redfiona99

Friends, Romans, people who live in countries that actually give numbers to humidity - what sort of humidity value is a native New Yorker going to complain about? I can elide, but I need to add words to this fic so I'm trying to hunt down details.

Actually, about that, if anyone has the time or inclination to beta a ~ 1000 word Mystique fic set after X-Men: First Class fic, I'd be grateful.

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Links:

What were the Romans really like? Different from us in many ways, but there is much that is familiar in Roman family life and in particular parenting - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17701080 I'm using the sub-headline because the main headline shows that whoever wrote the headline hadn't read the article.

London 2012: Why are world's athletes training in UK? - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17617531 Money mostly, it turns out. Actually an interesting article, and remind me I have to e-mail some RL friends with it.

Paloma Faith pretending she's ever kept anything real - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17658680

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Shakespeare Meme - Day #16: Your first play you saw

If we're talking ever, ever by any method, then Kenneth Branagh's Henry V on tape, which my Mum still has. Thankfully it's not worn out yet.

If we're talking on stage, then Macbeth at the Theatre Royal. Annoyingly I can't remember the company but it was ace. 6 actors, 2 techies (and I suspect that one of the techies was one of the actors) and the most fantastic amount of thought had gone in. Real atmosphere, and Macbeth's death was one of those moments where time seemed to stop, and we were in a medieval Scottish castle. It was brilliant.

( Other Days )

Adverts

It must be said, the adverts have been getting good again recently. My mother's favourite is this Dulux advert:

Matters are made more amusing that my bedroom at home is that shade of yellow.

While I really like this BT advert which, annoyingly, I can't embed - http://youtu.be/BOxj69KNuC8

Again, possibly funnier if you've ever been over-the-phone tech support for parents. Also, I'll put money on it being baby photos that his Mum has just put up.

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The Grand National

The BHA will undoubtedly come up with better suggestions than this, but my suggestions for making the National safer are:

1) reduce the maximum number of runners to 30, which should lead to less crowding over the jumps, hopefully making it easier for horses to avoid each other.

2) if a horse unseats its rider before the race, or runs loose for any other reason, the horse doesn't get to run in the race.

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Shakespeare Meme - Day #15: The first play you read

Skipping quickly over the thing about how plays are meant to be seen/acted, not read (or certainly not read silently), my dusty memory would like to say Macbeth, but I think it was probably Romeo and Juliet.

( Other Days )

Sports-related things:
Grand National - Animal rights loonies* on twitter going 'you people betting on the National today, I bet your mothers are proud of you'. I did feel like replying, 'yes, and she's got a punt on too'. I'm not sure if the lady in question (judging by profile picture ~ late teens) is aware that mothers are people too.

* - There are criticisms to be made of horse racing. I believe that it needs to be made safer for horses. I think greater provision needs to be made for retired race horses. There is a difference between that and blind hatred.

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Rugby League - Saints, despite their own better efforts, managed to beat Widnes in the Challenge Cup. They went from having a 22 - 40 lead with 10 minutes to go to winning 38-40. The main reason was a rush of blood to the head on James Roby's part but argh! I'm looking at the positives which are Lance Hohaia and two of the bambinos getting their first starts (Josh Jones and Adam Swift).

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Formula 1 - While I might have wanted Schumacher to be the one to get new Mercedes's first pole, I am happy that it has been achieved. And Kobyashi in 3rd! It could be a fun grand prix.

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More real life things

RL has become a bit of a panic-ridden ball of fear because it looks like I might be buying a flat. Culturally, I come from somewhere where you don't buy your flat. You move in, you complain about your rent, you move out. That's what I've always expected to do but apparently in Britain, things, and rents, are different.

Matters are not helped by the way my intrinstic reaction to stress to be 'run away'. This is more difficult when you have a mortgage.

'Linsanity' hits Taiwan as Jeremy Lin conquers NBA - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17052383 Which says some interesting things about statehood and culture.

Kurt Angle on trying to qualify for 2012 - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/17027704

And a brief 'what the's argument about' re: the Falklands - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17045169 I'll be good and not point out the correlation between the finding of oil and the increased tensions between Argentina and the UK.

In other news that will amuse only a few people, ( TNA spoilers )

On to WWE, where what I have to say is not spoilery.

Mason Ryan needs to check his roots. It become readily apparent that if he isn't dyed to look like Batista v2, he would look like a bigger Heath Slater.

Why is Yoshi Tatsu not master of all that he surveys?
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Not directly related, but one of the darts players comes out to HHH's music. Most bizarre sporting cross over ever (unless one of the figure skaters decides to skate to the Undertaker's entrance music).

Dear May, really, really stop happening to sports people.

Robbie Paul (sorry, Robbie Hunter-Paul) has won my admiration, which for an ex-Bradford player takes some doing. He's taken his wife's name when they got married. It takes v. little to gain my liking.

Sylvain Distain I <3 you, so much, for being able to calmly joke about the putative Moyes hairdryer treatment. He manages to make David Moyes sound like some terrifying cross between my Nan and Sir Alex Ferguson. Given that he looks like a ginger version of what's his face from In The Loop, it's scary.

In terms of general sport, I wish May would stop happening to various sports stars and commentators. I'm sorry but I grew up with Ted Lowe commentating on the snooker, the legend of Our 'Enry and Seve Ballesteros making golf interesting.

~~~~

Post script - No, really, May, you can stop now, just heard one of the Leicestershire and Rutland fencers was taken very ill over the weekend.

Dear BBC, while obviously I understand that I am watching the English coverage, and therefore there will be a bias but more than occasional mentions of the other home nations would be nice. I mean, I've given up on hoping to hear about any events where the UK teams have no chance, but this is getting ridiculous.

Also, your attempts at blaming Delhi for the athletes being unwell is pitiful and verging on the nasty. If there really was something going round then everyone would have got it, not just Australia and the UK teams. I find it funny that even when both teams are under the weather, Australia still beat England most of the time.

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Today's shared music is from Original Pirate Material by the Streets. I've chosen what I hope is a reasonably good overview of the Streets's stuff.

Warning, not safe for work, or those that disapprove of the use of illegal drugs.

Weak Become Heroes - http://www.box.net/shared/7pvutzzixb
Let's Push Things Forward - http://www.box.net/shared/2xv4k3i6uf

and one of my favourite pro-weed legalisation tracks - http://www.box.net/shared/2xv4k3i6uf

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And now day 23 of the much belated TV meme

Day 23 - Most Annoying TV Character

This was giving me a few problems, since it's very rare I dislike a character that I'm not supposed to dislike. If it was a question about that, Warren from Buffy still takes some beating. I am of the 'being flayed alive was too good for him' branch of Buffydom. Before anyone points out he didn't nearly cause an apocalypse, yes, but he was human, I expect better behaviour from them than from demons.

I didn't even mind those characters that seem to get it in the neck from fans like, for instance, Wesley.

But, as I was pondering this, an obvious answer presented itself to me. I mean there's only ever been one character who has ever put me off a show I have watched for most of my life.

My choice is the 10th Doctor.

This is not an attack against Russell T. Davies, whose work I love and adore, or David Tennant, who I'm certain is a good actor, but in combination, the two did not work.

Everyone has their own interpretation of who Dr. Who is, and that's a good thing. I just didn't like theirs. It's not that I even mind the Doctor when he's a bossy grump, given that my favourite Doctor is the 3rd, I can't. It's not that I mind when the Doctor is out and out obnoxious, hello number 6. It's that I mind when a character who has always been 'the rules are more like guidelines' when it comes to the laws of time and space come over all lawful stupid (and woe is me emo boy at the same time). I have no idea who that person is, but it's not the Doctor.

It started in 10's first series, where he leaves Ood to die, despite rescuing a human scientist. More than that, he didn't speak out against the slavery of the Oods when presented with it. The rest of his obnoxiousness was less bad than that, that's a pretty high watermark. Basically, by the time the year of specials rolled round, I wanted him dead already, something that wasn't helped by the Waters of Mars. So yes, so very pleased that I love 11 so much. He is a Doctor I can firmly get behind.

( The Other Days )

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I'm not sure either of them is really the answer, I mean, I know far too many clever people who are deeply bitter because they feel that life has not rewarded them for their braininess, but at the same time, someone who is stupid and has lots of money is not going to keep having money for long. Personally, I need my brains more, and would be more than happy with an average amount of money.

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Speaking of fools who are soon parted from their money, I need some information on how US (and Canadian) sports teams are run. It's this fiasco at Liverpool (and, to a lesser degree, Manchester United).

The reason I'm wondering is because, over here, it's sort of a fait accompli that if you buy a sports team, you will end up poorer at the end of your term of ownership than when you started, and the Russian oligarchs and the various Sheikhs seem to understand that (ignoring Portsmouth, because well, Portsmouth is a terrible thing to happen to anyone's hypothesis), but the various American owners don't seem to. This lead me to wondering if it is because you can turn a profit owning a sports company in the US. Any thoughts are greatly welcomed.

Although I swear the two are not linked ;)

Channel 5 appears to be showing UFC. No one told me of this so several people in RL who know that I like my fight-sports are totally sacked. Last night was UFC 91. So first UFC show I see features one Brock Lesnar, and, given the condition that you have to be in to fight UFC style, it's amazing that he was less muscled than during his WWE run. No, Vince, your company doesn't have a steroid problem at all.

I think I would have got more out of it if I'd know what the rule are, particularly in regards to open handed strikes.

So happy to see Brock win though.

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TV meme: Day 20 - Favourite Kiss

There are any number of cases where kissing was accompanied by a shout of "finally" by yours truly (but I am in no way as bad as my housemates were regarding Will Schuester and Miss Pillsbury), but none of those have made it in.

My favourite is a toss-up between the kiss between Chiana and D'Argo in the Peacekeeper Wars ( Spoilers )

My other option is Stuart kissing Hazel in the first episode of the second "series" of Queer as Folk, because it's using a kiss to tell a story, and it's Stuart being Stuart and horribly blunt and deliberately cruel. And, of course, it's a totally non-romantic kiss, because I enjoy being an awkward blighter.

( The Other Days )

I went to the gym today, which was good.

Most importantly I managed to run 15 minutes straight, which doesn't sound like much, but when you're me, it's a big thing. I swear I'd be better at running if I got to hit things though. Also, as suspected, it's easier to keep running when there's sports on rather than when there's music on.

On to other sporting news, other than GB doing disturbingly well at the European Gymnastics, Vino won the Liege - Bastogne - Liege classic - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/8643172.stm

I would give any number of ridiculous things for him to win the Tour this year. Oh dear, sweet madman.

First, Gareth Thomas came out. The article, on the BBC website, must have been taken from a pretty long interview (for the Daily Fail, hence no link to that), and it's totally worth a read - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8421956.stm

And don't worry Alfie, I'm sure people are far more likely to remember those awesome tries you scored than anything else.

The Times have put up it's top 5 sporting moment of the decade: I disagree with number 5, but I like the rest:

( 4. 2005 Andrew Flintoff offers hand of friendship to Brett Lee )

( 3. 2005 Liverpool triumph thanks to the 'Miracle of Istanbul' )

( 2. 2003 Jonny Wilkinson secures World Cup with that kick )

( 1. 2008 Usain Bolt sets world record on his way to gold )

I cut the blurb but you should read it, because it's a perfect piece of Simon Barnes writing. Because he's not wrong. By the time Bolt ran, we had twitter, we had facebook, everything was instant, and in that instant, the only thing anyone wrote was, 'wow'.

Title of the first post each month:

January - My conscience is giving me trouble, new years and a fic
February - Scoreboard Update
March - What I've been doing
April - We meet again, Mr. Split Infinitive
May - Champions League
June - An Update
July - Musical PSA
August - Caribbean Carnival
September - Back From Germany
October - Fencing
November - Coventry Open
December - It's all the little things

It's mostly real life stuff and sport.

Sporting Moments

( 19. 2005: London awarded the 2012 Olympic Games, Singapore )

( 17. 2008: Usain Bolt wins the Olympic 200 metres, Beijing )

( 15. 2005: Gary Pratt runs out Ricky Ponting, Trent Bridge )

( 8. 2000: Cathy Freeman’s Olympic 400 metres, Sydney )

( 7. 2000 Steve Redgrave’s fifth Olympic gold, Sydney )

( 6. 2001 David Beckham’s late free kick, Old Trafford )

I'd also like to recommend another article from the Times, from Simon Barnes who is a great sports writer, and one of the best journalists working today in any field, summing up why he's not fed up with sport.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/simon_barnes/article6960801.ece

Final paragraph:

Sport is not only about good things, why should it be? Sport is rich, sport contains all manner of moods and emotions. But here are nine wonderful athletes and a half-decent manager, all of whom have filled my year with good things. Fed up with sport? Actually no. A person who is tired of sport is tired of life.

There, my friends, is a man who gets it.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article6957773.ece

Today's are more heart-warming.

( 59. 2001: Liverpool 5 Alavés 4, Uefa Cup final, Dortmund )

57. 2009: Harlequins and rugby union’s “Bloodgate” scandal, London No cut for this, or blurb, just remember it next time Union fans try to claim the moral high-ground over, well, anything.

( 54. 2008: Rebecca Adlington in the pool, Beijing )

( 52. 2007 Joe Calzaghe outclasses Mikkel Kessler, Cardiff )

( 51. 2002: Rhona Martin’s curlers win Olympic gold, Salt Lake City )

( 41. 2009: Andrew Flintoff runs out Ricky Ponting, Kennington )

On non-list, but still sporting related matters - why the heck have Milton Keynes been made part of the 2018 bid when Leicester haven't? It can't be our stadium, it was one of the ones they used while Wembley was out of action. It can't be sporting history because Milton Keynes has none. I am assuming bribery.

The man Bolt did it again.

Guy from Halls up in 110 m hurdles final. Insanity may commence.

Jessica Ennis went and won. And how. I <3 her so much.

I also <3 every single other heptathlete. Score one for the mass victory lap/survivors lap.

I also love that Berlin is so mad about the field events.

There's a secret in the last edition of

fandomsecrets (number 123 - http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss105/ltw_96/michael_slytherin_final.jpg) which states that the secret writer thinks that Michael Schumacher would have been sorted into Slytherin.

I have to say I totally agree, so I've been thinking where I'd sort other people.

( Gryffindor )

( Hufflepuff )

( Ravenclaw )

( Slytherin )

Personally, I think sports people are going to skew to Slytherin just because being sucessful in sport involves being determined and ambitious.

Anyone want to suggest anyone?

Excellent article by Martin Brundle on the Massa thing - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8170736.stm

Cricket Quotes

"I'm not very good, Aggers!"
Flintoff's reply when asked by Jonathan Agnew why he hadn't taken more five-wicket hauls.

****
"All eyes on K.P..............Nothing daft required........did Phil Collins record that , by the way?"

"Sporting Gods' breakfast... Botham ...bacon roll...Warne.. bag of chips."
David 'Bumble' Lloyd twitters during the second Ashes Test at Lord's.

(I am not getting Twitter just to follow David Lloyd)

****

"He's one of those players you'll stand naked in the snow to watch."
RTE commentator Martin Carney after Paul Finlay scored a point for Monaghan against Derry.

****

"Stop preening like a peacock!"
Real Madrid captain Raul's playful shout to Cristiano Ronaldo as he boarded the team plane to Ireland.

(Dear Lord a mercy, I think I just wanted to high five Raul)

Rocco Mediate, who will be playing off against Tiger Woods for the US Open tonight, for this quote - "And Mediate, who could become the oldest ever winner of the title, said he is enjoying every moment and relishing the prospect of taking on Woods.

"I get to play for the national Open against the best player on earth, that maybe ever played," he said.

"How much more could you ask for? To go up against the best player in the world and have a chance to beat him, there's nothing else you can ask for, period."

OMG!!! Mark Foster has qualified for the Olympics - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/swimming/7325574.stm - it still doesn't say whether he's decided to go or not, but I hope he does.

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Entries tagged with sport

Details for a Fic, Links and the Shakespeare Meme

Adverts, the Grand National and the Shakespeare Meme

(no subject)

Some Interesting BBC Links

Wrestling

(no subject)

Short sport squeakings

Sports Rant, Music and TV meme

Writer's Block: She's a brainiac on the floor

UFC and TV meme

Gym

Sport and ever more sport

A Meme And Sporting Moments No. 20-5

More Top 100 Sporting Moments (60-41)

Athletics

Athletics

To go with yesterday's theme of sports people and fantasy novels

Some links and some quotes

Other sports people who are presently beloved

Swimming