I am as mad as a hornet! I could spit nails. Think of any cliché that means being angry beyond all measure and I am that angry.
As I sat typing on my laptop, my Microsoft Outlook email manager flashed an incoming message. It was Breaking News from the New York Times. I have it set to flash that way in case I decide to write a post about some breaking news story and I want to be the first to do so.
As I glanced at the pop up containing the headline, I realized it was the results of a major event in tonight’s lineup: women’s gymnastics. Unfortunately, it only took that one glance to ruin my evening. Now I know how things end up.
Damn!
The two weeks of the quadrennial Summer Olympic Games have always been among the most exciting television viewing for me. The whole idea of the entire world gathering on neutral ground to showcase each country’s elite athletes in civil competition is even more appealing now that the world has become tiny and the world’s problems humungous.
The first week has all of my favorites: Tennis, swimming, beach volleyball and my number one love, gymnastics.
I love the tension leading up to the moment the pistol fires, the digital signal beeps or the first ball is served into the opponents’ court. I thrive on the back and forth of a close competition. When things go the way I wanted them to go, I actually jump from my seat, clap my hands and yell “Yessssssss!” And when things don’t go the way I’d hoped, I feel the disappointment almost as much as those courageous young athletes do.
Not tonight. I won’t be a spoiler here for anyone reading this. I won’t be the one who ruins it for you. If you can manage to dodge the tweets, the Facebook status updates, the emails and the TV results that even NBC insists on showing on their screen (without sound, but still…) maybe you can still ride the roller coaster of emotions.
In this day of social networking, with tweets and photos issuing from even Prince Harry himself, instantaneous coverage is almost impossible to avoid. The television networks have failed to anticipate the effect these “new” ways of finding out what’s happening would have on their wall-to-wall coverage. The window for news is measured in seconds and characters, not hours and tape delays.
I am so bummed!
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Comments
No, that's a mixed something or other - just wanted to introduce a bit of comic relief. I sympathize, Lezlie. That'swhy I haven't gone to FB in over a week nor have I turned on the TV except for very specific times. We do what we can.
R♥
Fusun: Ahhhh...nice try. hahahahaha
Their narrative paradigm for presenting the Olympics works great, presuming this is about 1962.
another steve s: LOL! You are so right.
Matt: No Olympics????? Isn't that against some kind of American amendment or something?
I have no idea what you're talking about, I've never watched any of The Olympics, I've also never watched a beauty pageant or sports on TV. I get bored watching competitions, if I don't know the people, I don't care who wins. I like school sports if kids I know are playing in them. If you ever compete at something, I'd be glued to it and rooting for you.
I do like watching pie eating contests, I love the way the crust refuses to cooperate and filling smushes out everywhere. This is all true and I hope it made you smile.
Chicken Maaan: You should have a talk with Mr. Paust. :D
Kosh: Information glut. Sheesh!
Abra: NBC=Not Being Current
Bleue: :D I’ll be sure to let you know if I get into any kind of competition. I’ll need your support.
uh til you mentioned beach volleyball,
i gotta say i am a sour puss.
gymnastics is on now.
i am trying to hope that this girl, this tiny thing, will not f. up.
aha did she? no.
good.
uh oh here she goes again...oh it looked good indeed.
she didnt fall down.
on cnn,, anderson cooper introduces me to a Hologram
at Newark Airport.
He wonders if someone might freak out.
or..if someone tried to touch her.
huh. haw haw.
not real funny.
well she is there, and anderson says we gotta be careful w hologram
tech cuz i dunno. he has a joke to make. blah
(I share your frustration.) :) r.
sweetfeet: I guess being surprised is just too much to ask for those of us who can’t attend in person.
Mime: Pffft! right?
Jon: noooooooooooooooo
Joanie: :D
bobbot: Maybe we just have too much time on our hands. I appreciated tape delays when I was working all the time.
Tink: I like them both! I even skied when I lived in California! :D
You bring out the best in me with posts like this...
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