Olympic Double Dope Standards

HI readers, and bleeders

I would not expect any kind of sensible and fair 'drug policy' from the strict Olympic dope police. But recently the issue of 'Marijuana' and SPORTS came up again and spread, like the Blueberry Cheese plant.

For some clarity i would ask the reader to consider the question of DOSE. Pot brownies (that Delpopolo claims to have ate) are often made with less than half a gram of cannabis, and a lower dose is better for having an enjoyable high, opposed to a strong Knock Out dose. Almost everybody i know has learnt this with Pot food.

One wonders about how sensitive the Olympic Drug tests are? how many 'particles or UNITS of cannabis' are allowed in the body. ZERO? or are a few allowed for naturally occuring cannabinoids. And what about naturally occuring DMT in the human brain? All athletes and humans, and many animals, birds, insects and plants have naturally occuring DMT (in varying amounts of UNITS) but trace amounts of it are actually present. Are the Olympic Dope Police aware of this fact? so as to build tests that overlook it? I digress.

I still dream that one day Michael Phelps and Judo fighter Delpopolo, and all the other Marijuana using athletes would come out in support (of small doses, maybe infrequent) but still, come out and say that, for them, Marijauna worked. In fact, these SPORTS characters are what the drug reform movement requires to boost the campaign for responsible drug use, and responsible drug policy. The debate should revolve around dose. Like the question how much SUGAR, how much MEAT and how much ALCHOHOL is healthy for each individual, and, can the individuals and their communities make THEIR OWN regulations based upon their practical knowledge and experience with all Drugs, foods, vitamins, drinks and special E-numbered additive sweeters?

Good day, thanks for bleeding.--Steve Fly

Delpopolo is 23, the same age Michael Phelps was when the swimmer was photographed inhaling from a marijuana pipe in 2009. Phelps, who never failed a drug test, apologized, received a three-month suspension from USA Swimming and is celebrated as the most decorated Olympian in history.

"That was evidence that he does do that," Lee said of Phelps during an interview with USA TODAY Sports on Monday. "And you're still going to be able to achieve your dreams regardless. Look at him. He's awesome. He's the best athlete ever in the Olympics. It's a double standard. If you already make a name for yourself, then what happens afterward really doesn't matter. … I'd rather have my situation (of not going) than getting kicked out of the Olympic Village" like Delpopolo.
-- http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/judo/story/2012-08-06/pot-athletes-testing-alcohol/56830434/1

A message to other countries looking to UK Sports

Hi, my name is Steven Pratt, i am 36 years old and I grew up in the UK 1976-2000. I was very FORTUNATE to have had a decent sporting career as a junior swimmer. (8-14 years old). Winning literally hundreds of races including over 20 Hereford and Worcestershire titles, and a douzen Midland District and National titles. I was pretty much unbeatable in Butterfly and Backstroke at the age of 11.

However, after my sports career ended and I could no longer train 8 times a week, i was advised that SPORTS should be my study, and so i studied sports at college, completing a 3 year 'Sports and Leisure studies' course at Stourbridge college. (1993) I gained employment as a Life Guard at the new Crystal Leisure centre in Stourbridge, which replaced the legendary old pool with a new Multi-million pound fun pool: not much fun for serious competitive swimmers though)

After a year or so as a lifeguard I went on to teach swimming in the Dudley area to youngsters for around two years. (and for a while at Brierley Hill Swimming baths, which was demolished under suspect circumstances January 2006. Please seach this blog for 'Brierley Hill' to see more details). All my official (paid) swimming related works ended when i left for America on an intellectual journey. (I should also add that I once gave free swimming lessons to under privaliged children at Layola University, New Orleans in 2003.

Something clicked inside me, when i returned from America to the UK after 4 years swimming in rivers and freshwater lakes such as lake Tahoe and the Feather River, both in California. I realised that swimming in the UK is pretty much limited by the swimming facilities provided, and those facilities are being demolished, at least in my local DUDLEY METRO area. This is a fact i have observed over the last 6 years. This blog lays a testament to these facts.

Stourbridge Baths, Brierley Hill Baths and Coseley Baths have all been demolished, thats 3 pools that would be full of local swimming talent, training for competitive meets and possibly our future National champions? Water Polo, Sychronized swimming and diving could have been praticed in these pools if only they would have been saved. I hope not to sound like a moaning old bitter man, going on about what might have been and what coulda' or shoulda' happened. I find most political activity does not agree with my personal outlook on life, community, health, fitness and goodwill.

In the case of the destruction of swimming facilities by the local Dudley Metropolitan Council (Dudley Metro Culture Police) I cannot say it LOUD and CLEAR enough. Please STOP. Or at least, replace what you knock down with something else, and not a Tesco supermarket, thankyou very much.

As i have been saying for the last 6 years, the voices of the swimmers themselves, and the local community have been totally and utterly ignored on the issue of swimming, but now, during the OLYMPIC fever M.P's all around the country have started popping up with their cheap little speeches about SPORTS and PRESTIEGE and how proud we should be and how we should develope new SPORTS facilities across the country. (Aha, i say to myself, this is a trick, a cheap trick to ride the Olympic fever and come out of it as the good guys again, the saviours who will NOW begin to plan new sports parks, new sports programes and sports sponsorship corporations. Oh, thankyou for doing this, for cutting the blue ribbon. For giving us these new sports centers.

So i wanted to send a message of warning to anybody reading this blog post, SPORTS in Britain have been ravaged and crippled by both Labour and Conservative governments, SPORTS to mean two things: the facilities at which sports take place, and the inherent meaning in the term SPORTS. The Olympics have cost 25 Billion Pounds, 9 Billion of which is from the UK tax payers, or from the people. The three Dudley swimming pools I have mentioned above , together, would have required approx. 4 Million to repair and keep open. And, I estimate by now (August 2012) would have given more than 5 Million unique immersive swimming experiences to the community.

Since the pools were not being built but knocked down in Dudley i turned my interest to the Rivers and Canals, imagining them to be clean enough to swim in at some future point, and what it would take to achieve this, and, if anybody else though it worth doing. From that point i discovered the impossibility of swimming in the Stour due to pollution and obstructions in the first place. Then, once again i was confronted with the only option of doing it myself, since a meeting with my local M.P did not come to anything, not even an email or call to say No, just iced out: (i asked for funds, or donations to aquire a pair of river waders, some rope, and a hook, to begin cleaning the River Stour).

And so, you see, i found out that in the larger scheme of things, to me, our rivers are far more important than a swimming pool, and if we could maintain a river properly it could provide a free, zero emissions, zero running costs, swimming facility. As with a lake. Cherish your natural water facilities. This is my message.

Steven 'Fly Agaric 23' Pratt
Amsterdam
Aug. 6th 2012.

The Silly Olympics (Monty Python)

The Silly Olympics! Monty Python, yes.

No hope without dope (and some Dolphin DNA)

No Hope without Dope (how about whale DNA Mr Phelps?)

Hi, I would like to address two hot-potato's from the 2012 games so far, the doping acusation made by an American swim coach about a young Chinese record breaker, and the 'twitter' drama following a journalist twitting a 'semi-public' email address:

I would point out that the 'comment' from the swim coach did not require twitter to spread an 'unchecked' and 'subjective' message around the world, via the world press (FOX, NBC, CNN, BBC) that not only labels a 16year old girl as a 'drug user' but kicks up the whole Olympic doping debate. As far as i know the swim coach has not been banned from speaking to the world press, yet the twitter journalist is banned due to communicating somebodies email address who did not like that.

And my next point has already been put out there, nobody raised the alarm when Michael Phelps won 8 Gold medals in Beijing.

"I think it is not proper to single Chinese swimmers out once they produce good results. Some people are just biased," Jiang Zhixue, who leads anti-doping work at China's General Administration of Sport, told the state news agency Xinhua.

"We never questioned Michael Phelps when he bagged eight gold medals in Beijing."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/31/china-ye-shiwen-critics-olympics?newsfeed=true 

Ye Shiwen's world record Olympic swim: brilliant, or too good to be true?

For the wider public, and perhaps many people in the sport as well, it is a matter of debate and personal opinion as to whether Ye deserves the benefit of the doubt or not. There is no evidence to condemn her other than her own brilliance, and it is hard to judge a 16-year-old girl on the basis of that alone. Instinctively, many fans will want to believe in her talent. Others, scarred by years of doping revelations across a range of sports, would say that view is naive. Ye could simply be the shining light of the first products of the heavy investment the Chinese made in the sport before the Beijing Olympics. -- http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/30/ye-shiwen-record-olympic-swim?intcmp=239

#NBCFail: Backlash as Twitter locks out reporter Guy Adams

The Independent’s Los Angeles correspondent Guy Adams has account frozen after criticising US TV network.-- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nbcfail-backlash-as-twitter-locks-out-reporter-guy-adams-7987906.html

Lockdown 2012: Security at the Olympics

A fact full and condensed summary of the massive expenditure and cock-up's at the London 2012 Olympics.
--fly

Lockdown 2012: Security at the Olympics

For the XXXth Olympiad, which opened last Friday in London, organisers have placed a heavy emphasis on security. One figure that illustrates this emphatic approach to security: for every one athlete competing, there are four security personnel working at the Games (see our visualisation below).

The British Army is providing 17,000 personnel, 70% more than the number of British troops currently deployed in Afghanistan. Some 3,500 of these soldiers were called up at the last moment, bailing out the private security company G4S, undisputed gold medalists in the field of cock-ups.
 
http://owni.eu/2012/07/31/visualisation-olympic-security/

Feedback from Chinese Olympic ceremony

July 27, 2012. Cafe Zen, Amsterdam. (Watching the early opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on T.V, which was in fact the Beijing Games on replay)

How to compare the Occident and Orient in 2012? just look at the stylistic features and sources of inspiration for their respective Olympic openiong ceremony. One rooted in many thousand year old traditional arts and crafts that reflect the natural world, the other somewhat recent fictional characters from the world of make believe, television and film, the projection of recent popular mythology. Both have merits and points of criticism. 

FEEDBACK!

Ideographic dance, synchronized floor painting, atop huge scroll projection onto surface, trad. Oriental instruments strings lift canvas into air, camera flashes, red glow. Billions of body mind eye systems synchronize, remotely.

People emerge, like seeds from center flower in silver glowing suits red, blue, and little white lights glow in crowd. Tai Chi and Kung Fu in stone henge collection of monoliths, more light fantastic projections, nothing on seeper. Water projections, waterfalls but no water! imitation of school art square all within the scroll large multi colored Crayola type brushes in hands of children, surrounded by perhaps thousansands of Tai Chi, kung Fu practitioners. Amber lights, paint brushes dayglo in back sacks Large Trad. Chinese landscape painting rises into the air.

Space-man suspended on chords, now the space theme, some men in a pentagon stance atop a sphere, now earth and stars, fireworks shoot miles into the London night sky. Projected out of the sphere some Escheresque--concentric circles--10 tracks, opposite directions, giant whales swim around stadium pano while duo of singers, fireworks all over London and Beijing smudge a red hue. Faces projected around stadium.

Olympic flames enter stadium surrounded by nations flags blowing in wind, passing the fire a Chinese man lifts into the air, his torch almost going out, gasping for air, then he is lifted onto the panorama rim of the stadium, running in slow motion under spotlight, behind him the scroll unravels classic sport footage. He runs the whole stadium and lights up the fuse, massive flames flare up (I get the feeling of old Greek Olympics) more fireworks pop off up the river Thames for many miles, it seems.

Footage of Beijing Olympics?, oh yes. Anomalous incidents and crashes, falls, slips, balls in the face, arse in the face, great rallies, exceptional performances and near death and very dangerous looking images of sport, memorable due to great stupidity and great genius mixed.

I missed the rest of the ceremony, thankfully, my first impressions kept a positive note, i thought. --Steve fly

Boris Johnson's Olympic Welcome (cassetteboy)

Approx 9 Billion Pounds

With 4 billion viewers the stakes
are high nations going
for gold Athletes on the brink of red out
Greenland ice sheet melts when the stadium
lights turn on

UK icons mashed up like a Christmas
variety performance, Harry Potter Prince
William, Mary Poppins Ms
Obama, Willy Blake Orwell
already well represented

Thanks to my coach,
to my my family and pastor
sponsor...
how about surprises from

sportspeople?
Thanks to my pet goat
my shoes and breakfast

Do you eat at Mcdonalds drink coca-cola,

 invest in B.P? any comment

about these entities? 

how about three ways
to better the world?
what you saying with rag-flag?

Gonzo rock drill marrow!
Javelin of truth strikes the
reff.

the total carbon footprint
of the games vs. the potential total amount
of sports facilities that cd/ be built worldwide
using PUBLIC game-funds
(approx. 9 Billion?)

ever thought of sport?

--fly

W is for Wrestling

W is for Wrestling
body nestling spoon grabs
toss turn pull up, tight
shorts

--fly

Wrestling is a form of combat sport involving grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two (occasionally more) competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position. There are a wide range of styles with varying rules with both traditional historic and modern styles. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into other martial arts as well as military hand-to-hand combat systems. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrestling

V is for Volleyball

V is for Volley ball
leaping to strike the ball
with hand, slap down

--fly

Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.^[1] It has been a part of the official program of the Summer Olympic Games since 1964. It is also the national Sport of Sri Lanka. -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volleyball

U is for Unidentified Fly Olympic

Aha,
U again, writing and making
jokes of sport, u contradict

--fly

TTT is for Taekwondo Trampoline Tennis

TTT is for Taekwondo
Trampoline Tennis,
give it a go

--fly

Trampolining is a competitive Olympic sport in which gymnasts perform acrobatics while bouncing on a trampoline.^[1] These can include simple jumps in the pike, tuck or straddle position to more complex combinations of forward or backward somersaults and twists.
There are three related competitive rebound sports, synchronized trampoline, tumbling (or power tumbling) and double mini-trampoline. -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trampolining


Taekwondo (태권도; 跆拳道; Korean pronunciation: [tʰɛk͈wʌndo]; /taɪ.kwɒn.doʊ/) is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae (태, 跆) means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon (권, 拳) means "to strike or break with fist"; and do (도, 道) means "way", "method", or "path". Thus, taekwondo may be loosely translated as "the way of the hand and the foot."^[1] The name taekwondo is also written as taekwon-do, tae kwon-do, or tae kwon do by various organizations, based on historical, philosophical, or political^{[citation needed]} reasons. -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taekwondo

Tennis is a sport usually played between two players (singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles). Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. The object of the game is to play the ball in such a way that the opponent is not able to play a good return.^[1] Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all ages. The sport can be played by anyone who can hold a racket, including people in wheelchairs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis

T is for Turntable-Tennis

T is for Turntable Tennis
bats balls beats and the net
spinning skill

--fly

Some turntablist DJs use turntable techniques like beat mixing/matching, scratching, and beat juggling. Some turntablists seek to have themselves recognized as traditional musicians capable of interacting and improvising with other performers. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turntablism

Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net. Except for the initial serve, players must allow a ball played toward them only one bounce on their side of the table and must return it so that it bounces on the opposite side. Points are scored when a player fails to return the ball within the rules. Play is fast and demands quick reactions. A skilled player can impart several varieties of spin to the ball, altering its trajectory and limiting an opponent's options to great advantage.-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_tennis 
 

S is for Swim-Shooting

S is for Swimshooting
400 meters freestyle
harpoon gold-fish

--fly

A shooting sport is a competitive sport involving tests of proficiency (accuracy and speed) using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns (see archery for more information on shooting sports that make use of bows and arrows). Hunting is also a shooting sport, and indeed shooting live pigeons was an Olympic event (albeit only once, in 1900). The shooting sports are categorized by the type of firearm or target used. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_sport

FINA currently recognises world records in the following events for both men and women.^[9]

• Freestyle: 50 m, 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 800 m, 1500 m
• Backstroke: 50 m, 100 m, 200 m
• Breaststroke: 50 m, 100 m, 200 m
• Butterfly: 50 m, 100 m, 200 m
• Individual medley: 100 m (short course only), 200 m, 400 m
• Relays: 4×100 m freestyle, 4×200 m freestyle, 4×100 m medley
• --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimming_%28sport%29#Records

R is for Rowing

R is for Rowing
Oar'scrossed boats running rivers
push pull cash force flow?


--fly

Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water. The sport can be both recreational, focusing on learning the techniques required,^[1] and competitive where overall fitness plays a large role. It is also one of the oldest Olympic sports. In the United States, high school and collegiate rowing is sometimes referred to as crew.^{[2] -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowing_%28sport%29}

P is for Pentathalon

P is for Pentathalon
the number is five
competition five

-fly

A pentathlon is a contest featuring five different events. The name is derived from Greek: combining the words pente (five) and -athlon (competition) (Greek: πένταθλον). The first pentathlon was documented in Ancient Greece and was part of the Ancient Olympic Games. Five events were contested over one day for the Ancient Olympic pentathlon, starting with the long jump, javelin throw, and discus throw, followed by the stadion (a short foot race) and wrestling. Pentathletes were considered to be among the most skilled athletes, and their training was often part of military service—each of the five events in the pentathlon was thought to be useful in war or battle. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentathlon

G is for GYMNASTY

G is for Gymnastics
Flexi people dance
high up a banker swings

--Fly

Gymnastics is a sport involving the performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG). Each country has its own national governing body affiliated to FIG. Competitive Artistic gymnastics is the best known of the gymnastic sports. It typically involves the women's events of uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise, and vault. Men's events are floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar. Gymnastics evolved from exercises used by the ancient Greeks, that included skills for mounting and dismounting a horse, and from circus performance skills. -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnastics

F is for FENCING

F is for FENCING
Swords drawn in air
knife blade voice
tea caligraphy?

--Fly


Fencing, which is also known as olympic fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing,^[1] is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons. It is usually practised with the help of a sword or mini-blade. -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fencing

E is for EQUESTRIANISM

E is for EQUEST...
Horses for courses
vaulting canter for
cantos


--fly


Equestrianism (from Latin equester, equestr-, horseman, horse)^[1] more often known as riding, horseback riding (American English) or horse riding (British English)^[2] refers to the skill of riding, driving, steeplechasing or vaulting with horses. This broad description includes the use of horses for practical working purposes, transportation, recreational activities, artistic or cultural exercises, and competitive sport. -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrianism


Jumping on horses twisting gymnast on live specimen neigh. --fly

D is for DIVING

D is for Diving
tripple summer salt water
splash
no frogs in sight

--fly

I say bring back the highest dive contest!



Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.
Diving is one of the most popular Olympic sports with spectators. Competitors possess many of the same characteristics as gymnasts and dancers, including strength, flexibility, kinaesthetic judgment and air awareness. -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diving

C is for CYCLING

C is for Cycling
look no fumes just sweat
no carbon footprints
transport

--Fly

Cycling is a very efficient and effective mode of transportation^[5] optimal for short to moderate distances. Bicycles provide numerous benefits compared to motor vehicles, including exercise, an alternative to the use of fossil fuels, no air or noise pollution, much reduced traffic congestion, easier parking, greater maneuverability, and access to both roads and paths. The advantages are at less financial cost to the user as well as society (negligible damage to roads, and less pavement required).^[6] Criticisms and disadvantages of cycling include reduced protection in crashes, particularly with motor vehicles,^[7] longer travel time (except in densely populated areas), vulnerability to weather conditions, difficulty in transporting passengers, and the skill and fitness required.-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycling

B is for BADMINTON

B is for Badminton
shuttle cock flying cone
jump net flip of wrist
court

--Fly

The shuttlecock (or shuttle) is a feathered projectile whose unique aerodynamic properties cause it to fly differently than the balls used in most racquet sports; in particular, the feathers create much higher drag, causing the shuttlecock to decelerate more rapidly than a ball. Shuttlecocks have a much higher top speed, when compared to other racquet sports. Because shuttlecock flight is affected by wind, competitive badminton is played indoors. Badminton is also played outdoors as a casual recreational activity, often as a garden or beach game.--http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badminton

A is for ARCHERY

A is for ARCHERY
Bullseye, wink. steady eye
to hand to bowrows wind?

--Fly

"Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Historically, archery has been used for hunting and combat, while in modern times, its main use is that of a recreational activity. A person who participates in archery is typically known as an "archer" or "bowman", and one who is fond of or an expert at archery can be referred to as a "toxophilite".-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archery

Clown Town by Mau Mau (T-Shirt THTC) GET ONE ON!

Huge props to the legendary Mau Mau for his summary of the situation the majority of British and world citizens are confronted with, trying to take the Olympic Games seriously, or not that serious that London requires Rapier missiles on top of tower blocks.


Please visit the site and pick up a T-Shirt before the games begin.

http://thtc.co.uk/clown-town-0

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Set to be a THTC classic, the 'Clown Town' design echos what millions of Londoners are feeling towards one particular event that is taking place in our once great town this Summer. Sadly, although this event has the potential to show London as a great City, we have instead sold it off to the highest, oftern most polluting corporate sponsors.
This event could be promoting and celebrating ethical business, but instead is being used to promote fast food, horrific drinks, one very polluting chemical company and various other far-from-wholesome companies and corporations.

Wikipedia and London Olympic Security

Hi, So London 2012 is spread all over the news, all over the world like a digital Jock strap rash. There are plenty of critical pieces and in depth studies, but for me, once again the best source of information turns out to be wikipedia, here for example is a slice of the article on London 2012 security, you don't need to put any spin on these facts to deduce the seriousness of these so called games.

"Security for the 2012 Summer Olympics is being provided by several arms of the British Armed Forces. The security operation is led by the police, with 13,000 officers available, supported by 17,000 members of the armed forces. Naval and air assets, including ships situated in the Thames, Eurofighter jets and surface-to-air missiles, will be deployed as part of the security operation. The cost of venue security alone has also increased from 282m to 553m pounds sterling. The budget for venue security is being partly funded by LOCOG as well as using the contingency from the £9.3 billion infrastructure budget. Even though, G4S will not be providing 13,700 as planned the number will be approximately 10,000. This will be the biggest security operation Britain has faced for decades as the number of security personnel will total 40,000. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_for_the_2012_Summer_Olympics

 Please imagine, for one second, that all this money was simply ploughed into sporting facilities and programes for everyone, in every country? why do we keep spending so much effort and time and money and security on the elites, be them sporting, banking or entertainment elites?

Of course any large international gathering is a target for attacks of various kinds, violent, coercive and mental (mind control operations). So why have them in the first place. I would propose lots of localized sporting events, encouraging everybody to PLAY! and have fun, remember that?

Lord Coe speaks.....

Security for the Olympics has not been compromised by the failure of G4S to recruit enough security staff, London 2012 chairman Lord Coe has said.-- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18845678

River Stour Clean Up Op. March 2012

Myself and a collection of like-minded individuals from 'in and around' the Black Country area of the West Midlands, in the UK, took to the banks and surrounding lands of the River Stour to liter pick and explore the IMPACT required to clean up the river stour of waste and debris. Some funding would help. In 2006 I asked the local M.P for some wellies and some rope with which to voluntarily clean up the river, I am still awaiting a reply 6 years later. Sunday, March 25th, 2012. All video, photo and audio compiled by Fly Agaric 23.

The Return of Fly Olympic

HI readers,

Greetings from Steve fly, it's been a while since i posted at Fly Olympic--my blog dedicated to sports (swimming in particular) and the concept of the Olympic games-I hope you can forgive me as i try to make up.

This blog has a critical edge due to to my experiences growing up in and around the Black Country (Dudley , West Midlands UK) and seeing the destruction of many swimming pools, sports facilities and programs. It's not all bad news, I see wonderful new interpretations of SPORT emerging, fairness and equality can still resonate with that over-used term, sportsmanship, synonymous with humanitarianism, and generally been nice and kind, playing for the game, not for the win, not always for the competitive edge.

Anyhow, I will be making some more posts here on the run up to the London Olympic Games, and hope that my past posts can tie into my new ones to create some continuity and a few surprises.

May the games begin, steve fly
Amsterdam



Limp Pricks Shuttle Cocks

Olympic lies, art, money and intent.

"

 ART and Government reminds me of the mixture of ice cresm and horse dung.--steve

Ruth Mackenzie, the director of the Cultural Olympiad and the London 2012 Festival, said: "We are going back to the days of ancient Greece, where artists and athletes celebrated together in a festival."
---

While many events are temporary, a series of artworks built around the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, will be a permanent cultural reminder of the games. Yesterday, Sarah Weir, chief executive of the Legacy List, unveiled the Art in the Park, which comprises more than 30 works including sculptures, a floating cinema and poetry inscribed on walls. "Art has never been done in the Olympic Park in this way before," she said. "Our artists integrated their work into the park." She said she hoped local residents would be inspired by the works long after the Games had finished, and these would also provide a permanent link to the event. "These works either celebrate or commemorate London 2012. A lot will be about memory, and in 20 or 30 years people coming back with their kids," she added.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/cultural-gold-britains-100m-olympic-jamboree-7682542.html?google_editors_picks=true

Shabby Stour, stir, purr

....and I just heard a BBC news programe discussing a MULTI million pound redevelopement scheme for the stour, focusing on Businesses, Bars, Restaurants and other 'Merry Hill' type phenomena. 

Meanwhile these two article cover the litter pick I attended and documentaed and shared, as an Independent litter picker. Not representative of Trasition Stourbridge or Tidy Stourbridge, although, practically what they are doing seems good. I just wonder about the development and links between the big businesses and the environmental groups. Something smells fishy to me, and it's not the River stour.

--SBD (Silent But Dudley)

x

"The group is teaming up with the Waterside Care initiative which is led by a partnership of Keep Britain Tidy, British Waterways, Severn Trent Water and the Environment Agency."

Eco-groups get set to clean up in Stourbridge

8:30am Tuesday 24th April 2012 in News

A STOURBRIDGE environmental group is getting set for the latest round in its mission to restore the River Stour.
Transition Stourbridge aims to restore the neglected waterway to its former glory by cleaning up litter and working to combat pollution.
The group is teaming up with the Waterside Care initiative which is led by a partnership of Keep Britain Tidy, British Waterways, Severn Trent Water and the Environment Agency for its next outing on Saturday April 28.
Volunteers will be in action between Bagley Street and The Bonded Warehouse from 10am clearing the river bed of rubbish including embedded plastic bottles and tyres using grappling hooks from the bank.

Teams from Transition Stourbridge will also be in waders cleaning litter from the river and investigating levels of invertebrate activity in the water, which can indicate levels of pollution.
Waterside Care will be providing equipment, anyone wishing to take part should register by emailing organiser Rosanne Adams via rosanneadams@yahoo.co.uk and meet at 10am on the day at Bagley Street Car Park.
Meanwhile Tidy Stourbridge has announced its summer programme Pick'n'Pints which have become a popular social event for community-minded volunteers.

The group's next meetings will be on Thursday April 26 at the The Stepping Stones, Birmingham Street, followed by Thursday May 10 at The Hadcroft, Grange Lane.
For a full list of dates visit www.tidystourbridge.org.uk
http://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/local/your_community/st/stourbridge/9664867.Stourbridge_activists_get_set_for_river_bed_clean_up/


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Support grows to clean up shabby Stourbridge

8:00am Tuesday 27th March 2012 in Local

Lauren Partridge and Bridge Williams from Black Country band The Lyrebirds who played live to support the Transition Stourbridge campaign to Save Our Stour

SUPPORT is growing for campaigns dedicated to cleaning up shabby sections of Stourbridge including its landmark river.
Around 50 members of Transition Stourbridge and Tidy Stourbridge joined forces for a litter pick in the Bagley Street area and along the River Stour on March 25.
The pickers, who were fully kitted-out with safety equipment, filled around 40 bags of rubbish including grot which had been deliberately dumped.
David Colley, of Tidy Stourbridge, said: "Fly-tipping and street drinking were much in evidence in the Bagley Street car park and on the Stour as items such as asbestos, car batteries, cones, a vacuum, rubble and tyres were collected.

“The rubbish was quite hidden in overgrown bushes and it had become another out of sight, out of mind scenario."
Rosanne Adams, from Transition Stourbridge, said: “What a great event, I was amazed at the pile of rubbish waiting at Bagley Street when I returned. There really is such a lot of enthusiasm for getting something done.”
During the summer, Tidy Stourbridge will be holding regular Pick’n'Pint events, their next meeting will be at The Little Pig in High Street, Amblecote, at 7pm on Thursday April 12 to clean up School Drive and Corbett Hospital.

Meanwhile staff at Merry Hill cosmetics store Lush joined forces with music duo The Lyrebirds earlier this month for an in-store event to raise awareness and funds for Transition Stourbridge.
Lesley Rhodes, from Lush, said: "We want to help get word out, It's a great opportunity to get involved with a project that aims to transform the shabby rubbish-strewn river into a wildlife and tourist haven.”
http://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/local/9613809.Support_grows_to_clean_up_shabby_Stourbridge/

Support grows to clean up shabby Stourbridge

Please readers, do not mistake me for a transition stourbridge member, or tidy stourbridge. I am an independent litter picker with no affiliations whatsoever with Dudley Council, thank god.  I simply wish to pick litter, and help clean up the river.

 Another pretty shabby article from the Stourbridge News spews up a cock and bull piece about the wonderful day we all had together. The river was FULL OF CRAP, and we simply picked up some rubbish and marvelled at the nice weather. No big deal. No babies were saved that day. However, I did make a video of the days events, if you check this blog.

Oh, did I mention some locals to Stourbridge muscians did a benefit concert in Merry Hill, in LUSH to raise awareness for Transition Stourbridge and the Shabby Stour. Amazing. But WHERE IS THE AUDIO?

THE PHOTOS
and/or
THE VIDEOS
?

Where were the reporters during the Stour litter pick? Stourbridge News, Express and Star don't miss the boat.

Best wishes,
Steve fly

 

Support grows to clean up shabby Stourbridge

8:00am Tuesday 27th March 2012 in News

Lauren Partridge and Bridge Williams from Black Country band The Lyrebirds who played live to support the Transition Stourbridge campaign to Save Our Stour

SUPPORT is growing for campaigns dedicated to cleaning up shabby sections of Stourbridge including its landmark river.
Around 50 members of Transition Stourbridge and Tidy Stourbridge joined forces for a litter pick in the Bagley Street area and along the River Stour on March 25.
The pickers, who were fully kitted-out with safety equipment, filled around 40 bags of rubbish including grot which had been deliberately dumped.
David Colley, of Tidy Stourbridge, said: "Fly-tipping and street drinking were much in evidence in the Bagley Street car park and on the Stour as items such as asbestos, car batteries, cones, a vacuum, rubble and tyres were collected.

“The rubbish was quite hidden in overgrown bushes and it had become another out of sight, out of mind scenario."
Rosanne Adams, from Transition Stourbridge, said: “What a great event, I was amazed at the pile of rubbish waiting at Bagley Street when I returned. There really is such a lot of enthusiasm for getting something done.”
During the summer, Tidy Stourbridge will be holding regular Pick’n'Pint events, their next meeting will be at The Little Pig in High Street, Amblecote, at 7pm on Thursday April 12 to clean up School Drive and Corbett Hospital.

Meanwhile staff at Merry Hill cosmetics store Lush joined forces with music duo The Lyrebirds earlier this month for an in-store event to raise awareness and funds for Transition Stourbridge.
Lesley Rhodes, from Lush, said: "We want to help get word out, It's a great opportunity to get involved with a project that aims to transform the shabby rubbish-strewn river into a wildlife and tourist haven.”

2012 River Stour Renewel articles:

Work begins to save the shabby Stour

3:58pm Monday 13th February 2012 in News

Volunteers cleaning the river Stour near Lye

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THE campaign to save the shabby river Stour got under way when a clean-up crew tackled litter in Lye.
Stourbridge environmentalists were out in force for the first of a series of events to remove rubbish and spruce up the river which they say has been neglected for too long.
Members of Transition Stourbridge joined a Pick 'n' Pint team from Tidy Stourbridge on February 12 to gather grot from Botts Lane, Dudley Road and Mears Coppice plus The Forge Industrial Estate and the River Stour.

David Colley, from Tidy Stourbridge, said “This was our most successful Pick’n'Pint in terms of numbers and litter collected, sadly we should not be in this position in the first place.
"The borough and the UK in general is sinking in it’s own filth and something has to be done to end this environmental vandalism."
During a 90 minute litter pick, around 30 activists filled 30 sacks with rubbish including car parts, fly-posters and wheel trims.
Six sacks of drinks cans were also collected which will be sold to raise cash for a cancer charity.
Transition Stourbridge is urging people to join their campaign to clear up the waterway which gives Stourbridge its name.

The group is planning a series of events during the summer to rid the river of rubbish and pollution which is an eyesore and threatens wildlife.
More events are planned for next month, Tidy Stourbridge will be hitting the streets on Sunday March 11, meeting at 2pm at The Samson and Lion, Brierley Hill Road, Wordsley.
On Sunday March 25 the river will again be the focus of both group's workers during a litter pick from 2pm starting at the Stour, Bagley Street, Lye.

For more information visit www.transitionstourbridge.co.uk or www.tidystourbridge.org.uk

Stour campaigners set for Lye litter pick

12:00pm Saturday 11th February 2012 in News

THE campaign to restore shabby sections of the River Stour is on its way to Lye this weekend.
Members of the Tidy Stourbridge group are planning to team up with Transition Stourbridge for a litter pick on the Stour in Lye.
People are being urged to meet on Sunday February 12 at 2pm at the site of the Formula 1 Autocentre next to The Forge Industrial Estate, Dudley Road, Lye.
Activists are planning to work their way along the river, anyone planning to join the clesan-up is advised to bring suitable footwear and clothing.

Campaigners' SOS call to Save Our Stour

5:14pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in News

The shabby River Stour (Picture courtesy Graham Beckley)

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• 
• 

CAMPAIGNERS are sending out an SOS to rescue a neglected waterway which is at the heart of Stourbridge history.
The Transition Stourbridge group says it is time to Save Our Stour and is urging people to get involved with their project to transform the shabby litter-strewn river into a wildlife and tourist haven.
The eco-friendly group's River Project aims to highlight how people can play their part in cutting levels of litter and pollution in the Stour.
Rosanne Adams, from Transition Stourbridge, said: "When we did our first litter pick by the river we saw all this rubbish and we just knew that can't be right, it seemed to be in a neglected and sad state and full of plastic litter.
"There are some lovely areas along the Stour which are littered and pollution is very damaging for wildlife."
Transition Stourbridge says one of the major causes of pollution is household appliances which have been connected to drains that empty into the river.
The group is recommending people check with the Environment Agency to ensure items like washing machines are connected to pipework which will not pour chemicals into the river.
Transition Stourbridge's long-term aim is to work with the Waterside Care Project, a pilot scheme supported by British Waterways and the Environment Agency, to rid the river of damaging pollution and create trails for walkers along its banks.

The River Project is being launched as the town prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Stourbridge, when community activists cleared the area's canal in a demonstration of people power which pioneered the restoration of hundreds of miles of Britain's canals.
Russell Eden, founder member of Tidy Stourbridge and chairman of the Stourbug cycling group, believes the Stour has been forgotten by authorities who lack resources or the will to care for the river which gave Stourbridge its name.
Mr Eden said: "Anybody walking along the river in Stourbridge would be disgusted by what they see. Nothing ever happens, the people in charge are keeping it hidden - it is intentional neglect."

He added the River Rea in Birmingham is a good example of an urban river which has been regenerated to create attractive public spaces for visitors to the city.
Transition Stourbridge is calling for volunteers to join a Tidy Stourbridge river litter pick on Sunday February 12 or the first organised River Project litter pick on Sunday March 25.
For more information visit the group's exhibition at Stourbridge Library or call Rosanne Adams on 01384 390095.

the 25 BILLION POUND OLYMPIC GAMES

STOP the games, start spending money wisely. Maybe...

Food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, SPORTING FACILITIES?

HOW MANY SWIMMING POOLS AND FOOTBALL PITCHES

COULD BE BUILT, MAINTAINED AND/OR SAVED

WITH A FRACTION OF THE MONEY SPENT ON THE OLYMPIC GAMES 2012

(Consider the costs of security alone?)

Can anybody have a conversation or be heard through the torrent of 2012 OLYMPIC NON-SENSE in the news?

--Steve Fly.



From the HUFF:

"London 2012 chief executive Paul Deighton claimed that the costs of the £9.3 billion Olympic project was in "very good shape" in the face of reports that the budget could spiral to £24 billion.
Sky News said a compilation of costs not included in the public sector funding package came to an extra £2.4 billion but when the counter-terrorism budget, intelligence and security costs, extra policing and transport upgrades were included, the total came to just over £24 billion.
--http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/01/27/london-2012-olympic-village-handover_n_1235738.html?ref=uk

Council accused of gagging members

My experiences with Dudley Council and the closure of Brierley Hill and Coseley Baths also reflect this 'back handed' 'law cost infected' 'cheating' and 'double crossing' on behalf of the M.P's, and the council reps.

If there's this level of foul play in swimming pool politics imagine what it must be like with the rest of what they get up too!

--Steve fly

 

 

Council accused of gagging members

Monday, January 30, 2012

The Sentinel

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LEGAL officials at Stoke-on-Trent City Council have been accused of gagging politicians – after they banned a public question on the Dimensions fiasco.
Independent councillor Lee Wanger formally submitted a question on the long-running pool closure controversy ahead of Thursday's full council meeting.

1. ​
   Question: Independent councillor Lee Wanger

But council officer Paul Hackney told him the question had been refused because it contravened the authority's constitution.
The row comes months after WaterWorld owner Mo Chaudry was paid £21,850 by the council after he threatened legal action over the issue. The council spent a further £22,500 on its own legal bills.
Mr Chaudry has claimed the authority broke a secret deal to shut the Burslem splash pool and pay him £100,000-per-year to offer discounted swimming at WaterWorld.
Mr Wanger had hoped to draw a line under the controversy by persuading somebody within the council to admit a mistake was made, only for his question to be refused.
He said: "I wanted to ask a simple yes or no question to Mark Meredith, who was the elected mayor at the time, on whether he made the offer to Mo Chaudry.
"But Mr Hackney told me it might prejudice the arbitration.
"The deal has never added up. You don't close down a business to save £60,000 and offer a competitor £100,000 to give a discount. If somebody would finally put their hands up and admit to a mistake it could all be resolved but nobody has been willing to do that."
The latest row comes months after Mr Hackney warned councillors against discussing a motion on the aborted Dimensions closure at a full council meeting in October.
He told members the council must keep all further details confidential to avoid breaching the legal agreement with Mr Chaudry.
But fellow independent councillor Dave Conway, leader of the opposition, accused the council of acting like the "Gestapo".
He said: "This shows a complete lack of openness and transparency.
"The council has taken away an elected member's right to ask questions in a democratic chamber."
Mr Hackney today defended his decision to refuse to accept the question.
The assistant director of legal services said: "A question was asked by a councillor which was in breach of the rules councillors must follow when asking a question.
"Questions can only be asked of the council leader, relevant portfolio holder or committee chairman.
"In this case the question was directed to a separate individual and the reason for not allowing the question was given to the councillor.
"To allow the question to go forward would also go against the clear statement on the council's legal position made at the October meeting regarding a confidential mediation settlement and the consequences of any breach of confidentiality."

Police close investigation into Dimensions pool row

Saturday, January 14, 2012

The Sentinel

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POLICE investigators have ruled out taking any further action over the Dimensions splash pool closure row.
City Independents party leader Dave Conway asked Staffordshire Police to reopen their investigation into Stoke-on-Trent City Council's botched plans to close the Burslem splash pool.
He said the council's £22,000 settlement to WaterWorld owner Mo Chaudry, which saw the council acknowledge talks had taken place with the businessman, contradicted earlier assurances that no meetings had taken place.
But officers visited Mr Conway yesterday and said there was insufficient new evidence to reopen inquiries.
He said: "I'm very disappointed. The issue could have been resolved three years ago if the council had held their hands up, but they have continued to muddy the waters."
Mr Chaudry was paid to drop his legal threat, which followed claims the authority broke a deal to close the pool and pay WaterWorld £100,000-per-year to offer a discount.
A police spokesman said: "We have now reviewed this matter. We are satisfied there is no new information contained within the complaint.
"We won't be taking any further action."

Disused Shelton pool will be knocked down

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

The Sentinel

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A SWIMMING pool at the centre of a year-long campaign to save it from closure is set to be demolished.
Bulldozers will move in to clear the Shelton Pool site, although no time scale has been given for when the work will begin.

1. ​
   GOING: Shelton pool, and, above inset, our stories on the closure.

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• •

Hundreds of people who relied on the pool signed petitions and helped launch a campaign to keep the facility open when it was earmarked for closure as part of Stoke-on-Trent City Council's £35.6m budget cuts.
But the complex shut at the end of March last year, along with Tunstall Pool, to save the council £160,000.
Once the building is demolished, the future of the site will be reviewed.
A report to councillors states: "The pool could form part of a larger redevelopment with adjacent council premises, which are the subject of a review."
Helen Burgess, pictured below, was among those who campaigned to save the pool, which was used by people suffering from medical conditions as part of their rehabilitation.
The retired hairdresser, of Millfield Crescent, Milton, who used the pool because of a long-term medical condition, said: "It's very annoying to hear that the pool will be demolished.
"We asked the council if they had any plans for the future of the pool, and they told us they hadn't. They never said anything about it being knocked down.
"I can see the building being demolished and the land being left with rubble on it for years."
Fellow campaigner Martin Hamp now uses the swimming pool at the Quality Hotel in Hanley.
The 57-year-old, of Blythe Bridge, who had used the Shelton facility for 18 years, said: "It suits our needs because of the temperature and it is not too deep. But I have had to pay for a private pool because the council decided to close Shelton. Not everyone can afford to do that. We did ask them if they could transfer some of the facilities to Fenton Manor and create a bolt-on facility, but the council wouldn't look into it.
"I don't feel the council have been honest with us over the closure.
"I don't see how much more the people of Stoke-on-Trent will be willing to put up with."
Julie Latham first started going to Shelton Pool in 2005 after being diagnosed with lupus after the joints in her hands, arms, legs and feet had completely locked.
Her situation deteriorated when she collapsed and found out she also suffered from the blood complaint thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).
But the 47-year-old from Endon says the trips to Shelton gave her a sense of independence.
She said: "I had spent seven weeks at the Haywood Hospital and I was then sent to Shelton.
"It was all geared up and was perfect for what I needed and I felt like I had my independence back. I think it's disgusting that it has closed."
The council also plans to mothball Tunstall Pool, a Grade-II listed building, which dates back to 1888, before deciding what to do with it.

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Disused-Shelton-pool-knocked/story-15156579-detail/story.html