Turino Olympics

[OperaTenor]

Hi Rayzor17, welcome to the Pit!

(Now, the explanation for Tim[I've been wondering just when someone would question it ]. I refer to the "pit" in terms of orchestra pit, which has been particularly applicable since B.com starting assigning chair positions for us posters.

Betcha thought it something more deprecatory, didja? )

As for curling: Great, now we have two of them(curling fans, that is ).

(I just realized I echoed Tim on commenting about Eric, but, what the heck!)

You can always rub it in about your superior beer to us down south.

[DavidS]

USA in French is Etats Unis or EU...

[OperaTenor]

It's gonna take someone smarter than me to pull up the "Curling is Cool!" thread. I just tried a search, and it only perused active forums. Since Eric's forum is no more, I have a feeling the thread is gone.



That really is too bad. I thought I had some pretty good hair curling puns in there.......

[piqaboo]

originally posted by rayzor17:
I'll answer the following questions about Winnipeg before they are asked, for all my friendly neighbours down in the U.S.A.:

Do you have peameal bacon?

[barfle]

Originally posted by Shapley:
I was looking for the Native American word for the territory now known as the United States of America.

Since that territory is a construct of Yurripeens who came, saw, and conquered, I suspect that there was no more a native word for that than there was for "Internet."

From what little I know on the topic, the various tribes had many languages, so, like the Italians, they probably had different words for everything.

[BigJon@Work]

Originally posted by OperaTenor:
It's gonna take someone smarter than me to pull up the "Curling is Cool!" thread.

Someone smarter responds :p
http://www.beethoven.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=000228
http://www.beethoven.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=000187
http://www.beethoven.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=000155
http://www.beethoven.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=000110

[treebeau]

See what I mean?...rayzor17 ??
Normally I'd put "jellybean" but 17 rhymed.

Good sleuthing BJ@W

Regards,
Tim B.

[OperaTenor]

BigJon,

I gotta know, how'd you do it? I've never been able to pull up anything in an inactive forum.

[BigJon@Work]

<snickers quietly behind his hand>

[monkeymd2b]

I enjoy watching the little pieces about the athletes. Mostly I enjoy watching the olympics because I need a break from studying. I mean seriously, would you rather read about the history of the US health system and policies or watch people slide headfirst at 90 miles/hr down an icy path...It's like daring the angel of death to take you. I realized a few years ago that puberty really zapped the sense of immortality right out of me. Some the stuff I tried when I was younger makes me shiver when I see little kids doing it today. No wonder I ended up in the emergency department so many times...it's possible that puberty saved my life. Clearly I would not have made much of an olympian if I had been blessed with such athletic skill.
Ho hum... time to guzzle some caffeine and hit the books.

Oh and that whole Torino, turin, whathave you, someone said that Americans were calling it Turin and others Torino but isn't it the other way around? NBC folks have "Torino" all over the place and countries like South Korea call it "Turin." And let's face it, compared to how some countries names sound in their native tongue, ours is so blah...In fact, I think it sounds better in french.

now I'm just procrastinating because health policy is incredibly boring to read about but I somehow got myself onto the committee to create a "Residents for Universal Health Coverage" statement/proposal for our program and hopefully to be signed by all residency programs in Oregon (or at least starting with all the Providence programs) to take to the city & state governments. Figured I should get fully informed about the history and logistics. But this is probably a thread all on it's own...

[BigJon@Work]

Originally posted by monkeymdib:
now I'm just procrastinating because health policy is incredibly boring to read about but I somehow got myself onto the committee to create a "Residents for Universal Health Coverage" statement/proposal for our program and hopefully to be signed by all residency programs in Oregon (or at least starting with all the Providence programs) to take to the city & state governments. Figured I should get fully informed about the history and logistics. But this is probably a thread all on it's own...

Please keep us up to date on how the arguments develop.

<still snickering behind his paw>

[Schmeelkie]

I just assume curling is much like golf. Terribly boring to watch, but a real challenge to play. So I won't insult either sport, but neither will I sit around wasting time watching it. Guess if you play, it would be interesting to watch - try to pick up strategy and technique...

I really haven't watched much this year. Pumpkin sees the TV on and starts asking incessently to see Bob the Builder or 'the train movie' - referring to The Polar Express - which he loses interest in once they're off the train... Will try to watch some of the women's figure skating tonight and Thursday though...

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

Originally posted by Schmeelkie:
I just assume curling is much like golf.

Well, I dunno. First time I saw curling, I laughed myself into hiccups. The guys madly sweeping, sweeping, with the broomses, you know.

Never laughed at golf. Yawned, maybe, never laughed.

I still think the Scots are amazingly good practical jokers.

[Shapley]

I'm sure curling was invented by some guy whose wife made him sweep the basement...

[trombonepirate]

Originally posted by Selma in Sandy Eggo:
]Well, I dunno. First time I saw curling, I laughed myself into hiccups. The guys madly sweeping, sweeping, with the broomses, you know.

Never laughed at golf. Yawned, maybe, never laughed.

I still think the Scots are amazingly good practical jokers.

That's why I like curling so much. I don't understand a single movement but seeing all that frantic sweeping then the satisfying clink as the stones hit each other is all the reward I need.
Speaking of curling, I've got a couple of questions. First off, what does "hurry hard" mean anyway? I've gotten into the habit of yelling it to annoy people but it would be nice to know what I'm yelling. Second, anyone seen the move "Men with Brooms"? It's about a bunch of Canadian curlers. I just saw the end but I was laughing so hard.

Personal highlights of the olympics so far (in no order): Hermann Meier (anyone whose real name is actual Hermann has to be pretty cool and when you're a crazy-go-nuts skier it only gets better), the Italian cross country team, and the ice dancing who can have the most spectacular fall competition. Oh and ski jumping. Can't go wrong there. I really think I need to take that sport up, but I'm a little afraid to ask how one learns how to land. Looking foward to the four man bobsled *cowbell sound in background*
TBP
Oh and barfle, that Fiat sounds awful! No wonder there is a test track on top of the building. That way they can just shove 'em off after the test drive.

[treebeau]

I got a fever.
And the only cure is...
more cowbell!!

Regards,
Tim B.

[NateBrei]

Originally posted by trombonepirate:
Oh and ski jumping. ... but I'm a little afraid to ask how one learns how to land.

I was just wondering that myself last night. Figure skaters & ice dancers can practice their lifts, jumps, & throws using mats, harnesses, & other safety devices. But, how does one learn to ski jump? I can't see how you could do it in slow motion or using mats, harnesses, or anything else. They must have a small, short ramp not too far off the ground so they can learn to land. But, if you're not going fast enough or don't have enough room between take-off & landing, you can't get into the "flying" position.

But, for me it's just an academic question. I'm MUCH to old to even think about doing it. But, it sure must be an exhilarating feeling flying through the air.

Nate

[BigJon@Work]

They actually use harnesses for ski jump training too. You have a model of the end of the ramp and you just slide a short distance and do your yump off the end. It works the same muscles, the only difference from the real hill is the speed at takeoff.

The camera angles fool you into thinking they are soaring through he air. The are really never very far off the ground as the slope is the same as the pull of gravity. One ski jumper described the impact of landing on a poor jump as no worse than jumping off a picnic table.

[trombonepirate]

Originally posted by BigJon@Work:
One ski jumper described the impact of landing on a poor jump as no worse than jumping off a picnic table.

Cool! Maybe I'll have to give it a go after all. I can handle falling off a picnic table (actually had some practice with that).

And "I'm just not feeling it. For my money I could use even more cowbell. I NEED MORE COWBELL!" (any one seen this sketch? Makes me laugh every time.)
TBP

[barfle]

A couple of nights ago I heard a takeoff on Petula Clark's Downtown that was called Downhill. Only heard it once, so I don't have the lyrics memorized, but there was a line about those ski fans ringing cowbells whenever one of their countrymen went by.

Anyone else hear it?