Goofy-A$$ Closing Ceremony

[Sultanosurf]

Dan Hicks: "Actual actors, not athletes..."

Thanks, Robert Plant, for saving the night. But jeez, what cheese.

Did the drummers really need bike helmets?

[ewink]

Dan Hicks: "Actual actors, not athletes..."

Thanks, Robert Plant, for saving the night. But jeez, what cheese.

Did the drummers really need bike helmets?
You ever been hit in the head by a wayward drumstick?!?

[Kace]

With the games over, China can go back to being a happy human rights friendly nation. ;)

[ewink]

With the games over, China can go back to being a happy human rights friendly nation. ;)
You know I was listening to the news tonight and they said that none of the permits for the 'protest zones' China set up were approved. I couldn't help but laugh and say 'no kidding.'

[Union Label]

The pickup trucks at the 1996 Olympic Opening Ceremony in Atlanta still sets the gold standard for goofiness IMHO.

[Union Label]

Thanks, Robert Plant, for saving the night. But jeez, what cheese.

Not to nit-pick but it was Jimmy Page, not Robert Plant.

[Sultanosurf]

Not to nit-pick but it was Jimmy Page, not Robert Plant.

See? That's just how mind-numbing the thing was...

Ewink, Nick Kristoff had a pretty interesting piece about the protest zones last week:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/17/opinion/edkristof.php

Malcontents need not apply
By Nicholas D. Kristof

BEIJING: To put a smiley face on its image during the Olympics, the Chinese government set aside three "protest zones" in Beijing. Officials explained that so long as protesters obtained approval in advance, demonstrations would be allowed.

So I decided to test the system.

Following government instructions, I showed up at an office of the Beijing Public Security Bureau, found Window 12 and declared to the officer, "I'm here to apply to hold a protest."

What I didn't realize is that Public Security has arrested at least a half-dozen people who have shown up to apply for protest permits. Public Security is pretty shrewd. In the old days it had to go out and catch protesters in the act. Now it saves itself the bother: Would-be protesters show up at Public Security offices to apply for permits and are promptly detained. That's cost-effective law enforcement for you.

Fortunately, the official at Window 12 didn't peg me as a counterrevolutionary. He looked at me worriedly and asked for my passport and other ID papers. Discovering that I was a journalist, he asked hopefully, "Wouldn't you rather conduct an interview about demonstrations?"

"No. I want to apply to hold one."

His brow furrowed. "What do you want to protest?"

"I want to demonstrate in favor of preserving Beijing's historic architecture." It was the least controversial, most insipid topic I could concoct.

"Do you think the government is not doing a good job at this?" he asked sternly.

"There may be room for improvement," I said delicately.

The official frowned and summoned two senior colleagues who, after a series of frantic phone calls, led me into the heart of the police building. I was accompanied by a New York Times videographer, and he and a police videographer busily videoed each other. Then the police explained that under the rules they could video us but we couldn't video them.

The Public Security Bureau (a fancy name for a police station) gleams like much of the rest of Beijing. It is a lovely, spacious building, and the waiting room we were taken to was beautifully furnished; no folding metal chairs here. It's a fine metaphor for China's legal system: The hardware is impeccable, but the software is primitive....

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/17/opinion/edkristof.php

[Roy Hobbs]

92 Winter Olympics in France with goofy-ass performance art hockey goalies skating across the ice in unison with goals strapped on their backs takes the cake.

[Jane Craig]

What? No mentions yet of Jackie Chan singing?

My favorite things last night were the girls with the bells -- imagine what a magical sound that must've been in the Birds' Nest -- hard for us to tell over the electronically balanced soundtrack that was broadcast -- and the circle bicyle thingies.

Low point? Well, I'm not a Led Zeppelin fan, and there you have it.

[Sir Dropham Pants]

I caught part of it - I haven't seen that much red since "The Shining."

[The Thrill]

What? No mentions yet of Jackie Chan singing?

My favorite things last night were the girls with the bells -- imagine what a magical sound that must've been in the Birds' Nest -- hard for us to tell over the electronically balanced soundtrack that was broadcast -- and the circle bicyle thingies.

Low point? Well, I'm not a Led Zeppelin fan, and there you have it.

I was disappointed Leona Lewis didn't go with the "gonna give you every inch of my love" line. :whistle:

[Ping-Pong Ball]

Did the drummers really need bike helmets?

Well, when you have 50,000 bike helmets recalled for being made of lead and not meeting safety standards the best way to make a profit is to sell your surplus inventory to the IOC.

[Sultanosurf]

Good stuff. But they'll probably sell 'em off at Wal-Mart as Olympic mementos ...

[ewink]

See? That's just how mind-numbing the thing was...

Ewink, Nick Kristoff had a pretty interesting piece about the protest zones last week:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/17/opinion/edkristof.php

Malcontents need not apply
By Nicholas D. Kristof

BEIJING: To put a smiley face on its image during the Olympics, the Chinese government set aside three "protest zones" in Beijing. Officials explained that so long as protesters obtained approval in advance, demonstrations would be allowed.

So I decided to test the system.

Following government instructions, I showed up at an office of the Beijing Public Security Bureau, found Window 12 and declared to the officer, "I'm here to apply to hold a protest."

What I didn't realize is that Public Security has arrested at least a half-dozen people who have shown up to apply for protest permits. Public Security is pretty shrewd. In the old days it had to go out and catch protesters in the act. Now it saves itself the bother: Would-be protesters show up at Public Security offices to apply for permits and are promptly detained. That's cost-effective law enforcement for you.

Fortunately, the official at Window 12 didn't peg me as a counterrevolutionary. He looked at me worriedly and asked for my passport and other ID papers. Discovering that I was a journalist, he asked hopefully, "Wouldn't you rather conduct an interview about demonstrations?"

"No. I want to apply to hold one."

His brow furrowed. "What do you want to protest?"

"I want to demonstrate in favor of preserving Beijing's historic architecture." It was the least controversial, most insipid topic I could concoct.

"Do you think the government is not doing a good job at this?" he asked sternly.

"There may be room for improvement," I said delicately.

The official frowned and summoned two senior colleagues who, after a series of frantic phone calls, led me into the heart of the police building. I was accompanied by a New York Times videographer, and he and a police videographer busily videoed each other. Then the police explained that under the rules they could video us but we couldn't video them.

The Public Security Bureau (a fancy name for a police station) gleams like much of the rest of Beijing. It is a lovely, spacious building, and the waiting room we were taken to was beautifully furnished; no folding metal chairs here. It's a fine metaphor for China's legal system: The hardware is impeccable, but the software is primitive....

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/17/opinion/edkristof.php
Heh... Not surprising. Not surprised either that the IOC ignored this, since of course they didn't want to look stupid for giving Beijing the Olympics in the first place.