How did I miss this event?

I must have been watching Men's figure skating. Damn!!!1!!

Figure skating

Mirai Nagasu

This will be a quick write up. I probably won't actually post it for a few days.

I don't catch a lot of figure skating on TV, but I needed this at this time. I usually don't watch unless I have the sound off because too many skaters use the same fucking music and have for years. It makes no sense there are all those skating coaches and they don't commit suicide as do so many lemmings.

But I have to watch Asses on Ice (literally) which was billed as the 2010 US Women's Figure Skating Championships. It will take my mind off other problems and let me concentrate on their problems instead. Only three did not fall (four, but one came very close).. It is a complete train wreck, but the talent is definitely there. And they are mostly so young they're going to amaze people in the years ahead.

No, I'm not one who watches auto races for the accidents. I'm always pulling for skaters, drivers and all athletes to nail their performances.

I've been in competitions and know the hours, sacrifices and costs involved in reaching top levels (no I was never that good, but...)

The point I'm going to make is, finally, if you practice for hours, years and continually have a problem with a move you will “catch” the errors of your competitors. The mistakes are contageous and the “fall” and “stumble” viruses were running rampant this year.

Oh yeah, IMHO Mirai Nagasu was robbed.

Olympic flame ascends world summit -- Mt. Qomolangma

Most likely you will never ascend mount Everest. You can bet your sweet ass I won't.

To do it while carrying the Olympic torch is amazing. I, frankly, didn't believe they could pull it off. I expected them to crash and burn (no puns intended). Those 19 climbers have earned my respect and admiration.

Its safe to say China has set the fucking bar as high as possible for future Olympic torch relays.

The Olympic flame for the Beijing Games was carried to the top of Mount Qomolangma [Everest] by Chinese climbers at 9:18 a.m. Beijing Time on Thursday. The Beijing Olympic torch relay is the longest and most ambitious ever planned.

Sometimes humans amaze me with what they can accomplish.

Note: Headline links to source.

2008 Beijing Olympic games

This is the "Bird Nest" building being built in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics. Its the Olympic National Stadium and is fantastic. Wait 'till you see the other pix.



That blue building in one pic at the "Bird Nest" link is the "Bubble Building". Its fashioned after natural soap bubbles and will be the National Swim Center.