News for today's 2018

Sochi Restaurant: 'We Do Not Serve FBI And CIA Agents'

3:00 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2za0PnpgRcGTwvYfDM6gEcYvvBP1pFJ0ZDn4e2gcaUdnw6SW7jcKUYsolEFbjygB8IXg8Lb6dlPUPredk0DJN6tIdeYFfiLkuDyUAikiwNl4ow0GzNW3H88FbUnMbl6B51JUh9dvta49q/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2za0PnpgRcGTwvYfDM6gEcYvvBP1pFJ0ZDn4e2gcaUdnw6SW7jcKUYsolEFbjygB8IXg8Lb6dlPUPredk0DJN6tIdeYFfiLkuDyUAikiwNl4ow0GzNW3H88FbUnMbl6B51JUh9dvta49q/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stern warning: This restaurant outside Sochi makes no bones about its feelings toward American spies in Russia</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">'We Do Not Serve FBI And CIA Agents': The Sochi Restaurant That Bans American Spies (No Word On Whether They'd Seat Edward Snowden) -- Daily Mail</span></b></div><br />Russia has welcome the world to Sochi, but at least one restaurant in the Olympic host city is refusing to welcome some Americans inside.<br /><br />'We do not serve FBI and CIA agents,' reads a curt sign outside an establishment near the slopes of Kransnaya Polyana - site of the Olympic skiing and snowboarding events.<br /><br />The United States has sent its own security teams to Russia to protect its Olympic athletes amid threats of terrorist attacks - and no doubt a handful of secret agents are among them.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2554309/We-not-serve-FBI-CIA-agents-The-Sochi-restaurant-bars-American-spooks-no-word-theyd-seat-Edward-Snowden.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>My Comment</b>: Someone knows how to get attention.

olympics Sochi Restaurant: 'We Do Not Serve FBI And CIA Agents'

Stern warning: This restaurant outside Sochi makes no bones about its feelings toward American spies in Russia 'We Do Not Serve FBI And ...

With A Growing List Of Scandals The US Defense Chief Will Install An Ethics Officer

2:00 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.defense.gov/imgHandler.ashx?h=318&w=478&img=/dodcmsshare/homepagephoto/2014-02/hires_140207-D-BW835-286a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.defense.gov/imgHandler.ashx?h=318&w=478&img=/dodcmsshare/homepagephoto/2014-02/hires_140207-D-BW835-286a.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel briefs the press at the Pentagon, Feb. 7, 2014. Hagel discussed the nomination of retired Marine Corps Col. Robert O. Work as the next deputy defense secretary and discussed issues including an effort to strengthen ethical behavior within the Defense Department. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pentagon To Appoint Officer To Promote Ethical Behavior, Hagel Says -- Washington Post</b></span></div><br />Stung by a string of embarrassing revelations about misconduct in the ranks, the Pentagon will soon appoint a senior officer to promote and enforce a culture of ethical behavior and good moral character, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Friday.<br /><br />The move marked Hagel’s latest attempt to get ahead of a growing list of scandals, including allegations of widespread cheating by military personnel in proficiency tests and recently disclosed reports about misbehaving senior officers.<br /><br />“Ethics and character are the foundation of an institution and a society,” Hagel told reporters at the Pentagon on Friday afternoon. “They must be constantly emphasized at every level.” <br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/pentagon-to-appoint-officer-to-promote-ethical-behavior-hagel-says/2014/02/07/27912e5a-903f-11e3-b227-12a45d109e03_story.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>An Ethics Officer For The U.S. Military</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121629">Hagel Will Appoint Senior Officer to Guide Ethics Effort</a> -- US Department of Defense<br /><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/07/us-usa-military-scandals-idUSBREA161ZM20140207">As scandals swell, U.S. defense chief to install ethics officer </a>-- Reuters<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/whitehouse/hagel-seeks-answers-to-military-ethics-crisis/2014/02/07/6947e8f2-9035-11e3-878e-d76656564a01_story.html">Hagel seeks answers to military ethics crisis</a> -- Washington Post/AP<br /><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/us/hagel-will-have-general-officer-be-point-man-on-ethics-issues-1.266378">Hagel will have general officer be point man on ethics issues</a> -- Stars and Stripes<br /><a href="http://www.navytimes.com/article/20140207/NEWS05/302070030/Hagel-appoint-top-level-ethics-adviser">Hagel to appoint top-level ethics adviser</a> -- Navy Times<br /><a href="http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2014/02/07/Chuck-Hagel-No-one-simple-answer-to-military-ethics-lapses/UPI-54481391808346/?spt=rln&or=1">Chuck Hagel: No 'one simple answer' to military ethics lapses</a> -- UPI<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> This new ethics officer will have his work cut for him .... but he <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/navy-rebukes-three-admirals-for-taking-questionable-trip-to-britain/2014/02/07/94f8a928-901c-11e3-b227-12a45d109e03_story.html">can start at the top</a></b>.

ethics With A Growing List Of Scandals The US Defense Chief Will Install An Ethics Officer

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel briefs the press at the Pentagon, Feb. 7, 2014. Hagel discussed the nomination of retired Marine Corps Col. Ro...

The Rise of Organic Gardening

1:39 AM Anonymous 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b> </b><img alt="http://eartheasy.com/grow_bkyd_top01.jpg" class="decoded" height="353" src="http://eartheasy.com/grow_bkyd_top01.jpg" width="400" /></div>Photo Credit: http://eartheasy.com<br /><br /><b>By Dr. Mercola</b><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">'The above video (next page) features John Dromgoole, owner of The Natural Gardener,<sup><a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/02/08/organic-gardening.aspx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title="">1</a></sup>  an educational organic gardening center in Austin, Texas. According to  Dromgoole, Generation X'ers have become a driving force of his business.  He's seen a near 500 percent increase in vegetable, herb, and seed  sales, for example, compared to previous years.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">This is a <i>very</i> dramatic increase indeed, speaking to the  rapid evolution of organic gardening—or perhaps it would be better to  call it a rapid U-turn, back toward the age-old food production  practices that we know works, and produces optimal benefits not just for  you, but also for the environment.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">This new wave of consumers, who are increasingly concerned about the  quality of their food, are flocking to organic gardening centers to buy  their produce and to learn how to grow their own food. Dromgoole's  nursery also teaches people how to address problems like pests and weeds  without resorting to chemicals.'</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Read <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/02/08/organic-gardening.aspx">more... </a></span>

The Rise of Organic Gardening

Photo Credit: http://eartheasy.com By Dr. Mercola 'The above video (next page) features John Dromgoole, owner of The Natural Gardener,...

Lemon and Baking soda Miraculous combination

1:36 AM Anonymous 0

<h2> <img alt="lemon" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1224" height="261" src="http://www.secretlyhealthy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/lemon-600x392.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></h2><h2><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit:http://www.secretlyhealthy.com</span><br /><br />Lemon and Baking soda Miraculous combination: 10, 000 times stronger than Chemotherapy EFFECT!</h2><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>'Why did not we know about this?</b><br />Because there are organizations which don't have an interest to let us  know about the miraculous properties of lemon. Therefore , from now  onwards , you can help a friend who needs it, with sharing this article!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Do you know how many people die while this secret is jealously kept  in order not be threatened the interests of big corporations?'</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Read <a href="http://www.secretlyhealthy.com/lemon-and-baking-soda-miraculous-combination/">more... </a></span>

Lemon and Baking soda Miraculous combination

Photo Credit:http://www.secretlyhealthy.com Lemon and Baking soda Miraculous combination: 10, 000 times stronger than Chemotherapy EFFEC...

5 Things We Were Always Told Not To Consume, Yet Are Fantastic For Our Health

1:32 AM Anonymous 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><img alt="http://www.theempoweredmomma.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/cant-out-exercise-a-bad-diet-copy-1024x569.jpg" class="decoded" height="221" src="http://www.theempoweredmomma.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/cant-out-exercise-a-bad-diet-copy-1024x569.jpg" width="400" /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">'The list of government recommendations on healthy and unhealthy foods  over the last several decades have been as reliable as trying to pick  the right numbers on a lottery ticket. There are numerous examples of  foods we were told not to consume, but are now at the top of grocery  lists thanks to a savvy public who are no longer fooled by irresponsible  recommendations based on corporate greed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We have become more informed  on  the downfalls of short-sighted advice from old-school nutritionists,  who really had very little understanding of nutrition at all. Here are  the top 5 things we now know are great for our health, but didn't used  to based on limited perspectives on food education.' </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Read <a href="http://preventdisease.com/news/14/020714_5-Things-Told-Not-To-Consume-Yet-Fantastic-For-Our-Health.shtml">more... </a></span>

5 Things We Were Always Told Not To Consume, Yet Are Fantastic For Our Health

'The list of government recommendations on healthy and unhealthy foods over the last several decades have been as reliable as trying ...

Therapy Dogs Boost Health of the Sick and Lonely

1:26 AM Anonymous 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><img alt="http://gregorymancuso.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/therapy-dog-hospital-patient-1024x682.jpg" class="decoded" height="266" src="http://gregorymancuso.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/therapy-dog-hospital-patient-1024x682.jpg" width="400" /></div>Photo Credit:gregorymancuso.com<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">'Most people are familiar with dogs that  assist their blind or otherwise disabled owners. Therapy dogs offer a  different kind of help. Some pay informal social visits to people to  boost their spirits, while others work in a more structured environment  with trained professionals like physical therapists and social workers  to help patients reach clinical goals, such as increased mobility or  improved memory.'</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Read <a href="http://www.endalldisease.com/therapy-dogs-boost-health-sick-lonely/">more... </a></span></span>

Therapy Dogs Boost Health of the Sick and Lonely

Photo Credit:gregorymancuso.com 'Most people are familiar with dogs that assist their blind or otherwise disabled owners. Therapy dog...

A New Pentagon Leadership Team To Tackle It's Budget

1:00 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQswsjCpkiyWO2hv6RRGE7gh3yLaxu3IR0Boz311ejDIL6kIFkQ9wlwbwIUL5U2NM2L-p3IhDkohTGvDRwcBXHG_IvOHyvLRCpgahNGVclvas_sEVk3IYN58VcpPv0SsK1xDhwNiJ18DN4/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQswsjCpkiyWO2hv6RRGE7gh3yLaxu3IR0Boz311ejDIL6kIFkQ9wlwbwIUL5U2NM2L-p3IhDkohTGvDRwcBXHG_IvOHyvLRCpgahNGVclvas_sEVk3IYN58VcpPv0SsK1xDhwNiJ18DN4/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel attends at the annual Munich Security Conference February 1, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Lukas Barth</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hagel Unveils New Pentagon Leadership Team To Tackle Budget Woes -- Reuters</b></span></div><br />(Reuters) - Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel unveiled a new Pentagon leadership team on Friday that will guide the department through a critical period as it cuts hundreds of billions of dollars in defense spending while maintaining U.S. security commitments worldwide.<br /><br />Hagel, speaking at a Pentagon news conference, said the Defense Department was still facing big spending cuts despite a two-year budget deal by Congress in January that eased some of the financial pressure.<br /><br />"Will there be cuts across the board? Of course there will. You can't do it any other way. Are there going to be adjustments across the board? Of course," Hagel said.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/07/us-usa-defense-nominees-idUSBREA1620M20140207">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A New Team To Tackle The Pentagon's Budget</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/us/robert-work-nominated-to-be-pentagon-s-no-2-civilian-1.266252">Robert Work nominated to be Pentagon’s No. 2 civilian</a> -- Stars and Stripes<br /><a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-pentagon-deputy-robert-work-20140207,0,6038523.story#axzz2sMnRJJuA">Deputy Defense secretary nominated during 'very challenging time'</a> -- L.A. Times<br /><a href="http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/02/07/obama-nominates-robert-work-as-pentagons-no-2.html?comp=700001075741&rank=2">Obama Nominates Robert Work as Pentagon's No. 2 </a>-- Military.com<br /><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hTFd7nxNOJ2hnaFD99kEb-Zzfjrw?docId=85cb74d8-ad84-4ca9-8162-af457a644de2">Robert Work nominated as Pentagon number two</a> -- AFP<br /><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140207/DEFREG02/302070026/Work-Officially-Nominated-Pentagon-s-No-2-Job">Work Officially Nominated for Pentagon's No. 2 Job</a> -- Defense News<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> This new team will have many challenges .... but they can start by making sure that <b><a href="http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/473294/hagel-recognizes-dod-agencies-for-audit-progress.aspx">this happens</a></b>.

A New Pentagon Leadership Team To Tackle It's Budget

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel attends at the annual Munich Security Conference February 1, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Lukas Barth Hagel Unve...

No One Has A Clue On What Will Be The U.S. Defense Budget In 2015

12:00 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpN6xfnnfrE6U-I03v_6BHKIKCGbRAZbfv9GtSCAH33WyN_UhPsVE4MkpQ70yIn-HfuVwvczoEjnaE83Vy76bde20zTjj2FGZzLn9GiBxYBGB4vAZukoKEseCGpT6M7y18iXtApTTOK8Sc/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpN6xfnnfrE6U-I03v_6BHKIKCGbRAZbfv9GtSCAH33WyN_UhPsVE4MkpQ70yIn-HfuVwvczoEjnaE83Vy76bde20zTjj2FGZzLn9GiBxYBGB4vAZukoKEseCGpT6M7y18iXtApTTOK8Sc/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Defense Spending After 2015: It's Anyone's Guess -- Sandra I. Erwin, National Defense</b></span></div><br />The powers-that-be must soon make a decision on how to cut military spending before sequestration returns in 2016.<br /><br />If this sounds like déjà vu all over again, it’s because it is, said Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. “We face seven more years of sequestration and there is no clear picture of how that's going to be handled,” Smith told reporters Feb. 6 at a breakfast meeting in Washington.<br /><br />Congress, against all odds, last month passed a two-year budget resolution that set defense spending for 2015 at approximately $498 billion, or  $9 billion above the spending limit mandated by the 2011 Budget Control Act. By 2016, under the BCA, the Pentagon’s inflation-adjusted funding would fall to about what it received in 2007 and remain essentially flat through fiscal year 2021.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/blog/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?List=7c996cd7-cbb4-4018-baf8-8825eada7aa2&ID=1401&RootFolder=%2Fblog%2FLists%2FPosts">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> This is not how you run a world class military organization .... but with money getting tight (and politics at play) ..... such is the end result.

No One Has A Clue On What Will Be The U.S. Defense Budget In 2015

Defense Spending After 2015: It's Anyone's Guess -- Sandra I. Erwin, National Defense The powers-that-be must soon make a decision o...

GI Joe Action Figure Toy Celebrates 50th Birthday

11:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jV2cY8lvtDs" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>GI Joe Has Been Fighting The War On Cobra For Half A Century Now -- Gizmodo</b></span></div><br />GI Joe fans are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the world's first action figure's debut this month. Over those five decades, the GI Joe brand has seen wild swings in its popularity—a barometer of the public's regard for the US military—and undergone numerous design evolutions.<br /><br />Conceived by Don Levine, Hasbro's head of research and development and US Army Infantry Sergeant, as he rotated home from deployment in the Korean War, GI Joe's were originally foot tall posables. "We protected each other and loved each other," Levine told the AP this week. "Something had to be done to honor these people." <br /><br /><b><a href="http://gizmodo.com/gi-joe-has-been-fighting-the-war-on-cobra-for-half-a-ce-1517619543">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>Update:</b> <a href="http://life.nationalpost.com/2014/02/06/g-i-joe-at-50-hasbros-iconic-u-s-soldier-action-figure-celebrates-milestone-among-toys/">G.I. Joe turns 50: Hasbro’s iconic ‘real American hero’ action figure celebrates veteran milestone among toys</a> -- National Post/AP

GI Joe Action Figure Toy Celebrates 50th Birthday

GI Joe Has Been Fighting The War On Cobra For Half A Century Now -- Gizmodo GI Joe fans are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the world...

No Reduction In America's Carrier Force

10:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWccDwP6dGVk4yI1MQX58zIip5YzFqDHfYi0Xrjd5D1BJhp5gAM2A9HMYQFF_24Lnvf2XY4VQhnRPppVM5D2-i_TTIMXA9jV2GJZk3tlPIhGmtdioDpTgqgw_uy8wezw8f5dpSJ1o-30c-/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWccDwP6dGVk4yI1MQX58zIip5YzFqDHfYi0Xrjd5D1BJhp5gAM2A9HMYQFF_24Lnvf2XY4VQhnRPppVM5D2-i_TTIMXA9jV2GJZk3tlPIhGmtdioDpTgqgw_uy8wezw8f5dpSJ1o-30c-/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">9 Flattops at Norfolk naval base, December 20, 2012.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fleet-003-US-VA-Norfolk-20121220-N-ZN152-189.jpg"> Wikipedia</a></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>US Nixes Plan To Reduce Carrier Force -- Zachary Keck, The Diplomat</b></span></div><br /><i>Pressure from the White House and Congress has led the Pentagon to drop a plan to reduce the number of aircraft carriers.</i><br /><br />The White House and members of Congress have rejected a proposal by the Pentagon to reduce the size of the U.S. aircraft carrier force as part of its effort to reduce defense spending.<br /><br />As The Diplomat noted last month, the U.S. Department of Defense and Navy were considering mothballing a U.S. aircraft carrier in the FY 2015 defense budget as they strive to implement Congressionally-mandated spending reductions. The plan called for retiring the USS George Washington, a Nimitz-class nuclear carrier first commissioned in 1992, before its midlife refueling and refurbishing set to begin in 2016. Forgoing the refueling and refurbishing phase would have saved the Pentagon $4.7 billion, although this would be partially offset by the $1.2 billion cost of decommissioning the carrier.<br /><br />It would also have reduced the U.S. Navy’s carrier force to ten.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://thediplomat.com/2014/02/us-nixes-plan-to-reduce-carrier-force/">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>My Comment</b>: Reducing the US carrier force would have sent the wrong message to the world .... but with not enough money to support carrier operations it would not surprise if these carriers end up being at port for most of the time.<br /><br /><b>Update:</b> <a href="http://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2014/02/07/pentagon_drops_plans_to_mothball_aircraft_carrier_107077.html">Pentagon Drops Plans to Mothball Aircraft Carrier</a> -- Adam O'Neal & Dustin Walker, Real Clear Defense

No Reduction In America's Carrier Force

9 Flattops at Norfolk naval base, December 20, 2012. Wikipedia US Nixes Plan To Reduce Carrier Force -- Zachary Keck, The Diplomat Pressure...

Opening Ceremony - Tears, Spinning, and Too Much Patchwork

9:47 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1b4822db-1017-2665-1040-bcdde629bca3"></span></span><br /></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Welcome to my new readers who found the blog! Please check back every day to see my post about the previous day's events in the 2014 Winter Olympics. Tonight I give to you a "live" blog of the Opening Ceremony in Sochi. I kept myself free from spoilers, so the reactions are genuine. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here we go y’all!</span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-3f08918c-1006-c21f-5e58-38a159129f53" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6:30 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Narrated by Peter Dinklage (“Winter is coming.” Ah, I see what you did there. Clever NBC), we see Russians that </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">aren’t</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Vladimir Putin. Clearly we are trying to get America to remember that there’s a ton more Russians than the guy we see all the time. </span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6:34<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Moving to Olympic athletes, we turn to the overhyped. Oh - I learned who “discovers” (and exploits) talent for NBC. Her name is Amanda Doyle. She is now my arch enemy. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6:33<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Finally, a highlight of Sochi itself. Yes, it’s in the southern part of Russia.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6:38<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I keep thinking they talk about “Fish Olympic Stadium.” It’s </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fisht</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I’m just going to call it Fish. It kinda looks like a fish rising out of the water.</span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6:39<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The writers at EW.com decided Bob Costas is in Elsa’s ice palace. I’m okay with that. Just watch out for the ice monster with the sick tiara. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6:40<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I’m kind of sick of how NBC is continuing to provide the “entire story” about the politics between Russia and America throughout the Games. Sorry, but I’m just here on your channel to watch sports. If I wanted to hear about the politics, I’d go to CNN or FoxNews of MSNBC. Oh wait - MSNBC is showing the Olympics. I won’t go there for my politics.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6:47<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bob is interviewing President Obama. Isn’t there an American athlete NBC should be overhyping?</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6:50<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bob needles Obama, saying that even though Obama wanted to improve our relationship with Russia, it has deteriorated and Putin is actually the one in charge. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Zing!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6:59<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Sochi circus - the stuff of my nightmares. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:03<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shani Davis is being interviewed. Oh my gosh those sweaters are even worse in a group. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:04<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> SJ </span>Shaun White has allowed his hair to return back to his “tomato” color. Last year it was black, and I saw when he was appearing in a commercial, a child asked him, “Isn’t your hair red? What happened?”</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:11<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>APOLO!!!!!!!!!!! Still looking great. My Winter Olympic crush. (I kinda feel like I’m cheating on Michael Phelps, my Summer Olympics crush.)</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am enjoying these Opening Ceremonies with my large froyo from Yo Craze! Yesterday was National Frozen Yogurt Day, and they gave away 6oz free! I saved it for tonight! Cake batter froyo with mini Reese’s pieces, crushed Reese’s peanut butter cup, chocolate chips, and chocolate sauce!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:16<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And so it FINALLY begins! With children’s stories and the Cyrillic alphabet. I heard parachute!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:20<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Someday NBC will have an option to mute the commentators. Maybe I’ll just make an app for that. I would make MILLIONS. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:21<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>NINE time zones?! </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:22<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Those sets are extraordinary. I loved how it was said these Opening Ceremonies would be “more Beijing, less Torino.” </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:26<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The guy who helped create this Opening Ceremony lives in Brooklyn and works on Broadway shows, including “Spiderman: Turn off the Dark.” The acrobatics make more sense now, huh?</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:25<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Too much fog. Can’t see anything!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:26<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One flower doesn’t open up. Four rings instead of five. Oops! Well, they can’t all be Beijing. (Do you agree, Vancouver-three-legs-of-cauldron-go-up-instead-of-four?)</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:29<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do we really have to have the French? Can’t the IOC finally decide that English should be the official language? Sorry Pierre de Coupertin, but more people speak English than French.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:29<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Russian national anthem. I do really like it, and this men’s choir is knocking it out the park. (Better than the group that sang at the Closing Ceremonies in Vancouver.) And they are wearing long coats - take off the ties and they’re the Twelfth Doctor!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:31<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Reminder to tell the students: White on top, blue in the middle, red on the bottom. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:32<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Guess what, you’re going to be in the Opening Ceremony!” </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Really? That’s awesome! What will I do?”<br class="kix-line-break" />“You’ll be a giant pumpkin light bulb.”</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:33<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Waving flag! Nice touch pumpkin light bulbs.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:36<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Parade of Nations!!! The athletes are going to march out of their country? Cool!! Technology is awesome. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:37<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And we start with Greece. Proud to be Greek!! </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:38<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We’re really going to have to keep an eye out for what’s next. With the order of countries based on the host nation’s alphabet, the Cyrillic alphabet is the smallest bit of crazy: enough that it will jump around only enough to make you confused. (We go from B to M?)</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:40<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Who dressed the ladies in the country nameplates? Bialystock and Bloom? (name the reference and you get a shout-out in tomorrow’s Blurb!)</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:41<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>First London, now here: the choice to have techno music for the entrance music of the athletes is something that I LOVE. I still listen to the techno entrance music that London used, and I still think it’s fantastic!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:45<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>United Airlines: reminding people how awesome Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” really is!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:46<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jacques Rogge is no longer IOC president? He’s been there as long as I can remember! He’s like the David Stern of the IOC. (Wait - David Stern’s not the NBA Commissioner anymore? He’s like the Bud Selig of the NBA! WAIT…!)</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:47<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Does Bermuda ever get sick of wearing those shorts at every Opening Ceremony? </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:48<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Brazil’s delegation is just 17, but they are hosting the next Summer Olympics. Someone pay for me to go!!!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:49<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Team GB is looking dapper. My Anglophenia is showing. Doctor Who! Sherlock! Downton Abbey! Gavin and Stacey! DOCTOR WHO!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:50 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>That Venezuelan flagbearer is my current favorite. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:51<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Whoever the guy is that is doing commentary with Matt and Meredith is really a downer. Someone get Brian Williams or Richard Engel up there STAT. At least they have a personality.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:55<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Germany’s colors are yellow, green, and blue? Wait…</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:56<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hong Kong - in seventh grade I did my major Social Studies project on Hong Kong, right before they got sucked back into China in 1999. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:57<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Denmark ladies have awesome boots.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:58<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dominica? Where is that? Is that different from the Dominican Republic? </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:59<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Did you notice that the athletes are being rerouted every time? One gate opens and the country goes to the right, then the gate changes and the next country goes to the left. Since they come out the middle, they don’t actually do the entire loop! It does make it go a little quicker. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:00<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ireland - that’s an ugly green. You hold the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">monopoly</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on green, and you choose </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> shade? </span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:01<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Spain! They’re going to help me win my medals competition, especially figure skater Javier Fernandez. He’s my main man!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:02<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Italy’s uniforms - so normal. Why can’t the US’s outfits be that normal? Is that a crime?!?</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:03<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One of my favorite things about the Winter Opening Ceremonies is watching those Equatorial countries - Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Zimbabwe - come in with their one or two athletes. Good for them. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:08<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sandis Ozolins is still playing hockey in Latvia? I remember hating him when he played for the Avalanche - and I think his last name was spelled differently back then! (Ozolinch?)</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:10<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lithuania’s flagbear is just as excited as the Venezualan guy was. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:10<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It never fails - I see Lichtenstein, and I think </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Knight’s Tale</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. “Sir UUUUUUUUUlrich von LICHTENSTEIN!!!!!!!!!!!”</span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:11<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Finally finished my froyo. Man that was good.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:12<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I have a student from Mexico - I hope she’s watching as Humbertus von Hohenlohe comes in with the flag and is saying, “That’s not a Spanish name!” I was still excited to tell her that Mexico </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">did</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> have an athlete in the Winter Games!</span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:13<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Independent Olympic Participants - their IOC membership was suspended, though I’m glad they let the athletes compete.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:14<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Waitwaitwaitwait, the flagbearer from Nepal has the last name of Sherpa? That can’t be right.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:15<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Netherlands - another country I am rooting for in my medal competition! Go Orange! (My students were really confused when I said their colors were red, white, and blue.)</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:21<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>New Zealand - like Lord of the Rings. (another Guess-the-Quote!) Love that fur cape. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:23<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Seriously, these signbearers look like a Star Trek alien lady that would make out with Captain Kirk! </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:23<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I’ve heard that international athletes are studying at the University of Colorado </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">twice</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> already! I was just on that campus last night. Is God trying to tell me something? (They do have a great masters program in music.)</span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:25<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>South Korea - speed skating rivals. They are to me like Canadian hockey is to Americans. South Korea is the next host of the Winter Olympics in 2018.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:25<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You know, I don’t think they’re fast-forwarding through countries like they’ve done in the past. Maybe that’s just for the Summer Games? I don’t know - but if it’s taped-delayed, might as well show them all!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:27<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My cable glitched just briefly. I just yelled at my TV: “DON’T. EVEN.”</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:27<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I love watching NHL players carrying the flag. Zdeno Chara is waving it around for Slovakia. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:29<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wow. There are a LOT of Americans. They come at you with those sweaters and it’s like POW. I really love the athlete’s view camera they have. If I could do anything in the whole world, it would be to walk into an Opening Ceremony. Todd Lodwick has a penguin in his pocket! There’s gotta be a story about that. He looks so happy. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:30<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So much patchwork! It’s making me dizzy!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:31<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Poor Heidi Kloser. She got hurt yesterday in moguls qualifying. She’s hobbling in with crutches. That takes guts.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:32<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They have totally overtaken the poor signbearer. Geez give the woman some room. She looks like a freakin’ planet on heels!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:34<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So many GoPro cameras that are super tiny but have a great HD action camera. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:35<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Figure skaters with skiers with hockey players with speedskaters with snowboarders. I LOVE THE OLYMPICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:36<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And the pumpkin liners are still dancing away. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:37<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I have a friend out here in Colorado that reminds me a lot of SJ Shaun White. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:38<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Little does NBC know that they are showing a future superstar in their USA crowd shots. Eat that Amanda Doyle. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:39<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maleficent</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> trailer. Angelina Jolie was born for that part. Can’t wait for that movie - </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sleeping Beauty</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is my favorite classic Disney movie.</span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:41<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Vanessa May: internationally renowned violinist and Olympian. The best of both worlds. If only we were all that fortunate. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:42<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Welcome Togo and Tonga! Both countries are sending athletes here for the first time. Even if the Tonganese athlete changed his name to the name of his sponsor. (Not joking.)</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:44<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I love that they come out of the tunnel in a blazing white light and fog. It’s like they’re emerging from Gallifrey or something. Some of these outfits would fit right in with the Time Lords. (Oh my goodness - I am picturing Time Lords marching in the Opening Ceremony. It’s glorious!)</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:46<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One of my students taped the French flag on his desk. I don’t know why, but I thought it was cool. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:47<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Matt and Meredith finally give props to the pumpkin dancers. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:48<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Czech Republic! My third and final team in the medals competition! I picked them for sentimental reasons - I’ve been there (Prague and Pilsen, if you weren’t reading my blog back then) and it was amazing. I would love to go back!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:49<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Switzerland - the giant medical contingent! Oops - I need to invert the colors. My mistake.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:50<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Estonia - the best flag colors: white, black, and a beautiful blue. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:51<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jamaica!!! “Sanka, ya dead?” “Ya, mon.” I can root for these guys in the Winter - not in the Summer, though. Sorry Usain Bolt.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:52<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Here come the Russians.” In any other context that would be terrifying.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:53<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The music the Russians are marching in to sounds like “We Will Rock You.” Hm…</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:54<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Meredith just informed us the song is called “Not Gonna Get Us.” I think we may hear that a lot over the loudspeakers in each arena. It’s catchy.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:55<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The “artistic” portion of the Ceremony starts with a video. I was fast-forwarding though it, thinking it was another trailer for Darren Arnofsky’s not-great-CGI movie </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Noah</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Oops.</span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:57<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This video should be called “Let’s gloss over all of Russia’s nasty history and show lots of people smiling.”</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:00<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Those spirit horses are awesome. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:02<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Russian architexture, thanks to the Eastern Orthodox churches. Those colors be cray-cray. (Okay, I’ll stop.)</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:03<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Some of those tall creatures with the long arms reminds me of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Howl’s Moving Castle</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Anyone agree? They scare me. Where’s Howl when you need him to spirit you away and make you not feel like an old lady? (Great movie - go find it on Netflix.)</span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:05<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The buildings are floating and make St. Peter’s Cathedral! Should have known that would happen. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:06<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The screens on the floor are incredible. The guys with Peter the Great really look like they’re on the ship. Once again: technology is awesome. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:09<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I am glad that Sochi is doing as much pageantry as the Summer Olympics. Hopefully people will stop thinking of the Winter Games as the “little brother” and start thinking of them on the same plane as the Summer Games. I already do!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:12<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Finally, some Russian ballet! Apparently at one time the entire touring Russian ballet ran off with some rich dude named Bruce Wayne. It was quite a scandal in Gotham City.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:14<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I’ll be kind of honest - this makes me want to read</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> War and Peace</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:15<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Anyone else notice that the music overpowers the commentators? I am not minding at all!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:16<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>That guy is doing double twists in the air </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">without</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> skates to give him speed! Props!</span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:21<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The steam train - goodbye decadence, hello Communism.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:24<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I prefer how Great Britain showed the Industrial Revolution over Russia’s interpretation.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:28<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do you think the audience is kept up to speed on why things are happening on the stage? Are they told, “And this is the section where we remember those lost in the World Wars”? Or do they have to wait till they get back to their DVRs?</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:29<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Twenty bucks says the cosmonaut program gets a big showing. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:30<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Well that didn’t take long! Not as much as I would think, but I guess they would have covered that in 1980. (Sorry to pour salt in an open wound, baby boomers.)</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:33<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There were go-go dancers in Russia?</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:34<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The cameras in cars is a great touch. More! More!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:38<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Our games will be cool…” That is the first time anyone has said </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> phrase in an official speech. </span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:39<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In just his greeting, Thomas Bach has already showed he is way more personable than Jacques Rogge ever was. (I think I’m gonna like this guy! Even if his last name is Bach.)</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:40<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Cheer after every sentence!” “Woo!”</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:41<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bach thanks the politicians for supporting the athletes. Did you know American athletes are not supported by the US government? It is entirely sponsor-supported. (I learned that last week on my field trip!) There’s only a handful of other countries that can boast that. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:44<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shut up, Matt, you’re interrupting Bach!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:45<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The fringe ballet spinning is a great effect. They kind of remind me of jumping jellyfish!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:46<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She’s still spinning. I think it’s been two minutes since she started. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:50<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wait - this is the smaller flag? Where’s the big one? </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just looked it up. The Oslo flag is used in the Winter Games, and the Seoul flag is used in the Summer Games. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:53<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Time for the Olympic song! (Well, the official one.) It’s a great song, but most of the time it’s way overdone. The past two Winter Games it’s been sung by an opera singer. It should be presented in a simpler manner. The song also has the most abrupt ending! </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:59<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>That Liberty Mutual commercial with the 1980 hockey team, Kerri Strug, and Dan Jansen - that is my favorite commercial right now. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10:01<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They’re playing </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tron:Legacy</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> music!!!!!!!! Even Russians know that Daft Punk is awesome.</span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10:02<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Y’know, I was beginning to wonder if they would cover any sports in the ceremony. This is pretty neat. Although those kinds of marionettes haunt my nightmares too.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10:04<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Which marionette shoots out the flame? The hockey guy. These guys mean business. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10:09<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Olympic torch looks like a giant flaming sword. If Maria doesn’t watch it her hair is gonna catch on fire!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10:10<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Maria Sharapova hands it off to a familiar face (for me, who watches track and field all the time), Yelena Isinbayeva, Russian pole vaulter! </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10:11<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Next is Alexander Karelin, AKA The Guy Who Lost To Rulon Gardener in 2000. That was a big moment. He’s not as light on his feet as the ladies are.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10:12<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Next, a rhythmic gymnast. Meh.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10:14<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hey, it’s that Soviet goalie that lost to Herb Brook’s team! Somewhere Mike Eruzione is smirking. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10:15<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Aw, all the performers get to line up for the flame! That’s so neat! What a great treat for them. I think this is my favorite part!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10:20<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sorry - I had to watch that without doing any typing. I am crying right now, guys. Big, fat tears streaming down my face. The performers lined up, they leave Fish Stadium, and all of a sudden, Igor Stravinsky’s “Firebird” comes on. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Firebird?!?!?!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You mean, the piece I daydreamed I would dance to in my gold-medal winning figure skating free program? The one I’ve loved since </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fantasia 2000</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? Once that came on, I knew I was going to lose it.</span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have listened to that piece so much that I knew </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">exactly</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> how the flame would be lit. And it went exactly. As. Planned. The music swells at the perfect times and just is PERFECT for this type of event. The flame sparked all the way up the cauldron, and I was sobbing. I rewound the DVR and watched it again and started sobbing all over again. </span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scratch what I said earlier - </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was my favorite part of the night. And that is now my favorite lighting of the Olympic cauldron EVER. </span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Excuse me - I’m going to watch it again. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10:28<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Finally, some </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nutcracker</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> love!</span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10:29<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>That is a beautiful cauldron. With the arching cauldron surrounded by the water fountains</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10:27<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Royal Caribbean cruise web series featuring Gabby Douglas, Tom Daley (!) and IAN THORPE?! The Thorpedo himself?! I may have to watch that. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And we’re finished. I am going to get a couple hours of sleep before watching men’s Slopestyle finals at 2am. Then I’ll go to sleep and maybe wake up for men’s speedskating at 4:30am. We’ll see - I’m taking NyQuil tonight because of my bad cold, so I may not wake up till the morning. We’ll see!</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hold one - I gotta see if that dancer from </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swan Lake</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is still spinning...yes, she is. </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGq_12ltp9GiH8TqHoVVCUiRsshahcMWltXSOWPPW7epr3uIhRIuMVuO38xndenzhF878dvizx_5Un8mUg9HJDB7FAzsxKAlfrPcdsr0EhLu5K3_-EM173Op8583gHE12H19xUfa4NIc/s1600/olympic_rings_568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGq_12ltp9GiH8TqHoVVCUiRsshahcMWltXSOWPPW7epr3uIhRIuMVuO38xndenzhF878dvizx_5Un8mUg9HJDB7FAzsxKAlfrPcdsr0EhLu5K3_-EM173Op8583gHE12H19xUfa4NIc/s1600/olympic_rings_568.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>

Opening Ceremony - Tears, Spinning, and Too Much Patchwork

Welcome to my new readers who found the blog! Please check back every day to see my post about the previous day's events in the 2014 Win...