Olympic Opening Ceremony

[LashStoat]

On the issue of "Faking" stuff.

I want to make it really clear that I don't care if fake stuff happened to give us all a great show. Now (or even past 'shows').

That has never been a prolbem [sic] for me.

The prolbem [sic] happens when I'm told something is A when in fact it is B.

That is, do anything, but don't lie to me about it...and yet this simple ask is so often dishonoured...and most often by those seeking honour. China wanted to impress the World, but now they are finding that cheats never prosper.

Though in this case they probably will break even.

Go figure.

Love and hugs,

The Stoat XXX.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Now I'm wondering - Animal Farm, 1984 and Brave New World are pretty much mandatory high school reading in the US. Is it the same in Australia?

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Now I'm wondering - Animal Farm, 1984 and Brave New World are pretty much mandatory high school reading in the US. Is it the same in Australia?

Never read, never read, and never read. Holy cow, where was I in high school? (Oh yeah, with my nose deep in Victor Hugo novels)

edit: huh... the one of the left is cute enough... you expect bad teeth on kids, they're growing.

[LashStoat]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Now I'm wondering - Animal Farm, 1984 and Brave New World are pretty much mandatory high school reading in the US. Is it the same in Australia?

Dear CP,

I can't say for sure that these books were/are mandatory in Oz schools...just that my English teacher took us on an excrusion to see the cartoon film version in the early 1970's. It stuck in my mind ever since.

With the watering-down in OZ schools, I don't think kids are even taught to read and write any more...let alone be introduced to something that is intellectually stimulating.

I imagine that the whole threat of communism was in the fore-front of the USA's political conscience (and for damned good reasons), and what better way to educate young'ns about a system that sounds great but runs like a busted ar$e in practice. If only its designers had taken human nature into account, they'd have realised what works for ants and bees is NBG for us.

...and I'll repeat...what's the bet they don't even fix the kids teeth?

Much love and hugs,

The Stoat XXX

[Tenigma]

Hey now, stop hijacking this thread! [Like I'm one to talk.]

So how does:


Differ from:


Talk amongst yerself.

[Kevy Baby]

Cool. With this picture, if you scroll up and down a couple of inches real fast, it makes for a neat optical illusion

[BarTopDancer]

And had there not been a side by side comparison everyone would have awwwwwwwwed her too. No country in the world (besides China) would have said "you bring shame to China and the world for having not perfect teeth". No one would have made any comment or notice.

Stupid Chinese government.

[Alex]

I've read all three of those but none of them were required reading for me in high school (and in my opinion only one of the three is particularly special).

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Am i the only one who likes the parade of cuties ....er, parade of nations?

You are definitely not the only one who enjoys the procession of beautiful blokes!

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

The last runner was on wires, and they launched him up into the sky, over to one of the top walls running around the stadium (near the scrim), then all of a sudden, he pops one side of his wires, dropping him into an angle

That moment freaked me out! I thought one of his wires had broken and audibly gasped.

Originally Posted by JWBear

My only complaint is that the music during the March of Nations was boring and repetitive. I mean... 20 repeats of the same bagpipe number? Come on... why?

Oh dear gawd yes! And why bagpipes for any country other than Scotland and maybe Ireland? I believe at least one previous opening ceremony had music selected to match the country being announced. That was way cooler in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Absolutely brilliant use of LED technology.

Yes. A thousand times yes! By far my favorite aspect of the OCs.

And though it was decidedly low-tech, I thought the idea of having all the athletes literally leave their footprints on the painting was inspired. And a nice connection to the opening (albeit virtual) footprints across the land.

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I'm still a little perturbed that Bush is there, but I think the ceremony and NBC did a pretty good job of framing the argument in favor of this kind of engagement.

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

He didn't much look like he wanted to be there. The cameras caught him looking bored more than a few times.

I actually thought it was cool for Bush to be there, especially in the regular old bleachers. (Even if he was in the World Leader section.) That said, I think a head of state needs to be able to feign interest--even if the presentation is frightfully jejune. Looking bored and/or at his watch is a horrible reflection on the USA and just plain rude.

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

And when was the last time you saw goose stepping military?

Yeeeeeah, that was a bit creepy.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Has anyone mentioned the countdown? That was awesome.