RedScare Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 So, I'm sitting here watching the Opening Ceremonies, and can't help but be amazed at the British music medley. Their teeth may be rotten, but man, those Brits have made some music over the years! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 i was thinking the same thing. music from manchester made the eighties club scene in houston what it was. thought the ceremonies were kinda lame though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted July 28, 2012 Author Share Posted July 28, 2012 (edited) I was just amazed at the stuff that came from there. Sure, everyone remembers the 60s and 70s rock icons, but then the punk, dancehall, ska, hip hop, and disco/club music had me in awe.The Queen parachuting into the stadium gets 2 thumbs up, too. Edited July 28, 2012 by RedScare 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 If Houston hosted the Olympics, we'd have to build an olympic stadium. What in the world would we do with it afterwards? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 we'd call it the 9th wonder of the world, marvel at it for a few years, then let it sit and fall into disrepair remembering the good ol' days. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLWM8609 Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 If Houston hosted the Olympics, we'd have to build an olympic stadium. What in the world would we do with it afterwards?Houston was going to use the stadiums they already had.http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2000_3266351 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 No wonder we didn't win the bid. Using renovated facilities and TSU and UH for the village??? I could be wrong, but it seems like China and London had all new facilities and the villages are/ were probably in less dangerous areas.Reliant is great for football, but I can't see an opening ceremony taking place there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted July 28, 2012 Author Share Posted July 28, 2012 No wonder we didn't win the bid. Using renovated facilities and TSU and UH for the village??? I could be wrong, but it seems like China and London had all new facilities and the villages are/ were probably in less dangerous areas.Reliant is great for football, but I can't see an opening ceremony taking place there.I guess you didn't watch the opening ceremony. If you had, you would have heard countless references to how the Olympic stadium and village were built in a ratty, rundown section of London. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLWM8609 Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 No wonder we didn't win the bid. Using renovated facilities and TSU and UH for the village??? I could be wrong, but it seems like China and London had all new facilities and the villages are/ were probably in less dangerous areas.Third Ward qualifies as dangerous? It's not College Station, but it's not the south side of Chicago, either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 Red, I missed it. That really surprises me though.JLWN, I would agree with you in its placement of "dangerous." But I still thought they'd want them to be a "less" dangerous place. But as Red points out, I"m wrong. That's what I get for thinkin.And maybe Londom, Beijing and Athens all used renovated facilities too? But from the pictures and architecture it just doesn't look like it. Would loved to be shown wrong in that aspect too, bc that would mean Houston's bid wasn't so underwelming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 (edited) I guess you didn't watch the opening ceremony. If you had, you would have heard countless references to how the Olympic stadium and village were built in a ratty, rundown section of London.So in 16 days there's going to be some shiny buildings in a ratty, rundown section of London?Houston's bid was underwhelming, the older I get, the less I want the Olympics to be held in Houston. So I'm glad it was underwhelming. Edited July 28, 2012 by samagon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 Is anyone else "watching" the cycling race and completely ignoring the bikers and just looking and the buildings and scenery? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 I see the male swimmers are not wearing the full body suits anymore. Did they deem them illegal? No speedos either, which is fine by me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pleak Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 (edited) I see the male swimmers are not wearing the full body suits anymore. Did they deem them illegal? No speedos either, which is fine by me.Yep. The full-body suits on males were ruled illegal in 2009. Just read an article in Popular Mechanics about the tech used in the Olympics. They also made them change the material in the body suits. So the companies responded by redesigning the swimmers goggles and head coverings to reduce drag.Here's the link:http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/sports/technology/olympic-science-the-gear-of-the-2012-games-9989520?click=pp Edited July 28, 2012 by Pleak 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 (edited) Some parts of the opening ceremony were very cool. I really liked the demonstration of the transition from an agrarian society to the Industrial Revolution, and the forging of the rings. Other parts I thought were kind of lame, like the relationship in the digital age, or whatever it was.It's obvious now that China has set the standard. I don't think 2008's opening ceremony will be topped for decades. Edited July 28, 2012 by kylejack 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 I'm really glad Houston didn't get the Olympics. From what I've seen, I don't like what they do to cities. Poor Vancouver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 I'm really glad Houston didn't get the Olympics. From what I've seen, I don't like what they do to cities. Poor Vancouver.How many billions of dollars are spent building the structures that are used for their intended purpose for only 16 days? Give me light rail, the big dig, and other great projects to spend the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverartfox Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 If Houston ever gets the Olympics, I'm going to leave town for the duration! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fringe Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 To hot in Houston for summer Olympics. Perhaps we should try and get the winter Olympics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 After to listening to some of the discussions centered around the economics of the olympics... I'm not sure we (Houston) should really ever try to get them. Not many real/tangible benefits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Anyone know what kind of buildings they had to tear down to build all these venues? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Found one article about it... http://inhabitat.com/londons-2012-olympic-park-opens-to-the-public-this-week-after-years-of-preparation/olympic-park/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gto250us Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Go to Google Earth and you can see the area in various images from 1945-2012. In 1945 it looks like the stadium area was railroad yards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 (edited) The Queen parachuting into the stadium gets 2 thumbs up, too.It was faked.In general, entertainment is better when it's not meant for everybody. It should be made for me and people like me. Otherwise, it is objectively wrong. Edited July 31, 2012 by TheNiche Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted July 31, 2012 Author Share Posted July 31, 2012 It was faked.In general, entertainment is better when it's not meant for everybody. It should be made for me and people like me. Otherwise, it is objectively wrong.Really? Are you sure about that? It looked like the same dress. I think you just don't want to believe it could have been true. Why would they fake something like that in front of millions of viewers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderroller Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Houston? Barf. First of all, cities like Houston would never make money on it. Second, ugh... we are a nasty city (and not truly.. truly.. international).RIO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Olympic cities end up with facilities that have to be maintained, renovated, or wasted after the Olympics leave. China's Water Cube ended up as an indoor waterpark. That might make sense in a country where the State has so much control over the economy, but doesn't make sense here. COH operating a waterpark? Weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister X Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 (edited) Rio? Barf. Rio is the nastiest city on earth. The slums there make the 4th ward look like River Oaks. Something about the use of the word 'ugh' is very telling about one's taste in cities and pre-qualifications to judge nastiness and international-ness. If they ever have an olympics in Texas, it will certainly be in Houston. Edited July 31, 2012 by Mister X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Really? Are you sure about that? It looked like the same dress. I think you just don't want to believe it could have been true. Why would they fake something like that in front of millions of viewers?Now that was an entertaining response. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crunchtastic Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Rio? Barf. Rio is the nastiest city on earth. The slums there make the 4th ward look like River Oaks.Hey, that kid has clothes and shoes. As slums go, you gotta pick your battles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fringe Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Are those pictures of Rio or Dallas? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pleak Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Are those pictures of Rio or Dallas?Since it had all the exposed above-ground power lines, I thought it was the picture Dallas-ites always post of Westheimer to show the ugly sprawl side of Houston. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Anyone know what kind of buildings they had to tear down to build all these venues?Not sure, but I have heard that the Olympic Village will be repurposed as housing for the very ethnically diverse location it sits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 After the GamesAfter the Games, the Olympic Village will be a lasting legacy of essential new housing for east London. It will be transformed into 2,818 new homes, including 1,379 affordable homes and houses for sale and rent, and will create a new residential quarter to be known as East Village.The communities that develop in the area after the Games will be supported by new parklands, open space, new transport links and community facilities. These will include Chobham Academy – a world-class new education campus with 1,800 places for students aged 3–19 – and a new health centre, which will provide medical facilities to existing local communities and the residents of the Village after 2012.The accommodation will range from one bedroom apartments up to four- and five-bedroom townhouses. Temporary partitions needed during the Games will be removed to form the final living spaces and bedrooms. Kitchens will be installed, along with new carpets or timber floors.http://www.london2012.com/venue/olympic-village/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 (edited) Hey, that kid has clothes and shoes. As slums go, you gotta pick your battles.I have friends that went to Rio. A kid threw dog poop on one of their shoes. After he refused to pay the kid to clean it off, hoodlums appeared out of nowhere with pipes. They had to run for their lives. Edited August 1, 2012 by rsb320 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister X Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 (edited) I thought it looked more like the photo of exposed above-ground power lines that Houstonians always post of Riverfront Blvd to show the ugly sprawl side of Dallas. Edited August 1, 2012 by Mister X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 I have friends that went. A kid threw dog poop on one of their shoes. After he refused to pay the kid to clean it off, hoodlums appeared out of nowhere with pipes. They had to run for their lives.As a tourist, I've only ever been menaced by violent criminal activity once, in pre-Ike Galveston late at night in a bad part of town by someone that lacked a firm grasp of reality and that kept crying out about all the devils that are around. But that's par for the course in Galveston. I get that, how it would happen.The London Dog Poop Mafia...I don't get that. It must be an English thing.God Bless America. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 (edited) As a tourist, I've only ever been menaced by violent criminal activity once, in pre-Ike Galveston late at night in a bad part of town by someone that lacked a firm grasp of reality and that kept crying out about all the devils that are around. But that's par for the course in Galveston. I get that, how it would happen.The London Dog Poop Mafia...I don't get that. It must be an English thing.God Bless America.Nope, it was Rio dog poop.Was the Galveston thing that boy that thought he was a vampire? Edited August 1, 2012 by rsb320 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Nope, it was Rio dog poop.Was the Galveston thing that boy that thought he was a vampire?Oh, well all the same. The Rio Dog Poop Mafia should form a band that does covers of Frank Zappa's sarcastic songs.The Galveston guy was an elderly black man with a switchblade knife that was having psychotic episode. Whatever he was intending to do, I think that he meant well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 high population cities in 3rd world countries are always sketchy, and usually very exciting places to visit.my experience in this realm delves only into Manila in the Philippines, I'd go back, but I couldn't imagine a place like that hosting the Olympics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Would yall rather have a gold medal or hold a world record? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Would yall rather have a gold medal or hold a world record?Gold medal and/or Olympic Record. The thing about world records is that they're sometimes deceptive. Using swimming as an example, world records can be held for an attempt that used a speed suit while the Olympics has stricter requirements about the type of suits you can wear. When an Olympian misses a WR, you can always say to yourself, "Yes, but he wasn't wearing a speed suit."http://www.examiner.com/article/london-olympics-2012-swimming-speed-suits-out-track-speed-suits-in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fringe Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Would yall rather have a gold medal or hold a world record?I'd take the bling. Records are continuously broken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Gold medal and/or Olympic Record. The thing about world records is that they're sometimes deceptive. Using swimming as an example, world records can be held for an attempt that used a speed suit while the Olympics has stricter requirements about the type of suits you can wear. When an Olympian misses a WR, you can always say to yourself, "Yes, but he wasn't wearing a speed suit."http://www.examiner....-speed-suits-inSwimming is the obvious exception. How many other WR's are deceptive though?I'd take the bling. Records are continuously broken.True, good point. But I think I might lean towards a world record. I may not have the bling but to say that at one point in time I was the best/fastest at something in the world, I think is pretty cool. Of course, someone can "take that away" from you by breaking it and they can never take away the medal. But still. Tough choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 I was about to say the same basic thing.I'd take the bling, even though the gold is only worth $650, the silver, $335 and bronze $5. Plus you have to pay taxes on your "Prize". That's BS!The last time solid gold medals were handed out was Stockholm in 1912. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Well if you take the medal, you can always sell your medal for food if times get tough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 (edited) since they're letting that guy without legs compete in track and field events, I think that will be deceptive as well, he's going to have the same competitive advantage as the people using the special swimsuits had previously.having the medal and having the WR are pretty much the same thing, imo (if you leave the money on the side, which a true athlete does, since all they care about is the competition and being the best, that's their real drive).Personally, I have competed in sports (if you want to call them that) that are far less known than even some of the Olympic sports (10 meter air rifle for example), and have been a champion, as well as holding records. Records get broken, new champions are crowned, you either stay competitive and break your own records and maintain being a champion yourself, or relegate yourself to the history books (or if you are in such obscure sports as I have competed in, you relegate yourself to the memories of those you competed against). Edited August 2, 2012 by samagon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 (edited) Gold medalists get $25K, $9K of which goes straight to the IRS as "foreign prize winnings." Edited August 2, 2012 by kylejack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pleak Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 I'd take the bling. Records are continuously broken.Agreed. Plus the Olympics is a bigger audience by far than most other sporting competitions for the smaller sports. If you are looking to cash in on endorsements etc - the Olympics is where you need to be.How many people watch Olympic swimming vs. the 2011 World Championships or some other match where a world record is broken? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pleak Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Well if you take the medal, you can always sell your medal for food if times get tough. Or just go live in Midtown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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