US won first set. Japan is leading in second set.

Watched most of the opening ceremonies last night (missed first 45 minutes or so.) Did anyone else catch all the shots of the Bushes looking bored out of their skulls? I loved the sneaking-peeks-at-their-watches shot.

Suck it up people :)

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Japan really made them work for it though.

A shadow hangs over it though, considering the murder of the father-in-law of the men's volleyball coach.

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Watching all-US women's final right now.

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The gold medal winner, Mariel Zagunis, just won gold, and i think she did it by screaming at the end of every point. Talk about unnerving! Think Monica Seles on the court...times ten!

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Nope, haven't seen any women's weightlifting. I'll keep my ears open...

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Never seen anything quite that hazy. We don't manage to approach that on our worst days, and with nearby forest fires.

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WTF? Where are my Olympics?

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http://www.boston.com/sports/articles/2008/08/10/worlds_collide/

I am really really excited to watch these games.  After the Men's team came in 3rd in 2004 the guys from the NBA have ALOT to prove. 

Dara Torres, at age 41 is an inspiration for all women, especially those over 40.  Saturday she anchored the women's 400-meter freestyle relay to help bring home the Silver medal for her team.  That's a record of 5 Olympics and 10 Olympic medals.  How did she do it?  How is it that she's better than even the younger competitors?

Dara Torres Swims Into History With a Tenth Olympic Medal--What's Her Secret?

If
Dara Torres can win a silver medal at age 41 after having had a baby,
we can do anything that we set our sights on. She describes herself as,
the “old lady” on the US Olympic team. She proudly told the media
that”…There are a lot of middle aged men and women who I know tell me
that I’m an inspiration to them and they’re now doing things that they
didn’t think they could do…I’m hoping that my age paves the way for
other athletes who maybe think they’re too old to do something.”

YOU GO GIRL!

I don’t think that she is just an example for
athletes but all women! As we get older, we need to keep thinking
younger thoughts. Remember when as little kids, someone asked, “What
are you going to be when you grow up?” The answers might range from, “I
want to be a mother,” to “I want to be an astronaut” or even to “I want
to be the president!” In my case, I wanted to be a cowboy and a mom and
an artist and a writer. The key is once again, a belief that you can do
anything if you work hard enough. We have to open our minds to new
ideas and prospects just like the young children! I met a man who has been
blind since birth. He is a very successful and impressive figure
skater. Think about that spin and picture doing it with no sight!

We are only as strong as we want to be! The sky is
the limit. Whether we are in our 20’s or 80’s, there is some new life
experience waiting for us to accomplish and own!

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So has anyone found footage online of the opening night show? Not the parade of Olympians but the drummers, dancers, acrobats that filled the Bird's Nest. I belive the commentaters on NBC called it the artisitc portion.

I can't find it anywhere, is that an NBC rights thing?

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My husband and I have spent about 6 weeks in China in the last few years. I watched the opening ceremonies remembering our gracious tour guide in Beijing, the cab drivers learning English as they drove deleivered us to our destinations in Shanghai and the pride the Chinese people take in their nation. It made me so happy to see all their hard work come to fruition.

b

I find the substitution of a more "flawless” child for
the authentic and magnificent voice of Yang Peiyi is deplorable! Are people today
so depraved that they require seeing perfection when they are already listening
to perfection as a talented and very special child pours her heart and soul
into song? I think not! Seeing little Yang Peiyi’s picture, I find her adorable
and quite frankly, I think she could have moved her audiences even more than
Lin Miaoke was able to do. I don’t fault this child. She is beautiful and
innocent but what message has been given to these two girls as well as children
all over the world? I don’t fault the children. I fault the people responsible
for the choice. My heart breaks for little Yang who, according to Chinese news
reports said that she didn’t regret the decision, saying she was satisfied to
have had her voice featured in the opening ceremony. What else could she say? I
pray this child isn’t scarred from the actions of Chen Qigang! I can deal with
the fake footprints, although that doesn’t sit well with me either. Most of us
have been taught that falsifying and offering anything as true when it is not,
is dishonorable. The same holds true here!

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Have you been there? The peasants you are talking about are the people that benefit from the communist government. The rich people and believe me there is a burgeoning middle/upper class, are doing just fine. However, I would have to say that the Chinese, like the people in the United States are biggoted and do not treat their minorities with much regard. Very close to where my son lives there is a village that is occupied by Mongol emigrants i believe. They are not rich but they do have lights in their houses and clothes hanging on the lines. They farm every piece of land, shop in a grocery and can catch a bus at the corner. Their school, however, is a disaster and local American schools support them along with the generousity of artist like "Gang of One" (Chinese character are not available).

It is not perfect. But to say that the Chinese people are not proud of what has been accomplished by their very hand would be to say that we are not proud of our armed forces or that our fire fighters are useless. They work very hard, celebrate each part of a completed project with fireworks, live at the work site and work 7 days a week. Their smiles are evidence of their feeling of accomplishment.

The best part of all is that all people work. You do not see beggars and if you do the locals will tell you that beggars have it figured out that they can get more money that way than by going to a job. Does that sound familiar.

As for the government, the communist have a lot of damage to repair from the time when Mao was alive but they are getting there. I'm not wild about the way our government has handles world affairs in the past 8 years. But I know people are people...mostly good, some bad and a few quite simply evil. China is no different than we are in that regard.

"The peasants you are talking about are the people that benefit from the communist government."  Really??? Sorry....I don't see that.

And yes for sure compare them to the US govt ....both guilty of cover ups and censorship...but we are talking about China right now..the whole reason they wanted the Olympics was as a marketing tool to increase trade etc with the western world...they want to look 'safe' to the rest of the world.  They are trying to look as non communist as possible...but again....image....vs reality...there are people still afraid to speak, people still persecuted, the beggars aren't around because they were moved.

"t is not perfect. But to say that the Chinese people are not proud of
what has been accomplished by their very hand would be to say that we
are not proud of our armed forces or that our fire fighters are
useless. They work very hard, celebrate each part of a completed
project with fireworks, live at the work site and work 7 days a week.
Their smiles are evidence of their feeling of accomplishment."

Would this not be a FORCED happiness?  AN image thing ....and people will do it for fear of reprisals...

Vancouver plans on 'moving' THEIR street people to for fear of humiliation during the 2010 games....hide the dirty laundry and all that.

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Well until you actually go see these people and visit with them you will never know. I have told you what I have seen.   But I would say this, doesn't the fact that Canada, the United States and any other country that hosts the Olympics hides their poor tell you something.  People everywhere, not just China, live in spite of their government not because of it. The people of China are hard working, individuals that pray in the Forbidden City and light inscense at the Bhuddist shrines in Shanghai. The govenment cannot watch everyone that close...the population is absolute incredible.  The people move about with so much freedom that the United States could be put to shame.  I am done! 

Oh, by the way I loved the Velodrome segment on TV this morning with Matt L.  My grandson participates in this sport and it is incredible. 

Very different

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You  are absolute right!  Have a nice day.

b