Thread: The Commonwealth Games Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.
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Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on
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With apologies to Shipmates in America and Europe and half the world.
But the only thing of interest to Brits and their former Empire subjects is the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
An extravaganza in BBC hyperbole and nauseating upbeat cheerleading of a Division 2 event.
It cost ££millions to stage.
And the world will be saturated with over the top adjectives to describe performances which, in world terms, wouldn't rate.
Ahh well.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
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I see you are your usual cheerful self - go wash someone's feet with chanel No 5
Posted by Anglican't (# 15292) on
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Other channels (even BBC channels) are available.
Posted by RuthW (# 13) on
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I probably wouldn't have ever known these games were being held if shamwari hadn't given them this free publicity.
Posted by Tulfes (# 18000) on
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quote:
Originally posted by shamwari:
With apologies to Shipmates in America and Europe and half the world.
But the only thing of interest to Brits and their former Empire subjects is the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
An extravaganza in BBC hyperbole and nauseating upbeat cheerleading of a Division 2 event.
It cost ££millions to stage.
And the world will be saturated with over the top adjectives to describe performances which, in world terms, wouldn't rate.
Ahh well.
You're a mean spirited fucking bitch.
Posted by Pyx_e (# 57) on
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Every now and then someone hits a pure vein of Hell. It is Eldorado and Cibola rolled into one.
Posted by Schroedinger's cat (# 64) on
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So there is something that will dominate some of the TV channels that you don't want to watch? Like the World Cup did recently?
Watch something else.
Or go and strand yourself in a boat without oars in the middle of the Pacific, then it won't bother you.
And we can all be happy.
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on
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Ah, that elusive yet familiar whiff in the air - acrid tang of bile, overlaid with greasy notes of envy, on a sulphurous base of joylessness - that tells us another celebratory sporting spectacle is upon us!
Athletes who've trained hard will have their hour, the crowds will cheer, there will ambition and effort and grace and strength and endurance and Victory! And shamwari will be miserable - even more miserable than his shrivel-hearted, rancid, vinegary miserabilist norm - because somewhere people are being pointlessly happy because somebody else has run or jumped or smacked a table-tennis ball really hard. Don't they know how much he hates hates HATES fun? How it falls like daggers of sunlight on his mean, grey, dismal world.
Well, tough.
Posted by John Holding (# 158) on
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Well, if it's any comfort in your agonies -- or possibly to add coals to the fire on your head -- the CBC here in this former colony is marketing the Glasgow Games practically non-stop --- as a stop on the "Road to Rio 2016".
John
Posted by Jane R (# 331) on
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Oh, is there some kind of sporting contest taking place in Glasgow this month? I hadn't really noticed...
Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on
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Surprise surprise. Firenze, posting from Edinburgh, begs to differ.
We Scots must stick together! Strangely my Dad was born in Glasgow but he got out during the Depression and made a life in Rhodesia.
Fact is that millions of £££s have been spent on a 2nd Division contest and that justifies the hyberbole
On with the games.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
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Miseryguts
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on
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quote:
Originally posted by shamwari:
Surprise surprise. Firenze, posting from Edinburgh, begs to differ.
We Scots must stick together! Strangely my Dad was born in Glasgow but he got out during the Depression and made a life in Rhodesia.
Fact is that millions of £££s have been spent on a 2nd Division contest and that justifies the hyberbole
On with the games.
shamwari, it is quite exceptional for someone from Embra to take Glasgow's part on anything (I can claim just as much Scottishness as you, as my father was born in Edinburgh. So there).
Posted by Oscar the Grouch (# 1916) on
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Of all the sporting extravaganzas, the Commonwealth Games has to be the most innocuous and least offensive. How can anyone have a problem with it?
Unlike the Olympics or the World Cup, hosting it does not involve millions of pounds disappearing in shady payments and the buying up of votes. It is a chance for athletes from across the globe to come together in a relaxed, yet still competitive, atmosphere to do their stuff in a spirit of unity rarely seen elsewhere. The fact that no-one really takes the performances seriously is half of the pleasure. We all know a Commonwealth medal isn't really worth that much. But if you're from a small nation that is never going to win an Olympic medal, it can feel like a real achievement. And it gives Brits a chance to win something once in a while.
Lamest Hell call for some time.....
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on
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Irish, as it happens...
Though if your Da was a Weegee it could explain how you inherited the lemon-sucking parsimony and croaking pessimism.
Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on
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Shamwari hating a large sporting event is as predictable as the tides.
NEXT!
Posted by quetzalcoatl (# 16740) on
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Sounds like envy.
Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on
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quote:
Originally posted by quetzalcoatl:
Sounds like envy.
Shamwari's promising career as a discus thrower was cut tragically short by an accident involving a food processor and a pet gerbil.
Posted by Dark Knight (# 9415) on
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quote:
Originally posted by Schroedinger's cat:
So there is something that will dominate some of the TV channels that you don't want to watch? Like the World Cup did recently?
Watch something else.
Or go and strand yourself in a boat without oars in the middle of the Pacific, then it won't bother you.
And we can all be happy.
Seconded.
Posted by RuthW (# 13) on
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If shamwari had started this thread to complain about the ugliness of the Scottish team's outfits, I'd have been right there with him. I clicked on the link in the Circus thread, and I can't unsee the horror!
Posted by Ad Orientem (# 17574) on
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quote:
Originally posted by RuthW:
If shamwari had started this thread to complain about the ugliness of the Scottish team's outfits, I'd have been right there with him. I clicked on the link in the Circus thread, and I can't unsee the horror!
Just had a look. Stone me! The designer was surely having a bubble bath.
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on
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But shamwari is Scottish. He has to watch every minute of BBC output so's to get his money's worth out of the license fee.
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on
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Hasn't much of the £473.2million been spent on regenerating the East End of Glasgow? If they do as good a job as in London that's going to be worth doing.
The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford has been open to the public for a few months now. It's now an amazing outside space in a what was a rough area of London, with banks of wild flowers, a climbing wall open to the public, play areas (several of them), winding paths through greenery, cycling and running tracks, fountains to run through, quiet marsh areas. The swimming pool, basketball/badminton courts, velodrome and BMX tracks are all open now, the stadium is still having work done. The last time I walked through it was full of families and children enjoying the facilities, outside, getting exercise.
The combination of the Olympic Park and the events held there¹², Westfield shopping centre and the transport links has made Stratford a much, much nicer place than it was. Roll on that happening to the East End of Glasgow.
Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on
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Look, I'm not particularly interested in which genetic outlier has the particular makeup that makes him 0.00005 picoseconds faster than another genetic outlier, but you don't know you're born, you whippersnappers. When there were only three channels, sporting events dominated all of them and were indeed a Hell-worthy right royal pain in the arse. Now there are so many channels (most of them wall to wall shite, but that's the case outside of sporting events), DVDs, streaming on demand, digital radio... you can just avoid it. I, for example, am pleased to be able to report that I have no idea if Wimbledon's over or who won anything, was surprised to discover the other week that the World Cup was still dragging on, and will be able to be equally ignorant of what's going on in Glasgow. Which wouldn't have been the case twenty years ago.
[ 23. July 2014, 08:38: Message edited by: Karl: Liberal Backslider ]
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on
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Personally, I hate it when something in which I have no personal interest dominates one or two of the few hundred TV and radio channels to which I have access. It's why I get so absoultely batshit spitting mad and post Hell threads ranting against the crap they're constantly shoving down my throat on Pop Girl, BabyTV and MTV Base.
Oh wait, no I don't. I just watch the channels that are showing something I'm interested in. What a ludicrously easy solution to the problem. ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on
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Heck, why restrict yourself to TV channels? These days the internet has endless hours of stuff to watch. You can probably find every single episode of Antiques Roadshow on Youtube or some other site.
Or failing that, just watch some porn. *shrug*
Posted by Erroneous Monk (# 10858) on
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quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:
Heck, why restrict yourself to TV channels? These days the internet has endless hours of stuff to watch. You can probably find every single episode of Antiques Roadshow on Youtube or some other site.
Or failing that, just watch some porn. *shrug*
How about a porn/Antiques Roadshow mash-up? Punter presents body part to the expert to be valued.
"Oh my. It's a long time since I've seen one of *these*. How long have you had it?"
.....
"Did you know if you reach underneath and you just [fiddles]... twiddle with that bit... Oh yes. A lovely piece, isn't it?"
Posted by jbohn (# 8753) on
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quote:
Originally posted by Erroneous Monk:
"Did you know if you reach underneath and you just [fiddles]... twiddle with that bit... Oh yes. A lovely piece, isn't it?"
Thanks for that visual... ![[Biased]](wink.gif)
Posted by Jon in the Nati (# 15849) on
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I'm surprised this sort of things rustles Shamwari's jimmies so. He/she seems like the kind of pretentious motherfucker you meet at the bar, who takes such pleasure in telling you, with glee barely covered by condescension, "Oh, I don't own a television."
And anyway, if you don't own a television, what are you going to sit and look at all day?
Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on
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My beef is two-fold.
One is the vast amount of money being spent on a 2nd rate competition. 2nd rate? Evidence? The world's greatest sprinter Usain Bolt has condescended to run the relay: in the Olympics he ran 100m; 200m; and relay. One of the world's greatest cyclists, Bradley Wiggins, has done much the same thing. A token appearance. And The Americans and Russians and Europeans who between them hold the most Olympic and World Gold Medals will not be there.
2nd beef; The sycophantic nonsense, especially from the BBC which provides coverage. Its as though all the commentators have been handed a list of superlatives which they are required to use even when describing a below par performance.
Posted by RuthW (# 13) on
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quote:
Originally posted by shamwari:
One is the vast amount of money being spent on a 2nd rate competition. 2nd rate? Evidence? The world's greatest sprinter Usain Bolt has condescended to run the relay: in the Olympics he ran 100m; 200m; and relay. One of the world's greatest cyclists, Bradley Wiggins, has done much the same thing. A token appearance. And The Americans and Russians and Europeans who between them hold the most Olympic and World Gold Medals will not be there.
This is bullshit. You bitched about the money and the hype for Olympics, so don't even try to tell us your objection to the Commonwealth Games is that they're second-rate. That you have not yet figured out how to change the channel on your TV or, better yet, go outside and play, shows that you are getting something out of being annoyed and having things to complain about.
Posted by Stetson (# 9597) on
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Shamwari wrote:
quote:
With apologies to Shipmates in America and Europe and half the world.
But the only thing of interest to Brits and their former Empire subjects is the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Mmm, no.
I got caught up in the excitement when my city hosted the games in 1978(I was nine), but since then, I haven't paid a lick of attention to the Commonwealth Games. If it weren't for this thread, in fact, I probably wouldn't even know they were going on.
Posted by Stetson (# 9597) on
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^ But that said, I do share the disdain for large-scale sporting events, and if the CGs were in my city, I'd probably be pretty ticked off about it.
Posted by quetzalcoatl (# 16740) on
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A lot of people enjoy them though. During the Olympics, the cycle races went past our house, and many people came out to cheer them on, and it was a brilliant spectacle. Well, the whole Olympics was a big buzz in London.
The OP sounds a bit like, 'someone somewhere is enjoying themselves, and I'm not'. Tough tittyfellatio.
Posted by no prophet (# 15560) on
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Some of the sports included are of limited interest to a Canadian. Never heard of netball. Real hockey is played on ice. Rugby is vanity sport in Canada. And I have trouble finding lawn bowling and shooting particularly athletic. I'd like to see paddling sports. But more particularly, about the most interesting and exciting field sport to consider might be Aussie Rules Football. Which appears to be made for spectators and rather crazy.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
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I have been watching the opening ceremony - shamelessly rocking the cliches ![[Cool]](cool.gif)
Posted by Sober Preacher's Kid (# 12699) on
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No, the Commonwealth Games are decent mix of sport, entertainment and fun which can be managed on a budget. You know, everything the Olympics doesn't have.
I mean come on, who can't but cheer for the Falkland Islands Team?
If you want to watch the Yanks be their usual annoying selves, watch the Pan-Am Games.
Besides, if you want to watch a truly dreadful event, watch the Francophonie Games. Just the like Francophonie is to the Commonwealth, they're a second-rate wannabe to the Commonwealth Games.
Posted by Tulfes (# 18000) on
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Great to see the gay kiss in the opening ceremony.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
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I rather liked the dancing teacakes.
Posted by Erroneous Monk (# 10858) on
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quote:
Originally posted by Sober Preacher's Kid:
I mean come on, who can't but cheer for the Falkland Islands Team?
From watching the opening ceremony, they looked like their best chance for a medal was in Watching Golf On Telly.
Posted by quetzalcoatl (# 16740) on
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The tea-cakes were brilliant; also the blue kilt was very desirable.
I think the flavour of the parochial is quite delightful, e.g. an Isle of Man team, go, Man, go!
Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on
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Have we won yet?
Posted by luvanddaisies (# 5761) on
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Yes, dear. Now go back to sleep.
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on
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Wet, semi-naked people are pedalling madly through dappled sunlight. What's not to like here?
Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on
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John Barrowman was born near Glasgow - who knew?
Didn't go for the singing female comedian but what the heck, she was still miles better than Emeli Sande hyperventilating her way through Abide with me at the 2012 olympics.
And I loved the struggle with the queen's baton - HM's shoulders were shaking nicely!
Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on
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Well, we've just had a fortnight with soccer all over the paper and various net sites, and now it's the Games. All the time there's the Tour de France, which has turned into the Tour de almost everywhere under the sun where we can try to get higher advertising fees.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
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Interested to note that according to Commonwealth Games medal ceremonies, Jerusalem is the English national anthem.
Posted by Anglican't (# 15292) on
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quote:
Originally posted by Doublethink:
Interested to note that according to Commonwealth Games medal ceremonies, Jerusalem is the English national anthem.
I think they tried Land of Hope and Glory. It never sounded right to me (difficult to jump straight into the chorus with the build up). I think this is probably a better choice.
Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on
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I don't have television
Posted by piglet (# 11803) on
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quote:
Originally posted by shamwari:
... The Americans and Russians and Europeans who between them hold the most Olympic and World Gold Medals will not be there ...
I wonder why that is? Oh yes, of course, they're not members of the Commonwealth!.
Honestly, Shamwari, change channels and go and suck a few more lemons.
FWIW (not much), I'm a Scot married to an Englishman, used to live in Northern Ireland and now live in Canada, so with any luck I'll have quite a lot to cheer about.
Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on
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quote:
Originally posted by Anglican't:
quote:
Originally posted by Doublethink:
Interested to note that according to Commonwealth Games medal ceremonies, Jerusalem is the English national anthem.
I think they tried Land of Hope and Glory. It never sounded right to me (difficult to jump straight into the chorus with the build up). I think this is probably a better choice.
I wish we had something other than "Flower of Scotland" but none of the alternatives are so easy to sing as a single chorus. (Except "Scots Wha Hae" which is even more martial than "Flower of Scotland.")
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on
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quote:
Originally posted by RuthW:
I probably wouldn't have ever known these games were being held if shamwari hadn't given them this free publicity.
Bet you're grateful . Other people change channels, but shamwari keeps watching so they've got something to complain about!!!!
Tubbs
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
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Rose of Allendale would be fairly fab.
Posted by Anglican't (# 15292) on
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quote:
Originally posted by shamwari:
Fact is that millions of £££s have been spent on a 2nd Division contest and that justifies the hyberbole
There can be a knock-on effect: IOC officials were present at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 and were impressed at what they saw. Three years later, Britain put in a bid for the Olympic Games and won. These two things weren't a co-incidence.
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on
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Seeing as we've come back around to this, I found this earlier: a series of photographs showing the before and after effects of the Olympics on Stratford. They are from last year so there's this series to show what it looks like now.
Posted by luvanddaisies (# 5761) on
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I wish the bloody english BBC announcers would bother to try to pronounce Glasgow properly. Hearing them drone "glaaaahhhhhhssgeeeooooooww" or "STRATHclyaaayyyde" is irritating. Would it really kill them to try to give the place enough respect to make the small effort to pronounce its name properly?
Other english people manage, even southerners.
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on
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quote:
Originally posted by Anglican't:
quote:
Originally posted by shamwari:
Fact is that millions of £££s have been spent on a 2nd Division contest and that justifies the hyberbole
There can be a knock-on effect: IOC officials were present at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 and were impressed at what they saw. Three years later, Britain put in a bid for the Olympic Games and won. These two things weren't a co-incidence.
IIRC shamwari was pissed off about the London Olympics too.
shamwari is mourning his lost sporting youth. Maybe he was the kid who never got picked.
Posted by deano (# 12063) on
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It isn't difficult to avoid these things you know? I mean I managed to not watch all of the Olympics in China and again in London.
That sort of running about and throwing and stuff bores me. If it isn't football, golf or cricket then I'll find something else to do. What is hard about that?
Between this thread and the constant whining about bingo, I have to say the standard of Hell threads recently is very poor. Still, we are in the silly season, so I guess the next Hell call will be about how some people don't like skateboarding rabbits.
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on
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quote:
Originally posted by deano:
I guess the next Hell call will be about how some people don't like skateboarding rabbits.
Noooo! Skateboarding bunnies are cuuuute. Specially when they do those back flips.
Posted by luvanddaisies (# 5761) on
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I quite liked watching the Olympics on the telly, and as I type the Commonwealth Netball is burbling away in the background, but I do object to the amount of money spent on them - and there seems precious little evidence that the London money spent has actually done anything particularly good. If the areas need regeneration, why does there need to be a massively expensive international sports-day to make the government spend the money? surely they'd spend less if they just did the work rather than forking out all the extra stuff as well. Are we really such children that things only get funding if there's a media circus and a big shiny event, and not just because it'll make people's lives better?
Posted by quetzalcoatl (# 16740) on
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I don't think that regeneration is the main reason that countries want to host big events such as the Olympics, World Cup, etc. This is added on as a kind of sweetener, but it can backfire, as in Brazil, where there has been considerable anger at large sums being spent on the World Cup, when millions of people live in poverty.
So I don't think people think, 'oh, Glasgow could do with a bit of regeneration, what possible event could we hold here?'.
As to why places want to host big events, I suppose there are many reasons, prestige, tourism, patriotism, and of course, an authentic love of sport must come somewhere on the list!
I live in London, and I thought the Olympics were an absolute blast, but not because Stratford has had a makeover. Similarly, I am enjoying the Scottish flavour of the Commonwealth Games.
Posted by luvanddaisies (# 5761) on
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quote:
Originally posted by quetzalcoatl:
I don't think that regeneration is the main reason that countries want to host big events such as the Olympics, World Cup, etc.
Exactly - it's to give an excuse for spending millions/billions on something unnecessary.
Posted by deano (# 12063) on
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quote:
Originally posted by luvanddaisies:
quote:
Originally posted by quetzalcoatl:
I don't think that regeneration is the main reason that countries want to host big events such as the Olympics, World Cup, etc.
Exactly - it's to give an excuse for spending millions/billions on something unnecessary.
I agree! We need the money for the Trident upgrade.
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on
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quote:
Originally posted by deano:
I agree! We need the money for the Trident upgrade.
And if you know anything about defence procurement, you'll know the cost of a Commonwealth Game or two would hardly buy even one obsolete-before-it-even-goes-into-service boat or plane.
At least with Olympics etc you see what you're getting for your money.
Posted by deano (# 12063) on
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quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
quote:
Originally posted by deano:
I agree! We need the money for the Trident upgrade.
And if you know anything about defence procurement, you'll know the cost of a Commonwealth Game or two would hardly buy even one obsolete-before-it-even-goes-into-service boat or plane.
At least with Olympics etc you see what you're getting for your money.
Yes but it's like Tesco... every little helps.
Posted by quetzalcoatl (# 16740) on
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I think it's worth every penny just to see the Scottie dogs, with national labels on them. Cute, cute, cute!
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on
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If only they'd been on skateboards....
Posted by quetzalcoatl (# 16740) on
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quote:
Originally posted by luvanddaisies:
quote:
Originally posted by quetzalcoatl:
I don't think that regeneration is the main reason that countries want to host big events such as the Olympics, World Cup, etc.
Exactly - it's to give an excuse for spending millions/billions on something unnecessary.
Gold medal for quote-mining there. It's not 'exactly' at all, as I go on in the rest of the post, which you generously omit, to give some other reasons.
Posted by luvanddaisies (# 5761) on
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quote:
Originally posted by quetzalcoatl:
quote:
Originally posted by luvanddaisies:
quote:
Originally posted by quetzalcoatl:
I don't think that regeneration is the main reason that countries want to host big events such as the Olympics, World Cup, etc.
Exactly - it's to give an excuse for spending millions/billions on something unnecessary.
Gold medal for quote-mining there. It's not 'exactly' at all, as I go on in the rest of the post, which you generously omit, to give some other reasons.
I omitted it to keep it succinct, but if you insist
quote:
Originally posted by quetzalcoatl:
This is added on as a kind of sweetener,
Yes, as an excuse to spend millions/billions on something unnecessary.
quote:
Originally posted by quetzalcoatl:
but it can backfire, as in Brazil, where there has been considerable anger at large sums being spent on the World Cup, when millions of people live in poverty.
Yes, because they used the excuse of it somehow benefiting people as an excuse to spend millions/billions on something unnecessary.
quote:
Originally posted by quetzalcoatl:
So I don't think people think, 'oh, Glasgow could do with a bit of regeneration, what possible event could we hold here?'.
No, but they look for an excuse as to why they're spending millions/billions on something unnecessary.
quote:
Originally posted by quetzalcoatl:
As to why places want to host big events, I suppose there are many reasons, prestige, tourism, patriotism, and of course, an authentic love of sport must come somewhere on the list!
It's a mystery to me why there's such a desire to spend so much money on something unnecessary, but I guess all of the above, and the regeneration things help the bid to win, and give an excuse for spending millions/billions on something unnecessary.
quote:
Originally posted by quetzalcoatl:
I live in London, and I thought the Olympics were an absolute blast, but not because Stratford has had a makeover. Similarly, I am enjoying the Scottish flavour of the Commonwealth Games.
I live in London, but I'm Scottish, mostly Glaswegian. I thought the Olympics were a waste of a lot of money. I've not noticed any particularly Scottish flavour to the Commonwealth Games, but then I missed the Opening Ceremony because I was working lates that day.
The sport is all very nice, but it's a lot of money to spend on something unnecessary, and the whole "but it's for regeneration" schtick seems mostly to be a way of making an excuse for this.
I get it if nobody wanted to host it and it had to be dumped on a different nation each time in order for the events to happen, but lots of places want it. If the UK is meant to be 'doing austerity', why spend all the money.
Well, I see now that my post would have been so different if I'd quoted all of yours in the first place.
Posted by quetzalcoatl (# 16740) on
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luvanddaisies
I just thought your 'Exactly' was fucking bizarre, as you then came to a conclusion, almost exactly opposite to the one which I had come to, which, as I said, you kindly omitted.
Anyway, I realize that it's the internet, where the normal courtesies are dumped in a deep black hole.
Posted by luvanddaisies (# 5761) on
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Purgatory's upstairs, I'll do courtesy there. This one says "Hell" at the top.
Posted by quetzalcoatl (# 16740) on
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quote:
Originally posted by luvanddaisies:
Purgatory's upstairs, I'll do courtesy there. This one says "Hell" at the top.
I think misrepresentation is sort of covered on all threads as a kind of yahoo-ish baboonish trick.
Posted by piglet (# 11803) on
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quote:
Originally posted by North East Quine:
... I wish we had something other than "Flower of Scotland" ...
We do. It's called Scotland the Brave and even when it's played on bagpipes, which I really don't like, it brings a lump to my throat. I've often thought that we'd do better in the rugby if they played it instead of that ghastly old dirge.
Just my 2p.
Posted by Pyx_e (# 57) on
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So, it seems the BBC is having a holiday. It has decided that all they are going to show is spotty Welsh swimmers while the all bog of to their villas in Bordeaux for few days. Insane.
Posted by rolyn (# 16840) on
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Watched about 10 mins of the CG's last evening . Happened to be the women's Judo where the English lass got the better of the Aussie .
Kinda did it for me , don't know why .
Heard a rumour last night that the entire welsh team have been banned for taking summin , not sure if it's true ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
Posted by Pyx_e (# 57) on
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quote:
Heard a rumour last night that the entire welsh team have been banned for taking summin ,
It's a Press Leak.
Posted by balaam (# 4543) on
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One word:
Gussets.
Female rhythmic gymnasts, I'm talking to you.
I want to be able to appreciate your athleticism without being distracted by your camel toes. Thank you very much.
Posted by ecumaniac (# 376) on
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quote:
Originally posted by balaam:
One word:
Gussets.
Female rhythmic gymnasts, I'm talking to you.
I want to be able to appreciate your athleticism without being distracted by your camel toes. Thank you very much.
Try having a wank before you turn on the telly.
[ 26. July 2014, 10:20: Message edited by: ecumaniac ]
Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on
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Sir needs a cuchini for 'is eyes.
Posted by Robert Armin (# 182) on
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Having missed the Opening Ceremony, I thought it would be easy to find a clip on YouTube; ideally edited highlights. However, all I can find are sets of photos with a mechanical voice. Can anyone point me in the direction of something good?
Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on
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How about the BBC Highlights
Jengie
Posted by Jade Constable (# 17175) on
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quote:
Originally posted by deano:
quote:
Originally posted by luvanddaisies:
quote:
Originally posted by quetzalcoatl:
I don't think that regeneration is the main reason that countries want to host big events such as the Olympics, World Cup, etc.
Exactly - it's to give an excuse for spending millions/billions on something unnecessary.
I agree! We need the money for the Trident upgrade.
How about a statue of Baal while you're at it?
Posted by Penny S (# 14768) on
:
Just been catching up the opening, and there was a South African singer singing in a variety of Scots (I gather there are several) and the subtitles were in it, too. I can't be absolutely sure, given the usual accuracy of subtitles in English, that the spelling was what it should be, so getting the gist was not entirely easy.
Beautiful, though.
[ 26. July 2014, 18:08: Message edited by: Penny S ]
Posted by deano (# 12063) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Jade Constable:
quote:
Originally posted by deano:
quote:
Originally posted by luvanddaisies:
quote:
Originally posted by quetzalcoatl:
I don't think that regeneration is the main reason that countries want to host big events such as the Olympics, World Cup, etc.
Exactly - it's to give an excuse for spending millions/billions on something unnecessary.
I agree! We need the money for the Trident upgrade.
How about a statue of Baal while you're at it?
That's no good! It doesn't frighten people and doesn't go BANG. No, a statue of Baal is less useful than an SSBN full of Trident D5's.
Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Penny S:
Just been catching up the opening, and there was a South African singer singing in a variety of Scots (I gather there are several) and the subtitles were in it, too. I can't be absolutely sure, given the usual accuracy of subtitles in English, that the spelling was what it should be, so getting the gist was not entirely easy.
Beautiful, though.
It was Hamish Henderson's Freedom Come All Ye.
Posted by Anselmina (# 3032) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by RuthW:
If shamwari had started this thread to complain about the ugliness of the Scottish team's outfits, I'd have been right there with him. I clicked on the link in the Circus thread, and I can't unsee the horror!
Just think 'dancing Tunnock's Tea-cakes' and it'll all go away....
Posted by Chesterbelloc (# 3128) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by luvanddaisies:
I wish the bloody english BBC announcers would bother to try to pronounce Glasgow properly. Hearing them drone "glaaaahhhhhhssgeeeooooooww" or "STRATHclyaaayyyde" is irritating. Would it really kill them to try to give the place enough respect to make the small effort to pronounce its name properly?
Other english people manage, even southerners.
WTF?
It's a long time since I've seen a post so transparently - disturbingly - nasty and stupid. The lower-case "e" was the clincher for me. Go ahead and add "shameless" to the mix by defending it, by all means. Indeed, don't stint yourself, collect a bonus epithet: get "hypocritical" thrown in free by telling me that Scots always pronounce English place names just as the locals do (or that it's not the same if they don't).
Don't worry though, folks: anti-English animus will play no part whatsoever in the support for Scottish independence in September. Nope - nary a jot. The very idea!
Posted by RuthW (# 13) on
:
I've been trying to figure out what's wrong with "glaaaahhhhhhssgeeeooooooww" and "STRATHclyaaayyyde".
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on
:
Me neither tbh. I live somewhere visitors call Edin-burg rather than Edin-burra, and the locals call Embra. We cope.
[ 27. July 2014, 07:08: Message edited by: Firenze ]
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on
:
Southern English pronounciation of Glasgow gives Glahsgoh (long a) rather than as the locals pronounce it with a short a and almost an "ay/ae" sound for the final vowel. But southern English changes the pronounciation of most place names in the north of England - Newcastle, Sunderland, the lot. Not sure what's so wrong with Strathclyde, even as a southerner I'd say that one with a short a.
As a southerner it sounds weird when I say the place names as they are said locally - because I say ba(h)th, gra(h)ss, ca(h)stle, but Newcassle having lived in Sunderland for a bit, so I'm not sure forcing the southern presenters to change the pronounciation of place names will sound any better.
Posted by Chesterbelloc (# 3128) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Curiosity killed ...:
the locals pronounce it with a short a and almost an "ay/ae" sound for the final vowel.
Heck, not even all the locals pronounce it that way. Different Glaswegians pronounce it differently on different occasions too. A Bearsdenizen™ would probably never pronounce it that way at all.
[Bearsden is a "toney" neighbourhood of "Glesga".]
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on
:
And enough of these snobby Scottish newsreaders talking about 'London' - its Lunnon innit?
Posted by chive (# 208) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Chesterbelloc:
quote:
Originally posted by Curiosity killed ...:
the locals pronounce it with a short a and almost an "ay/ae" sound for the final vowel.
Heck, not even all the locals pronounce it that way. Different Glaswegians pronounce it differently on different occasions too. A Bearsdenizen™ would probably never pronounce it that way at all.
[Bearsden is a "toney" neighbourhood of "Glesga".]
/pedant alert
Bearsden isn't in Glasgow, it's in the sunny world of East Dunbartonshire.
/end pedant alert.]
Posted by Chesterbelloc (# 3128) on
:
Och awright, hen - you're right, but.
Posted by rolyn (# 16840) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Pyx_e:
It's a Press Leak.
Is that what happens if you try an do some of those events on a full bladder ?
Posted by Pyx_e (# 57) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by rolyn:
quote:
Originally posted by Pyx_e:
It's a Press Leak.
Is that what happens if you try an do some of those events on a full bladder ?
If I type : "Its a press leek." can I have a lol ?
Posted by Penny S (# 14768) on
:
NEQ, thank you. The subtitles were correct (though not always in synch). Is there anywhere I can find either a translation, or a dictionary? I can do some of it, where the words are a different spelling of words also found in English, but not all. (Or where they have been used in the Medieval/Renaissance Scottish detective stories I have developed a taste for.)
Posted by Penny S (# 14768) on
:
Answering myself, in part. I should have thought of it. Discussion on the Mudcat website, though essential links no longer work.
First discussion
Second discussion
Posted by rolyn (# 16840) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Pyx_e:
If I type : "Its a press leek." can I have a lol ?
Be my guest .
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Penny S:
NEQ, thank you. The subtitles were correct (though not always in synch). Is there anywhere I can find either a translation, or a dictionary?
Translation here.
Btw, did anyone see the final of the Rugby Sevens? Stoating stuff.
Posted by Leorning Cniht (# 17564) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by North East Quine:
I wish we had something other than "Flower of Scotland" but none of the alternatives are so easy to sing as a single chorus. (Except "Scots Wha Hae" which is even more martial than "Flower of Scotland.")
Flower of Scotland is only really martial if you stop at the first verse.
But if you want something different, and want to stick with the Corries, how about the desperately cheesy "Scotland will flourish"? ![[Devil]](graemlins/devil.gif)
Posted by piglet (# 11803) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by RuthW:
I've been trying to figure out what's wrong with "glaaaahhhhhhssgeeeooooooww" and "STRATHclyaaayyyde".
I don't come from Glasgow (although both my parents were from Greenock, which isn't far away), and I'd pronounce it "GLAHZ-go", with a long "a", a voiced "s" and a short "o".
In "StrathCLYDE" the "a" in "Strath" is short, and the emphasis is on "Clyde", which is pronounced as in Bonnie and Clyde.*
* or as in "Right turn, Clyde", depending on your cinematic preferences. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Posted by Jamat (# 11621) on
:
Watched women's marathon finish. Does anyone know if that African runner who collapsed over the line is OK?
Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on
:
73 medals, eh?
I vaguely know how we got about 10 of them from news reports and watching about half an hour of live coverage in total. I'm amazed at how easy I'm finding it to, y'know, not actually watch this stuff. It's amazing. I've got this thing called a "remote control" that lets me change stations, and then I've got a box with recorded programs on it that has let me watch things I decided I was interested in, like movies, and then there's another box called a "DVD player" that I put a disc in and so far none of the discs have the Commonwealth Games on them!
Posted by Penny S (# 14768) on
:
Firenze, thank you.
Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on
:
Wales (in the person of Jazz Coleman) have finally got a gold medal in the pool.
First Welsh woman to win a swimming gold for 40 years ![[Yipee]](graemlins/spin.gif)
Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on
:
As a Fairport Convention fan, I was most amused to be hearing about a swimmer called Maddy Groves.
AG
Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Sandemaniac:
As a Fairport Convention fan, I was most amused to be hearing about a swimmer called Maddy Groves.
AG
Yeah, because linking to a Youtube clip for a name that isn't actually "Maddy Groves" really shores up your case for amusement.
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on
:
I see the current fashion for male swimmers is these trunks which are knee length, but barely groin high. Particularly in the underwater shots, you do wonder if they will stay up.
Not that I'm complaining or anything you understand.
Posted by Anselmina (# 3032) on
:
Scottie dogs disrespectful to Muslims The complaints seem to be coming from one named source in Malaysia's political opposition party, and the Games' Committee report no complaints have been received by them from participating nations or competitors.
Nevertheless, one feels, instinctively, that Muslim leaders and politicans - and in Malaysia - have surely more pressing problems within their own camp, than the traditional established 5,000 year relationship between humankind and dogs? If one wishes to sincerely explore the kinds of behaviour classifiable as 'disrespectful' to civilized people, it would be sadly easy to find much more serious contenders than a Scotty dog. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Posted by rolyn (# 16840) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
I see the current fashion for male swimmers is these trunks which are knee length, but barely groin high. Particularly in the underwater shots, you do wonder if they will stay up.
Not that I'm complaining or anything you understand.
Caught a snippet of the male spring-board diving last night .
The attire, (or lack of it), seemed to meet the approval of my other half who, oddly enough, is rarely interested in sport of any kind.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Anselmina:
Scottie dogs disrespectful to Muslims The complaints seem to be coming from one named source in Malaysia's political opposition party, and the Games' Committee report no complaints have been received by them from participating nations or competitors.
Nevertheless, one feels, instinctively, that Muslim leaders and politicans - and in Malaysia - have surely more pressing problems within their own camp, than the traditional established 5,000 year relationship between humankind and dogs? If one wishes to sincerely explore the kinds of behaviour classifiable as 'disrespectful' to civilized people, it would be sadly easy to find much more serious contenders than a Scotty dog.
Very predictable though, given they are seen as unclean animals.
Posted by Pyx_e (# 57) on
:
I think Stockholm syndrome is setting in, I am starting to watch it and found myself mildly interested at one point.
Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Anselmina:
Scottie dogs disrespectful to Muslims The complaints seem to be coming from one named source in Malaysia's political opposition party, and the Games' Committee report no complaints have been received by them from participating nations or competitors.
Nevertheless, one feels, instinctively, that Muslim leaders and politicans - and in Malaysia - have surely more pressing problems within their own camp, than the traditional established 5,000 year relationship between humankind and dogs? If one wishes to sincerely explore the kinds of behaviour classifiable as 'disrespectful' to civilized people, it would be sadly easy to find much more serious contenders than a Scotty dog.
Slow news day in Kuala Lumpur.
Posted by Anselmina (# 3032) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:
Slow news day in Kuala Lumpur.
And many other places, too, perhaps!
Posted by Thyme (# 12360) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Pyx_e:
I think Stockholm syndrome is setting in, I am starting to watch it and found myself mildly interested at one point.
You too?
My grandchildren (8&9) love it. They want to be like these athletes. Especially the swimmers. Their swimming has come on a lot just through watching them.
I didn't have that sort of access to those sort of role models when I was that age. Bring it on say I.
Posted by Anglican't (# 15292) on
:
It's ok, shamwari, you can turn the TV back on now.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
I don't know about that, Kylie's lingerie might give him a funny turn.
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on
:
That, and the bitter, bitter news that quite a lot of people enjoyed them.
Posted by Anglican't (# 15292) on
:
Everyone loves Kylie, don't they?
*does the Locomotion around the living room*
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
*boggles slightly at the mental image thus created*
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
How is it possible to murder Auld Lang Syne so completely ?
Posted by Anglican't (# 15292) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Doublethink:
How is it possible to murder Auld Lang Syne so completely ?
If you invite Lulu to take part, I think it's pretty much certain to happen.
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Doublethink:
How is it possible to murder Auld Lang Syne so completely ?
Were the English invited to take part?
Posted by piglet (# 11803) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Anglican't:
Everyone loves Kylie, don't they?
When the announcer said, "And now, ladies and gentlemen, we have everybody's favourite Australian", were D. and I the only ones who thought, "I thought he was in jail"?
Posted by Evangeline (# 7002) on
:
A nice article about the Comm games web page
Posted by Penny S (# 14768) on
:
Only just come in to this, as it is not quite at the top of the avoid all broadcasts list. (My grandad died, in his mind, in a field hospital, where he had served as an orderly, when I was 14. I don't want anyone else's memories. thank you.)
I heard a Muslim explaining about dogs on the radio once - working dogs are allowed, outside. Terriers are working dogs, aren't they? No problem.
Posted by chive (# 208) on
:
My four year old nephew loved the Games and has come away with a new life plan. He told me last weekend he wanted to be a 'stick jumper' when he grew up. I later found out he'd been to watch the athletics and had enjoyed the pole vault.
Posted by aunt jane (# 10139) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by chive:
My four year old nephew loved the Games and has come away with a new life plan. He told me last weekend he wanted to be a 'stick jumper' when he grew up. I later found out he'd been to watch the athletics and had enjoyed the pole vault.
Wonderful Chive I wish your nephew well with his "stick jumping"
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