Can someone please explain...

I have a couple of things in my mind that I just don't understand and would like someone to explain, if they can.  Here is number 1:

I appreciate that there are some major underlying issues, but in simple terms, why are Muslim terrorists killing fellow Muslims in places like Pakistan and India?

They are achieving nothing by killing these innocent people and don't appear to have any aims other than to disrupt the country. These so-called religious followers are also going against all Islamic teaching, e.g. "A Muslim is the one who avoids harming Muslims with his tongue and hands". If that's to be believed, they are not going to heaven after killing people.

I could sort of understand if the attacks were directed at foreign nationals, foreign companies etc, but killing their own confuses me.

So what do they hope to achieve?

A pleasant surprise

Many (many) years ago, there was a boyband called Bad Boys Inc. Whilst I cant remember any of their music, I can recall having a few "fantasies" about one of the singers called David Ross. He's the one on the left in the picture below.

I haven't seen this guy for years, but was watching a gay(ish) themed film called Echo Park L.A. and I recognised me straight away!  He's now an actor and looking up his details, I find out that he is gay and is a writer of gay fiction and film maker. 

He still looks pretty good these days!

Catch a falling moon

This image was runner-up in the Astronomy photographer of the year competition held by the National Maritime Museum.  It made me smile...

It is called Hunting Moon by Jean-Baptiste Feldmann from France. The website calls it "a playful silhouette places an Earth-bound Moon-catcher in pursuit of the waxing crescent Moon in the early evening sky on 6 April 2011."

Let the rugby begin

And so the world cup is with us again, this time from New Zealand.  Can England get to another final?  Will the South Africans triumph again?  We will know in a few weeks time.

England kick off against Argentina tomorrow and we rarely start these competitions well, but we shall see. Given the time difference, it will be back to watching rugby over breakfast - all very strange!   The local rugby club has been very imaginative and has a full day of events tomorrow: the England game, training sessions, other world cup games, local derby in the afternoon, evening party, etc.  Good for them - great idea.

And it wouldn't be right to miss the opportunity of sharing some images for your viewing pleasure - England's pride (and most look like ugly bouncers, so this is the pick of the bunch!):

Jonny Wilkinson
Richard Wigglesworth
Tom Wood
Ben Foden

Random London

On Tuesday, I was in London for a meeting at The Gherkin and afterwards went into the West End to meet Pete.  Whilst enjoying an overpriced coffee in Bar Italia, we briefly met our friend Melissa who was off to see the wizard at the Palladium.  A few minutes later, in walks 80's pop star Paul Young and Melissa almost fainted with joy - and she just had to go and get a photo taken.  After that, we went to a lovely Turkish restaurant that is so cheap and so tasty.  I cant see how they make money!

Here a a couple of Instagrammed images from the day (The Shard was taken from the 34th floor of the Gherkin), ending with the shot of Paul Young, Melissa and me!

Michael Thalassitis

Our local paper reports on Stevenage* FC games and this picture of their 18 year old youth Striker Michael Thalassitis jumped out. Very cute with stunning eyes!

*For the record, Stevenage is a "new town" built in the 1950's and although it has a great road system, it's a bit of a dump with non-descript housing estates and a terrible concrete town centre. The whole town can be described as "rough" including many chavy people. These are only my opinions of course, but people from the town I live in would never shop in Stevenage... ever!

Five on the fifth #27

Welcome to '5 on the fifth', a posting where you share 5 photographs taken on the days leading up to the 5th of the month. Remember to mention my blog on your own blog, so that your visitors can find the other contributions. You can take 5 random pictures or follow my suggested theme: MESS.

You no longer have to leave a comment with your details (though comments are welcome) - just complete the form below including your name and location in the 'link title' field and like magic, you will appear in the list of contributors.

My images are below:

This doesn't help

In the Scottish Sun this week, Scottish cycling champion Graeme Obree, encouraged other gay athletes to stay closeted. Obree, who is now retired, came out in January 2011.  The article said:

I don’t think being gay and an active sportsman is a good thing. While I was competing and in a changing room environment there was no way I would come out. You’d always be worrying if other people were thinking, ‘Is he checking me out?’ There are SPL footballers who are gay, I know that for a fact. But if I was in their position there is no way I would come out. It would be too awkward in the dressing room. You need to be retired first.

I have to say that I don't quite agree that staying closeted and lying to everyone and yourself is ideal for anyone. If a few sportsmen were out, the gay "stigma" would be reduced and after a while, the press would even move on. Being in the closet is stressful enough and doing it in public must be even worse.

I appreciate that Graeme was in a great position to judge whether to have come out, but I am convinced that nothing will change until a few brave guys say: "I am gay, I am a professional sportsman, get over it".  Views???

I've spoken about the ever cute Anton Hysen before who is a bit crazy on his own blog. He is a professional footballer, gay and out.  He seems to be enjoying the whole coming out experience, appearing in magazines and on TV and radio. He says that his team mates have no problem and doesn't care when rival fans shout those oh-so-funny chants from the stands.  Let's end with a picture from Anton's blog from a couple of days ago - he reckons after shaving that he looks 10 years old!

This isn't a joke

Look carefully, actually not that carefully.  Who designed these outfits?!

Five for September

As summer reluctantly starts to edge into Autumn, we look to the September '5 on the fifth'. Take 5 photographs on the days leading up to the 5th and publish those on your own blog and then add the link to my blog so that others can find your images. 

You can either take 5 random pictures or follow this months theme:

MESS