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| Millennial sex and Trump meltdown? Catch up on our live look at the week | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.25pm BST | |
| 16:25 | |
| Sarah Marsh | |
| We are about to close comments, but wanted to say a big thanks to all of you who joined us today ... and now go forth and enjoy your weekends (whatever they entail). | |
| As I said earlier, this is a new Friday feature. We want to create a community space for our readers to share ideas and projects, and also engage with our journalists – finding out more about editorial decisions. We welcome more opinions on how to make this format work, so please share them in this form as well as in the comments. | |
| I will leave you with this picture sent in as part of our underwhelming UK weather/ holidays call-out. Hopefully you will have as much fun this weekend as this family (ahem) in Stonehenge, Wiltshire. | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.28pm BST | |
| 4.11pm BST | 4.11pm BST |
| 16:11 | 16:11 |
| Matthew Holmes | Matthew Holmes |
| As it’s Friday many of you will, we hope, (and if you aren’t there already) be thinking of getting out into the countryside over the weekend. | As it’s Friday many of you will, we hope, (and if you aren’t there already) be thinking of getting out into the countryside over the weekend. |
| If you’re in the UK, I can’t think of anywhere better to do this than the Lake District or Yorkshire Dales national parks, places I feel I know well after wading through the inspiring pics you sent in after their borders were re-drawn this week ... | If you’re in the UK, I can’t think of anywhere better to do this than the Lake District or Yorkshire Dales national parks, places I feel I know well after wading through the inspiring pics you sent in after their borders were re-drawn this week ... |
| How could that not make you want to go there? Have a look at more in the gallery, here. | How could that not make you want to go there? Have a look at more in the gallery, here. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.12pm BST | at 4.12pm BST |
| 3.55pm BST | 3.55pm BST |
| 15:55 | 15:55 |
| Examining the impact of generation rent | Examining the impact of generation rent |
| Caelainn Barr | Caelainn Barr |
| Intergenerational inequality has been in the news again, as homeownership has fallen to its lowest level in 30 years, according to the latest research by the Resolution Foundation this week. | Intergenerational inequality has been in the news again, as homeownership has fallen to its lowest level in 30 years, according to the latest research by the Resolution Foundation this week. |
| Many young families are being locked out of the chance to own their own homes as stagnating wages and rising prices have pushed the housing crisis beyond inner London to other large cities including Manchester. | Many young families are being locked out of the chance to own their own homes as stagnating wages and rising prices have pushed the housing crisis beyond inner London to other large cities including Manchester. |
| The Guardian’s analysis earlier this year looked at the cost of a tenancy across the UK and found renting was also unaffordable for the average young family in two thirds of the country, as they pay too big a share of their wages to landlords. | The Guardian’s analysis earlier this year looked at the cost of a tenancy across the UK and found renting was also unaffordable for the average young family in two thirds of the country, as they pay too big a share of their wages to landlords. |
| We asked readers to give us their views on the issue earlier this week and most agreed that although they would like to be homeowners, in the private rental sector the introduction of rent controls and long-term tenancies would provide some security for those who can’t afford to buy their own homes. | We asked readers to give us their views on the issue earlier this week and most agreed that although they would like to be homeowners, in the private rental sector the introduction of rent controls and long-term tenancies would provide some security for those who can’t afford to buy their own homes. |
| Related: Is it time to abandon the dream of owning a home? Readers' views | Related: Is it time to abandon the dream of owning a home? Readers' views |
| However the economic plight of young adults is not unique to the UK. The Guardian’s Millennials project examined the growing inequality in disposable income between millennials and baby boomers across the developed world. The figures show that young people’s earnings have not kept pace with the growth of that in other age groups in the UK, US, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Canada. | However the economic plight of young adults is not unique to the UK. The Guardian’s Millennials project examined the growing inequality in disposable income between millennials and baby boomers across the developed world. The figures show that young people’s earnings have not kept pace with the growth of that in other age groups in the UK, US, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Canada. |
| We’re hearing more and more about the economic uncertainty faced by millennials around the world - rising education costs, stagnating wages, a more unstable job market, questions over the future of state pensions and for many in the UK a diminishing chance of homeownership. The potential social and economic impact of a generation that can’t afford to build up assets is not just a crisis for millennials but also for their predecessors and future generations. | We’re hearing more and more about the economic uncertainty faced by millennials around the world - rising education costs, stagnating wages, a more unstable job market, questions over the future of state pensions and for many in the UK a diminishing chance of homeownership. The potential social and economic impact of a generation that can’t afford to build up assets is not just a crisis for millennials but also for their predecessors and future generations. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.56pm BST | at 3.56pm BST |
| 3.42pm BST | 3.42pm BST |
| 15:42 | 15:42 |
| Why child refugees are the UK’s problem – by Amelia Gentleman | Why child refugees are the UK’s problem – by Amelia Gentleman |
| Amelia Gentleman | Amelia Gentleman |
| Here the Guardian’s writer on social affairs talks about going to Calais to talk to lone child refugees and the response her piece garnered. | Here the Guardian’s writer on social affairs talks about going to Calais to talk to lone child refugees and the response her piece garnered. |
| I’ve been looking at the online response to the piece we published earlier this week about lone child refugees in Calais. Broadly, it can be divided into two categories: people who say it made them feel sad or angry and people who say this isn’t Britain’s problem. | I’ve been looking at the online response to the piece we published earlier this week about lone child refugees in Calais. Broadly, it can be divided into two categories: people who say it made them feel sad or angry and people who say this isn’t Britain’s problem. |
| A lot of people in the first category asked how they could help. Volunteers and donations are needed by the charity Help Refugees that provides a lot of the food in Calais. Donations are also needed by the Women and Children’s centre in the camp. Citizens UK is campaigning on the issue and has ideas about how to raise awareness on a local level. Home for Good is working on increasing the number of foster families ready to look after asylum-seeking children. | A lot of people in the first category asked how they could help. Volunteers and donations are needed by the charity Help Refugees that provides a lot of the food in Calais. Donations are also needed by the Women and Children’s centre in the camp. Citizens UK is campaigning on the issue and has ideas about how to raise awareness on a local level. Home for Good is working on increasing the number of foster families ready to look after asylum-seeking children. |
| In the second category many people responded that this is a problem for France to sort out, and argued that the British government should look after its own children first. But (as people interviewed in Calais explain), France is trying to sort it out, and is already doing a lot. Volunteers in the camp do tell the children that they should apply for asylum in France and not risk their lives trying to come to the UK, and over 300 unaccompanied children in Calais already have. But those who haven’t applied often have friends or relatives in the UK, or have been told by their parents that they will be safe there. Why is it the UK’s problem? The government has already agreed that is has a “moral duty” to help, and has included in legislation its commitment to give homes to some of the most vulnerable children stuck in Europe. The reason why people are getting angry now is that fewer 20 of the tens of thousand unaccompanied children in Europe have been housed here. | In the second category many people responded that this is a problem for France to sort out, and argued that the British government should look after its own children first. But (as people interviewed in Calais explain), France is trying to sort it out, and is already doing a lot. Volunteers in the camp do tell the children that they should apply for asylum in France and not risk their lives trying to come to the UK, and over 300 unaccompanied children in Calais already have. But those who haven’t applied often have friends or relatives in the UK, or have been told by their parents that they will be safe there. Why is it the UK’s problem? The government has already agreed that is has a “moral duty” to help, and has included in legislation its commitment to give homes to some of the most vulnerable children stuck in Europe. The reason why people are getting angry now is that fewer 20 of the tens of thousand unaccompanied children in Europe have been housed here. |
| This piece doesn’t attempt to address the wider, incredibly complicated immigration debate – just focuses on the fact that in Calais, there are dozens of very vulnerable, primary school aged children, living without their parents in the worst conditions imaginable. Three months on from the government’s commitment to help, very little has happened. | This piece doesn’t attempt to address the wider, incredibly complicated immigration debate – just focuses on the fact that in Calais, there are dozens of very vulnerable, primary school aged children, living without their parents in the worst conditions imaginable. Three months on from the government’s commitment to help, very little has happened. |
| Editors here have agreed that we will go back in a month to see what progress has been made. I really hope it will be a more positive report. | Editors here have agreed that we will go back in a month to see what progress has been made. I really hope it will be a more positive report. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.42pm BST | at 3.42pm BST |
| 3.26pm BST | 3.26pm BST |
| 15:26 | 15:26 |
| Guardian readers | Guardian readers |
| Back to politics and you are continuing to discuss Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith’s leadership hustings. Get involved by clicking on the comments here, or scrolling to the bottom of the page for more. | Back to politics and you are continuing to discuss Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith’s leadership hustings. Get involved by clicking on the comments here, or scrolling to the bottom of the page for more. |
| I'm a Labour member and pretty despairing of the whole situation. Aside from Trident, there seems very little bluewater between the two candidates, and lets face it, the whole point of Trident is that by the time its launched (or not launched) we'd be dead anyway, so we'd never actually know. | I'm a Labour member and pretty despairing of the whole situation. Aside from Trident, there seems very little bluewater between the two candidates, and lets face it, the whole point of Trident is that by the time its launched (or not launched) we'd be dead anyway, so we'd never actually know. |
| I want to get out there on the doorsteps talking about the party to constituents, but at the moment its like trying to sell a fire damaged house, and when you're taking people round it catches fire again. | I want to get out there on the doorsteps talking about the party to constituents, but at the moment its like trying to sell a fire damaged house, and when you're taking people round it catches fire again. |
| I'm hoping that at Conference we can all kiss and make up, and start working together to build an effective opposition to take on the Tories in the run up to the 2020 election. | I'm hoping that at Conference we can all kiss and make up, and start working together to build an effective opposition to take on the Tories in the run up to the 2020 election. |
| I have a sneaky feeling that when the National Policy Forum reports to Conference, some of the policies they suggest may have already been raised by one Mr Owen Smith MP. | I have a sneaky feeling that when the National Policy Forum reports to Conference, some of the policies they suggest may have already been raised by one Mr Owen Smith MP. |
| Corbyn did say last night that he'd extend an invitation to build a new cabinet with people from all wings of the party - whether individuals choose to take that invitation will speak volumes to their constituents when it comes time for the Boundary Commission review. | Corbyn did say last night that he'd extend an invitation to build a new cabinet with people from all wings of the party - whether individuals choose to take that invitation will speak volumes to their constituents when it comes time for the Boundary Commission review. |
| There is also the matter of the NEC being largely feted to be won by the Momentum candidates, which will change any future arbitration issues around rule interpretation and membership. | There is also the matter of the NEC being largely feted to be won by the Momentum candidates, which will change any future arbitration issues around rule interpretation and membership. |
| I have been a Labour Party member for 42 years, cutting my teeth supporting Margaret Jackson (Beckett) in Lincoln in 1974. It may be my age but I am increasingly pessimistic about the future of the Labour Party if we do not offer a coherent, radical vision for the future security and prosperity of everyone (possibly with the exception of Boris) in a just and tolerant society. Traditional Labour voters, in my opinion, still believe in public service, hard work, tolerance, moral responsibility and the essential goodness in people. I detect similar qualities in the vast majority of our young people. What we lack is courageous, visionary, intelligent, inspirational, practical, fiery, feisty, articulate, sensitive, inclusive, energetic leadership. Not much to ask is it? | I have been a Labour Party member for 42 years, cutting my teeth supporting Margaret Jackson (Beckett) in Lincoln in 1974. It may be my age but I am increasingly pessimistic about the future of the Labour Party if we do not offer a coherent, radical vision for the future security and prosperity of everyone (possibly with the exception of Boris) in a just and tolerant society. Traditional Labour voters, in my opinion, still believe in public service, hard work, tolerance, moral responsibility and the essential goodness in people. I detect similar qualities in the vast majority of our young people. What we lack is courageous, visionary, intelligent, inspirational, practical, fiery, feisty, articulate, sensitive, inclusive, energetic leadership. Not much to ask is it? |
| I voted for Corbyn last time. I have no personal loyalty to him and would consider a viable alternative. However, Owen Smith is Andy Burnham Mark Two. Policy on a swivel. Soundbites and substance-free sugar. The PLP has yet to ask why Corbyn was so popular with members, many of whom have been moderate Labour supporters for decades. Until they have that discussion and listen, yes, listen, not talk, they will continue to be baffled by leadership election results. I have contacted any number of Labour MPs in recent months and only one has had the decency to reply with anything other than an automated reply explaining how busy they are; presumably talking to each other on Twatter (no I don't mean Twitter). | I voted for Corbyn last time. I have no personal loyalty to him and would consider a viable alternative. However, Owen Smith is Andy Burnham Mark Two. Policy on a swivel. Soundbites and substance-free sugar. The PLP has yet to ask why Corbyn was so popular with members, many of whom have been moderate Labour supporters for decades. Until they have that discussion and listen, yes, listen, not talk, they will continue to be baffled by leadership election results. I have contacted any number of Labour MPs in recent months and only one has had the decency to reply with anything other than an automated reply explaining how busy they are; presumably talking to each other on Twatter (no I don't mean Twitter). |
| 3.17pm BST | 3.17pm BST |
| 15:17 | 15:17 |
| A guide to Instagram story | A guide to Instagram story |
| Eleni Stefanou | Eleni Stefanou |
| Sticking with pictures, we asked Eleni Stefanou, a social producer here at the Guardian, to talk a little about how her team are approaching the latest way to tell stories with Instagram. | Sticking with pictures, we asked Eleni Stefanou, a social producer here at the Guardian, to talk a little about how her team are approaching the latest way to tell stories with Instagram. |
| Instagram introduced a new feature this week called Stories. Here are some of the similarities it shares with rival app Snapchat: posts fill the entire screen, can be drawn and written on and disappear after 24 hours. Instagrammers were quick to call out the cloning – rapper Big Narstie perhaps best capturing the mood when he tried out the feature: | |
| But those who protest may be fighting a losing battle. Instagram is the darling app of the fashion world and all the shiny stars in its gravitational force. Vogue magazine’s first Instagram Story, timed for the launch, had appearances from Anna Wintour, Cindy Crawford, Adriana Lima and Suki Waterhouse. Even Taylor Swift emerged from her semi social media hiatus to use the feature. | But those who protest may be fighting a losing battle. Instagram is the darling app of the fashion world and all the shiny stars in its gravitational force. Vogue magazine’s first Instagram Story, timed for the launch, had appearances from Anna Wintour, Cindy Crawford, Adriana Lima and Suki Waterhouse. Even Taylor Swift emerged from her semi social media hiatus to use the feature. |
| "What's going on? You feeling less like a cat and more like a squirrel today? Yep." - Olivia on #InstagramStories! pic.twitter.com/7hk8FleQpr | "What's going on? You feeling less like a cat and more like a squirrel today? Yep." - Olivia on #InstagramStories! pic.twitter.com/7hk8FleQpr |
| These subtle endorsements will help normalise Instagram Stories and lend it its most lacking quality: spontaneity. Meanwhile, many news organisations, including this one right here, are giddy with excitement because they can now join in on the fun without feeling like they’re talking into an empty auditorium – Snapchat has been notoriously difficult for news organisations to reach an audience through because of its lack of discoverability (no hashtags, directories etc). But like most digital trends, the success of Instagram Stories will depend on human behaviour, which is, it’s fair to say, unpredictable. | These subtle endorsements will help normalise Instagram Stories and lend it its most lacking quality: spontaneity. Meanwhile, many news organisations, including this one right here, are giddy with excitement because they can now join in on the fun without feeling like they’re talking into an empty auditorium – Snapchat has been notoriously difficult for news organisations to reach an audience through because of its lack of discoverability (no hashtags, directories etc). But like most digital trends, the success of Instagram Stories will depend on human behaviour, which is, it’s fair to say, unpredictable. |
| Here at the Guardian we’ll be experimenting with Instagram Stories to bring you information in a more immediate and visual way. So give us a follow and let us know how we’re doing. | Here at the Guardian we’ll be experimenting with Instagram Stories to bring you information in a more immediate and visual way. So give us a follow and let us know how we’re doing. |
| Updated | |
| at 4.24pm BST | |
| 3.01pm BST | 3.01pm BST |
| 15:01 | 15:01 |
| Photos of the week from the picture desk | Photos of the week from the picture desk |
| Joanna Ruck | Joanna Ruck |
| We asked the Guardian’s picture desk to highlight some of their favourite images from the thousands they cast eyes over each week aiming to illustrate articles, and sometimes to tell their own stories. Here, picture editor Joanna Ruck shares some of her thoughts: | We asked the Guardian’s picture desk to highlight some of their favourite images from the thousands they cast eyes over each week aiming to illustrate articles, and sometimes to tell their own stories. Here, picture editor Joanna Ruck shares some of her thoughts: |
| We receive around 20,000 photos a day into our picture system and some images just jump straight out at you – like this woman dancing during the South African elections. | We receive around 20,000 photos a day into our picture system and some images just jump straight out at you – like this woman dancing during the South African elections. |
| Related: Voters deliver stinging rebuke to ANC in South African election | Related: Voters deliver stinging rebuke to ANC in South African election |
| The Rio Olympics are proving controversial, with a wide range of feelings about the event in the country – you could write thousands of words about that, but all you need to do is look at the two subjects in this picture from Rio and immediately you see the polarised views. | The Rio Olympics are proving controversial, with a wide range of feelings about the event in the country – you could write thousands of words about that, but all you need to do is look at the two subjects in this picture from Rio and immediately you see the polarised views. |
| Related: Brazilians on Rio 2016: 'I hope the Games offer a good time for everybody' | Related: Brazilians on Rio 2016: 'I hope the Games offer a good time for everybody' |
| And of course, we are always a fan of a cute animal photograph, we need a joy among all the serious photojournalism! | And of course, we are always a fan of a cute animal photograph, we need a joy among all the serious photojournalism! |
| Did you spot any great images this week on the Guardian or elsewhere? Let us know in the comments. | Did you spot any great images this week on the Guardian or elsewhere? Let us know in the comments. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.03pm BST | at 3.03pm BST |
| 2.48pm BST | 2.48pm BST |
| 14:48 | 14:48 |
| More underwhelming holiday snaps ... | More underwhelming holiday snaps ... |
| Matthew Holmes | Matthew Holmes |
| We continue to be entertained by your underwhelming holiday pics per the gallery we launched earlier. Here’s a couple more from the selection you’ve been sending in ... | We continue to be entertained by your underwhelming holiday pics per the gallery we launched earlier. Here’s a couple more from the selection you’ve been sending in ... |
| Happy audience | Happy audience |
| Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to do live theatre during an English summer. | Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to do live theatre during an English summer. |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By Richemont | By Richemont |
| 5 August 2016, 11:14 | 5 August 2016, 11:14 |
| Enjoying a beer in Seaham | Enjoying a beer in Seaham |
| The plan was very simple. Cycle out the coast and spend a nice evening on the beach with friends, have a BBQ and a few drinks. But then the British summer really did a number on us. 45 minutes of wet cycling and some overpriced fish and chips later this was the result. | The plan was very simple. Cycle out the coast and spend a nice evening on the beach with friends, have a BBQ and a few drinks. But then the British summer really did a number on us. 45 minutes of wet cycling and some overpriced fish and chips later this was the result. |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By Alpeace89 | By Alpeace89 |
| 5 August 2016, 11:44 | 5 August 2016, 11:44 |
| At least he’s got a drink ... Add yours with the blue buttons on this article or via the gallery: | At least he’s got a drink ... Add yours with the blue buttons on this article or via the gallery: |
| Related: Your underwhelming British holiday photos | Related: Your underwhelming British holiday photos |
| 2.24pm BST | 2.24pm BST |
| 14:24 | 14:24 |
| Readers respond: Why is Rio de Janeiro finding it so hard to clear up its waste? | Readers respond: Why is Rio de Janeiro finding it so hard to clear up its waste? |
| Guardian readers | Guardian readers |
| Our community team looked through the comments this week, and enjoyed the debate underneath this article, written by Guardian’s environment editor John Vidal, about pollution off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. | Our community team looked through the comments this week, and enjoyed the debate underneath this article, written by Guardian’s environment editor John Vidal, about pollution off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. |
| “Parts of Guanabara Bay, which will host aquatic events, are teeming with dangerous viruses and bacteria, threatening the athletes as well as the 350,000 spectators who may want a dip in the sea,” he wrote. The comments underneath were really interesting and as of Friday the discussion remains open to comments. Here’s a selection: | “Parts of Guanabara Bay, which will host aquatic events, are teeming with dangerous viruses and bacteria, threatening the athletes as well as the 350,000 spectators who may want a dip in the sea,” he wrote. The comments underneath were really interesting and as of Friday the discussion remains open to comments. Here’s a selection: |
| The Olympics bidding process is complete nonsense. No city bid should be accepted if the city has not already achieved sustainable, operating solutions for various basic issues including air cleanliness, water quality, safety and infrastructure. Instead, bids are accepted from places with massive problems in these areas, containing promises to 'fix everything in time'. Why would anyone think a city like Rio would fix in the 8 years since the bid all the problems never adequately addressed in the previous 300 years? | The Olympics bidding process is complete nonsense. No city bid should be accepted if the city has not already achieved sustainable, operating solutions for various basic issues including air cleanliness, water quality, safety and infrastructure. Instead, bids are accepted from places with massive problems in these areas, containing promises to 'fix everything in time'. Why would anyone think a city like Rio would fix in the 8 years since the bid all the problems never adequately addressed in the previous 300 years? |
| Its simple. Once profit becomes the one and only guiding principle then everything else slides into a trough of 'just barely livable'. The well off can isolate their living conditions, the rest do the best they can with what they have. There's no mystery or magic to this -- look at the evolution of clean water and sanitation in Victorian London, from polluted wells and ad-hoc sanitation to piped water and organized sewerage. By the turn of the 20th century access to potable water was regarded as a right, not a commodity. | Its simple. Once profit becomes the one and only guiding principle then everything else slides into a trough of 'just barely livable'. The well off can isolate their living conditions, the rest do the best they can with what they have. There's no mystery or magic to this -- look at the evolution of clean water and sanitation in Victorian London, from polluted wells and ad-hoc sanitation to piped water and organized sewerage. By the turn of the 20th century access to potable water was regarded as a right, not a commodity. |
| Societies are actually going backwards. Privatization is retrogressive, a necessary step only for societies who have run out of options to make profits from productive labor. Its ultimately self-defeating as the health and welfare of the population as a whole is compromised. | Societies are actually going backwards. Privatization is retrogressive, a necessary step only for societies who have run out of options to make profits from productive labor. Its ultimately self-defeating as the health and welfare of the population as a whole is compromised. |
| Brazil has a vast coastline of pristine beaches, so why do the events have to be held in Rio at all? I will never understand this rigid, inflexible focus on coming out parties for Olympic cities. It was unrealistic to expect any cleanup when you factor in the "squatter" slums of some four million people that surround the city, built without water or sanitation. Cities should already be clean when that corrupt bidding process begins. | Brazil has a vast coastline of pristine beaches, so why do the events have to be held in Rio at all? I will never understand this rigid, inflexible focus on coming out parties for Olympic cities. It was unrealistic to expect any cleanup when you factor in the "squatter" slums of some four million people that surround the city, built without water or sanitation. Cities should already be clean when that corrupt bidding process begins. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.25pm BST | at 2.25pm BST |
| 2.04pm BST | 2.04pm BST |
| 14:04 | 14:04 |
| Let the Games begin! | Let the Games begin! |
| Paul Campbell | Paul Campbell |
| The week before the Olympics is always a drag. It dawdles along with all the urgency of a slug in summer, only stopping to spit out bad news. So far week we’ve had word from Rio that the judges and referees might be corrupt, the water is dangerous, the infrastructure is collapsing, and that Great Britain might not even exist by the time the next Olympics come along. | The week before the Olympics is always a drag. It dawdles along with all the urgency of a slug in summer, only stopping to spit out bad news. So far week we’ve had word from Rio that the judges and referees might be corrupt, the water is dangerous, the infrastructure is collapsing, and that Great Britain might not even exist by the time the next Olympics come along. |
| But we’ve been here before. In the week before London 2012 we worried about athletes not going to the opening ceremony, transport confusion and the exorbitant cost of the whole thing. | But we’ve been here before. In the week before London 2012 we worried about athletes not going to the opening ceremony, transport confusion and the exorbitant cost of the whole thing. |
| Related: 'It completely changed my life': your memories from London 2012 | Related: 'It completely changed my life': your memories from London 2012 |
| The day before the opening ceremony in 2012, Mitt Romney reported “disconcerting signs” in London and suggested that the city was not ready for such a big undertaking. By the time the summer was out, everyone was asking a different question: had we just enjoyed the greatest Games in history? | The day before the opening ceremony in 2012, Mitt Romney reported “disconcerting signs” in London and suggested that the city was not ready for such a big undertaking. By the time the summer was out, everyone was asking a different question: had we just enjoyed the greatest Games in history? |
| The turnaround might not be so spectacular this time around – and it is clear that the Brazilian government and the Olympic movement have serious, long-term problems that need to be addressed – but it’s worth remembering that, once the sport begins, little can touch the Olympics for magic. This is no ordinary sporting competition. The Games as we know them began in 776BC, when a Greek baker by the name of Koroibos stripped off his clothes and ran across a stadium in Olympia quicker than any of his fellow athletes. | The turnaround might not be so spectacular this time around – and it is clear that the Brazilian government and the Olympic movement have serious, long-term problems that need to be addressed – but it’s worth remembering that, once the sport begins, little can touch the Olympics for magic. This is no ordinary sporting competition. The Games as we know them began in 776BC, when a Greek baker by the name of Koroibos stripped off his clothes and ran across a stadium in Olympia quicker than any of his fellow athletes. |
| The stories have kept coming in the last 2,792 years. At the first modern Games, in 1986, Edwin Flack won the 800m and 1,500m events despite suffering a hefty bout of travel sickness during his six-day journey from London to Athens. The trainee accountant was so buoyed by his success that he entered the marathon event – even though he had never run more than 10 miles before in his life. He finished second, not bad for a man who had snuck off to Athens without telling colleagues as he worried he might be fired. | The stories have kept coming in the last 2,792 years. At the first modern Games, in 1986, Edwin Flack won the 800m and 1,500m events despite suffering a hefty bout of travel sickness during his six-day journey from London to Athens. The trainee accountant was so buoyed by his success that he entered the marathon event – even though he had never run more than 10 miles before in his life. He finished second, not bad for a man who had snuck off to Athens without telling colleagues as he worried he might be fired. |
| Four years later, at the 1900 Olympics in Paris, a young art student by the name of Margaret Abbott decided to enter the golf competition as she was in the city. She beat all comers – including her mother, who also entered – to win a porcelain bowl (gold medals weren’t used at the Olympics until 1904 – and they haven’t been made out of solid gold since 1912). Abbott had no idea that the golf competition was part of the Games and she died in 1955 without knowing she was America’s first female Olympic champion. | Four years later, at the 1900 Olympics in Paris, a young art student by the name of Margaret Abbott decided to enter the golf competition as she was in the city. She beat all comers – including her mother, who also entered – to win a porcelain bowl (gold medals weren’t used at the Olympics until 1904 – and they haven’t been made out of solid gold since 1912). Abbott had no idea that the golf competition was part of the Games and she died in 1955 without knowing she was America’s first female Olympic champion. |
| There are already some good news coming out of Rio, such as the journey Ellis Hill took to see his son compete in the shot put at the Games. Hill drives for Uber in Pennsylvania, where he happened to tell a customer that his son was competing at the Games but he couldn’t afford to travel down to Brazil to support him. The passenger set up a crowdfunding page as she thought it was only right that a father could see his son become an Olympian. The money was raised in one wee and Ellis will be in Rio to cheer on his boy. Hopefully the rest of us will enjoy the show when the the Games begin. | There are already some good news coming out of Rio, such as the journey Ellis Hill took to see his son compete in the shot put at the Games. Hill drives for Uber in Pennsylvania, where he happened to tell a customer that his son was competing at the Games but he couldn’t afford to travel down to Brazil to support him. The passenger set up a crowdfunding page as she thought it was only right that a father could see his son become an Olympian. The money was raised in one wee and Ellis will be in Rio to cheer on his boy. Hopefully the rest of us will enjoy the show when the the Games begin. |
| 1.47pm BST | 1.47pm BST |
| 13:47 | 13:47 |
| John Harris: my favourite article of the week | John Harris: my favourite article of the week |
| John Harris | John Harris |
| With the Olympics upon us, Jason Burke’s piece about elite Kenyan distance runners shone brilliant light on the mess of stuff that lies behind international competition: global inequality, the way athletics funds whole chunks of Kenyan society, the constant shadow of doping, and the fact that many Kenyans see athletics as “a shortcut to financial security and success.” The quotes alone were fascinating, as in the case of the marathon runner Wesley Korir, who’ll be competing in Rio. “People always ask: Why do we run so fast?” he said. “There’s a simple answer. We are running away from poverty.” | With the Olympics upon us, Jason Burke’s piece about elite Kenyan distance runners shone brilliant light on the mess of stuff that lies behind international competition: global inequality, the way athletics funds whole chunks of Kenyan society, the constant shadow of doping, and the fact that many Kenyans see athletics as “a shortcut to financial security and success.” The quotes alone were fascinating, as in the case of the marathon runner Wesley Korir, who’ll be competing in Rio. “People always ask: Why do we run so fast?” he said. “There’s a simple answer. We are running away from poverty.” |
| Related: Eldoret: the Kenyan town trying to 'run away from poverty' | Related: Eldoret: the Kenyan town trying to 'run away from poverty' |
| 1.18pm BST | 1.18pm BST |
| 13:18 | 13:18 |
| 'We’re much more worried about sex': millennials' sexual encounters | 'We’re much more worried about sex': millennials' sexual encounters |
| Sarah Marsh | Sarah Marsh |
| We also asked our readers for views on the study which said millennials are having less sex. Here are two very different responses. | We also asked our readers for views on the study which said millennials are having less sex. Here are two very different responses. |
| No, we’re not having less sex | No, we’re not having less sex |
| Hatty, 25, London: to millennials, the older generation’s obsession with sex seems really backward | Hatty, 25, London: to millennials, the older generation’s obsession with sex seems really backward |
| Millennials are not less interested in sex, we just have less to prove about it. | Millennials are not less interested in sex, we just have less to prove about it. |
| In the UK at least, 1990s “ladette” culture saw young women proving their feminist credentials by being more like the boys and having more casual sexual encounters than they might actually have wanted to. Millennials, on the other hand, have no pressure from family to remain virginal (my mum put me on the pill and bought me condoms without batting an eyelid), but also no pressure to be sexually liberated either. | In the UK at least, 1990s “ladette” culture saw young women proving their feminist credentials by being more like the boys and having more casual sexual encounters than they might actually have wanted to. Millennials, on the other hand, have no pressure from family to remain virginal (my mum put me on the pill and bought me condoms without batting an eyelid), but also no pressure to be sexually liberated either. |
| There is also less pressure on men to be macho about sex. I have a male friend who waited until his early 20s to lose his virginity, because he wanted it to be within the context of a loving relationship and he wasn’t afraid to tell people that. | There is also less pressure on men to be macho about sex. I have a male friend who waited until his early 20s to lose his virginity, because he wanted it to be within the context of a loving relationship and he wasn’t afraid to tell people that. |
| To millennials, the older generation’s obsession with sex and their highly restrictive gender-normative approach seems backward. | To millennials, the older generation’s obsession with sex and their highly restrictive gender-normative approach seems backward. |
| Yes, we have less sex for many reasons | Yes, we have less sex for many reasons |
| Jordan, 26, Essex: nowadays people prefer to stay in, rather than go out and interact | Jordan, 26, Essex: nowadays people prefer to stay in, rather than go out and interact |
| There are many reasons why millennials are less into sex, the main one being the rise in technology. Social skills are dependent on human interaction, and nowadays people do not make effort to go out and meet others, they prefer to stay in and interact online instead. This coupled with worries about contracting sexually transmitted diseases means a lot of people would rather just stay in and watch porn. | There are many reasons why millennials are less into sex, the main one being the rise in technology. Social skills are dependent on human interaction, and nowadays people do not make effort to go out and meet others, they prefer to stay in and interact online instead. This coupled with worries about contracting sexually transmitted diseases means a lot of people would rather just stay in and watch porn. |
| 1.17pm BST | 1.17pm BST |
| 13:17 | 13:17 |
| Behind the story: are millennials really having less sex? | Behind the story: are millennials really having less sex? |
| Nicola Davis | Nicola Davis |
| The sex lives of millennials came under the microscope this week. Here, Nicola Davis, who writes about science and technology for the Guardian and Observer, talks about working on this story. | The sex lives of millennials came under the microscope this week. Here, Nicola Davis, who writes about science and technology for the Guardian and Observer, talks about working on this story. |
| One of the studies I covered this week looked at the sex lives of Americans, revealing that a greater proportion of young adults today are abstinent than they were in previous generations. The study is the latest in a string of papers based on the US General Social Survey - which has asked questions about sexual behaviour almost every year since the late 1980s. And, as always, it throws up food for thought. | One of the studies I covered this week looked at the sex lives of Americans, revealing that a greater proportion of young adults today are abstinent than they were in previous generations. The study is the latest in a string of papers based on the US General Social Survey - which has asked questions about sexual behaviour almost every year since the late 1980s. And, as always, it throws up food for thought. |
| When it comes to sex, it turns out that people’s behaviour is rather different to what current social narratives would have us believe. Yes, the rise of online dating and apps such as Tinder, Happn and Bumble have changed the way people date, but the new research shows that the “youth of today” are not, in fact, more promiscuous than older generations were when they were young. | When it comes to sex, it turns out that people’s behaviour is rather different to what current social narratives would have us believe. Yes, the rise of online dating and apps such as Tinder, Happn and Bumble have changed the way people date, but the new research shows that the “youth of today” are not, in fact, more promiscuous than older generations were when they were young. |
| We don’t yet know why. Although pornography, worries about sexually transmitted infections, the rise of online TV and even changing definitions of what sex is could all play a role, the old adage of “more research needed” applies. | We don’t yet know why. Although pornography, worries about sexually transmitted infections, the rise of online TV and even changing definitions of what sex is could all play a role, the old adage of “more research needed” applies. |
| But with attitudes towards premarital sex, and sexual behaviour more broadly, becoming more tolerant, the authors also put forward a more upbeat idea regarding the rise in abstinence among young adults. “This disconnect may speak to rising individualism wherein individuals hold permissive attitudes about a variety of behaviours while also feeling less pressure to conform in their own behaviour,” they write. | But with attitudes towards premarital sex, and sexual behaviour more broadly, becoming more tolerant, the authors also put forward a more upbeat idea regarding the rise in abstinence among young adults. “This disconnect may speak to rising individualism wherein individuals hold permissive attitudes about a variety of behaviours while also feeling less pressure to conform in their own behaviour,” they write. |
| 1.10pm BST | 1.10pm BST |
| 13:10 | 13:10 |
| Matthew Holmes | Matthew Holmes |
| I asked for some opinions on last night’s Labour leadership debate (yes, really, John ... ) | I asked for some opinions on last night’s Labour leadership debate (yes, really, John ... ) |
| You are really asking for it. | You are really asking for it. |
| Do you go around poking sleeping dogs with sticks too? | Do you go around poking sleeping dogs with sticks too? |
| Anyway, some of you have been happily discussing below – and while there’s voracity to discussions elsewhere, not all of you are drawn in: | Anyway, some of you have been happily discussing below – and while there’s voracity to discussions elsewhere, not all of you are drawn in: |
| For myself I've completely lost interest in Labour's internal war because it just doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Both sides have become firmly entrenched in their beliefs and believe their Labour would romp to victory if only it weren't for the other side and their wrong-headed ideas. They don't seem to be willing to risk a split either, so we can probably expect Labour to remain a lame duck for the foreseeable future. | For myself I've completely lost interest in Labour's internal war because it just doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Both sides have become firmly entrenched in their beliefs and believe their Labour would romp to victory if only it weren't for the other side and their wrong-headed ideas. They don't seem to be willing to risk a split either, so we can probably expect Labour to remain a lame duck for the foreseeable future. |
| It doesn't matter what anyone says or does in the leadership campaign - Corbyn is bound to win by a large margin, but that's not going to make a jot of difference. Frankly I'm somewhat surprised that Smith chose to run - he seems like a bright spark and he must surely know that it's a foregone conclusion. He could have left Eagle to take the fall. | It doesn't matter what anyone says or does in the leadership campaign - Corbyn is bound to win by a large margin, but that's not going to make a jot of difference. Frankly I'm somewhat surprised that Smith chose to run - he seems like a bright spark and he must surely know that it's a foregone conclusion. He could have left Eagle to take the fall. |
| It does seem to be picking up attention as the morning goes on, but outside the guardian have been quite shocked by how little coverage it got in the news at breakfast. No matter what you think about it it is the leader of the party in place to hold the government to account so deserves more than a passing nod. | It does seem to be picking up attention as the morning goes on, but outside the guardian have been quite shocked by how little coverage it got in the news at breakfast. No matter what you think about it it is the leader of the party in place to hold the government to account so deserves more than a passing nod. |
| Almost nobody in the office knew it was going on... and I have to admit I completely forgot about it last night despite being a regular on these pages and more politically engaged than the average Joe. | Almost nobody in the office knew it was going on... and I have to admit I completely forgot about it last night despite being a regular on these pages and more politically engaged than the average Joe. |
| What do you think? Get involved in the comments by scrolling down, or click on the time stamps in the above to reply. | What do you think? Get involved in the comments by scrolling down, or click on the time stamps in the above to reply. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.11pm BST | at 1.11pm BST |
| 12.58pm BST | 12.58pm BST |
| 12:58 | 12:58 |
| Readers are sharing underwhelming holiday photos | Readers are sharing underwhelming holiday photos |
| The weather in the UK hasn’t been great lately, and readers have been telling us – and showing us – their experiences of a very British summer so far. Many of you will recognise the scenes in this gallery showcasing some of the, er, ‘best’ images – if you have shots of your own you can add them too by clicking on the blue GuardianWitness contribute buttons on this article. | The weather in the UK hasn’t been great lately, and readers have been telling us – and showing us – their experiences of a very British summer so far. Many of you will recognise the scenes in this gallery showcasing some of the, er, ‘best’ images – if you have shots of your own you can add them too by clicking on the blue GuardianWitness contribute buttons on this article. |
| Related: Your underwhelming British holiday photos | Related: Your underwhelming British holiday photos |
| 12.41pm BST | 12.41pm BST |
| 12:41 | 12:41 |
| Should this smiley volcano be 2016's profile picture? | Should this smiley volcano be 2016's profile picture? |
| Zofia Niemtus | Zofia Niemtus |
| Zofia Niemtus is commissioning editor for the Guardian’s education networks. | Zofia Niemtus is commissioning editor for the Guardian’s education networks. |
| My favourite story of the week came on Tuesday and involved a volcano that looked like a smiley face. In fact, that was the entire thing: a helicopter flew over the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii and filmed some lava that looked like two eyes and a grinning mouth. But those 20 seconds of footage became so much more. | My favourite story of the week came on Tuesday and involved a volcano that looked like a smiley face. In fact, that was the entire thing: a helicopter flew over the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii and filmed some lava that looked like two eyes and a grinning mouth. But those 20 seconds of footage became so much more. |
| In the comments, on Twitter and in the area around my desk, the molten smirk started to function as a fiery Rorschach test. Have a look and think about how it makes you feel. Done? Ok. | In the comments, on Twitter and in the area around my desk, the molten smirk started to function as a fiery Rorschach test. Have a look and think about how it makes you feel. Done? Ok. |
| Now forget about all the groups you think you belong to – humanity is divided into two camps from here on: people who thought “Awww, that volcano looks like it’s smiling!” and those who responded with “Holy shit that volcano looks like it’s smiling! We are in the End Times.” | Now forget about all the groups you think you belong to – humanity is divided into two camps from here on: people who thought “Awww, that volcano looks like it’s smiling!” and those who responded with “Holy shit that volcano looks like it’s smiling! We are in the End Times.” |
| Some saw it as a message from – variously – God, Mother Nature and the devil. Others enjoyed the reminder of Fight Club, Watchmen and that Pixar short about the lonely volcano. I liked being reminded of the term pareidolia and the hypnotic @FacesInThings Twitter account. | Some saw it as a message from – variously – God, Mother Nature and the devil. Others enjoyed the reminder of Fight Club, Watchmen and that Pixar short about the lonely volcano. I liked being reminded of the term pareidolia and the hypnotic @FacesInThings Twitter account. |
| My favourite response, though, came from @garwboy, who summed it up with the phrase “I see that 2016 has finally chosen its profile picture”. Be afraid. | My favourite response, though, came from @garwboy, who summed it up with the phrase “I see that 2016 has finally chosen its profile picture”. Be afraid. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.52pm BST | at 12.52pm BST |
| 12.13pm BST | 12.13pm BST |
| 12:13 | 12:13 |
| Our most-read stories this week | Our most-read stories this week |
| Sarah Marsh | Sarah Marsh |
| Every week we will draw attention to the stories people have been reading – with the aim of prompting debate around them. | Every week we will draw attention to the stories people have been reading – with the aim of prompting debate around them. |
| Among our most-read this week was a stream of stories about a man who gets more air-time (mainly for his outrageous comments) than a plane: Donald Trump. This week the Republican candidate went for Khizr Khan, the father of a Muslim American soldier who died to protect his unit. Khan rebuked Trump as unpatriotic and selfish, to which Trump said: “I’d like to hear his wife say something.” Another popular comment piece asked: Trump has gone totally off the rails. Will his base finally notice? | Among our most-read this week was a stream of stories about a man who gets more air-time (mainly for his outrageous comments) than a plane: Donald Trump. This week the Republican candidate went for Khizr Khan, the father of a Muslim American soldier who died to protect his unit. Khan rebuked Trump as unpatriotic and selfish, to which Trump said: “I’d like to hear his wife say something.” Another popular comment piece asked: Trump has gone totally off the rails. Will his base finally notice? |
| The mural of Hillary Clinton in a bikini (and later a niqab) also got people talking. | The mural of Hillary Clinton in a bikini (and later a niqab) also got people talking. |
| Related: Hillary Clinton bikini mural covered with niqab after public decency complaints | Related: Hillary Clinton bikini mural covered with niqab after public decency complaints |
| And Pokémon Go is also still garnering people’s interest, with five tricks for pro players getting a lot of clicks. | And Pokémon Go is also still garnering people’s interest, with five tricks for pro players getting a lot of clicks. |
| Related: Pokémon Go: five tricks for pro players that are almost as good as cheats | Related: Pokémon Go: five tricks for pro players that are almost as good as cheats |
| If you’re totally bored of hearing about the game, though – even if you are a player – Samuel Gibbs has some great tips on How to stop playing Pokémon Go ... | If you’re totally bored of hearing about the game, though – even if you are a player – Samuel Gibbs has some great tips on How to stop playing Pokémon Go ... |
| 12.01pm BST | 12.01pm BST |
| 12:01 | 12:01 |
| Welcome to our social! | Welcome to our social! |
| Sarah Marsh | Sarah Marsh |
| Hello and welcome to our second Guardian social. The idea is simple: every week we will open a comment thread below a live blog, creating a space for our readers to come together and discuss the week’s news and comment. It’s also a place to also share projects and ideas. | Hello and welcome to our second Guardian social. The idea is simple: every week we will open a comment thread below a live blog, creating a space for our readers to come together and discuss the week’s news and comment. It’s also a place to also share projects and ideas. |
| We will update the blog above the line with views from inside the building, including insight from our journalists on articles they’ve worked on. | We will update the blog above the line with views from inside the building, including insight from our journalists on articles they’ve worked on. |
| Last week we trialled the idea and this week we have slightly changed the format based on your suggestions. Among those of you who got in touch offering ideas into how it could work better, fripouille advised keeping comments open for longer – something we’ve taken on board. | Last week we trialled the idea and this week we have slightly changed the format based on your suggestions. Among those of you who got in touch offering ideas into how it could work better, fripouille advised keeping comments open for longer – something we’ve taken on board. |
| He added: “It was wonderful to see you and other staffers below the line ... We readers like to know we are being read and everyone appreciates receiving a response, particularly on what is designed to be a light-hearted and interactive thread.” | He added: “It was wonderful to see you and other staffers below the line ... We readers like to know we are being read and everyone appreciates receiving a response, particularly on what is designed to be a light-hearted and interactive thread.” |
| We welcome more opinions on this, so please share them in this form as well as in the comments. We want to create a community space for our readers to talk to us as well as eachother, and your involvement in how this evolves is key. | We welcome more opinions on this, so please share them in this form as well as in the comments. We want to create a community space for our readers to talk to us as well as eachother, and your involvement in how this evolves is key. |
| Join us today from 12pm-4pm for round two of our social feature. | Join us today from 12pm-4pm for round two of our social feature. |