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Olympic Celebration of Universal Health Care


Way off topic, but ....

I'm not one to follow the Olympics but after seeing snippets of China's opening ceremonies, and wishing I'd seen the entire show, I tuned in for London. Wouldn't have missed this for anything! A celebration of National Health and children's literature (and Kenneth Branagh reciting Shakespeare). Wonder-full. I wonder if Americans were paying attention.

Comments

  1. And that's not to mention a reenactment of the rise of the industrial revolution which was pretty powerful as well.

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  2. It was quite an extravaganza, as my mother would have said were she still alive.

    The Republicans would do well to let this pass in silence.

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  3. Pass indeed, as the horses dance and Romney exits with foot in mouth.

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  4. It was a great show. The piece on industrialization simply dazzling. When the American team joined the parade of nations, Eurosport focused on Michelle Obama waving in the stands.

    The British announcers couldn't resist another jab at Romney at that point, but didn't show him. He must have felt like a real horse's ass after his short stay in London.

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  5. BTW, I thought the US Team looked great in their Ralph Lauren suits. Talk about much ado about nothing.

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  6. I didn't make it all the way through the march and ending, so missed the US Team, but have seen photos. Ralph Lauren is classic, upper-class East Coast wear. Very attractive.

    Also missed what sounded like a great conclusion with the torch arriving through the workers who built the stadium. I do love the British appreciation of labor, although that seems to be slipping now.

    I just wish politicians here would make as big a stink about the rest of America's wardrobes. All of our clothes, including all of Ralph Lauren's, are made in China these days.

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  7. It was an easy target, but given so little of our clothes are made in the USA, I failed to see what the big stink was about.

    Team China looks pretty dominant in the pool so far. Phelps seems to be feeling his "age," or underestimated the level of his competition. Lochte appears primed to be this year's American Olympic glamour boy.

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  8. You may be right about Lochte although I fear he may be overconfident. There's a fine line there he's got to navigate.

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  9. I thought the opening ceremony performance was a bit too "British". The Olympics are supposed to be about world communication and peace. Not about smoke stacks and foggy skies. The show should have been about how the world is improved by these games. Since I didn't see it, I turned the TV off after a while. Anyways, it got the highest tv rating of any opening show so it must have had some merit. Glad you folks enjoyed it.

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  10. NBC didn't think that the US viewers needed to see the "Abide With Me" 7/7/05 memory part of the show. It's on youtube and posted all over facebook.

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  11. What this US viewer could have done without was the inane NBC chatter. I heard British critics on the radio the next a.m. talking about the opening -- why can't we have smart, witty commentators like that?

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  12. You get what you pay for ; ) I'm so glad not to be watching the Olympics on NBC. Eurosport provides all day coverage without the useless chatter, showing sports NBC would never think of covering, as well as the major sports.

    I was notably impressed by the 53 kg. women weightlifters, hoisting as much as 94 kg. over their heads in the snatch. One girl from Kazakhstan was only 16 years old.

    As for the opening ceremony, I think it is supposed to showcase who you are and welcome everyone to your country, which I thought the British did in great style

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  13. Rush Limbaugh apparently believes this was a socialist show on behalf of Obama. I wish we had it so good in this country, I write as I continue to struggle to afford insurance ....

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  14. Lochte has missed yet another chance at a gold medal. I take no joy in fearing that he was overconfident, I just wish he hadn't decided to dub these Olympics "my time."

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  15. He did take a gold in the 400 m IM. When tenths and even hundredths of seconds separate winner from second and third place, it is hard to think of any of them as "losers."

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  16. The China story is a fascinating one. This was supposed to be an off year for them at the Olympics. The Badminton scandal may have cost them a gold, but otherwise they are piling up the medals along with the Americans.

    They first effectively competed in the Olympics in 1984, becoming a gold medal factory. I see the American swim coach is complaining about some of the gold the Chinese have won in the pool, but I don't think any competitor these days is above "enhancing" his or her performance.

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  17. I can't even watch the Tour de France any more for that very reason.

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  18. Heard a snippet of a story on the radio with a Chinese athlete breaking down and apologizing to his country for coming in second. It's a competitive world out there.

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  19. I'm constantly amazed by what the media chooses to focus on during the Olympics, such as Ryan Lochte's love life,

    http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/ryan-lochte-mother-clears-one-night-stand-while-155936001--oly.html

    no wonder it is so hard keeping your focus, especially if you are one of the premier athletes.

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  20. On the whole, I would say the Chinese athletes seem much more open and relaxed this time around. I don't think they are subject to as harsh policies back home as North Koreans apparently are,

    http://news.yahoo.com/north-koreas-key-olympic-medals-refrigerators-winners-labor-205742777--abc-news-topstories.html

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  21. I missed the piece on Lochte's love life. The one non-athletic thing about these Olympics I will remember is Bob Costas' hair dye job.

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  22. Serena Williams proves she is the QUEEN of tennis by thoroughly whipping Maria Sharapova in the ladys Gold match. Wow! Awesome is the word. :)

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  23. Ah, just managed to watch the end of the USA's bronze medal win in ladys epee. It is so good to see Americans appreciating the traditional skill sports that we used to have in academia in the old days. Hopefully, fencing & archery will indeed make a very big comeback in the schools where they belong.

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  24. It has been a fun Olympics to watch. I'm glad GB is doing well, but they are definitely getting some home field breaks. Watching the gymnastics today, the Brit scored the same as the Hungarian on the pommel horse. The Hungarian looked at the scores in disbelief. He was clearly better than the Brit. He took the gold on a tiebreaker. Brits got silver and bronze. Overall, the Brits were getting some awfully high scores in gymnastics for a country that has not traditionally done well in gymnastics.

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