[I]Avoiding the Olympics.

[GaryN]

I'm already sick of the Olympics, and they don't start for another 3/4
months! Similarly the Queens Diamond Jubilee, congrats to Brenda for
lasting so well.

But...

Do I have to be subjected to an endless barrage of preparations for both on
the news every bloody night? I don't care about qualifying events for the
British team, I couldn't give a toss that Brighton, or wherever, is having
a street party for her Maj; I also don't give a monkeys if Oldsville bowls
club is hoping for a Sports Relief donation.

What I want to know is what is the current situation in Syria? What is
'Gorgeous' George Osbourne likely to screw up in the next budget? Are the
Septics going to invade Iran? Are they going ahead with the HS2 rail link
[1]?

I may just go into hibernation for a few months around the end of May.

gary

[1]Hope so because it'll provide the opportunity to supplement sickness
benefit with loads of copper cable:-)



--
"Your Reputation is what people know about you.
Your Honour is what you know about yourself"

Lois McMaster Bujold.

[Bernard Peek]

On 20/03/12 13:46, GaryN wrote:
> I'm already sick of the Olympics, and they don't start for another 3/4
> months! Similarly the Queens Diamond Jubilee, congrats to Brenda for
> lasting so well.
>
> But...
>
> Do I have to be subjected to an endless barrage of preparations for both on
> the news every bloody night?

No, you can turn the TV off.

If you think you have problems spare a thought for me living half a mile
from the main Olympic site.




--
Bernard Peek
b...@shrdlu.com

[Lesley Weston]

On 03-20-12 6:57 AM, Bernard Peek wrote:
> On 20/03/12 13:46, GaryN wrote:
>> I'm already sick of the Olympics, and they don't start for another 3/4
>> months! Similarly the Queens Diamond Jubilee, congrats to Brenda for
>> lasting so well.
>>
>> But...
>>
>> Do I have to be subjected to an endless barrage of preparations for
>> both on
>> the news every bloody night?
>
> No, you can turn the TV off.

That won't help. Speaking as a survivor of the Vancouver Olympics, I can
tell all the UK afpers that there is no escape. You just have to close
your eyes, lie still and think of the Empire.

>
> If you think you have problems spare a thought for me living half a mile
> from the main Olympic site.

You have my sympathy.

Lesley.

--
This address is real, but to reach me use leswes att shaw dott ca

[Jessie_C]

In article <jka6eg$37v$1...@mud.stack.nl>, brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk
says...

> That won't help. Speaking as a survivor of the Vancouver Olympics, I can
> tell all the UK afpers that there is no escape. You just have to close
> your eyes, lie still and think of the Empire.
>

Or run away if you can. We took the opportunity to escape to Hawai'i.

[GaryN]

Bernard Peek <b...@shrdlu.com> wrote in
news:4f688cbf$0$4819$db0f...@news.zen.co.uk:

> On 20/03/12 13:46, GaryN wrote:
>> I'm already sick of the Olympics, and they don't start for another
>> 3/4 months! Similarly the Queens Diamond Jubilee, congrats to Brenda
>> for lasting so well.
>>
>> But...
>>
>> Do I have to be subjected to an endless barrage of preparations for
>> both on the news every bloody night?
>
> No, you can turn the TV off.

Never turn the radio on, don't look at online news, and never read a
newspaper. What I actually mean is "Hey great we have the Olympics, but
please not 24/7"

> If you think you have problems spare a thought for me living half a
> mile from the main Olympic site.

You have my deepest sympathies. I may just move to Lincolnshire for the
duration. I can practise my shooting on the bunnies and pigeons for the
next Olympics..:-)

gary

[Andrew Brydon]

On 20/03/2012 13:46, GaryN wrote:
> I'm already sick of the Olympics, and they don't start for another 3/4
> months!

128 days (I happened to be in Trafalgar Square on Monday, where there's
an official countdown clock)

--
Andrew Brydon
Life is just the beta-version of death

[GaryN]

Andrew Brydon <and...@isbjorn.demon.co.uk> wrote in news:4f696f07$0$4814
$db0f...@news.zen.co.uk:

> On 20/03/2012 13:46, GaryN wrote:
>> I'm already sick of the Olympics, and they don't start for another 3/4
>> months!
>
> 128 days (I happened to be in Trafalgar Square on Monday, where there's
> an official countdown clock)
>

Exactly the sort of thing that I mean! Do commuters and tourists stop to
gaze in awe and say things like "Gosh, I never knew that!". Errrr, no.

From what I've read and heard the Olympics may have a negative effect on
the economy - people considering UK as a holiday destination are now going
elsewhere.

As for the ticket ordering fiasco - Private Eye(I think, but can't be arsed
to go through back issues) summed it up nicely "The Olympic ticket website
functioned correctly for a few hours yesterday after being hacked but IT
staff were able to return it to it's usual functionality".

I am of the opinion that the Olympics is going to be a national
embarrasment for years to come, if it is not already so...

http://www.private-eye.co.uk/eyeplayer.php?media=18

gary

[Lesley Weston]

That's a much better idea, if you can. But you still couldn't avoid the
year or so of excited enthusiasm before the Unpleasantness and the next
year or so after it. It still hasn't gone away completely, as I'm sure
you're aware, and of course we're still paying for it.

[Larry Moore]

On 2012-03-21, GaryN <webm...@oxtoyrun.org.uk> wrote:

> I am of the opinion that the Olympics is going to be a national
> embarrasment for years to come, if it is not already so...
>
> http://www.private-eye.co.uk/eyeplayer.php?media=18
>
> gary
>

Any embarrassment will only last until 2014.

--
After all, there is no customer for DRM outside of the boardroom.
No one ever woke up and said, “Gosh, I wish there was a way I could
get an e-book that does less than the books I’m accustomed to.”
No one ever will. Cory Doctorow

[CCA]

On Mar 20, 1:46 pm, GaryN <webmas...@oxtoyrun.org.uk> wrote:
> I'm already sick of the Olympics, and they don't start for another 3/4
> months!  Similarly the Queens Diamond Jubilee, congrats to Brenda for
> lasting so well.

I heard someone - well, several people, come to that - using the word
'Jubilympics' yesterday. I hope that word does not become commonly
used, or I have a feeling it will be as irritating as the sound of
vuvuzelas was a couple of years ago...

> But...
>
> Do I have to be subjected to an endless barrage of preparations for both on
> the news every bloody night?  I don't care about qualifying events for the
> British team, I couldn't give a toss that Brighton, or wherever, is having
> a street party for her Maj; I also don't give a monkeys if Oldsville bowls
> club is hoping for a Sports Relief donation.
>
> What I want to know is what is the current situation in Syria?  What is
> 'Gorgeous' George Osbourne likely to screw up in the next budget?  Are the
> Septics going to invade Iran?  Are they going ahead with the HS2 rail link
> [1]?

Yes. I suspect the government are hoping the people will be
distracted by the Olympics and the Jubilee, just as they were hoping
we would be distracted by the Royal Wedding last year.

CCA

[CCA]

On Mar 20, 1:57 pm, Bernard Peek <b...@shrdlu.com> wrote:

> If you think you have problems spare a thought for me living half a mile
> from the main Olympic site.

Eeep!

A friend of mine is living just a mile or two from where the bulk of
the Olympic football is going to take place. I suspect finding a
train to work is going to be a challenge for him for a while during
the event, and indeed for a couple of weeks each side of it.

Not to mention the fans, and whatever they may get up to...

CCA

[Lesley Weston]

On 03-22-12 5:20 AM, CCA wrote:
> On Mar 20, 1:46 pm, GaryN<webmas...@oxtoyrun.org.uk> wrote:
>> I'm already sick of the Olympics, and they don't start for another 3/4
>> months! Similarly the Queens Diamond Jubilee, congrats to Brenda for
>> lasting so well.
>
> I heard someone - well, several people, come to that - using the word
> 'Jubilympics' yesterday. I hope that word does not become commonly
> used, or I have a feeling it will be as irritating as the sound of
> vuvuzelas was a couple of years ago...

Goes with "jeggings".

>
>> But...
>>
>> Do I have to be subjected to an endless barrage of preparations for both on
>> the news every bloody night? I don't care about qualifying events for the
>> British team, I couldn't give a toss that Brighton, or wherever, is having
>> a street party for her Maj; I also don't give a monkeys if Oldsville bowls
>> club is hoping for a Sports Relief donation.
>>
>> What I want to know is what is the current situation in Syria? What is
>> 'Gorgeous' George Osbourne likely to screw up in the next budget? Are the
>> Septics going to invade Iran? Are they going ahead with the HS2 rail link
>> [1]?
>
> Yes. I suspect the government are hoping the people will be
> distracted by the Olympics and the Jubilee, just as they were hoping
> we would be distracted by the Royal Wedding last year.

They're going to run out of circuses soon. The bread finished long ago.

[daniel goldsmith]

On 2012-03-22, CCA <sphir...@aol.com> wrote:
> I heard someone - well, several people, come to that - using the word
> 'Jubilympics' yesterday. I hope that word does not become commonly
> used, or I have a feeling it will be as irritating as the sound of
> vuvuzelas was a couple of years ago...

Nothing can be as annoying as those fracking vuvuzelas. Speaking as
someone with a deep and abiding love for the continent of Africa, its
many and varied people and cultures, that was just *wrong*. It made
the people sound like idiots, made Africa look not confident but
braggarts. It took the sound, the pulsing driving joyous sounds I have
experienced in football stadia in Ghana, SAfrica and Tanzania, and
replaced it with a continuous drone, from items whose sale and use was
mandated to pay yet more cash into the coffers of some ANC-affliated
crook. The ANC, in a move familair to anyone who watches events on
the continent with any interest, didn't squander the opportunity to
make themselves look like petty, money-grubbing corrupt idiots, and
the entire continent pays, again, for their venality.

>
> Yes. I suspect the government are hoping the people will be
> distracted by the Olympics and the Jubilee, just as they were hoping
> we would be distracted by the Royal Wedding last year.

The Royal Wedding which occupied the media for all of, ooh, six months
at least. Will she/won't she, what will he wear, Pippa's finely toned
glutes. Looks like they didn't hope in vain, eh?

--
Protected by their camouflage, the New International Militant Hedgehogs
__o __o __o __o (NIMH) Approach their Target
'/ '/ '/ '/ _____________________________________________________
*Daniel Goldsmith. Reply-to/Homepage in Headers*

[GaryN]

CCA <sphir...@aol.com> wrote in
news:63808445-7906-40fd...@fk28g2000vbb.googlegroups.com:

<snip>

> Yes. I suspect the government are hoping the people will be
> distracted by the Olympics and the Jubilee, just as they were hoping
> we would be distracted by the Royal Wedding last year.
>
> CCA

Actually I thought that was why the government had picked a fight with
assorted religions over gay marriage.

"The country is in the shit and we're about to announce an unpopular
budget. What can we use as a distraction?"

Frankly DILLIGAF!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxmUKVrT0iI (BAD LANGUAGE WARNING)

If people want to get married good luck to the bleedin' idiots.

This is not an invitation to a religion offshoot, just what I see as media
manipulation on an emotional subject used to cover some other crap.

gary

[steveski]

CCA wrote:

> On Mar 20, 1:46 pm, GaryN <webmas...@oxtoyrun.org.uk> wrote:

[snippage]

>> What I want to know is what is the current situation in Syria? What is
>> 'Gorgeous' George Osbourne likely to screw up in the next budget? Are
>> the Septics going to invade Iran? Are they going ahead with the HS2 rail
>> link
>> [1]?
>
> Yes. I suspect the government are hoping the people will be
> distracted by the Olympics and the Jubilee, just as they were hoping
> we would be distracted by the Royal Wedding last year.

Panem et circenses . . .

--
Steveski

[Sabremeister Brian]

In a speech called jka6eg$37v$1...@mud.stack.nl,

Lesley Weston <brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk> said:
> On 03-20-12 6:57 AM, Bernard Peek wrote:
>> On 20/03/12 13:46, GaryN wrote:
>>> I'm already sick of the Olympics, and they don't start for
>>> another 3/4 months!

I'm involved in something for the Cultural Olympics, and I loathe
it. It's not even as if the Cultural Olympiad is anything more
than a sop to try and make us forget how much Arts funding the
government cut to pay for the Games in the first place!

>>> Similarly the Queens Diamond Jubilee,
>>> congrats to Brenda for lasting so well.
>>>
>>> But...
>>>
>>> Do I have to be subjected to an endless barrage of
>>> preparations for both on
>>> the news every bloody night?
>>
>> No, you can turn the TV off.
>
> That won't help. Speaking as a survivor of the Vancouver
> Olympics, I can tell all the UK afpers that there is no escape.
> You just have to close your eyes, lie still and think of the
> Empire.

Good idea. Does anyone have Darth Vader's phone number?


--
www.sabremeister.me.uk
www.livejournal.com/users/sabremeister/
Use brian at sabremeister dot me dot uk to reply
"Two wrongs don't make a right, but they make a good excuse."
- Thomas Szasz

[GaryN]

steveski <stev...@invalid.com> wrote in
news:9t175c...@mid.individual.net:

I thought it was "Dole and Soap Operas[1]" these days? Same thing really I
suppose!

gary

[1]I read/write Latin to a certain extent but can't translate that.

[Chris Zakes]

On Fri, 23 Mar 2012 06:03:46 -0500, an orbital mind-control laser
caused GaryN <webm...@oxtoyrun.org.uk> to write:

>steveski <stev...@invalid.com> wrote in
>news:9t175c...@mid.individual.net:
>
>> CCA wrote:
>>
>>> On Mar 20, 1:46 pm, GaryN <webmas...@oxtoyrun.org.uk> wrote:
>>
>> [snippage]
>>
>>
>>>> What I want to know is what is the current situation in Syria? What
>>>> is 'Gorgeous' George Osbourne likely to screw up in the next budget?
>>>> Are the Septics going to invade Iran? Are they going ahead with
>>>> the HS2 rail link
>>>> [1]?
>>>
>>> Yes. I suspect the government are hoping the people will be
>>> distracted by the Olympics and the Jubilee, just as they were hoping
>>> we would be distracted by the Royal Wedding last year.
>>
>> Panem et circenses . . .
>>
>
>I thought it was "Dole and Soap Operas[1]" these days? Same thing really I
>suppose!
>
>gary
>
>[1]I read/write Latin to a certain extent but can't translate that.

The Roman writer Juvenal's phrase "panem et circenses" is usually
translated as "bread and circuses". A more accurate modern rendering
would be "pork barrel projects".

Of course that's from an American perspective. Do Brits have a similar
expression for "a government project whose main purpose is to funnel a
bunch of tax money into a specific area to make sure the MP for that
area gets re-elected"?

On the other paw, your "dole and soap operas" translation is pretty
close.

-Chris Zakes
Texas
--

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most
discoveries, is not "Eureka!" but "That's funny..."

-Issac Asimov

[GaryN]

Chris Zakes <dont...@gmail.com> wrote in
news:v1cqm7pal7p3raobj...@4ax.com:

<snip>

> The Roman writer Juvenal's phrase "panem et circenses" is usually
> translated as "bread and circuses". A more accurate modern rendering
> would be "pork barrel projects".
>
> Of course that's from an American perspective. Do Brits have a similar
> expression for "a government project whose main purpose is to funnel a
> bunch of tax money into a specific area to make sure the MP for that
> area gets re-elected"?

Nah, we have QUANGOs - Quasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organisations
whose job is to spend public money on pointless research into things
they won't change and produce 'Mission Statements' which will be
ignored. A great many of the people on them are local councillors
and/or interested parties who will be putting forward views
complimentary to their local MP.

Their job is to say "The government (whoever it is) is doing really well
and we'll report back in a few years when whe've milked the expenses for
as much as we can, our budget runs out, and someone realises we're doing
sweet FA"

One that amused me is that there are actually regulations concerning the
hours during which ice-cream vans may play their jingles and the length
of time for which the jingle may last (10 seconds apparently).

Instead of just saying "This is stupid, let's junk the regs" DEFRA
(Department for the Eradication of Farming and Rural Affairs) has
launched a 24 page consultancy survey for anyone who can be bothered
(nobody) to fill in. So nothing will change and we still have stupid
regs that nobody takes any notice of. It's not as if the pigs don't
have better things to do than time the chimes of ice-cream vans!

This passes for "Doing something"

> On the other paw, your "dole and soap operas" translation is pretty
> close.
>
> -Chris Zakes
> Texas

I actually meant I couldn't translate "Dole and soap operas" into Latin
but I guess the general idea came through.

gary

[Robert Carnegie]

"Pork barrel" is rather different, I think: it
originally had such a meaning, but seems now to
refer to diverting or dual-purposing investment
in public projects to particular politicians'
voters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_barrel

"To a certain extent, a member of Congress is judged
by their ability to deliver funds to their constituents."

Wikipedia says that the British term is "sweetener";
a more general word is "patronage". It's less visible
in Britain, because (1) extremely rich people have better
things to do than go into politics themselves and (2) the
more powerful policians get switched into (allegedly)
representing ordinary constituencies where their party
has a robust majority anyway. But it's still needed.
Actual British election expenditure is regulated:
getting elected in the U.S. is seriously expensive,
because that's how the contest works. Spend the money,
then get the pork.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_circuses
is about buying the people's vote by providing
subsistence and entertainment, and criticises the
people (I suppose male non-slave citizens) for
allowing their vote to be bought without considering
politicians more thoughtfully.

[Jonathan Ellis]

"Robert Carnegie" <rja.ca...@excite.com> wrote in message
news:20549873.365.1332592739285.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@vbbfy7...

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_circuses
> is about buying the people's vote by providing
> subsistence and entertainment, and criticises the
> people (I suppose male non-slave citizens) for
> allowing their vote to be bought without considering
> politicians more thoughtfully.

Also, providing enough subsistence and entertainment for the *non-voters* to
be sufficiently content and well-off to not care about what's going on above
their heads. Sometimes it's not even buying the public's vote, it's buying
their apathy.

-- Jonathan.

[Alec Cawley]

John Ewing <jo...@gelsalba.co.uk> wrote:
> On Sat, 24 Mar 2012 06:28:00 -0500, GaryN <webm...@oxtoyrun.org.uk>
> wrote:
>
> [snip]

>
>> One that amused me is that there are actually regulations concerning the
>> hours during which ice-cream vans may play their jingles and the length
>> of time for which the jingle may last (10 seconds apparently).
>>
>> Instead of just saying "This is stupid, let's junk the regs" DEFRA
>> (Department for the Eradication of Farming and Rural Affairs) has
>> launched a 24 page consultancy survey for anyone who can be bothered
>> (nobody) to fill in. So nothing will change and we still have stupid
>> regs that nobody takes any notice of. It's not as if the pigs don't
>> have better things to do than time the chimes of ice-cream vans!
>

> Well they're not going to set up a Serious Chime Squad, are they.

Why not? They could work with the Burgery Team, checking burger vans, and
the Serious Fried Office, watching fish and chip vans.


> IGMC,

I think that's mine beside it.

[Nigel Stapley]

Wouldn't be the first time the polis have gone on a trawling expedition.

>
>
>> IGMC,
>
> I think that's mine beside it.

No, the one that buttons up the back is *mine*. Yours is the duffel coat
next to it.

--
Regards

Nigel Stapley

www.thejudge.me.uk

<reply-to will bounce>