And immediately thought about the chinese people selling pirated dvds of films that have just been released, or even before release, on the streets and subway stations here in NYC. Somewhere there is an ironic, un-PC joke waiting to be unearthed here!

Normally not only wouldn't I watch the opening ceremony, I wouldn't read about it either. And yet, since it was leaked, I'm interested. I don't believe for a second that this wasn't intentional.

Then, I really don't care, either.

Well, anything has to be better than the opening ceremony in France. I thought I was on a bad LSD trip watching those 20 foot tall mannequins walking around a host of little munchkins...

For weeks I've been waiting for King's first rant about the opening ceremonies so I could get a fix of my favorite description -- "children of the world twirling ribbons to French horn music." And he didn't use it. Disappointed I am.

BOB: The grey cloud hovering above the athletes symbolizes the air pollution of Beijing in the summer time - what's that? I'm being told that actually is real smog.

KATIE: Isn't it beautiful?

Or Starbucks. Or Apple. Or the Jews. Or Bush. Or Google. Or someone. Anyone.

China imprisons and tortures people for speaking their mind. Now, they're upset that their lame opening ceremony has been leaked? WAAAHHH!

Whatever, I'm not going to watch a single minute of an Olympic broadcast this year. I love the Olympics and I really wish they weren't in China, but they are, so I will ignore them.

BOYCOTT BEIJING 2008!!!!!

This is an event that I could not watch more than once every two years but when it comes around I cant miss it. I love the way you described the opening ceremony as I could never figure out a good way to describe it but unlike you I love it for those qualities. What I think does it for me is how out there they are and yet it leads off an event that is actually watched by billions of people unlike other events that claim that number. I just find this event to be as likely as Paul Verhoven directing a kids film.

It's the cultural markers of the host city that I find the most cringe-inducing. It's always so ham-fisted and trite.

This time around I'm expecting countless dragon dancers, innumberable lanterns and about 300 square miles of embroidered silk.

and all of it will pale in comparison to the debacle we'll see in Vancouver two years from now where the Native imagery will reach critical proportions...dancing Inukshuks anyone??

and of course I'll be watching every minute of it! No matter how jaded I get before the games, when they're on I just can't stop watching.

I mean, if I'm not cheering on the national women's water polo team, then who will??

cheers :)

crinklecutbubba For weeks I've been waiting for King's first rant about the opening ceremonies so I could get a fix of my favorite description -- "children of the world twirling ribbons to French horn music." And he didn't use it. Disappointed I am.

It's children of all nations.

And furthermore,

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