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Guest Blogger Lauredhel: "The Obese"
Kate Harding	Disability, Fat, Guest Bloggers	 November 16, 2008 November 16, 2008 3 Minutes
The awesome Lauredhel of Hoyden about Town wrote to us the other day and asked if we'd take on one of her pet peeves: using the phrase "the obese" to describe the entirety of fatkind. We explained that we are A) huge fans of hers, and B) a bunch of slackass losers, so if she wanted to see this topic on Shapely Prose, she'd just have to guest post. Fortunately for all of us, she obliged — and made some hilarious graphics, to boot. Thanks, Lauredhel! — Kate
By Lauredhel
People with disabilities have for quite a while been promoting "people-first" language to reinforce the simple, yet radical, notion that people with disabilities are people first, PWD second. "Diabetics" are people with diabetes; "disabled people" are people with disabilities; "wheelchair bound people" are people who use a wheelchair.
But before activists and advocates could move from this adjective-"people" format to "People with such-and-such-an-attribute", there was an earlier step. Getting rid of the monolithic mass noun. People with disabilities were typically labelled as a homogenised, Othered mass:
"The Blind", "The Retarded", "The Crippled", "The Wheelchair-Bound", "The Autistic", "The Handicapped".
Please don't get me wrong, here – even this basic linguistic change is nowhere near ubiquitous. Mass-noun terms for "The Disabled" continue their powerful hold over both everyday speech and formal labelling. And this is not the Oppression Olympics – I'm not comparatively evaluating the oppressions of PWD and fat people. (Coming from the intersection of both, I hope I have a touch of extra cred when I say this.)
But it's this deliberate language change process that springs to mind, for me, every time I see or hear "The Obese".
There's a resonance, here – and it's with horror-movie terminology. When I read "The Obese", I think "The Slitheen". The image of the Absorbaloff forces its way into my mind (why, Rusty, why?!). The Blob. Children of the Carbs. The Doughnutyville Horror, perhaps.
The Obese are constructed as a big ol' shuffling mob of zombies, out to accelerate global warming and eat babies and spread contagious fat to poor innocent citizens.
"Zombies", you say. "Isn't that just a little – hyperbolic, Lauredhel, hon?"
No. The actual term "walking dead" abounds for people of a certain size.
In the book Obesity, By Alexander G. Schauss, Schauss quotes a clinic director evaluating NFL players:
"The players who are at greatest risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke are the offensive and defensive linemen – they are the walking dead; they just don't know it."
Susan Powter's "The Politics of Stupid: The Cure for Obesity", pushing her diet-that-is-not-a-diet cure, talks about
"resurrection from the walking dead millions are "waking up" in daily".
People advocate calling fat children "the walking dead" to scare them into dieting.
The zombification and dehumanisation is internalised, too; repeated social messages are powerful things. A diet blog is dubbed "Dead Man Walking". A commenter on fat fu even called hirself "walking dead morbidly obese" – while mentioning that sie has been that way for thirty years.
And there's this, and this, and this.
The usage and context of the term "The Obese" bring home to us the fact that society thinks of fat people as a mob. A sinister, homogenised, shuffling, soulless mob. People who are fat are Othered, defined as something apart from normal. Our fatness is considered our key and defining characteristic; something that sets us apart from "regular people". Our bodies are foreign, and undesirable, and frightening. This attitude is dehumanising, deindividuating, and what's more, it gets on my wick.
I hope we as a people can start to take a leaf out of the book of the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, when they say:
What Do You Call People with Disabilities? [or fat people, or any other "kind" of people ~Lauredhel]
Men, women, boys, girls, students, mom, Sue's brother, Mr. Smith, Rosita, a neighbor, employer, coworker, customer, chef, teacher, scientist, athlete, adults, children tourists, retirees, actors, comedians, musicians, blondes, brunettes, SCUBA divers, computer operators, individuals, members, leaders, people, voters, Texans, friends or any other word you would use for a person.
(Cross-posted at Hoyden About Town.)
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58 thoughts on "Guest Blogger Lauredhel: "The Obese""
Hi Lauredhel,
Thanks for this post. I live at that intersection too — fatness and disability. I agree with everything you say about the term "the obese," and it's soooo good to read someone saying it. I'm so glad you wrote this!
I'm not sure I entirely agree about the word "disabled." What keeps popping up in my mind when I read the "people-first language" link is that, while of course we are people first, some of us ARE disabled, and would be so no matter what accessibilities were provided or what societal norms were changed. Of course this varies a whole lot — each person and situation is different. Some people currently considered disabled wouldn't be at all disabled if our soceity happened to be different. But some would. It's an odd issue, a little sketchy: people shouldn't be labeled "disabled" if and when that label is harmful, of course, but sometimes the word "disabled" describes a reality of my life that I don't want anyone to gloss over. Does that make sense?
I don't always have a problem with the word "disabled"; I care more about the tone and context, and how the word is used.
wellroundedtype2 says:
I was just thinking about a post about how the battle to use "people with diabetes" instead of "diabetics" was a fight I didn't want to give up on even though everywhere I turn it seems like a lost cause.
"Our fatness is considered our key and defining characteristic; something that sets us apart from "regular people". "
Is what gets me every time. I don't usually have high blood pressure, but I wouldn't like to have it measured after I hear that kind of language. It makes me lose my shit.
Our [fill in the blank] is considered our key and defining characteristic; something that sets us apart from "regular people." could really define so much of the dehumanizing we see in the vast hatered wasteland.
People with obesity? Yuck. But, at least it emphasizes the humanness of the subject.
Theriomorph says:
Lauredhel, bringing on the awesome. Children of the Carbs! *snort*
I think it was probably John Hockenberry's book 'Moving Violations: War Zones, Wheelchairs, and Declarations of Independence' that fully woke me to the capital-'A' Absurd in language about PWD – funny, funny, extremely funny writing as tough and smart as it is hilarious and cool. I still have the most enormous crush on him.
But this 'walking dead' thing is news to me, and not even hitting the Absurd button; how incredibly creepy that dehumanization is, as well as being offensive.
Also? Susan Powter scares me. I propose a Night of the Living Diet-coaches horror movie.
sannanina says:
The post is brilliant.
Also, because I am a terrible wiseacre I cannot resist mentioning that there is research that shows that noun labels (e.g., "the obese") activate the associated stereotype more strongly and inhibit alternative categorizations more strongly than adjective labels. For example, people will judge "the obese" as less likely to be also musical or intellectual than "obese people". I don't know if there is a difference between adjective and "person-first" labels, though.
You know, having just read a headline about "the disabled," I wonder how much headlines are to blame for shaping the language here. "The ___" makes sense when you're working with a limited number of characters (though it's no less objectionable). Did that sort of construction exist before headlines — or at least, before a set of rules for headline-speak had become common knowledge?
@Kate In a 140 character society where Twitter exists, THE OBESE and THE FEMINISTS and THE LEFT and THE WHATEVER will rule. There's no space for diversity or nuance in our society, anymore.
Great post! Lots to kick my brain back into gear.
I do wonder, though, about what the more acceptable term would be. I work with a diabetes program and I agree with wellroundedtype2, "people with diabetes" instead of "diabetics" is a constant struggle.
In my experience, public health professionals have a need to use official-scientific-sounding language to further justify their positions, programs, and in many cases, funding streams. While it might be possible to shift away from "the obese", is "people with obesity" really better? (Not that your post was suggesting this, I am just basing this on the other examples).
With all the push and hype to have obesity classified as a disease, that can then be treated (preferably with expensive meds) and incorporated into clinical practice guidelines, ad nauseum, is this parallel something that should be encouraged?
Um, I'm inspired by Kate's comment above to be clearer than I was before: I HATE the term "the disabled." What I don't always mind is the term "disabled people."
living400lbs says:
Indeedie. Not only this "The Obese" dehumanizing and monsterizing, but it minimizes the HUGE variation among fat people. When the nightly news flashes yet another news story about how many people are obese, they show pictures of someone like me (400lbs, 58-57-68) and give the impression that ALL fat people are my size. Yet the CDC publishes charts showing weight is a bell curve. One would think this means most fat people are much closer to the middle of the bell curve than me.
Oh, and ever notice most of those photos show people in t-shirts and sweats? Is it because suits or other "professional" clothing doesn't give the right impression?
This also makes a lot of sense, but I don't think I want to be called a "person with obesity," even though technically, I guess, I am. I'd rather be called a fat person. Well, I'd rather be called Eve, but you know what I mean.
vesta44 says:
I have called myself "the walking dead morbidly obese" many a time when commenting on blogs about obesity, mainly tongue-in-cheek because for the last 30 years of my life, doctors have been telling me I'm morbidly obese and will be dead in the next 5 years if I don't lose some of this "deadly" fat I'm carrying around. So, for me, it's a way to tell those who think that being 375 lbs is a death sentence that they are so full of shit, their eyes are brown. "Walking dead" my ass. In that 30 years, I've managed to raise my son alone, support myself most of the time without government help, take care of a home, go to college, work on cars, do home repairs, and the list goes on and on and on. So, if they think they are going to "other" me by calling me the "walking dead", I'm going to throw it right back in their faces that they don't have a fucking clue what they're talking about.
You asked, "Why, Rusty, Why?" on the Abzorbaloff. The Abzorbaloff was the creation of a nine-year-old boy who won a contest and actually originally wanted the monster to be the size of a double-decker bus. Now the next root cause question would be who at Blue Peter decided on the winner and why that boy and that monster? That I have not seen yet.
Great post, Lauredhel. And "Children of the Carbs" — BWAH!
Yeah, I always did think "The Obese" needed a BOOGABOOGABOOGA after it. We're coming to eat your children, when they're still donuttable babies, mwahahahah!
As far as terminlogy for myself and my fellow neurologically interesting folks is concerned, though, I'm not sure I want to be called a "person with Asperger's." Way too dry and clinical for my taste. I don't even like saying, "I have Asperger syndrome" all that much, because "syndrome" has way too much booga-booga in it for me, and I don't think of Asperger's as something I have, anyway, more like something I am. I always say, "I'm aspie." "The autistic," though…ew. If (neurotypical) people want to refer to me as being "with Asperger's," fine, I'll settle for that.
lauredhel says:
Rebecca: "I'm not sure I entirely agree about the word "disabled." "
Oh, I don't much mind "disabled person", when it's relevant, though I've come to prefer PWD – again, when it's relevant. It's "The Disabled" that I don't like. And again, people can self-label just fine! This post is about how the dominant group refers to the despised group, and the ways in which they use that language to dehumanise and stereotype.
tg: my "Why, Rusty, Why?" was about that entire episode from start to finish. The paving stone fellatio prison was the nadir of New Who, by an order of magnitude or so, and the Absorbaloff just added insult to injury. Bleagh.
Aerik says:
Wow. You're right. I'll be more aware of this in the future.
amandaw says:
Terminology around "fat" is a bit difficult to pin. Fat, overweight, obese? I don't think anyone is suggesting "person with obesity"; after all, not all fat people are "obese" ;)
I use PWD, disabled people, and "the disabled" all regularly and mostly interchangeably, but I also think context matters – a LOT. A commenter here calling hirself "fatty fat fat fatso," and hir doctor calling hir same, mean very, very different things. In the context of activism and advocacy, there is a wider range of available language, because we can reclaim those words or phrases as value-neutral or even positive.
Outsiders, otoh, should tread lightly. Speaking of the OBESE (dun dun dunnn) in the context of corn subsidies and physical education – yeah, that's more than a little Othering, transforming the very existence of a large group of people (a group of large people? :)) into a Crisis — the problem with which should be obvious.
I'd be interested to see what ideas yinz could come up with using the "person-first" philosophy — it doesn't seem to have been applied much to fat yet and I know there are some creative minds out there.
There's a doctor on the other side of the whole medical establishment from most of us here who proposes that obesity is when excess fatness interferes with health or quality of life. That still leaves plenty of room for the impact of stigma and the issue of we still don't know how to turn fat people into thin people (and probably never will — and even if we did, we don't know that those newly thin people would have any better health overall). But, there might be a way for people to self-identify as "fat and not seeking intervention" in a way that would let people know to back off. I don't know what language would be used — the fatosphere is all about sorting through that.
Maybe just self-identifying as fat is mind-blowing enough for many.
killedbyllamas says:
WRT2, "fat and not seeking intervention" is awesome. I don't have any ideas about self-identifying as such, but it's a great phrase/idea.
On a completely unrelated note, I just read this story on Yahoo, and my head is about to explode. Intersection of classism and fatphobia, much?
Killedbyllamas, that's a story written with absolutely no recognition of the social determinants of health.
Thalia says:
Killedbyllamas, I was wondering about that article, and was hoping someone here would write about it. It was just so offensive on so many fronts.
lauredhel, I don't think bad Dr. Who has ever been summed up quite as succinctly, or with such genius as these five words: "the paving stone fellatio prison." Shudder.
Saw this on the newsstand yesterday:
http://www.adbusters.org/cultureshop/backissues/80
Yeah blame fat people for all the overconsumption in the world, that's, like, soo counterculture and anti-mainstream! A photo of a headless, limbless fat man will sure show how smart we are!
Lazy ignorant skidmarks.
Milla says:
This is a brilliant editorial…
And VERY helpful for someone who writes about science and medicine like I do…
There is a tendency in medical writing to make people into their diseases and it irks me too.
It really touches me because growing up, while in school, I was called "the fat one " (la gorda, I went to school in Mexico City). For 12 years of my life I did not have a name. It was so incredibly damaging to my self-esteem.
I did not feel even human. How could I possibly think that I deserved anything other that the abuse I got and self-inflicted through EDs, smoking and promiscuity?
It took me 2 years before I learned to answer to my name again.
It took me close to 20 to believe and love myself.
Thank you for this one …
lauredhel: Sorry to have narrowed the scope of your statement! The — as you so brilliantly put it — "paving stone fellatio prison" really squicked me out and yes, it was the nadir!
LadyGrey says:
Ugh. Says a doctor in that Yahoo article, ""The undereducated don't know the value of [exercise]. They don't have the drive for it. There's a reason you're successful, you've got drive. The same is true for exercise," said Dannals. "
Translation: "You're dumb, you're poor, and you're fat, and it's all your own damn fault. Why can't everyone be more like me?" I'm not denying that doctors as a group do tend to be driven, in good and bad ways, but sometimes they act like they're the only ones in the world with any ambition and the only ones who work hard.
(My own type-A med student drive is pretty narrowly education-focused and doesn't seem to extend to exercise or housecleaning or many other areas where I am pretty chill).
Miriam Heddy says:
First off, I loooove close readings!!! My inner (and outer) rhetorician applauds this!
Also, wellroundedtype2:
How about "PWF"?
I'm a person with fat. I'm also a fat person. But I sort of like PWF, because it emphasizes that we *all* are people with fat, in varying amounts, just as we're people with skin, people with muscle, etc. etc. etc.
Interestingly, this is a movement that started in the late 80's when people with HIV (notice language) were sick of being called AIDS victims.
Milla – I get so frustrated with most science writers – esp. with HIV related stuff!!!
I don't mind being called an "obese person." The grammatical clumsiness of a "person with obesity" would bother me more than putting obesity in front of me being a person. Frankly cumbersome phrases are more offensive to me than adjectives being placed before my personhood. But I suppose that is a personal problem.
Frankly, I wish they everyone would just shut up about their obsession with people with more adipose tissue than they approve of.
It's going to be an unrealistic expectations kind of day.
Juliebean says:
You know those annoying little "memes" where you fill in the blanks about yourself and forward them to everyone you know? I just received one from a friend and under "Worst Fear", she put "getting fat". HER WORST FEAR IS *GETTING FAT*?!?! Above the death of her husband/children, dying in a plane crash, spiders, snakes, or fuzzy bunnies? She's scared of getting fat! So yes, I would say that puts Obesity at the Zombie level.
Sorry to be off-topic still, but the other reason I posted that article is that I take that shit personally. I grew up in WV (Charleston, not Huntington) and seriously, they do not get to call people from my state stupid because they don't have the time or resources to conform to someone's standard of health. Because you can totally pay for gym memberships and health insurance with freaking willpower and intelligence, dontcha know?
(disclaimer: I did in fact come from a very middle-class home, so I feel like the degree to which I am taking this personally without having experienced some of the conditions personally is a bit…privileged, perhaps. Feel free to smack me if it is.)
killedbyllamas, do you want to guest post about it? It would also be worth contrasting with the coverage of the healthiest city (Burlington, VT).
E-mail me if you're interested.
Sorry for perpetuating the threadjack, Lauredhel. Back on topic, y'all!
Sharl says:
~cackle~ Walking dead? Really?
~shuffles, arms held out in front of me~ doooouuuughnuuuuuuuts~
jasievangesen says:
"But I sort of like PWF, because it emphasizes that we *all* are people with fat, in varying amounts, just as we're people with skin, people with muscle, etc. etc. etc."
Miriam Heddy – LOVE this sentence! That one statement summed it up for me.
@La Di Da: I'm glad you mentioned that Adbusters' cover. I saw it last month and my immediate thought was "Kalle Lasn has jumped the shark". Granted, he may have jumped some time ago and I am slow on the uptake.
@ Miriam Heddy: I like PWF because if you let your brain work on that for half a second, it's forced to realize that *all* people fall under that category, literally. So it not only helps prevent othering but almost compels the person you're talking with to identify with you, which IMO is pretty cool.
Zen says:
Baaaaabyyyyyy….dooooonuuuuuuttttss…… *drool*
Kalle jumped the shark a long time ago, when the magazine was almost too depressing to read for about 3 years in a row. The headless fattie is, unfortunately, a step UP from a whole series of sexualized-dead-woman issues.
Which is too bad, he's a good designer and had a chance at starting a whole movement. It's like the post-2004-election depression that hit everyone I know hit him and he couldn't keep it out of the magazine.
(and thank you, fatosphere, for the phrase headless fattie. I wish I didn't have so many opportunities to use it.)
It's a logical extension of the many threads I've seen in the FA world about reclaiming the word "fat" as a descriptor.
Emmy says:
I was appalled by that yahoo article as well – I think the bits that stood out most were the line about 'drive' that you quoted and the harping on how many teeth people were missing, in a context that seemed to suggest fatness was the cause of all ills. Being fat makes your teeth fall out? News to me!
cbgrace says:
Last night I was watching TLC – wow, they have an obsession with obesity on that network. They had two hour long shows "Half-Ton Mom" and "Half-Ton Dad". Different families. They said there is a new catagory when it comes to obesity called the "super obese". There are something like 2 million Americans that fall into this catagory.
An excellent post… and a frustration I share (also being in the intersection)… but the question remains, does language follow culture, or does culture follow language?
Do we need to fix the language, and hope the culture tags along for the ride, or do we need to fix the perception that we are somehow less than human (while we are also apparently more than human, LOL) so that the language follows naturally?
I am fat, I have diabetes, and I live with chronic pain. These *are* defining characteristics of who I am, I can't deny that, or them, and still be who I am. They are not the *only* defining characteristics, but if we try to ignore the (pardon the cliche) elephant in the living room, he becomes the only thing we see. We must confront the elephant, and see him for what he is — just one tree in the forest.
monkey says:
I have a deep an abiding discomfort with people-adjectives used as nouns, especially for groups, regardless of whether they are considered "good" "bad" or "neutral". (ex. I really don't like the phrase "The Jews" or the use of "Jew" as a noun, similarly "gays". I much prefer "Jewish people/person", "gay people", etc. I feel like this is a particularly good example because the historical connection that can be drawn to what has happened in the past when people have been labeled by one characteristic above all else shows what part of the problem is.)
Part of my issue is just my grammatical preference for adjectives staying adjectives, but it also has to do with the fact that using any noun, other than "person" for a person makes that noun the most important thing (sometimes the only important thing) about that person, and also implies a certain sameness between everyone who shares that characteristic. (I can accept the necessity for the shorthand of man/woman/transman/transwoman/child/adult/teenager/etc. especially when it's a gender or age status label that is acceptable to the person themselves, it's not like I'm going around advocating we talk about, for example, "female people" all the time, but even those can be problematic, including because they do prioritize the gender or age status as a defining feature of the person, which may or may not be something that person feels is true.)
At least when you use an adjective it is much more clear that this is just one of many adjectives that could apply to this person (ex. short, fat, long-haired, blue-eyed, bisexual, female, Jewish, left-handed, etc.) and it happens to be the one that you've chosen at the moment but it doesn't mean that it's necessarily central to the person's existence, just that it's what's relevant at the moment.
Personally I prefer the adjective formation in almost all situations, except where there is none available that are not fraught with negative history, or just outright inappropriate (adjectives that are not value neutral, or that have to define themselves in opposition to some "normal" state of being, for example "disabled", are some of what I mean by inappropriate). I'm not at all saying that people should not be free to identify however they wish and I will absolutely defer to another person's choice to be "a person with/of _______" rather than "a _______ person" just that in situations where a suitable, non-insulting adjective is available, and where it is appropriate for me to be the one choosing terminology I will always go with the grammatical simplicity of the adjective-noun phrasing.
/ramblings of verbosity
monkey, I'm with you.
I'm glad that I'm 40, and I understand that while I might say I'm Jewish, I might prefer that someone who is not Jewish call me a Jewish person rather than a Jew, and what this means for how I use language for other people.
I am still uncomfortable using the word fat to describe myself and others verbally, because it's so easily taken out of context, especially in my professional life. PWF is cool. PWLOF (w/lots o fat) works for me too.
'PWLOF' – ROTFLMAO!
Btw, hasn't "person/people of size" attained some widespread recognition? That's the term I often use (commonly alternating between that and 'fat people') when referring to fat rights in an equity / human rights context.
iheartchocolat says:
I just wanted to comment on kate's dethread and killedbyllamas's comment….
killedbyllamas, do you want to guest post about it? It would also be worth contrasting with the coverage of the healthiest city (Burlington, VT)…..
i got really angry when i heard it on the way to work yesterday with the radio people making har har jokes because the healthiest city is in VT, and the unhealthiest is in southern WV. And, as WV is my home state, I just wanted to scream out, of course, that's going to be another WV joke… but really the study has 0 to do with income and opportunity does it? note my sarcastic typing voice.
iheartchocolat, killedbyllamas did indeed agree to guest post, and she's also a WV native, so look for that soon!
haha..thanks! i will be!
Bean says:
I had cancer and was treated with radiation therapy. Every time I went for a checkup I commented on the sign posted in every exam room about "breast patients." I also threatened numerous times to bring a sharpie pen and correct it. Not one health care provider got why it offended me (and I was not a "breast patient.") I had to explain it to them. The mental image I got from that sign was of breasts with legs. When I pointed out to a male radiation oncology fellow that he might feel differently if it was addressed to "prostate patients" and he said something about how they saw the "prostates" in the morning, I stopped going back.
P.S. Please no well-intentioned lectures on the importance of follow up visits, I still see my primary oncologist….
Bean basically said what I was about to say – I don't even like being called a "cancer patient" because that completely defines me and who I am by my current state of health (and not entirely accurately, since my pathology report came back clean…but I'm still in treatment). "Breast patient" would be way worse (particularly if you'd had a mastectomy). I am a person (FIRST) who happens to be in treatment for cancer.
Kimu says:
The article about "healthiest" and "least healthy" cities reminds me McCain's plan for rural health care, which seemed to come down to "fat kids need to exercise more". Um, OK. I'm willing to say all kids need to be free to exercise more (down with long-ass school days, excess homework, and the cultural thread of fear that kids allowed to enjoy unstructured time outside will be kidnapped instantly!)…but what does that have to do with rural health? You going to solve poverty, lack of access to health care services, substance abuse, and accidents by getting the kids on the Wii Fit? I don't think so.
If anything I would imagine rural kids get more exercise than city kids. Growing up in rural Michigan, I had no shortage of safe places to wander around and jump and climb trees and stuff. Kids who live in the city don't have that, necessarily.
Enomis says:
One of the things that has always grated on me is a term I heard after a friend of mine became a high school teacher: "The Behaviourals." That's what the teachers call students who are regularly disruptive in class. Students with behavioural issues are not just their behaviour. This type of language really causes teachers to devalue the students and contributes to them being seen as lost causes in the educational system.
In the same vein, I think that calling fat people "the obese" (I prefer "fat people," as a result of rigorous mental reconditioning by the fatosphere) gives the medical establishment a reason to write us off. The mentality is that fat people are just frickin fat, and just don't change, goddamnit! Why even bother trying to help them anymore? (If only they would acknowledge the REAL reasons why we continue being fat, despite their lectures, warnings, admonitions, guilt trips, drugs, surgeries, etc., they would stop trying to be so *helpful*.)
I have never liked the term obese. It implies very fat bodies are riddled with diseases and we're ready to keel over at any moment. It's like obese is the new leprosy.
I swear this is my last comment today. I SWEAR.
Bree:
I saw your comment and I thought of this, which made me sad and angry, because usually I like The Onion:
Umm…aren't we all "the walking dead?" Seriously. Every single one of us is going to die someday, of something…yes, even thin people.
Someone should give those poor folks who think they're cheating death because they're not obese a heads up. It doesn't really work that way.
wriggles says:
Jew; Jewish person, gay; gay person, fat; fat person.
When it comes to 'person of size', you can count me out thanks.
Manna says:
The idea of 'person with obesity' becoming widespread has just given me a new piece of language to hate with a passion.
I don't think the world at large needs any more encouragement to see 'obesity' as a disease, and that's what that construct does. If we have to settle for using 'obesity' at all, let's at least position it with the adjectives, where there's a slight hope for neutrality. I'd rather just not use it at all, though. I don't want my natural body shape labelled as an illness, thanks.
(Person of size…just sounds weird to me. Like, it implies the existence of people without size.)
" I don't think anyone is suggesting "person with obesity""
Just to make things perfectly clear, I wasn't pushing for that terminology in this post. I thought that was fairly obvious from the final quote box, but maybe it wasn't! Sorry.
Mary H says:
I'm writing this with the caveat that I recognize that this is a deeply emotional issue for many, and the reassurance that I respect your personal experience and your views. A rant warning is probably indicated here, since as a primarily egg-head rather than feeling person, I just don't understand caring what neutral people call you when they clearly intend no insult.
I've been frustrated for twenty years in my social work career with the notion that if we change the name of a stigmatized group every five years, the stigma will disappear because people are too stupid to notice the names changed, and not the hated people in the group. Hint: nearly all of the "bad names" for people with Developmental Disabilties are former clinical terms adopted in whole or part to reduce the stigma aimed at them.
We need to change stigma and not names. Changing names just sprays air freshener when the toilet hasn't been flushed, as far as I can see.
Nobody thinks we need to call "the hockey players" or "the volleyball players" or "the authors" PEOPLE WHO…play hockey, play volleyball, write books. This is because they are neutral groups. Most people don't revile them, and there's no world wide moral panic or scape-goating of these groups.
Referring to me as a "person with asthma" or "person with depression" or "person with physical limitations" instead of a physically disabled person, or a depressive or an asthmatic does not make me a different type of person. It doesn't change the neutrality of asthma, or the stigma associated with both psychiatric and physical disabilities. It just takes longer to say. And I must say that "People with fat" has a ring to it, though I prefer fat person/people myself.
I hasten to add that I just ASK individual people how they like to be referred to, and then refer to them that way. Some of my graduate classmates (whom naturally I usually call by name) prefer African American, some Black, some Women or Men or People of Color, some just don't care. I had one prof who said he "missed Negro, it had a dignified sound and was ONE word." (Emphasis his, though I heartily agree with respect to terms applied to me.)
I can tell when somebody intends to insult me, their descriptors of me don't really matter. "Person with asthma" can be sneered in a disrespectful tone just as easily as "asthmatic" or even "wheeezebag." My 1970's report card comments calling me "very creative" were not praises – they were code for "odd."
And don't even get me STARTED on the word "persons" replacing "people." What the FUCK? What's wrong with the word "people"? Persons seems like fakey business lingo to me – like "utilize" instead of "use." Or "gifting" instead of "giving."
Okay, mildly drunk 40-something is heading to bed in a huff of elderly crabbiness. You kids get off my lawn!


Switch the Nokia E7-00 off and then on again to activate the settings.
If the MMS is successful, you will receive a confirmation within a few minutes. Check the messages inbox of your Nokia E7-00 if you have received the MMS.


Over 100 religious leaders from across North America and hundreds of university students gathered at the Grand Event Center in Long Beach for the 2014 Religious Leaders Peace Conference, hosted by the international non-profit organization Heavenly Culture, World Peace and Restoration of Light (HWPL).
The mood of the conference was united and hopeful as religious leaders unanimously signed the HWPL Peace Treaty, a pledge to cease conflict among religious groups and establish a relationship to work together for peace. Among those who signed was Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, Director of the Islamic Society of Orange County.
The program also featured a guest panel discussion, a time of united prayer for all faiths, and a finale performance of youth and religious leaders singing hand-in-hand for peace.
Speaking at the conference was a guest panel of influential religious leaders including Dr. Uma Mysorekar, president of the Hindu Temple Society of North America, Mr. Matthew Ball, director of Public Affairs, Northwest Area for the Church of Latter-Day Saints, Imam Shamshi Ali, Former Imam of the Islamic Culture Center of New York and named one of the "most influential religious leaders in New York City" by New York Magazine, and Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism. Joining them were also representatives of different faiths including Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism, Baha'i, Candomble, and more. Chairman of HWPL peace advocate Man Hee Lee delivered the keynote speech.
The conference was a part of Chairman Lee's 9th World Tour to speak with religious and political leaders.
Inca people and was given the honor of performing the White Rose Peace Ceremony in the Palacio Nacional de la Cultura in Guatemala City, Guatemala. This is a tradition signifying peace that has been performed by the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in 2001 and the Dalai Lama in 2004.
Many of the leaders that peace maker Man Hee Lee has met have expressed their commitment to attend and promote HWPL's upcoming event, the World Alliance of Religions for Peace Summit in Seoul, South Korea. The summit, taking place this fall, is an international conference to gather religious leaders for peace.
"Our deepest hopes, based on the promises recorded in the holy writings of our spiritual traditions, are set on life in a paradise of peace. In order to achieve this, we must be willing to let go of the old things that only serve to divide us, and embrace the will of God for peace," said peace maker Man Hee Lee.


Fry the vegetables for 5 minutes add salt while frying till they become light brown.
Dip bread pieces in water and take them out immediately.
Squeeze the water and mix the bread with the vegetables and other spice powders to form a dough.
Shape them into small cutlets and shallow fry in 3-4 tsp of oil till golden brown on both sides.
I added some boiled and mashed potato and some cornflour to the mixture. The bread cutlets turned out crisp after frying. Thanks.
tasty and easy. love it.
Most of the food which we enjoy and take for granted. They seem simple until one attempts. When we realize that the ingredients measurement and the process was wrong, then we realize that, that food preparation was amazing and fascinating. Thank you Vinod and due respect to all the other recipe contributors for sharing tasty, simple, amazing, fascinating recipes that they share and make a lot of effort to bring it to all of us.
Most your recipes are Ok sorta nothing that amazing and fascination that make one go gaga over it.
Thanks it is easy and tasty my child liked it.


Kibri (BSc, PGDip, MSc, A.Inst.FHP) is a health professional with a rich academic background and over six years qualified experience, with comprehensive expertise in patient care and treatment.
"After I graduated in Podiatry from Florence University I decided to do postgraduate studies in lower limb biomechanics at Barcelona University in order to understand how the human body works in motion. This made me want to better understand how the human posture works so I then did a Masters in Posturology, also at Barcelona University.
She is an associate member of the Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists and is registered with HCPC (registration number CH33395).
I have been receiving a chiropody treatment at Ashlins for general maintenance of my feet. It has helped me with corns and hard skin , the treatment was great and the information I received was very useful.
I had an appointment today for a chiropody treatment to help with general things and I found the treatment most beneficial. Kibri was warm and welcoming, while carrying out the treatment in a professional and competent way; I felt pampered.
I came in to see Kibri about the weakening of both feet as well as my posture, I found the treatment great and the information she gave me very useful.
If you have enjoyed a massage with Kibri please leave a review.


Carrington Associates responded in a big way to the national Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on May 12. Launched in 1994 by the National Association of Letter Carriers, the drive collects donated nonperishable food items to help those suffering from food instability. This time of year also sees shortages at community food banks and local food pantries, and these donations help restock shelves.
Gonzalo Gonzales, Jean Penaloza, and Alfonso Bravo of the Irvine CRES office (pictured below) spearheaded their location's successful effort to take part in the food drive and donated over 15 cases of food to a local food bank. Other offices participating and their organizers: Aliso Viejo, CA, headed up by Julie Beamish; Ashburn, VA, by Usha Cheriathundam; Rancho Cucamonga, CA, by Sandy Johnson; St. Louis, MO, by Ashley Rassmussen; and the Ohio CRES office by Alicia Garner.
We're still totaling the number of cans and boxes donated by Associates so far, and Sandy Johnson in Rancho Cucamonga is accepting donations until Thursday, May 31. The need is always there, so if you want to donate to the cause, you can give online at givehealthy.org.


text:
Writing #Kidlit for Children's Magazines
This is the handout for the SCBWI New Mexico Shoptalk on Writing for Children's Magazines.
Explore the Magazine Markets:
MagazineMarkets for Children's Writers
Children'sWriters and Illustrator's Market – on sale right now for $7.50!
The SCBWI "Magazine Market Guide" is in The Book, included with membership
Get magazine samples at your library, school, or house of worship; requests sample copies from the publisher; visit publishers' web sites – many have online samples.
Lists of children's magazines w/links to websites:
http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/childrens/kidsmags.html
http://blog.allaboutlearningpress.com/magazines-for-kids/
http://www.world-newspapers.com/children.html
Analyze magazines for content and style:
The cover and tagline: what is the magazine's focus?
The table of contents:
Are many articles written by one person? Is that person listed in the masthead as staff?
Are there regular departments? Who writes these?
This page may include submission guidelines.
What types of stories/articles does it use? Be as specific as possible (fiction genres, nonfiction topics, types of activities. For recipes, are they healthy, fun to look at, etc.).
Does everything relate to one theme?
What is the breakdown of fiction, nonfiction, activities, and regular departments?
How long are most pieces?
How are pieces illustrated? What kind of sidebars do they use, if any?
Does the magazine use advertising? What kinds of products are advertised? (This can give you insight into reader interest, and the magazine's goals.)
Study several stories or articles. Are they geared toward girls, boys, or both? What age range? What can you tell about the magazine's style? Is it wholesome or edgy? Is it focused on health, history, science, religion, or celebrity gossip?
Appropriate ideas:
What kind of stories or article would your target magazine want? Either start by figuring out what topics the magazine might like, or write down a list of your hobbies and interests, and then check which ones might fit that magazine. Keep the focus narrow. Then ask:
Is this appropriate for the magazine's readership age? Will they understand and be interested in the topic?
Can I write this story or article within the magazine's word limits? Do I need to focus it more?
What is the theme (message) of my story? What will readers take away from my article?
Why would the reader be interested?
The Parts of an Article or Story for Children.
· A catchy title. The best titles hint at the genre or subject matter.
· A dramatic beginning, with a hook. A good beginning:
grabs the reader's attention with action, dialogue, or a hint of drama to come
sets the scene
indicates the genre and tone (in fiction) or the article type (in nonfiction)
has voice
· A solid middle, which moves the story forward or fulfills the goal of the article.
Fiction should focus on plot that builds to a climax, and character development, ideally involving a change in the character as he/she learns the lesson of the story.
An article should focus on information directly related to the main topic. It should be organized in a logical way, with transitions between subtopics. The tone should be friendly and lively, not lecturing. Unfamiliar words should be defined within the text, or in a sidebar.
· A satisfying ending that wraps up the story or closes the article. Endings may circle back to the beginning. The message should be clear here, but not preachy.
· Bonus material: An article or even a story may use sidebars, crafts, recipes, photos, etc. to provide more value.
· For nonfiction, include a bibliography with several reliable sources.
Types of articles:
Profile/Interview
Current Events/News/Politics
Popular Culture/Fashion/Lifestyle
History/Culture/Multicultural Issues
Nature/Animal/Pets
Inspirational/Religious
Health/Nutrition/Fitness
Sports/Hobbies
Education/Parenting/Family
The series What Your _X_ Grader Needs to Know, for each grade level, can help identify appropriate topics for each grade level.
Common Core State Standards Initiative provides links to all the CCSS standards.
Core Knowledge Sequence: Content and Skill Guidelines for Preschool-Grade 8 is available as a free download.
Microsoft Word: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level - Search for "display readability statistics" in the Help menu.
LEXILE: http://www.lexile.com/ (You sign up but it's free.)
Lexile with word highlights: http://www.lextutor.ca/vp/eng/
ATOS for Books analyzer: http://www.renlearn.com/atos/analyze.aspx?type=1 (also free)
Children's Writer's Word Book
Chris Eboch's novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure; The Genie's Gift, a middle eastern fantasy; and the Haunted series, about kids who travel with a ghost hunter TV show, which starts with The Ghost on the Stairs. Her writing craft books include You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers, and Advanced Plotting. Learn more at www.chriseboch.com or her Amazon page.
Chris's book Advanced Plotting helps writers fine-tune their plots. You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers offers an overview on writing for young people. Learn how to find ideas and develop those ideas into stories, articles, and books. Understand the basics of character development, plot, setting, and theme – and some advanced elements, along with how to use point of view, dialogue, and thoughts. Finally, learn about editing your work and getting critiques.
Chris offers critiques of picture books/short stories/articles up to 1500 words for $40. Novel critiques are $2 per page (standard double-spaced manuscript format; minimum $100). Get details and recommendations at www.chriseboch.com/newsletter.htm.
Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance involving outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. In Counterfeits, stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town. Whispers in the Dark features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. What We Found is a mystery with strong romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the woods. The Mad Monk's Treasure follows the hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. In The Dead Man's Treasure, estranged relatives compete to reach a buried treasure by following a series of complex clues.
Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. Sign up for Kris Bock newsletter for announcements of new books, sales, and more.
Labels: writing for magazines

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The "Ensemble Chamäleon" was formed around the nucleus of a piano trio in 1990 and offers the attractive possibility of giving performances with the appropriate timbre within a programme of variable formation - hence the name Chamäleon.
The aim of the ensemble is to perform valuable chamber musical literature in an unusual combination of the known and the unknown, the new, or to offer a reacquaintance with the old. Particular care is taken with the design of the programme: every concert is coherent and not dependent upon a fixed ensemble instrumentation. The ensemble has already performed in Switzerland and abroad, including tours in the USA. A CD with works by Paul Juon (Gallo CD 876) is available.


Unless you're a blinds kind of person, you have to change your curtains every few years. Fabrics get dirty with grime and dust and wear out after regular use. What's more is that since curtains are used to keep out the sun, they bear the entire brunt of the sun and get faded.
When you change your curtains do look into factors like sun exposure and if it's washable, thickness of the fabric etc… when you head out to buy new ones. We all make mistakes when buying curtains. We buy ones that don't fit correctly or even those that do not provide enough protection from the sunlight.
The most important thing about buying curtains or its cloth is to get the measurements right. How often have we gone back to the store for more material or even exchange the ones we've bought just because they don't fit our doors or windows? Make sure you take the right measurements to spare you the extra trips to the home furnishing store.
Long curtains are used to make a room feel larger. When we view curtains that extend from the ceiling to the floor, we envisage a huge room. So keep the rods up high.
Curtains have to touch the floor, with the exception of those in the kitchen or maybe those in the kid's bedroom. If you can't find the right size, buy a larger size and shorten it to suit your needs.
Curtains look ugly when they are hung with our ironing. Ironing them reduces the wrinkles and gives your house a polished look. After all, one of the reasons you purchased fancy curtains was to make your house look beautiful, so why hang them up in a shabby state?
If you want to make your home look wonderful don't forget to avoid these mistakes you're doing when it comes to your curtains.


text:
/*
$Revision: 1.2 $
$Date: 2007-04-10 22:32:41 $

*/

package org.rti.webgenome.service.io;

import java.io.File;
import java.util.List;

import org.rti.webgenome.util.FileUtils;

import junit.framework.TestCase;

/**
 * Tester for RectangularFileReader.
 * @author dhall
 *
 */
public final class RectangularFileReaderTester extends TestCase {

    // =================================
    //      Constants
    // =================================

    /**
     * Path (relative to classpath) to directory containing
     * test files.
     */
    private static final String TEST_DIRECTORY =
        "org/rti/webgenome/service/io/rectangular_file_reader_test_files";

    /**
     * Test method getHeadings() on a CSV file.
     *
     */
    public void testGetHeadingsCsv() {
        File file = FileUtils.getFile(TEST_DIRECTORY, "normal.csv");
        RectangularFileReader reader = new RectangularFileReader(file);
        List<String> headings = reader.getColumnHeadings();
        assertEquals(3, headings.size());
        assertEquals("b", headings.get(1));
    }

    /**
     * Test method getHeadings() on a tab-delimited file.
     *
     */
    public void testGetHeadingsTxt() {
    	File file = FileUtils.getFile(TEST_DIRECTORY, "normal.txt");
        RectangularFileReader reader = new RectangularFileReader(file);
        reader.setDelimiter('\t');
        List<String> headings = reader.getColumnHeadings();
        assertEquals(3, headings.size());
        assertEquals("b", headings.get(1));
    }

    /**
     * Test method getColumn(int) on a CSV file
     * with some empty fields.
     *
     */
    public void testGetColumnCsvEmptyFields() {
    	File file = FileUtils.getFile(TEST_DIRECTORY, "empty_fields.csv");
        RectangularFileReader reader = new RectangularFileReader(file);

        // First column
        List<String> col = reader.getColumn(0);
        assertEquals(4, col.size());
        assertEquals("a1", col.get(0));
        assertEquals("a2", col.get(1));
        assertEquals("", col.get(2));
        assertEquals("a4", col.get(3));

        // Second column
        col = reader.getColumn(1);
        assertEquals(4, col.size());
        assertEquals("", col.get(0));
        assertEquals("b2", col.get(1));
        assertEquals("b3", col.get(2));
        assertEquals("", col.get(3));

        // Third column
        col = reader.getColumn(2);
        assertEquals(4, col.size());
        assertEquals("c1", col.get(0));
        assertEquals("", col.get(1));
        assertEquals("c3", col.get(2));
        assertEquals("", col.get(3));
    }

    /**
     * Test method getColumn(int) on a tab-delimited file
     * with some empty fields.
     *
     */
    public void testGetColumnTxtEmptyFields() {
    	File file = FileUtils.getFile(TEST_DIRECTORY, "empty_fields.txt");
        RectangularFileReader reader = new RectangularFileReader(file);
        reader.setDelimiter('\t');

        // First column
        List<String> col = reader.getColumn(0);
        assertEquals(4, col.size());
        assertEquals("a1", col.get(0));
        assertEquals("a2", col.get(1));
        assertEquals("", col.get(2));
        assertEquals("a4", col.get(3));

        // Second column
        col = reader.getColumn(1);
        assertEquals(4, col.size());
        assertEquals("", col.get(0));
        assertEquals("b2", col.get(1));
        assertEquals("b3", col.get(2));
        assertEquals("", col.get(3));

        // Third column
        col = reader.getColumn(2);
        assertEquals(4, col.size());
        assertEquals("c1", col.get(0));
        assertEquals("", col.get(1));
        assertEquals("c3", col.get(2));
        assertEquals("", col.get(3));
    }

    /**
     * Test method getColumn(int) on a CSV file
     * with truncated rows (lines).
     *
     */
    public void testGetColumnCsvTruncated() {
    	File file = FileUtils.getFile(TEST_DIRECTORY, "truncated.csv");
        RectangularFileReader reader = new RectangularFileReader(file);

        // First column
        List<String> col = reader.getColumn(0);
        assertEquals(4, col.size());
        assertEquals("a1", col.get(0));
        assertEquals("a2", col.get(1));
        assertEquals("a3", col.get(2));
        assertEquals("a4", col.get(3));

        // Second column
        col = reader.getColumn(1);
        assertEquals(4, col.size());
        assertEquals("b1", col.get(0));
        assertEquals("b2", col.get(1));
        assertEquals("", col.get(2));
        assertEquals("b4", col.get(3));

        // Third column
        col = reader.getColumn(2);
        assertEquals(4, col.size());
        assertEquals("c1", col.get(0));
        assertEquals("", col.get(1));
        assertEquals("", col.get(2));
        assertEquals("c4", col.get(3));
    }

    /**
     * Test method getColumn(int) on a tab-delimited file
     * with truncated rows (lines).
     *
     */
    public void testGetColumnTxtTruncated() {
    	File file = FileUtils.getFile(TEST_DIRECTORY, "truncated.txt");
        RectangularFileReader reader = new RectangularFileReader(file);
        reader.setDelimiter('\t');

        // First column
        List<String> col = reader.getColumn(0);
        assertEquals(4, col.size());
        assertEquals("a1", col.get(0));
        assertEquals("a2", col.get(1));
        assertEquals("a3", col.get(2));
        assertEquals("a4", col.get(3));

        // Second column
        col = reader.getColumn(1);
        assertEquals(4, col.size());
        assertEquals("b1", col.get(0));
        assertEquals("b2", col.get(1));
        assertEquals("", col.get(2));
        assertEquals("b4", col.get(3));

        // Third column
        col = reader.getColumn(2);
        assertEquals(4, col.size());
        assertEquals("c1", col.get(0));
        assertEquals("", col.get(1));
        assertEquals("", col.get(2));
        assertEquals("c4", col.get(3));
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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text:
Leaving Las Vegas: The World's Greatest Gambling Cities
Gambling has been a permanent feature of human civilization since the dawn of time, and even today, archaeologists continue to find evidence of organised gaming in dusty, ancient settlements across the globe. Gambling meccas – that is, cities where the gambling scene is a distinctive and key part of the cultural life there – are a relatively recent phenomenon. While the bright lights of Las Vegas are undoubtedly an icon of 20th century gambling and excess, things have changed since then, and the centre of gravity has moved further afield. Here's a round-up of some of the bets cities for gambling in 2018.
If the last 10 years have shown us anything, it's that Asia knows how to taking casino gaming to a whole new level. Casinos are a relatively recent development for this super-wealthy city state off the coast of Malaysia, but since the opening of the iconic Marina Bay Sands resort a few years back (yup, the one with that infinity pool), high-stakes gambling has become a central tenet of Singaporean nightlife. The luxury resort's sprawling casino is open to all, and includes the single biggest casino lobby in the entire planet, as well as over 2,500 dedicated games rooms, and even several nightclubs and swimming pools onsite. Since this mega-casino raised the bars, others are following suit, with several other planned casinos now in the pipeline for this tropical island. The gaming on other in SG undoubtedly makes for one of the classiest casino experiences on Earth.
The British capital is known for a lot of things; royalty, diversity, history and fine dining, but casinos don't tend to feature of London travel guides. Why this remains a mystery, as London has one of the most diverse casino scenes in the world, with roots stretching all the way back to the 17th Century. While the most interesting experiences tend to be found in the highly exclusive traditional casinos which dot the elite enclaves of Chelsea, Westminster and Knightsbridge, the public casinos of London are equally raucous places, and highly welcoming to outsiders. The casinos of London stand out in their competitiveness in attracting new players with valuable bonuses, much like how online casinos these days offer free spins no deposit deals, meaning that any newcomer to London eager to start playing won't have to look to hard to find some free perks to get them started. You'll find all types of gambler in London's ornate casinos, in a way that reflects the diversity of this global melting pot.
Perhaps some of the gambling fans among you saw this one coming, given the attention Macau has received in the press ever since it firmly dislodged Las Vegas as the global centre of gambling a few years back. With bigger casinos, bigger prizes, and more world-class venues than any other cities on Earth by a country mile, the crown for best gambling city in 2018 still firmly remains with Macau.
More and more cities on every continent are continuing to relax their own gaming laws, so it will be interesting to see which other metropolises rise through the ranks in the years to come.


text:
Footiebusiness
Closing the Book
RT @LatinoSportsGuy: Push for Las Vegas @MLS team intensifies as deadline approaches fox5vegas.com/sports/push-fo… via @fox5vegas 1 day ago
RT @latimessports: Mexican striker Chicharito Hernández gave his first official interview as a member of the @LAGalaxy to columnist @dylano… 1 day ago
RT @MLS_Buzz: Median squad values in leagues in North/South America: 🇲🇽Liga MX: $40.2m 🇧🇷Serie A: $39.7m 🇦🇷Superliga: $33.3m 🇺🇸🇨🇦MLS: $24.… 1 day ago
RT @byIanThomas: .@MLS is officially launching its partnership with @DrinkBODYARMOR today. 19 clubs across MLS will also have team-level d… 1 week ago
RT @kbaxter11: .@USMNT, as a precaution. has decided to relocate its January training camp, scheduled to start Sunday, from Qatar following… 2 weeks ago
Connecticut Sports Law
US Soccer Daily
WV Hooligan
Yanks Are Coming
Soccer business news
Forbes MLS Team Valuations
MLS player salaries
DuNord
SoccerBlogs.net
Expansion and Stadiums
Marketing in New England: Interview with Revs COO Brian Bilello
Posted on February 3, 2011 by Ben Berger
Earlier this week, we posted our Q&A with Timbers VP of Marketing Cory Dolich. Today, we were fortunate to have Revs COO Brian Bilello answer some questions about the Revs marketing strategies and efforts. The Revs have really amped up their online presence in the last couple of years and have started to aggressively use Twitter as a marketing tool. Also, their new blogger initiative is very innovative and should provide a great forum for fans to connect with their team. We last chatted with Mr. Bilello in April of 2009. A copy of that interview is here. Thanks to Mr. Bilello.
Footiebusiness.com: In a recent interview with the Sports Business Journal, you discussed the Revs' decision to credential independent bloggers in 2011. What is the motivation behind that decision? Do you believe this will help the team better connect with its fans? What will qualify a blogger for a credential?
Brian Bilello: In terms of team communication, we're always exploring ways to better inform, entertain and service our fans. During the past few years, social media has opened new avenues for bloggers to increase their reach to fans. In our case, they can tweet an entry with #Revs or post it on our Facebook wall and have it seen by tens of thousands of Revolution fans. Given that bloggers now have this larger promotional platform, they are reaching more and more fans and becoming greater influences in the soccer community. We feel it's important to help them get accurate information about the team, so that has been the basis for this new initiative. In terms of qualifying, we'll be looking to first credential those who have existing blogs and who regularly write content. It will be somewhat of a work in progress as we get into the season and we launch the program. But as you can imagine, we won't be able to credential 100 bloggers, so we may have to create a new accreditation process at some point.
FB: Similarly, how are the Revs utilizing social media? Some teams are aggressively relying on Twitter, posting frequent training camp updates, linking to blog posts about the team and providing teasers about signings and ticket promotions, while others have been slower to adopt the technology. You are currently on Twitter as are members of the team's communications staff. How do you anticipate the team using Twitter and Facebook going forward? Does the team have a policy on players using Twitter?
BB: In terms of Twitter and other social media tools, we're going to continue to use them to update fans on the team, website content and events and give fans some snippets from behind the scenes. For me personally, it is a great way of getting real-time updates on soccer news as I follow all the relevant writers so when Kyle McCarthy or Grant Wahl post an article, I can see it right away. I also like the ability to be able to reach out to fans directly when they have questions about the team.
We don't yet have any formal policies as they pertain to Facebook and Twitter with players. They are individuals and are, of course, free to do whatever they like, but we are in the process of creating suggested usage guidelines to help them navigate social media. That being said, we continually emphasize that commenting on Twitter or Facebook is the practically same as making an on-the-record statement to a reporter, so they need to be careful as to what they post or say.
FB: With respect to ticket promotions, last year the Revs used Groupon to sell more than 2,500 tickets to the Revs/Seattle game. Do you anticipate using Groupon in 2011? Is it possible to identify how many purchasers of that opportunity will become repeat visitors to Revs games? Does the team view that promotion as a success? Should fans expect other game day promotions in 2011?
BB: We're certainly looking to work with Groupon again in 2011 but we're have to be careful not to devalue our tickets through vehicles like this. As a one-off, it's nice to be able to give fans a free t-shirt or other value-added amenity, but I don't think it makes a lot of sense to just start throwing such significant discounts out on a regular basis. There is no direct method of tracking GroupOn purchasers since they are fairly protective of their lists. (After all, that list is their business.) However, we used other incentives in the stadium that night to encourage them to sign up for our newsletter, so could communicate with them directly about the team and upcoming games. That promotion was certainly a success and we are looking at more promotions in 2011.
FB: What is the Revs rate of season ticket renewal for 2011? Will the team announce its final season ticket numbers at some point during the season? What do the Revs offer as season ticket incentives?
BB: At this point we are at 82% with about two months to go in the process. Given past results, that will likely put us among the top 2-3 teams in the league for renewal percentage. That's also off of a base that is essentially the median for the league.
We really try to provide our Season Ticket Holders the best service and benefits in the league, and this year especially they have rewarded us by coming back strong. Given our performance on the field last year, the success with our Season Ticket Holders renewals really speaks to the hard work done by our customer service team throughout the year. We offer a long list of benefits, including several exclusive STH events with owners, players and coaches, a dedicated parking lot, early stadium entry, discounts on additional tickets and pre-sale opportunities to events at Gillette Stadium (international soccer games, concerts, Patriots games, etc.), not to mention a great discount on their Revolution tickets versus face value. Ultimately, I look at our renewal success this year as a leap of faith by our Season Ticket Holders that we're going to be better on the field. Now it is our job to reward them for that faith.
FB: Finally, Commissioner Garber announced in November that a number of teams will announce jersey sponsors for 2011. The Revs are one of the few remaining teams that have never had a jersey sponsor. Do you view that as a lost revenue opportunity over the past few years? Do you anticipate the Revs joining the list of teams with a jersey sponsor in 2011?
BB: Yes, it is a lost opportunity for us and we need to get a partnership finalized. We were very close this off-season, but it didn't happen. We're still in talks with a number of companies, but hard to put a timeline on it right now.
Filed under: Marketing | Tagged: Brian Bilello, New England Revolution, Revs Marketing |	23 Comments »
Marketing in Portland: Interview with Timbers VP of Marketing Cory Dolich
Over the last couple of years, we have conducted interviews with a number of marketing professionals throughout MLS. These Q&As have provided great insight into the marketing strategies and goals of various franchises. Within the league, the Portland Timbers are one of the most exciting marketing stories of 2011. The expansion team has made waves with its billboard campaign, downtown store and robust season ticket sales. Cory Dolich is the Timbers' Vice President of Marketing and he was kind enough to answer a few questions about the Timber's 2011 marketing efforts. Thanks to Mr. Dolich.
Footiebusiness.com: The Timbers have launched a memorable billboard campaign featuring real Timbers' fans and plastered them all over the City. What was the inspiration for the ads? Who is the team trying to attract with the campaign? How effective have the ads been in generating buzz?
Cory Dolich: We've been very pleased with the feedback that we've received thus far on the campaign. There's obviously been a lot of exciting events and announcements surrounding the team this offseason, from player signings to our kit launch, and the campaign has certainly helped complement the existing buzz and further galvanized our overall message.
As it relates to the inspiration or genesis of the campaign, we were fortunate enough to partner with Jelly Helm Studio on the campaign. In conjunction with them, we wanted to expand upon some of the previous Portland and Timbers fan-centric messaging we'd used during the previous six-month period, but be a little less explicit about it. We wanted to embrace more of a "be it, don't say it" approach. We have an amazing fan base that creates such a tremendous in-game experience – it was about showcasing that…at its core, showcasing the authenticity of Timbers fans and the faces of that make up our community. Plus, the icons, the chainsaws, axes, etc. are embedded in the heritage of our team, and using them was critical to further cement the authenticity of the campaign – they're such strong visual pieces with great significance to our fans and organization. Ultimately, it was about highlighting what makes us the Timbers – strong and striking icons, great fans, an authentic in-match experience, being Portland's soccer team.
From a demographic standpoint, we took what might be perceived as a counter intuitive approach – it wasn't so much about a targeting a specific age range, gender, etc. but more about sharing the message with all of Portland. We wanted to live the mantra of "being by, for and about Portland" and as such, make it inclusive of all Portlanders, rather than excluding specific targets. We recognize that in a lot of cases you can't create an "all-inclusive" campaign, but felt the messaging did well to speak to both young and old, families and singles and existing fans, and those that might not be as familiar with our product.
FB: How do the Timbers plan to utilize online avenues such as social networking sites, SUM's online ad network, etc… to market the team? What is the goal of such online marketing efforts? How do you measure the success of these efforts?
CD: We put a great deal of value on digital media, specifically social networking tools; it's certainly going to be a significant part of our marketing strategy moving forward. We try and diversify our digital approach and be more targeted (as opposed to the billboard campaign) using this media – whether it's Facebook, Twitter, national ad servers, local websites or search-optimization tools, we'll layer messaging throughout these different mediums when activating on a campaign.
Our goal is simple – create engaging and unique content to develop and grow fan interest. And hopefully…if all goes well, that interest turns into ticket sales. At the foundation though is content, and providing it is key. Telling the team's stories, by sharing the access we have to all facets of the organization is pivotal.
From a measurement standpoint, it's a combination of a lot of elements. There's certainly a lot of statistical evidence that we can use, be it click-thrus, number of impressions, Facebook "likes," resulting ticket sales, etc., but there's also a level of anecdotal measures to mix in as well. Are people talking about it? Have they seen it? The current billboard campaign is a great example of that; we've received a ton of unsolicited feedback which shows people are taking notice. There's also some web reporting tools, like Radian 6, that we use at times. They can track the degree in which the club is being "talked about" on the web, from articles to blogs to social media posts, and if all goes as planned, those measures spike during a campaign.
FB: What lessons can the Timbers take from the marketing success of Seattle and Toronto? Similarly, what lessons can the Timbers take from some of the marketing mis-steps of the early years in the League?
CD: Seattle, Toronto and Philly (last season) have been great case studies of how to launch a team. Each club has been very generous in sharing their experiences, and we've learned from their respective launches. Where they've succeeded, and where others might have struggled, can be traced, in my opinion, to how each club has approached how they view the sport. They've embraced the authenticity of the game. They hold true to the game's traditions, culture and heritage. Each of those clubs has built a strong level of trust between the organization and the fan base. You don't need to change the dynamics of the sport or the in-match experience just because it's played in North America, as opposed to Europe or South America. The fans are savvy – don't try and fake it – be authentic.
Plus, I think they've done a tremendous job of customizing their launches to the culture and attitude of those cities, while, simultaneously, not over-complicating the message. Seattle and Toronto's use of the scarf was really strong – it helped galvanize those cities around a soccer specific icon that really resonated for the fan base.
That said, you have to be true to your own brand and your own fans. We are a different and unique culture that has a lot of history behind it and is quite distinct from Seattle, rivalry aside. We categorically need to keep things "Portland."
FB: Is it inconsistent/challenging for teams to target "hard core" supporters, non-soccer sports fans and families? How do you resolve those inconsistencies/challenges? Will the Timbers target a particular group?
CD: Depends on the tactics you use to target those different entities. Some mediums, like the billboards, might have a more universal appeal and the medium is image-centric. Tailoring a specific message to a smaller demographic group isn't as necessary with outdoor marketing. When using other mediums, be it digital or print for example, we are much more demographically and geographically targeted. Ultimately, the core message or spirit of the campaign, regardless of who you're speaking to is fundamentally the same. For us, like I mentioned in question No. 1, we're still talking about passionate fans, great in-match experience, being Portland's soccer team…that doesn't change whether you're talking to our most ardent supporters or non-soccer fans alike. The difference lies in the nuances of how you tweak the tactics and imagery to reach the different demographic groups.
For us, we can't be everything to everyone, but we definitely need to be smart in reaching out to multiple types of fan groups, including ardent soccer fans, non-soccer fans, families and the corporate community. We certainly have a significant, primarily young male (18-32) demo that makes up much of our core. For us to be truly a success and long-term fixture in the community though, we need to have an even larger appeal that reaches outside of this group.
FB: Will the team run day of game promotional events (e.g. giveaways, discounts, etc…) or will the Timbers rely on its season ticket base and face value seats to fill the stadium?
CD: We've been very fortunate to have close to 11,000 full-season tickets and are on pace to eclipse 12,000 by the start of the season. While I wouldn't rule out offering some value-added ticket programs on a case-by-case basis, our emphasis has to remain on selling, servicing and building our season ticket base in both the short and long term. It's all about retention for us. We feel we've affordably priced our tickets and cost isn't a barrier for fans to attend games. Providing great fan service, a strong and exciting on-field product and a wonderful in-game experience is paramount to maintaining a full stadium.
We do have some giveaway nights planned in an effort to enhance the day-of-match experience for our fans. While still being finalized, we're looking at doing about four premium giveaways throughout the course of the year.
Thanks again to Mr. Dolich.
Filed under: Marketing, Uncategorized | Tagged: Cory Dolich, Portland marketing, Portland Timbers, Timbers Marketing |	12 Comments »
Legal Update: The Courts and American Soccer – Vermes and VW
Posted on September 1, 2010 by Ben Berger
Its been a while since we took a look at some of the ongoing civil litigation and criminal actions involving American soccer personalities, clubs and leagues. However, with the recent news of Peter Vermes arrest on a DUI, we thought we would take a look at some of the cases that have been prominent over the last year.
We'll start with Mr. Vermes, who was recently arrested on suspicion of DUI 30 miles Southwest of Kansas City. The arrest occurred in the early morning hours of August 24. He spent about six hours in jail, posted a $750 bond and was released. He will be arraigned on November 9. Fortunately for Mr. Vermes, harsher penalties recently recommended by a commission in Kansas have not yet taken effect. Currently, jail time is an uncommon sentence, even after multiple offenses. To date, there has been noevidence that he has previously been found guilty on a DUI charge. While the criminal proceeding likely has months until it reaches a resolution, it is unclear what steps the Wizards will take with their coach. We will update this post as the matter moves forward.
We've posted a couple of times over the last few months about the litigation involving DC United. The gist of the lawsuit is that the plaintiffs (Jones and Mair) are alleging that DC United (Macfarlane Chang DC Soccer, LLC) breached a contract with the plaintiffs regarding the location of potential DC United Sponsors. Specifically, the plaintiffs allege they were entitled to a 22-25% commission on the deal to make VW the presenting sponsor of DC United.
The case was dismissed (by agreement), in early Summer. The defendants had filed for Summary Judgment in the Spring and the Court had granted that motion. As such, the defendants essentially won without having to take the matter to trial. A review of the Motion for Summary Judgment suggests that the plaintiff's claim was essentially baseless. There was a 14 month gap between the plaintiff's effforts to contact VW as a sponsor and the actually signing of the deal.
From a business perspective, the case is interesting because it details United's efforts (through Kevin Payne), to secure VW as a sponsor. The relationship began over a search for property in Virgina and ultimate became a presenting sponsorship. VW's move to Virginia included a wish to get involved with local properties and with the Honda deal expiring, VW made a perfect target for MLS and DC United. The courtship included dinners, phone calls, meetings and live games. United personnel traveled extensively to close the deal and did so in the Spring of 2008. There is no suggestion the plaintiff's were involved.
Filed under: Marketing | Tagged: D.C. United, soccer lawsuit, Vermes DUI, VW |	Comments Off on Legal Update: The Courts and American Soccer – Vermes and VW
The Adidas Deal: Inside the Numbers
Posted on August 31, 2010 by Ben Berger
The big business story in American soccer over the last 24 hours was the announcement that league sponsor adidas has significantly increased its committment to MLS with a new 8 year, $200 million that runs through 2018. The deal replaces the previously signed 10 year, $150 million deal signed between the parties in 2004. With four years remaining on the original deal, adidas has increased its annual committment to Major League Soccer by $10 million per year.
In addition to supplying the clubs and league with merchandise and balls, adidas will remain the the official supplier of uniforms and equipment to MLS youth academies and will increase its advertising presence during MLS broadcasts. The increase in MLS youth academy presence in affluent and urban areas gives Adidas significant opportunities to reach younger players and familes with an entire line of merchandise. Moreover, the 8 year deal allows MLS to develop and plan its strategies with the knowledge that these funds are coming through 2018.
According to the Sports Business Journal, adidas' decision to extend the deal,is based, in part, on the 600% increase (over the last five years) in annual MLS merchandise sales to $300 million per year.
With its FSC contract up this year, the Adidas deal may provide a background for further broadcast negotiations. With promises from adidas to become a greater presence in television advertising, FSC, and potentially Versus, may have more reasons to consider signing with MLS. ESPN may also recognize greater return on its long term investment in the league.
This is obviously a great moment for the league, as it ensures a significant commitment from one of the great merchandise and marketing powers in the world of sports. At the same time, adidas is shrewdly increasing its participation in MLS at a time when the league is devoting increasing resources to youth development. We
We'll let Don Garber have the last word: "One of the major reasons Major League Soccer has become one of the top soccer leagues in the world is due to the support and commitment of adidas. "They have a clear vision for the sport in North America, and they see MLS as a cornerstone of that vision. Our extension with adidas is a major statement by an internationally respected brand that MLS is increasing in value and that our commitments to stadium construction, strategic expansion, player development and improvement in the overall quality of play are playing dividends."
Filed under: Marketing | Tagged: Adidas, MLS adidas, MLS soccer, MLS sponsors, soccer sponsors |	Comments Off on The Adidas Deal: Inside the Numbers
World Cup 2010: Interview with Steven and Harrison Stark
Posted on May 14, 2010 by Ben Berger
Steven Stark and Harrison Stark are the authors of World Cup 2010: The Indispensable Guide to Soccer and Geopolitics recently published by Blue River Press. The book combines humor, soccer knowledge and a bit history to discuss the World Cup from a variety of angles. In addition to in depth previews of each team, the book also provides discussion on the politics of hosting, the background of the tournament and offers some predictions on the result. The first part of the book provides context for the event, while the team guides will be a great companion for fans looking for insight into the teams on the field.
The Starks were kind enough to take a few questions from us about their book, the politics of the World Cup and the games coming to South Africa. Thanks to the Starks for a few minutes.
Footiebusiness.com: The book discusses the impact of the first African World Cup and addresses the politics, geography and climate that will make 2010 unique. Recent reports indicate that ticket sales for South Africa are falling well short of expectations. How do you believe those elements that make South Africa a such a unique destination for the World Cup are affecting ticket sales? Why are fans staying away?
Steven Stark/Harrison Stark: There are a couple of things going on here. It's a long trip to South Africa for everyone – and an expensive one too. We're in the middle of the worst economic downturn in over a half century, so money is tight. And, any time you put the World Cup in a locale that is not one of the leading industrial nations of the world, some people are going to be scared away.
For the home nation, we write in the book that like everything else in South Africa, the nation's attitude to the sport is inextricably tied to the history of apartheid. Most whites in South Africa are more cricket and rugby fans than soccer ones. So that's a sizable part of a potential audience, too, that may not be buying tickets.
FB: In addition to the geopolitical and historical elements, the book also provides detailed information on each team coming to South Africa. Was the book written for the "hard core" soccer fan or someone watching soccer for the first time. How did you balance the difference in knowledge and interest among your target readers?
SS/HS: We tried to reach both audiences. In a sense, the chapter introductions may be more geared to a first-time fan (along with the country profiles), while the team discussions are more geared to the hard core fan.
FB: The book offers a series of predictions about the results and classifies teams based on their level of expectation. What is your basis for those predictions?
SS/HS: Well, we watch a lot of soccer and read a lot about it too. But in the book, we make the point that the World Cup is unusual in that pedigree tends to count for an enormous amount in trying to determine who will do well. A very small set of countries – namely Brazil, Argentina, Germany, and Italy – tends to dominate this tournament. That doesn't necessarily mean they'll win again but they're always the best bets.
FB: What efforts have been made to market the book? Have you been doing book signings and radio/TV interviews? What types of stores will be carrying the book?
SS/HS: Hopefully the book is available everywhere, both on line in places such as Amazon and in stores. We are doing a tour featuring New England, New York, and California and we will be doing a fair number of radio/TV interviews. Information about all those is available on the book website (http://worldcupsoccervoice.blogspot.com/) and on booktour.com . We're also analyzing the Cup for realclearsports.com.
FB: The cover depicts two prominent players (Ronaldinho and Beckham) who will not feature for their national teams? Was thought given to changing the cover to reflect that reality? Do you think that "hard core" fans will be turned off by the cover photo?
SS/HS: Don't judge the book by its cover! Yes Beckham got hurt after we had gone to press. But no, it's too late to change things now.
FB: Finally, given soccer's place on the American sports landscape, why do Americans purchase more tickets than any other country for the World Cup? What does that mean for the future of the game in the United States?
SS/HS: It's certainly a hopeful sign but one shouldn't read too much into it. As we said before, this is a hard Cup for anyone to get to, and we're a wealthy and large country so we have more fans available who can make the trip. Last year's run to the Confederations Cup final may also have convinced some Americans that this team has a chance to do well.
Filed under: Marketing, Uncategorized |	Comments Off on World Cup 2010: Interview with Steven and Harrison Stark
Soccer Business Bits: Fox Soccer Ratings, Castrol Joins SUM & More
In an article addressing ratings for the MLB network, the Sports Business Journal reports that FSC is the lowest rated of the Nielsen rated sports channel. From March 29 until April 25, FSC averaged less than 50k viewers in prime time. MLSB Network was the second lowest, with just under 100k viewers in prime time. However, given that much of FSC's programming involves European soccer games that broadcast outside the 8-11 prime time window, the numbers are not surprising. The MLB rating includes occassional live broadcasts that included a Yankees-Red Sox game. FSC's three highest rated broadcasts in the same period were all over 215,000 viewers for specific European/EPL matches.
The Sports Business Journal is also reporting that FIFA sponsor Castrol has signed a two year deal with SUM that includes rights to the US and Mexian National Teams and MLS. Castrol marketing will me directed to Hispanic fans and will include ads, appearances and other avenues. MLS players will also be added to the Castrol Index. This is a neat compartive device that includes players from some of the world's biggeest leagues.
Finally, take a look at these ESPN World Cup promos.
Filed under: Marketing, Media |	Comments Off on Soccer Business Bits: Fox Soccer Ratings, Castrol Joins SUM & More
MLS CUP 2009: On the Ground in Seattle
Posted on November 18, 2009 by Ben Berger
With Seattle set to cap its impressive inaugural season as an MLS City by hosting MLS Cup 2009 at Qwest Field, we thought we would check in with Seattle soccer guru David Falk, the man behind the comprehensive Seattle soccer website, http://www.GoalSeattle.com about marketing efforts, media coverage and ticket sales for MLS Cup in Seattle. With Seattle not in the game, we were curious about how the game was perceived in the Emerald City and David, who also writes for the Seattle Soccer Examiner, provided some great insight. Thanks to David for his thoughts.
Footiebusiness.com: Beyond newspaper coverage, what has been the level of mainstream coverage of the game? Are local outlets, sports radio, etc… covering the match?
David Falk: There will be guests on Sports Radio (KJR AM 950) this week, but it doesn't look to be any bigger than a Sounders match week so far.
FB: There is evidence of Sounders' season ticket holders seeking to offload their seats. What is your sense of the interest level among Sounders' fans in attending the game?
DF: Mixed, but most want to still go. Some are selling their seats to LA and Utah fans who want the best views. Some are giving them away, even. Still, it is likely that the lower bowl won't have too many empty spots. A Chicago-LA match-up would have increased the ticket demand and the rate of those that showed up. There will still be a "March to the Match," it is still the last ticket in our season package…so unless the weather is an absolute downpour, Seattle should represent. Are Seattle fans "excited" about the match? I have yet to hear from anyone that is.
FB: Tickets for the game have been parceled out with the recent opening of 6,000 additional seats. Do you agree with the decision to limit availability? Do you think there is a good argument for opening the entire stadium?
DF: They are handling the MLS Cup ticket sales just fine. Beckham v. Blanco could have sold more, but now what they've offered is more than enough.
FB: Are there ongoing efforts to advertise the game to Seattle residents? What are those efforts?
DF: None that I have seen. Perhaps through the Sounders website and emails to all 24,000 ticket holders. Billboards…no. Bus signs…no. TV commercials? No. We did get a letter from Garber asking us all to show up:
We also recommend you check out the extensive coverage of the game on the Seattle Times website.
Filed under: Marketing | Tagged: MLS Cup 2009, Seattle Sounders |	1 Comment »


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New Changes Made to Egypt's Maternity Leave Laws
Companies With 100+ Female Employees Must Now Create Nurseries
'Rahet Bally' Launches Egypt's First Online Shopping Platform for Moms
Egyptian Brand Lei Turns Iconic Art Into Chic Bags
P.E? For Girls? Blasphemy!
Cabinet Slash Food Prices
The Importance of Adulthood
Another day, another ridiculous statement by another Saudi cleric.
We all remember this days of yore when we frollicked around the school yard being mercilessly bullied by a grown man in shorts. Gym class (or P.E.) holds a sacred (or do we mean scarred?) place in many an Egyptian heart. Well, now a Saudi cleric (quelle suprise) has lashed out at the decision to allow girls to take Physical Education at school because it's a waste of time.
Radical Sheikh Abdul Karim Khudayr claims that while he can see the necessity for boys to partake in physical education (why, Holy war, of course!), he is completely baffled as to why the fairer sex (destined for a life of never leaving the house) would want to indulge in such frivilties as football, basketball or tennis.
He said: "Young men need to exercise in order to strengthen the spine and prepare them for jihad. What need have girls for such sports? The inclusiion of sports in girls' schools is unfortunate and sad and perhaps those in charge should reconsider the choice in line with god's teaching."
We can't but wonder if this bizarre stance stems from being picked last at football or perhaps he was beaten up by a girl in school. Either way, we can probably recommend a good therapist.
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Located in inland Scandinavia and connected to Sundsvall on the east, lies Östersund. Crammed with natural beauty, Östersund gives tourists the opportunity to experience scenic sightseeing tours and hiking trails.
For those flying into Östersund Airport, hiring a car is the best option to make the most of the city's thriving music scene. With many concerts playing throughout the year, this is the city to discover up-and-coming Nordic talent. Badhusparken is also within easy reach while in the city of Östersund – it is popular for sunbathing and swimming in the summer and in winter it turns into Sweden's largest ice-skating rink.
For a snapshot into Swedish history, tourists should head to the Jamtlands lans museum, which is located only a short 15 minute drive from the airport. This indoor-outdoor museum gives tourists a great insight into what life was like for the people of the city hundreds of years ago.
Rent a car from Froso Airport and take another short drive to Frösö Zoo. Here tourists can see many different species including Siberian tigers, hyenas and various lizards and snakes.