• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

And we’re all out of bubblegum.

Schmidt just says fuck it, opens a tea shop.

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

It may be funny to you motherfucker, but it’s not funny to me.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

Optimism opens the door to great things.

Infrastructure week. at last.

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

Good lord, these people are nuts.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

The willow is too close to the house.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

“woke” is the new caravan.

The revolution will be supervised.

Let there be snark.

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

Mobile Menu

  • Winnable House Races
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • Balloon Juice 2023 Pet Calendar (coming soon)
  • COVID-19 Coronavirus
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • War in Ukraine
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • 2021-22 Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Open Threads / Another Olympics Open Thread

Another Olympics Open Thread

by John Cole|  February 12, 20108:24 pm| 409 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

FacebookTweetEmail

I’m already bored, but I stepped all over DougJ’s, so here is a shiny one for you.

BTW, Jmart tweeted a bit ago: “Anyone recall who actually was caught for setting off that bomb at 96 summer olympics?”

It is, of course, Eric Rudolph, as anyone who follows politics will remember, but I also remember it because by uncle, who has lived in Atlanta for 30+ years and was living there at the time, is also named Eric Rudolph.

Every time there is one of these mass murders or shootings, it is one of the first things I think about- what kind of shitty luck would you have to have to spend your entire life introducing yourself as “a different Ted Bundy” or “but not that Dylan Kliebold?”

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « Nip It In The Bud
Next Post: Early Morning Open Thread »

Reader Interactions

409Comments

  1. 1.

    LuciaMia

    February 12, 2010 at 8:28 pm

    Wasn’t there a Seinfeld episode where Elaine was dating someone with the same name as a notorious criminal?

  2. 2.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 8:30 pm

    Why do you think I go by mr. whipple?

    /Jeffrey Dahmer.

    sssshhhhhh.

  3. 3.

    gbear

    February 12, 2010 at 8:34 pm

    you know who else had it rough?

    The other Adolph Hitler.

  4. 4.

    Delia

    February 12, 2010 at 8:35 pm

    Is your uncle on the no-fly list? Or maybe that’s only for the sort of terrorist Church Lady is afraid of.

  5. 5.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 12, 2010 at 8:35 pm

    Studip NBC. They promote the hell out of “Live Opening Ceremonies at 7:30” but of course that’s so they can do 90 minutes of running the luge fatality video over and over, doing (as someone said on the other thread) what amounts to a film strip on Canada (pretty scenery, though!), and give face time to Brokaw, Williams and Lauer. So I flipped over to MSNBC to watch Keith and got to see that awesome clip of Laurence O’Donnell from today’s Morning Joke.

    IOW, when I first asked for an Oly thread, hours ago, the 9:00 start time turned out to be right after all. Sheesh. I really hate NBC. They couldn’t just say “Olympics Preview and Random Bloviating at 7:30, actual Opening Ceremonies at 9:00”?

  6. 6.

    General Winfield Stuck

    February 12, 2010 at 8:38 pm

    That’s why I don’t complain having the same name as a famous comedian. People just start laughing and I join in, and that is that.

    And an obligatory pre fuck you to any enterprising trolls out there..

  7. 7.

    Mary aka Comrade Mary

    February 12, 2010 at 8:40 pm

    It has to be at least darkish locally for us to see the flaming spliff properly, so I didn’t expect it any earlier than 9 Eastern.

    The hot rumour all day is that the person doing the final lighting in the stadium could be Terry Fox’s Mum, although Wayne Gretzky is also top-listed. We saw Gretzky’s dad carrying the torch earlier on the route today, so it could be Wayne, but I suspect that we’ll see Mrs. Fox, Gretzky and some hologram of Terry all going up the stairs together.

  8. 8.

    El Cid

    February 12, 2010 at 8:41 pm

    Or the annoyance of making withdrawals when your name is Benk Rahber.

  9. 9.

    QrazyQat

    February 12, 2010 at 8:44 pm

    Anyone remember which political party’s members/voters hid Eric Rudolph for years and supported him even after his trial? Which wing they’re in?

    Hint: Republicans. Right wing.

  10. 10.

    BarneyG2000

    February 12, 2010 at 8:44 pm

    The real tragedy was that Richard Jewel was a hero, but died as the guy most people remembered as the bomber. Just think about how his life should have turned-out.

  11. 11.

    Pigs & Spiders

    February 12, 2010 at 8:45 pm

    I think NBC wants me to have an affair with Canada.

  12. 12.

    BombIranForChrist

    February 12, 2010 at 8:46 pm

    I have a friend who looks exactly like Jeffrey Dahmer. The resemblance is uncanny, but I have never had the guts to ask him, “so, dude, hey, has anyone pointed out that you look exactly like Jeffrey Dahmer?” My friend doesn’t eat people, but he is really, really good at first person shooters, so who knows. Maybe he’s Dahmer’s good doppelganger.

  13. 13.

    DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal)

    February 12, 2010 at 8:46 pm

    @mr. whipple:

    That was my first thought, what about the poor souls with the last name of Dahmer? The unspoken looks would be bad enough but you know that people that know them are going to be ribbing them endlessly about things like hey, whoya cooking on the barbecue?’

    I would bet that shit would wear thin real fast.

  14. 14.

    Lev

    February 12, 2010 at 8:47 pm

    @LuciaMia: Yeah, it was the one where Jerry dates a masseusse. Elaine dated “Joel Rifkin.”

  15. 15.

    birthmarker

    February 12, 2010 at 8:48 pm

    I don’t know, but I think most people know Rudolph also bombed the B’ham abortion clinic, and ended up in jail there.

    EDIT THIS WAS IN RESPONSE TO COMMENT #9

  16. 16.

    KCinDC

    February 12, 2010 at 8:50 pm

    @BombIranForChrist, how many people know what Dahmer looked like? I certainly don’t, and don’t know why I would. I doubt it’s a big problem for your friend.

  17. 17.

    General Winfield Stuck

    February 12, 2010 at 8:51 pm

    Great thread. Serial killers, terrorists, and the Olympics. Only on Balloon Juice.

  18. 18.

    Zach

    February 12, 2010 at 8:52 pm

    Of course, I wonder what political movement Rudolph would belong to if he were free today:

    Will you say that there is no reason to raise a hand against your own government, that such is forbidden by Romans 13. All governments everywhere including our own, have their roots in usurpation. Two hundred and twenty five years ago our ancestors overthrew their government because they were not being represented for purposes of taxation. Tell me you good patriots, is the caucus belli of “taxation without representation” more weighty than the deliberate murder of 50 million people? You lie, and your lies will find you out.
    __
    For many years I thought long and hard on these issues and then in 1996 I decided to act. In the summer of 1996, the world converged upon Atlanta for the Olympic Games. Under the protection and auspices of the regime in Washington millions of people came to celebrate the ideals of global socialism. Multinational corporations spent billions of dollars, and Washington organized an army of security to protect these best of all games. Even thought the conception and purpose of the so-called Olympic movement is to promote the values of global socialism, as perfectly expressed in the song “Imagine” by John Lennon, which was the theme of the 1996 Games even though the purpose of the Olympics is to promote these despicable ideals, the purpose of the attack on July 27 was to confound, anger and embarrass the Washington government in the eyes of the world for its abominable sanctioning of abortion on demand.

  19. 19.

    trollhattan

    February 12, 2010 at 8:52 pm

    Iz not mah kitteh, but I love this photo:

    http://jkrumm.smugmug.com/Pets/dogs-and-cats/PC015885/760840805_cEznF-L.jpg

  20. 20.

    emrventures

    February 12, 2010 at 8:53 pm

    I remember seeing an episode of Oprah where she introduced a woman in the audience named “Dot Com.”

    A woman whose name of Dorothy Kahm – everyone called her “Dot” — had been a perfectly ordinary one through the first 50 or so years of her life.

    And then.

  21. 21.

    Brick Oven Bill

    February 12, 2010 at 8:54 pm

    BombIranForChrist;

    The Greeks teach us that through Physiognomy, we can predict a person’s behavior by their facial features.

    So it is very possible that your friend eats people.

  22. 22.

    Steeplejack

    February 12, 2010 at 8:54 pm

    @gbear:

    Okay, that’s funny.

  23. 23.

    demo woman

    February 12, 2010 at 8:55 pm

    @General Winfield Stuck: and best friends forever. FYI.. the coverage sucks and who is the Gretchen person that doesn’t have a gold?

  24. 24.

    scav

    February 12, 2010 at 8:56 pm

    @General Winfield Stuck:

    Great thread. Serial killers, terrorists, and the Olympics. Only on Balloon Juice.

    Usually sort of a cross between the intellectual bends and having mental jet lag but it is rather addictive.

  25. 25.

    Jim Jones

    February 12, 2010 at 8:56 pm

    I know how it feels.

  26. 26.

    Nick

    February 12, 2010 at 8:57 pm

    @Pigs & Spiders: I feel like that whole thing was meant to be a “If this Obama thing doesn’t work out, look what’s just across the border!” infomercial.

  27. 27.

    BombIranForChrist

    February 12, 2010 at 8:57 pm

    @Brick Oven Bill: Well, I suppose if I had to be eaten by a human being, I would rather it be a friend than an enemy. I would hope he would keep me in something a little nicer than a vat, however. Perhaps a nice camping cooler, or a humidor.

  28. 28.

    Jim H.

    February 12, 2010 at 8:58 pm

    I know how it feels. My given name is James Jones, I went by Jim. I was in Junior High in 1978.

    I got really, really sick of Kool-Aid jokes.

  29. 29.

    K. Grant

    February 12, 2010 at 9:00 pm

    I just hope that Rush is playing tonight.

  30. 30.

    Pigs & Spiders

    February 12, 2010 at 9:01 pm

    @Nick: Exactly. That and, “Hey look! We haven’t fucked our country up too bad yet!”

  31. 31.

    Mike Kay

    February 12, 2010 at 9:03 pm

    @trollhattan:

    Yea!!!

  32. 32.

    General Winfield Stuck

    February 12, 2010 at 9:05 pm

    @demo woman: Not watching yet, do you or anyone have a stream link for the games?

  33. 33.

    Pigs & Spiders

    February 12, 2010 at 9:07 pm

    Stephan Harper is an asshole.

    Sorry, that’s out of my system now.

  34. 34.

    freelancer

    February 12, 2010 at 9:08 pm

    I swear to FSM, Brian Williams is just reading off of Wikipedia right now.

  35. 35.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 9:09 pm

    Why are there so few people in Canada? Is it the socialized abortions?

  36. 36.

    Darkrose

    February 12, 2010 at 9:09 pm

    Why is it that I have to watch the Opening Ceremonies on tape delay when I’m in the same time zone as Vancouver?

  37. 37.

    Steeplejack

    February 12, 2010 at 9:09 pm

    @demo woman:

    Gretchen Bleiler, snowboarding. Won a silver medal last time in halfpipe, whatever that is. Sounds like an event from the High Times Dope Olympics back in the ’70s. That’s all I know.

  38. 38.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 9:10 pm

    You know what happens if anyone fucks up the opening ceremony? Our tiny, elegant Governor General will rip out your beating heart and eat it in front of you.

    I am not kidding. She’s done it before.

  39. 39.

    moja31

    February 12, 2010 at 9:10 pm

    @emrventures: i remember that show, there was also the lady named Sue Doku. until a few years ago her name was also just another name.

  40. 40.

    Pigs & Spiders

    February 12, 2010 at 9:10 pm

    @Darkrose: Because NBC is squeezing this Olympics for every last advertising dollar they can.

  41. 41.

    Xecky Gilchrist

    February 12, 2010 at 9:11 pm

    I had a buddy who had the same name as the then-reigning Mormon church president. Not a big deal anywhere but here in Utah, but he never heard the end of it.

  42. 42.

    demo woman

    February 12, 2010 at 9:11 pm

    @General Winfield Stuck: I thought nbc was going to stream it.. I’ll try to find it.

  43. 43.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 9:11 pm

    Ah, it’s the death panels. Forgot.

  44. 44.

    Elisabeth

    February 12, 2010 at 9:13 pm

    @K. Grant:

    I’m slow ~ I wondered what Rush Limbaugh had to do with the Olympics. I”m going to go listen to some “real” Rush now. :)

  45. 45.

    dmsilev

    February 12, 2010 at 9:14 pm

    Conversation at work this afternoon: “There are too many Olympic sports. They should combine some”

    Suggestions included the gymnast-putt (shotputters tossing pixie-like gymnasts, points for distance, form, and of course sticking the landing) and skeet-jumping, a team sport which combines ski jumping and the biathlon…

    -dms

  46. 46.

    demo woman

    February 12, 2010 at 9:15 pm

    @General Winfield Stuck: http://www.ctv.ca/
    oh canada

  47. 47.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 9:16 pm

    Curlinghockey.

  48. 48.

    Kobie

    February 12, 2010 at 9:16 pm

    I’m looking forward to when Bill Wennington lights the Olympic cauldron.

  49. 49.

    Comrade Kevin

    February 12, 2010 at 9:20 pm

    @Brick Oven Bill: People also used to think there was something to phrenology.

  50. 50.

    Nellcote

    February 12, 2010 at 9:21 pm

    OT Surf’s Up!

    Maverick’s on for Saturday morning! 40+ft waves expected. The best sporting event of the year!

  51. 51.

    ericblair

    February 12, 2010 at 9:21 pm

    @mr. whipple: Why are there so few people in Canada? Is it the socialized abortions?

    If I interpret correctly from the tourism pr0n stock footage, they get eaten by bears. Either that or fall off mountains.

    And yes, Harper is an asshole.

    Oh, God, the forty-minute-long version of the anthem. Didn’t the Simpsons make fun of this?

  52. 52.

    demo woman

    February 12, 2010 at 9:21 pm

    Who are all these indians and why are they here? We need the christians. So far it’s been a pretty agnostic performance.

  53. 53.

    General Winfield Stuck

    February 12, 2010 at 9:21 pm

    @demo woman: I get a video loading error on CTV link, maybe it’s temporary and I’m not that big on opening ceremonies anyways. But can’t stand to watch the smarmy jackals on NBC. Thanks for trying:)

  54. 54.

    moja31

    February 12, 2010 at 9:22 pm

    i’m glad that hollywood wants to help haiti in any way possible, but recreating “we are the world” with every two bit celebrity is NOT the way to do it!

  55. 55.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 12, 2010 at 9:22 pm

    I’m so glad the aboriginal people of Canada have such a prominent role in these Olympics. How cool to see and hear First Nations, Metis and Inuit dancing and singing together.

  56. 56.

    dmsilev

    February 12, 2010 at 9:22 pm

    Did that announcer really say that on behalf of all comedians, the athletes are welcome?

    -dms

  57. 57.

    scav

    February 12, 2010 at 9:23 pm

    if it’s the winter ones, combining anything with the biathlon is mandatory. add more stops (curling + shot put, possibly on real ponds?) to what you’ve started (ski jumping and the biathlon) and we’ve got the skeetlechase.

  58. 58.

    demo woman

    February 12, 2010 at 9:23 pm

    @General Winfield Stuck: They’re introducing the countries and it’s pretty neat cuz several of the athletes have cameras and are taking pictures. Mementos are important!

  59. 59.

    Bob In Pacifica

    February 12, 2010 at 9:24 pm

    Here in Cali I have a friend whose dad is named Richard Allen Davis. No, not the guy on death row for murdering Polly Klaas, but the same name. At least Rudolph had his fans in certain circles. Davis, no one likes him.

  60. 60.

    freelancer

    February 12, 2010 at 9:25 pm

    Anyone else getting a sneaking suspicion that we’re going to be treated to one or more op-eds in the next week decrying the multi-culturalism on display, with a special tip o’ the hat toward socialist Canada’s acknowledgement of their Native Americans, at the Olympics?

  61. 61.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 12, 2010 at 9:25 pm

    @demo woman

    LOL

  62. 62.

    JenJen

    February 12, 2010 at 9:26 pm

    JMart tweeted that? I’m kind of impressed.

    Gosh, I know there are a lot of haters out there, but I really do love the Parade of Nations.

  63. 63.

    DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal)

    February 12, 2010 at 9:26 pm

    @dmsilev:

    How about the Cross Country-Bobsledding competition? The Curling-Ice Hockey competition? The Luge-Speed Skating competition? Snowboard-Ski Jumping?

    If they did something like this I might actually pay attention to the games for once.

  64. 64.

    JK

    February 12, 2010 at 9:26 pm

    Canadian Curling Hall of Fame
    http://www.curling.ca/content/InsideTheCCA/hallOfFame.asp

  65. 65.

    demo woman

    February 12, 2010 at 9:29 pm

    Stuck if you are still around try the link again. The Bermuda outfits are great.
    @JenJen: The Parade of Nations is the reason for the Olympics.

  66. 66.

    JK

    February 12, 2010 at 9:31 pm

    Showdown in Vancouver
    http://www.counterpunch.com/boykoff02102010.html

  67. 67.

    RedKitten

    February 12, 2010 at 9:32 pm

    I’m so glad the aboriginal people of Canada have such a prominent role in these Olympics. How cool to see and hear First Nations, Metis and Inuit dancing and singing together.

    I was thinking the same thing — has there ever been a time in our history when they were all together in one room doing that?

  68. 68.

    dmsilev

    February 12, 2010 at 9:32 pm

    @DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal): Well, we did speculate about ways to combine the bobsled and figure skating. Triple axels become *much* more interesting when there’s a 70 mph sled barreling towards the jumper.

    Curling and ice hockey has potential. Would really really suck to be the goalie, unless you allow the use of heavy steel plate armor.

    -dms

  69. 69.

    Pigs & Spiders

    February 12, 2010 at 9:32 pm

    @JK: Curling is pretty much my favorite sport. Can’t wait for it to start.

  70. 70.

    Nellcote

    February 12, 2010 at 9:32 pm

    Why are the Olympic Games time delayed for the west coast? fuckin* eastern elites!

  71. 71.

    Pigs & Spiders

    February 12, 2010 at 9:33 pm

    @Nellcote: See my comment @ 35.

  72. 72.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 12, 2010 at 9:34 pm

    I have a friend whose last name is Kirkey. We’ve teased him for years that his name combines two great Canadian sports.

  73. 73.

    ericblair

    February 12, 2010 at 9:37 pm

    Hoo boy, the top language on the country signs is French. There will be harrumphing in Alberta tonight. Shoulda used the official languages of Vancouver: English and Cantonese.

    Bermuda shorts are not flattering.

  74. 74.

    dmsilev

    February 12, 2010 at 9:37 pm

    The Finns appear to have shown up in their ice-cap camouflage outfits. Just in case they have to hide from some polar bears, I guess.

    -dms

  75. 75.

    freelancer

    February 12, 2010 at 9:38 pm

    I’m gonna paraphrase Brian Williams just a minute ago:

    [Re: the kid from the Cayman Islands] “He went to boarding school [on the east coast or NH] he is now an undergrad at Brown and currently trains in Aspen. Just wonderful to see a young man overcome such a situation and have it lead him here.”

    Yes, Brian, please, tell us more about the Dickensian nightmare of the Cayman Islands, and going to private schools abroad.

  76. 76.

    demo woman

    February 12, 2010 at 9:38 pm

    @JK: Sorry, can’t even become concerned about the article. My son was across the street from the Atlanta bombing. He was close enough that the ground shook and his drink fell off the table.
    The Olympics should be about the best athletes and honoring them whether or not you honor their country.
    I also remember the Munich massacre and the athletes need to be protected.

  77. 77.

    Mike Kay

    February 12, 2010 at 9:40 pm

    Poor George Bush Sr.’s name is Mudd.

  78. 78.

    Pigs & Spiders

    February 12, 2010 at 9:41 pm

    @freelancer: I gotta defend him for a second, I think that was pretty obviously tongue-in-cheek.

  79. 79.

    RedKitten

    February 12, 2010 at 9:42 pm

    I just realized that those First Nations dancers are going to be really, really tired by the time they get to the end of the parade of athletes.

    “Fuck you, Zimbabwe…I’m sitting DOWN!”

  80. 80.

    JK

    February 12, 2010 at 9:44 pm

    @demo woman:

    I also remember Munich and agree that all athletes and spectators must be protected. I just found the article interesting for the perspective it offered.

  81. 81.

    freelancer

    February 12, 2010 at 9:46 pm

    @Pigs & Spiders:

    He probably was being facetious, but still, this is the Olympics, and I know it must be really difficult to do color for the ceremonies, with your prepared texts and still try to come across as extemporaneous and off-the-cuff, but is it really the place for BJ-style snark?

  82. 82.

    mcd410x

    February 12, 2010 at 9:47 pm

    That’s it: I’m going to Hungary with, perhaps, a stopover in Iceland.

    Getting old sucks.

  83. 83.

    Tax Analyst

    February 12, 2010 at 9:47 pm

    When Rick Adelman coached the Portland Trail Blazers many years back he had the same style mustache as Hitler’s and it made him look WAY too much like Der Fuhrer.

    My brother and I were talking about it and one of us said, “Isn’t that why guys have wives? To tell us, “Dear, that mustache makes you look like Adolf Hitler.”

  84. 84.

    JK

    February 12, 2010 at 9:47 pm

    @freelancer:

    Tool – n. see Williams, Brian

    One of the sadder things about Brian Williams is watching him on the Tonight Show or the Daily Show trying to prove how funny and cool he is.

  85. 85.

    demo woman

    February 12, 2010 at 9:48 pm

    This might sound kinda dorky but all the athletes are so attractive. Maybe it’s just their smile and vibrancy but anyway I’m jealous!!

    I must point out that I can type kinda and dorky and spell check approves those spellings but spell check still won’t recognize the President.

  86. 86.

    Pigs & Spiders

    February 12, 2010 at 9:48 pm

    @mcd410x: Reference to the number of exceptionally cute women in the Hungarian delegation?

  87. 87.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 9:49 pm

    Yay! John let me out of spammer’s jail!

    I really shouldn’t have pissed off Tunch in the other thread. John got him that FrontPage training years ago and lets him run the place on weekends. DO NOT TAUNT HAPPY FUN KITTEH.

  88. 88.

    Pigs & Spiders

    February 12, 2010 at 9:50 pm

    @freelancer: By the way, I don’t think it was Brian Williams, I’m pretty sure it was Bob Costas. Brian Williams is not commentating. Also, it was funny.

  89. 89.

    mcd410x

    February 12, 2010 at 9:50 pm

    From Sullivan: “How Many Die For Lack Of Insurance? McArdle pours through the data in the latest Atlantic.”

    I’m willing to bet that she actually doesn’t.

  90. 90.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 9:51 pm

    Oh, and I’ll repeat my earlier prediction: The hot rumour all day is that the person doing the final lighting of the cauldron in the stadium could be Terry Fox’s Mum, although Wayne Gretzky is also top-listed. We saw Gretzky’s dad carrying the torch earlier on the route today, so it could be Wayne, but I suspect that we’ll see Mrs. Fox, Gretzky and some hologram of Terry all going up the stairs together.

  91. 91.

    Tax Analyst

    February 12, 2010 at 9:53 pm

    When I first started doing taxes for H&R Block back in 1993 one of my first customers was “Richard Stroker”.

    I really wanted to ask him, “Can I call you ‘Dick?'”

    But I didn’t.

    But he was kind of a dick.

  92. 92.

    ericblair

    February 12, 2010 at 9:53 pm

    @freelancer: He probably was being facetious, but still, this is the Olympics, and I know it must be really difficult to do color for the ceremonies, with your prepared texts and still try to come across as extemporaneous and off-the-cuff, but is it really the place for BJ-style snark?

    Extemporaneous? Every one of these geniuses sound like they’re rattling off their fourth-grade geography homework that they copied from the encyclopedia. Sure, nobody’s going to believe you actually know what percentage of Iceland is covered in glaciers, but put some effort into it, people.

  93. 93.

    inkadu

    February 12, 2010 at 9:55 pm

    Watching “Undercover Boss,” under protest, with Mrs. Inkadu.

    The conceit of the show is that the CEO/President of a company goes undercover as a ground-level employee.

    It’s interesting on a few levels. First, the CEO’s seem completely shocked and surprised at what happens at that level. Second, it reminds me of the stories of the greek gods knocking on doors as poor travelers. Hosts were rewarded or punished depending on how they were treated. So far, the treatment of the President is fairly slavish. He comes down, much like a god, and dispenses raises and promotions. It makes me a little sick that this is what it takes to get promoted… it’s also a huge sop to capitalism. People who are cheerful at their minimum-wage jobs are held up as models. If shit-wage folks could just be happy! Seriously disturbing.

    Edit: Mrs. : “Every CEO should have to do this.” Me: “Every CEO should be limited to making 100x their lowest paid worker.”

  94. 94.

    Max

    February 12, 2010 at 9:55 pm

    Ho hum. Sitting in the Bay Area, just down the coast from Van and having to wait for the fucking tape delay!!!!

    Apparently, the universe revolves around the eastern time zone.

    In the meantime, Max the Wheaten got sauteed chicken livers with his dinner tonight. Early Valentine’s Day treat. He is madly in love with me right now. It will pass by morning, I’m sure.

    Note to self… sauteing chicken livers is gross.

  95. 95.

    demo woman

    February 12, 2010 at 9:57 pm

    @JK: I’ll read it again with an open mind. The first few paragraphs hit me the wrong way so I do need to look at it again. Thanks for sorta calling me on it.

    By the way sorta is okay with spell check.

  96. 96.

    inkadu

    February 12, 2010 at 9:57 pm

    @demo woman: Yeah, but most winter sports don’t let you appreciate the beauty.

  97. 97.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 9:58 pm

    From Sullivan: “How Many Die For Lack Of Insurance? McArdle pours through the data in the latest Atlantic.”

    Somehow I doubt her ‘data’ will be consistent with previous publications on this topic.

  98. 98.

    inkadu

    February 12, 2010 at 9:58 pm

    @Brick Oven Bill: I made some pizza tonight. Any recommendations for cheap mozzarella? That stuff is pricey.

  99. 99.

    Peter J

    February 12, 2010 at 9:59 pm

    @demo woman:

    I must point out that I can type kinda and dorky and spell check approves those spellings but spell check still won’t recognize the President.

    It’s obvious that the spell check is a birther. (Another word that the spell check won’t recognize.)

  100. 100.

    freelancer

    February 12, 2010 at 9:59 pm

    @Pigs & Spiders:

    I stand corrected. It is Costas, I just haven’t heard his voice in two years.

    As an aside, if you have an idea, any idea, send it to 30 Rockefeller Center, VP of primetime programming, because after seeing the promo for “The Marriage Ref”, NBC is clearly out of them. [facepalm]

  101. 101.

    Tax Analyst

    February 12, 2010 at 10:00 pm

    @dmsilev:

    Conversation at work this afternoon: “There are too many Olympic sports. They should combine some”

    Suggestions included the gymnast-putt (shotputters tossing pixie-like gymnasts, points for distance, form, and of course sticking the landing) and skeet-jumping, a team sport which combines ski jumping and the biathlon

    Mixed pair Figure-skating/Tag-team Wrestling. Sequined outfits would be mandatory.

  102. 102.

    ericblair

    February 12, 2010 at 10:02 pm

    @Max: Apparently, the universe revolves around the eastern time zone.

    Why yes. Yes it does.

    I used to live in AZ, and meeting time emails always drove me nuts that way. Whenever somebody didn’t indicate the time zone, you knew it was Eastern and the person didn’t even consider the fact that, you know, there’s more than one of them things. Now I live in the Center of Teh Universe, and am super-nice about indicating time zones. Because I care, dammit.

    ericblair +2 and working on it

  103. 103.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 10:02 pm

    I’ve been trying to predict the next country in the parade. Once Peru showed up, I thought Portugal would be next. I literally forgot Poland. Wow, flashback.

  104. 104.

    Pigs & Spiders

    February 12, 2010 at 10:02 pm

    @Max: It’s not the East Coast elites, it’s the advertising. Ads played in prime time = $$$. Ads played at 6:00pm = $.

  105. 105.

    Xantar

    February 12, 2010 at 10:03 pm

    @demo woman:

    Get an iPod touch. Mine recognizes all three of President Obama’s names.

  106. 106.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 12, 2010 at 10:06 pm

    @ericblair: You’ve just described why I never *ever* watch things like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade or the Tournament of Roses. I can’t bear the canned, scripted jokes and supposedly off-the-cuff factoids. For the Olympics I grit my teeth and put up with it because I do love seeing the athletes.

  107. 107.

    Cassidy

    February 12, 2010 at 10:06 pm

    A little fun

  108. 108.

    DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal)

    February 12, 2010 at 10:07 pm

    @dmsilev:

    How about sending all of the bobsleds and speed skaters off at once? The results of that would be stellar!

    Curling and ice hockey has potential.

    As do curling and ski jumping (proper crowd positioning could add to the results), though combining Olympic skeet shooting and the ski jump has some potential.

  109. 109.

    Max

    February 12, 2010 at 10:08 pm

    @Pigs & Spiders: Thank you Captain Obvious.

    :)

  110. 110.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 12, 2010 at 10:08 pm

    I would have *sworn* that Juan Antonio Samaranch was dead! What a shock to see him just now!!

  111. 111.

    madmommy

    February 12, 2010 at 10:10 pm

    The dancers off to the side of the athletes as the come down the ramp are running out of gas. And the women seem to be wearing skirts made of down comforters. Still not the sartorial statement that was made by Azerbaijan, though.

  112. 112.

    scav

    February 12, 2010 at 10:10 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: Hungarian TV, or maybe Hungarian CSPAN TV for the deaf. No commentary, no biopics.

  113. 113.

    ericblair

    February 12, 2010 at 10:10 pm

    Sweden has “a very strong winter tradition”. You mean like having one every year. Who writes this stuff.

  114. 114.

    demo woman

    February 12, 2010 at 10:10 pm

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse: OMG.. Don’t forget about Poland.
    lol

  115. 115.

    RedKitten

    February 12, 2010 at 10:13 pm

    I can’t believe you forgot about Poland….

    Oh hey! It’s Joe Biden!

  116. 116.

    dmsilev

    February 12, 2010 at 10:13 pm

    Sucks to be Uzbekistan. Sandwiched between the US and Canada, they’re not going to be getting much attention.

    -dms

  117. 117.

    Pigs & Spiders

    February 12, 2010 at 10:14 pm

    Those Moosey watchcaps are going to sell like CRA-ZEE.

  118. 118.

    demo woman

    February 12, 2010 at 10:15 pm

    @RedKitten: You must be so proud.. but I still like the US hats better.

  119. 119.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 10:15 pm

    The mittens are already a huge fad here.

    Oh, I love Clara Hughes carrying our flag. Cycling in the summer, speed skating in the winter. I would kill for her thighs.

    That Hudson’s Bay blanket scarf? Awesome!

  120. 120.

    madmommy

    February 12, 2010 at 10:17 pm

    Loving the Canadian scarves and hats. But the moose hats the Americans are wearing are cool also. Sadly, I do not have a head for hats. Luckily it doesn’t get cold enough here for long enough to need one!

  121. 121.

    Pigs & Spiders

    February 12, 2010 at 10:18 pm

    I would kill for her thighs.

    Can we make this the new “Also.” here at BJ?

  122. 122.

    JK

    February 12, 2010 at 10:18 pm

    @freelancer:

    “The Marriage Ref” looks like pure, unadulterated GARBAGE. Jerry Seinfeld has dreamed up an epic fail. Between the Marriage Ref and the Jay Leno Show / Tonight Show fiasco, it’s clear that NBC doesn’t have a fucking clue when it comes to primetime programming.

  123. 123.

    ericblair

    February 12, 2010 at 10:19 pm

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse: That Hudson’s Bay blanket scarf? Awesome!

    Ooh, itchy. Beats the USA moosey hats by a mile, though.

    Harper could at least act like he’s excited about seeing his team, instead of looking like he just polished off a side of ribs and a sixpack and is going off for a nap.

  124. 124.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 10:20 pm

    Is that dress painted on?

  125. 125.

    Brick Oven Bill

    February 12, 2010 at 10:20 pm

    inkadu; I used to buy mozzarella at Sam’s Club. There, the last time it was possible to fix the Pizza Price Index, March of 2009, it cost $1.70 per pound in a five pound bag, which is pretty good. This was down nearly 50% from when the gas prices were high.

    Now I am buying cheese at a local bulk food store for around $2.40 a pound for a five-pound bag. But if you buy the one or two pound packages, it is very expensive. But still cheaper than those very bad frozen pizzas.

    I am very happy on the pizza front as I have decided to launch an on-line pizza-dough-kit mail-order enterprise. I am pleased with the name. This line of pizza-dough kits will be called:

    “The Chicago Way” (TM)

    Now I am off to go drinking.

  126. 126.

    NickM

    February 12, 2010 at 10:21 pm

    Amazing – “Pawlenty Says Obama Not a Socialist” is a legitimate headline. Think about how freakn crazy things had to get for that to be news.

  127. 127.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 10:21 pm

    I would like to apologize for Bryan and Nelly.

    Well, at least it’s not that dreadful new We Are The World. I caught a few moments of that auto-tuned abomination on NBC before I dived back to CTV.

  128. 128.

    gwangung

    February 12, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    Oh, I love Clara Hughes carrying our flag. Cycling in the summer, speed skating in the winter. I would kill for her thighs.

    I think I’m just content to worship. Or at least evince awe.

  129. 129.

    D-Chance.

    February 12, 2010 at 10:25 pm

    It is, of course, Eric Rudolph,

    It was purportedly Eric Rudolph. He gave a “confession” only after the death penalty for the abortion clinic bombings was taken off the table. Whether he actually did the Olympic Park job, or simply played patsy to save his life is speculative.

  130. 130.

    PurpleGirl

    February 12, 2010 at 10:26 pm

    In the other thread several people posted names of famous Canadians. I’ve thought of a few more, and people who I think would have been better singers than those two who were just on… Gordon Lightfoot, Sylvia Fricker and Ian Tyson. Joni Mitchell was named in the other thread.

  131. 131.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 12, 2010 at 10:26 pm

    @Comrade Mary: Yeah, that was pretty fuckin’ retar — er, I mean, that was bad.

    I need a k. d. lang fix to restore my faith in Canadian culture.

  132. 132.

    DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal)

    February 12, 2010 at 10:26 pm

    @Peter J:

    Meye spel cheker sez sorta  iz jus peechy keene wile birther  iz snot.

  133. 133.

    Max

    February 12, 2010 at 10:27 pm

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse: and Celine? You canucks owe us big time for unleashing that nightmare upon us here in the States.

    Funny story – I used to live in British Columbia. Far up north, near the Yukon border. And when I was in 7th grade (grade 7 to the Canadians), my teacher and I were continually at odds over the spelling of words like “color / colour” and the way to pronounce words like “advertisement”. I did not make a very good Canadian.

  134. 134.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 10:27 pm

    I think that’s Donald Sutherland. You know, Kiefer’s dad and Tommy’s son in law.

  135. 135.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 12, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    Donald Sutherland! That’s a nice choice.

  136. 136.

    Oscar Leroy

    February 12, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    @LuciaMia:

    Wasn’t there a Seinfeld episode where Elaine was dating someone with the same name as a notorious criminal?

    There sure was. And then Newman revealed he had David Berkowitz’s old mailbag.

  137. 137.

    RoonieRoo

    February 12, 2010 at 10:31 pm

    And as usual when watching any Olympics on NBC, I just wish the idiots would STFU so I can enjoy the ceremony/show. It’s the constant talking talking talking of the morons about every little detail that just destroys it every single year.

  138. 138.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 10:31 pm

    and a pink blob rises from the stage……

  139. 139.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: Yes, he’s sonorous like that.

    Could be worse: he could be pointing and shrieking.

    EDIT: OMG! It’s the world’s biggest gummi bear!

  140. 140.

    Grumpy Code Monkey

    February 12, 2010 at 10:33 pm

    DEAR GOD COSTAS, SHUT THE HELL UP FOR FIVE MINUTES ALREADY.

    Here’s the cultural part of the program that WE’RE GOING TO TALK OVER SO YOU CAN’T ACTUALLY ENJOY OR APPRECIATE IT.

    Fuck, I hate NBC.

  141. 141.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 10:33 pm

    …and away it goes.

    I’m so not getting this.

  142. 142.

    ericblair

    February 12, 2010 at 10:34 pm

    @RoonieRoo: And as usual when watching any Olympics on NBC, I just wish the idiots would STFU so I can enjoy the ceremony/show.

    Yes, I’d just like to enjoy the Mandatory Incomprehensible Cultural Segment in peace. It’s not like it adds anything: yes, those are supposed to be whales: thanks for the tip.

  143. 143.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 10:34 pm

    @mr. whipple: On CTV, we were warned a few minutes ago that this was the part of the show where logic and the usual rules go away. You know, like Congress.

  144. 144.

    John O

    February 12, 2010 at 10:34 pm

    AL requested some more photos, and a story, the latter of which I just haven’t gotten around to yet.

    But you can see some here.

    (Note: Not sure of blog-whoring rules, and would be happy to send pics to a BJ host/ess.)

  145. 145.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 10:37 pm

    Why am I thinking about animal shelters?

  146. 146.

    Carrie

    February 12, 2010 at 10:37 pm

    @mr. whipple: It helps if you smoke a spliff…mind you Nelly and Bryan nearly killed my buzz earlier.

  147. 147.

    madmommy

    February 12, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    OK, I am a sap for this sort of thing, but this entire segment has been very cool. The visuals, the effects used, all very well done IMHO.

    And now for Sarah McLachlan.

  148. 148.

    Steeplejack

    February 12, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    @Max:

    Apparently the universe revolves around the Eastern time zone.

    I don’t think that’s the reason NBC is delaying it. I think it’s so that it will hit the sweet (advertising) spot of prime time on the West Coast. And not screw up the affiliates’ local news slots at 5:00-6:00 p.m.

  149. 149.

    Max

    February 12, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    Reading the tweets and posts here about the ceremony that I can’t see yet, it appears to be a little “obscure” in its references and theme.

    I’m prepared to watched the program remembering that smoking pot is the national pastime in Van.

  150. 150.

    freelancer

    February 12, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    @Carrie:

    I don’t know, the whole ice breaking/killer whale thing was really cool. I wonder if it looked that good live.

    Now, if only these people where painted up like Tobias Funke as a Blue Man understudy, we’d be watching Avatar: the Musical.

  151. 151.

    ellaesther

    February 12, 2010 at 10:40 pm

    @Pigs & Spiders: I love the tag line on your blog.

    This has nothing to do with the Olympics OR terrorism OR serial killers, I realize, but there it is.

  152. 152.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 10:41 pm

    @freelancer:

    I’m finding this to be a pompous incomprehensible pseudoartistic mishmash of gibberish.

  153. 153.

    Mnemosyne

    February 12, 2010 at 10:41 pm

    @Pigs & Spiders:

    I don’t think it was Brian Williams, I’m pretty sure it was Bob Costas.

    Bob Costas gets tired of the Parade of Nations right around New Zealand, and then comes to the horrifying realization that he’s stuck there until the parade finally ends. That’s when he starts phoning it in. If you’re lucky, he stops sulking and starts making fun of what they gave him to read.

  154. 154.

    ericblair

    February 12, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    @madmommy: And now for Sarah McLachlan.

    Girlfriend needs to scrape off some of the makeup; you’re looking like Celine, ya know!

  155. 155.

    demo woman

    February 12, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    @madmommy: Definitely agree.

  156. 156.

    Beeb

    February 12, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: Next year, try watching the Rose Parade on HGTV. MUCH better. I would hate to have missed the bulldogs on bobsleds. :>)

  157. 157.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 12, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    I guess I’m an outlier here, but I really like this — all the orcas and salmon swimming upstream and Great Bears and such — the Aurora Borealis early on — I think they’re doing a very attractive program (well, except for Bryan and Nelly. And the whole NBC thing.)

  158. 158.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 10:45 pm

    I for one am glad to have Costas explain the significance of a violinist in a canoe.

    Otherwise I’d be thinking why is this dood playing the fiddle in a blue canoe?

  159. 159.

    General Winfield Stuck

    February 12, 2010 at 10:46 pm

    @John O: That’s a fine looking puppy there John O. You must be proud and full on with puppy love right now.

  160. 160.

    hamletta

    February 12, 2010 at 10:47 pm

    skeet-jumping, a team sport which combines ski jumping and the biathlon…

    They did this already, back in the ’70s. Claudine Longet took home the gold.

    @PurpleGirl: The McGarrigle Sisters (RIP, Kate), Leonard Cohen, Raymond Massey, Walter Pidgeon.

  161. 161.

    Max

    February 12, 2010 at 10:47 pm

    Little known fact…

    The total population of Canada dropped significantly the day Barack Obama was sworn in as President.

    On that date, Americans could once again travel abroad without having to say they were Canadian.

    /jokes

  162. 162.

    freelancer

    February 12, 2010 at 10:47 pm

    @mr. whipple:

    Okay, earlier I would have disagreed with you, but you had me at blacklight canoe carrying fetish Ace Ventura with a fiddle. Followed by Mad Max pajama dude in an autumn folk hell.

    Is George Lucas the creative consultant for this?

  163. 163.

    Mnemosyne

    February 12, 2010 at 10:47 pm

    @inkadu: @freelancer: @JK:

    The funny part is, I distinctly remember seeing shows exactly like those on cable a few years ago. Mo Rocca hosted “Things I Hate About You,” where each couple had to name three things that bugged them about their spouse/partner. I can’t remember who would make the final determination about who was right, but it wasn’t Alec Baldwin.

    (And, excuse me, why the hell is anyone taking marriage advice from Alec Baldwin? That’s like getting navigation tips from Wrong-Way Corrigan.)

    There was also a show around the same time where the CEO of the company had to spend a week doing the jobs of the lowest-level employees, but that was actually pretty good. First of all, they were not anonymous. And there was no cash, prizes or promotions involved.

    You did get to see the head of Hilton Hotels try to make up a room. The standard is to do it in 10 minutes — it took him 45.

  164. 164.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 10:47 pm

    Yay for hefty fiddlers with body art! We’re about to get a metric fuckton of them, too.

  165. 165.

    ellaesther

    February 12, 2010 at 10:48 pm

    @John O: It’s my impression that no one is all that worked up about it. I don’t pimp my own all the time, but I sometimes go on these (unintentional! I swear!) jags when I’m like: look, here’s a list of recommended reading on Israel/Palestine! and: look, here are some great Three Dog Night clips! and: look, baby Star Trek t-shirts! (Yes, all these and more can be found on my blog!)

    Now, it could be argued that I just used your post as an excuse to blog pimp. But as that wasn’t my intent, and I provided no actual links (other than the handy one always located in my handle!), I would say I’m innocent of wrong-doing.

    Also, and finally, any and all pictures of cute animals will be accepted and drooled over. These folks are not as tough as they say they are. (And that puppy is dang cute!)

  166. 166.

    Angela

    February 12, 2010 at 10:48 pm

    I really like this too, I liked how they showcased the athletes at the beginning and I like how they show a lot of class in most of this – good on you Canada.

  167. 167.

    Svensker

    February 12, 2010 at 10:48 pm

    @PurpleGirl:

    Ian and Sylvia were awesome. Their early stuff, with just the two pure voices and the guitars, so raw, so real. Just gorgeous. Plus, Ian was cutern a speckled pup, not that that has anything to do with anything.

  168. 168.

    John Cole

    February 12, 2010 at 10:49 pm

    The Devil Went Down To Quebec is a favorite of mine.

  169. 169.

    Carrie

    February 12, 2010 at 10:49 pm

    okay, this is my favourite part so far….now if only Ashley McIssac showed up…

  170. 170.

    ericblair

    February 12, 2010 at 10:49 pm

    Oh yes, they just mentioned Screech. Tastes like rum with some Chlorox mixed in and just a hit of Pledge to give it some oomph. I’ll drink it when I’ve already had quite enough to drink already.

    Still, not a bad segment. It’s making this expat Canuck a bit homesick.

  171. 171.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 12, 2010 at 10:49 pm

    @Beeb: Thanks for the HGTV tip. I’ll try to remember that next year.

    Say, is it too late for HGTV to bid for the rights to cover the 2010 Vancouver Olympics?

  172. 172.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 10:50 pm

    Holy fuck. Now we get fiddlers AND more tapdancing. OK, this is cool.

  173. 173.

    Yutsano

    February 12, 2010 at 10:50 pm

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse: If Michelle Jean actually did that, say to Harper for proroguing Parliament, that would be teh awesome.

  174. 174.

    Dave Ruddell

    February 12, 2010 at 10:50 pm

    There are too many people involved named Brian Williams (my fellow Canadians will know what I mean). Ours isn’t too much of a tool.

  175. 175.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 10:51 pm

    Is George Lucas the creative consultant for this?

    It’s like you gave some Broadway wanker $6,000,000 and an unlimited supply of acid, and said, ‘here, make your statement,’ and you got Riverdance with whales, a pink bear and a blue canoe.

  176. 176.

    Carrie

    February 12, 2010 at 10:52 pm

    YES!!!

  177. 177.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 10:52 pm

    ASHLEY!

    Yeah, I bet he’s eaten some hearts in his time, too.

  178. 178.

    freelancer

    February 12, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    This is madness, like a Girl Talk mashup of white culture, iconoclastic and traditional, gone way beyond the WTF boundary.

    “Madness? THIS. IS. CANADA!“

  179. 179.

    Svensker

    February 12, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    @John Cole:

    The Devil Went Down To Quebec is a favorite of mine

    ?

  180. 180.

    demo woman

    February 12, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    @mr. whipple: In the south it’s called clogging.

  181. 181.

    scav

    February 12, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse:

    Yeah, I bet he’s eaten some hearts in his time, too.

    OK, but in a thread that includes cannibalism (and apparently whales on acid) this suddenly worries me.

  182. 182.

    RoonieRoo

    February 12, 2010 at 10:55 pm

    @mr. whipple: He’s being good now. It was at the beginning when they were yammering on so you couldn’t hear what Donald was saying that made me worry they were going to yammer through the whole thing. Considering past experience of watching the Olympics on NBC, I was sure we were in for non-stop yammering but Costas has surprised me and been reasonable this time.

  183. 183.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 10:56 pm

    They shoulda got The Who.

  184. 184.

    madmommy

    February 12, 2010 at 10:56 pm

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse:

    Definite Acadiana vibe. Plenty of south Louisiana musicians would fit right in with this without missing a beat. South Louisiana is a long way to travel from Canada under such trying conditions as they experienced.

  185. 185.

    freelancer

    February 12, 2010 at 10:57 pm

    my fuck, I thought there was only like 3 minutes left. There’s not enough weed in the world, I guess.

    Shit, he’s gonna FLY.

  186. 186.

    Spork

    February 12, 2010 at 10:57 pm

    Just to drop into an open thread, check this out, an absolutely amazing and bizarre glimpse inside North Korea. I admit to a fascination with one of the last closed societies on earth.


    http://www.vbs.tv/newsroom/vice-guide-to-north-korea-1-of-14

  187. 187.

    Ruckus

    February 12, 2010 at 10:58 pm

    OK I’ll bring it on.
    Page one
    Name has 7 letters, first and last. It sounds nothing like this but people have for years gotten it wrong. Trying to correct them only makes it worse. So the pronunciation of my name sometimes comes out – Ass.Hole.
    Second page
    Once took a passport type photo in a hurry. Didn’t comb my hair, hadn’t trimmed my beard in a while and wasn’t in the mood to smile (see page one). The photo was for work ID and for a year I looked like Charles Manson, minus only the swastika carved on the forehead. If I remember it was not that great a year.

  188. 188.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 10:58 pm

    They got W. O. Mitchell now. Bet we won’t see any gopher killing, though. But now some Joni (OK, a cover) for Laura.

    Interesting prairie reverse moonwalking there.

  189. 189.

    freelancer

    February 12, 2010 at 10:59 pm

    This would be worth it if he were dressed up in a huge Mario costume.

    Preferably the Raccoon Suit.

  190. 190.

    Mnemosyne

    February 12, 2010 at 10:59 pm

    It’s just getting started here on the West Coast. Any idea how long I have to wait before the actual opening ceremony starts? It’s 8:00 now.

    Oh, and I’m loving that Andre Braugher is the voice of the Olympics this year. If anyone can pull off the silly faux-drama that they demand, it’s him.

  191. 191.

    RedKitten

    February 12, 2010 at 11:00 pm

    Husband made me LOL awhile ago, when during the dance bit, four of the dancers were lifted to the skies, and he said, “Oh FUCK! It’s the rapture!”

    I was delighted to see Ashley. When they just showed those 6 fiddlers at first, I was thinking, “No Ashley? No Natalie? What the fuck?” But we got our Ashley, and playing “Devil in the Kitchen” no less.

    That definitely made up for Brian and Nelly. Plus it was just cool to see all the body art.

    Don’t know what the hell is going on now with floating dude, but it’s a little too quiet after the fiddle segment.

    And yes, it’d be nice if Stephen Harper could muster more than a polite, slightly dyspeptic grin.

  192. 192.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 11:00 pm

    Oh no, dood on a string. Nod to Peter Pan or Superman.

  193. 193.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 12, 2010 at 11:00 pm

    I am watching on DVR. I love my DVR. Watching the opening right now. Might I say that We Are the World Part Deux was…an interesting mix? I woulda nixed the first kid, Celine Dion, and the flashback of MJ, but other than that, it was not bad.

    Did I mention that I love my DVR? Oh, and Brian Williams can DIAF for blaming the luger (obliquely) for his own death.

  194. 194.

    Comrade Luke

    February 12, 2010 at 11:00 pm

    I live in fucking Seattle and I have to watch the Olympics on tape delay?

    I fucking hate NBC.

  195. 195.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 12, 2010 at 11:01 pm

    W. O. Mitchell’s words and Joni Mitchell’s music. Very nice.

  196. 196.

    Max

    February 12, 2010 at 11:01 pm

    @Mnemosyne: From what I can tell, we’ve still got like 45 minutes of this montage.

    C’mon West Coasters! Let’s rise up and take over this thread from the East Coast Elites!

    P.S. Yes, I know, it was tape-delayed on the West Coast because of ad dollars.

  197. 197.

    ukko

    February 12, 2010 at 11:01 pm

    If you google my meatspace name the first hits are for a guy they were chasing on America’s Most Wanted. I found out about it at a job interview where they asked me if I knew or was related to the guy.

    Thankfully they caught the dude so hopefully his google page rank will start to go down…

    Funny thing is how close I cam to bumping into him and never knew about it, we lived 10 miles away from each other and I remember getting calls from a bill collector when I was in high school. I assume they were really after him, that is when I started to use my middle initial on all financial stuff.

  198. 198.

    ericblair

    February 12, 2010 at 11:03 pm

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse: They got W. O. Mitchell now. Bet we won’t see any gopher killing, though. But now some Joni (OK, a cover) for Laura.

    It’s definitely acid trip time now, with romanticizing the prairies and some guy spinning around in the air. It would have been a lot better if they started plugging some gophers. You could make it a whole audience participation thing.

  199. 199.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 12, 2010 at 11:03 pm

    Say . . . Where the hell is Diana Krall? She’s a BC native and an iconic Canadian entertainer. Why isn’t she part of this?

  200. 200.

    Yutsano

    February 12, 2010 at 11:04 pm

    @Comrade Luke: It annoys me that I’m SIX FUCKING HOURS AWAY and can’t go cause of work. I want a leave policy along with my purple unicorn now.

  201. 201.

    RedKitten

    February 12, 2010 at 11:05 pm

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse:

    You know what happens if anyone fucks up the opening ceremony? Our tiny, elegant Governor General will rip out your beating heart and eat it in front of you.

    Nice. :)

  202. 202.

    demo woman

    February 12, 2010 at 11:05 pm

    @mr. whipple: Lots of peter pans now.
    on skies no less.

  203. 203.

    RedKitten

    February 12, 2010 at 11:06 pm

    @madmommy:

    Definite Acadiana vibe. Plenty of south Louisiana musicians would fit right in with this without missing a beat. South Louisiana is a long way to travel from Canada under such trying conditions as they experienced.

    Yep. And yet many of us managed to come back, and are still thriving.

  204. 204.

    melissa

    February 12, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    I’m sitting here in Saskatoon with no intention of watching the Olympics, and this thread pushes me to tune in. What do I find?
    Wow! W.O.Mitchell & Joni Mitchell. Saskatchewan finally gets some respect.

  205. 205.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 12, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse: She’s cute. I approve.

  206. 206.

    ellaesther

    February 12, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    I’m not watching, because I am (and I’m just guessing here) a bad person, but reading this play by play is kind of surrealistically fabulous.

    I especially like Red Kitten’s husband’s comment.

  207. 207.

    Don K

    February 12, 2010 at 11:08 pm

    Bummer that the Canadian feed is on CTV this time. Here in Detroit CBC is a local station (and a local tradition), so it’s on cable, but no CTV. And I refuse to watch NBC’s coverage. I suffered enough through those in the past.

  208. 208.

    ihop

    February 12, 2010 at 11:08 pm

    baravelli, you’ve got the brain of a four year old boy, and i bet he was glad to get rid of it.

  209. 209.

    madmommy

    February 12, 2010 at 11:08 pm

    Anyone know if the aerialists are with Circ du Soleil? I was really hoping they would do something, but so far the stunts, while cool, just seem weak sauce compared to their usual artistry.

  210. 210.

    Comrade Luke

    February 12, 2010 at 11:08 pm

    @Yutsano:


    Here’s the reasoning
    .

    Basically, it’s because the west coast is 20% of the population, and “that’s the way it’s always been done”.

    You’d think NBC would be able to preempt Law & Order: Bumblefucks on one of their 78 cable channels for the other 20%, but noooo. We get to find everything out through the internet.

    And of course I could watch on CBC, except…it’s being carried on CTV and Comcast doesn’t carry it.

  211. 211.

    scav

    February 12, 2010 at 11:09 pm

    @RedKitten:

    Our tiny, elegant Governor General will rip out your beating heart and eat it in front of you.

    yoikes, I missed that up-thread. Everyone worries about the Aztecs but it’s really our friendly neighbors to the north. Is it served with gravy and fries?

  212. 212.

    gbear

    February 12, 2010 at 11:09 pm

    skeet-jumping, a team sport which combines ski jumping and the biathlon…

    There’s always skeet-surfing, but that’s a summer sport.

  213. 213.

    Max

    February 12, 2010 at 11:11 pm

    In honour of the Olympics, I will end my sentences for the next two weeks with, eh?

  214. 214.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 11:11 pm

    Oh boy.

  215. 215.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 11:12 pm

    They sure are getting a lot of WTF out of a few sheets and some lights. I don’t ever expect Olympics opening or closing ceremonies to be purely good or bad, but if they make me swear or laugh, that’s cool.

    Wow. Molson guy has packed on a few pounds.

  216. 216.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 11:12 pm

    Zombies!

  217. 217.

    freelancer

    February 12, 2010 at 11:12 pm

    INT. WHITE HOUSE. NIGHT.

    President Obama enters residence area. The first lady is already in the room.

    BARACK
    Hey, Meesh, What are you watching?

    MICHELLE
    I’m…not quite sure. It’s pretty trippy, and I’m not sure what the point of it is.

    BARACK
    Yeah, thank fucking Allah, I decided to send Biden. Could you imagine trying to sit in the stands, cameras on is without looking puzzled?

    MICHELLE
    No doubt. You’re cool babe, but when you get tickled, you got no poker face.

    BARACK
    (Laughs) Yeah, remember the look on Pence’s face? (beat) Anyways, let me be clear. How are you watching this?

    MICHELLE
    Oh, I’m high as fuck right now. You want some? Frank Davis stopped by, said it wasn’t any big thing.

    BARACK
    Oh I love Frank. (beat) [sighs] Well, they’re starting the [finger quotes] “slam poetry of Canada” segment, so yeah, let’s fire it up. Love you, Meesh.

    MICHELLE
    Love you too, Bo.

    Card – “FIVE MINUTES LATER…”

    BARACK
    What the fuck is Penn Jillette doing in a beret? [gut laughing]

  218. 218.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 12, 2010 at 11:13 pm

    Those ice sculptures with the arms slowly rising are creeping me the fuck out, but I’m liking the greetings by the First Nation, the Inuit, and the Mati Nation (I know I spelled that wrong. Sorry!) people (yes, I’m commenting way behind. Deal).

  219. 219.

    RoonieRoo

    February 12, 2010 at 11:15 pm

    Okay, that poetry dude was way cooler than I thought when they announced him. I really liked that part!

  220. 220.

    Carrie

    February 12, 2010 at 11:15 pm

    The big guy on the cake made me hungry for cake.

  221. 221.

    amorphous

    February 12, 2010 at 11:15 pm

    Do Canadians think of their Pacific Southwest citizens the same way we think of Pacific Northwest Americans? I.e., are Vancouverites (Vancouverans?) the DFHes of Canada, like our Seattle…ites(?) and Portlanders?

  222. 222.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 12, 2010 at 11:15 pm

    This monologue bears an unsettling resemblance to “The Rant” in that Labatt’s (or was it Molson’s?) commercial a few years ago.

  223. 223.

    madmommy

    February 12, 2010 at 11:15 pm

    @RedKitten:

    It’s really a small world, isn’t it?

    Your Governor General surprised me. I foolishly assumed that the PM was the head of the government. But I found out differently this evening. Like so many Americans I am woefully ignorant about our neighbors to the north. Perhaps these games will help inform those who have misconceptions about what Canada is.

  224. 224.

    Mnemosyne

    February 12, 2010 at 11:16 pm

    @Max:

    That’s what I suspected. I switched over to “What Not to Wear” for a bit.

  225. 225.

    ericblair

    February 12, 2010 at 11:17 pm

    Yay Canada, we say zed instead of zee!

    Pro-tip: say zed in Florida and the hotel guy understands you: say it in New York State and they have no idea what you’re talking about. Montreal weather reports (at least used to) give you the whole weather forecast down the I-95 during the winter. That and the St Huberts in Florida with parking lots full of Quebec license plates.

  226. 226.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 11:18 pm

    Molson’s “I am Canadian”, right? (Linked to above).

    I’m heartsick and ashamed about the luger’s death. Nice that they’re acknowledging it, but the bad design of the track that so many great lugers complained about for so long, and the probability that limited practice times for non-Canadians made this accident and possible others more likely to happen, is a disgrace.

  227. 227.

    John O

    February 12, 2010 at 11:18 pm

    @General Winfield Stuck:

    Indeed I am.

    There’s been a lot of “guess that breed,” but the only thing we know for sure is all 5 sibs looked quite a bit different, and momma had some spaniel small s in her.

    But it’s really true that if you’re a certain kind of people, they’re your children, then your pals. That man’s best friend thing is no shit.

  228. 228.

    Mike in NC

    February 12, 2010 at 11:18 pm

    Oh yes, they just mentioned Screech.

    Love Screech. Was introduced to it years ago in Halifax, Nova Scotia, one of the nicest cities on this planet. You can buy it now in NH. Love California and one day want to see Seattle and Vancouver. Aside from that, the Games are a frickin’ BORE!

  229. 229.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 12, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    @madmommy: Actually you were right the first time. The PM is the head of government. The Queen (represented by the Governor General) is head of state.

  230. 230.

    Max

    February 12, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    @ericblair: Boo Canada with that fucking metric system and celsius.

  231. 231.

    RedKitten

    February 12, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    And yes, residents of BC are pretty much the DFHs of Canada, except that they have even better pot than your DFHs have.

  232. 232.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 12, 2010 at 11:20 pm

    @Max: I am ahead of you, even though I just started watching! I love DVR. Yes, I said it before, and I’ll most likely say it again.

  233. 233.

    RedKitten

    February 12, 2010 at 11:21 pm

    @Mike in NC:

    Love Screech. Was introduced to it years ago in Halifax, Nova Scotia, one of the nicest cities on this planet.

    Damn tooting. When were you in Halifax? I lived there for almost 10 years, and still miss it.

  234. 234.

    ericblair

    February 12, 2010 at 11:23 pm

    @madmommy: Your Governor General surprised me. I foolishly assumed that the PM was the head of the government.

    The PM is the Head of Government: the Queen is the Head of State, except that the Governor-General is pretty much the de facto Head of State. Remember: Head of State cuts ribbons on shopping centers; Head of Government actually runs the joint.

  235. 235.

    scav

    February 12, 2010 at 11:23 pm

    Just thought of it now, especially as we’ve now got multiple timelines of the Games going. This whole thing is like Glen Gould’s The Idea of North. How Meta.

  236. 236.

    A Mendoza

    February 12, 2010 at 11:23 pm

    That was like the Willie Wonka boat ride.

  237. 237.

    Yutsano

    February 12, 2010 at 11:25 pm

    @RedKitten: You know, there are times when I regret being allergic to marijuana, especially being so close to some of the best stuff on the planet. Then I realize how draconian our drug laws are and my common sense takes over.

  238. 238.

    hamletta

    February 12, 2010 at 11:25 pm

    Re: Undercover Boss: Haven’t these people ever seen The Devil & Miss Jones?

  239. 239.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 12, 2010 at 11:26 pm

    And now, Canada is in. Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado? interesting. OK. Song blows. Fast-forward. Still sucks. Wow. Incredibly bad song.

    First Nations dancing! I like that.

    Ooooh, cute guy in white walking in fake snow.

    Ex-PERT-ly, Bob Costas? It’s EX-pert-ly.

  240. 240.

    ericblair

    February 12, 2010 at 11:26 pm

    Whoever this guy is, his French sucks.

  241. 241.

    madmommy

    February 12, 2010 at 11:28 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: @ericblair:

    But the Governor General trumps the PM at times like these, when the Queen is unable to attend, right? Kind of surprised she is not there, or didn’t send a member of the royal family to represent. Though I thought I saw Princess Anne at one point, but she’s not up in the box with the PM and Governor General so maybe it wasn’t her. She’s all about the horsey events, so the Summer Games is more her speed.

  242. 242.

    RedKitten

    February 12, 2010 at 11:28 pm

    Yeah, enough with the dry speeches already. I want to find out who the final torch-bearer is so that I can go to bed, already. It’s 12:30, and SamKitten could wake up anytime between 5:30am and 7:30am.

  243. 243.

    PurpleGirl

    February 12, 2010 at 11:28 pm

    @ericblair: In Fort Lauderdale, they have signs in French and English because so many people winter there from Quebec. Talk about Snowbirds!

  244. 244.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 11:29 pm

    @ericblair:

    He’s from Belgium.

  245. 245.

    Max

    February 12, 2010 at 11:30 pm

    @Yutsano: Your boy is coming on next, if you’re not watching yet.

  246. 246.

    minachica

    February 12, 2010 at 11:30 pm

    @ericblair: No kidding. Was he making a point of insulting French-Canadiens?

  247. 247.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 12, 2010 at 11:31 pm

    Oh, that actually *was* the Molson Rant guy? I should have figured that out, I guess.

  248. 248.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 11:31 pm

    No, that was a joke. Sorry!

    k.d. lang! OK, she may be one of the few people out there who could resurrect Hallelujah.

  249. 249.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 12, 2010 at 11:32 pm

    Ahem. Dear Bob Costas and Matt Lauer: It’s not a fucking sports event, so you don’t have to talk the whole fucking time. kthxbai.

    The visuals are amazing. I don’t need the audio to go with it. And, I can’t wait for kd lang. Love her!

  250. 250.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    February 12, 2010 at 11:32 pm

    @RedKitten:
    Well Canada should be proud. It has the olympics and Sam-kitten.

  251. 251.

    Carrie

    February 12, 2010 at 11:32 pm

    Wow….this is nice.

  252. 252.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 11:33 pm

    KD.

    Awesome. More of this, please.

  253. 253.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 12, 2010 at 11:33 pm

    Jeez I am a total sucker for k. d. lang’s cover of Hallelujah. Tears me up every time.

  254. 254.

    SIA

    February 12, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    @John O: Now that is a handsome puppeh. And Dweezil – after F. Zappa Jr? Nice. BTW your blog looks interesting – have bookmarked it for future perusal.

  255. 255.

    Carrie

    February 12, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse:
    Rufus does a good rendition as well.

  256. 256.

    moja31

    February 12, 2010 at 11:35 pm

    @mr. whipple: nah that’s the IOC president (whose french is excellent), this other guy is the head of the Canadian Olympic Committee or something. obviously he’s not french canadian.

  257. 257.

    ericblair

    February 12, 2010 at 11:35 pm

    @madmommy: But the Governor General trumps the PM at times like these, when the Queen is unable to attend, right? Kind of surprised she is not there, or didn’t send a member of the royal family to represent.

    Sort of: the Governor General has a lot of power in theory, but would cause a constitutional crisis if she actually exercised it. Since the devolution of power to Canada, the Governor General has royal prerogative for almost everything.

  258. 258.

    JK

    February 12, 2010 at 11:35 pm

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Brian Williams can DIAF for blaming the luger (obliquely) for his own death.

    I knew Brian Williams was a douchebag, but I didn’t fully realize the depths of his douchebaggery.

    Another famous Canadian – Sarah McLachlan

  259. 259.

    freelancer

    February 12, 2010 at 11:36 pm

    Man,

    That Roy Batty guy’s got some pipes.

    /dailycaller

  260. 260.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 11:37 pm

    Mother of fucking God. That is all.

  261. 261.

    RedKitten

    February 12, 2010 at 11:37 pm

    Oh, I am SO glad I stayed up for that. I adore k.d. with every fibre of my being.

  262. 262.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 12, 2010 at 11:37 pm

    @JK: I am listening to her right now! Love love love her.

    To be fair to Williams, he probably didn’t write the piece, but still.

    @amorphous: Bwahahahahaha! That is the funny. Merci!

    Cannot wait for kd doing Hallelujah. Best cover of the song evah.

  263. 263.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    February 12, 2010 at 11:37 pm

    Excuse me NBC, get your fucking logo out of the middle of my screen. Idiots.

  264. 264.

    amorphous

    February 12, 2010 at 11:38 pm

    @asiangrrlMN:
    Gawker:

    Canada re-affirms its iron grip on relevant pop music with a duet by Nelly Furtado and Bryan Adams. Be thankful I didn’t post the video.

  265. 265.

    madmommy

    February 12, 2010 at 11:39 pm

    @ericblair:

    So confusing! Is there still a certain segment of the population that is agitating for sovereignty from the crown?

    KD Lang is an amazing talent, but that suit was just awful. Look into tailoring, it’s amazing what a few nips and tucks can do!

  266. 266.

    moja31

    February 12, 2010 at 11:39 pm

    @amorphous: ouch.

  267. 267.

    RedKitten

    February 12, 2010 at 11:41 pm

    k.d. and Ashley definitely made up for Brian and Nelly.

    YAYY! Romeo’s carrying the olympic flag! I’m so happy! I love that man. (And I’m so glad to see that he’s fully recovered from his broken back last winter.)

  268. 268.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 11:41 pm

    Hmmph. Terry Fox’s mom is helping with the flag, which I guess means she won’t be lighting the cauldron. Bother. If it’s Gretzky, I’m OK with that, I guess.

    (Yay! Anne Murray! Oh — Romeo Dallaire, too!)

    EDIT: And Measha! Sucky song, but she can carry it.

  269. 269.

    Yutsano

    February 12, 2010 at 11:41 pm

    @Max: My coverage is so fucked up it’s not even funny. I tuned in a 7:30 expecting the spectacle and all I’ve seen is Brian Williams, Matt Lauer, and Bob Costas endlessly yapping. If it don’t show up by 9 I’m gonna say fuck it all.

    BTW, I’m gonna just admit it now: yes I would sleep with Bode Miller. You may mock me as you wish.

  270. 270.

    RedKitten

    February 12, 2010 at 11:42 pm

    @madmommy: k.d. always goes for loose and flowing, and bare feet. It’s her thing.

  271. 271.

    The Sheriff's A Ni-

    February 12, 2010 at 11:42 pm

    Ladies and gentlemen, RuPaul!

  272. 272.

    RedKitten

    February 12, 2010 at 11:43 pm

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse: Funny thing — Anne Murray has a cottage about 10 minutes down the road from us, but I’ve never met the woman.

    I have, however, met Gen. Dallaire, and he is just the nicest human being who ever drew breath.

  273. 273.

    madmommy

    February 12, 2010 at 11:43 pm

    So, Fox’s mom is carrying the flag, which blows away earlier blog suppositions that she would carry in the torch. Still no sign of Gretzky or Celine, so either of them would still be a possibility. Please, FSM, if it comes down to those two, let it be the Great One!

  274. 274.

    ericblair

    February 12, 2010 at 11:43 pm

    @madmommy: So confusing! Is there still a certain segment of the population that is agitating for sovereignty from the crown?

    This has never really been an issue as far as mainstream politics has been concerned: maybe the NDP has agitated for it but nobody really minds the arrangement. There are the Bloc Quebecois separatists, but that’s a whole different ball of wax. As far as I remember, the Governor General hasn’t done anything particularly objectionable.

  275. 275.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 12, 2010 at 11:44 pm

    EXCUSE ME! Dude is playing violin. STFU!

  276. 276.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    February 12, 2010 at 11:44 pm

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse: Gotta say, she impressed me when she was on screen. I bet she’d stick some dynomite under the Dems after she arm-wrestled Nancy Pelosi to the ground and took over. I mean, if she was a US citizen…oh, wait, Obama proves you don’t have to be.

  277. 277.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 12, 2010 at 11:44 pm

    Wow! Maesha Bruegger Gossman (sp?) looks fanTAStic! She has dropped a shit ton of weight.

  278. 278.

    rootless_e

    February 12, 2010 at 11:44 pm

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaQQxJsuDJg

    this has got to be watched to be believed – McConnell weeping on the senate floor.

  279. 279.

    Max

    February 12, 2010 at 11:45 pm

    @Yutsano: Apollo was interviewed by Costas on the pregame show.

    I’m in Oakland and on the same time viewing as you. It’s supposed to really start by 9

  280. 280.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 11:45 pm

    Dallaire is a class act all the way. I’m envious that you’ve met him, RedKitten.

  281. 281.

    Grumpy Code Monkey

    February 12, 2010 at 11:45 pm

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Ahem. Dear Bob Costas and Matt Lauer: It’s not a fucking sports event, so you don’t have to talk the whole fucking time. kthxbai.

    Sweetie, you’re in for a long night…

  282. 282.

    Yutsano

    February 12, 2010 at 11:46 pm

    Anyone else see the BC tourism commercial? Michael J Fox looked GREAT!

  283. 283.

    dmsilev

    February 12, 2010 at 11:47 pm

    @madmommy:

    So, Fox’s mom is carrying the flag, which blows away earlier blog suppositions that she would carry in the torch. Still no sign of Gretzky or Celine, so either of them would still be a possibility. Please, FSM, if it comes down to those two, let it be the Great One!

    I confess, I’ve never heard that as a nickname for Celine.

    (Sorry, couldn’t resist)

    -dms

  284. 284.

    Comrade Luke

    February 12, 2010 at 11:47 pm

    @amorphous: Yes, they do. And – it’s Seattleites.

    You know, it’s amazing that we have a reputation for being DFHs. Most of the DFH rep is due to the Capitol Hill area in Seattle, which is probably one of the bluest districts in the country. It’s small geographically though, and once you get outside the I-5 corridor (which is a HUGE chunk of the state) we’re cherry red.

    And all the techies around here are either Rs or glibertarians, at least the ones that came on board at the end of the tech boom in the late 90s.

    There’s actually some concern that we’re a borderline red state, but so far Seattle proper is keeping it blue.

  285. 285.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 12, 2010 at 11:48 pm

    @Grumpy Code Monkey: Oh, I know. But it’s so fucking annoying.

    Love love love the tap dancing! Main dude is so fucking good.

    Yutsano: You would sleep with Bodie Miller? Mock mock mock. Apollo, definitely, but Bodie? Uh, no.

  286. 286.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 12, 2010 at 11:50 pm

    @Red Kitten: I’ve also met General Dallaire, and I completely agree with you. He personifies goodness and decency. A very great human being.

  287. 287.

    scav

    February 12, 2010 at 11:50 pm

    @Comrade Luke: Hey! Port Townsends doing its best!

  288. 288.

    RedKitten

    February 12, 2010 at 11:50 pm

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse: He is a class act. You could shovel shit for a living, and he’ll ask you questions about it and be genuinely interested in you and your life. His wife is also really nice — just very down-to-earth and not at all pretentious. Here’s a pic from the first time I met him.

  289. 289.

    amorphous

    February 12, 2010 at 11:51 pm

    This opening ceremony is embarrassingly bad. Very bland, very… dare I say, Canadian.

    @Comrade Luke: Same thing with Oregon, no? As a future Portland techie, lemme just say I only plan to become radically more liberal as I age and my child grows.

  290. 290.

    The Sheriff's A Ni-

    February 12, 2010 at 11:51 pm

    I’ll call my shot: Michael J. Fox.

    Just because you know the pop he’ll get simply for jogging across the floor.

  291. 291.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    February 12, 2010 at 11:51 pm

    Well I guess I have kd to look forward to. I hate tape delay! Wish I would have thought to DVR it like some smart people (asiangrrlMN I’m looking at you) and watched it tomorrow.

  292. 292.

    madmommy

    February 12, 2010 at 11:51 pm

    @ericblair:

    I knew I remembered hearing about certain members of the French speaking provinces agitating for a split, but it never seemed to come to anything. Is the situation in Canada similar to Australia-nominally a part of the Commonwealth but in fact all but autonomous?

    Who was the opera singer who did the Olympic Anthem? Amazing voice!!

  293. 293.

    Comrade Luke

    February 12, 2010 at 11:52 pm

    @asiangrrlMN: Yea, I couldn’t believe Williams alluded to lack of experience being the main cause of the accident. Hey, he’s a huge Rush Limbaugh fan, so I’m sure he’s all about the “personal responsibility” stuff.

    I don’t really blame them for having the posts there btw. The bigger issue is how someone would be able to leave the track at all. No amount of padding would have helped in that case.

    I don’t think they needed to show the video at all, but I think that level of decency would be too much to hope for from the media.

  294. 294.

    moja31

    February 12, 2010 at 11:53 pm

    so we’re back to calling what happened in rwanda a “civil war”… interesting.

  295. 295.

    Yutsano

    February 12, 2010 at 11:53 pm

    @RedKitten: What a stunning picture of the three of you! I would highly suggest no one ever cross you, fire red hair usually comes with certain, umm, attributes.

  296. 296.

    Comrade Luke

    February 12, 2010 at 11:55 pm

    @scav: true dat! I’d say the peninsula was a bunch of DFHs if it weren’t Bremerton :)

  297. 297.

    Yutsano

    February 12, 2010 at 11:56 pm

    @madmommy: Canada from what I understand (and I’m sure I’ll get corrected on this) isn’t in the Commonwealth like Australia and New Zealand are, however they are considered part of the Dominion of Great Britain and therefore still subject to the English crown. It escapes me now if Australia has a Governor General, I’ll do teh Google and find out.

  298. 298.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 12, 2010 at 11:56 pm

    Nancy Green? Now I feel old. I also want a Mars Bar.

    EDIT: … and Gretzky is passing to …? I’m sorry, this still looks like a huge pot party with all those spliffs.

    Cauldron FAIL. Oh, God …

  299. 299.

    madmommy

    February 12, 2010 at 11:56 pm

    It’s Gretzsky!!

  300. 300.

    SIA

    February 12, 2010 at 11:56 pm

    @rootless_e: OMG. Wow. His little muppet faces always chokes me up anyway, but this! (And what’s the back story about this anyway?)

  301. 301.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 11:56 pm

    This opening ceremony is embarrassingly bad. Very bland, very… dare I say, Canadian.

    I took it the opposite way. Its worst elements were waaaay too American.

    KD showed you don’t need pink gumibears, blue canoes, whales and fairies on strings.

    Just a stage, simple lights, good lyrics and a quantum shitload of talent. Everything else is just special effects bullshit.

    Good night, all.

  302. 302.

    The Sheriff's A Ni-

    February 12, 2010 at 11:56 pm

    Gretz just doesn’t look the same without his mullet.

  303. 303.

    moja31

    February 12, 2010 at 11:57 pm

    @The Sheriff’s A Ni-:
    i’d like to see that, but i doubt it’ll be the case.

  304. 304.

    Comrade Luke

    February 12, 2010 at 11:57 pm

    Oh Christ. The ceremony doesn’t even start until 9pm? I’m gonna go delete the last hour of my DVR then.

  305. 305.

    freelancer

    February 12, 2010 at 11:57 pm

    @rootless_e:

    Thank you for that, my friend. I’ve been skipping through it, and so far the highlight is in the 15th minute.

    Oh, his tears taste like manna, Johnny Walker Blue, and a beautiful, loving woman’s kiss combined.

    Fucking awesome. I hope Stewart and Colbert don’t ignore this.

  306. 306.

    RedKitten

    February 12, 2010 at 11:58 pm

    Nice that they have Rick Hansen bringing in the torch. Proper thing.

    Okay, so the final torchbearer isn’t Gretzky….hmmm

  307. 307.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 12, 2010 at 11:58 pm

    @Comrade Luke: I fast-forwarded through the video. I couldn’t watch it. Felt way too gruesome to me.

    Love the Joni Mitchell/flying kid bit.

  308. 308.

    John O

    February 12, 2010 at 11:58 pm

    LOL…just stopped working and tuned into the Olympics maybe 20 minutes ago.

    The torch came in and I was trying to pull up some great Canadiens in my head and laughed at myself when all I could come up with was Gretzky, who is indeed great.

    It’s fail! Life is good!

  309. 309.

    Nellcote

    February 12, 2010 at 11:59 pm

    @hamletta:

    Claudine Longet took home the gold.

    LOL!

  310. 310.

    amorphous

    February 12, 2010 at 11:59 pm

    @mr. whipple:
    >quantum shitload of talent
    >quantum shitload
    A certain Herr Dr. Planck would like a word with you.

  311. 311.

    mr. whipple

    February 12, 2010 at 11:59 pm

    Wow, cauldron malfunction.

    Major oopsie.

  312. 312.

    The Sheriff's A Ni-

    February 12, 2010 at 11:59 pm

    NBC wins the gold in the Winter Obvious Games.

  313. 313.

    RedKitten

    February 13, 2010 at 12:00 am

    Oh fuck…of ALL the things to malfunction….

  314. 314.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 13, 2010 at 12:00 am

    I think our cauldron needs a little blue pill right now.

  315. 315.

    John O

    February 13, 2010 at 12:01 am

    Jeez, a collective giggle fit from the torchees would’ve been great.

  316. 316.

    Dave Ruddell

    February 13, 2010 at 12:01 am

    Fucking bullshit, they copped out and had a group lighting? And they can’t even get all the damn cauldrons up! The prelims were bad enough, but that? That was fail. That makes me embarassed to be a Canadian.

  317. 317.

    freelancer

    February 13, 2010 at 12:01 am

    wow, Olympic FAIL.

    Why didn’t they get one of those wacky, wavy arms guy inflatables instead?

  318. 318.

    RedKitten

    February 13, 2010 at 12:02 am

    Ah, they fooled us! There WAS no last final torchbearer!

    Or maybe there is. Fuck, I’m all confused now.

  319. 319.

    Yutsano

    February 13, 2010 at 12:02 am

    Okay (finally!) time to see what y’all have been talking about!

  320. 320.

    General Winfield Stuck

    February 13, 2010 at 12:02 am

    Sorry to bring politics into an Olympics thread, but if you want to get a clue why our media is screwed up and wingnuts get special treatment and dems called shrill that have the temerity to call them on their bullshit, here is a video from Morning Joe this morning.

    Marc Theisan, a former Bush speechwriter gets to come on teevee and hawk a book that claims in it’s title that Barack Obama ‘is inviting the next terrorist attack” on American soil, and when Larry O’donnell pins his ears back with his lies, O’donnell gets slammed by Moron Mika and Redneck Joe.

  321. 321.

    madmommy

    February 13, 2010 at 12:02 am

    @mr. whipple:

    You just know someone is below stage whacking the hell out of that thing with a pipe wrench!

  322. 322.

    Comrade Luke

    February 13, 2010 at 12:02 am

    This is going to be two weeks of Up Close and Personals about Lindsey Vonn, Apolo Ohno and Tanith Belben, interrupted only to show the events in which the US medals.

    I fucking hate our media.

    ETA: Seeing the sweeping shots of Canada in HD is breathtaking though…

  323. 323.

    kommrade reproductive vigor

    February 13, 2010 at 12:02 am

    God damn Microsoft Cauldron Raise program!

  324. 324.

    moja31

    February 13, 2010 at 12:03 am

    wow what an awful time to experience technical difficulties…

  325. 325.

    RedKitten

    February 13, 2010 at 12:04 am

    Okay, and now we have the external cauldron to light too? Ye gods…the strain!

  326. 326.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 13, 2010 at 12:05 am

    Oh, God, they’re cabbing Gretzky to the external cauldron.

    facepaw. facepaw to the max.

  327. 327.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 13, 2010 at 12:05 am

    @mr. whipple: Agreed. I am really enjoying it. Slam poet guy isn’t that good, though.

  328. 328.

    ericblair

    February 13, 2010 at 12:05 am

    @Yutsano: Canada from what I understand (and I’m sure I’ll get corrected on this) isn’t in the Commonwealth like Australia and New Zealand are, however they are considered part of the Dominion of Great Britain and therefore still subject to the English crown. It escapes me now if Australia has a Governor General, I’ll do teh Google and find out.

    As far as I understand it, Oz and NZ are in the same constitutional boat as Canada. Canada became a separate country in 1867, and that’s about all the Canadian history you’ll get out of me since the rest of it was a bunch of stuff about portage and the Hudson’s Bay Company and was really, really boring. Really.

  329. 329.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 13, 2010 at 12:05 am

    @Comrade Mary: What’s your credit card number? You just made me spit shiraz all over my BlackBerry and I need to order a new one that isn’t as sticky.

  330. 330.

    SIA

    February 13, 2010 at 12:06 am

    @freelancer: RuhRoh. Mitch names and quotes the Scottish Play at the end. Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble.

  331. 331.

    mr. whipple

    February 13, 2010 at 12:06 am

    @madmommy:

    Now that this is over, they better get over to the luge track and start covering those pillars.

    Engineering FAILS!

  332. 332.

    Dave Ruddell

    February 13, 2010 at 12:06 am

    At this point, I just have to hope it’s some sort of elaborate prank.

    Also, Canada is part of the Commonwealth. We were once called the Dominion of Canada, although that’s not been the case for some years now. Dominion was used instead of Kingdom, because it was thought to be a bit premature for such a new country.

  333. 333.

    madmommy

    February 13, 2010 at 12:06 am

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse:

    Cabbing? Wouldn’t the fumes from the torch be a bit toxic in an enclosed cab??

    So, I see he’s riding in the open-air PopeMobile. So nevermind…

  334. 334.

    RedKitten

    February 13, 2010 at 12:07 am

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse: Yeah, I’m trying to put a bright side on that one, but this just doesn’t seem well-thought-out.

  335. 335.

    John O

    February 13, 2010 at 12:08 am

    Dr. Biden, I judge, knows when and how to shut her hubby up.

    Just not good enough!

    (I like Joe. He’s a Kinsleyesque gaffe machine to me.)

  336. 336.

    kommrade reproductive vigor

    February 13, 2010 at 12:08 am

    @mr. whipple: 2. Soon.

  337. 337.

    SiubhanDuinne

    February 13, 2010 at 12:10 am

    Humph. I *still* wanna know where Diana Krall is.

  338. 338.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 13, 2010 at 12:10 am

    @madmommy: OMG, he’s standing through the roof window thingie (it’s late, eh?) so there’s no poisoning.

    And there was a waiter, then a bunch of DFHs running beside the very slow vehicle waving their own giant spliffs. Man, you can’t make up this shit.

    (Apologies for damaged Blackberries, as well.)

    EDIT: No, it’s a pickup truck! With a very tall embarrassed looking guy waving a torch that weighs 1.6 kilos and is 1 metre in length. In a pickup truck that is going very slowly and blowing its horn.

  339. 339.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    February 13, 2010 at 12:10 am

    Okay, I wasn’t going to stay up and watch the whole thing, but now you’ve got me with the cauldren malfunction. I think I must see it. But first, let me grab a book….

  340. 340.

    John O

    February 13, 2010 at 12:12 am

    Kudos to Chevy for the product placement!

    It’s all fun to me. Cab, schmab. It’s fine. It’s austere, it’s simple, it’s not Bejing, it’s fine.

    But it sure is funny to hear Costas and Co. tell us how grand it all really is.

  341. 341.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 13, 2010 at 12:12 am

    Everybody shush now. It’s kd singing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. Happy sigh.

  342. 342.

    RedKitten

    February 13, 2010 at 12:13 am

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse: Oh no, he’s not even through the roof. He’s riding in the back of a fucking pickup truck like we kids used to do when we were going to the beach. All he needs is a case of Labatt’s and a Golden Retriever in there.

  343. 343.

    freelancer

    February 13, 2010 at 12:13 am

    Wow, FUCK NBC.

    Blagojevich? Really?

    Why not just put disgraced Congressman Tom Delay on a reali-

    Fuck.

    We are doomed. We are giving Nero his own episode of MTV Cribs, why not just put George W. on the next season of History Channel’s “Ax Men”?

  344. 344.

    John O

    February 13, 2010 at 12:14 am

    Did anyone else NOT hear the S. White interview?

    Way to cut to commercial, everyone. Take some time to get it together.

    LOL…no, really guys, someone has to have an ad ready.

  345. 345.

    Yutsano

    February 13, 2010 at 12:14 am

    @ericblair: Yep they are. I just always heard Canada called the Dominion, maybe that’s the formal name.

    BTW, just gonna say as on Ogala Sioux descendant from the Canadian plains, I’m now enjoying the aboriginal greetings immensely.

  346. 346.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    February 13, 2010 at 12:14 am

    Gretzky looks like he wants the earth to swallow him up.

    And now we have a shot of the blue-lit flaming cockfight back in the stadium. Sometimes I really love my goofy country.

  347. 347.

    freelancer

    February 13, 2010 at 12:14 am

    The Olympic Torch is actually the ruins of Superman’s Fortress of Solitude.

    Why, Canucks! Why?!

  348. 348.

    amorphous

    February 13, 2010 at 12:15 am

    @Comrade Luke: You know it’s going to be 10000000 times worse than you think now that NBC sees how badly they overpaid. The winter olympics are generally unwatchable. On NBC, they’re horrible.

  349. 349.

    Comrade Luke

    February 13, 2010 at 12:15 am

    O Canada is one of my favorite national anthems. I can’t believe they managed to fuck it up.

    WHO WAS THAT WOMAN?!

  350. 350.

    RedKitten

    February 13, 2010 at 12:15 am

    Phew…no engineering fail on the outdoor cauldron.

  351. 351.

    John O

    February 13, 2010 at 12:16 am

    @freelancer:

    A true no-lie snot-drawing LOL, there, freelancer.

  352. 352.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 13, 2010 at 12:16 am

    @Comrade Luke: She’s a sixteen-year old girl. Cut her some slack.

    God, I love kd lang. I forgive her the suit because she can sing. I’m going to listen to it again because I can.

    @Carrie: No fucking kidding. Yum. Elvis Costello.

  353. 353.

    RedKitten

    February 13, 2010 at 12:16 am

    Ah, it was goofy, great, embarrassing, incomprehensible, and sublime.

    Works for me.

    ‘Night, all!

  354. 354.

    Dave Ruddell

    February 13, 2010 at 12:16 am

    WHO WAS THAT WOMAN?!

    She sings the ‘official’ CTV Olympics song. Nobody had ever heard of her before. Nobody will remember her after.

  355. 355.

    Carrie

    February 13, 2010 at 12:17 am

    @SiubhanDuinne: That lucky girl can probably be found lying under Elvis Costello.

  356. 356.

    Comrade Luke

    February 13, 2010 at 12:17 am

    @John O: The audio has dropped out on me several times.

  357. 357.

    rootless_e

    February 13, 2010 at 12:18 am

    @freelancer: The best part is when he speaks of Kyle’s mom being the anchor of her family and how Kyle was like that for Mitch, while weeping. Jeez. Weird does not begin to cover it.

  358. 358.

    Yutsano

    February 13, 2010 at 12:19 am

    Just out of curiosity, was anyone else reminded of the entrances of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang when the aboriginal tribes came in?

  359. 359.

    Comrade Luke

    February 13, 2010 at 12:19 am

    @amorphous: Did you see them interviewing Vonn in the room surrounded by lit candles?

    Just do the interview in a heart-shaped hot tub and get it over with already.

  360. 360.

    madmommy

    February 13, 2010 at 12:21 am

    OK so the indoor cauldron was a bit Fortress of Solitude-y. But still overall it was pretty good. Except for the whole misguided Nelly Furtado/Bryan Adams thing. KD Lang more than made up for it, and Celine Dion was nowhere near the place. That’s gotta be good for something, amirite?

    I’m ready for the games to start-short track skating, snowboard-cross, downhill, curling and even figure skating! w00t!

  361. 361.

    Comrade Luke

    February 13, 2010 at 12:23 am

    Is the broadcast over for those of you NBC deemed important enough to provide live coverage for? If so, did it go over? I want to know so my DVR doesn’t cut it off.

  362. 362.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 13, 2010 at 12:24 am

    You know, the only thing that would have made that better would have been real candles and Leonard Cohen singing with kd.

    @Comrade Luke: I add a half hour to either end. Works for me. Usually. It’s done now.

    Gee! I wonder who will light the cauldron?

  363. 363.

    freelancer

    February 13, 2010 at 12:27 am

    Every time there is one of these mass murders or shootings, it is one of the first things I think about- what kind of shitty luck would you have to have to spend your entire life introducing yourself as “a different Ted Bundy” or “but not that Dylan Kliebold?”

    I’m sorry to have to inform any of the lurkers here named “Amy Bishop“, that this is a phenomenon that will now be affecting you.

  364. 364.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 13, 2010 at 12:28 am

    @freelancer: I saw that. Was startled it was a woman.

  365. 365.

    amorphous

    February 13, 2010 at 12:32 am

    @freelancer: She was denied tenure. So she murdered 3 people.

  366. 366.

    freelancer

    February 13, 2010 at 12:34 am

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Not to bring the house down, but yeah, me too. Evidently, her husband may or may not have been involved. I feel much worse for the families that were affected by this, than the Georgian luge-er.

    To clarify, it sucks no matter who you are to lose those you love, but no parent has to assume there’s a deadly risk inherent in sending your kid to college. So yes, publicity for the kid from georgia, but genuine sympathy for the victims of random and senseless violence.

    @amorphous:

    She was denied tenure. So she murdered 3 people.

    Fucking retard.

  367. 367.

    2th&nayle

    February 13, 2010 at 12:34 am

    Yeah, well, I understand! It’s not exactly easy being named Genghis Cohn either!

  368. 368.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 13, 2010 at 12:37 am

    @freelancer: I read that no student was harmed. Thank goodness. What a sad sad state of affairs. Reading a bit more, she wasn’t a good prof, and she was very loosely-wrapped. So fucking sad.

    @2th&nayle: That’s very funny!

    Ooh ooh, second lighting of the cauldron!

    Joe Biden. I like him. And, yeah, I think he’s sexy for some reason. Go ahead and mock me.

  369. 369.

    Yutsano

    February 13, 2010 at 12:39 am

    All the Georgians look like they’re about to break down right there.

  370. 370.

    gypsy howell

    February 13, 2010 at 12:40 am

    Thank you, Canadian Olympics, for NOT having Celine be part of the opening ceremonies. You get points for that.

  371. 371.

    freelancer

    February 13, 2010 at 12:42 am

    @asiangrrlMN:

    I agree, it’s still nonsense.

    And I’m kind of remorseful I’ve brought it up, because, other than that, I’m kind of on fire tonight (at least, that’s how I’m perceiving it. Maybe I’m just being wicked annoying and I don’t know it, like most of the time.)

  372. 372.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 13, 2010 at 12:42 am

    @gypsy howell: Though she was in the We Are the World Part II.

    @freelancer: Don’t be remorseful. It’s worth discussing, and this is an open thread.

    I got to watch the whole thing in an hour and forty-five minutes. LOVE my DVR!

  373. 373.

    Comrade Luke

    February 13, 2010 at 12:42 am

    Man, watching the Georgians walk in was tough.

    And thanks for blowing off Croatia due to commercial. NBC hates me!

  374. 374.

    Yutsano

    February 13, 2010 at 12:45 am

    @Comrade Luke: I’m glad they did it though. I think, when they reflect on their decision, they’ll agree they did the right thing.

  375. 375.

    freelancer

    February 13, 2010 at 12:45 am

    @gypsy howell:

    Thank you, Canadian Olympics, for NOT having Celine be part of the opening ceremonies. You get points for that.

    Yes, we’re being unfair. They didn’t do that, Canada is a Legend.

  376. 376.

    Nellcote

    February 13, 2010 at 12:45 am

    The Project Runway judges should do the color commentary for the March of the Atheletes. I’d forgotten how awful the axis-of-blather is during the Olympics.

  377. 377.

    hamletta

    February 13, 2010 at 12:46 am

    @Nellcote: Thanks! I’ll be here all week!

  378. 378.

    SIA

    February 13, 2010 at 12:47 am

    @asiangrrlMN: Joe Biden likes women. That makes him sexy. And he has that virile Irish thing goin’ on. And a sense of humor. All sexy.

  379. 379.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 13, 2010 at 12:49 am

    @SIA: Very true. So true. Really true. Um. Yeah. How did that snow thing go for you?

  380. 380.

    amorphous

    February 13, 2010 at 12:49 am

    @freelancer: Don’t think you got where I was going there…

  381. 381.

    Mnemosyne

    February 13, 2010 at 12:51 am

    I suddenly remembered, “Hey! I have Tivo!” and started taping the ceremonies instead so I can watch them at my leisure tomorrow. I do love the trainwreck that Bob Costas becomes as the night wears on, so I’m not sure how much fastforwarding I’ll do.

    Oh, and freelancer, that boarding school comment was definitely heavy sarcasm from Mr. Costas. Which is one reason I do love him as a commentator.

  382. 382.

    Yutsano

    February 13, 2010 at 12:51 am

    @asiangrrlMN: No bitterness dear heart, no bitterness.

  383. 383.

    hamletta

    February 13, 2010 at 12:52 am

    @Nellcote: Uh, no. Tim Gunn would be having a petit mal right about now.

    Not that I’m watching any of this, I’m just guessing.

  384. 384.

    Yutsano

    February 13, 2010 at 12:54 am

    OMG did Bob Costas REALLY say “just sayin'”??

  385. 385.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 13, 2010 at 12:55 am

    @Yutsano: What?? I’m just sayin’….

    @Yutsano: Thanks, hon. I don’t like Bobby much myself, but I did fast-forward through much of the talky stuff.

    P.S. I want more snow. Is that so wrong?

  386. 386.

    Yutsano

    February 13, 2010 at 12:57 am

    @asiangrrlMN: Yeah but it’s cute and sarcastic when you do it. For Bobby boy there…not so much.

    I will say this for the Parade of Nations: It was much more interesting when Beijing hosted, because you had NO idea which country were coming up next. It was kinda fun that it was random, at least by our perspective.

  387. 387.

    freelancer

    February 13, 2010 at 1:13 am

    @amorphous:

    Don’t think you got where I was going there…

    It’s entirely possible. Before I go any further, for posterity:

    freelancer +6

    @Mnemosyne:

    Yeah, you need to hit fast forward on your DVR, as I got over that real quick. Costas was hit and miss all night, and some of it was pretty damned funny. The rest was funny in a very meta, MST3K fashion.

  388. 388.

    Nellcote

    February 13, 2010 at 1:14 am

    Are the USA moosehats mocking LaPalin?

  389. 389.

    Kobie

    February 13, 2010 at 1:15 am

    @freelancer: Gretzky looked like he was going to fuck someone’s world up during the “malfunction.”

  390. 390.

    amorphous

    February 13, 2010 at 1:17 am

    @freelancer: 10-4 on the half duzz. Not that I’m concerned when OMG SOMEONE ON THE INTERNET CALLED ME RETARDED, but I assumed the logical, unwritten conclusion to my comment would have been: Amy Bishop must be fucking insane.

  391. 391.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 13, 2010 at 1:20 am

    @amorphous: I think he was talking about the shooter, not you. At least, I hope so!

  392. 392.

    SIA

    February 13, 2010 at 1:27 am

    @asiangrrlMN: it was rather thrilling. Not much – maybe two inches, but it covered the grass, the branches, the roofs, and made everything look lovely.

  393. 393.

    Katie5

    February 13, 2010 at 1:28 am

    (carried from prev thread)
    I’ve been watching the Olympics on CTV all day. The reason CTV showed the raw feed of the horrific accident was that it was “breaking news” and they didn’t think before they showed it. Now it’s “out there” in all its horror.

    I wish so much that the Olympics was still on CBC. But at least CTV stole CBC’s venerable Olympics reporter, Brian Williams (the other Brian Williams).

    No Leonard Cohen. But I prefer K.D. Lang’s version.

  394. 394.

    freelancer

    February 13, 2010 at 1:38 am

    @asiangrrlMN:

    You would be correct. That was not aimed at amorphous. If you’re on this site, and not named Brick Oven Bill, Church Lady, or Michael Gass, then you’re most likely better than most strangers out there in the ether.

    It is Mrs. Bishop who is monumentally stupid, callous, and cowardly for her irrational actions earlier yesterday. She deserves nothing less than imprisonment for the rest of her days. In her rejection, she rebelled in a violent way that violated the rights of innocent people to live, and as a cost, our culture will reject her crimes completely and dish out its appropriate measure of justice, FSM willing.

  395. 395.

    Andrea

    February 13, 2010 at 1:39 am

    Our tiny, elegant Governor General will rip out your beating heart and eat it in front of you.

    Can she do that to Harper?

    I’m with Comrade Luke and Max on the left coast (too. also.), sulking about the hour and a half of BS on tape delay.

  396. 396.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 13, 2010 at 1:40 am

    @SIA: Oh, I am happy that you got to experience the wonders that is snow. YAY!

    @freelancer: That’s what I thought.

  397. 397.

    Katie5

    February 13, 2010 at 1:43 am

    And RIck Hansen carried the torch in. That’s so Canadian to honour Paralympians.

  398. 398.

    freelancer

    February 13, 2010 at 1:51 am

    @asiangrrlMN:

    What can I say?

    My friends will find no greater rhetorical ally, and my enemies will find no larger scorn. For those in the middle, I’m seeking empathy and understanding until I hit my personal wall that requires judgement one way or the other. You may count yourself amongst friendlies, FWIW.

    Also, given the international spirit of the games, it was just the slighted bit unnerving to see Taiwan represented as “Chinese Taipei”. That was fucked up. But what’s a manufacturing base torn between two superpowers to do?

  399. 399.

    Yutsano

    February 13, 2010 at 1:53 am

    Bleah. Toyota apologia.

  400. 400.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 13, 2010 at 1:59 am

    @Katie5: So, it’s nearing the end for those on the West Coast?

    @freelancer: They have to introduce themselves that way. They always have. Soon, they will be re-absorbed by China, and it’ll be really really really sucky. I really liked your first paragraph, by the way, and I consider you the same.

  401. 401.

    freelancer

    February 13, 2010 at 2:02 am

    I’m watching the Chuck Christmas episode from Season 2. Absolutely love the references to Nathan “Ned” Ryerson as the (initial?) bad guy, taken from Groundhog Day, and Reggie ValJohnson reprising his role from Die Hard as LAPD Sgt. Al Powell, complete with twinkie fetish. FTW.

  402. 402.

    DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal)

    February 13, 2010 at 2:02 am

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    When I read this:

    You just made me spit shiraz all over my BlackBerry…

    at first glance it seemed to read:

    You just made me shit spiraz all over my BlackBerry…

    It was one of those ‘Wha…?’ for a few seconds there.

  403. 403.

    Yutsano

    February 13, 2010 at 2:03 am

    @asiangrrlMN: Really, their only real option there is to go the Hong Kong route and absorb it again but more or less let it run itself. It caused enough economic shockwaves when the lease in Hong Kong ended, they figured out really fast that they needed to let them be as independent as possible or the rest of the world would make the PRC pay in the pocketbook.

  404. 404.

    amorphous

    February 13, 2010 at 2:12 am

    @freelancer: @asiangrrlMN: Oh, word. ‘Twas I who was misunderstanding. Good thing I’m veiled in an Internet cloak of anonymity.

    Guess I’ll run off now, then.

  405. 405.

    Comrade Luke

    February 13, 2010 at 2:38 am

    Leave it to k.d. lang to blow away my cynicism.

    God I love that song.

  406. 406.

    Darkrose

    February 13, 2010 at 2:46 am

    The tape delay annoys me–but on the other hand, I’m getting to watch it on TV instead of trying to get the stream at work. And yeah, I’m a sucker for this kind of shit, but I think it’s pretty cool.

    However, if they do ever have it at Tahoe again and it’s on tape delay, I’ll be seriously annoyed.

  407. 407.

    freelancer

    February 13, 2010 at 2:50 am

    Anne Laurie?

    What is it that isn’t sinking in about the late night OT being launched at 4-5-6am US time being ineffective?

    Seriously. 11pm-1am Central Standard. It’s not that deficil.

    Just sayin’.

    /Costas

  408. 408.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 13, 2010 at 12:11 pm

    @Yutsano: It’s still enough to make me cry. My father has worked for an independent Taiwan all his life. Now, in that same lifetime, he will most likely see Taiwan being reabsorbed by China.

    @amorphous: No worries! It happens on the ‘net.

Comments are closed.

Trackbacks

  1. Balloon Juice Blog Archive Another Olympics Open Thread « The Windows of the Ragged Body says:
    February 13, 2010 at 7:49 am

    […] Source: http://www.balloon-juice.com […]

Primary Sidebar

Fundraising 2023-24

Wis*Dems Supreme Court + SD-8

Recent Comments

  • zhena gogolia on War for Ukraine Day 393: Zelenskyy Goes to Kherson! (Mar 23, 2023 @ 8:09pm)
  • Brachiator on No Cake for Me Today Open Thread (Mar 23, 2023 @ 8:08pm)
  • Jeffro on No Cake for Me Today Open Thread (Mar 23, 2023 @ 8:08pm)
  • Jeffro on No Cake for Me Today Open Thread (Mar 23, 2023 @ 8:07pm)
  • Geminid on No Cake for Me Today Open Thread (Mar 23, 2023 @ 8:06pm)

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
We All Need A Little Kindness
Classified Documents: A Primer
State & Local Elections Discussion

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Mailing List Signup
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)

Twitter / Spoutible

Balloon Juice (Spoutible)
WaterGirl (Spoutible)
TaMara (Spoutible)
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
TaMara
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
ActualCitizensUnited

Join the Fight!

Join the Fight Signup Form
All Join the Fight Posts

Balloon Juice Events

5/14  The Apocalypse
5/20  Home Away from Home
5/29  We’re Back, Baby
7/21  Merging!

Balloon Juice for Ukraine

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!