The Opening Ceremony Of The London Olympics...
I dipped into the opening ceremony, if I had not I have no right to make comment. Yes it was spectacular but sometimes less is more. But for anyone who missed it here are some images of the event.
I thought the best part was probably the simplest of the night from the speedboat down the Thames with David Beckham to when the torch was passed over to Steve Redgrave who entered the stadium to the lighting of the cauldron. That was enough for me.
There is something about a good old fireworks display. Seeing the landmarks of London we know so well and I still get moved by the traditional music that we usually hear at such events often heard on Remembrance Sunday/Last Night Of The Proms...but that's me.
When I saw how Muhammad Ali(Cassius Clay)is now. Of course he's older but so sad and touching to see him as a shadow of his former self. There as a former Olympian. I think had they not said who he was for a split second I would have been wondering who it was.
I like to see the reaction from abroad, here's a Report from the New York Times and here The Washington Post. Some interesting comments posted for and against the ceremony and the UK by readers of the paper.
It was shown on a four hour time delay in America so this is how it aired in the States. And on delay the broadcaster NBC dropped the section of the ceremony that remembered the 7/7 bombing of London.
I thought the best part was probably the simplest of the night from the speedboat down the Thames with David Beckham to when the torch was passed over to Steve Redgrave who entered the stadium to the lighting of the cauldron. That was enough for me.
There is something about a good old fireworks display. Seeing the landmarks of London we know so well and I still get moved by the traditional music that we usually hear at such events often heard on Remembrance Sunday/Last Night Of The Proms...but that's me.
When I saw how Muhammad Ali(Cassius Clay)is now. Of course he's older but so sad and touching to see him as a shadow of his former self. There as a former Olympian. I think had they not said who he was for a split second I would have been wondering who it was.
I like to see the reaction from abroad, here's a Report from the New York Times and here The Washington Post. Some interesting comments posted for and against the ceremony and the UK by readers of the paper.
It was shown on a four hour time delay in America so this is how it aired in the States. And on delay the broadcaster NBC dropped the section of the ceremony that remembered the 7/7 bombing of London.
posted by The Great Gildersleeve | 7:58 am
15 Comments:
If you only dipped in you can't say which was the best part can you, only the parts you dipped into.
I watched all the way through, and I thought it was spectacular. The 7/7 ceremony was very moving....necessary as well as it happened the day after all the excitement of England getting the games, which brought everyone down to earth very quickly. Emeli Sande sang Abide With Me very movingly and the solemn dance performed while she sang was in keeping with the occasion.
It was astonishing that all the performers (or most) were volunteers, and they did brilliantly.
I thought Emeli Sande was awful considering how wonderful a singer she really is. Needed a bit more oomph in my opinion.
I will amend that not "awful", I was just surprised at the lack of oomph.
I'm not having a go here but there you are two anons...and both disagree slightly but we don't know which is which. The point mainly being all views are valid and are just personal observations in the end.
You don't know how long I dipped in for...I have seen the images, seen highlights and still think alot of it was probably clever but too much. As said less is more and I still think the last 20 minutes or so was best. And the earlier part as suggested by the comments posted by yourselves...
Considering I have said I am not a fan of the Olympics, I thought my post was quite fair.
That sort of flower that turned into a cauldron was amazing. I am sure I heard the opening ceremony cost £27million, good job there were so many people ready to volunteer and work for nothing.
It's nice to see the reaction of the teams as they enter the stadium but as that part usually runs late and delays the rest of the night that eventually becomes a bit boring for the audience at home watching on tv. But not everyone will see it that way.
As shown on the comments to the Washington Post article all view are exressed and all Human Life is there.
Even anons are allowed to disagree!
The occasion was a very sad one when Emeli was singing, and she sang in a very dignified way.
You'll be happy to know I won't be contributing to this thread again. You contradict yourself every turn, and in my eye, dipping means exactly that, dipping. You either watch the lot, or you dip. We could all post other peoples' opinion, but we've already read them, so don't need to read them as yours.
I'm not wasting my time in this thread, I like truthful posts!:(
Fine...How do we know who you have read and my post was my own opinion all I did was add some links for reference...it also gives some alternative views.
You say something as others who comment do, I/we respond, we agree/we disagree.
Sometimes I am villified because I am set in my ways, sometimes because I am seen to change my mind, that's what Humans do. How many of us keep the same views all through their lives?
Not sure where I am less than honest.
I don't think I can win whatever I say or do with yourself.
All the best to you...
Goodbye and close the door on your way out anon.
Oooh I dipped in and out too gildy and I have to say some of it looked spectacular. However, consider this, what really would have been amazing to the world is if they had said, we will let the athletes speak for themselves.
All the money will be used for housing, our poorly treated elderly, building up the NHS etc. Yes these displays are fantastic but when they are over they are over unlike solid foundations which remain for a long long time.
Fortunately I missed Paul McCartney being embarrassing or so I read!
Cx
PS. I agree with the comment re emeli Sande - it was portraying a sad event, but for some reason the sound was very poor and was not as good as it could have been.
Carol,
Well I know some of the area that was cleared was said to be a dump, possibly contaminated due to industry so it can be claimed the Olympic project did some good.
I hear that some businesses were moved or had to close and some housing estates that were affordable were demolished.
The claim is that this area will be returned to the public and affordable housing will be returned.
It may be newer property but it is suggested what they call affordable now may be anything but and they will be smaller and aimed at singles.
In truth they will not be affordable except to professionals.
As I said in an earlier comment/post they are(not sure if it's the recession)but so far there is little if any interest from investors to want to build properties when they tear down the Olympics area.
The opening ceremony had to appeal to many and my favourite and by the sound of it your's and a previous anon might be "Boring" to a younger audience but as to dipping in I wasn't into the rave section(was that the Fire Starter part?)or Dizzy Rascal(I must admit I had no idea who he was.
I'm not saying that should not have been included just that I did see some.
On here it was split into sections so you could try and find something to suit without having to sit through the whole event.
Its sad when you think that money could have been put to the use suggested by you Carol.
Unless this event happened that money would not have been released and diverted elsewhere.
And now we await to see if the legacy promised amount to anything and how long it takes. I wonder what it cost to clear and build the Oylmpic Park.
You are quite right of course about the money being redirected - no way would it be spent as I suggested.
I can clearly remember the day it was announced that we had "won " the Olympics. I was standing in a client's kitchen and through my head went the words "we are going to be bankrupt". I had no interest in economics and it was before the credit crunch, so I felt it was an omen.
The following day was 7/7. Probably we were already bankrupt back then but of course borrowing from private bankers by the government has put us into never to be repaid debts. It is a scary prospect.
Also my rent just increased by £8.00 per week!! My income has not gone up and is not likely to.
PS I have just had a chocolate binge! ;)
Cx
Paul McCartney was truly awful in my opinion. I remember just saying "why?" After the special event of the final part of the torch bearers and the copper flowers lighting the cauldron collectively I was left in awe, so proud and so, well emotional really, and then that performance.
I'm actually upset to read that the American's choose to leave out the 7/7 tribute. I'm not sure why I'm upset but I am.
As for honest posts. Huh? This is Gildersleeve's blog. A collective of his thoughts, many of them tooing and frooing of what will happen, which way to turn, what his thinks.. er but actually I hadn't thought about that. It's not a made up story, it's a thought process being typed out.
Thank you Michelle,
For unbiased comment. Opinions are formed from what we see and hear around us and circumstances we find ourselves. Over many years or even days.
If I blog about something today, tomorrow something might see a different take on it.
If I am feeling down/worried, tomorrow if I feel upbeat that could change what I write. Do I go back and alter/delete previous posts?
That's why some of the not so nice comments were allowed to stay.
As for the opening ceremony even I concede that it was as good as any other and was spectacular. And as much as I like Paul McCartney it was not his best performance. That the lighting of the cauldron was probably a good place to stop.
Nothing else needed adding to it.
Perhaps his performance should have been included earlier.
Carol,
As you will have seen I have to fill one of those dreaded forms in and fear what the outcome will be.
I know when Mum's money is released money will be tight, well in sense any help I receive stops.
In another way her savings will be a buffer so I probably am safe for a couple of years but my cushion for emergencies will dwindle quite quickly.
How awful to think Mum's savings can disappear so quickly.
Then if I apply for help again, no one knows that I'll qualify. That I will receive enough(I know most of what I am entitled to changes in name)some are scrapped, amounts paid reduced, criteria changed so you may not qualify, some will have a time limit on them. Some will be capped.
Then we have the Bedroom Tax, if you do get help paying the council tax the 25% reduction will be reduced to 15% and...utility bills, food and rent will increase.
You need savings to fall back on but if you have any that goes against you and again using Mum's as an example you cannot have much.
So they just keep making you poorer and that makes it more difficult to keep the standard of living you have.
You saved money on your gas and now you have to pay it towards your rent. But should the gas go up again, you'll be trying to divert money from somewhere else or having to use the CH less. It's not as if you cam just put your prices up.
Private customers are probably already struggling to pay for your services and you don't want to lose work.
And if you work at an office or whatever you have probably signed a long term contract.
No wonder you need a chocolate binge...
It's alright keep telling me "you'll be fine" I don't know.
I suspect there are many who don't.
This is the real world...I was protected to some extent when Mum was alive.
Yes the "honest posts" comment was rather odd, but of course we shall never know what anon meant as he/she has vowed to to stop reading and posting ;).
Cx
We shall see...
I will eat something soon, well I have some of last nights meal I can cook up again and I can add to it.
Honesty?
Here's some(sorry if I go down in anyone's opinion)
I have slept or lazed most of today away. I have not eaten. That's not good. The form is a worry and I am concerned about my coming financial situation.
I mean I will have to attend a medical with that hated private company and if I don't qualify for that benefit that replaces DLA, I am in serious trouble.
It is bad enough coming to terms with losing Mum but this too.
Even the CAB would probably be unable to advise yet on what's coming.
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