The 2012 London Olympic mascots

[AhabsOtherLeg]

they've probably already got John Smeaton on standby the whole fortnight just for the cost of a few crates of Tennents Extra & all the fags he can smoke......



...counter-terrorism for the age of austerity...

That was probably the world's funniest terror attack, rivalled only by the underwear bombers.



This guy didn't get the same exposure as Smeaton even though he had to take time off work to let his foot mend. Smeaton recently ran as an MSP as part of a fringe party called the Jury Team. He kind of lost momentum when it became apparent that he didn't have any policies, or if he did, he didn't know what they were. Just saying, "We'll set aboot ye!" every couple of sentences wasn't enough to get him into Parliament.

His Hollywood career didn't really take off either:



Shame.

Didn't know about the Pedobear thing. Bloody hell. I remember when somebody sent in a cartoon Goatse (don't google it!)
to the BBC as a submission for the London Olympics logo, and the dozy buggers put it up on their website.

[Stephen Morgan]

Konqueror, man!?

[AhabsOtherLeg]

I just took that screencap from Google images. I didn't know what Konqueror was. Actually, still not sure that I do.

[82_28]

I just took that screencap from Google images. I didn't know what Konqueror was. Actually, still not sure that I do.

It's the stock KDE browser for GNU/Linux when you use KDE as your desktop interface. Good eye, Stephen. Ahab, this means nothing, btw. It's just a GUI flavor of Linux that uses the KDE UI.

[AhabsOtherLeg]

Ah, okay. Thanks 82_28. Wasn't sure if it was like TOR or whatever, where the mere fact of it's use basically guarantees illicitness or ciminality on the part of the user.

I'm still on Firefox and... I'm sorry... Vista.

[Stephen Morgan]

Plenty of non-criminals use Tor. But yes, Konqueror is the default web browser, and also file manager, in KDE, although I think newer versions have a different file manager and some versions have a different browser too, rekonq. Also, KDE tries to be compatible, so I think it's theoretically available on Windows too. I just happen to not like it.

I use Pentadactyl/Iceweasel on Crunchbang Linux, at present:

[Simulist]

Ah, okay. Thanks 82_28. Wasn't sure if it was like TOR or whatever, where the mere fact of it's use basically guarantees illicitness or ciminality on the part of the user.

I use Tor sometimes. Not for illicit or criminal purposes, but because sometimes my IP address isn't someone else's business.

My last (and only conviction) was for making an illegal right turn in 1986.

[Nordic]

Ah, okay. Thanks 82_28. Wasn't sure if it was like TOR or whatever, where the mere fact of it's use basically guarantees illicitness or ciminality on the part of the user.

I use Tor sometimes. Not for illicit or criminal purposes, but because sometimes my IP address isn't someone else's business.

My last (and only conviction) was for making an illegal right turn in 1986.

All turns to the right should be illegal.

[Stephen Morgan]

Ah, okay. Thanks 82_28. Wasn't sure if it was like TOR or whatever, where the mere fact of it's use basically guarantees illicitness or ciminality on the part of the user.

I use Tor sometimes. Not for illicit or criminal purposes, but because sometimes my IP address isn't someone else's business.

My last (and only conviction) was for making an illegal right turn in 1986.

All turns to the right should be illegal.

What about at roundabouts?

[AhabsOtherLeg]

I apologise for suggesting that Tor was inherently shady. It's not, but let's face it, many of it's users are.

When the Tories enact their "Spy On Absolutely Every Fucker In Every Way Possible All The Time For No Good Reason At All While Claiming To Be The party of Individual Liberty" laws, supported no doubt by Labour and the Lib Dems (it was Labour's idea originally) I will move to Tor or VPN or whatever. Somebody will have to advise me on the best course of action when the time comes. Otherwise I'll just go back to reading books (and having every book I take out of the library logged by F branch or whoever, like in the olden days).

[AhabsOtherLeg]

.
Be careful what you say online or in public about these Olympics, especially the torch, it seems the British state has gone insane again.

From the Shetlink forum:

On my usual stroll past the alehouses and and grog shops near the harbour, I chanced to overhear the most fascinating tale which I will now relate.
At the time of the Jubilee celebrations, it appears that someone in these isles wrote to a local news publication criticising the monarchy and it's role in the present day.The article was deemed suitable for publication and appeared in that journal.
However several days later, the letter writer's home was visited by two of Lerwick's finest who embarrassingly revealed that they had been sent by higher authority. Their mission was to enquire if the writer intended to disrupt any of the forthcoming Olympic Torch relay events !!!

And from Something Awful:

So, just found out the torch'll be passing through my town later on next month. I'll of course be there protesting it, possibly with water balloons. Planning on getting a giant banner with 'gently caress THE OLYMPICS' to get some attention, but does anyone know of any good leaflets that've been made by any Olympic protest groups to educate people on the true cost of the Olympics, and just how corrupt it is? If not, I'll probably mock some fliers up myself but I'm not that well equipped to do so, so if anyone else is inclined to I daresay that'd be a big help to other people protesting the torch.

If anyone else is in the north east, around Middlesbrough area and knows about anything going on or fancies getting something together, then PM me or reply here and I'll put my email up.

Follow-up post, after Special Branch had been round his house:

Basically, I got a call off my step-mother saying some police were at the house asking about me and could I come round, so I went, not sure what it was all about. When I got there there were two plain clothes officers in the living room. They told me not to worry but they need to talk, and asked if I recognised 'Jakabite'. I guessed what it might be, and they said they were here regarding that blah blah blah. They mainly at first focussed on the water bomb comment, which was fair enough I suppose, warning people away from actually technical assault.

The thing I found more uncomfortable (other than being tracked from on here, I'll talk more about that later) was when they talked about general protest. The first thing they said was that I was entitled to under the Human Rights Act, but then went on to say that it could cause a public disturbance and basically spent 15 minutes trying to convince me against it. In my case also, my own personal safety being put in danger from members of the public who support the Olympics was brought into it. I found that odd, since I didn't think many people liked it enough to beat the poo poo out of a 17 year old kid. It did come across as somewhat intimidating, intentionally or not. Among other things they also said how small the window of opportunity to be seen by media would be, and tried to paint it as pointless. They mentioned not wanting to 'cause embarrassment' to our borough.

They did enquire as to why I was so against the Olympics and I think they were trying to get a feel for my political views ('Would you consider yourself left wing?', 'Are you also anti-war?'). Whether this was harmless conversation or what I have no idea but I wasn't sure how it was relevant to any joke about water bombs, but whatever, I just wanted to answer their questions and go about my day really. They did have a little shot at convincing me it wasn't so bad but didn't pursue that one too long. They made some small talk about my hobbies, my future (and why I shouldn't ruin it with such silly things), and left, telling me they'd call before the day the torch passed our town and I was given a card.

That's about as comprehensive as I can remember; overall they mostly had quite a friendly demeanour, it wasn't like the SS had just broken in or anything, but I certainly felt...I dunno, a little intimidated I suppose, and I was quite nervous about saying anything on here, and wouldn't have if not for that story about the old guy, since they'd apparently been watching this site. As far as the surveillance aspect goes, it certainly made me uncomfortable to know I was being watched(just knowing my SA stuff links back to real life is unsettling), and the most saddening thing all in all was my parents' reaction to it. Rather than 'Jesus Christ that's weird', it was more 'You should know better that this is the world we live in.' It's played on my mind a lot.

I don't know how they tracked me, they wouldn't say although I did ask, but they did say the legislation came about from terrorism acts if anyone's interested. It's taken a lot to write this post, I really wasn't sure about it. I'm not really used to being 'in trouble' with the police so it shook me up a bit, like the big baby I am I suppose.

If anyone wants to ask anything I'll do my best to answer. Hi officers, if you're reading

E: Sorry for the long post, I'm sure this isn't that big a deal but it just felt good to properly write it down.

E2: Twisto, they mentioned my username and I never actually made the event, got quite a lot going on at the mo so wasn't sure if I was up for the responsibility, especially being so inexperienced and unsupported, so it was definitely from here.

Another case from Aberystwyth: http://andrewtindall.com/2012/05/27/sta ... -olympics/

And the case of Dave Coull: http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Angus/ ... visit.html

What's also interesting is that the Olympics are being used as a strengthening exercise for the Union of the UK state. The Saltire was banned from being flown at Hampden during Olympic football games, on the grounds that it is "political" - the IOC have since relented on that. A runner in Cornwall had his Cornish flag confiscated by the police, presumably for the same reason. Meanwhile in London:



There's absolutely nothing wrong with flying the Union flag, of course - it's a pretty cool flag as they go, with a very nice design - but even Mason O'Boyne might've considered that just a little bit over the top.

[2012 Countdown]

OT-

Anonymous, Occupy London and European Anarchists in London 2012 Olympics Plot
By Nicholas Edmondson | June 21, 2012
Fears are growing among police and security agencies that the London Olympics will be targeted by an alliance of European and British anarchist groups.
Officials believe that anti-austerity protest groups will focus on disrupting the games, which will provide a major platform for any protest message.

Italian protest group, the Informal Anarchist Federation (FAI) has made a clear threat to the games. On anarchist website 325.nostate, the FAI writes: "In the United Kingdom of clockwork control and domestication, we're some of the "unpatriotic ones" who find the 2012 Olympics, with the ensuing spectacle of wealth, frankly offensive.
"We have no inhibition to use guerrilla activity to hurt the national image and paralyse the economy, howeve we can. Because, simply, we don't want rich tourists, we want civil war."
The Anonymous hacking group has also signalled plans to disrupt the games, suggesting a large scale peaceful protest to show that "we will not be dictated to" and that "these streets are our streets".

Royal United Services research analyst Valentina Soria told the Guardian that the situation could "turn nasty" as certain anarchist groups will look to provoke a violent response from the police.
She said: "We have seen the anarchists in Italy supporting the Greek anarchists more recently and they may join anarchists already in the UK for some king of disruption of the Olympics."

The scale of the Olympic security effort has been well publicised, with a military presence of around 13,500 personnel protecting the capital, including the use of fighter jets and surface to air missiles.
Police and security personnel are braced for protests from groups both large and small as the eyes of the world turn on London for the games.
Occupy London protester Kerry-Anne Mendoza told the Evening Standard there is a plan for, "the greatest act of civil disobedience of our time' during the event.
Mendoza claims several protest groups will unite under the banner Reclaim London and use the Olympics as an opportunity for the "unheard majority".
Meanwhile parental rights group Fathers 4 Justice and other splinter groups have also promised disruption attempts.

The police have been granted additional powers to combat protests during the games, with clauses in the London Olympic Games and Games act 2006 seemingly giving officers the ability to seize placards and political posters and even enter private homes to seize protest materials.
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http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/35485 ... ympics.htm

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Occupy Olympics: Why Protesters Want to Disrupt the London Games
Seeking to build on public anger over the cost of the London Olympics, protest groups are making plans for marches and demonstrations to coincide with the games. The police, however, have warned that spectacles will not be tolerated.
By ANOOSH CHAKELIAN
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http://keepingscore.blogs.time.com/2012 ... z1ydzM1kuC

[AhabsOtherLeg]

Thanks for the info 2012. I never realised these games were so genuinely sinister. I mean, they brought in a whole raft of new laws more or less proscribing public protest altogether. They have ships on the river armed with massive LRAD arrays. Everybody is expected to join in uncritically. The torch passed quite near me at one point and it was very cheering to see the little kids out enjoying the event, with their Coca Cola flags and Royal Bank of Scotland balloons, watching the G4S security vans and Special Branch officers zooming by.

Apparently one of the Olympic mascots has revealed his true nature as well:

[barracuda]

Courtesy of Muse, we now have a nice totalitarian soundtrack for the London games:



I recommend playing it as you watch the gif provided by Ahab above. Perfect match.

[Stephen Morgan]

The torch came past here the other day. Decent crowd, with it being absolutely pissing it down all day. Had to lock my bike up somewhere different because I couldn't get across the road to where I normally put it. Bastards.