October 10, 2003
FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q: How do you feel about professional athletes competing in the Olympics?
MBís A: I donít think they should be allowed to compete. At first I was all for it ñ you know, ìUSA!, USA!î and all ñ but then after witnessing US athletes (especially our menís and womanís basketball teams) celebrate wildly after winning gold medals against sickly competition, I changed my mind. Toss in the fact that most professional athletes refuse to live in the Olympic Village and demand preferential treatment above and beyond what Olympians already receive, and I have little taste for the professionalizing of the what was once the greatest proletarian athletic spectacle on earth.
Q: What's your favorite song right now?
MBís A: Life For Rent, by Dido.
Q: If you lived in California, how would you have voted in this week's gubernatorial recall election?
MBís A: Plain and simpleÖ I would have voted no on the recall. No do-overs allowed!
Q: Do you pick your nose?
MBís A: Please, as if; course I do (and I know you do also)!
Posted by Mikal at October 10, 2003 5:08 AM
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1. Let 'em compete! Even though they get paid, they are athletes nonetheless.
2. Stacy's Mom by Fountains of Wayne.
3. No on the recall, then for Bustamante.
4. Yes. And I won't believe anyone who answers "No."
1. Don't throw anything at me, but I've never spent any time thinking about it. Off the cuff I'd just say that it doesn't seem very fair to have a person who gets paid to do nothing but play a particular sport competing against people who have to sacrifice a lot just to get together the time and money it takes to play that sport.
2. On the radio: Train's Calling All Angels. In my CD player a lot lately: Joan Jett's cover of Everyday People
3. Probably for Bustamante
4. Not when other people are looking. ; )
1. Hell yeah, let the suckers compete if they want to. The olympics is about showing off your nation's finest. I don't think they should get any special treatment, but should be treated like every other olympic athlete.
2. "Everyone deserves music" - by Spearhead
3. No recall, CA voted the sucker in, they should be accountable to their vote and the voting process.
4. Absolutely. If you answer no, you are completely lying;)
Originally I was not in favor of professional athletes in the Olympics, but then realized, the other countries athletes were professional. Some just get paid more than others. So let them play.
Oh, man, favorites song... I like so many. I tend toward older tunes, but lately been playing alot of Andrew LLoyd weber's stuff. I listen to music while on the computer and those are the ones I listen to most.
I would have never voted for Davis -- he looks like a bad Mr. Rogers imitation -- I liked Mr. Rogers, don't like Davis. So I probably would have voted for the recall. And, since Mel Gibson didn't run, I would have probably voted for Arnold. I think his heart is in the right place, he isn't in it for the power trip or money, and he has just as good a chance as the rest to correct things. Which is minimal. It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.
Sometimes you just got to!
1) Let them play, as long as they're the best.
2) Ella Fitzgerald & Joe Pass - At Last (A rediscovered oldie!)
3) Voted yes and for Tom McClintock
4) I'd type more but I'm too busy flicking this thing off my finger.
Q1: I thought that was a common, normal occurance. No?
Q2: I like Dido's new song "White Flag".
Q3: I would not have voted for a Republican.
Q4: Depends on the situation.
A: Let them all go at it. At that level of competition, there really is no distinguishing between Olympic "amateur" and "professional" athlete's. As long as the spirit of competition between nations is not lost, it should, by all means, continue unfettered by classifications that have little relevancy to determining the caliber of an athlete. Oddly enough, most Olympians have "turned" pro after the Olympics, seeing this arena as a right-of-passage. I'm curious what the statistics are for world record holders and their classification (were they an amateur or professional at the time of setting the record)?
A: I've been listening to mostly John Gorka lately, and especially appreciate his newest album, "Old Futures Gone", with the title song being my favorite - "Old Future".
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000BWVOP/qid=1065838928/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/002-8077052-8958437?v=glance&s=music&n=507846
A: Everyone does...and if they say they don't, their lying.
Forgot to answer your Q#3: I would have voted no recall. I don't agree with the validity of "recall". If no high crime or misdemeanor is being charged, then the democracy has spoken, and to "buy" a recall through political measures is unconstitutional. The state constitution should be stripped of the ability to recall. Impeachment and censorship should be the only tools available.
This CA. recall has created an environment of distrust, mis-placed opportunity, and indefensible allegations on both parties shoulders of the state congressional body. We have let political polarizing and special interests drive our democracy into the ground. No longer can we turn on news television or open a "responsible" newspaper without hearing nothing but "commentary" that is "spinned" as "fair and balanced" or "the truth".
As a nation, we have lost the grip on our ability to govern ourselves as a democracy. The media is telling us what our morality is and ought to be, going unchecked by the populace, generating more corporate leverage and dollars, and continuing to polarize Americans. This can only lead to intolerance and fear. Fear that is used to tear down individuals rights.
Brad, I have to agree with you on your comment regarding the recall. For whatever reasons, they did vote him into office and it is not a hire/fire job. I don't think who ever takes his place is going to be terribly effective getting the mess cleaned up. It's too big of a machine, just like our country, to be able to turn it around in a short time.
I also agree with your view of the press. I am tired of the press leading this country around by the nose. The citizens have no clue what is really going on in this country. Every once in awhile they pull their head out of the sand and say, "when did that happen?" It's a sad state of affairs. That's why I read blogs! Here I can hear what the average Joe or Brad or Mikal or Christina has to say. Thank you.
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