olympics

[paris]

I was discussing the persicion moves of the drummers, the tai chi guys in the circles and the "box" people.  All the years my kids were in marching band and they would never be able to do those perfect circles.  My brother in law said that everything was perfect because in practice they shot the ones who made mistakes.   He is a police officer with a strange sense of humor.   I can't imagine anyone agreeing with China's view on human rights.  I am trying to watch and enjoy the athletes who have trained and are so excited to be there.  I love hearing all the background stories. 

You're right RichardMel----very sad indeed.

[kellyt]

KT, no matter what your son wants to do in the future (football, soccar, baseball, etc.) gymanstics and/or ballet iwould be the best for him when he is young!  That's so adorable that he wants to start taking gymnastics.  He's probably thinking "I'll bet the girls go wild for those guys".       And he's right!!!

Maybe you could find a few other boys who are also interested and you could start a carpool schedule.

[pelagia]

A co-worker sent along some photos of the gardens they created for the Olympics.  I can't post them all, but here's a selection.  They are pretty amazing.

[monrein]

Wow, those are some serious topiaries.  Now if only we in Canada could turn some of our Canada geese into ones like in the last photo, we'd have a lot less goose poop all over the place.  At our cottage we chase them off the lawn with a police whistle.  They're quite nasty all in all.  And they'll chase and peck you if they have young.  Many stay here all winter now rather than go south.

[okarol]

A co-worker sent along some photos of the gardens they created for the Olympics.  I can't post them all, but here's a selection.  They are pretty amazing.

Amazing gardens!

[Deanne]

I loved the opening ceremony, but I'm not interested in the events. I wouldn't watch regardless of the country, so it's not like I'm boycotting it or anything. However, I did catch just a few minutes of a lecture program on the behind the scenes stuff surrounding the Olympics in China. I think it was on either the University of Washington channel or the Research Channel. According to the lecture, the Chinese government supposedly displaced millions of people to create the venus. Other people were brought in from the surrounding countryside and forced to work on creating it all. I hope it'll be repeated. From the tiny bit I saw, it looked very interesting.

[mcjane]

They sure did displace a lot of people, a terrible thing to do to their own people. Check out link below.
I didn't like the military being part of the Olympics either it was out of place, scary looking bunch too.


http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/urban.php/978

[flip]

But I'm still patriotic and I'm still watching and rooting

[pelagia]

Me too Flip.

Here is a cool (in a science nerd sort of way) article about the swimsuits the US team is wearing:

http://ptonline.aip.org/journals/doc/PHTOAD-ft/vol_61/iss_8/32_1.shtml

[cherpep]

Olympics is a great venue for people all over the world to come together and have fair competitions on the same playing field, without any regard to color, race, religion, or stature.  In my opinion, politics should not play any role in the Olympics.  I love watching the games and also I appreciate getting a peek into a culture that I would never see.  Sure, i disagree with a lot of what they stand for and how they run their country, but I respect that it is kept separate from the Olympic games.

Did anyone see the synchronized diving?  I think it's incredible that they can fall at the same rate and hit the water at the same time, even if they have totally different body sizes.  How do they do that? 

You gotta love watching Phelps!!!!  It's a once in a lifetime experience to see him fly in the water, breaking the world records, and capturing all that gold.

[paris]

Phelps is amazing and I enjoy his events.   

What do you thnk of the young girl who sang in the opening ceremonies that was lipsyncing because the little girl who was really singing didn't have the "right" look?   The Olympic committe made the wrong choice, knowing how China deals with human rights.  (My opinion!)

[pelagia]

Did anyone see the synchronized diving?  I think it's incredible that they can fall at the same rate and hit the water at the same time, even if they have totally different body sizes.  How do they do that? 

I think that part stems from the law of gravity.  As long as their resistance to the air is not very different they should hit the water at pretty much the same time regardless of height and weight.  The link I gave earlier shows where frictional resistance areas are in a swimmer in the water, but since air is much less viscous, I imagine that the frictional resistance affecting divers is probably pretty unimportant. (disclaimer - I am an ecologist, so if there are any physicists out there, please feel free to chime in.)

[Zach]

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/galileo/experiments.html
Here's a good example of Galileo's experiments, one of which shows that all objects fall at the same rate.  Have fun!

[David13]

What do you thnk of the young girl who sang in the opening ceremonies that was lipsyncing because the little girl who was really singing didn't have the "right" look? The Olympic committe made the wrong choice, knowing how China deals with human rights. (My opinion!)

I think this was absolutely uncalled for and merely shows how desperate that nation is to present a superficially "good" image to the world while it continues to hide its dirty little secrets and represses each and every attempt at free speech and free thought. 

Just my  .

[Ohio Buckeye]

I have really enjoyed watching the olympians compete and rooting for USA!
Like all of the volleybal, basketball, gymnastics and of course diving and swimming.
Really something to see.

l

[paris]

Watching volleyball and syncro diving right now.   They are all so incredible.  I am in awe of all those lean, muscular bodies!!

[Ang]

not  sure  what  it  is  but  olympics don't  have  the  same   ?   as  years  gone  by

[RichardMEL]

That's the slight tinge of repression you're sensing......

backed up by the tank in the street.....

having said that... GOLD to our aussie girls in the pool today WOOHOOO....

[cherpep]

Those structures are incredible!  The birds' nest, the watercube.  Have you seen a picture of the watercube in the evening? It's beautiful!

[Wallyz]

The USOC has decided that Michael Phelps is too buck toothed to represent the US on the global stage,and will be replaced for his final events:

[David13]

The USOC has decided that Michael Phelps is too buck toothed to represent the US on the global stage,and will be replaced for his final events:

Too funny!   

[Rerun]

On the news today they kept interviewing women who kept saying Michael is HOT!  I think beauty is in the eye of the beholder in this one.

               

[petey]

Phelps is amazing and I enjoy his events.

What do you thnk of the young girl who sang in the opening ceremonies that was lipsyncing because the little girl who was really singing didn't have the "right" look? The Olympic committe made the wrong choice, knowing how China deals with human rights. (My opinion!)

I saw a picture of the "real" girl who did the singing, and she's as cute as can be (crooked baby teeth and all).  Of course, I also think Michael Phelps is simply adorable -- it's not so much his physical looks but his personality and the way he conducts himself.  Hot?  Yes, definitely!

[paris]

I saw the little girls picture also and she is precious.  All children are adorable--China has a strange view on beauty.   And Phelps is a cutie!  Come on, just look at that body!   I love all these marvelous athletes; their dedication, determination, love of their countries.  Makes me feel very humble. 

[RichardMEL]

Stephanie Rice can swim in my pool anyday.....

now I just need to get a pool....

3 golds and going strong....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephanie_Rice