[PRCo] Re: Wanted To Share This With You

[Derrick Brashear]

On Aug 5, 2012, at 13:10, John Swindler <j_swindler at hotmail.com> wrote:

>   Your right - Pistorius represents South Africa.  I missed the explanation of the prosthetic legs/blades, but did catch his qualifying run.  Coverage is being provided on at least three channels - if don't like NBC, then elsewhere can watch Bulgaria and Brazil (???) in volleyball.   Some of the competitors comments are interesting.  I particularly liked Gabby's comment that medals are from "blood, sweat and tears" - this from a 16 year old.  Others look sullen when they screw up and don't get their expected gold.  Happened to women gymnast today.  But they are a cross of humanity - most seem generally thankful just to be able to compete, and then there are those with the big egos on display.  Guess you have to be strong willed to compete at that level. The Phelps story is rather amazing.  Other swimmers commented that they had the misfortunate to compete at same time he was dominating the sport.
> Yes, definitely liked the opening ceremony with the Queen playing the part as the new Bond girl.  Only in England.  Last night one of the NBC commentators traveled north to Glasgow to take in a celtic rock band.  Also got fitted for kilt and tried playing a bagpipe.  Also saw some scenes from Cotswolds, but dont' remember if Olympic coverage or something else.  Great and comfortable place to visit.  But as Winston Churchill once commented - "two nations separated by a common language." Don't necessarily have to focus on London.  Past several trips have avoided London and instead visited the countryside.  London's expensive, as are most major towns. Also digressing from theme of this site, the coverage of the football hall of fame inductees was sobering, particularly Curtis Martin.  Something to think about.  Martin is from Pittsburgh.  http://www.foxsportsohio.com/08/05/12/Martins-candid-speech-caps-HOF-ceremony/landing.html?blockID=771497&feedID=3800  


For a moment I was surprised because hey, he's my age (he went to Allderdice with my wife). then i remembered we're 39.

oh right. never mind.

> CheersJohn     > From:!
>  hrbran at cavtel.net
>> Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2012 12:37:14 -0400
>> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Wanted To Share This With You
>> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org
>> 
>> Thanks Dwight for the information.
>> John,
>> Many of the additional benefits of watching these Olympic Games are the
>> excellent views of different areas of London. It's a great city. I was
>> there once and would very much like to go again. NBC's Today Show does a
>> good job of showing different areas of London and explaining some of the
>> differences between US and UK lifestyles. For me the men's and women's
>> swimming events, the volleyball, running events, and rowing events have
>> proved the most exciting. The US has a new generation of excellent men and
>> women athletes making their mark on these games. You mentioned an
>> Australian runner with no legs, I'm thinking perhaps you meant Oscar
>> Pistorius from South Africa. The original International Association of
>> Athletics Federations (IAAF) ruling, four years ago, is quoted here:
>> 
>> ""A study for the IAAF by Peter Bruggeman, at the German Sport University
>> in Cologne, compared Mr. Pistorius with five able-bodied athletes of
>> similar ability.
>> 
>> "Pistorius was able to run with his prosthetic blades at the same speed as
>> the able-bodied sprinters with about 25 per cent less energy expenditure,"
>> the report concluded. It said that the returned energy from the prosthetic
>> blades was close to three times higher than that of the ankle joint.
>> 
>> "It is evident that an athlete using the Cheetah prosthetic is able to run
>> at the same speed as able-bodied athletes with lower energy consumption,"
>> the report added.
>> 
>> The findings have been unanimously endorsed by the IAAF ruling council,
>> which decreed that Mr. Pistorius should not be allowed to run in Beijing or
>> in any other meeting sanctioned by the world governing body.""
>> 
>> This year that ruling was reversed and he is now allowed to run and, of
>> course, won his qualification. I'm a bit skeptical about substituting
>> titanium for flesh and bone. We'll have to see how this plays out.
>> 
>> The Opening Ceremony was definitely "all British" and the part Queen
>> Elizabeth played in it was excellent. So, like I said before, take a
>> look...........it's on the telly all day, every day.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> Herb Brannon
>> In Cuyahoga Valley National Park
>> 
>> 
>> 
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