[E.O.M.S.]

Wednesday, 26 August 2009

New twist in Semenya gender saga

Tests have revealed Caster Semenya's testosterone level to be three times higher than those normally expected in a female sample.
@ 'BBC'
There is excellent reporting on this saga here:
The Science of Sport
(and do check other posts at this blog as well as the comments. Invaluable.)
As Ross Tucker(one of the blog's authors) commented a short time ago:
"...This has become a political platform, and the pretense of "support" for Caster Semenya has long fallen by the wayside. It is quite clear that the support of athletes and of victory is conditional on that support providing a political voice to those who have agendas to push. It has become a fiasco, and Semenya is in the middle.

Regardless of your stance on sex testing, this has long moved from sensible debate into vicious attack and hate speech...
Very sad."

Canadians explain Medicare (very s l o w l y ) for Americans

What Amy got up to at the weekend

After joining The Specials for 'You're Wondering Now' & 'Ghost Town' then as the 'NME' reports on her appearance with Pete Doherty:

"The initial stumble on stage induced cheers from the crowd, camera-phones flaring up to capture the appearance on wobble-vision. A few words in the Babyshambler's ear, a bit of a smooch, then off. And that was that – a bit of a bonus. Until 'Time For Heroes', near the end of the show, when she ambled back on in a bit of a state, plonking herself down on Adam Ficek's drum riser, seemingly oblivious to the surely eardrum-stretching thump-thump going on a foot to her right. Then up again, hugging Pete and pawing at him, urging him to play a guitar solo. "Guitar solo!" she exclaimed. He didn't play a guitar solo, eventually clasping his palm over her gob to muffle her then ship her off stage. She looked pretty pissed, but then again, the rest of us were too. I guess the difference is if we YouTube search our own names the morning after we don't get the privilege of reliving it over 90 different angles. Thank the lord for small mercies. A festival moment! At V!"