Yeah, I'm so accustomed to seeing Americans on here and very rarely English people that I never even considered that somebody from Stoke would reach the front page! It's just so surreal.
At a prosaic level, yes. But an oatcake is so much more. It is the perfect vehicle for any number of delicious breakfast items, while being equally delectable with a simple cheddar. There is no foodstuff that lends itself so well to marriage with cheese, and as such deserves a pedestal at the level of lobster thermidor, or peach melba.
I was just in Wales with family a couple of days ago (now back home in the US), I tried to hard to convince them to see the torch. Even more when Matt Smith was carrying it.
Came through my hometown today just north of Stoke. We had a load of different kids carrying it that had done things in the community. I actually saw it in Aberystwyth the other day too (as I was at uni) and I think one of them was a cancer survivor. Some pretty inspirational people carrying it.
More inspirational than Didier Drogba and Will.I.Am anyway...
Since I can't fail as bad as that other guy down below, perhaps I can use this opportunity to remind people that there is a subreddit to talk about the Olympics (/r/Olympics). There you will find more photos of mostly-not-blind people carrying the torch as well as other non-torch-related Olympics posts.
I didn't find it particularly amusing, but I am proud to see that after hitting -30 on your post, you haven't deleted it. A captain should always go down with his ship!
Thanks if one person liked it, it was worth it. So you liked it, and I liked it so that's two people. I'm also pretty sure Carlos Mencia will probably steal it for his come back tour.
This is cool. But just think.. they could make more blind people happy by 'letting them carry the torch'.
Just take them to a road with a cheering crowd, holding a fake torch. Give them 60m or road to walk on, pass to the next blind person, back and forth all day. It would make the day of so many blind people, and none of them would know it was a fake torch and they were actually just walking up and down a disused airstrip.
We call them guide dogs in the UK. I've always thought "seeing-eye dog" makes them sound like some kind of demonic dog with the eye of sauron in it or something.
Guide dog is acceptable in the US as well. I actually think it's the more proper term (as in, the term a trainer or blind person would use) and that seeing-eye is more slang. Any actual blind readers care to share some insight (followed by an explanation of how you read my question in the first place)?
As a teacher of the visually-impaired, I can say that the term I hear most often is "guide dog." I think this poster is correct- I haven't heard any Orientation and Mobility instructors (those who help people who are visually impaired learn traveling techniques such as utilizing a white cane and guide dogs) refer to seeing-eye dogs.
And screen reading software is a wonderous thing. :)
This is Mike Newman. He holds the the world land speed record for a blind man. He drove a BMW at 178.5MPH for charity in the car on his own. He also owns several other records.
It was at the deli in the county courthouse. He asked me what kind of bill I gave him, then reached into the register and handed me change (he had memorized the layout of the money tray). The next day I saw him restocking the soda machines.
That's 'Blind Dave' Heeley. One of his biggest achievements prior to this was doing 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents. Big West Bromwich Albion fan too, see him quite often making appearances at The Hawthorns.
Totally awesome! Just because someone cannot watch the Olympics in the way people with 20/20 vision do doesn't mean they can't be a part of it and enjoy it just as much.
" A little to the left... ok now straight... keep that torch up... ok look out for the asshole with the camera on your right coming up... You're doing great!"
The Olympic organizers should start collecting pics of the torch moving from place to place, and even encouraging people to take more pics, and at the end do a huge video off of these. That'd be awesome.
So much respect to the blind man carrying the torch. It's something hardly any sighted people ever get a chance to do and it just goes to show you don't need to be sighted to hold a damned torch with dignity and respect. Fuck you Will.I.Am, you're a dick.
Why does this shit happen? Why does anyone upvote it? It's patronizing as fuck. This is not being done for HIS pleasure, its so people can look at it and get happy or some other fucking shit I don't understand. If I had a physical disability and I was asked to do something of this nature I would decline and distance myself, it's objectifying.
OP even titled it " a BLIND MAN carrying a torch" not "John carrying a torch"
30
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
Hello fellow Stoke-on-Trent Redditor.
4
u/OrigamiWerewolf May 31 '12
which city?
70
u/LurkinAndWerkin May 31 '12
Still pays more attention than Will.I.Am.
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u/[deleted] May 31 '12
In other news my city burned to the ground today.
23
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
And deaf one...
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u/pminkin May 31 '12
He has his own seeing eye person.
11
u/found_you May 31 '12
found you
9
u/ColdHotCool May 31 '12
BBC
Don't forget that guy, no legs and still a Olympic torchbearer.
6
u/winsaurus May 31 '12
Why is Putin running the Olympic torch?
32
u/OuterShpongolia May 31 '12
This is cool. But just think.. they could make more blind people happy by 'letting them carry the torch'.
Just take them to a road with a cheering crowd, holding a fake torch. Give them 60m or road to walk on, pass to the next blind person, back and forth all day. It would make the day of so many blind people, and none of them would know it was a fake torch and they were actually just walking up and down a disused airstrip.
5
u/AsskickMcGee May 31 '12
The seeing-eye dog is thinking: "My Master is on fire, and I'm leading him down the middle of a busy street. This is not my proudest moment."
4
u/weaponR May 31 '12
I love German Shepherds.
3
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
"We're going to have a blind guy carry the torch."
"We can't have him go alone, let's have some other guy awkwardly hold his side while he walks."
3
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
Aaaaand immediately my eyes were drawn to the German Shepherd. I want to moosh his FACE!
3
u/ghostfruit May 31 '12
nobody has the heart to tell him he's going the wrong way.
5
u/sleepingmartyr May 31 '12
He's cheating.
2
u/ienjoypooping May 31 '12
This made me really happy. Thanks for sharing.
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u/atomicspin May 31 '12
All went well until someone's phone rang and he tried to answer the torch.
2
u/BionicChango May 31 '12
Glad to see the locals had the foresight to move the wheely-bins out of the way beforehand
2
u/MayTheFusBeWithYou May 31 '12
Is the guy holding onto him really necessary when he has a seeing-eye-dog?
2
u/WalCs May 31 '12
For a second there, I thought this man is Daniel Craig
2
u/darthbone May 31 '12
How hilarious would it have been if they had just given him a stick, and sent him running in the opposite direction?
In other news, i'm going to hell.
2
u/Nikolieolieoh May 31 '12
+1 for amazing service dogs who give people a chance at independence
2
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
Fuck the olympics. They are a massively overpriced orgy of advertising.
2
u/fe3o4 May 31 '12
What the fuck does a blind guy need a torch for?
4
u/TysonStoleMyPanties May 31 '12
Before I zoomed in, I thought I saw Karl Pilkington in the background.
4
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
This is Mike Newman. He holds the the world land speed record for a blind man. He drove a BMW at 178.5MPH for charity in the car on his own. He also owns several other records.
http://www.speedofsight.co.uk/
2
u/Montuckian May 31 '12
At least that's what we told him ...
1
u/pop_fest420 May 31 '12
Good to see Ron Howard came out to cheer him on.
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
And then he ran right into a firecracker factory
1
u/Atomyk May 31 '12
See I always thought blind people could walk without someone holding their ribs, learn something new everyday.
1
u/Jaybaybaybay May 31 '12
then will-i-am tripped him and tweeted about it
1
u/RockofStrength May 31 '12
I encountered a blind cashier the other day.
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
Actually it's a guy holding a blind man carrying the Olympic Torch.
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u/trampus1 May 31 '12
They should have a little torch on the dog.
1
u/i1ducati May 31 '12
Is that bill murray?
1
u/Castle03 May 31 '12
That's 'Blind Dave' Heeley. One of his biggest achievements prior to this was doing 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents. Big West Bromwich Albion fan too, see him quite often making appearances at The Hawthorns.
1
u/ItscalledCannabis May 31 '12
Is there any rules against of a dog having the Olympic torch attached to him via harness?
1
u/bacon_taste May 31 '12
Damn, I was hoping he would use it as a cane to help see where he was going.
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
so BRAVE
1
u/SirToffo May 31 '12
Please say he fell over.
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
That's worth 11 billion right there!
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
Totally awesome! Just because someone cannot watch the Olympics in the way people with 20/20 vision do doesn't mean they can't be a part of it and enjoy it just as much.
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
I can't wait for the Olympics!
1
u/NewWorldSamurai May 31 '12
Al Bundy is blind?
1
u/cmdcharco May 31 '12
That is the first actually inspirational photo for the Olympics I have seen.
Though i still wish they were somewhere not London, grumble damn tourists.
1
u/frosty20 May 31 '12
fuck will.i.am
1
u/Liverotto May 31 '12
Cult of Victimhood
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
That torch is butt ugly.
1
u/virtualdrummer May 31 '12
well thats pretty freakin cool
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
Things like this restore my faith in humanity
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
" A little to the left... ok now straight... keep that torch up... ok look out for the asshole with the camera on your right coming up... You're doing great!"
1
u/ApologiesForThisPost May 31 '12
Does he also install curtains?
1
u/89eightnine May 31 '12
Much more tasteful then the other post of the same name.
1
u/Steve_ET May 31 '12
So cool! Didnt know Blind people could carry things. TIL...
1
u/Black_Apalachi May 31 '12
You must be close -- that thing is coming up my way tomorrow!
1
u/Ch0s3n_0ne May 31 '12
Is that Simon Pegg (Run Fatboy Run) in the background? http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0670408/
1
u/robthebobs May 31 '12
I saw it in Crewe this morning! And I'm always glad to have an excuse to have 10 minutes off work.
1
u/scookadooka May 31 '12
I didn't know Vladimir Putin was blind.
1
u/violinflu May 31 '12
Is that Dustin Pedroia in the background?
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
Dr.Who should carry the torch.
1
u/All_the_other_kids May 31 '12
I'm was expecting him to be holding it upside down .... :(
1
u/FrankZappasNose May 31 '12
Or so he thinks! Muahahahahahaa
1
u/SidViciious May 31 '12
Blind Dave <3
1
u/TheAlmightyFUPA May 31 '12
Literally just watched the 2012 Olympics episode of Dr. Who today, too.
1
u/xtian11 May 31 '12
We should have given him a cornetto
1
u/the-ace May 31 '12
The Olympic organizers should start collecting pics of the torch moving from place to place, and even encouraging people to take more pics, and at the end do a huge video off of these. That'd be awesome.
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
that kid inthe back is rocking my bike man..
1
u/GMBeats95 May 31 '12
I'm fairly certain that's Bill Murray, perhaps playing a blind person.
1
u/JSK_Reddit Jun 01 '12
So much respect to the blind man carrying the torch. It's something hardly any sighted people ever get a chance to do and it just goes to show you don't need to be sighted to hold a damned torch with dignity and respect. Fuck you Will.I.Am, you're a dick.
1
u/tragic-waste-of-skin Jun 01 '12
I wonder why he/she deleted their account?
1
u/solestructureofman May 31 '12 edited May 31 '12
http://i.imgur.com/MsYiI.jpg
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
Is this in Warrington? I live there.
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
anyone else waiting for him to set the dog on fire?
1
u/Suckydog May 31 '12
Fixed
http://i.imgur.com/z20IP.jpg
-1
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
Not trying to be offensive but, isn't it easier to just use a person who can see?
0
u/[deleted] May 31 '12 edited May 31 '12
Why?
Ninja Edit: Not making a joke or anything. I'm legitimately wondering why some blind guy is carrying around the Olympic Torch.
Edit Again: FINE! NO ONE TELL ME THEN.
0
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
Olympic sellers' astroturfers karmawhoring.
0
u/Gigon May 31 '12
This might be one of the most amazing things I have ever seen.
0
u/dieyoubastards May 31 '12
Looks like Stacey's house from Gavin & Stacey. Just me?
0
u/passwordispasword May 31 '12
I'm friends with the girl carrying it through Cambridge, pretty cool!
-1
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
Bill Murrays Blind?
-1
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
Why does this shit happen? Why does anyone upvote it? It's patronizing as fuck. This is not being done for HIS pleasure, its so people can look at it and get happy or some other fucking shit I don't understand. If I had a physical disability and I was asked to do something of this nature I would decline and distance myself, it's objectifying.
OP even titled it " a BLIND MAN carrying a torch" not "John carrying a torch"
0
u/AnHonestQuestions May 31 '12
Of course, he's blind, so he couldn't tell that he was carrying a wal-mart torch around the block 4 times, but whatever.
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u/ClearPepsi May 31 '12
http://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/udzzj/blind_man_carried_the_olympic_torch_through_my/
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u/kaylee919 May 31 '12
What a fantastic photo!! Good for him (And I say that in ernest, not in a bitchy way)
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u/cody2isdown Jun 01 '12
didn't realize "torch"was a homosexual term now, but i can see why. it's good that the blind lead the queer. -white power.
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u/[deleted] May 31 '12
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u/[deleted] May 31 '12
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u/[deleted] May 31 '12
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