Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Talk about issues...

Unfortunately, my commitment to eating my way through San Francisco prevented me from sitting down and watching the Beijing opening ceremonies. However, I remain as disturbed as can be about the Milli-Vanilli-inspired 7 year old that was presented as the face of the amazing singing talent to the right (the real singer deemed too ugly to represent China).

"This was a last-minute question, a choice we had to make," the ceremony's musical designer, Chen Qigang, said. "Our rehearsals had already been vetted several times - they were all very strict. When we had the dress rehearsals, there were spectators from various divisions, including above all a member of the politburo who gave us his verdict: we had to make the swap."

Apparently, the actual singer "simply did not portray the image that the Chinese wanted to convey to the world".

Poor little buck-toothed girl!

On the upside... three cheers for the men's 4x100 relay! I'm convinced that Michael Phelps is a fish. Or at least part dolphin.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

A door is a door is a door...



Location: Shakespeare Festival, Southern Utah University, Utah

Text: "Caution! This is not a door!"

Interpretation: Please grab the handle to the right and proceed through the resulting opening, as to avoid breaking your face on the plane labeled "not a door."







Location: Some "trendy" (aka sketchy) bookstore, Broadway Street, San Francisco, California.

Text: "I am the door"

Interpretation: Please proceed.

Note: While the lack of a handle can surely be overcome with some well-placed force, the door's location is perplexing... along the back wall of the bookstore... underground (in the basement)... with no apparent destination in mind. Given the unsavory environment of Broadway as a whole... I'm not sure I want to go through that door.