The Journey of Harmony
Courtesy of Wikipedia: (the torch) Commemorates the theft of fire from the Greek god Zeus by Prometheus, its origins lie in ancient Greece, when a fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics.
I heard someone who reports on the IOC that _everyone_ knew this was going to be a fiasco when Beijing got the Olympics in 2001. What are you going to focus your protests on? Not buying products made in China? Embargoing Chinese freighters? Or giving the sad torch bearers physical grief?
The IOC is like the UN. It's not a country. It's worldwide headquarters are in Norway, and every country has its own IOC -- like the Chinese IOC who paid a special visit to SF Mayor Gavin Newsome the other day for some reason.
The International Olympic Committee is a giant organization. But surely, somewhere in there heard in 2001 the cries of "Oh god. This is a terrible, terrible idea."
I should mention that I'm a total softy for the Olympics. But the Torch being put out repeatedly by protesters, and then sent to San Fancisco at 3AM somehow dampens my Olympic spirit for some reason.
But I'm sure it'll all work out. Even though we're just talking about the torch part of the Olympics. And they've only got sixteen cities to go.
Oh yeah, those guys inside the phalanx of cops in blue and white jumpsuits in SF last week? They were Chinese paramilitary guards.
It's not rain. It's Prometheus' tears.
Finally! Something to feel good about in this country. I just heard that Delta and Northwest are merging to officially become the most despicable, late, ornery airline in this land of ours. What creativity! They've merged the two airlines that have lost civil suits for wrongful imprisonment brought by passengers. Super duper!
If you could travel back in time, which era would you visit and why?
I would travel back in time so that I could save the Segway Scooter press releases that proclaimed that the clunky dangerous pseudo-bigwheels would...nay!...will revolutionize the transportation system.
Or I'd go back last year and bet every penny I had (139) that the eighth-seeded Warriors would beat the first-seeded Mavs.
In case you were wondering, here's a list of uncommitted Democratic superdelegates (courtesy of http://demconwatch.blogspot.com). So, heck, give them a call. I'm sure they'll call you right back if they're busy:
Representatives | Senators Ken Salazar (CO) Joe Biden (DE) Tom Carper (DE) Daniel Akaka (HI) Tom Harkin (IA) Mary Landrieu (LA) Ben Cardin (MD) Carl Levin (MI) Max Baucus (MT) Jon Tester (MT) Harry Reid (NV) Jeff Bingaman (NM) Frank Lautenberg (NJ) Sherrod Brown (OH) Ron Wyden (OR) Jack Reed (RI) Jim Webb (VA) Robert Byrd (WV) Herb Kohl (WI) Sen. Russ Feingold (WI) Fmr. Senator George Mitchell (NY) Governors Bill Ritter (CO) Steve Beshear (KY) Brian Schweitzer (MT) John Lynch (NH) Mike Easley (NC) Brad Henry (OK) Phil Bredeson (TN) Joe Manchin (WV) Add-Ons Mark Wilcox (AR)# Reggie Whitten (OK)# Vicky Harwell (TN)# Jerry Lee (TN)# 71 Unnamed Add-Ons | DNC Members | DNC Members (cont'd) Oregon Meredith Woods-Smith (OR) Frank Dixon (OR) Jenny Greenleaf (OR) Wayne Kinney (OR) Pennsylvania Hon. Ronald Donatucci (PA) William George (PA) Hon. Sophie Masloff (PA) South Carolina Wilbur Lee Jeffcoat (SC) Hon. Gilda Cobb-Hunter (SC) South Dakota Cheryl Chapman (SD) Tennessee Gray Sasser (TN) Dr. Inez Crutchfield (TN) Texas Boyd Richie (TX) Jaime Gonzalez Jr. (TX) DNC Denise Johnson (TX) John Patrick (TX) Betty Richie (TX) Utah Wayne Holland Jr. - UT Chair Virginia Jim Leaman C Richard Cranwell Washington DC Anita Bonds - DC Chair Washington Dwight Pelz - WA Chair Eileen Macoll - WA Vice Chair Ed Cote Sharon Mast David McDonald West Virginia Nick Casey Jr. - WV Chair Wisconsin Lena Taylor - WI Vice Chair Paula Zellner Wyoming Nancy Drummond - WY Vice Chair Cynthia Nunley Democrats Abroad * Christine Marques - Chair Theresa Morelli Guam Antonio Charfauros - Chair Cecilia Mafnas - Vice Chair Taling Taitano Hon. Robert Underwood Puerto Rico Luisette Cabana - Vice Chair Virgin Islands Marylyn Stapleton - Vice Chair Carol Burke Members -At-Large Lu Battaglieri (MI) Donna Brazile (DC) Hon. Maria Chappelle-Nadal (MO) Larry Cohen (DC) Ralph Dawson (NY) Kalyn Free (OK) John Gage (MD) Hon. Yvonne Gates (NV) Janice Griffin (MD) Hon. Alexis Herman (VA) Joe Johnson (VA) Belkis Leong-Hong (MD) Robert Martinez (TX) Jay Parmley (OK) Gail Rasmussen (OR) James Roosevelt Jr (MA) Eliseo Roques-Arroyo (PR) Richard Shoemaker (MI) Edward Smith (IL) John Sweeney (MD) Vernon Watkins (CA) Jerome Wiley Segovia (VA) Vacant - 1 Vacant - 2 Former DNC Chairmen Roy Romer (CO) Bob Strauss (TX) Paul Kirk (MA) Nat'l Conf. of Dem. Mayors Hon. Kwame Kilpatrick (MI) Mayor Brenda Lawrence (MI) Dem. Assoc. of SoS Hon. Robin Carnahan (MO) Hon. Bill Bradbury (OR) Nat'l Assoc of Dem State Treasurers Dem. Leg. Campaign Comm. Hon. Joyce Beatty (OH) Mike Morgan (OK) Nat'l Dem. County Officials Eric Coleman (MI) Nat'l Fed. of Dem. Women Virgie Rollins (MI) College Dems of America Lauren Wolfe (MI) Awais Khaleel (WI) Young Dems of America Crystal Strait (CA) DNC David Hardt (TX) Dem Assoc. of Atty Gen. Hon. Catherine Cortez Masto (NV) Nat'l Dem Ethnic Coord. Comm. Christine Warnke (DC) Nat'l Dem. Seniors Coord. Comm. John Melcher (MT) |
* Superdelegates from Democrats Abroad count as 1/2 of a vote.
If you were independently wealthy, where in the world would you live?
Submitted by Eileen.
Next door to Larry Ellison. It'd be great. I could come over and borrow a cup of sugar or a set medieval Asian fighting armor.
- 1789 - In New York City, the United States House of Representatives holds its first quorum and elects Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania as its first House Speaker.