Jarpie

1 hour ago, sne said:

As predicted with the games now over and the athletes returning home the complaints about the games from them are starting.

One of the first out is the biggest name in the alpine skiing world Marcel Hirschel (2 golds this time) who has slammed the living conditions in the Olympic village and most of all the almost empty stadiums during the events.

I get the financial reasons for putting the Olympics in a sponsor rich place like South Korea, and with 26 million people in a 100 km radius of Pyeongchang there should on paper be enough to fill the stadiums.

But people from the traditional winter Olympic countries won't travel en masse this far, and apparently they failed to sell the happening to the locals.

There are only so many people you can fit in a Short Track skating stadium.

Was a bit bizarre watching all these events in almost empty stadiums when you compare it to let's say Lillehammer.

Just put the Winter Olympics in Norway every time 

The olympic games have grown so huge that it'd be the same to divide them between countries, it'd be feasible especially in the europe, with France, Germany, Austria, Italy etc being reasonably close to the each other.

5 minutes ago, sne said:

I suspected that was the reason the money dried up.

Most potential sponsors will not wan't to be associated with that kind of press.

On the hockey side I can tell you the Swedish coach Grönborg is rightly getting a lot of stick for not playing super talent Rasmus Dahlin more than the odd minutes he got.

Will be drafted #1 this year and hardly didn't even get a look in. What a waste.

Our hockey was in shambles in late 2000s, and our hockey association rightly saw the problem: no skillful players, so they retooled our youth training. Now we are seeing the results. In our hockey we still have one big problem though, too consertive tactics in international games, especially against Canada and USA. Germany had the right idea, play hard and aggressive.

1 hour ago, sne said:

Have to ask, what's happened to your ski-jumping.

I'm grew up used to seeing at least 4 Finns in the top-5 at any given competition. A bit like it used to be with javelin.

Also, once again I apologize for Hasse Backe.

Afaik after Lahti 2001 debacle the money dried up in ski jumping too, and it haven't recovered. Very sad state of affairs, as we have LONG traditions in ski jumping, it is disgrace. At least cross-country has recovered, thank god.

24 minutes ago, sne said:

And the Soviet Union, sorry CIS, sorry, Russia, sorry OAR winning the Ice Hockey gold.

So very nearly a fairy tale gold for Germany.

Shame we didn't get to listen to the wonderful Russian national anthem, after all it's the official soundtrack of hockey.

Great shame that we had finnish equivalent of Tactics-Tim as our head coach, Marjamäki has been utter disaster, if we'd had the coach who's taking over we probably would've been in the final. Under Jalonen, who is taking over after this season,  we won our last world championship, and he actually knows how to play proper hockey. There was talk last spring that many of our NHL players refused to come to play in world championships last year because Marjamäki is in charge, which wouldn't surprise me. We're gonna have such a great team in the next olympics if NHL takes part: Laine, Barkov, Rask, Ristolainen, Määttä, Aho, Teräväinen, Rantanen etc, this is probably our greatest generation since the 90s golden generation, maybe even better.

When it comes to the other winter sports, finnish sports desperately needs MUCH more money, we're lagging so far behind norwegians, swedes and central europe. The difference between finnish and swedish biathlon is ridiculous, only Mäkärinen is really only one in top 10, and she's already aging, and Laukkanen has not fulfilled her potential. We have upcoming Tero Seppälä who is very promising, but we need a lot more resources.

14 hours ago, sne said:

Ivo Niskanen of Finland actually making a race out of the nowadays usually very boring 50k.

Really impressive so far but still a way to go.

For Sweden Calle Halfvardsson has once again chosen to quit the race.

Poor lad, he's not had a fun time in South Korea.

 

Only 4 years until the next opportunity...

Niskanen's skiing was pretty damn unbelievable, utter domination, Bolshunov who came second was utterly spent and Niskanen looked like he could go for another 10km. Such a big shame that Myllylä wasn't there to see this, rest in peace, champion.

22 minutes ago, sne said:

Could there be a reunion on the books?

God I hope there is.

Would be amazing, but isn't Keane still part of the Ireland setup?

I know I'm a bit late for the discussion about the olympic stadium, the costs and the deal, but gotta say that it's like that everywhere with the public/state managed projects. Public/state is horrible managing projects like that in everywhere, in here every publicly funded project I've ever heard/seen has gone over budget or schedule.

I think part of the reason is that contractors knows that they'll get "easy" money and state/city/etc has "blank checkbook" from the taxpayers, and sometimes its just the general "my friends company needs a contract, we'll throw them a bone".

West Spam are already relegated, they were when they hired Moyes, they look absolutely dreadful, they might be as dreadful as we were during That season. As much as rocket polisher Pardew is, I think he'll keep WBA up, unfortunately.

Rooney hat-trick, the commentators are absolutely creaming themselves on BT Sport.

3 hours ago, sidcow said:

You say that but ask any of my friends what I'm like when hiking in snow and cold temperatures and they will tell you I am a right misery guts who moans the whole way. 

Maybe it would do some good then?

The Dynamic Duo, Moyes and Stuart Pearce, what the hell are they smoking in West Ham

13 hours ago, dont_do_it_doug. said:

Thought I'd check in with André...

He's in the US at the minute, rehabbing at the Under Armour performance centre...

No expense spared. I doubt you see players from Bolton or Burton rehabbing at a place like this. Nice to see us acting like a big club again. He has also taken in some hiking...

And learning the piano...

I can't help but like André, a lot. If ever there was a lad who deserved to make it it's him.

Long road back but would be great to see him in January. Literally like a new signing. 

Good, hiking in snow and cold temperatures builds up spirit and personality! As a resident finn I whole-heartedly approve of this.

If/when we replace Bruce, I'd like that to be Bernd Schuster, he is crazy but at least he is known for attacking football, to put it lightly

40 minutes ago, Adbo9 said:

This one is striker related; How about Andy Carroll on loan if he is after a target man !!! Is he a regular at West Ham ?!? 

We'd better hire more nurses as they'd be busy with him.

Their team is going to be picked up clean in the summer and some big club will come for Pochettino, most probably they're gonna fall outside of top 4 again.

13 minutes ago, sne said:

Think Eero Markkanen is more in the mold Bruce is looking for.

Or Shefki Kuqi if he'd be still playing

Teemu Pukki's contract is running out with Brondby... could be worth a shot in championship, doubtful if he could play in PL.

On 11/4/2017 at 20:21, Jimzk5 said:

West ham v liverpool on talkshite, with stuart pearce on commentary, just said this about mohammed salah

"Ive never seen a player like him come to new country and play like he has tonight"

 

 

Stuart Pearce applied for manager of Finland's national team when they hired Hans Backe, how shit you have to be not to get hired by our national team

On 11/2/2017 at 12:39, sne said:

Brett Ratner dumped by Warner Bros after a long list of women accused him of sexual abuse.

Weinstein, Toback, Ratner...

 

Kevin Spacey too, who's career is gone now. Dustin Hoffman was accused too. I wonder what it takes for Polanski to become the pariah, as he is actually convicted of a crime.

I've been watching The Orville, and I have to say, after the shaky start it's been excellent. It's as close to the genuine Star Trek as we can get in modern television world, the use of lighting and colors etc is just pure TNG. At first the balance between the more serious stuff and the comedy/humor was quite off, but after the first couple episodes they've found a very nice balance between the two.

My favourite episode so far is the fourth one, If the Stars Should Appear. I've been very impressed with the writing, and I was very surprised to find out that Seth MacFarlane has himself written all of the episodes except one, he clearly knows his shit. He isn't bad in the lead role, but IMO someone like Bruce Campbell would be perfect in it, he's master at playing likeable (kinda) losers and/or loudmouths, like in Army of Darkness.

Or maybe Tactics Tim will briefly pop back in premier league...one can dream at least.

Craig Gordon, he had horrible luck with injuries and stopped playing for a couple years, thought he had retired, but he got himself fit, and plays now in Celtic.

Gotta gim him big props for coming back after those injuries when most people had afaik written him off.

10 hours ago, HanoiVillan said:

Almost as if someone's politics has absolutely no correlation to their likelihood of paedophilia. 

My point was that despicable people will use what's the "moral" thing to be to hide their own shitty or horrible behaviour/habits/etc. Now it's...how to put it...fashionable I guess (my english vocabulary isn't always wide enough) to be, for example "male feminist" or "male ally" so they'll use it, and mark my words, there are going to be more hypocrites outed. During the 80s, 90s and early 2000s it was to be "christian", there was some american politician/politicians who got caught for visiting gay prostitute, who had been "ardent christian" and against gay-rights.

I don't doubt that Weinstein is guilty of being a scumbag, but this and some other cases sets up dangerous precedent IMO. When just allegations are enough to ruin someone's life and get them fired, it will cause a lot of problems, you hate someone and want them fired? Just say that they had sexually harassed you and they're gone. I'd rather wait for actual criminal investigation or court case before I'd want people to get tarred and feathered in public.

On 10/18/2017 at 20:19, sne said:

In light of the Weinstein scandal and the #MeToo hashtag there is a similar scandal unfolding in Sweden. Albeit with internationally less famous people involved.

One of Aftonbladet's (the biggest tabloid in Sweden) main columnists and a very vocal feminist is being outed as a serial rapist and sexual abuser of women. The youngest one only 14 at the time.

A female journalist has come out once again with her story, and this time naming the perpetrator, and as a result (so far, there will be many, many more) 4 other women has come out as well. They guy has long had a shady rumor of being tony Montana-ish fond of cocaine and apparently his behavior against women is a poorly kept secret among everyone who's worked with him and in media overall.

All this is now being exploited on social media

Not surprisingly mainstream media is struggling how to handling one of their own being ousted without losing credibility. Especially since they all knew and did nothing. So far he's not been named in mainstream media even thou they have no problem naming Weinstein, that Russian gymnast, lars von Trier or a number of politicians from the opposing block.  It's all crumbling around then as this guy is not the only one who has a bad rep at this particular paper. 

So far they are Bagdag Bobing  it hoping it will go away, or more likely are afraid of the dirt he might drop if they take their hand from him.

It is very very interesting to follow the panic they have when not being able to control the information flow thanks to "independent" sources and social media.

Edit: as and extra spice this particular paper has very close ties to the current Swedish government.

 

And as if that wasn't enough. The probably most famous TV-host in Sweden who's been a household name and hosted a home improvement show for more than 20 years is also coming under fire from tons of previous co-workers for being rasist, homophobic and a misogynist who have repeatedly used his fame and influence to behave like a pig. There are also albeit vague rape accusations against him.

This guy's behavior is also a poorly kept secret that "everyone" knows about, but no one has acted against in fear of losing their job. 

 

Sweden is a small country where everyone in the media knows each other and knows exactly everything about each other. It's also a place where mainstream media is struggling a bit with credibility so how they handle this will be very interesting. Especially since some of them are friends with these guys but have also built themselves up to be feminists and on the side of moral and right.

In my experience those who most claim to be or poses being very virtuous etc have tendency to be the opposite. Some game journalist who had been very ardent "male feminist" who basically behaved like stereotypical white knight is being prosecuted for posing as porn producer to have sex with women as "auditions" for porn he was supposedly producing.

These are not isolated cases, and there have been many many more utterly disgusting people who's been very "progressive" and "inclusive" and later being found out as pedos, for example.

I go to the gym 2-3 times a week, on one day I work on my arms (biceps, triceps etc) and chest. One day is for back, shoulders and abs and one day is just for the legs. Been going since late april, and slowly and steadily my performance has been going upwards. I try to keep 5-7 days rest every about 4-5 weeks, which seems to be working for me.

I've noticed that I haven't lost as much weight as I did in may, june and july, but my weist, chest etc have still slimmed down, muscle has probably replaced fat, which is a great thing.