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Olympics Night 3 Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 07:26:03 PM EST
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The Olympics have started. Here's an open thread for them.

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    Olympics Night 3 Open Thread | 45 comments (45 topical)

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    Dubya's on.....had to leave the room. (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Angel on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:03:52 PM EST


    I cannot believe Costas thinks (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Jjc2008 on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:03:46 PM EST
    this is appropriate.  Bush is his typical self....
    beyond comprehension how anyone ever voted for him...some twice.
    He says "Once religion takes hold in a country, it can't be stopped."   Yea well, take a look at the middle east where "religion has taken hold."  W and friends I think, if they could, would push for a theocracy.  Americans ought to be shaking in their boots at how much of a hold the religious community has on government, even on the left.

    Parent
    He was palatable (none / 0) (#2)
    by cmugirl on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:30:27 PM EST
    Although I was washing a couple of pans, so I didn't have to listen too closely.

    Parent
    lol. He has reminded me of a ditzy relative while (none / 0) (#3)
    by Teresa on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:37:59 PM EST
    he's just been watching the events. Then he spoke and I remembered who he is.

    Parent
    On one hand (none / 0) (#17)
    by lilburro on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:43:29 PM EST
    it was nice to hear him be so pressing on engagement with China.  GW has a side that likes peace!!  How cute.

    On the other hand, he was a real weirdo with all of that religious stuff.  I know that in China, expressions of religious fervor are frowned upon.  I guess that makes GW...liberal?  

    In any case, I don't think he knows the "Russian President's" name.

    Parent

    I'm with the Chinese on that (none / 0) (#24)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:26:32 PM EST
    expressions of religious fervor don't sit well with me, either.


    Parent
    Thank (none / 0) (#37)
    by Emma on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:59:38 PM EST
    god for CBC.  No Bush.  No Obama or McCain commercials.  No MSNBC blathering about the conventions.

    Parent
    Watching women's gymnastics (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Anne on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 08:56:27 PM EST
    qualifier...this is another one of the events where I find myself holding my breath - the things these girls can do are just amazing - the balance beam routines just seem death-defying.

    And as an aside - there's no way - no way - a couple of those Chinese girls are 16.

    I thought that also (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by nycstray on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:11:26 PM EST
    mostly looking at their muscle development. Now some girls (um, me) never build much mass in the thighs, but a whole team that gets the kind of work outs they do? Especially the more compact ones.

    I will say though, I was watching Shawn J on the beam and thinking she looked d@mn young. May have been her size and the camera angle, but when they showed her face, you could tell she had some maturity.

    I liked the "talk" the US girls seemed to be having when it was over and also the coach's attitude towards the girls during the events.

    Parent

    Yeh, but keep in mind (none / 0) (#20)
    by Cream City on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:12:10 PM EST
    that extreme exercise regimens can delay puberty.  I've read some stuff about what can happen to these girls who stay girls.  I'll not get into details here on the blog, but. . . .

    Speaking of girls being girls, it was so great to see the Russian and Georgian medal winners hug today.  That's what the Olympics are to be about: hope of a better future.  A few thousand years more, and this world just might get it.

    Parent

    Ah, forgot about that! (none / 0) (#39)
    by nycstray on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:03:23 PM EST
    Thanks for the reminder.

    I missed the Russian and Georgian medal winners. I'm trying to get a 'few' things done while watching!  {grin}

    Parent

    Extreme exercise (none / 0) (#44)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:46:06 PM EST
    that's true but then all the competitors would look 12.  When I first heard about the controversy I thought it was probably a lot of baloney (sportscasters like to manufacture scandal as much as infotainment ones), but man, those Chinese women do look exceptionally young.

    There was only one on the Chinese team I thought looked about 16, then one of the commentators said she's actually 20!

    ot: I think the gymnastics commentators are the worst for saying blazingly idiotic things while not explaining the interesting things.

    Parent

    They start them at 3 (none / 0) (#46)
    by nycstray on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 12:06:52 AM EST
    Many/most? don't. And our girls attend regular classes for awhile. Some are college students and many (most?) attend regular high school classes etc. I'm not sure how much down time the Chinese girls get. Isn't that one reason they have age requirements? So they will have some "normal" time? I worked on a book about a younger sister of an Olympic Gold Medal skater that was also competing. Too bad my brain is shut down right now. But they both attended regular classes etc.

    The 20yo looked young in the face, but def looked old enough to compete. And she had more substance to her body. There's young looking, but I'd need to see a birth photo with a time stamp on it for some of those girls!

    Parent

    I read a article that several of them have (none / 0) (#6)
    by Teresa on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:05:30 PM EST
    birth certificates on file from years ago competitions and they are all born one year later than is shown on the current ones.

    Parent
    I'm a bit leary of Chinese paperwork (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by nycstray on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:18:16 PM EST
    after all, that wheat gluten and rice protein were certified safe as were many other toxic ingredients.

    They may be old enough, but geeze, they looked a couple years younger. And there is the school that takes some girls that are basically orphans. I appreciate they have a chance to live better lives, especially as females, but fudging age wouldn't be a first in international sports. Heck, we're still trying to figure out how old Hernandez (sp?) is (major league pitcher).

    Parent

    There's two from the Chinese team (none / 0) (#47)
    by Little Fish on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 12:12:43 AM EST
    that look 12 and they had on a TON of make-up. I wanted them to smile to see if they had all their adult teeth, but they barely grinned.

    I look very young and I'm petite. When I was 16 people never believed I was old enough to drive, but I don't think I looked 12.

    I still look much younger than I am, people are finally starting to guess that I'm in my 20s, but I still get an occasional 17-19 range.  I'm going to be carded forever.

    Parent

    Crazy gymnastics coaches (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by lilburro on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:09:31 PM EST
    are so entertaining.

    And apparently, according to the French, it's ON.  I have to work early tomorrow but I need to see how this relay race shakes out :)

    What a race! (none / 0) (#25)
    by Anne on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:32:31 PM EST
    So much for the trash talk!

    Parent
    im just tuning in (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by Little Fish on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:21:16 PM EST
    West Coast delay, boo.

    And the first thing I saw? A John McCain ad.#*@$

    and a very negative ad (none / 0) (#13)
    by Little Fish on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:30:40 PM EST
    for the washington governer race. #*?!@ can't the Olympics be sacred?  

    Parent
    I don't think she's swimming tonight (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by lilburro on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:49:47 PM EST
    but Dara Torres rules.  

    I was really impressed by her relay swim yesterday.  She's in a league of her own.  

    Did you catch the German(?) vaulter? (none / 0) (#41)
    by nycstray on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:11:14 PM EST
    33yo old female gymnast? She's one of 13 women doing a double qualifying vault.

    I think Dara is great. People have raised doubts because of her age, so she's saved blood for future testing in the event new drug testing is developed. She's not that much older than some marathon runners if I'm thinking correctly.

    Parent

    Dara is amazing (none / 0) (#45)
    by americanincanada on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:50:18 PM EST
    I don't know how much more she could do to prove to people she's clean.

    Parent
    Wow!! Stay up west coasters. That relay race (5.00 / 2) (#27)
    by Teresa on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:35:49 PM EST
    was incredible! My husband says I woke the neighbors for sure. How will I ever go to sleep now?

    LOL! (5.00 / 2) (#29)
    by Anne on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:38:50 PM EST
    I scared the dogs half to death...what a nail-biter!

    Parent
    I'm sure our neighbors (5.00 / 2) (#33)
    by americanincanada on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:48:36 PM EST
    heard us half way down the block! That was amazing. Worth staying up for on the west coast.

    I have to admit I'm on the west coast but the CBC is showed it live. Thank god for being able to turn away from MSNBC!

    Parent

    lol!~ that explains the weird look my dog (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by nycstray on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:56:51 PM EST
    had on her face when I just came into the room! I was at the other end in the kitchen yelling. Didn't even occur that I was the one that gave her the troubled look, hehehe.

    Parent
    Yes, what a race! (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by stxabuela on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:01:28 PM EST
    Don't miss it, west coasters!

    Parent
    We say nary a word but to watch (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by Cream City on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:03:27 PM EST
    it. :-)

    Btw, the African American guy on the relay team is just such a cutie.  Those eyes!  

    Parent

    I followed your link (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by JavaCityPal on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 12:50:06 AM EST
    but didn't get the ANIO folder installed on my computer....most of those videos were no longer available, and I don't allow popups, so maybe it isn't risky to all IE users.

    Synchronized diving (none / 0) (#11)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:27:08 PM EST
    I think I'm getting senile, I don't remember this at all from 2004.  On the one hand, it's kind of a weird sport, isn't it?  On the other, I'm fascinated.  How amazingly in tune with another person you must have to be.

    I enjoyed watching it, but whoever that (none / 0) (#14)
    by Anne on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:35:26 PM EST
    woman was who was doing the commentary was a real buzz-kill; I'm really not at all interested in some expert's critique of things like that little extra arch in someone's back, or how someone's arms needed to be up higher.

    Have started watching more of the coverage with the sound off.

    Parent

    Just be glad Tweety is nowhere near! n/t (none / 0) (#15)
    by lilburro on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:39:43 PM EST


    Parent
    He would get that tingle up his leg (none / 0) (#21)
    by Cream City on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:15:57 PM EST
    at seeing girls in uniforms, as it were.  Good Catholic guy that he is.

    Ditto re synchronized swimming.  My family just stopped in awe to watch (we had another local in the running).  The hours of practice it must take.  I'm such a klutz that I just love this stuff, seeing how amazing real athletes can be.

    But we have a marathon runner -- and near-Olympian but for the darn Achilles tendon -- in the family, so we are so looking forward to that amazing test of physical endurance.  There is a fascinating article in the New Yorker this week on the American hope, Ryan Hall.  Be sure to see the photo of his stride.

    Parent

    I have a shameful confession to make (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by Ellie on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:58:06 PM EST
    I was poached off my intra-mural water polo team into synchro swimming -- blecch -- by a swim coach who always dreamt of having a team. (I was born at a high altitude so I've got serious lungs.)

    The synchro turned out to be more taxing than the water polo, although the greatest challenge was maintaining dignity and pretending your noseplug doesn't have a sequined starfish attached to it.

    I still think it would be more of a sport if they threw a shark in the pool so the audience could guess which of the legs were still attached to swimmers. [/old swim team joke]

    Parent

    What time zone are you (none / 0) (#28)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:37:28 PM EST
    watching in?

    USA teem gymnastics is JUST starting on the west coast.


    Parent

    US Women (Teen?) Gymastics on here (none / 0) (#12)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:30:34 PM EST
    now. Pretty amazing stuff, some are all wearing bandages though. Such similar pony tails.

    My daughter thinks they really need (none / 0) (#16)
    by Anne on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:40:54 PM EST
    help with their hair - but wouldn't you love to have the bobby-pin, hair clip concession for the teams, lol?

    Anyone with kids will remember that time when you looked at your toddler and realized he or she had lost that baby face, and then later, that they had lost that child face and you could see the adult he or she was going to be - some of those Chinese girls still have that child's face and look about them.

    Parent

    I'm being picky but (none / 0) (#31)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:40:44 PM EST
    I'm just watching women's gymnastics now, and the whole NBC-intro thing with them all doing the crossed-arm thing bugs me.  Is it supposed to make them look tough?  They just look sulky and defensive .

    And what is 'podium training', and why does Elfie whatshername keep bringing it up every 5 min?  It sounds just like practice to me.

    Parent

    Political ads during Olympics (none / 0) (#19)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:59:41 PM EST
    I have been zipping through both sides' ads as much as I can, but it looks to me that both ads are using the same stock footage of wind farms.  Weird.

    Well, as Reagan said of ancient redwoods (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by Cream City on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:17:56 PM EST
    . . . you've seen one, you've seen them all.

    And then he signed off on destruction of some of the oldest trees on this planet.  That's when I knew that we were in trouble if the guy got beyond California.

    Parent

    There sure are a lot of empty seats (none / 0) (#30)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:39:34 PM EST
    in the spectator area.

    Especially with the Chinese women being the (none / 0) (#34)
    by Teresa on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 10:49:00 PM EST
    favorites. It was tape delayed even on the east coast (I think) so I'm not sure why the fans weren't there.

    Parent
    US women's Volleyball on live now :) (none / 0) (#43)
    by nycstray on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 11:42:41 PM EST


    Sing it and I'll dance AND give you jazz hands (none / 0) (#50)
    by Ellie on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 08:22:35 AM EST
    I'm a diehard Firefox & Thunderbird user but I'm on an older system. I do like later IE's adjustable screen res though (100, 125, 150 and 200%)

    Stoopid IE browser tricks: To get a better screen cap of a small pic you like (or is right click disabled), press the % you like and hit Print Screen (next to F12 on your keyboard).

    Paste it into your photo program as a new image --  (I still use my old Paint Shop Pro but PhotoShop, Corel, Nero whatever should have that option) -- select the part you want and presto-bango you have your copy of the Mona Lisa to draw eyebrows on. (Hey, everyone has to have a hobby.)

    Olympics Night 3 Open Thread | 45 comments (45 topical)

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