Latest news with #pole dancing
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Why Greeks are in pole position when it comes to artificial intelligence
In late May, two British women who were visiting Corfu for a 'pole dancing festival' were filmed in action on the terrace of the historic Palace of St Michael and St George, built as the administrative headquarters during the British protectorate of the Ionian Islands 1814-1864. Today, the building houses Greece's only Museum of Asian Art and the Municipal Art Gallery. It is frequently used for concerts and exhibitions. When the video of the dancing went viral, residents and cultural institutions objected to what they described as an offence to the cultural heritage, a nationwide concern about the protection and proper use of monuments. The Greek ministry of culture said the dancing was in breach of laws protecting historic sites, and the women and the cameraman were put on trial two days later. Despite apologising for their behaviour, in which they said they were misled by the operator of the video, they were given a suspended six-month sentenceand fined. The incident in Corfu is not isolated. READ MORE The chief focus for disputed use of archaeological and historical sites is, predictably, the Acropolis in Athens, the archetypal symbol of Greek classical culture. Last month, the Athens prosecutor ordered an investigation into an event in which unauthorised illuminated drones formed a giant rotating Adidas shoe on top of the Parthenon temple in the night sky. The event was condemned by politicians as 'an offensive commercialisation of the core of our cultural heritage', but it is not only commercial interests which have provoked objections. Earlier in the year the ministry of culture refused permission for the leading Greek film-maker, Yorgos Lanthimos , who has been nominated five times for Oscar awards, to film on the Acropolis. In 2017 the Central Archaeological Council rejected a request from fashion house Gucci to hold a show for its 2018 couture collection on the Acropolis. The rejection stated that, as a world heritage symbol, the Acropolis was not an appropriate site for a commercial activity. The director of the Acropolis Museum said the site would be 'degraded' if used as a 'backdrop' for a 'fashion runway', but this view was disputed by the head of the Greek Tourism Confederation, who argued that the Gucci event was sufficiently high-profile and would have showcased the Acropolis. On a somewhat different level from pole dancing and commercial activity, the Acropolis was last year at the centre of a dispute about the use of 'Sophia', a humanoid artificial intelligence (AI) robot, which (or should that be 'who'?) appeared, dressed in classical Greek costume, as part of a technology conference. The robot allegedly speaks 20 languages, has given television interviews (including Good Morning Britain with Piers Morgan) and is a citizen of Saudi Arabia . The newspaper Athens Voice described Sophia as 'an innovation ambassador for the United Nations development programme'. In 2017 she held a conversation with the deputy secretary-general of the United Nations. Described as 'the most advanced humanoid artificial intelligence robot' with 'an IQ higher than Einstein', Sophia was conceived (if that is the correct term) in Hong Kong on St Valentine's Day 2016 and is said to merge the attributes of the ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti, Audrey Hepburn and the inventor's wife. What a claim. No one seems to have disputed Sophia's right to appear in Greek costume or in the environs of classical Athens. But her existence highlights the Greek capacity for AI invention, since Greek scientists have made equally impressive strides in robot and AI technology. Last year the Blueprint for Greece's AI Transformation was launched, aiming to incorporate AI know-how into the public service. At the same time, Greece hosted the World Robot Olympiad. A reconstruction of Antikythera Mechanism in Athens. Photograph: Louisa Gouliamaki/Getty This is nothing new to the Greek mind. Homer imagined automata in the Iliad, and it would be a gross impertinence on the part of modern science to suggest that its current use of AI was in some way an advance on the Antikythera Mechanism, described as 'the oldest known example of an analogue computer', probably built in the second century BC. Ironically, Sophia was anticipated as a Greek miracle 60 years ago when Lawrence Durrell, in his novel Nunquam (1970), imagined a robot, Iolanthe, which was based on Pat, a speaking computer he had seen in Edinburgh in 1962. If Durrell were alive today, he would laugh at the idea that Sophia, a 21st-century robot, using the Greek name for 'wisdom', could appear on the Acropolis – where, in the 1960s, his own Iolanthe had made love, fictionally. Whether AI can develop a robot that could accomplish pole dancing while conversing with an official of the United Nations is yet to be seen.
Telegraph
09-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Pole dancer can keep garage studio despite neighbours' complaints of ‘grunting'
A fitness instructor can use her garage as a pole dancing studio after winning a fight with neighbours. Samilou Saunders has been running the studio from her £700,000 bungalow in Christchurch, Dorset, for the last five years, but faced having to close it after neighbours complained. They said the business had 'devastated' their lives, causing problems with parking, and complained about the sound of 'grunting and loud music'. Meanwhile, the studio's clients, said to include doctors and teachers, accused elderly neighbours of 'generational bias' against pole dancing. Ms Saunders, a mother in her 40s, had to submit a retrospective planning application for a change of use of the garage into what she called a 'modest and sustainable' small social enterprise. She is the only employee of the business and generally works about 20 hours a week, with small classes of up to eight. But residents expressed concerns that the business hours – 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday and 9am to midday at weekends – could mean classes running 66 hours a week, with 500 cars blocking the street in that time. The planning committee voted to approve the application, with seven in favour, none against and two abstaining, with a condition that no amplified music be played in the garage during business use. They restricted the business use to indoor sport and fitness and ruled the building must revert back to a domestic garage if the business ends. 'No personal animosity' Rita Raynor, who spoke on behalf of objectors at a planning committee meeting of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council, said most of the letters of support were from people outside the area who did not have to live with the business. Ms Raynor said after the meeting she was 'disappointed', adding: 'We accept that people have to make a living, there's no personal animosity.' ' We are not against it because it's pole dancing, if it had been anything else, like a children's party business, we would feel the same.' Mrs Saunders said she had no further comment. But she previously told reporters the row had led her to ignore neighbours in the street, saying: 'This has been going on for nearly two years. It's been a lot of stress and I've been really down about it. 'Horrible and shocking comments' 'Some of the things neighbours said were quite horrible and shocking. I don't feel like I can wave and smile at people any more. I feel intimidated. They [objectors] will stand and stare at me when I leave the house.' Neighbours also had the backing of Margaret Phipps, a local councillor, who said the studio was 'unsuitable' for a residential area. She said: 'This is a seven-day-a-week operation. It is overwhelmingly being used for the unauthorised business which commenced as soon as the permission [for the garage] was granted.' She denied the hours were 'limited' and said locals had 'no respite', adding: 'There is potential if this application is granted for 528 people a week, with no suggestion of a cap on the number of people. 'This is a full-scale commercial business in a residential area. It was granted in good faith as a garage by this council.'
Al Bawaba
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Bawaba
Outrage over naked women's pole dancing in Greece's historic palace
ALBAWABA - A photoshoot from Greece has disturbed the community after multiple women were spotted half-naked posing in pole dancing in a historic Royal Palace. Authorities in Corfu Island confirmed arresting five women were seen wearing only their underwear at the Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George, a 19th-century neoclassical building and one of Corfu's most prominent cultural landmarks. According to Greek media, the women are facing charges of violating the Legislation relating to the Protection of Antiquities and cultural heritage in general. ANT1 report confirmed that the photoshoot idea at the palace in Corfu is a pole dancing school based in Great Britain. This is a school that organizes a vacation package with intensive pole dancing seminars in Corfu every year in the last two weeks of May. However, people in Greece were unhappy with the photoshoot, calling it 'inappropriate and offensive'. Μετά την Ακρόπολη και την adidas ήρθε και το pole dancing στα Ανάκτορα της Κέρκυρας! Εκεί που κάποτε φιλοξενούνταν βασιλείς, τώρα το κάναμε κωλάδικο. Τελικά, η παρακμή δεν έρχεται με βαρβάρους. Έρχεται με χορηγούς και influencers! #addidas #Κερκυρα — Stefanos Damianidis (@dstefanos) May 23, 2025 It is worth noting that the website even details that pictures from the professional photoshoot can be used to enrich each dancer's portfolio and that it costs each participation 42 pounds ($56) per day. Konstantinos Vousolinos, Corfu's deputy mayor for culture, was shocked by the lack of interruption for the photoshoot, claiming that it lasted for an hour and adding that it remained unclear whether the shoot was part of a commercial production or organized by a group of tourists, who, he noted, 'appeared to be foreign.'
The Review Geek
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Wind Breaker – Season 2 Episode 8 Recap & Review
Episode 8 Tsubaki orders the boys plenty of food from the club to thank them for helping him before. Now, Ito-san has been dressing up and going out almost daily, as he wants to have new stories to tell when he meets Yui again. In all his happiness, Tsubaki orders dessert for them, but he doesn't realize his vice-captains, Seiryu and Uryu, are also taking the food for themselves. Realizing his mistake, he puts a stop to the orders. He also explains how he ended up dancing in the club. He fell in love with pole dancing when he learned about it, so he instantly searched for places to dance. Unfortunately, there were none close to Furin. His only option was to try joining this club, which accepted him. That's when Kanji arrives and teases him for crying when he asked to join them. He also thanks the boys for helping them and talks more about Roppo-Ichiza. He's the group's watchman, and their mission is to stop any conflict around the area. They're much like Furin, although Umemiya has done far greater and more complex work to change the school and its surroundings. As the lights go out, everyone turns their attention to the stage and Shizuka. She enchants all clients with her beautiful and soothing singing. It feels like she could even bring them to tears with such an amazing skill. However, their happiness soon ends. The guys who attacked her before arrive again and start wreaking havoc outside the club. Kanji doesn't tell Tsubaki anything, as he doesn't want him to worry. He wants to leave alone, but Sakura, Nirei, and Suou go out the door before he can refuse their help. There are more thugs than before, but that's not a problem for Roppo-Ichiza. Even though they're a small team, all of them are elites. Each of them swiftly knocks out two or three guys without help or breaking a sweat. The kids watch the scene with surprise, but something more incredible is yet to happen. When one of the gangsters demands that they bring Shizuka, Kanji destroys him with a single punch. But he doesn't stop there and clobbers a few more guys, displaying a protective aura similar to Umemiya's. Kanji continuously pummels all the other gangsters with ease, as if he could win the fight all by himself. When two guys attack him at the same time, Sakura comes to his rescue and defeats one of them. The boy's strength even impresses other members of the Roppo-Ichiza, like Akihito Miyoshi, who's fighting by Suou's side. While everyone is fighting, Nirei wonders what he could do to help. He understands he can't do what he did during the brawl against KEEL, so he stays back and reflects. He also realizes they are almost out of enemies, meaning the fight is almost over. At least, it'd be good if it actually meant that… Suddenly, a new group arrives, unconcerned by the several knocked-out men on the floor. They are GRAVEL, a team from the Sunaba district, which is incredibly poor, resulting in many of its citizens resorting to burglary and other crimes. Their leader says they'll get paid if they take Shizuka, so he tries to reason with Kanji. Obviously, neither the Roppo-Ichiza nor the Furin boys will give up without a fight. But Kanji surprises him and Sakura by saying he doesn't even care if he loses the fight; no matter what happens, no one will touch the girl. The Episode Review Wind Breaker expands its world in a really interesting way. Although it has a 'gang of the arc' style (similar to a villain of the day type of deal), they always serve a bigger purpose. For example, KEEL transformed Sakura into a better leader and made him understand his weaknesses. And they paint a clearer picture of the city for us. So, even if we don't know their lasting effects, GRAVEL and Roppo-Ichiza show how other people band together to fight against a situation. Be it poverty or simply guaranteeing entertainment for others. It's also entertaining to think about how they'll affect the protagonists. Even though it's too soon to say, Kanji's mindset about losing a fight not mattering will probably influence Sakura in some way. He has just started thinking about depending on others, but he's still obsessed with fighting and winning. So, he might actually learn a thing or two from losing (or fighting differently). Still, it's an odd choice to take Tsubaki out of the fight. We learn a lot about the characters from seeing them confront other gangsters, so he'll probably find his way into the conflict later. It'll be even greater if the creator adapts his style to his way of thinking or flexibility. He enjoys dancing, so seeing that affect his brawls would be a nice touch. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Our lives are being ruined by neighbourhood POLE DANCER who hosts classes in garage – grunting & music is a nightmare
A COASTAL town with one of the largest populations of OAPs in the country seems like the last place you'd likely find a pole dancing class. But the elderly neighbours of one instructor, who offers lessons to locals in Christchurch, Dorset, have had enough of the incessant "grunting" coming from her home studio. 6 6 Samilou Saunders, who currently runs the sessions from her converted garage at her £700,000 bungalow, has now had to submit a planning application to continue using the space for lessons thanks to her prude neighbours. The converted garage, which features aerial fitness hoops, silk sashes and several poles, is where she holds up to 20 hours of classes a week for her company Samilou Pole and Aerial Fitness Studio. Fans of the workshops have accused neighbours of "generational bias", but those living nearby have had enough of the "loud music, grunting and chatting" coming from the garage on their peaceful street. Samilou, who spoke to The Sun to give her side of the story, has even been forced to remove her business logo, a silhouette of a pole dancer, from her car so not to offend anyone. Local Alan Forage, 83, told us: "We residents are all reasonably old and at our age we just want peace and quiet in a nice area." Alan complained about the "grunting and loud music" heard in summer when windows were left open. Other neighbours who live at the rear of Samilou's property claim the studio is "spoiling our daily living and enjoyment of our home." Several letters of objection have been lodged with Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council from locals, complaining about noise and parking problems caused by the fitness studio. In an objection to the application, neighbours said: "The noise from activity and loud music emanating from this prohibited building can be heard on a daily basis." As a result, they say they are left "feeling totally hopeless and constantly stressed." 'My dream of 20 years' Samilou was emotional when commenting on the ongoing planning battle, saying that the war with neighbours had been taking its toll. She says: "This is my absolute dream of 20 years, having my own studio, and I'm trying to do everything right. "But it's been going on for ages now, and some of the comments made online have just been awful." Showing off her studio, which has state-of-the-art equipment, Samilou said: "It's air conditioned, so we don't even have the windows open. "The music is really low because I want to create a nice calm atmosphere. "To be honest, I feel whatever I do will not be right, people around here are elderly, and I think they have just got completely the wrong idea about pole dancing classes. "They are welcome to come along and have a look if they'd like and join a class. I have people of all ages, all professions as students. Linda is my oldest and she is just wonderful, a great advert." Linda Ryan, 72, has been a student of Samilou's for 16 years and puts her fantastic physique down to pole dancing. She was "devastated" when the classes had to be halted during Covid and says she would be again if Samilou were forced to shut her studio. In a letter to planning bosses, she said: 'As a more mature student, I greatly appreciate Sami's small, quiet classes and her individual attention to my requirements and physical limitations. 6 6 6 'I benefit both physically and mentally from Sami's classes - and retaining a high level of flexibility and stamina is a huge bonus for my ballroom dancing. 'In addition, my husband, who is also my ballroom dance partner, is proud to announce to anyone who will listen that his wife is still a glamorous pole dancer. I sincerely hope I will be enjoying Sami's classes for many years to come.' We, the residents, are all reasonably old and at our age we just want peace and quiet in a nice area. Alan Forage, 83 Speaking at her home in Bournemouth, Linda added: 'Samilou has had such a big backlash on social media, it's very upsetting. I've sent my support in for her application.' Samilou added: "I think the grunting comment was a reference to my husband using a personal gym he has, but that has nothing to do with the studio and he is definitely not loud." Despite the complaint, Samilou has taken appropriate steps to reduce any noise, even welcoming an environmental health officer into her home. She says: "I did ask an environmental health officer about whether people chatting was a nuisance and he said 'no not at all.' "He came to have look and did not seem to have any concerns at all, so I am hopeful." 'Classes are highlight of my week' Samilou, whose 12-year-old daughter is a junior pole dancing champion, is also being backed by Dr Gemma Westcott, who calls her 'inspirational.' Supporting her application to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council she wrote: 'These classes are a highlight of my week. 'Pole is an incredible aerial sport and form of exercise, those of us who attend feel stronger, happier and undeniably more confident.' "I would be absolutely devastated if they ended." One of Samilou's immediate neighbours says she is also hoping the studio gets approved, saying: "My daughter is getting married and I'd like to book it out for the hen party. I think it would be great fun." Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council told The Sun that they could not comment at this time. A council spokesperson said that the "application is still under consideration" with several objection letters lodged.
