We're back up to our old Friday tricks this week-enjoy!
Could someone tell me why is everyone getting so hyped-up about the new Indiana Jones movie? Harrison Ford---you need to retire that role, or make a sequel to Working Girl.
For those of you who bought the P.S. I Love You DVD, a question: does it look like it was made on the cheap? No trailers and no DVD artwork. I thought it was a bootleg copy at first from where I bought it (at Blockbuster.)
My heart goes out to the Kennedy family. They have a rough road ahead of them. I know-I've been in their shoes and it's a replay of where I was on July 25, 2006 in a local ER here.
Enough already about Angelina Jolie and her kids!
Why do the pictures of Katie Holmes make her look like a zombie?
If you are in Europe, don't forget to call in your Eurovision Song Contest vote tomorrow night.
Raise your hand if you've ever had to deal with a nosy neighbor.
Have you ever wondered whatever became of your boss or co-worker from hell? I have!
Were you surpised as I was by tornadoes in Colorado (of all places!)
I am not a fan of American Idol but I have to wonder if David Archuletta's loss by 12million votes was a backlash due to all the negative publicity he's had in the runup to the final? His stage-door dad sure didn't help things.
We're back on Tuesday (after the Monday Memorial Day holiday.)
Friday, May 23, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Can we have a dose of humble pie, please?
A special shout out to my readers in FRANCE!
I've touched on this subject earlier but for those of you who are new or haven't been here lately, I'd like to revisit one of my pet peeves about the Olympic media business.
Those of you who think they are the story---instead of writing about the story.
Thankfully, those folks are few and far between. But they're out there---and they're coming to a IBC or other media kiosk near you this summer in Beijing. I've met a bunch of people who's heart is as huge as the help they give a newcomer. Kind people, of which I have stayed in touch with. Several are even local to me here in Atlanta.
The others: who do they think they are?
Last summer in Guatemala City, someone came up to me to ask about that fateful day in Moscow. I am so over it, I've moved on and am busy with the opportunities that day springboarded to me. But it's still a big deal to some folks. I was kind to the person in question, but I said I was much more interested in talking about what I was doing at that time, versus what happened (at the time) six years ago.
I was humbled back then and am still to this day. But some folks would write about doing a c*** on a golden toilet if they had the chance. And expounding on it too.
This summer is going to present many opportunities for breakthrough writing, scoops (if one is so motivated) and education. Let's not get caught up in our own dramas and remember who we are writing for.
Besides, it's not all about you. And if you don't believe that, you got into this business for the wrong reasons.
Open minds, open hearts.
Let's make it our mantra this summer, no matter if we are in Beijing or the US.
Let's set the good example-for all of us.
I've touched on this subject earlier but for those of you who are new or haven't been here lately, I'd like to revisit one of my pet peeves about the Olympic media business.
Those of you who think they are the story---instead of writing about the story.
Thankfully, those folks are few and far between. But they're out there---and they're coming to a IBC or other media kiosk near you this summer in Beijing. I've met a bunch of people who's heart is as huge as the help they give a newcomer. Kind people, of which I have stayed in touch with. Several are even local to me here in Atlanta.
The others: who do they think they are?
Last summer in Guatemala City, someone came up to me to ask about that fateful day in Moscow. I am so over it, I've moved on and am busy with the opportunities that day springboarded to me. But it's still a big deal to some folks. I was kind to the person in question, but I said I was much more interested in talking about what I was doing at that time, versus what happened (at the time) six years ago.
I was humbled back then and am still to this day. But some folks would write about doing a c*** on a golden toilet if they had the chance. And expounding on it too.
This summer is going to present many opportunities for breakthrough writing, scoops (if one is so motivated) and education. Let's not get caught up in our own dramas and remember who we are writing for.
Besides, it's not all about you. And if you don't believe that, you got into this business for the wrong reasons.
Open minds, open hearts.
Let's make it our mantra this summer, no matter if we are in Beijing or the US.
Let's set the good example-for all of us.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
London, meet Montreal
And crankier than ever! Hey, just kidding, folks. Being away for a month was quite relaxing. It was an amazing time in London, and those folks got a preview of what they can expect to happen in 2012.
One of the big issues while I was over there was the spiraling cost of their soon-to-be-Games. 9 billion pounds-and going up. Way up. And Red Ken's now-infamous comment about how he bid for the Olympics "because that is the only way I will get the east end of London redeveloped." Oops.
It took ages for Montreal to pay off their debt from 1976. Fast forward some thirty-plus years and it will get even worse if London's organisers aren't careful.
Perhaps in light of Ken Livingstone's comments, the IOC should be more careful and examine further the motives of cities that want to bid for the Games. It will be a spectacular show in London (perhaps even eclipsing Sydney's) but speaking from experience, once the show has left town, all that's left is that empty feeling in the pit of your stomach, and a feeling of it really is all over, perhaps forever.
London is going to experience one huge letdown when all is said and done. As in the financial kind if they aren't careful.
And if the organisers aren't careful, Londoners will be left with one souvenir-that will hit them square in the wallet for years to come.
One of the big issues while I was over there was the spiraling cost of their soon-to-be-Games. 9 billion pounds-and going up. Way up. And Red Ken's now-infamous comment about how he bid for the Olympics "because that is the only way I will get the east end of London redeveloped." Oops.
It took ages for Montreal to pay off their debt from 1976. Fast forward some thirty-plus years and it will get even worse if London's organisers aren't careful.
Perhaps in light of Ken Livingstone's comments, the IOC should be more careful and examine further the motives of cities that want to bid for the Games. It will be a spectacular show in London (perhaps even eclipsing Sydney's) but speaking from experience, once the show has left town, all that's left is that empty feeling in the pit of your stomach, and a feeling of it really is all over, perhaps forever.
London is going to experience one huge letdown when all is said and done. As in the financial kind if they aren't careful.
And if the organisers aren't careful, Londoners will be left with one souvenir-that will hit them square in the wallet for years to come.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Ugly Times in London
It was a day that I dreaded seeing the pictures. Today was a day it got quite ugly over here in London.
I've been here a week---on unrelated stuff. It's been about two years since I have been back-under much happier circumstances.
All week local news channels have been whipping us up into a frenzy over the torch relay route. It came less than half a mile from my hotel but gut feeling told me it was going to get nasty-and it did. It's a preview of what is to come for the additional cities on the route (San Feancisco take note.)
And if today's pictures on BBC1 are anything to go by, it's going to be a rough one. And a necessary one.
Jacques Rogge was on ITV last night and continued to spiel the usual about how politics and the torch relay should be separate. I still maintain that if he dealt with these issues in the beginning, none of what we saw today in London would have happened.
On one side, it saddens me. This could have all been avoided...but ignore it and it will still be there the following morning. And the day after and the day after.
It could also spell trouble for London 2012 if the talk around town is to be believed. Something along the lines of "when it is tine for our torch relay, we will remember the events of Spring 2008 and how we were treated." Tessa Jowell who is the Olympics Minister here gave a subtle support to the protest, saying it "was the great British tradition" of how life is here.
She gets it. Hey Tessa, how about a trip to Lausanne to educate others who need it?
Bravo!
I've been here a week---on unrelated stuff. It's been about two years since I have been back-under much happier circumstances.
All week local news channels have been whipping us up into a frenzy over the torch relay route. It came less than half a mile from my hotel but gut feeling told me it was going to get nasty-and it did. It's a preview of what is to come for the additional cities on the route (San Feancisco take note.)
And if today's pictures on BBC1 are anything to go by, it's going to be a rough one. And a necessary one.
Jacques Rogge was on ITV last night and continued to spiel the usual about how politics and the torch relay should be separate. I still maintain that if he dealt with these issues in the beginning, none of what we saw today in London would have happened.
On one side, it saddens me. This could have all been avoided...but ignore it and it will still be there the following morning. And the day after and the day after.
It could also spell trouble for London 2012 if the talk around town is to be believed. Something along the lines of "when it is tine for our torch relay, we will remember the events of Spring 2008 and how we were treated." Tessa Jowell who is the Olympics Minister here gave a subtle support to the protest, saying it "was the great British tradition" of how life is here.
She gets it. Hey Tessa, how about a trip to Lausanne to educate others who need it?
Bravo!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Take some time off...and look what happens!
As you can probably see, I took some time off. "Always leave them wanting more" my late husband would say-the number one rule of the professional musician. So I wasn't too worried about not posting anything. It seemed there was a bit of a lull in the news area and with the Easter holiday coming up, I thought most people would have other things on their mind.
I was in Jacksonville, FL all last week. Another widowed friend of mine called me up and she said what were my plans. At the time, nothing, so I decided to go. Not thinking about anything, just being lazy, it was great.
Come home and all sorts of hell breaks lose. A friend of mine is being sued by the International Cycling Union. CCTV gives it's version of the torch lighting ceromony. And the apologists starting up again (after a bit of a lull.)
Gah.
Looks like we've got enough material to last the week, and then some.
If there is one thing that I can't stand it's the apologists. No, we shouldn't boycott because that will be detriment to the Olympic movement. BOCOG saying that RSF's protest at the torch lighting ceromony was "flawed." Preisdent Rogge saying that the "glass is half full" (verus "half empty") in regards to the human rights issue.
What WILL it take for people to LISTEN?
I for one am not playing into the hands of the Chinese and writing what they would want to hear. They say foreigners are presenting a "distorted" view of the Games. They should know-they've had experience doing it for the past seven years.
And sadly, there are writers over here who are all too happy to oblige.
It's time to get real, folks. I for one am not going to blindly sit and stay silent. Especially when I will have friends over there whom I hope come home safely. We have an obligation (and I have said this before but it bears repeating) that we are the voice and the conciense of those who can't speak out. Not doing so makes us part of the problem.
And I, for one, will not sit blindly while others live in their gilded cocoon and pretend everything is OK.
These people think that if you ignore it, that it will go away. Bull.
If the various issues were dealt with seven years ago, we still wouldn't be talking about this today. But then Jacques Rogge is so clueless, I guess it's going to take one of his employees being hurt (or worse) before he sits up and takes notice.
I am not damming all folks in Lausanne. But he is a cancer on the Olympic movement that has got to go. I feel for the good people at the IOC who do see the issues (surprise-there are those folks) but whom are hampered by it's President who doesn't share that same view and in turn make their jobs more difficult.
Can some people be turned around? Maybe.
Only time will tell-and it will be our reaction as to how the other side responds.
Think about it. I have.
I was in Jacksonville, FL all last week. Another widowed friend of mine called me up and she said what were my plans. At the time, nothing, so I decided to go. Not thinking about anything, just being lazy, it was great.
Come home and all sorts of hell breaks lose. A friend of mine is being sued by the International Cycling Union. CCTV gives it's version of the torch lighting ceromony. And the apologists starting up again (after a bit of a lull.)
Gah.
Looks like we've got enough material to last the week, and then some.
If there is one thing that I can't stand it's the apologists. No, we shouldn't boycott because that will be detriment to the Olympic movement. BOCOG saying that RSF's protest at the torch lighting ceromony was "flawed." Preisdent Rogge saying that the "glass is half full" (verus "half empty") in regards to the human rights issue.
What WILL it take for people to LISTEN?
I for one am not playing into the hands of the Chinese and writing what they would want to hear. They say foreigners are presenting a "distorted" view of the Games. They should know-they've had experience doing it for the past seven years.
And sadly, there are writers over here who are all too happy to oblige.
It's time to get real, folks. I for one am not going to blindly sit and stay silent. Especially when I will have friends over there whom I hope come home safely. We have an obligation (and I have said this before but it bears repeating) that we are the voice and the conciense of those who can't speak out. Not doing so makes us part of the problem.
And I, for one, will not sit blindly while others live in their gilded cocoon and pretend everything is OK.
These people think that if you ignore it, that it will go away. Bull.
If the various issues were dealt with seven years ago, we still wouldn't be talking about this today. But then Jacques Rogge is so clueless, I guess it's going to take one of his employees being hurt (or worse) before he sits up and takes notice.
I am not damming all folks in Lausanne. But he is a cancer on the Olympic movement that has got to go. I feel for the good people at the IOC who do see the issues (surprise-there are those folks) but whom are hampered by it's President who doesn't share that same view and in turn make their jobs more difficult.
Can some people be turned around? Maybe.
Only time will tell-and it will be our reaction as to how the other side responds.
Think about it. I have.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Who you gonna call?
It's 3AM. Your wife, husband, co-worker, best friend, is over in Beijing this summer working. They're in trouble. Maybe even arrested. Who you gonna call? Who's going to stand up for those of us stateside who just hope our friends get home safely and without incident? Don't count on the folks in Lausanne to back us up. They're too busy being in denial of the issues that have been raised in regards to the 2008 Games. We'd rather protect our bottom line-and to hell with the human element.
I sincerely hope you don't get that "middle of the night" phone call. I have-and when your friend is thousands of miles away, there is little one can do but only hope the local authorities will step up to the plate and guarentee fair treatment or justice served in the case of a crime being committed against the people you care about.
That is a precarious position to be in. You'd like to think that besides your employer (if you have one if not self-employed) and your family, the IOC would be watchful for any behavior that is out-of-order by the local Beijing authorities. But it looks like this summer those of us here in the US (or outside China) are stuck on our own, with gearing up for several weeks of worry, hoping everyone gets home safely.
Moral of the story: just cross your fingers that you don't get into trouble over there. The IOC is too busy protecting it's own interests to worry about the safety of journalists during the Games time period.
And that is a dammed shame. And it doesn't have to be that way.
As for me, I won't rest until everyone I know going over there is accounted for-in this or any other Western country.
Too bad the IOC doesn't pick up the phone on this one. Guess we are expendable.
Just as I thought.
I sincerely hope you don't get that "middle of the night" phone call. I have-and when your friend is thousands of miles away, there is little one can do but only hope the local authorities will step up to the plate and guarentee fair treatment or justice served in the case of a crime being committed against the people you care about.
That is a precarious position to be in. You'd like to think that besides your employer (if you have one if not self-employed) and your family, the IOC would be watchful for any behavior that is out-of-order by the local Beijing authorities. But it looks like this summer those of us here in the US (or outside China) are stuck on our own, with gearing up for several weeks of worry, hoping everyone gets home safely.
Moral of the story: just cross your fingers that you don't get into trouble over there. The IOC is too busy protecting it's own interests to worry about the safety of journalists during the Games time period.
And that is a dammed shame. And it doesn't have to be that way.
As for me, I won't rest until everyone I know going over there is accounted for-in this or any other Western country.
Too bad the IOC doesn't pick up the phone on this one. Guess we are expendable.
Just as I thought.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
What could have been
I just returned from a week in Philadelphia. I actually stayed out in the suburbs but got to see quite a bit of the city on the one day I was downtown. It's one place that I thought would do much better with their Olympic bid.
I've always felt they should try again. The Olympics coming there would do wonders for the revitalisation of the city. There are similarities between them and Atlanta and a legacy of an Olympics in the PHL would do wonders. But it might take several bids to win a Games (as it seems the current trend is heading towards.)
One can only imagine what a Philadelphia games would have been like. The only way we will ever know is if they bid again-which I hope they do.
The legacy would be tremendous, I am sure.
Tomorrow: who do YOU want answering the phone at 3AM in Lausanne this summer?
I've always felt they should try again. The Olympics coming there would do wonders for the revitalisation of the city. There are similarities between them and Atlanta and a legacy of an Olympics in the PHL would do wonders. But it might take several bids to win a Games (as it seems the current trend is heading towards.)
One can only imagine what a Philadelphia games would have been like. The only way we will ever know is if they bid again-which I hope they do.
The legacy would be tremendous, I am sure.
Tomorrow: who do YOU want answering the phone at 3AM in Lausanne this summer?