[Carolyn Tillie]

There's lots of other discussions which could be merged here, but I'll start by an interesting bit I saw on the production of the medals

[Jaymes]

And was it just me, or did anyone else find the opening ceremonies a bit, um, boring?

It did have its moments and I know it's not fair to compare it with China's, but still...

[SLBunge]

And was it just me, or did anyone else find the opening ceremonies a bit, um, boring?

It did have its moments and I know it's not fair to compare it with China's, but still...

I thought that the opening ceremonies were quite a bit better than China's. The floor projection effects were great. And much less reserved with more emotional content. I'm thinking specifically of the fiddling/tap segment, the poet, and K.D. Lang's version of Hallelujah. China's version was over the top but so incredibly controlled that it was boring for me.

[nuxvomica]

And was it just me, or did anyone else find the opening ceremonies a bit, um, boring?

It did have its moments and I know it's not fair to compare it with China's, but still...

i wasn't paying attention to every little bit but kd lang was the highlight for me.

[prasantrin]

If only the tappers' feet matched the sounds of the taps. . .

The highlights for me were k. d. lang and Donald Sutherland. Who'd have thunk Donald Sutherland?? I'm not sure why Wayne Gretzky got to light the cauldron (two of them, at that--they should have let Catriona Le May Doan light the outside one after the malfunction), but I was happy to see they let Betty Fox play a role.

[flyfish]

Who'd have thunk Donald Sutherland??

Well, he IS Canadian, even though he hasn't lived here in years. His late ex-father-in-law (Keifer's grandfather) was even voted The Greatest Canadian.

(Painterman's friend and mentor was Donald's college roommate and they still are good friends - so we have a short degree of separation there!)

ETA: if anyone wants to see Ashley MacIsaac performing more of The Devil in the Kitchen:

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I'm half Caper so this stuff is really hard-wired in me

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[prasantrin]

Yes, but he's a bit. . .odd! Don't get me wrong, I love Donald. But he definitely wasn't the first person I'd have thought of to be given such an "honour".

I was actually quite surprised by the inclusion of Ashley MacIsaac. After all the brouhaha over his behaviour a decade-ish ago, I would've thought he'd have been persona non grata. I'd not seen or heard anything about him until last night.

[flyfish]

Yes, but he's a bit. . .odd! Don't get me wrong, I love Donald. But he definitely wasn't the first person I'd have thought of to be given such an "honour".

Odd perchance, but an internationally-known Canadian. They basically had every one of those there.

I was actually quite surprised by the inclusion of Ashley MacIsaac. After all the brouhaha over his behaviour a decade-ish ago, I would've thought he'd have been persona non grata. I'd not seen or heard anything about him until last night.

Oh, gosh, what with gay marriage being legal and all, a little golden shower action isn't going to, er, piss anybody off now!

[bloviatrix]

If only the tappers' feet matched the sounds of the taps. . .

The highlights for me were k. d. lang and Donald Sutherland. Who'd have thunk Donald Sutherland?? I'm not sure why Wayne Gretzky got to light the cauldron (two of them, at that--they should have let Catriona Le May Doan light the outside one after the malfunction), but I was happy to see they let Betty Fox play a role.

Are you serious that you don't understand why they chose Gretzky? Are you sure you're Canadian? Did you not spend your Saturday nights at home watching Hockey Night in Canada? I mean, he's THE GREAT ONE.

[Jaymes]

And was it just me, or did anyone else find the opening ceremonies a bit, um, boring?

It did have its moments and I know it's not fair to compare it with China's, but still...

i wasn't paying attention to every little bit but kd lang was the highlight for me.

Me, too. Ethereal.

[prasantrin]

Did he pee on people, too? I don't remember that one. I only remember the flashing, the supposed racist remarks, the cancelled concerts, and the general bad-boyness (possibly all due to his drug addiction). There was a period of time when he really was persona non grata--there was a lot of backlash against him.

Regardless, he can fiddle like nobody's business! In terms of that, I'm glad they chose him over Natalie MacMaster. She's good, but I think Ashley is better (not that I know much about fiddling. . . )

I read that Donald Sutherland also did a lot of the voiceovers for the ceremonies (most of them were dubbed over in Japan, so I didn't hear much of him).

Bryan Adams--could he be any stiffer? I've never been a fan.

I wonder if there was something wrong with the sound system, so the tracks the performers were getting in their earpieces were slightly off from what was broadcasted to the audience. That could explain the bad lip synching.

One last shout out to the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis dancers who performed. Props to them for lasting so long! I'm watching part of the ceremonies (being rebroadcast for the 3rd time) again. I want a drum, too.

When they lower those symbols of the first nations, inuit, and metis, the things look like giant penis projectiles. They probably didn't consider that when they designed them.

[ghostrider]

When they lower those symbols of the first nations, inuit, and metis, the things look like giant penis projectiles. They probably didn't consider that when they designed them.

I thought they looked like giant doobies, extending the motif that they started with the torches. But I'm not well these days.

[bloviatrix]

Lindsey Vonn's shin injury is proof of the Sports Illustrated cover jinx. Did she not know the risk she faced when she posed for that cover?

[prasantrin]

If only the tappers' feet matched the sounds of the taps. . .

The highlights for me were k. d. lang and Donald Sutherland. Who'd have thunk Donald Sutherland?? I'm not sure why Wayne Gretzky got to light the cauldron (two of them, at that--they should have let Catriona Le May Doan light the outside one after the malfunction), but I was happy to see they let Betty Fox play a role.

Are you serious that you don't understand why they chose Gretzky? Are you sure you're Canadian? Did you not spend your Saturday nights at home watching Hockey Night in Canada? I mean, he's THE GREAT ONE.

Ya, but I hate hockey. I like watching hockey players skate, but I'm not fond of the game (I've only been to two hockey games in my life, both non-professional). I'm naturalized, not Canadian-born, so I'm allowed. Although Betty Fox was never a professional athlete, I'd have given the honour to her over Wayne Gretzky. The Terry Fox Foundation encourages people to participate in something physical, but also meets a more meaningful (in my opinion) goal of raising money for cancer research. Although in that case, maybe it should go to Darrell Fox, who is now the head of the Terry Fox Foundation, and who accompanied Terry Fox for part of the run.

[flyfish]

Regardless, he can fiddle like nobody's business! In terms of that, I'm glad they chose him over Natalie MacMaster. She's good, but I think Ashley is better (not that I know much about fiddling. . . )

Yes, Ashley was a major f*ck-up, but that was ten years ago. And his fiddling still kicks ass.

Did you know she is his cousin and they took lessons together? I still can't believe she married Donnell Leahy. Fiddling is, er, so incestuous.