Subject: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Peter T. Date: 12 Feb 10 - 11:03 AM As we begin the avalanche of Olympic nonsense here in the great White North, those of us in unpatriotic flight (except being defiantly unpatriotic is part of our patriotism, so you're stuck both ways) in any other direction require new hobbies, sports, books, religious conversions, new fingerings for F chords, etc. I'm thinking of going back to knitting. Never could really tie down that perling stuff. Viva Canada. May all your medals be chocolate inside. May every luge be pronounced properly. yours, Peter T. |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 12 Feb 10 - 12:32 PM I know what you mean. It's surprising, really, how uninteresting the Olympics can be. For me, the boredom is 'relieved' only by the tension of watching some young person do some sport which is far too dangerous. Then I refuse to watch. I don't believe I'll take up anything new. I'll sew earth-toned shirts for an upcoming bird-watching trip to Costa Rica. (Never been anywhere like that before.) |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: SINSULL Date: 12 Feb 10 - 12:43 PM Rent a movie, I think. |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: gnu Date: 12 Feb 10 - 12:46 PM Well, I want to see the opening ceremonies, seeing as I spent so FUCKIN MUCH COIN ON IT! |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: WalkaboutsVerse Date: 12 Feb 10 - 12:48 PM I'll be going through my repertoire...as I watch winter Olympians go through theirs, sorry! ;-)> |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: MGM·Lion Date: 12 Feb 10 - 12:58 PM If you don't like the Olympics, you don't have to DO anything except get on with your normal lives as if they weren't on. No-one is going to break into your house & hold a pistol to your head till you remote on to that channel, are they? I am perfectly capable of knowing what's been happening at the Oz Open & in the European Championship & the League Cup [whatever the hell it's called these days!], because I happen to be interested in tennis & soccer; without even knowing what's happening to Five Nations, because Rugby Union doesn't happen to be a game that catches my interest. So what! |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Becca72 Date: 12 Feb 10 - 01:23 PM I have a couple of TV series from Netflix I always wanted to watch but didn't have time (currently on disc 2 season 1 of Arrested Development) until the games are over and my regular shows come back. |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: gnu Date: 12 Feb 10 - 01:28 PM Citius, Altius, Forkoverus. Fookin obscene the coin we pay for the artsy bullshit. Grumpy? Yeah, big time. And gettin more cynical by the Harper. |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: WalkaboutsVerse Date: 12 Feb 10 - 01:53 PM ...e.g. of fortius - Gnu's growing grumpiness..?! |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: gnu Date: 12 Feb 10 - 02:13 PM Well... I do hope to be spectacularly wowed big time tonight. The coin they spent could have gone to reinforcing APVs in Afghanistan. Of course, they might have saved coin by not prosecuting a religious and civil war 8000 miles away but might have spent.... grrrrrrrr Grumpy? I am beyond that... long ago. AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHH! Nice weather we are having tho.... I really AM trying to get a grip.... really I am. |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 12 Feb 10 - 03:05 PM Results thus far: Peter's going to knit. I'm going to sew. Walkie is going to play music. Is that on your tenor recorder? Becky's going to watch TV series. What are the shows, Becky? |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Becca72 Date: 12 Feb 10 - 03:21 PM Right now I've got Arrested Development Season 1. I think the next one in queue is the British (original) The Office |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Bill D Date: 12 Feb 10 - 03:22 PM OTHER things to do? But...but....at 2AM there will be....curling! And I DO want to see if they find enough snow for the ski jumpers to land on. Foam rubber might not work... |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: mg Date: 12 Feb 10 - 03:40 PM just in that there has been a death of a luger athelete in a training accident..from one of the former Soviet republics I believe. mg |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: gnu Date: 12 Feb 10 - 03:52 PM Oh my! |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Peter T. Date: 12 Feb 10 - 05:25 PM "But will this cast a damper on the ceremonies, Dave? Will the athletes rise to the occasion? Perhaps there are more important things in life than sport? But he died doing what he loved! Remember, though these are games, there are dangers involved, Dave. Why, when I think of what those figure skaters in their tiny dresses face only inches above the cruel and unforgiving ice, it makes my teetch chatter. And for more fatuous commentary, we go back to you, Dave, and another hour of musings on this cloud over Canada on what was to have been a day of happiness......but first, a message from Coca-Cola...." (and so on, deep into the night). Knit one, perl two, knit one, perl two.... yours, Peter T. |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: GUEST,LTS on the sofa Date: 12 Feb 10 - 05:35 PM I have a pile of vinyl LPs and cassettes to transmogrify into digital media so I'm set for the duration... and there's always the off switch.... LTS |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Bonzo3legs Date: 12 Feb 10 - 05:38 PM I would like to watch a revival of Lark Rise at the National! |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: catspaw49 Date: 12 Feb 10 - 06:07 PM Hey.....y'all can just kiss my EN-tire Ass..........I'll be watching them and especially Curling. That's a great game! Matter of fact I even ran off the TV scedule for Curling.....and a couple of other things like Bobsled and Luge. Of course I am all set to record a few if needed like on Sunday which is the Daytona 500. Yeah, yeah, yeah..........I'm a low-life.................don't give two shits..................so like, uh, just fuck y'all............. Spaw |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Bill D Date: 12 Feb 10 - 06:10 PM I actually like 'most' of the Winter games.....except hockey.... |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Beer Date: 12 Feb 10 - 06:29 PM Bring them on. Love the games. Beer (adrien) |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 12 Feb 10 - 09:16 PM I don't have a TV & have absolutely no interest in sport, but my 3 favourite radio stations, part of our national network, will have coverage so I switch around or switch of! The only time the winter Olympics came into my consciousness (& stayed) was the time it was in Utah (2002 according to google!) & my favourite cartoonist created Downhill Synchronised Mormans, one of the pearls of my cartoon collection. Unfortunately I can't find it on-line, but I'm sure you can make a good guess sandra |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 12 Feb 10 - 09:18 PM oops, too fast on the Submit button. Things I'll do during the Olympics are the things I always do - sit at my computer desk, sit at my table reading or sewing, listen to CDs & radio ... sandra |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: JennieG Date: 13 Feb 10 - 02:47 AM Likewise, Sandra....the usual stuff, reading, sewing, knitting if it's not too hot, and playing on my new ukelele. Yes indeedy, I have gone over to the dark side - yesterday I purchased a uke. Purely for medicinal purposes, you understand. Cheers JennieG |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Liz the Squeak Date: 13 Feb 10 - 03:29 AM Oh well, if we're confessing our darkest secrets - I SHALL BE QUILTING!!! There.. I said it. I've done the patchwork, got the backing and the bit in the middle... I just need to put it together so I shall utilise the time I don't watch the Olympics to do so. LTS |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: WalkaboutsVerse Date: 13 Feb 10 - 06:03 AM "Walkie is going to play music. Is that on your tenor recorder?" (Leeneia)...yes, or keys...one advantage of committing to memory - I can go through them whilst watching the (Olympics) tele; and, that reminds me, I'm not sure what side of the pond Gnu is on, but there was a BBC series seemingly right up his piste: "Grumpy Old Men". |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: olddude Date: 13 Feb 10 - 08:19 AM Naw, I love it, I am an Olympics junkie. I usually watch TV while I am playing my guitar. Drives my family nuts ... eventually I get, either put that thing down or I am going to club you like a baby seal !!... then I slink upstairs and turn on the TV while playing LOL |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Charmion Date: 13 Feb 10 - 10:09 AM Edmund likes the Olympics, but after years of accelerating hype I am fed up with the whole business. We don't have cable TV, or rabbit ears, so our choices are simple: do what we always do, which is not watch TV, or go to the pub where they have unrelenting sports on dozens of screens mounted inescapably all over the place. In fact, he's there right now watching Six Nations rugby. |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 Feb 10 - 10:24 AM I'll watch the figure skating portions, if I notice they're on. And I enjoy some of the speed skating running in the background when I'm doing something else around the house. I wonder if there will be a skater this year with the sheer beauty and grace of Katarina Witt or Brian Boytano? A pair like Torville and Dean? The sheer wit and athleticism of Scott Hamilton? I'm rarely very good at just sitting in a room and watching the television. Ever. So it'll be background while I'm doing some normal activity. I tend to treat the television like radio and take a look occasionally to see what it looks like. That moment of silence last night was heartfelt. I wonder how that death will affect the rest of the games? SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 13 Feb 10 - 10:31 AM Curling is okay, of course. Hard to see how they can kill any kids with curling. This Sunday we had a column in the Kansas City Star by a reporter who went out to the local curling rink, had his first lesson and was awestruck by himself. ========= It's interesting to hear what everybody's up to, including those who enjoy watching the games. |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: olddude Date: 13 Feb 10 - 10:32 AM I suspect Ono will take a bunch of gold again on the distance skating ... Although there is a kid from Norway that is looking pretty darn tough. Should be |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: GUEST,crazy little woman Date: 13 Feb 10 - 10:41 AM Congrats on the ukelele, JennieG. I'ts a much-underrated instrument. Squeak, I didn't know you quilted. Quilting is enjoying a big renaissance. I don't do it myself, but I admire those who do. Peter T.: Here's a video on how to purl http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/learn-to-knit I'm getting ready for dinner guest tonight - 20-somethings who wish to see our slides from Iceland. (It's amazing the messy things I don't notice around the house until I start getting it ready for company.) |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: WalkaboutsVerse Date: 13 Feb 10 - 12:06 PM Stilly - Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto..? And, as for the ice-dancing in general, I hope they again have to use folk music in one of the disciplines - they did in the Europeans this year..? |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Raptor Date: 13 Feb 10 - 01:04 PM I think siting at my computer complaing about how I'm above watching the olympics because I've no life and need to bitch about how others choose to spend thier time rather than getting off my fat ass and doing something productive is the best possible way to spend my time. Lets start more threads about how we dislike everything. |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: WalkaboutsVerse Date: 13 Feb 10 - 01:20 PM ...it will all be punctuated with capitalist rich-getting-richer advertisments, anyway, Raptor! |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Peter T. Date: 13 Feb 10 - 02:12 PM hey, knitting is productive! (not my knitting, but you know, in the Platonic sense of knitting). Curling is very dangerous. I slipped while throwing a rock once and hit the ice with my face and nearly broke my nose. Also, you can die of pneumonic boredom, it is cold standing there hour after hour talking about which bar you are going to after it is over. yours, Peter T. |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Gurney Date: 13 Feb 10 - 02:36 PM There's jocks, and then there's nerds. The olympics (lower case deliberate) is about jocks. How much we watch, even attend, is about how nerdy we are. The opening ceremony is about the arty-farties. They are good at spending other peoples money. I'm feeling cynical this morning. I have to go to work. On a Sunday. |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 13 Feb 10 - 03:42 PM What a fun thread! I was not even aware the Olympics had started! Life is on, the TV OFF. Curling is akin to watching paint dry, imo. what ab interesting bunch of individuals on mudcat! computer acting up again> oh well bye bye> |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: catspaw49 Date: 13 Feb 10 - 03:49 PM So Dororthy.....Your life is ON dong stuff you think is cool. My life is ON doing things I think are cool. We obviously disagree on "cool." Have a great time doing whatever ta' hell it is you do! Spaw(;<)) |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: catspaw49 Date: 13 Feb 10 - 03:52 PM And Maggie.........I think elegance in skating has been going downhill for a long time. I appreciate the athleticism but without the beauty from the artistry......it blows whales. While Witt was somewhat artistic, sh still lacked the elegance of Peggy Fleming. This year......check out Johnny Weir. Spaw |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 13 Feb 10 - 04:17 PM as my conservative sister in law said< "it is ok to disagree!" we can enjoy our diferences> never dull |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: wysiwyg Date: 13 Feb 10 - 04:23 PM Other things to do during the Olympics - Get more active oneself? Sounds like a Name Game post. ~S~ |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Peter T. Date: 14 Feb 10 - 03:19 PM Canada has lost its way, citizens are lining the streets in black mourning, and all are convinced that nothing can ever assuage the terrible loss -- 24 hours and still no gold medal (sob). Two reasonably sane people in my grocery store discuss this, shaken, traumatized, sure that everything is lost, forever. Given that the definition of adulthood is the realization that any mood of the moment will pass sometime, it is clear that childishness has become the worst virus of our time. But this mood will pass. perl one, knit two, perl one, knit two. yours, Peter T. |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Feb 10 - 03:26 PM A change came with Dorothy Hamill, I think, in taking the dance and making it more athletic. At least, that is the point I identify. But I thought Witt was simply one of the most beautiful skaters with her height and flexibility and some of the numbers she did (especially the extra ones at the end of the competition). SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Peter T. Date: 14 Feb 10 - 05:18 PM No, no, Oksana Baiul was the goddess of all time. yours, Peter T. |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 14 Feb 10 - 07:13 PM Just wondering. Does anybody know how they teach ice skaters to do those spins and land without getting hurt? The first few attempts must be so risky. Do they have ways to get around that? |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: catspaw49 Date: 14 Feb 10 - 07:23 PM Aw c'mon PT, admit it.......Peggy Fleming wound your watch! Spaw |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Dave MacKenzie Date: 14 Feb 10 - 07:25 PM When do they start? |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Feb 10 - 01:47 AM They started tonight (couples short competition). |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: ragdall Date: 15 Feb 10 - 02:24 AM Count me in for the curling when it starts. Today I happened to be taking a rest from uncluttering, in front of the TV, when Moguls skier Bilodeau won Canada's first Olympic gold on home soil! That was a moment worth watching and celebrating - brought tears. rags |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Peter T. Date: 15 Feb 10 - 02:29 PM It is strange that a country that prides itself on being a democracy should celebrate Moghuls and even give them gold medals. It must be some kind of multicutural thing. Peggy Fleming was an ice queen. Oksana Baiul was a Natasha-like vixen. yours, Peter T. |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 16 Feb 10 - 01:28 PM I like watching figure skating on YouTube. That way I know the routine ended with no disasters. Just go to YouTube and enter a skater's name in the search box to find the videos. |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: WalkaboutsVerse Date: 16 Feb 10 - 01:35 PM I'm looking forward to the ice dancing, as I say, hopefully to folk music, as in the European Championships..? |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: Greg F. Date: 16 Feb 10 - 03:44 PM Olympics? What the hell is that? Doesn't anyone have something of consequence to be concerned with? |
Subject: RE: BS: Other things to do during the Olympics From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 16 Feb 10 - 10:45 PM Peter, what Natasha were you referring to above? Tonight I showed my husband the video of Peggy Fleming skating in 1968. It is incredible. There is one maneuvre [sp] where she looks - I don't know how else to put it - like a flame. Look her up on YouTube and click on the video with the orange skating outfit. [I like to turn the sound off so as not to hear the trivial remarks of the announcers.] |