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Post by sailor on Feb 9, 2010 17:05:54 GMT -5
A thread for discussing the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Mike
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Post by sailor on Feb 9, 2010 17:12:03 GMT -5
I was going to blow off the winter Olympics, but then I remembered that my Mother (good rest her sweet soul) was born in Canada. Well, that makes a difference, or at least it's an excuse to try and enjoy the spectacle instead of running for cover and trying to avoid the media blitz. What one can not avoid, one should embrace.
Also, since I live in Japan I can root for all the cute Japanese figure skaters. And, I'm an American citizen so I can root for anything I want -- it's the American way.
Anyway, I'm going to try and fully enjoy the Vancouver Olympics.
Mike
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Post by sailor on Feb 9, 2010 19:26:16 GMT -5
Remember when winter Olympic athletes were suave and sophisticated? Jean-Claude Killy My mom thought that Jean-Claude was the cat's meow! BTW, this is pre Olympic chit-chat. I'm getting warmed up for when the real thing starts in a few days. Mike
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Post by liriodendron on Feb 9, 2010 20:35:38 GMT -5
The Winter Olympics are pretty much the only sports I watch on television. I love it all - the skiing, the skating, the sledding. Well, not the hockey. I never watch the hockey. But other than that, it's all good!
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Post by BoatBabe on Feb 9, 2010 21:24:00 GMT -5
During the last winter Olympics, I was recovering from major surgery, and decided to fly back to Atlanta to lie on my son's sofa instead of stay home and lie on mine. He and I seriously got into Curling (if you can imagine!)
I love all of the winter sports, but Curling has now placed high on my Must-Not-Miss List (if you can imagine!)
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Post by brutus on Feb 9, 2010 21:38:21 GMT -5
During the last winter Olympics, I was recovering from major surgery, and decided to fly back to Atlanta to lie on my son's sofa instead of stay home and lie on mine. He and I seriously got into Curling (if you can imagine!) I love all of the winter sports, but Curling has now placed high on my Must-Not-Miss List (if you can imagine!) Yes, and I MUST say that both of you had beautiful hair afterward. ;D ~B~
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Post by BoatBabe on Feb 9, 2010 21:47:35 GMT -5
Now, we are not happy with what has been reported as the television coverage available to us here. Is it the same where you are? All coverage is being delayed until our local prime time. Here, we are used to having Canadian TV stations we could tune into that showed the Olympics live, no matter what the hour, no matter where in the world the Olympics were being held. The Canadian TV stations are not doing that this time around.
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Post by BoatBabe on Feb 9, 2010 21:49:40 GMT -5
During the last winter Olympics, I was recovering from major surgery, and decided to fly back to Atlanta to lie on my son's sofa instead of stay home and lie on mine. He and I seriously got into Curling (if you can imagine!) I love all of the winter sports, but Curling has now placed high on my Must-Not-Miss List (if you can imagine!) Yes, and I MUST say that both of you had beautiful hair afterward. ;D ~B~ SSSSSSSSSSsssssssssssssssssssss! Mr. ~B~ ;D
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Post by doctork on Feb 9, 2010 22:35:59 GMT -5
Now, we are not happy with what has been reported as the television coverage available to us here. Is it the same where you are? All coverage is being delayed until our local prime time. Here, we are used to having Canadian TV stations we could tune into that showed the Olympics live, no matter what the hour, no matter where in the world the Olympics were being held. The Canadian TV stations are not doing that this time around. What!!?? That is terrible. One of the things I liked best about living in Bellingham was that we could watch all the Olympics events live on CBC, while those confined to watching US stations had to wait until NBC (or whomever) felt like broadcasting them in prime time. Furthermore, the US coverage is all Americans all the time, and they rarely provided more than minimal coverage of any event not won by a US competitor. Canada always broadcast live with more balanced coverage of all the athletes, plus so many of the summer Olympics athletes were "local" - residents of British Columbia who were generally well-known in western Washington, at least in Bellingham, not sure about Seattle. I confess, I am now rather sorry that I am not in Bellingham now because we would be so close to the Olympic action - Bellingham is about 50 miles from Vancouver itself, and about 2+ hours from Whistler-Blackcomb where many of the events occur. That is about the same distance from Vancouver itself, though at least Whistler-Blackcomb has lots of snow. They are having to truck in a lot of snow to the venues closer to Vancouver, as they are lacking the white stuff. PS - Can we all just say "YVR" (airport abbreviation) for Vancouver? It's shorter. For that matter so is BLI instead of Bellingham.
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Post by gailkate on Feb 10, 2010 15:22:27 GMT -5
How about VR? I could learn that and not be dictated to by those rascally airport folks. with more balanced coverage of all the athletesI'd sure like to see more of that. Frankly, rooting American in an international competition seems so provincial. We're most worried here about the unseasonably balmy weather in VR. Trucking in snow for sweating skiiers doesn't raise my anticipation level to fever pitch. but I'm still excited and happy to watch,
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Post by sailor on Feb 10, 2010 17:42:21 GMT -5
Here in Japan are hopes are riding on these two figure skaters. Mao Asada Miki Ando Both girls are very competitive and both have proven themselves in international competition. I enjoy figure skating but it's stressful to watch. One slip and its over; years of training and competitions... and with one fall victory moves just beyond reach. Mike
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Post by BoatBabe on Feb 10, 2010 23:37:51 GMT -5
I love those skaters, Mike! I love all of them. What a dedication.
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Post by BoatBabe on Feb 11, 2010 9:52:20 GMT -5
I take that back:
Tonya Harding
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Post by sailor on Feb 11, 2010 17:02:21 GMT -5
//Can we all just say "YVR" (airport abbreviation) for Vancouver?// Because of the phonetic alphabet used by the Japanese, we just say "Bancouber". Mike
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Post by liriodendron on Feb 11, 2010 17:25:48 GMT -5
So, does anyone know what time the Opening Ceremonies start? And what time it will be broadcast? (I tried to look from the library today, but after plugging in both my cable company and my preferred NBC station (we can get NBC from two different cities), I kept getting bumped out of the NBC Olympics website. I don't think our computer liked their certificate (whatever THAT means).
At any rate, I'd sure like to know what time I should be in front of my t.v. tomorrow. That's East Coast time, please. ;D
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Post by doctork on Feb 11, 2010 19:34:03 GMT -5
I just turned on the NBC Nightly News, having gotten home earlier enough to actually see it. A little promo appeared saying "See the Opening Ceremonies Friday Night. 7:30 pm ET/6:30 CT."
So I am wondering what time they will start here in AZ. 5:30 local time, which is the same as 7:30 ET? Or will they put it on at 6:30, because here all the 8 pm ET shows begin at 7 pm MST, so 7:30 ET is 30 minutes "early" so 6:30 MST would also be 30 minutes earlier than usual? That would just preempt "Inside Edition" which we could all do without anyway.
Sadly no Canadian TV here, which would be even better than usual since they are great broadcasts when the Olympics occur elsewhere, but ever so much more so when the Olympics are in Canada itself!
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Post by Jane on Feb 11, 2010 19:44:51 GMT -5
I'm looking forward to the "Olympkins" (that's what Tommy called it last time round). Of course, I'm a girl so I like the figure skating best.
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Post by BoatBabe on Feb 11, 2010 20:57:31 GMT -5
Pacific time, the Olympkin Zone starts here at 7:00 p.m., and the Opening Ceremonies start at 7:30. So that's three hours after the east coast sees them. I can call my Mom in Virginia and ask her how it is. At least no winners are announced during the opening ceremonies.
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Post by jspnrvr on Feb 12, 2010 22:15:54 GMT -5
I'm tuned in, watching the opening parade. The US just came in. And here come the Canadians. I didn't get to see any of the earlier opening. Was it impressive?
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Post by jspnrvr on Feb 12, 2010 22:30:29 GMT -5
I enjoyed watching the Indian dancers, but I have to wonder what species of bird has Day-Glo feathers?
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Post by jspnrvr on Feb 12, 2010 22:51:05 GMT -5
Fiddlers and tap/stompers! Cool!
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Post by jspnrvr on Feb 12, 2010 22:53:57 GMT -5
This is all fine and dandy, but I want them to bring out the Mounties! Where are Sergeant Preston and King?
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Post by jspnrvr on Feb 12, 2010 23:45:42 GMT -5
Well, we finally got some Mounties, to raise the flag.
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Post by hartlikeawheel on Feb 13, 2010 0:16:31 GMT -5
Such lovely, sylph-like girls. The figure skating is my favorite, also. Remember Dorothy Hamill and "The Haircut?"
I was named for the champion figure skater in the Olypics the year I was born. Dad picked up the morning paper and made the decision on the spot. That's the story, anyway.
We had a champion from a nearby town. Female wrestler. Fourth place, IIRC. Hmm. Wonder if the fellas broke into their native language when she was around. Hee. Probably the local boys too.
Good sturdy Cherman stock, she is, unlike the willowy Japanese beauties.
Do they have any female Summo wrestlers yet?
Have any of you see footage of the luge accident yet? A very swift demise. Pity. Twenty-one years old. When you take a spill in that sport there may not be a second.
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Post by BoatBabe on Feb 13, 2010 2:35:18 GMT -5
Well, here on the Wet Coast we are still watching.
Just now, "I declare open, the 21st Olympic Games."
And k.d. lang singing . . .
Pretty darned impressive. "Before I knew ya . . . "
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Post by Jane on Feb 13, 2010 17:10:23 GMT -5
I wish they would stop showing the luge man dying. So far, I have managed to get to the remote soon enough to change the channel. I find it disturbing and inexcusable that it is being shown over and over again.
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Post by doctork on Feb 13, 2010 17:58:28 GMT -5
I wish they would stop showing the luge man dying. So far, I have managed to get to the remote soon enough to change the channel. I find it disturbing and inexcusable that it is being shown over and over again. I haven't watched any Olympics on TV yet, but still there are a lot of internet headlines about that tragedy. I guess it's that news media axiom "If it bleeds, it leads." Could be worse - I have been in some countries where it is common to feature very graphic and gory accident photographs on the front page of the paper. Above the fold - can't miss it.
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Post by BoatBabe on Feb 14, 2010 15:26:17 GMT -5
We are having a good time watching the Olympics here. Just don't call us from the east coast and tell us who won.
I am being careful talking to Mom in Virginia. "DON't tell me if Ono won. It's still three hours away for us."
And then I fell asleep and went to bed, and saw the results on the news before CBS Sunday Morning today.
;D
Clearly the complaints about showing The Death Run have registered. Last night they were saying, "We will Not show you the video. We are just talking about what has been done to try to make the track safer."
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Post by doctork on Feb 15, 2010 1:25:22 GMT -5
I just read that Jimmy Heuga died in Boulder, Colorado last week at age 66 from complications of MS.
He and Billy Kidd were on the US Olympic team at the Innsbruck Olympics in 1964, and they were the first Americans ever to medal in alpine skiing. Billy took the silver, Jimmy the bronze. When he developed MS, he founded the "Can Do Multiple Sclerosis Center" in Edwards, Colorado, near Vail, where he helped MS patients from all over the country focus on what they Can Do, instead of what they Cannot Do.
He was an inspiration to so many, and he will be greatly missed. I hope some commemoration of his contributions will be made during the Vancouver Olympics. Jimmy Heuga was a real sportsman, to be admired for what he did with his life after the Olympics, as well as his achievement on the slopes at Innsbruck.
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Post by BoatBabe on Feb 15, 2010 17:42:33 GMT -5
Thanks for letting us know that, doc. I was unaware.
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