Subject: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: lefthanded guitar Date: 11 Feb 18 - 08:13 PM Are there any other non sports fans out there who are not watching what seems like 40 days and nights of coverage of these unrelenting events? I know they deliberately schedule these in the most miserable month of the year -February- b/c they figure I m too tired, weary and exhausted by the dismal weather to do anything than lie in the couch and watch tv. And if I m not sick enough of snow, slush and ice, we get to see even more of it as contestants ski, skate, slide, trip and tumble through it. I m trying to fill up the time in other more productive ways- today I went out to eat with pals, went shopping and cooked up a sausage onions and pepper meal for tomorrow (I haven!t cooked so much since I made that two ton turkey last Thanksgiving) and listened to the Hank Williams songbook (wonderful timeless writer and performer imho) on YouTube. And now it s barely 8 pm and I have hours to fill before my bedtime. Suggestions catters? Should I take up a new hobby. Organize my shelves? Adopt a turtle? If there are fellows-in-misery who have found a way to circumvent these ice bound circles of boredom, sign in with solutions, alternatives, jokes, recipes and/or cat videos. Can be music videos or real cats - I don't care- anything but the luge! |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Steve Shaw Date: 11 Feb 18 - 08:58 PM I know what you mean, and I take no interest to start with. But I think that, without any effort whatsoever on my part, one or two events may fire my imagination. It'll never be skiing, but ice skating might just do it. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Stilly River Sage Date: 11 Feb 18 - 09:05 PM Not watching. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Greg F. Date: 11 Feb 18 - 09:17 PM Wouldn't watch at gunpoint. The Olympics as currently constituted are a scam. Follow the money. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: JennieG Date: 11 Feb 18 - 11:23 PM Trying my darndest to avoid it......not too hard, as we don't get as much coverage here in Oz. We have some winter sports athletes, but on the whole we aren't a winter sport nation. Summer games are a different matter, talk about saturation coverage..... |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Senoufou Date: 12 Feb 18 - 03:07 AM Exactly, lefthanded. As if we haven't enough blooming ice and frost. I want programmes about tropical paradises and hot sunny beaches. (The Bondi beach rescue series are really interesting.) Last night there was the Six Nations rugby, rotten old football, the Winter Olympics and Dancing on Ice. Or, just to cheer oneself up, endless programmes about Police catching burglars and rounding up drunks, who are usually vomiting copiously or bellowing, swearing and thumping each other. Riveting. Nearly every programme on TV these days is a repeat. I'm word perfect in them all. I usually read, while husband enjoys all the sporting events in his study. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Dave Hanson Date: 12 Feb 18 - 03:16 AM What olympics ? Dave H |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: DMcG Date: 12 Feb 18 - 10:18 AM I don't think I have watched any sport since the 1966 world cup. And that was under duress. When i was first married and hard up we rented a tv rather than buying. Come the summer there was so much sport we sent it back. The TV licencing people were baffled. They could cope with people who had never had a tv but getting rid of one was beyond them. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Will Fly Date: 12 Feb 18 - 10:30 AM Suggestions for activities which take the place of TV: Play the guitar - or any instrument of choice - even the banjo... Learn a new song or tune Research your family tree Read several good or bad books Watch a DVD - or Netflix - or a download from iTunes Quarrel on Mudcat Listen to music Go to the pub Have hot sex with the man/woman/sheep of your choice Cross-dress and parade in front of a tall mirror Eat copious amounts of cheese Bake bread Or even several of these at the same time - pick'n mix... |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Greg F. Date: 12 Feb 18 - 11:16 AM How about some suggested activities to replace the Olympics....... |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Senoufou Date: 12 Feb 18 - 11:19 AM Right, Will Fly, I've made my selection from your list:- Reading the books Eating copious amounts of cheese. (Are crumpets allowed too?) And I've selected my sheep, but he doesn't fancy me I'm afraid. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Phil Cooper Date: 12 Feb 18 - 11:21 AM I don't watch them, either. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: keberoxu Date: 12 Feb 18 - 11:34 AM I'm not! I'm not! |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Will Fly Date: 12 Feb 18 - 11:42 AM Sen - crumpets are most certainly allowed. Sorry about the sheep... |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Senoufou Date: 12 Feb 18 - 12:49 PM I know Will, it's a bit of a shame isn't it? He looked at me and said, "Ew!" Er...wait a minute... |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Raggytash Date: 12 Feb 18 - 01:05 PM Are there Olympics on, must have missed that......... Oh dear, never mind, what a pity. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Donuel Date: 12 Feb 18 - 04:45 PM Yes I am not watching too. Deliberately. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Big Al Whittle Date: 12 Feb 18 - 04:57 PM I think perhaps its the cold. When you get old the cold weather is awful. You wear pullovers and huddle next to the radiator, but you're still cold. Its difficult to empathize with people apparently dressed in cellophane jumping around and sliding about in sub-zero temperatures out of choice. Cos they're dressed in clingfilm, you can see their willies have shrunk to nothing. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Senoufou Date: 12 Feb 18 - 05:46 PM Hahaha Big Al! Rather like the frozen poultry at Tesco. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Greg F. Date: 12 Feb 18 - 06:07 PM people apparently dressed in cellophane jumping around and sliding about in sub-zero temperatures out of choice. Yeah, Al, but thinking of the millions they'll make afterwards with product endorsements and clothing lines keep's em toasty warm. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Joe_F Date: 12 Feb 18 - 06:09 PM What WillFly said. I have never owned a TV set. Of course, the news is always full of these things, so one is never quite free of them. I counted down the days till we would be rid of the Superb Owl. Now this. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympteics From: robomatic Date: 12 Feb 18 - 08:00 PM I have been down on the Olympics as run by corrupt if not outright crooked folks who form an 'upper class' who are to be wined and dined around the world in the hopes that they will select the next city to be taxed for the glory of this smug elite. The CBC once ran a radio series called something like "stronger...faster...richer". There are stories of the mass cheating of the Russians (which went on longer unde But Februaryr the Communist government regimes) and the persistent problems with nationalist judges leaves me unimpressed. I'd probably like it a little if it weren't so hyped by the media plutocrats who overbid for the rights to air, and we're supposed to reward the medalists with rich advertising contracts for excelling at something that was to be done originally for the rewards of self-control and practise of an art. Over hyped, over politicized, over advertized, let's just get it over. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Bee-dubya-ell Date: 12 Feb 18 - 08:33 PM I'm not watching. It seems to me that most winter sports were invented as ways to relieve the boredom that comes from living where it's below freezing for half the year. I'm sure nothing cures cabin fever quite like jumping off a mountain wearing naught but a pair of skis, but it's hard for a Floridian like me to relate to. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: meself Date: 12 Feb 18 - 08:42 PM Not watching, and they aren't interfering with my life. i do hear them mentioned on the radio. Something has been wrong with my TV reception for a few months, and I can't be bothered to call the cable company and wait on hold for an hour, so ... no TV for me. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: JennieG Date: 12 Feb 18 - 11:18 PM Evenings are my time to sew.....currently I'm making a quilt by hand. 840 pieces to be joined together, or it might even be bigger; last hand-pieced quilt I made went from 169, six-inch blocks to 225 blocks because I was enjoying the process so much. Much more than watching people do stuff so they can bleat about "winning a medal for their country"......no, you don,t. You do it for yourself. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Mick Lowe Date: 13 Feb 18 - 01:50 AM Since moving to the U.S. 20 months ago I don't watch any T.V. it's all crap.. Just play music instead that or cook. Or cook and then play music. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Ebbie Date: 13 Feb 18 - 03:36 AM Hmmmm. I appear to be the only philistine on here. I don't watch all of it but I do, some of it. If I let the 'money' in it keep me from watching, that would be true of every sport except maybe T-ball, and I'm not too sure of that one. I empathize with the athletes' efforts and I enjoy seeing the tracks laid out. I wouldn't do any of those things in a dozen lifetimes but goodie for them. My heart is in my throat in practically every sport. What I object to in the Olympics is the money spent on the preparations and the infrastructure even in poverty-stricken countries, and the utter waste of abandoned buildings. As for Summer Olympics, it is my contention that they should be held in Greece with each participating nation contributing financial support each four years. I dnn't spend all my time on it. I still draw and paint, still read, still socialize, still make my own music, still join others in putting together a jigsaw puzzle, still read Mudcat (and confess that I also keep up with Facebook), still play with my dog, still go walking. How pathetic is it to moan about the cold of winter (and I live in Alaska)! sheesh, and so there. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Bonzo3legs Date: 13 Feb 18 - 05:49 AM If snow polo was included I would watch it all but ski jumping just holds my attention for 5 minutes! |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Mr Red Date: 13 Feb 18 - 07:20 AM 40 Shades of White? |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: gillymor Date: 13 Feb 18 - 08:56 AM I'm not not watching some Olympic events like both the Men's and Women's Downhill which is to me,a former inept but enthusiastic skier, the most beautiful expression of human athleticism I'm aware of. I'm also in for Women's figure skating and Women's and Men's Ice Hockey which is more about skating, passing and puck handling than the kind of brutality that has turned the NHL into a frustrating stop and start affair lacking any sort of graceful flow. I'm not watching the "extreme" sports like Snowboard Half-pipe, I think the Olympics should evolve to suit the times but those "hotdog" sports leave me cold (slight pun intended). |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: wysiwyg Date: 13 Feb 18 - 09:40 AM I'm not but would be watching some if I had a TV instead of a 2 5" x 4" fine screen to see it on. ~S~ |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 13 Feb 18 - 06:04 PM No TV! I enjoy watching the snow flakes falling, |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Allan Conn Date: 13 Feb 18 - 06:27 PM I've been enjoying it and re the TV coverage (certainly here in the UK) it seems to be quite sensible and not over the top. I know the summer Olympics gets saturation coverage but as far as I can see the winter games have been on most of the day - but only on one channel a time. Either BBC1 or BBC2. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: robomatic Date: 13 Feb 18 - 08:38 PM I have to give props to the Tongan who bared his lubricated chest to the elements. Not too sure what his sport is, but if he was apporting his athletic kit more power to him! Also, I'm told that the S. Korean government has been trying to get local restaurateurs to remove dog from their menus, to little effect. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Big Al Whittle Date: 14 Feb 18 - 01:59 AM Lassie and chips is off Cauliflower Cheese with a real collie Peke 'n' Duck That's the entire national menu... |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Big Al Whittle Date: 14 Feb 18 - 02:18 AM Shepherds Pie containing Old Shep himself... |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Will Fly Date: 14 Feb 18 - 03:31 AM A few years ago there was a dentist in our village of Korean descent - orphaned in Korea and adopted, educated and brought up in Sweden. I remember going to his surgery one late December day and seeing a sticker in his car window: "A dog is not for life - it's for Christmas!" |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Senoufou Date: 14 Feb 18 - 04:05 AM Whole new meaning to 'sausage' dogs. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Bill D Date: 14 Feb 18 - 11:45 AM Like Ebbie, I do follow some of it... and like gillymor, I am awed by the downhill skiing. I am impressed by any display of physical/artistic abilities... but not a bit concerned with medal count or who makes money. Some events, like Biathlon, seem outdated and almost silly, and some, like luge, skeleton and bobsledding and halfpipe snowboarding seem to serve no purpose except to take useless chances doing something unnecessary. However, the sheer daring involved is, to me, worth a brief look. I do like the events where it is obvious who was first or fastest... like cross-country skiing or speed skating, but I get upset at the events which involve 'style' points by biased judges. In the USA, NBC has 3 channels devoted to the games, and one is just reviews and interviews which allow a quick glance at the latest results. Finally, I DO NOT care for ice hockey, as even amateur games involve violence.... and curling, while genteel and open, is not something I can comprehend. It would take me years I do not have to follow the strategy. As to TV in general.... with 70-80 channels available to me, there ARE worthwhile tidbits once one gets used to how to dodge the crap. It is perfectly possible to enjoy certain things without it eating up one's life. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Charmion Date: 14 Feb 18 - 12:12 PM Ah, Bill -- biathlon is neither outdated nor silly if you happen to be running an army in a country that has both winter and wilderness. It's a soldier-skills sport, and (what's more) completely uninteresting to watch. The Nordic and Baltic countries, and Russia, are good at biathlon because it's built into their military culture; Canada should be good at it, and isn't. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: SPB-Cooperator Date: 14 Feb 18 - 02:23 PM I have been trying to avoid it, but it does crop up on news reports and when clicking through channels to find something to watch, so seeing some coverage unfortunately is inevitable. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Senoufou Date: 14 Feb 18 - 02:27 PM A couple of weeks ago we went to get some 'boosters' for future trips to W Africa (yellow fever, typhoid, cholera, and loads of others, nine in all!!) The clinician mentioned a rabies jab, but we don't need one. The reason is that any dog that shows its face in my husband's district/family compound is instantly dealt with (machete) and popped into the pot. Apparently delicious with a spicy sauce. (I've never tried it, ugh!) There are no dogs to be found in Adjame! |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Senoufou Date: 14 Feb 18 - 02:47 PM I was surprised to see that some northern areas of South Korea have a (admittedly fairly low) risk of malaria. There's also quite a list on the fitfortravel.nhs website for recommended precautionary jabs for travel there. Luckily, our yellow fever jabs are now effective for life, not just for ten years. Wouldn't it be great if a similar lifelong immunisation against malaria could be found? And all the other ghastly diseases on offer in the tropics? One jab for each and no more need to worry! Also, whatever is Japanese encephalitis when it's at home?? Another blinking gift from our friend the mozzie! |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Big Al Whittle Date: 14 Feb 18 - 02:55 PM spicy sauce...a sort of Rover 'n'Josh...? |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Senoufou Date: 14 Feb 18 - 03:11 PM Hahahahahaha Big Al!!! Or what about chow mein? |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Bat Goddess Date: 14 Feb 18 - 04:38 PM I'm not watching. Of course, I don't watch television and haven't since 1983. But not a sports fan, either. Linn |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Donuel Date: 15 Feb 18 - 05:46 PM Senofou the NIH has answered your request, along with dozens of other cures that they NEVER make advertisements to toot their own horn. In fact others take credit for NIH work. As in Seinfeld I'm out of the competition. I watched Russian curling. The sultry Russian competitor is cuter than Jolie at 18. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Hrothgar Date: 16 Feb 18 - 08:46 PM When the temperature is ranging from an overnight minimum of 28 degrees Celsius (that's about 82 Fahrenheit) to 36 (97) during the day, there is something attractive about watching somewhere where it is snowing. However, the coverage by Channel 7 here has been so abysmally bad that I have pretty well turned off it. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Senoufou Date: 17 Feb 18 - 03:46 AM Oh Hrothgar, I'd absolutely love to have 36 degrees, it's my favourite temperature. I loathe snow and the cold. If I had pots of money, I'd spend every winter somewhere boiling hot (Australia perhaps). My feet haven't thawed out since last November. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Hrothgar Date: 18 Feb 18 - 03:03 AM When the relative humidity runs over 80%, the warmth is not that enjoyable. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Senoufou Date: 18 Feb 18 - 03:23 AM I understand some people dislike high humidity and broiling heat but somehow I seem to revel in them. I become more energetic and lively. Perhaps I'm a reptile! In Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire it gets extremely humid and steamy, especially after those massive deluges of rain. However in Senegal and Gambia it's a very dry heat, but baking hot, like being under a grill. They're both lovely in their own way. If I had to live in,say,Scandinavia I'd shrivel up and die in a week. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Tattie Bogle Date: 18 Feb 18 - 05:44 PM Have actually watched quite a lot, mainly because my ear problem is stopping me going out and doing music or anything else. Marvelling at the throwing your body in the air stuff in the pipe and freestyle and ski jump. Afraid That Elise whatersname brought it on herself by going in just too close there. And well done Lizzie Yarnold - now if I'd just kept up my tobogganing in Christchurch park, Ipswich!! Also we've just got a new TV in the kitchen so have to use it! (Replaces an old CRT analogue TV - which can still play video-cassettes - + malfunctioning digibox!) |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: JennieG Date: 19 Feb 18 - 04:53 AM Was reading a news site today and came across mention of the Norwegian men's curling team's pants......truly wondrous to behold! They even have their own facebook page! |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Senoufou Date: 19 Feb 18 - 05:44 AM Goodness me! I've just googled them! Dots, flowers, dog-tooth, they look like pantomime costumes. But very decorative, and why not? PS I thought you meant their pants (as in underpants) Couldn't think why there'd be a news item about that! I'm more used to the term 'trousers'. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: leeneia Date: 19 Feb 18 - 12:26 PM I haven't watched. Somehow the Olympics too often involve young people taking the chance of terrible injury in return for nationalism and short-lived glory. Sometimes I can't bear to watch. Curling would probably be okay. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Donuel Date: 19 Feb 18 - 12:38 PM The only event I watched in its entirety was Russia winning the bronze for curling. Now they have to give the medal back for taking a heart medication on the banned substance list. Serves me right. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: JennieG Date: 19 Feb 18 - 03:27 PM Why not indeed, Eliza? Pants are pants. Garments worn over one's nether regions. Doesn't matter if they go under or over, are short or long - they are all pants. We haven't had trousers in Oz for many a long year now, and as for slacks.....they disappeared goodness knows how far back. No slackers here. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Senoufou Date: 19 Feb 18 - 03:35 PM My favourite ones were the circles in red, white and blue. I wouldn't mind some myself. It's still very much 'trousers' here. 'Pants' are definitely underwear. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Tattie Bogle Date: 24 Feb 18 - 07:54 AM "Not watching" the women's Curling playoff for bronze medal, GB v Japan. Don't understand the scoring and rules, but come on GB! |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: ChanteyLass Date: 25 Feb 18 - 01:22 AM Two things I watch during the Olympics--the parade of nations in the opening ceremony and the part of the closing ceremony when the athletes enter the stadium in a jumble, not divided into their national groups. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: lefthanded guitar Date: 26 Feb 18 - 10:52 PM Whew , I'm glad that 's over. I escaped almost entirely , though while changing channels managed to see maybe 10 minutes total of coverage which was: 1- some guy who looked very full of himself who took a flying triple leap on ice skates and landed flat on his behind. I' m still grinning. 2- a lady going downhill on skis. Switched the channel real quick before I had to see a dozen or so more. 3- Dancing pandas in lavalamp colors at the closing celebration. Probably the best part of the games, until I realized that they resembled a video game. Best part of the games was reading your replies here, interesting and lively and funny as anything.Even funnier than that guy slipping on his own petard. Thanks for dropping by. |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: JennieG Date: 27 Feb 18 - 12:08 AM Don't get too complacent yet, lhg......there are still the Paralympics to happen! |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Joe Offer Date: 27 Feb 18 - 01:02 AM I like the ice skating and the opening and closing pageants, but didn't find time to watch any of the Olympics this year. -Joe- |
Subject: RE: BS: Is anyone else not watching the Olympics From: Nigel Parsons Date: 27 Feb 18 - 03:00 AM A week or so to go before the Winter Paralympics These are true athletes, making the most of their abilities. It should be every bit as watchable as the Olympics which has just ended. And, going on last time, may result in as many medals for teamGB. |