What are these things?
The short answer is they are the cute salable mascots for the 2008 Summer Beijing Olympic Games.
The longer answer is they represent The Olympic Flame, The Giant Panda, The Tibetan Antelope, The Shayan Kite, and The Chinese Sturgeon.
The most recent answer is that they are The Bearer of Incendiary Strife, The Lord of Angry Earth, The Creature of Righteous Unrest, The Bearer of Unfortunate Wind, and The Bringer of Torrent and Flood.
Those are much more fun, don’t you think!
It seems the more superstitious of the Chinese suspect that these mascots are the causes of recent strife in China, respectively, the most problematic and protested olympic torch relay in history, the Sichuan earthquake, Tibetan protests, a train crash, and widespread flooding.
I am sympathetic, to these natural and man-influenced disasters, but I am quite humored that these cute, neo-corporate, marketing tools may be at the root cause of it all.
Somehow life is easier to bear for humans when there is some supernatural power causing all the problems.
July 11th, 2008
Posted by
bshirley |
inthenews, sports |
3 comments
I spent a nice evening watching the Astros with Cary Brock, Jim Henkel, and Tomas Escalante.
We started the evening at Inn at the Ballpark. A nice lobby to rangle a beer in preparation for the game.
A great game - a 2-4 4th inning. That was the final, a grand slam home run.
We had a nice traffic-scatter beer back at the Inn. Good conversation, a few strangers in on the conversation. And I think I sold Danielle and her “husband” on the roller derby in three weeks.
I’ve been listening to the Marfa radio since I got home, but haven’t heard Alderman David’s voice in the last 20 minutes. It’s recording, so perhaps I’ll make it available somewhere.
May 21st, 2008
Posted by
bshirley |
astros, family, houston, sports |
no comments
The chron reports (if you want to call it that) that the MOB is apologizing again. This time for calling an ex-coach a douche bag and intimating that Tulsa is in hell.
Boo hoo. I guess Tulsa alumni are the last little piggie.
November 28th, 2007
Posted by
bshirley |
houston, inthenews, sports |
one comment
Saturday afternoon - a nail-biter with UT barely taking home the win from Central Florida.
Went to the Astro Arena for a concert Friday night. Free tickets + $10 to park. The Killers were the main act. They added a super sucky opening opening band. Louis IV played second.
Louis IV was good, but like the entire night, the balance was super crappy. I think it’s indigenous to all large venues - pumping too much bass and sub-bass to inappropriate music, and leaving the vocals inaudible.
We left soon after the Killers started. I continue to be underwhelmed by them. They are now enhancing their tepidness with gaudy stage theatrics (which were at least a little cool).
I ran into Richard Naudin, Law, and Wiley at various times. Law: “The Killers? Really?” Me: “free tickets”.
Then I tried to get as much sleep as possible, then spent 11+ hours at Verison Wireless for The Governor’s Cup of Roller Derby - 4 bouts. Then several more hours at the after party. I slept hard after that.
Apparently while I was doing derby, the Texans won their game to be 2-0 for 2007. The 8-8 season may be within their grasp.
September 18th, 2007
Posted by
bshirley |
music, sports, weekend |
no comments
After a pre-season tailgate (JohnMarsha, Mary O, TG, and me) at the Texans/Bears (the rain reduced the heat) game Saturday night, then a late-night post-game card playing session, TG and I had brunch with Ericka and new beau.
It was 102°, the hottest it’s been in 4 years. We went to the Menil after eating, and noticed that 90+% of the patrons were wearing flip-flops or sandals. You have to vent that heat!
Magrite, Picaso, Warhol, Egyptian reliefs, much more and air conditioning. The light was good on Sunday, too. It didn’t feel too bad outside, actually. Just hot.
August 13th, 2007
Posted by
bshirley |
friends, houston, sports, weekend |
no comments
My friends John and Marsha were at the game and on the television on Sunday. They only live a few blocks from Wrigley Field, so they attend frequently. And if the Astros are in town, it can almost be guaranteed. I was getting ready for the Houston Roller Derby, so I missed them…
Marsha says “Did I mention that we had excellent seats?”
July 19th, 2007
Posted by
bshirley |
astros, friends, sports, television |
no comments
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