Wales’ New Hi-Tech Rugby Kit Launched! via t2 business solutions blog
WalesOnline today announced that Wale's new rugby kit has been launched and is now on sale! Nearly a year in the making, the kit was put to the test by Warren Gatland’s men trying to rip it off each other’s backs, and it is claimed that the Welsh rugby team’s new kit could be the most technologically advanced in the world.
The kit features slinky, “anti-grab” material and in-built sun protection, to team socks with added charcoal to stop them smelling, its creators say it is a genuine feat of engineering. The jersey, which was created by up to 100 people, is made from polyester and nylon and contains several features to help finely tune performance.
The home shirt has anti-microbial properties and an ultraviolet protection factor to guard against the sun’s harmful... Ugly and addicted to sex? via almost witty
Barack Obama - just too much change for America? via almost witty
Olympic Heroes Return to Cardiff via t2 business solutions blog
icWales reported today on the massive welcome for our Olympic Heroes! Nine Welsh athletes, including four medal winners, were today given an open-top bus tour through the streets of Cardiff Bay before arriving to hundreds of cheering and screaming supporters.
Crowds lined the route to applaud the members of Team GB including gold medal winners Nicole Cooke, Tom James and Geraint Thomas, and silver medal winner David Davies. They were greeted on the steps of the Senedd building by First Minister Rhodri Morgan and Welsh Sports Minister Alun Ffred Jones, in front of a sea of Welsh flags – and a solitary Union Jack.
Cyclist Nicole Cooke said: “It still feels just as good as it did the moment I crossed the finish line. I think it was one of the best emotions of my life. To be an Olympic... Nike asks Chinese government to track down blogger via almost witty
Is making a slitty-eyed gesture racist? via almost witty
To recap, the Spanish basketball team pose for a pre-Olympic-Games advert making slit-eyed gestures in one of Spain’s major newspapers. Freelance Madrid-based journalist Sid Lowe points this out in the Guardian, spreading the story everywhere else with predictable outrage in English-speaking media.
To which the Spanish wonder what the fuss is about. The Spanish-language paper El Mundo debates whether the advert was racist, and accuses the British press of trying to smear Spain’s good name. One Spanish basketballer apologises, saying “It’s wrong to interpret it as racist.”, while the head coach says “I don’t think it was offensive”.
Now, brilliantly, the original journalist who filed the report has filed a piece defending himself against... Boycotting Beijing - why ?! via almost witty
During the media hullabaloo about Chinese bodyguards over-zealously protecting the Olympic flame in London against Tibet protestors, I managed to keep my mouth shut. I agree the Chinese government is treating Tibet in a disgusting way indeed - but you know what? Name me a country that’s hosted the Olympics that has a lily-white human rights record. Aside from Canada. But I’m not expecting to see Iraqi/Iranian/Irish protestors trying to blow out the Olympic torch when it arrives in London in 2012. Why not?
The media hype and protests seemed to die down in the wake of the Chinese earthquakes in May (disappointingly named in the American fashion - 05/12 - but that’s another blog post), and as the Olympics hype machine gets into full swing (by dragging up painful memories...
Garden Chair Flying - The Latest Craze via t2 business solutions blog
An article on the Metro tells how Kent Couch rigged 150 giant balloons to a garden chair and took off, drifting 380km (235 miles) on his flying machine.
After nine hours in the air, the garage owner used a BB gun to pop enough balloons to land safely in a tiny town across the state border. He rallied dozens of helpers, filled 1.5m wide balloons and tied them to his chair. The ambitious pilot, from Oregon, got sponsors to pay for his £3,000 rig. For ballast, Mr Couch used canisters filled with fizzy drink and took chocolate and boiled eggs to eat.
This is not, however, the first time that man has flown with balloons! Larry Walters flew with balloon power in 1982 – and got fined £750 for breaking air traffic rules.... Honesty about 1968 via Leighton Andrews
I was ten getting on for eleven in 1968 and the big event for me in May of that year was Cardiff City playing SV Hamburg in the European Cup-Winners Cup semi-final. So it's good to read some sober and honest analysis of that year from Fred Halliday rather than the over-rated nostalgia on offer from many of the superannuated ultras.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
Thanks, Mohammad via Leighton Andrews
I have received a nice email back from Mohammad Asghar AM which reads as follows:Your comments are perfect, encouraging and helpful Kind Regards Asghar You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
The Presiding Officer and Israel via Leighton Andrews
It's been reported in a few places that the Presiding Officer has summarily announced he will be boycotting the visit of the Israeli Ambassador in two weeks time. The Ambassador is being invited by the Plaid Cymru AM Mohammad Asghar.I cannot be at the event because of a prior commitment, but I have emailed Mohammad as follows:I am unlikely to be able to attend the meeting with the Ambassador as I will be travelling to an evening engagement in West Wales.However, I do not want my absence to be seen in any way as part of the juvenile gesture politics provoked by the Presiding Officer. I think his response to the invitation to the Israeli Ambassador is discourteous to you, insulting to the people of Israel, and demeaning to the National Assembly. UK Government policy recognises the role of...
Over there via Leighton Andrews
I want the Democrats to win the US election - no surprise there - and though I am alarmed about the number of pro-Obama Conservatives in the National Assembly, I am glad that the contest is finally settled.Justin Webb points to a campaign to get Hillary as Vice-President, and also draws attention to Andrew Stephen's analysis on the New Statesman blog.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
New Mona Lisa Smaller Than 1/4 Size of Postage Stamp via t2 business solutions blog
According to an interesting article on Orange News today, an artist from Hampshire has painted the worlds smallest Mona Lisa, which stands at a mere 11mm high and 7mm wide.
Andrew Nicholls, 44, decided to attempt the piece after reading about the previous world record on a hobby craft website.
In order to break the record, Mr Nicholls created the entire piece whilst looking through a magnifying glass and used a tiny 0000 gauge paintbrush. The previous record stood at 13mm high and 9mm wide and was held by Yves Gerard, from Luxembourg, whose work is at the Musee de la Miniature in Drome,... Twitter via Leighton Andrews
I am now on Twitter, but I remain to be convinced.In the summer I will write more about the value or otherwise of certain kinds of online cmmunications to politicians and their constituents.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
??100 billion a year spent on sick notes via t2 business solutions blog
An interesting article on Training Zone explains how ??100 billion a year is being spent on sick notes in Britain - which is more than the entire budget of the NHS.
This study is the first ever review into the health of the working population and is has led to a call for urgent reform and a new approach to health and work.
Dame Carol Black, Director for health and work and publisher of the review Working for a Healthier Tomorrow, discusses out the challenges, including insufficient access to good work-related health support in the early stages of sickness.
Is your company losing out because of sick notes - are you part of the ??100 billion costs lost every year? Have a look at the article to see what has been suggested to tackle these issues....
Teapot Worshipping Anyone? via t2 business solutions blog
A Malaysian woman has been jailed for following a cult surrounding a giant teapot! An article on Metro tells how she was jailed one week ago after announcing herself as an apostate.
She was arrested in 2005 with 57 other followers of the cult and the teapot, which apparently symbolised water's purity and 'love pouring from heaven', was demolished by the government at the time of the arrests.
She has been jailed for two years for apostasy without willingness to repent - however, this is not the strangest part of all. She was previously imprisoned in 1992 for her teapot following ways!
Maybe it's time to follow something...... Teenage Pregnancy via Leighton Andrews
Chris Bryant MP has launched a pamphlet today on teenage pregnancy, and set up a website to provoke debate on the subject.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
Waiting for Iowa via Leighton Andrews
The 2008 US election gets properly into gear today with the Iowa caucuses.The Washington Post summarises the Democrat race here.The latest poll has Obama ahead.They have some extracts from Hillary's stump speech here.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
Happy New Year via t2 business solutions blog
Thirty Years On…. via Leighton Andrews
The National Archives material released today includes:Thatcher locked in looCallaghan says let there be light - for the Queen's Silver JubileeSAS invades IrelandYou can get more from the National Archives site itself.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
150,000 Watch North Korean Factory Boss Executed For ‘Making International Calls’ via A Welsh View
A North Korean factory boss has been executed by a firing squad in front of 150,000. His crime? Making international phone calls!
The manager was gunned down in a sports stadium in South Pyongan province after authorities claimed he'd installed 13 in a basement to reach the outside world, the Good Friends aid agency revealed.
And six people were also crushed to death and 34 others injured in an apparent stampede as they left after the execution, it was claimed.
The factory chief's death last month came as executions in the communist dictatorship began increasing after a seven-year decline in the number of people publicly killed.
North Korea had faced a barrage of international criticism over claims it has executed many innocent people.
Its citizens are banned from communicating with...
Benefit Claimants to build skills via t2 business solutions blog
The World Continues To Look Away. Don’t via A Welsh View
The Sydney Morning Herald has an article outlining horrific acts that are currently going on in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I would call them animals but they are far lower than that.
Attackers are now identifiable by their manner of attack: one group, after raping the woman or girl, inserts the barrel of a gun into her vagina and shoots, thus destroying her vagina, bladder, rectum and causing massive blood loss. Some force males at gunpoint to rape mothers or sisters, often in front of the whole community. A large percentage of the attackers are HIV-positive and knowingly try to infect their......
Children in Need 2007! via t2 business solutions blog
Today is the 28th annual BBC Children in Need, and t2 business solutions have been doing their part!
We've got everyone in the office involved to have a dress down day, a Pudsey Scratch Sweepstake, and even hot bacon rolls this morning! All our fundraising has gone down a storm and it is great to be doing our part for one of the UK's biggest charities.
In 2006 BBC Children in Need raised £33million to help disadvantaged children in the UK. Let's hope this year they can raise even more! Launched on Christmas Day in 1927 on the radio, the first televised performance was is 1955 and it became a BBC telethon appeal in 1980. The famous Pudsey made his debut on television in 1985, and has since been revamped to be even bigger and brighter.
So make sure you're doing your part for Children... George W. Bush Visits Injured Vets via A Welsh View
George W. Bush pays a visit to war veteran, some of who have been horrifically injured. I wonder if any of them refused to meet him and if any blame him for their...... Britains Best Boss via t2 business solutions blog
All I Want For Christmas Is… via t2 business solutions blog
The Ebola Virus? Salmonella? Malaria? Or just a good old fashioned common cold?
Well, thanks to Giant Microbes, you can now have all the diseases and viruses you could possibly want (or not). Why not snuggle up on the sofa with them when you're feeling down, or give them to someone special when words just aren't enough? Personally, I don't know anyone who wants Rabies for Christmas, but some of the ladies in the office were quite taken to the brain cell and even the flesh eating virus!
These larger-than-life viruses are based on the real thing, but are much, much nicer - and reasonable too! Go on, why not? Give someone bad breath for Christmas!
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