This picture isn’t what you think it is…
You don’t have to fret, John Partridge isn’t mounting Gemma Collins, but rather checking out how flexible the GC actually is.
Gemma Collins was in a show-off mood in the Celebrity Big Brother house yesterday when she decided to show ex-EastEnder’s actor John her splits.
Indeed.
The UK government has voted to ban Poppers and other “legal highs” in law that is due to come into force in April.
The new law which is due to be enacted on April 1st, will mean that if you sell or offer Poppers to anyone you could land up in jail for up to 7 years.
A last ditch effort was made to exempt alkyl nitrites (poppers) from the Psychoactive Substances bill, however it failed 309 votes to 228.
Speaking about the new law and the way in which it is written Lord Paddick told THEGAYUK:
“it’s any substance that changes your mental state like making you feel happy.
“So suppliers of air fresher for example and potentially florists could be arrested because the scent given off by roses makes people feel romantic, makes them feel better.
Last week Conservative MP Mike Freer shared a document from the Advisory Committee of the Misuse of Drugs which said that poppers were “not seen to be capable of having harmful effects sufficient to constitute a societal problem.”
In 2013 two men were found to have alkyl nitrites in their system after they died, however their deaths were not linked to their usage of poppers.
In 2013 there were 8,416 alcohol-related deaths in the UK.
In a series of Tweets Sam Smith outlined that a friend of his had been racially abused and that it had deeply shocked the Stay With Me singer.
However some on Twitter aren’t happy. Hanna Flint for Metro.co.uk accused the singer of “whitesplaining” which is defined by Urbandictionary as “paternalistic lecture given by Whites toward a person of color defining what should and shouldn’t be considered racist, while obliviously exhibiting their own racism”.
A few people did however applaud him for his Tweets:
The Life and Times of Jonathan Larson will be celebrated in the one-off show ‘Seasons of Love’.
Who is Jonathan Larson you might ask? He is the Broadway composer and genius behind the smash hit musical ‘Rent.’ ‘Rent’ is one of the most successful and award-winning musicals of all time. It tells the story of a group of young men and women seeking out a living in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. These young men and women have lots of real life issues that dominate their lives; poverty, drugs, volatile romances, and HIV
Larson composed Rent while at the same time waiting tables at Manhattan’s famous Moonstruck Diner. On the first day of its off-Broadway 1996 preview, Larson died unexpectedly at the age of 35. It was a shocking blow not just to the people close to him, but also to the actors and the rest of the crew. The show then premiered as planned and went on to critical and commercial success. ‘Rent’ was moved to Broadway in April 1996 after an extreme demand for tickets and excellent reviews. It went on to win four Tony Awards, including three for Larson (Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Score). ‘Rent’ went on to become the 10th longest running show on Broadway, closing in June, 2008. Various productions have toured around the world, including three different productions in London. It also went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama.
It’s not just the story that is poignant and timely for its time, it’s the music that’s most memorable and emotional in telling the story of these young people struggling to survive. Songs such as Seasons of Love, One Song Glory, Light My Candle and Santa Fe all convey the emotion and heartbreak and feelings these young people have and share.
And for only night only, on Monday, January 25th, at London’s Shaftsbury Theatre, several West End performers will sing songs from the show. Debbie Kurup, Krysten Cummings and Damien Flood, all previous cast members of ‘Rent,’ will perform some of the songs and will reflect on their memories of the show. Anton Stephans from the last series of the X Factor will also star in the tribute.
The concert will also include music from some of Larson’s earlier works, ‘Superbia’ and ‘tick, tick… BOOM!.’
For tickets to this one-off show, please visit: www.seasonsoflarson.com
It’s just a part of life, you wake up and your little fella is already up – aching to be unleashed and go forth into the day, but why do we get these erections?
Here are five reasons you could be waking up with an erection every morning.
1) They aren’t actually morning erections; they are night-time ones, called Nocturnal Penile Tumescence. The average man, without erectile dysfunction, has around three to five full lob ons during the night according to the NHS website, each one lasting up to 35 minutes.
2) It’s thought to be caused by the REM (rapid eye movement) part of your sleep. The part of your brain that releases norepinephrine located in the locus coeruleus is switched off which could result in boners. The REM cycle tends to happen just before you wake up.
3) Testosterone levels are at their highest in the AM, which can be attached to how randy you feel. Although testosterone doesn’t cause your duvet pole, it could make you think naughty thoughts – which will lead to a stiffy.
4) Some people think it’s to stop you wetting the bed… Peeing with a raging horn is more difficult so it can perhaps, some suggest prevent bed-wetting, we’re not convinced.
5) Full bladder, a full bladder could be the reason you’re waking with a stonker. It can stimulate part of the spinal cord that could bring on a reflex erection.
Dangling for 70 mins in a smoky room, adjacent to a stained mattress with Dessert Island Discs emanating from a Bush radio, alongside tick tock tick tock, Beethoven and the squiffed fantasies from an abstract artist who will drink to your health, insult if you were christened Darius or if you work for Blue Peter, might cause you to fornicate with a portrait and Monster Mash with a bear. ★★★
Writer and Director Eddie Elks interprets a suspended hour at 3am for artisan Roger Hilton CBE in his Cornwall basement/bedroom/studio, aided with a bottle of Teachers malt, a talking wireless and a paint-water-thirsty feline.
Attempted gherkin stabbing, a wife-eating crocodile composition, hide and seek with some teddy trouser pulling-down nonsense is enough to keep Hilton awake in the wee hours – will it keep your mince-pies open?
Turbulent and bonkers with glimmers of merriment as you delve deeper into the whisky-hazed, gifted mind of a boob-admiring canvas-and-oil prize winner.
Think self-indulgent luvvie in a student’s bedsit.
Botallack O’Clock run until 6th February 2016 at the Old Red Lion Theatre, 0844 412 4307
Sponsored by
Eric Prydz Call On Me
Why You Dance Your Tits Off To It:
Its over compress drum and bassline and that video just made you believe you could stretch and tone in a leotard.
Anastacia Left Outside Alone
Why You Dance Your Tits Off To It:
Stop being so basic. It’s Anastacia. That’s why.
Kelis Milkshake
Why You Dance Your Tits Off To It:
That bassline just made you move in ways that made your mother cry.
Destiny’s Child Lose My Breath
Why You Dance Your Tits Off To It:
This song’s drum beat literally made it the law to march in time.
Britney Spears Toxic
Why You Dance Your Tits Off To It:
Any reason to pretend you’re an air stewardess. Honestly what other reason do you need?
Kelis Trick Me
Why You Dance Your Tits Off To It:
Just made you wanna do the nasty. Giving it sass all the way.
Christina Milian Dip It Low
Why You Dance Your Tits Off To It:
Why don’t they make music like this anymore…. Why?
Christina Aguilera featuring Missy Elliott Carwash
Why You Dance Your Tits Off To It:
We were being post-modern, sort of…
Natasha Beddingfield Single
Why You Dance Your Tits Off To It:
Because…
Victoria Beckham This Groove
Why You Dance Your Tits Off To It:
Victoria threatened that this would be her last solo single. If it didn’t do well she’d never release another. So we dance like it was our last night on earth.
Britney Spears My Pergorative
Why You Dance Your Tits Off To It:
Britney suddenly got real.
Michelle McManus All This Time
Why You Dance Your Tits Off To It:
It wasn’t actually Michelle we were listening to. It was Titti La Camp
Slug and Lettuce is a cocktail bar that serves food, and it is a place where I have always had a good time, having booked it for my birthday a couple of years ago. Last night was the first time I had ever eaten there, and it was my guest’s first time there too. (more…)
A new year in our sprawling, over-populated Old Smoke brings fresh days of small businesses, freelancers and other innocent bystanders losing days of income; months-in-the-planning school balls, saved-up-for pre-bought theatre tickets and the last chance to visit a dying relative or close friend ruined, tarnished or made impossible – unless of course you’re employed by Coutts.
And in the oh-so-cheery months post-Christmas, the joy of having to prise yourself out of ya pit even earlier than usual to rugby-tackle your way onto a bus, play sardines for the duration of your journey and arrive at work stressed, your regalia stuck to your person as if you’d just attempted all the positions in the Kamasutra, and having to disinfect some stranger’s armpit from off of ya boat-race due to London Underground (LU) striking yet again.
God bless RMT (The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers), Aslef (The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) and Unite The Union – the three unions that represent LU employees, and the instigators of the 26th January, 15th February and 17th strikes. You’re doing a sterling job chaps.
Why are LU striking again? For the same reason as last year – pay, and night tubes.
According to the TFL website, undated 11th January: LU is creating 700 new jobs to run the night tube service – offering total protection of work-life balance – and over 6,000 people have applied for the new roles. Thus the current Thomas-the-tube-engine staff won’t be obliged to work nights.
What actually crosses the palms of our slave-esque, light-in-the-purse-department underground staff each year: Tube drivers £49,673, plus 43 holibob days. A customer service assistant £30,000, and a station supervisor £50,000; both get 52 vacatiarno days. Tidy.
The national minimum wage is £6.70 per hour – an average 40-hour week would bring home around £13,500 a year.
A newly-qualified teacher in England and Wales: annual salary£22,244, or £27,819 if based in the Big Smoke.
Starting yearly take-home for fully-qualified nurses is £21,692. London-dwelling Florence Nightingales attract a high-cost-area supplement that can bump up their salary by as much as 20 per cent: £26,304.
Direct from TFL, LU’s four-year pay offer: in year one an average rise of two per cent; years two and three would remain at RPI (retail price index) or rise by one per cent, whichever is greater; year four would be RPI plus a 0.25 per cent rise. Plus, a £500 bonus is up for grabs for all night-crawlers.
BBC News reported: The union’s London district organiser, Finn Brennan, said:
“We genuinely regret the inconvenience that will be caused but the behaviour of London Underground’s senior management team have left us with no other choice.”
Really, Finn? You feel you have the right to disrupt, cause loss of earning and make eight million people’s life hell because you feel LU management didn’t behave in the way you wanted? Just sayin.
Steve Griffiths, LU’s chief operating officer, responded:
“The unions’ position is absurd and detached from the real world.” I think we can all agree with that, Mr Griffiths.
So what else is the union’s beef?
The RMT press office stated:
It should be noted that Night Tube Operation will impact on all of our lines and therefore some of our staff will be required to work alternative rosters to enable the business to maintain the infrastructure.”
A roster jig around – really?
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“Our Tube Lines members have been offered the same deal on pay and Night Tube as their London Underground colleagues and our reps have clearly rejected it as wholly unsatisfactory.”
Poetic – so you’re not chuffed with the four-year pay plan?
According to The Guardian, January 2011: 590 to 32 National Grid (NG) staff voted for industrial action over pay, and wanted to strike in protest against below-inflation wages – they were supported by Unite and Unison and two other unions. The strikes didn’t happen and they found a resolution. We don’t hear the word ‘strike’ whenever rich-tea has been mistakenly bought instead of hobnobs by NG employees.
The gas, electricity and water companies don’t annually threaten, or stop providing us with said utility when disputing pay, shift and employment issues. Transport in London is as essential as the three mentioned above.
The Gay UK contacted a West-London-based District Line tube driver for his opinion on the strikes:
“I’m not a lot of help I’m afraid! Being on the District Line means that we are not affected by the night-time work proposals and as such I’ve stayed clear of the debate. As an Aslef member I’ll strike if the union calls for it, but I don’t get involved actively.”
Not affected, doesn’t get involved, but will still strike.
Facts: London would be a better city with 24-hour tubes. LU wages aren’t on a par with banker bank balances, but they ain’t bad. LU are employing more staff so they can implement the night tubes with them, thus not forcing current staff to work nights.
No-one’s work life is perfect; most would say they weren’t happy with their pay, having the rota played with, or changes within the company that might affect them; but the majority still go to work and get on with it – or find alternative employment.
Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.
You may remember Josh Rafter from the 2nd ever series of Big Brother, in which Brian Dowling championed, but Josh is one of Soho’s stalwart characters, having led the Outlet, a property management company in the heart of Soho, to its 20th year.
Sitting down with the editor of THEGAYUK, Josh explained why he thinks women love gay men.
“Women like to have gay friends because they listen and the husbands and boyfriends don’t.
“We listen and that’s one thing I think gay people do – listen and we’re there to offer our opinion – right or wrong it’s really nice to have someone listen!”
A report in psychologytoday.com in 2012, suggested that women’s fondness of gay men happened for three reasons.
Firstly they are “they are emotionally attracted to the fearlessness and lack of self-consciousness in gay men.”
Secondly “straight women love gay men because closeness with gay men provides a window into how the minds of men works”
Lastly, the report suggested, “because most straight women don’t feel sexual toward gay men.”
Angie Bowie has left Big Brother.
Angie Bowie has left the Big Brother house. Angie is the second celebrity to leave in two days after David Gest left the house due to illness yesterday.
“After being unwell for a few days, Angie Bowie has decided to leave the Celebrity Big Brother House. Her exit will be addressed in tonight’s live show on Channel 5 at 9pm.”