Olympics 2012 - 3

 

Well the games have started, all be it before the opening ceremony, GB ladies soccer team beating NZ 1-0 and USA beating France 4-2.

 Of course there are some who already will not be taking part in the games. Greece with all it’s issues have already sent one of their smallest group of athletes ever, and this has been reduced even more by the banning of Triple jumper Voula Papachristou who was expelled from Greece's Olympic team Wednesday for her comments on Twitter mocking African immigrants and expressing support for a far-right party.

It was her attempt at a joke Sunday that went viral. Commenting on the widely reported appearance of Nile-virus-carrying mosquitoes in Athens, Papachristou wrote: ''With so many Africans in Greece, the West Nile mosquitoes will be getting home food!!!''. Her tweet prompted thousands of negative comments that snowballed Wednesday leading to her being banned.

 

She is not the only one however, Moroccan runner Mariem Alaoui Selsouli, one of the medal favorites for the woman’s 1500 meters has been tested positive for the diuretic furosemide at the Paris Diamond League meeting on July 6. 

 

Selsouli became an Olympic medal favorite after clocking 3 minutes 56.15 seconds in the 1,500 meters - more than four seconds below her personal best time at the Paris event…hmm wonder how she managed that?

 

To me perhaps the most worrying is for the French athletes…

 

A convoy of cars carrying French athletes and officials crawled through central London, enmeshed in a fiendish traffic jam.

 

To their right: A specially created and pristine Games Lane set aside for the exclusive use of the so-called "Olympic Family", much to the chagrin of many Londoners.

 

Alas, it appeared no-one had told the Gallic branch of the lineage.

 

So off they went, trundling east in the direction of the Olympic Park at 2mph, perhaps even grousing at the infamous London traffic.

 

One hopes for the sake of the French that their sprint relay tactics are a little more well-honed.

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

Views, Reviews and Weird News

With having to change my radio show from Wednesday to a Tuesday, my Views, Reviews and Weird News blog has moved to a Wednesday. A blog about radio show guests, some of the interviews, book reviews and some weird news from Across the Pond.

VIEWS:

I've had another fun couple of weeks with my blog radio show. Saturday I had young blogger Ashely as guest talking about her blog, books, reading and everything else, then today I have author Wendy Wax to be on the show to chat about her book "The Accidental Bestseller"


I have also just signed an option that will now allow my POD books to be sold with "bye back" which means they can now be available in "normal book stores" not just online. I'll tell you morer about this over the nextr few weeks.

REVIEWS:

The number of reviews fir my book continues to increase almsot daily, I am now up to 81. Here are the last five reviews...


4.0 out of 5 stars A good easy reading coming of age story, June 9, 2009
By Roger Yocom (Madison Alabama)
Across the Pond by Storyheart is a good easy reading coming of age story. It deals with a boy having to go on vacation to a place he has never been and staying with people he has never met. While there he deals with some of the many conflicts and problems faced by teenagers everywhere. He has the usual confusion about girls, what they think, and how to react to them. Running into bullies and having to stand up to them. He falls in love and has to deal with understanding the girl, her parents, and her friends. Along the way there are fun explorations, educational experiences, conflicts, and tribulations. In the end evil is vanquished, good reigns supreme and boy and girl are set to live, laugh, and be happy at least until the next chapter of their lives. So all in all it is a fun book with many good positive themes. I would recommend this to any teenager (or young at heart) looking for something light and fun to read this summer.

5.0 out of 5 stars A lively and entertaining storyline!, June 8, 2009
By Tatiana (Grand Rapids, MI USA)
Brit has a secret.... Something she is afraid to share with even her very best friend. But when Fred comes from England for a visit with her family, she finds a new friend, a true confidant, her first love and her English Knight. As we learn the secret that Brit has kept hidden, Fred discovers the differences in life "Across the Pond" and his school project book fills up. Fred learns about love, baseball, bullies and what lifelong friendships are all about. Filled with humor, great character development and a wonderful storyline, this young adult book will definitely keep readers interested chapter after chapter. I wouldn't be surprised if we see more of Fred and Brit, and readers of this book, including myself, will want to learn what happens next!

4.0 out of 5 stars A good read for both young and old, June 2, 2009
By Nichel B. (New York, NY)
Across the Pond is a book that is easy to read, but still has a interesting story for anyone to enjoy. It is a story about relationships, family, and love. These are subjects that we can all relate to and appreciate.


3.0 out of 5 stars First Experiences, June 1, 2009
By Lai "Austin Lover" (CA, USA)

"Across the Pond" is an easy reading novel particularly for the younger teens of both sexes. It provides a humorous and interesting cultural exchange of vocabulary/terminology for all ages. Its simple plot renders it good reading material for anyone who wants to stay away from the TV for a couple of hours on a lazy weekend.

The story carries out many firsts experiences - it's refreshing to walk the journey of a young teen boy's first love, first experience of an American baseball game, first fight over a girl, and many other firsts. It does reflect on a happy family with strong relationships between parents and a teenager.

Everyone loves a knight in shining armor story.

5.0 out of 5 stars Ah! To Be Young Again!, May 29, 2009
By rejw2004 "Raina Johnson" (Chicago, IL USA)
Across The Pond is a wonderful example of young love and all that it brings with it. I felt like a kid again while reading this book. It brought back so many wonderful memories of what it was like to first experience True Young Love. The characters, Fred and Brit, are a true reflection of what most teenagers are like. This book brings to light the good and the not-so-good experiences some teenagers face. I think this book would be an excellent choice for anyone with teenagers. I'm far from a teenager and found it impossible to put down. This book is full of morals, values and wonderful examples of try human spirit. And let's not forget, Love.

WEIRD NEWS:

US fisherman hooks live missile
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8092123.stm


Twitter hype punctured by study

Twitter is being used as a broadcast medium, the study says

Micro-blogging service Twitter remains the preserve of a few, despite the hype surrounding it, according to research.

Just 10% of Twitter users generate more than 90% of the content, a Harvard study of 300,000 users found.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8089508.stm


Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"