Beijing Olympics

[Tru2form]

Tru2, I always like reading your insights into Chinese culture. I'm fascinated by China. PBS' "Frontline" just put out an *awesome* documentary called "Young and Restless In China" -- http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/youngchina/ -- and they said that China has taken this Olympics thing *way* too far and really making life hellish for the locals in the name of "PR"

Sound like another group you know?

I've really grown to dislike any organization/country etc. putting on a contrived appearance in the name of good publicity.

MHO

[Tru2form]

OK, sports, the pure spirit of the olympics, something I unconditionally love and the only sporting event I follow with passion.

People, from all walks of life, all countries, competing with honor, countries presenting their best for the world, non agressive, no war, for me the olympics signifies the idea of a better world.

yeah all wars are supposed to stop during the olympics that was oner of the rules during the original greek olympic games and it managed to carry into our time up until world war 1 or 2 (can't remember) where the game was postponed to fight the war and the rules sorta been forgotten since

I love the games, and I always find the underdog to root for, like the poor kid in swimming who was just diagnosed with cancer.

For many of the games, in all different Countries, I have seen and heard that too much money was spend friviously, on buildings, "beautification" ect. That's a bit of a downer. Every Country (don't care which one) can put that money to much more productive uses, IE poverty, jobs, housing...

Remember Atlanta GA....and look at it now....

I have always been fascinated with Chinese culture myself. I think it started with my visit to the Chinese exibit at Epcot in Florida. Then years later Amy Tan's books, which are mostly about Chinese Americans but do give some insight into the culture, past and present in China. Since then I've been enamoured with Chinese Cinema. One of my favorite movies of all time is "To Live"

Of course there are many more, like the obvious, "raise the Red Lantern", "Ju Dou", "Qui Ju Goes to Court", "Red Firecracker, Green Firecracker", etc.

I want to go. The mountains in the south seem so unusual. DH doesn't want to, he wants to go to Egypt which scares me a little. lol

Oh well,

eeyore

I'm really looking forward to the games, always have loved them. I'm also looking forward to hearing how things are really going from Kendra.
Angel

[Tru2form]

Kendra -- I went to Beijing last year for work... what a crazy, amazing, fun city! The clash of guys in sport coats hanging off of swings to wash the windows of high rises, the lamborgini dealership with the People's Army officers smoking outside of it. BONKERS!

My favorite part was this weird little arts neighborhood set up around in an old East German pottery plant. Oh, and I had some amazing Sushi, as good as any I've had in LA.

Lucky.

[Tru2form]

When I was there I tried the bits of a horsie that makes it a boy horsie (at a restaurant, just to be clear).

[Grundy]