Of course, the Daily Mail have been keen to point out that Le Pen has transformed the French National Front and now, it’s a rather good, clean party. And, as you’ve just read, Florian Philippot is keen to distance the party from all those horrible Nazis. They’re not into all that at all.
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Posted: 16th, July 2012 | In: Celebrities, Key Posts | Comment
X-Pole London Olympics turn pole dancing into an Olympic sport
IS pole dancing, aka “vertical gymnastics” (fnar), destined to be Olympic sport? It should be. Sportsmen love audience participation.
In readiness, keepers of the pole dance flame have created X-pole, a contest in London for “pole sports”.
Poles are well represented, as you might expect, but so too are all east Europeans, the GB and, controversially, Heidi Hildersley representing Scotland. (Is a caber a pole? Discuss.) A much smaller filed competes in the mena;s section, with GB represented by Jean Modestine, whose name suggests he does the show dressed in Comfi-Slax and holding a fan.
Rio Ferdinand calls Ashley Cole a ‘choc ice’ – Liverpool’s Milky Bar Kid Kelly models on
CHELSEA captain John Terry did not racially abuse QPR defender Anton Ferdinand. Now, Ferdinand’s big brother, Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand has called Terry’s colleague a “Choc ice”. A choc ice is someone black on the outside but white on the middle. It is not a term of praise.
On twitter a @CarltonEbanks, opined: “Looks like Ashley Cole’s going to be their choc ice. Then again he’s always been a sellout. Shame on him.”
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Posted: 15th, July 2012 | In: Key Posts, Sports | Comments (19)
Germany’s purge on circumcision enshrines its anti-Semitism in law
IS Germany’s looming ban on child circumcision anti-Semitic? A German court has ruled that circumcision constitutes bodily harm. Those parents who allow it are child abusers. It follows that Jews are child abusers. Their parents are liable to prosecution. And not just in GErmany.
In Norway, Centre Party spokesperson Jenny Klinge, said: “Circumcision on religious grounds should be a criminal offence.” In San Francisco, Foreskin Man is a superhero fighting evildoers (Jews and Muslims).
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Posted: 14th, July 2012 | In: Key Posts, Reviews | Comments (68)
Prince William and Kate Middleton angry they’re treated like any other honeymooning celebs
CELEBRITIES get stalked like prey, night and day. It’s been like that for years and unless there’s a change in behaviour or the law, then it’ll stay that way.
Not that celebs themselves seem to understand that. For example, Kate Middleton and Prince William are reportedly furious after an Australian magazine published private pictures of their honeymoon. It would seem we’re supposed to look at Royalty in a different light than common or garden famous people.
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Posted: 12th, July 2012 | In: Key Posts, Royal Family | Comment
Did Warren Jeffs’ Mormon sect bury a cat alive in concrete?
MORMONISM is big news. Mitt Romney, a Mormon, wants to be President of the USA. Not since Joyce McKinney straddled the tabloids and the Osmonds tinkled the ivories (and more) have Mormons been so prominent. Mindful of this we learn of Isaac Wyler.
Mr Wyler is no longer a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Six weeks ago, he found a live cat cemented into a metal tube in his garden at Colorado City, Arizona.
An Andrew Chatwin, also a former Mormon, claims this was a warning from the group.
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Posted: 11th, July 2012 | In: Key Posts, Reviews | Comments (2)
Mormon bondage, a horse with a false leg, kidnap and cloned dogs: The Joyce McKinney story
WAS this the best tabloid news story ever? Readers of a certain vintage will recall the name Joyce McKinney, a former Miss Wyoming. Errol Morris told her story of Mormons, cloned dogs, sex, a false leg for a horse, The Osmonds and an escape from justice in Tabloid.
Her name came to the fore on September 14, 1977. Kirk Anderson had gone missing close to Epsom, Surrey. He’d been kidnapped at gunpoint.
Enter McKinney. In 1973, having converted to Mormonism, and been romantically linked to Wayne Osmond, McKinney began dating Kirk Anderson soon after they’d met in drama class at Brigham Young University in Utah. McKinney was 25. Anderson was 19.
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Posted: 10th, July 2012 | In: Flashback, Key Posts | Comment
Boxing Brawls: A history of the most famous and infamous
BAD blood, insults, pre-match scraps and warnings of crowd trouble have all helped stoke the flames and shift tickets for Saturday’s showdown between David Haye and Dereck Chisora at Upton Park.
They have already had run-ins outside the ring…
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Posted: 10th, July 2012 | In: Flashback, Key Posts, Sports | Comment
The 10 most vital local TV news stories of the decade
LOCAL news can be entertaining stuff. The trick is in highlighting the part of the story that matters most. The copywriters behind theses caption were inspired. Take a look at the Ten Vital News Stories of the decade: (More here.)
Posted: 10th, July 2012 | In: Key Posts, TV & Radio | Comment
The Blood We Share: Ian Huntley’s brother Wayne investigates Soham murderer’s path to murder
WAYNE Huntley has written a book, published to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the murder of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, the schoolgirls murdered by his older brother Ian Huntley in Soham, Cambridgeshire. The Blood We Share has been front-page news on the Sun, which yesterday yelled: “FAMILY FURY AT KILLER 10 YEARS ON – I WISH MY EVIL BROTHER HUNTLEY WAS DEAD.”
The Sun detailed elements of Huntley’s “cushy” life in prison. He “DEVOURS steaks” and eats “slap-up meals”. And:
LOVES watching Manchester United games on prison TV — unmoved by the fact that his two victims were wearing the team’s red shirts when he killed them.
That Ian Huntley is a nasty piece of work seems unworthy of additional comment. But rather than wishing him dead, as the headline states, Wayne Huntley suggests his brother has a conscience that does not allow to face the truth:
“I believe he knows the truth is too awful for him to admit — it would mean even more people in prison would want to kill him.”
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Posted: 9th, July 2012 | In: Books, Key Posts, Reviews | Comment (1)
Photos of the day – Mother is being inappropriate again
Posted: 8th, July 2012 | In: Key Posts, Photojournalism | Comment
Save the V Sign – your country needs you
THE people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Save the V Sign as the hand gesture of first resort:
The V Sign – two-fingered salute – is being destroyed by the single raised middle finger, a symbol of American cultural imperialism. The V Sign user is blessed with a mind steeped in history. They are sensitive to nuance. This is swearing with a light, deft touch. Save it before it it gone for ever.
Say no to tosspot drivers, cyclists and football fans showing the ‘sit on it’ finger. Two fingers. We demand the full two fingers. If you are going to swear put some effort into it!
As bad are the celebrities and rappers who signal with two fingers unaware of its true meaning.
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Posted: 6th, July 2012 | In: Key Posts, Reviews | Comments (2)
Lil Bub is the prototype toothless cat of your dreams (photos)
LIL BUB is “a real animal. The most amazing creature on the planet.” So says the blurb. Lil Bub is “one of nature’s happy accidents”..
Bub is a “perma-kitten”, which means she will stay kitten sized and maintain kitten-like features her entire life. She is also a dwarf, which means her limbs are disproportionately small relative to the rest of her body. She has very short, stubby legs and a weird, long, serpent-like body. Her lower jaw is very short compared to her upper jaw, and her teeth never grew in (yes, that’s right, she’s toothless!), which is why her tongue is usually hanging out. Additionally, BUB is a polydactyl cat, meaning she has extra toes, and in her case, one extra toe on all of her four paws. Her front paws each have two opposable thumbs. And then of course there are her huge, bulging, wonder-filled green eyes.
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Posted: 6th, July 2012 | In: Key Posts, Strange But True | Comment
Dawson spares a few thought on Katie Holmes’ and Pacey’s wedding (a meme is born)
DID Katie Holmes leave Tom Cruise over Dawson’s Creek? Was Cruise so unnerved that Joey Potter (Holmes) was set to finally marry Pacey in a Creek special and live forever a magical halcyon summer in Capeside? Was Tom trying to save us from Dawson, the idealistic sensitive bore who gave us heamorrhoids as we waited for him to finish ordering lunch or giving full throat to a soliloquy on his shoelaces or ears. (Dawson also gave us Twilight, which is Dawson’s Creek with pointy teeth and fur.)
Odd that Holmes, who rose to fame playing one of a group of teen who loved shooting to breeze by analysing themselves, whould marry a Scientologist for the free audit. Maybe she misread the marriage contract as “FREE AUDI!”
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Posted: 6th, July 2012 | In: Celebrities, Key Posts, TV & Radio | Comment
The Shard – The building of London’s beautiful new skyscraper in photos
THE Shard isthe highest building in the Europe Union. The building at 32 London Bridge is beautiful, stylish and majestic. We’ve been watching it go up and up and up. In these photos you can see what we and millions of Londoners have been seeing.
The View:
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Posted: 5th, July 2012 | In: Key Posts, Reviews | Comments (9)
Robin Van Persie aims to bring back glory days for his beloved Arsenal by playing for a different club
GOODBYE Robin van Persie. You played one full season for Arsenal and then you said you wanted to leave. RVP will not be signing a new contract at the Gunners. He has one year left on his current contract. So. Why is he leaving? Well, the Dutchman has issued a statement. In short, Robin Van Persie aims to bring back glory days for his beloved Arsenal by playing for a different club. Which club has yet to be decided. Your suggestions, please.
Anyhow, here’s Robin:
‘This is an update for the fans about my current situation.”
Translation: You – my fans – are the last to know.
“I have kept quiet all this time out of respect and loyalty for the club and as agreed with Mr Gazidis and Mr Wenger, but since there is so much speculation in the media, I think it is fair for you guys to know what’s really going on at the moment.”
UK drugs pusher GlaxoSmithKline nailed as British disease infects the markets
ISN’T it just bloody marvelous to yet again see Britain leading the way?
The world’s largest ever drugs pusher, the mind-boggling huge GlaxoSmithKline, has agreed to take a teaspoonful of castor oil by pleading guilty and spewing three billion U.S. dollars into the U.S. coffers to bury criminal and civil charges of healthcare fraud.
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What newsnightis Paul Mason talking about? BBC economics editor is ignorant about economics
I FIND this very difficult to understand. Paul Mason is the economics editor for Newsnight at the BBC. And yet he appears to know very little about the subject of economics. I’ve not lived in Britain for decades so I’m not really sure whether this is normal for the BBC or not. He tells us that this generation is going to be poorer than the last one:
This generation of young, educated people is unique – at least in the post-1945 period: a cohort who can expect to grow up poorer than their parents.
Either he’s got some very secret information about what future economic growth is going to be like or he’s spouting nonsense.
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Posted: 2nd, July 2012 | In: Key Posts, Money | Comments (2)
Mario Balotelli – the best of his Euro 2012 memes (but no Olympic Torch)
MANCHESTER City and Italy’s maverick striker Mario Balotelli put in a more than decent effort at the Euro 2012 Championships. That Italy lost to Spain will, naturally, have disappointed him. We who had heard that rumours that at the moment of victory, Mario would have removed the Catherine Wheel he keeps trapped to his person, lit it and run around the stadium handing out sparklers to under 12s are also saddened. If there is one thing we know about modern football it is that you can never have too many fireworks. The pity is that no-one had the foresight to let Balotelli have a turn with the Olympic Torch, adding a touch of pizzazz and excitement as he ran around his hotel suite with the fully lit burner. Still, he left us with one abiding image. When he scored against Germany, Balotelli ripped off his shirt. A meme was born:
Dressed To Distress: A history of the most offensive outfits and costumes
DRESSED TO DISTRESS – A history of the most offensive outfits and costumes:
When Mayoress Jill Makinson-Sanders dressed up as a sausage to welcome the Olympic torch to Louth, she had no idea that she was about to create a political storm. As Makinson-Sanders stood proud and erect among the excited crowd, observers branded her 8ft-high costume ‘obscene’.
Louth had campaigned for Lincolnshire sausages to be given designated protective status, but the government turned down the request. The Mayoress’s ill-judged gesture was an attempt to show her support.
If it is any consolation, she is not the first prominent personality to discover that sartorial faux pas can have unforeseen consequences…
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Posted: 1st, July 2012 | In: Flashback, Key Posts | Comments (2)
Gifs of the day – the fighting nun cigarette workout
GIFS of the day are presented by: Did you spill my pint? Did you out on weight? Did you ever smoke before? Did you wear Spandex? Did you ever fight a nun? Did you ever surf a cat? Did you ever race a sloth?…
