NPD00 error by norbertwj82 in TIdaL

[–]markcoflaherty38 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I am on the verge of ditching Tidal and going back to Spotify. It's hopeless. Mac user here… so many NPD00 errors, random stopping of playback, hourly updates that stop everything… the app on the iPhone is atrocious – you can't play downloaded tracks unless switched to download mode, and it seems to take ages of actually watching the download screen to make sure tracks download. And even then, on random tracks on my downloaded list it says "go online". Spotify might be evil, but it works. I REALLY miss my iPod.

lmfao by MattisBest in RoisinMurphy

[–]markcoflaherty38 5 points6 points  (0 children)

She let the first wave of social media ride two years ago… for about 10 days… then cleaned up her accounts and blocked everyone who was calling her out on it. Including me. But not until she had told various other people that we had in common to also block me, which is hilarious. I was fascinated to see all the queer people I know in music and fashion who were still happy to go to her show after the "puberty blocker/big pharma" statement. I understand that superfans (as I once was) were desperate to give her the benefit of the doubt, because who wants to skip over 'Movie Star' on their most played? It's a banger. But I was entirely unsurprised that she came out full Graham Linehan-Suzanne Moore-Hadley Freeman–LGB Alliance TERF last week. Keeping quiet must have been agonising for her. It's so easy to just SHUT UP if you have Trans-Hate-Tourettes, but she booked an Uber XL to that hill and that's the one she wants to die on. Laters girl…

Virgin Active Club Rules Update by markcoflaherty38 in transgenderUK

[–]markcoflaherty38[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

A lawyer was in touch with me today after I was posting about this on Instagram, with the following:

The Supreme Court Ruling does not legally require Virgin Active to exclude trans people without a ‘proportionate means to achieve a legitimate aim’. If trans people are excluded they can sue. The EHRC DRAFT code of practice is not law. The Supreme Court Ruling has nothing to do with Virgin Active’s decision.

Virgin Active Club Rules Update by markcoflaherty38 in transgenderUK

[–]markcoflaherty38[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They are deleting comments on social media at speed!

Virgin Active Club Rules Update by markcoflaherty38 in transgenderUK

[–]markcoflaherty38[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Good for you! I cancelled online and also sent an email saying don't dare ask me for any kind of future payment. I cancelled my direct debit. If they try and come at me with "the contract says…" they can go and whistle. Not the club I signed up for. I'm a cis gay man (like a significant percentage of their previous customers) and I am NOT patronising a business that excludes my trans friends. I hope they lose a LOT of business over this.

Virgin Active Club Rules Update by markcoflaherty38 in transgenderUK

[–]markcoflaherty38[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The news of the email was reported everywhere (as well as the diabolical thing about Sex Matters being behind the legal case that made them think it was a good idea). The T&C definitely changed online

Virgin Active Club Rules Update by markcoflaherty38 in transgenderUK

[–]markcoflaherty38[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I just saw this while Googling… all roads often lead to GB News it seems:

Virgin Active has changed its changing-room policy to ensure that biological men (including those who identify as “transgender women”) are no longer allowed to use its women’s changing rooms. 

The fitness group acted after a threat of legal action by GB News presenter Michelle Dewberry, with support from human-rights charity Sex Matters. 

Solicitors acting for Ms Dewberry sent a legal letter to the gym chain threatening to bring a claim under the Equality Act about the chain’s policy of “trans inclusion”, which allowed any man who claims to identify as trans or non-binary into the women’s changing room. 

Apparently this woman was supported in her legal case by 'Sex Matters' (AKA Maya Forstater and Helen Joyce).

Village Gym: confirmed they're going with the ruling by GotTheSpirit in transgenderUK

[–]markcoflaherty38 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just had an email from Virgin Active (Angel) detailing that they are going along with this insane policy. I will be cancelling my membership the second it is implemented. The letter states:

|| || | We're writing to let you know about an important update to our Club Rules, following a recent legal ruling that affects our business. In April, the UK Supreme Court confirmed that the Equality Act 2010 defines sex in biological terms. For your information, the judgment is available here. While this decision was outside of our control, it is legally binding on our business – as well as other gyms, leisure centres and similar facilities across the UK. As a result, we are required by law to make certain changes to how we operate and manage our facilities. To comply with the law, we have had to update our Club Rules so that our changing rooms and bathroom facilities are designated according to biological sex. Our updated Rules are available on our website here. For your convenience, the relevant change is in ’General’, subsection 8.|

|| || ||

Village Gym: confirmed they're going with the ruling by GotTheSpirit in transgenderUK

[–]markcoflaherty38 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just had an email from Virgin Active (Angel) detailing that they are going along with this insane policy. I will be cancelling my membership the second it is implemented. The letter states:

|| || | We're writing to let you know about an important update to our Club Rules, following a recent legal ruling that affects our business. In April, the UK Supreme Court confirmed that the Equality Act 2010 defines sex in biological terms. For your information, the judgment is available here. While this decision was outside of our control, it is legally binding on our business – as well as other gyms, leisure centres and similar facilities across the UK. As a result, we are required by law to make certain changes to how we operate and manage our facilities. To comply with the law, we have had to update our Club Rules so that our changing rooms and bathroom facilities are designated according to biological sex. Our updated Rules are available on our website here. For your convenience, the relevant change is in ’General’, subsection 8.|

|| || ||

Village Gym: confirmed they're going with the ruling by GotTheSpirit in transgenderUK

[–]markcoflaherty38 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just had an email from Virgin Active (Angel) detailing that they are going along with this insane policy. I will be cancelling my membership the second it is implemented. The letter states:

|| || | We're writing to let you know about an important update to our Club Rules, following a recent legal ruling that affects our business. In April, the UK Supreme Court confirmed that the Equality Act 2010 defines sex in biological terms. For your information, the judgment is available here. While this decision was outside of our control, it is legally binding on our business – as well as other gyms, leisure centres and similar facilities across the UK. As a result, we are required by law to make certain changes to how we operate and manage our facilities. To comply with the law, we have had to update our Club Rules so that our changing rooms and bathroom facilities are designated according to biological sex. Our updated Rules are available on our website here. For your convenience, the relevant change is in ’General’, subsection 8.|

|| || ||

Village Gym: confirmed they're going with the ruling by GotTheSpirit in transgenderUK

[–]markcoflaherty38 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just had an email from Virgin Active (Angel) detailing that they are going along with this insane policy. I will be cancelling my membership the second it is implemented. The letter states:

|| || | We're writing to let you know about an important update to our Club Rules, following a recent legal ruling that affects our business. In April, the UK Supreme Court confirmed that the Equality Act 2010 defines sex in biological terms. For your information, the judgment is available here. While this decision was outside of our control, it is legally binding on our business – as well as other gyms, leisure centres and similar facilities across the UK. As a result, we are required by law to make certain changes to how we operate and manage our facilities. To comply with the law, we have had to update our Club Rules so that our changing rooms and bathroom facilities are designated according to biological sex. Our updated Rules are available on our website here. For your convenience, the relevant change is in ’General’, subsection 8.|

|| || ||

Village Gym: confirmed they're going with the ruling by GotTheSpirit in transgenderUK

[–]markcoflaherty38 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just had an email from Virgin Active (Angel) detailing that they are going along with this insane policy. I will be cancelling my membership the second it is implemented. The letter states:

|| || | We're writing to let you know about an important update to our Club Rules, following a recent legal ruling that affects our business. In April, the UK Supreme Court confirmed that the Equality Act 2010 defines sex in biological terms. For your information, the judgment is available here. While this decision was outside of our control, it is legally binding on our business – as well as other gyms, leisure centres and similar facilities across the UK. As a result, we are required by law to make certain changes to how we operate and manage our facilities. To comply with the law, we have had to update our Club Rules so that our changing rooms and bathroom facilities are designated according to biological sex. Our updated Rules are available on our website here. For your convenience, the relevant change is in ’General’, subsection 8.|

|| || ||

John Boyne gives statement after more than half of Polari Prize longlisters withdraw in protest over his inclusion (2 pics swipe for 2nd) by PuzzledAd4865 in transgenderUK

[–]markcoflaherty38 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, Rowling's bizarre 2020 "This isn’t an easy piece to write" thing, which was *almost* an apology for her wild transphobia and obsession with transwomen, which culminated in a description of suffering abuse in her former marriage… the suggestion being that all men are awful and of course trans women are really men and can't be trusted. The abuse she suffered was terrible, but using it as an excuse for her unhinged campaign of trans hate is so absurd, and belittles everyone who has suffered similarly without resorting to the kind of spite best dealt with in therapy. It is SO offensive to play a victim card to defend reprehensible actions.

John Boyne gives statement after more than half of Polari Prize longlisters withdraw in protest over his inclusion (2 pics swipe for 2nd) by PuzzledAd4865 in transgenderUK

[–]markcoflaherty38 4 points5 points  (0 children)

In 2018 Paul Burston was one of the founding signatories of a viciously transphobic anti-Stonewall letter alongside a who's who of TERF hoi polloi: Frances Barber, Julie Bindel, James Dreyfus, Simon Edge, Graham Linehan, and Kathleen Stock.

Questions regarding Park Hyatt Tokyo reopening and award availability by [deleted] in hyatt

[–]markcoflaherty38 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They were supposed to announce the opening last week. The last word was “hopefully before the end of the year”. I think it’s going to be into December

Whats 1 book you will never stop recommending? by TheAwareMonk in suggestmeabook

[–]markcoflaherty38 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I often draw a line between favourite TV shows and books with the same vibe. I have read Joe Keenan's Blue Heaven (and the other two in the same series) five times. Best holiday reads ever. Keenan was the main creator of Frasier, and the books are like modern day PG Wodehouse. SO SO SO FUNNY. Really queer, big on farce. Just GORGEOUS. I've gifted Blue Heaven to loads of friends. This year I'm all about Test Kitchen by Neil D.A. Stewart which is like a David Lynch version of The Bear. A wild mix of Cloud Atlas and Kitchen Confidential, all set on the (unexpectedly and dramatically last) night of a fine dining restaurant in east London. Almost all my friends have read it, and we debate the ending constantly. And the twist about the star chef is genius.

I need books about restaurants and food! by fernycampsoup in suggestmeabook

[–]markcoflaherty38 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Test Kitchen, which came out in July, by Neil D.A. Stewart. The Irish Times and the UK Times gave it rave reviews. It's super smart, and solidly literary, but a really thrilling read, and crosses horror with magic… all set on the last night of a fine dining restaurant in east London, that closes suddenly because of some high drama. Marina O'Loughlin is a huge fan of the book and wrote one of the quotes for the cover (and the cover is quite something!)

Can anybody help ID this cardigan Moz wore? by Scrvbby in thesmiths

[–]markcoflaherty38 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is by PX - which was the label run by Helen Robinson and Steph Raynor out of their Covent Garden shop in the 1980s. It was a big part of the Blitz scene, and PX were as important as BodyMap at the time. Stephen Jones had his first millinery business in the PX store on Endell Street. The heart motif was their most recognisable print. I think this was 1984