Who will be the last person to recieve the symbolic flame & light the Olympic cauldron?
Speculation continues....Will it be the great' Wayne Gretzky, or some other Canadian.
Others to consider...former Olympian Nancy Green Raine, who won gold & silver as a skier
at Grenoble, 1968... Betty Fox, mother of the late runner & Canadian icon,Terry Fox, who lost a leg to cancer & then embarked on a coast-to-coast Canadian run, only to succomb to the disease before he could finish.
BC Place, Vancouver...the opening ceremonies of the 21st Winter Games, Friday, February 12, 2010.
Let the games begin....
47 comments:
While I really do not like snow, I do enjoy
the winter olympics....and yes, without question, I always want the Americans to win...
Ice skating, skiing, and I just love to watch that little known sport, 'curling'...
Is there any way the opening ceremonies can outdo the 2008 Bejing extravaganza...We shall see tonight....
No winter sports events here so far...nary a flake.
Great post Coreen, and timely. It's so great to have someone here who sparks our enthusiasm for sports. I learn so much from you.
Ivy, Glad to hear you didn't get that snow your area was expecting. At least, I think I'm glad. You didn't want it, did you?
I did read that there was about a foot of snow a couple hundred miles, or so, north of us in Dallas! That shocked me.
I have a few comments regarding the posts on the last thread:
Solar, When I looked on my computer to see what I have, it says this: Java(TM) 6 update 14.
I know absolutely nothing about programming, and don't even know what Java is, so sorry, I can't help. All I know about these computers is what I've learned piddling around with them. Now if Don was around, I know he'd be able to help you out.
By the way, regarding what you said Coreen, It is weird how quickly someone can disappear on the internet. Like Tony says: Poof, and they're gone. You can look up 'Don1one Twitter' on your search bar though, where he has a very public twitter site - and which I did a few days ago, and see that he seems to be doing fine.
Coreen, Our property has been covered in hundreds of Robin the last couple of days (on and off). I looked them up, and saw that they're usually south of Mexico this time of year, but spend the rest of the year up your way.
"The American Robin or Robin Red Breast is a common bird in the thrush family that is found throughout the United States. It is the state bird of Michigan, Wisconsin and Connecticut. The robin is a migratory bird; it spends springs and summers in the northern North America and the winters in the south and Mexico."
I also read that the robin awakes early and is one of the earliest birds to sing at dawn.
Now I know what all that beautiful early morning noise is. I don't remember hearing them singing here in past winters. Don't see them out there this morning though, although I did hear a lot of bird singing earlier.
Jan, Those Cranes that you linked are beautiful. Like Coreen, we often see Egrets in in the fields and pastures around here, but there are usually only a few at a time, and they seem to be a smaller bird than the Crane, at least they're smaller here.
Many birds seem to have changed their migration pattern this year. Here anyway. I've been enjoying a lot of new birds this winter, that I don't recall seeing in our area in the past.
I know all see these article from time to time, but still, it's good to find evidence to back up what you 'want to think' from time to time. (They do point out that other foods and beverages can also provide flavonoids, including citrus fruits, onions, green tea and red wine, and recommend we don't use these findings as an excuse to gorge ourselves with chocolate this Valentines day. Dang!)
"Yet another health benefit has been linked to eating chocolate: It may decrease your risk of stroke, a new study suggests. " Sweet Science: The Health Benefits of Chocolate
Sweet Science: The Health Benefits of Chocolate
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20100211/sc_livescience/sweetsciencethehealthbenefitsofchocolate
I feel like I need to put a disclaimer on these pics, in case they cause anyone that is too stressed thinking about 9/11. But the pictures are unbelievable, and look more like a war zone in some other world, than in our own NY.
Dramatic images of World Trade Centre collapse on 9/11 released for first time
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1249885/New-World-Trade-Center-9-11-aerial-images-ABC-News.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1249885/New-World-Trade-Center-9-11-aerial-images-ABC-News.html
Ok, must get some work done. Really enjoyed reading everyone's comments from yesterday and last night.
Coreen,
My vote would be for Betty Fox, now that is inspirational imo. About those sore muscles that U have. U can consider that your first work out, and do some stretches today and go for a nice walk...Im doing fine; the only thing that I watch is my lower back....just took my joint mobility pills, with a full glass of water..will wait for about 20 min...the water will carry the chemicals thru-out my body. Along with a multi-vitamin, been taking one everyday since I was about 25...
Going to make a raisin bagel with peanut-butter and jelly for protein, and start my work out program a few min, after wards...plus a cup of coffee, and im good to go.....
Chloe,
Thanks for that chocolate article.....I think that the triple chocolate cake that I like from cost-co has a dbl dose of flavanoids that it talks about...mmm..a dble piece......
Coreen, wonderful post and like Chloe says - so timely. I am so excited that the winter olympics are here. I have only visited Vancouver once, and was blown away by the beauty and diversity of that city. I have it on my list of "want to visit" again. It will be fun to watch the olympics with my old and new friends here (old meaning I've known you for many years).
I'm ready for the olympics in high definition!
Chloe, I do have to have my chocolate fix every day. Good, bad, or ugly, I have to have it. And if we are what we think, at least one of my fingers is a chocolate bar!
Ivy, I think you will get some snow today.
Chloe, I'm not surprised that Cliniton had his return of coronary artery disease. The stress he went thru during his wife's campaign didn't help.
Some people think that when they have bypass surgery they just got an extra 40 to 50 years to junk up the new arteries. Not. Those new arteries junk up pretty fast. I'm no cardiac expert anymore but unless a lot has changed, bypass surgery didn't used to show much of a significance in prolonging life but mainly in improving quality of life. It relieves pain, improves exercise tolerance. Drastic lifestyle changes are required.
Solar, speaking of chocolate, I have a friend who munches on dark choc covered soy nuts that she keeps at her desk. I think I might try to find some.
We have had robins all winter here. They are fat ones too.
Ivy, you inspire me to do more bird watching and identifying.
The bird watching comment is referring back to our conversation in the previous post.
When I went to take the Magster out this AM, I saw that the river had come up a good bit. Flood stage is 4 ft and it is now at 5ft. The advanced hydrologic prediction indicates it will level off there for a while then very slowly drop.
The river will be over low areas in the road, teetering at a level where I can still get in and out. I'm fixing to go meet a friend in town to do some fun stuff and hope I can get back in without a boat.
Carol, have fun today.
Chloe. Thanks for the information about the Java program that u use.
Solar, Have you had any luck straightening out your computer problems? I'm sure you've done a restore, because I often hear you recommending it. It's the first thing I always try too.
Carol, I'm interested to hear if your water came up any higher today while you were gone? And did you have fun in town with your friend?
Going to see Valentines Day tomorrow, not for Valentines 'Day', but because it looks funny and there are soooo many stars in it. http://www.valentinesdaymovie.com/
"We have had robins all winter here."
Jan, They may have been around and I just recently got a close enough look to see there color. There was such a huge flock, and some of them were so close to the window that I didn't even need to go outside to get a view. They were the big fat ones here too. Carol and I were commenting on how fat Coreen's winter birds were, because we're used to seeing such tiny or at least thinnish birds here. The birds in a colder climate carry more weight to protect themselves against the cold (I think).
Chloe, when I left today the water was over a good bit of the road and over an area where the road and the river get very close together. I'm not comfortable when the water goes over that area. I left anyway hoping I could get back in when I came home. I just got home and it is down just a little.
I wonder if and how much snow Ivy got today.
I just heard some worrisome news about a shooting at U of Alabama today. From what I heard, it was a woman who did the shooting. Where does Ms. College go to school? I hope she is OK.
It happened in Huntsville, up in north Alabama.
And how tragic about the Olympic luger who lost his life in a practice run. From the way he seems to have hit that post, it looks like he may have broken his neck. I find it scary just watching some of those events.
Carol, I'm wondering if that's where Ivy's daughter goes to - but I'm hoping not. This is what I just found on it:
University of Alabama in Huntsville biology professor in custody regarding deadly shooting at faculty meeting
"According to police, three people were killed and three were wounded when the shooter opened fire during a biology faculty meeting on the third floor of the Shelby Center for Science and Technology. The three injured people are being treated at Huntsville Hospital." http://blog.al.com/breaking/2010/02/biology_professor_accused_in_u.html
At the same time, I ran across this awful piece of news (you guys probably already know):
"VANCOUVER, British Columbia – A men's Olympic luger from the country of Georgia died Friday after a high-speed crash on a track that is the world's fastest and has raised safety concerns among competitors. A tearful IOC president Jacques Rogge said the death hours before the opening ceremony "clearly casts a shadow over these games." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100212/ap_on_sp_ol/oly_lug_luger_dies
At the same time, an unexpected put down of DC residents, and their inability to endure the snow.
Durbin: D.C. residents panic as if snowstorm is 'a nuclear attack'
"Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) blasted Washingtonians for going “into a full-scale panic” during snowstorms, unlike people from Illinois who “know how to live with it.”
“I am convinced that infants born in Washington, D.C., are taken from the arms of their loving mothers right when they are born into a room where someone shows a film of a snowstorm with shrieking and screaming so that those children come to believe snow is a mortal enemy, like a nuclear attack, because I have seen, for over 40 years here, people in this town go into a full-scale panic at the thought of a snowfall." http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/80925-durbin-dc-residents-panic-as-if-snow-is-a-nuclear-attack
They are talking about padding those posts on the course but I don't think would have made a difference. The way he came flying backwards and slammed the back of his head into that post, it most likely broke his neck. I'm not sure I will be able to watch that sport this year.
Chloe, it's strange that it was a faculty member that was the shooter but ask Jan, it's tough to sit through some of those faculty meetings, well it was where I worked. I just about always came out with at least a bad headache.
Good news and bad news...
First, the good news...the campus shooting was not at Miss College's college...I just spoke to her, and she just came inside from clearing the snow off her car in the parking lot. Had to use a wire clothes hanger 'cuz we in the South don't normally keep those brushy-swipey things in our cars (well, I do, but that's just a habit from living in the northeast for a good part of my life). More to be revealed about the tragic shooting...as a former employee relations specialist at a college, I will be interested to know what was behind it. I have experience with disgruntled employees "going postal."
The bad news is really minor by comparison. My laptop finally died for good - the monitor part went dark - that's what was predicted to happen by my computer-whiz-kid. So I am relegated to my dinky notebook...at least I am not completely cut-off. I recall the days when I scoffed at futuristic predictions that everyone would own computers and little personal telephones that went with us everywhere...how horrible, I then said. Won't be me. lol
I'm glad you are still connected Ivy. I wonder why that faculty member had a gun on her at a meeting.
How much snow did you get Ivy?
Ivy, I'm relieved to hear that wasn't your daughters School.
I'm sorry to hear about your laptop. Once the monitor goes, I don't think it's ever worth fixing either. If you decide to get another laptop, they sometimes have a nice, basic Toshiba for less than $400 (at Best Buy) and they're Windows 7. My daughters cheapy Toshiba lasted longer than the expensive ones, and she's hard on computers. She never turns them off, just leaves it on 24/7, even when she's gone, in case she gets messages or whatever. Weird, I know.
It seems to me that padding those posts would help Carol. I think he would have bounced off of it, but it's hard to say in his case. Still, it can't hurt to pad them for the future. I won't be able to watch that sport either.
Carol, I thought the same thing about the stress that Bill Clinton is under all the time, but this article says that ""This was not a result of his lifestyle or his diet," Schwartz said at a news conference Thursday night. Since the bypass, "he has really toed the line."
No cure for heart disease, Bill Clinton's case shows
"We see people who come in like this every four to five years. Essentially, it's a tuneup," said Dr. Cam Patterson, cardiology chief at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Surprisingly, this doesn't shorten someone's lifespan or give them a bad prognosis, said Dr. William O'Neill, a cardiologist and executive dean of clinical affairs at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine.
"I've done 10 or 15 in a single patient over a period of time," and they still live long lives as long as they don't have a heart attack and suffer damage, he said.
Clinton has not had a heart attack and has done everything right since his bypass — eating well, exercising, keeping his blood pressure and cholesterol in check, said his cardiologist, Dr. Allan Schwartz at New York Presbyterian Hospital." No cure for heart disease, Bill Clinton's case shows
Ivy, so glad the shooting was not at your daughter's school. you are so right Carol, faculty meetings can get hairy. We are pretty tame at our school. Its the students I worry about. We had an incident a year ago. A student posted on his facebook that he had an uzi and was going to fix things at graduation. He wound up on a psych unit for about 2 weeks, but graduated. About 8 years ago 3 nursing faculty at Arizona state were shot and killed by a grad student. When this situation happened here a year ago, we had security at about every event and the dean had a body guard. Guess what, they didn't tell the faculty about it until after graduation.
Chloe, thanks for the info on the computers at Best Buy. I may check that out.
Carol, glad you got home safely and didn't have to swim or wade water getting home.
It has been reported that Clinton did make major changes in his lifestyle and it certainly appears he has. I believe that the stress of his wife's campaign probably didn't help.
I was just pointing out that some people do have the mistaken belief that having those procedures done greatly prolongs their lives and gives them many extra years to continue bad practices and neither are true.
Jan, I just read somewhere that the shooter was denied tenure. Not sure if that is correct but if that was the reason, I guess she will geting tenure now but not at the University.
"Denied tenure" was my first guess...fear of retaliation is not a reason to award it.
And ya'll thought I worked in a dangerous environment. At least we don't allow any guns in our joint.
I guess they need to put metal detectors at all school and college entrances.
There's our song again. Hallelujah!
Carol, LOL on the tenure in another place. I can't help but think when someone does something like that they have serious mental problems.
I am thinking of Bill Clinton and wondering if he can reverse all the damage to his arteries that happened in his first 50 some years of eating burgers, fries and krispi kreme donuts.
The opening ceremonies in Vancouver were amazing. It was a thrill to see the U.S. athletes during their entrance. I enjoyed watching Shaun ? the skate boarder. John said they call him the flying carrot. What beautiful red hair he has.
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