Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[Jon MW]

Yes, to emphasise Kinboshi's point I think it probably shows how much society has changed for the better that people are only mocked for their looks.

[tikay]

Telegrams haven't existed since 1982. There was a "telemessage" after that for a few years, but the Queen has just sent standard cards through the post since 1999. You get them for 60th and 70th wedding anniversaries as well - my grandparents have just had one for 60th. You have to apply for all of them though - the "joined up government" apparently has no idea when someone hits 100. 

There is a Website named "Telgrams Online (a service previously operated by the Post Office)" which charges £6.99 for a "telegram". Which is posted, through the Royal Mail.....!

[Rookie (Rodney)]

Sigh, post opinions and ask questions on your blog and dont even acknowledge replies.

I know you are old and go off talking on your own but come on!

[steeveg]

Now, young Rebecca Adligton repeated the feat - wonderful! A British Gold Medallist, from a humble background.

She hails just up the road from me, in Mansfield, which used to be a Mining town. Mansfield's claims to fame are Alvin Stardust, Richard Bacon, Roger Moore & Lord Byron. There's huge excitement for the lass, & they plan to rename the local Swimming Pool "Adlington Swimming Baths". Happy days indeed.

Except, 40 years on from Anita, society has changed. Here we have a real fairy-tale Champion, & yet there's a thread on blonde which mocks her for her looks.

Maybe I'm just in a bad mood, maybe I'm grumpy & tetchy, maybe I'm just old, but that thread says so much about how Society is changing for the worse. Do the Posters not have mirrors? Have they made as much of their talent (we all have Talent in some shape or form) as she has?

Some Nations are so proud of their Athletes & swimmers, it almost shaves half a second off their time. While the Brits mock their looks.

I thought the thread was just horrible. Best of blonde it's not.

i remember Shayne Fenton  getting up a few times and singing a few songs in our local pub in Liverpool before his Alvin Stardust days, next minute he is on top of the pops ,the compare also went on to be well known ,Rickey Tomlinson, didnt know Alvin had moved from Liverpool to Mansfield,mind you the way he dressed up on stage i suppose he had to,lol

[tikay]

Now, young Rebecca Adligton repeated the feat - wonderful! A British Gold Medallist, from a humble background.

She hails just up the road from me, in Mansfield, which used to be a Mining town. Mansfield's claims to fame are Alvin Stardust, Richard Bacon, Roger Moore & Lord Byron. There's huge excitement for the lass, & they plan to rename the local Swimming Pool "Adlington Swimming Baths". Happy days indeed.

Except, 40 years on from Anita, society has changed. Here we have a real fairy-tale Champion, & yet there's a thread on blonde which mocks her for her looks.

Maybe I'm just in a bad mood, maybe I'm grumpy & tetchy, maybe I'm just old, but that thread says so much about how Society is changing for the worse. Do the Posters not have mirrors? Have they made as much of their talent (we all have Talent in some shape or form) as she has?

Some Nations are so proud of their Athletes & swimmers, it almost shaves half a second off their time. While the Brits mock their looks.

I thought the thread was just horrible. Best of blonde it's not.

This got me wondering what a lot of Brits 40 years ago would have made of Kelly Holmes winning the golds at the last Olympics?  A black woman representing Britain?!  A gay woman as well...?

I wasn't around 40 years ago, but I know that attitudes have changed considerably over that time, largely for the better.  Wouldn't you agree?

That's an interesting way of looking at it, yes. (JonMW, too).

Certainly, racism was more openly seen then, though the gay issue was taboo in those days - because, err, nobody was gay........

But as to society changing for the better overall, no, I think not. The greatest positive change I've seen is the free movement (within the EC) of foreign nationals, which has been a simply wonderful thing,as has been the development of the Web, which has such enormous educational benefits.

Loss of respect for authority, (incluing parents), crime, drugs, alcohol abuse, 24/7 television, the internet, mobile 'phones, the "professionalism" of modern sports (football, cricket, motor racing), have all contributed to major changes in the way society works. Not all for the better by any means. IMO, that is.

[tikay]

Sigh, post opinions and ask questions on your blog and dont even acknowledge replies.

I know you are old and go off talking on your own but come on!

I'm saving you till last.........

[tikay]

Now, young Rebecca Adligton repeated the feat - wonderful! A British Gold Medallist, from a humble background.

She hails just up the road from me, in Mansfield, which used to be a Mining town. Mansfield's claims to fame are Alvin Stardust, Richard Bacon, Roger Moore & Lord Byron. There's huge excitement for the lass, & they plan to rename the local Swimming Pool "Adlington Swimming Baths". Happy days indeed.

Except, 40 years on from Anita, society has changed. Here we have a real fairy-tale Champion, & yet there's a thread on blonde which mocks her for her looks.

Maybe I'm just in a bad mood, maybe I'm grumpy & tetchy, maybe I'm just old, but that thread says so much about how Society is changing for the worse. Do the Posters not have mirrors? Have they made as much of their talent (we all have Talent in some shape or form) as she has?

Some Nations are so proud of their Athletes & swimmers, it almost shaves half a second off their time. While the Brits mock their looks.

I thought the thread was just horrible. Best of blonde it's not.

SIGH.  Because you have never had a quick laugh behind someones back about them, have you?

As a youngster, yes, I - we - all used to laugh at what we perceived was odd or unusual looks. Black pople, disabled people, ladies with two heads, or disfigurements, people in African robes or Jewish clothes, obese folks, people with skinny arses, all were worthy of a titter. With age, understanding arrives, & it ceases. (As you may guess, I was never a member of the Bernard Manning Fan Club).

But that misses the point. Anita was feted as a National heroine, quite right too. With Rebecca, some clown spends hours devising some sort of You Tube piss-take mock up of her, & is hailed a genius - getting more attention than Rebecca's wonderful achievements.

PS - Her parents send their Best Regards.

PPS - Get yer skinny arse to Luton tonight. Sorry, get your lovely arse to Luton tonight.

[Jon MW]

... With Rebecca, some clown spends hours devising some sort of You Tube piss-take mock up of her, & is hailed a genius - getting more attention than Rebecca's wonderful achievements.
...

Britain has a long standing tradition of recognising creativity as more important than athleticism.

Where would all our great literature be, for example, if our writers had all been down the gym instead of writing.

[Claw75]

some clown spends hours devising some sort of You Tube piss-take mock up of her, & is hailed a genius

I'm with you on the Rebecca Adlington stuff, but, to be fair, I don't think the you tube mock-up was intended to be a piss-take of her (it didn't come across that way to me anyway).  The original post on that thread commented that JP thought she was cute, and the video montage showed them together, which I thought was quite clever - nothing mocking there as far as I can see.

[kinboshi]

Now, young Rebecca Adligton repeated the feat - wonderful! A British Gold Medallist, from a humble background.

She hails just up the road from me, in Mansfield, which used to be a Mining town. Mansfield's claims to fame are Alvin Stardust, Richard Bacon, Roger Moore & Lord Byron. There's huge excitement for the lass, & they plan to rename the local Swimming Pool "Adlington Swimming Baths". Happy days indeed.

Except, 40 years on from Anita, society has changed. Here we have a real fairy-tale Champion, & yet there's a thread on blonde which mocks her for her looks.

Maybe I'm just in a bad mood, maybe I'm grumpy & tetchy, maybe I'm just old, but that thread says so much about how Society is changing for the worse. Do the Posters not have mirrors? Have they made as much of their talent (we all have Talent in some shape or form) as she has?

Some Nations are so proud of their Athletes & swimmers, it almost shaves half a second off their time. While the Brits mock their looks.

I thought the thread was just horrible. Best of blonde it's not.

This got me wondering what a lot of Brits 40 years ago would have made of Kelly Holmes winning the golds at the last Olympics?  A black woman representing Britain?!  A gay woman as well...?

I wasn't around 40 years ago, but I know that attitudes have changed considerably over that time, largely for the better.  Wouldn't you agree?

That's an interesting way of looking at it, yes. (JonMW, too).

Certainly, racism was more openly seen then, though the gay issue was taboo in those days - because, err, nobody was gay........

It's not all better, granted.  But it's much better if you're gay, black, poor, disabled, etc.  I'd say the standard of living is higher for a greater majority of the UK population?

But as to society changing for the better overall, no, I think not. The greatest positive change I've seen is the free movement (within the EC) of foreign nationals, which has been a simply wonderful thing,as has been the development of the Web, which has such enormous educational benefits.

They're good things.  Although the internet is evil you know?

Loss of respect for authority, (incluing parents)

Did everyone respect everyone in the 'good old days'?  Were those that were poor, sick, disabled, gay (recurring theme but it does account for 1 in 10 of the population), dare I even say 'women' (which accounts for approximately half of the population) respected as much as they are now?

crime

I'm sure I've read lots of stories of people being battered as children back in the 'good old days'.  I'm sure a lot of women were battered by their partners as well.  Unfortunately, I think a lot of this still goes on, but as a guess based on no empirical evidence, I'd say it was more prevalent in the past.

drugs

Yes, drugs are more easily available.  It is a problem, and it's one of the consequences of globalisation and increased levels of disposable income across all ages in all walks of life.

alcohol abuse

This has increased?

24/7 television

Means we don't have to watch the same drivel, and now have choice.  It also means there's a greater opportunity to see things from more than one angle - which is a good thing, right?

the internet

Isn't it marvellous.  It's evil of course, but marvellous.

mobile 'phones

What's bad about being able to contact people when you want, without having to use public phones that never worked properly or even if they did you couldn't have contacted the other person as you didn't have their number and they weren't in anyway.  If you don't want to be contacted, switch the thing off or ignore it.  It's about increased choice. 

the "professionalism" of modern sports (football, cricket, motor racing), have all contributed to major changes in the way society works. Not all for the better by any means. IMO, that is.

It's not all bad though, is it?

Oh, and I think Rebecca Adlington is brilliant.  Despite being British, she won an Olympic swimming gold.  Deserves lots of money, and opportunity for her dedication, commitment and talent.  40 years ago she wouldn't have had the opportunity in most likelihood...

[tikay]

some clown spends hours devising some sort of You Tube piss-take mock up of her, & is hailed a genius

I'm with you on the Rebecca Adlington stuff, but, to be fair, I don't think the you tube mock-up was intended to be a piss-take of her (it didn't come across that way to me anyway).  The original post on that thread commented that JP thought she was cute, and the video montage showed them together, which I thought was quite clever - nothing mocking there as far as I can see.

In which case, I stand corrected - I read the thread as a whole as a piss-take. Grumpy, tetchy, crusty old fart slinks away in shame.....

[kinboshi]

some clown spends hours devising some sort of You Tube piss-take mock up of her, & is hailed a genius

I'm with you on the Rebecca Adlington stuff, but, to be fair, I don't think the you tube mock-up was intended to be a piss-take of her (it didn't come across that way to me anyway).  The original post on that thread commented that JP thought she was cute, and the video montage showed them together, which I thought was quite clever - nothing mocking there as far as I can see.

In which case, I stand corrected - I read the thread as a whole as a piss-take. Grumpy, tetchy, crusty old fart slinks away in shame.....

Wouldn't have happened in the good old days...

[Rookie (Rodney)]

PPS - Get yer skinny arse to Luton tonight. 

Doubt I will be there, tempting though. Have a football match for work team tonight, rivalry - Highbury (us) vs Paddington Branch.

Sorry, get your lovely arse to Luton tonight.

I doubt Ling will be there either.

[Rookie (Rodney)]

some clown spends hours devising some sort of You Tube piss-take mock up of her, & is hailed a genius

I'm with you on the Rebecca Adlington stuff, but, to be fair, I don't think the you tube mock-up was intended to be a piss-take of her (it didn't come across that way to me anyway).  The original post on that thread commented that JP thought she was cute, and the video montage showed them together, which I thought was quite clever - nothing mocking there as far as I can see.

I was going to say! The Youtube video was just a joke, you are in one TK FFS! Watch them before you insta knock them!

[tikay]

Now, young Rebecca Adligton repeated the feat - wonderful! A British Gold Medallist, from a humble background.

She hails just up the road from me, in Mansfield, which used to be a Mining town. Mansfield's claims to fame are Alvin Stardust, Richard Bacon, Roger Moore & Lord Byron. There's huge excitement for the lass, & they plan to rename the local Swimming Pool "Adlington Swimming Baths". Happy days indeed.

Except, 40 years on from Anita, society has changed. Here we have a real fairy-tale Champion, & yet there's a thread on blonde which mocks her for her looks.

Maybe I'm just in a bad mood, maybe I'm grumpy & tetchy, maybe I'm just old, but that thread says so much about how Society is changing for the worse. Do the Posters not have mirrors? Have they made as much of their talent (we all have Talent in some shape or form) as she has?

Some Nations are so proud of their Athletes & swimmers, it almost shaves half a second off their time. While the Brits mock their looks.

I thought the thread was just horrible. Best of blonde it's not.

This got me wondering what a lot of Brits 40 years ago would have made of Kelly Holmes winning the golds at the last Olympics?  A black woman representing Britain?!  A gay woman as well...?

I wasn't around 40 years ago, but I know that attitudes have changed considerably over that time, largely for the better.  Wouldn't you agree?

That's an interesting way of looking at it, yes. (JonMW, too).

Certainly, racism was more openly seen then, though the gay issue was taboo in those days - because, err, nobody was gay........

It's not all better, granted.  But it's much better if you're gay, black, poor, disabled, etc.  I'd say the standard of living is higher for a greater majority of the UK population?

But as to society changing for the better overall, no, I think not. The greatest positive change I've seen is the free movement (within the EC) of foreign nationals, which has been a simply wonderful thing,as has been the development of the Web, which has such enormous educational benefits.

They're good things.  Although the internet is evil you know?

Loss of respect for authority, (incluing parents)

Did everyone respect everyone in the 'good old days'?  Were those that were poor, sick, disabled, gay (recurring theme but it does account for 1 in 10 of the population), dare I even say 'women' (which accounts for approximately half of the population) respected as much as they are now?

crime

I'm sure I've read lots of stories of people being battered as children back in the 'good old days'.  I'm sure a lot of women were battered by their partners as well.  Unfortunately, I think a lot of this still goes on, but as a guess based on no empirical evidence, I'd say it was more prevalent in the past.

drugs

Yes, drugs are more easily available.  It is a problem, and it's one of the consequences of globalisation and increased levels of disposable income across all ages in all walks of life.

alcohol abuse

This has increased?

24/7 television

Means we don't have to watch the same drivel, and now have choice.  It also means there's a greater opportunity to see things from more than one angle - which is a good thing, right?

the internet

Isn't it marvellous.  It's evil of course, but marvellous.

mobile 'phones

What's bad about being able to contact people when you want, without having to use public phones that never worked properly or even if they did you couldn't have contacted the other person as you didn't have their number and they weren't in anyway.  If you don't want to be contacted, switch the thing off or ignore it.  It's about increased choice. 

the "professionalism" of modern sports (football, cricket, motor racing), have all contributed to major changes in the way society works. Not all for the better by any means. IMO, that is.

It's not all bad though, is it?

Oh, and I think Rebecca Adlington is brilliant.  Despite being British, she won an Olympic swimming gold.  Deserves lots of money, and opportunity for her dedication, commitment and talent.  40 years ago she wouldn't have had the opportunity in most likelihood...

You misread my Post. I said....

"Not all for the better by any means.".

Which clearly implies some for the better, some not so. You've assumed, from the gist of your replies, I meant all for the worse.

Yes, the standard of living is better for most of the UK population. Financially, that is.......

Respect for others? Yes, Women have more respect these days. Firemen & Ambulance personnel don't though - they regularly get physically attacked simply because they represent authority.

Drugs? Don't start me off on that.

TV being available 24/7 = more choice? Think wider, Daniel. The free availability of 24/7 TV has destroyed more lives than you can ever imagine. Folks base their whole lives around it. Kids watch it from the age of 3, & their minds become polluted by it's images. Life without TV is not the tragedy most think it is. Try going a week, or a month, without TV. You'd be amazed how refreshing it is. But you can watch Sky Poker.

The Internet - yes, such a juxtaposition of good & evil. Truly awesome.

Mobile Phones - civilisation managed for a goodly while without being able to contact each other, in an instant, 24/7. Life would go on very nicey indeed without it.

Rebecca would not have had the opportunity 40 years ago? What, like Anita?

It's neither wholly better, nor wholly worse. But on balance, society is worse. IMO.

Right, yew hedges next.