Remember how we all breathed a huge sigh of relief when those juddering dancing coke cans of our youth finally disappeared off the scene? Well be prepared to be live through it all again with this year’s latest craze – My Keepon.

Benefiting from being a whole lot cuter than those cans (and also have much better dance moves), this new toy may look like two tennis balls stuck together, but the reality he’s a very clever little guy having been originally produced not for fun, but as a tool to help autistic children nearly a decade ago!

Created originally in Japan by Dr Hideki Kozima, who wanted to test a theory that a robot capable of responding to gestures and touches could improve the social interactional skills of autistic children, this robot wasn’t cheap … in fact Keepon Pro cost a rather pricey $30,000.

The good news though was that it was worth it. The combination of technical wizardry and cute, simple design was a winner and was to see autistic children not only make more eye contact than they normally would, but also became more nurturing towards it.

However as impressive as this all was, it wasn’t My Keepon’s educational side that was to win him so may fans. That was all down to his dancing, something that he was taught by Dr Marek Michalowski who became part of the project after hearing about what Kozima had achieved.  Achieving it through clever computer programming that makes our heads hurt just thinking about it, Michalowski decided to show off Keepon’s skills on Youtube dancing to the band Spoon’s “I Turn My Camera On”.

Turning this educational tool into a viral sensation soon everyone wanted one, but there was a slight problem … that $30,000. Cue our heroes in toy manufacturer’s clothing Wow Stuff coming on the scene and working with the duo to create something a whole lot more affordable at around £40!

Super cute My Keepon may have lost some of his technical wizardry, but all the best bits are there – he responds to touch with bounces, twists and sounds and turn on some music and he’ll not only start moving, but do it exactly to the beat… and the coolest thing?! Unlike us he never does the same dance move twice and what’s even better is as well as being hugely entertaining, he’s also a charitable little guy as a percentage of each Keepon sale goes to autism research.

Fancy one of your own? You can find out more on the My Keepon Toy site which as well as offering a much more indepth look at this cute guy and even a Keepon: Where To Buy guide. Seriously those guys are spoiling you!

Whilst most of us think of the London Borough of Islington has being a place we don’t quite fit in because it’s constructed as being somewhere only the rich hang out there, a recent report has shown that there’s another big reason why we’re likely not to, and that for being gay. Seen as a shocking to many who have long perceived the Borough to be one of the most inclusive, the figures shown that from 2010 to 2011 the figures saw a 50% increase in homophobic crimes whilst boroughs around them either remained static or fell.

Undoubtedly worrying, it is, as Joe Dyke of Islington Now states, important to take into consideration the fact that this doesn’t necessarily mean homophobic crime numbers are in reality going up, but more that people are more confident to report them. However having said that this has quickly become the same old reason rolled out by the police authorities every time a rise occurs. If it is true that it’s all about more confidence in the police in dealing with the issues then can we all expect to see figures fall below that of 2010 as their work takes effect? We’ll have to wait and see…

Photo credit: j thorn explains it all

The BBC has apologised for comments made by Hugh Grant during a televised half time chat during England’s Six Nation win over Scotland last weekend after complaints that his comments were homophobic.

Related to the Grant’s comment on playing rugby at school and finding “it hurt less if you tackled hard than if you tackled like a queen” the BBC said they apologised for any offence that it’s choice of words may have caused. Hugh Grant himself so far has not many any comment.

Via The Sun.

Grindr, the smartphone app for the iPhone, Blackberry and Android that has revolutionised the world of gay dating has announced that it is going straight with a new app called Project Amicus.

Utilising the same location based technology as Grindr does, the new app will allow users to locate other users nearby to meet up with, something that is likely to not only be hugely popular with those using the service, but also cause founder Joel Simkhai to come under further criticism from those who feel the application promotes sexual promiscuity.

All we’re worried about is making sure we’re using the right app. Now that could be awkward if you accidentally click into the wrong one…

Via Channel 4 News.

Swedish footballer, Anton Hysen has got the sports world talking about gay issues all over again by coming out and revealing that is well coming out…

The son of former Liverpool defender Glenn Hysen, Anton revealed he was gay in Swedish football magazine “Offside”, saying he knew it might now affect his career negatively, but said that would be the problem of anyone who rejected him merely on his sexuality and not his.

Saying that it was “f****d up” that no other Swedish players had come out, he questioned why it would make any difference if someone was or wasn’t saying:

‘I am a footballer. And gay. If I perform as a footballer, then I do not think it matters if I like girls or boys.’

Via The Pink News

For someone who tends to feel sick when even thinking about saying sorry this has taken a bit of working up to, but today I have something of an apology and confession to make with the former is particularly aimed at the people of my hometown because it they who have had to suffer the harsh consequences of my action.

So what is it I’ve done you ask? Well it’s good of you to ask because otherwise this would have been a rather short column. The reality is it’s less what i’ve done, but what I’ve allowed to happen. You see basically I have had a curse on me. By whom I don’t know and why I’m even less sure about, but you can be 100% sure it exists, and the worst thing about it is it not only affects me, but everyone where I live.

But I must be exaggerating. How can it have such a big impact? Well because this isn’t a curse that means I will always trip over when going out the door (I can do this all by myself) or that every meeting I go to will be a flop. This curse is that absolutely everywhere I take women on dates to will then promptly close down within at most two months of said event occurring.

But that’s just the recession you say. Businesses are closing down all over the place, and I would normally agree with you, however the thing is that I have, singlehandedly for the last 8 years of my dating life caused thriving businesses to suddenly fail and I can prove it.

First there was the swanky restaurant. Guaranteed to impress, and also totally empty my bank account for at least two months afterwards with it’s main courses that needed a microscope to be seen, this place was definitely a winner in terms of winning over the doubting woman I was attempting to date. And so what better place to go a month or so after we were actually dating (yes it was one of those stupid we’ve been dating for 39 days and 49 minutes affair) than back to the one of the first places we went out? It would be perfect. And so off we went…. to find it had closed down the day before.

Now back then I have to admit I didn’t think anything of this as it was the first to be hit with my curse, so merely found a new place that was perfect for brunches the morning after the night before. And so off I tootled with a new date (well she was new the night before..). Now this place really had it’s work cut out because we’d had a tiny little row that morning (also known as quite a quite a big one), but it was more than up to it. Having my date forgetting that she was trying to look incredibly moody within moments of arriving and being treated like they’d known her all their lives, the owners quickly made up for the damage I’d caused and far from seeing her rush off like she’d told me was absolutely crucial at 8am that morning, we ended up spending the whole day together. Nothing but a total and utter win.

Seeing swanky restaurant dropped quicker from my list of favourite places than well something that drops really quickly, I felt good. I had a new “impress my date” place, and the best thing about this one was it was open all day and all evening meaning whatever time I was dating I was going to be able to impress my gorgeous date with this gorgeous place.

Except it happened again. I didn’t go there for a few week and what happens? The blooming place (which was always packed) had only gone and closed with the owners opening a new place inside a gym…. well like that was going to work for taking people to on a date!!

But that’s just two right? A mere coincidence. Well yes if it stopped there. Quickly followed by the cocktail bar that made for perfect second dates, the Spanish restaurant that always put a smile on a date’s face with it’s slightly wacky interior design, the Italian that not only came highly recommended by me for impressing with it’s authentic flavours, but also the UK newspaper The Guardian, the stunning riverside bar with it’s views along the Thames that bought out the romantic in anyone and the hotel with it’s private mooring and secluded dining that was perfect for those “I’m gay, but not comfortably being seen to be gay when I’m out, but at the same time I want to be able to be all romantic and feel like I’m on a date” dates, it quickly became obvious not only to me, but also to my friends that there was only one factor that really linked all these.

Me.

Leading my friends rather rudely giving me a list of places that they’d prefer I didn’t go in as they would like the places to stick around, I have to admit I did what I always do and didn’t listen at all and decided to (secretly as I’m actually a little bit scared of them) to recently go on a date in a bar on the list. I mean come on as much as I say I’m cursed it seems too silly for words that I would be, and well I’m not taking some woman to a horrible bar just so everyone else can keep going to nice places (actually that doesn’t sound quite so good now I’ve written it on paper).

And you know what it was fine. I went past the place a few days after and it was still there. Well that proved it. I’m not cursed.

Well it proved it till this morning when I ran past it only to discover the place has now gone out of business…. which now leaves only one place in the whole town that I have managed to take a woman on a date that hasn’t closed. Only slight problem. It’s a strip joint. Like that’s going to go down well.

Photo credit: Marcin Wichary

So let’s talk about what’s been on my mind lately: SEX, of course!

And for the record I’m not choosing to focus on that subject because I personally haven’t had any recently despite the recent visit of my 23 year-old girlfriend (what can I say? I was not much in the mood – or maybe I’m just too old already), but mainly because somehow my circle of friends is exaggeratingly having plenty of it. So what’s the problem you may ask? Well, quite honestly, said cortege of show-off friends is nauseatingly bragging a little beaucoup too much about it. Enough already! It’s like the stars in the sky have suddenly collectively gotten together to exclusively form some inexplicable metaphysical cliquish constellation conspiring against me. If I didn’t know better I’d really think I’m the targeted victim of a sting.

Don’t get me wrong, I am absolutely not jealous; I just don’t understand the uncontrollable need to kiss and tell. And I’m not just talking about the friends who indulge in a little ride on the sexual promiscuity wagon, but more so about the friends who are in a solid steady relationships.

I mean it’s to the point that I not only know the frequency of their sexual activities but as well their itinerary: the where, the what, the how and the who. And when it’s not verbally expressed then I get the sign language treatment namely, a cocky wink, a snarky rolling of the eyes, a smart-ass smirk, and the incomprehensible coded hand-speaking gestures. Either way, it’s too much information and certainly not the best feature of our friendship!

What is it about people that urgently make them want to tell the world about their latest bedroom exploits? Why do they have to scream it at the top of their lungs – isn’t that what they were just doing anyway and shouldn’t they consequently be worn out enough to simply shut up? Where do they find the nerves to insufferably make me endure the graphic detailed account of their episodic mini porn interludes?

Here’s clue: what happens in private needs to stay private! And by “private” I mean: I don’t need one of those special BFF phone calls; I don’t need a tete-a-tete coffee break turned white trash confessional, nor do I need the cocky absolutely retarded Facebook status updates scrolling down on my “recent posts” wall every 5 second. For the love of god, I beg you! Whatever is on your mind, keep it in that mind of yours if your don’t mind! It’s not cute, it’s not funny and it’s hardly attractive. Plus, and most importantly, I absolutely do not need the visual. I already have trouble sleeping and certainly don’t need to add “nightmares” to my list of nocturnal problems. Thanks but no thanks!

What is mind-blowing to me is the fact that they automatically assume that as their friend I have to be in on it and keep track of their sexual workout record. Not only am I not an accountant, but also I am neither their personal trainer. Here I am gesturing a common expression … closed captioning translation: I don’t give a fuck …EVER! (Pardon my French).

Sex is like the celebrity-race syndrome – it’s an ego-driven desperate vanity cry for unnecessary attention. Somehow as I’m writing this, I am instantly reminded of an anecdote a PR colleague of mine told me about this wannabe D-List celebrity who pathetically harassed a young barista at a coffee house to get a complimentary latte. Annoyed at the fact that the young lad had absolutely no idea as to whom this self-proclaimed celebrity was, the latter unabashedly logged online to show him an IMDB page ironically displaying a very scarce abundance of film/TV credits.

Just like it’s always infallibly the D-listers who seem to be inflicted with the Napoleon complex, similarly it’s always the friends who truly have nothing to show for whom continuously harass me with their pandemic fifteen minutes of fame. Without getting sanctimonious, it’s hardly good image uplift for them. With all due respect, my super superficial self is not particularly interested in being forced to mentally play an X-Rated movie with some fat-asses in the lead roles. I don’t know about you, but that’s definitely not a turn on for me.

It deeply pains me to see that some of my friends are in utter denial of their reality and not only boldly lie to me about the grandeur of their performance, but evidently do not tell themselves the truth about their own lives.

Dare I suggest that their obsessive need to boast about their sexual accomplishments is vastly a delusional psychological attempt indicative of their need to compensate for every aspect that makes up the rest of their dull lives?

And contrary to popular belief, women are actually worse than men in the public display of no inhibition department. When it comes to bragging about shagging, women and, more specifically lesbians, hold the gold medal. I’m not just talking out of my ass here! I’ve been on both sides of the “girlie talk” panel and, hands down, the gays are ahead of the “talk amongst yourselves” category.

At the risk of stereotyping, I’ve personally come to the conclusion that while straight women do tale-tell about their sexual encounters, lesbians, on the other hand, vaunt about sex regardless if it actually happened or not. It’s not that I am prude but you have to admit it’s not really kosher to openly divulge details of intimacy especially when the subject being publicly exposed is your significant other. In my book that indiscretion qualifies as total lack of respect.

Admittedly, I’m absolutely not opposed to sharing intimacies with my entourage.
As a matter of fact, I am the first one to recognize the potential educational value of summoning a committee to open the sex dialogue, but only when brought to a personal panel of “sexpertise” connoisseurs. And luckily the entire lesbian sexuality spectrum has so many intricate rubrics to cover you’ll never run out of opportunities to yap away. From sex toy-malfunction, bed death ordeal, performance deficiency, G-Spot mapquest locator, sex-drive disparity, position discrepancy, oral sex tricks, abnormal sex trips, normal sex tips, cheap lesbian dates, non-existent lesbian dates, flirting techniques, pick-up lines, to heartaches, headaches, breaking up, making up, making out, top versus bottom, getting under, getting over, getting through, getting plenty and not getting any…take a pick!

While I still refuse to make the necessary adjustments to adhere to and assimilate with what I call the “forced acculturation” phenomenon – people’s constant need to report on their (fabricated) alleged sexual activities – I can certainly accept the fact that we have sheepishly entered an age of a new type of cultural imperialism.

Vastly promulgated by the “dot com” moguls in social networking savoir-faire also known as MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter, we have regressively catapulted ourselves into an era of mass exhibitionism. Sadly now nothing is ever subtly suggested anymore but rather trivially exposed with nothing left to the imagination.

So be my guest and inject me with your viral online and/or real time libertine practices.
For those of you who wish to keep me posted, updated, tag me, vlog me, blog me, tweet me, wall- message me, Facebook friend me, throw it on my face or even put it in my face, please put it all in a folder and ZIP IT!

…I’m just sayin!

aussieBum, also know as our favourite underwear designers from the land of Neighbours and Home and Away have just released their League 11 swimwear range. Originally launched in 2005, aussieBum have somehow ensured that this collection has only got better each year with 2011  being the stylish and most figure hugging yet.

There’s only one problem though – it’s not yet been released. Well actually that would normally be a problem, but for dear Queeried readers it’s not as aussieBum have got in touch to say they want to give you the chance to get it before anyone else via a sneaky little section they’ve set up for you.

Guaranteeing you’ll get the new aussieBum League 11 before anyone else, this will also get you a AUD $10 bonus cash back towards your next order too! Available as a pre-release from 3rd – 8th March 2011, our advice is if you don’t want to miss out on some of the hottest swimwear of 2011 you get ordering now!

Click here to order your aussieBum League 11 swimwear.

Mens designer jeans. A fashion product guaranteed to not only make you look damn hot, but also in the process empty your wallet of a whole lot of money right? Well usually it is however designer fashion store Tucci have been in touch to let us know that right now that’s far from true with them as they’re offering up to 70% off theirs!

Part of the final push to clear stock before they bring in the new Summer designer collection, the range of mens jeans they have available is pretty darn impressive and includes Adidas Originals, Bench, Damaged, Duck & Cover, Firetrap, French Connection, G-Star Raw, Gio-Goi, Henri Lloyd, Mish Mash, Paul Smith Jeans, Pepe, Police and Wrangler. Starting from £12.00 there are definitely some impressive bargains to be hard, but you’ll need to quick sizes are flying out of the door quicker than flights out of Stansted.

Oh, and ladies you’ve definitely not been forgotten either as Tucci is also offering womens jeans by Firetrap, Bench, G-Star Raw and even Pepe from just £12.00 too!

Click here to check out the Tucci designer jeans sale.

Burger King has been forced to pay out $3.15 million in compensation after it was found that their staff had been abused and beaten up by members of their staff. Happening in the Union City restaurant in New Jersey in 2007, the couple, Peter Casbar, 43, and Noel Robichaux, 46, were first met with rudeness by the staff, and then and after leaving were pursued by staff who kick, beat up and spat on the men.

Ywo Burger King employees, Angel Caraballo and Christopher Soto, have already pleaded guilty to the charges of  aggravated assault with the couple going on to sue Food Service Properties Corp and Union City Restaurant Corp, who own seven Burger Kings in Union City via the New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination.

Via Pink News.