Well done, Western Society. Well done. *slow handclap*
Image: Tim Whitby/Getty Images Europe.
Listening to Victoria Pendleton trying to explain her reasons for self-harming on the radio this morning reminded me of a time when I too sought refuge in the slicing of my own flesh. Conversations with people since then, plus the perspective that the passing years lent, did not make the compulsion any clearer to me.
What I do know is that it was necessary, it was powerful and it frightened the shit out of people.
Continue reading “Victoria Pendleton: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw”
Penis not shown. But then, it doesn’t really need to be. Image: Lma/Bauer Griffin.
Being a cynic of some repute, I had a feeling that this brave new world of post-Olympic British optimism wouldn’t last. The feelings of togetherness and joy we experienced as a nation – borne from the realisation that we were capable of doing something on the global stage without making complete tits of ourselves – were only ever a veneer, an unexpected heat wave in our perpetual winter of self-loathing and narcissism. We were still there. Just waiting. Just breathing.
Little did we know that last Friday night, while we were still exploring the well-lit alleys and sunny streets of ‘optimistic’, events were afoot that would break that heatwave and douse us once again in the familiar chill of the endless bloody rain.
Royalty. Nudity. Naked Girls. Camera Phones. Drinking. It’s like a perfect storm of British scandal.
Continue reading “And We’re Back: British Post-Olympic Optimism Pierced By Prince Harry’s Penis”
“You’re the wires guy, right?” Boris assumes security has been heightened in light of his last adventure. Image: SEAN DEMPSEY/AFP/GettyImages.
It’s all over, people, and you can now expect the UK to drift back into the familiar territory of self-hatred and celebrity lovin’ superciliousness we know and the Daily Mail loves.
Let’s just have one more round-up to remember it by, shall we?
Continue reading “Olympic Observations: Loose Ends & Legends”
Image: AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, Ronald Martinez/Getty Images.
We hope you enjoy your moment of glory.
But please try & remember to retain an air of humility and dignity during all gold medal celebrations. Do not shout, squeal, run, jump or borrow someone’s camera and take pictures of your team-mates. Basically, no spur of the moment acts that could be interpreted as unbecoming.
Despite winning, you are still women, and it would be uncomfortable for people to have their gender stereotypes challenged while they’re just trying to enjoy some sport.
Thank you.
H/T to guidofawkes.
I promise I will stop posting cynical comments about the Olympics after this, but it would be a dereliction of duty not to post this video of Jeremy Hunt nearly braining a passer-by as he gets into the spirit of things.
Magnificent.
Image: Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Getty Images.
Head of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, gives London’s Olympic preparations the once over at a gathering of ‘international movers and shakers’. Or insanely rich people, if you prefer.
Kelly Welles 