OK--whose job was it to choose the background for McCain's acceptance speech? It's wrong on so many different levels.

First, most of what is at his level is green. Yes, green. As in the horrible background color that got so much criticism when he had his first big speech as the nominee. And now it's blue. This is just screaming for another Colbert challenge.

Second, the first big picture that was behind him was a huge beautiful house. Considering he didn't know how many houses he owned when he is asked, and the country is in the middle of a housing crisis caused in part due to deregulation, added to many criticisms about the overall wealth of the leaders of the Republican Party, and it just seems like a bad idea.

The protestors are amusing to me. Particularly the response to them, which is actually more disruptive to the speech than the protesters themselves.

There is more I could say, but I think I'll work on a more comprehensive entry on my thoughts on the campaign (esp. Palin) for later. Now to watch the speech, in the interest of fair and balanced viewing. :)

I love going to Georgetown. The classes and professors are wonderful, and I love DC. But sometimes the administration leaves something more to be desired...

I got an email from the "Registration and Audit Specialist" this morning. The following (very scary) paragraph was in the body:

As of August 31, 2008 you have earned 47 of 84 required academic credits and 3.50 of 6.00 required semesters in residence♦. In order to complete your degree requirements you will need to complete 37 academic credits during the 2008-2009 Academic Year. Within your remaining credit requirements you also need to meet the following academic requirements:

Required first year curriculum – complete
Upperclass legal writing requirement (WR) – complete
Course in professional responsibility - need to complete

One major problem--as a joint degree student, I have lower credit hour requirements, and my enrollment at the policy school counts towards the residency semesters.

So I emailed this specialist asking her to check her information against the correct requirements. WHile I was composing this email, I got an "updated" audit, containing the exact same paragraph plus an additional line to check with a Dean if I have questions about my joint degree.

But I went ahead and sent the email I was composing. Within minutes I received a reply, confirming I was on track and alerting me to the fact that she had sent a second audit confirming my joint degree status. And, I suppose, if you consider the extra sentence an actual audit and enrollment confirmation a true update, she's correct. Completely unhelpful, but correct.

As Gabe put it, though, I suppose it's a victory that they don't have me listed as an undergraduate.

Prior to Anne's wedding, I headed over to good old East Lansing to check out this year's Spartan Band. It was a pretty tame practice (though I did get a chance to see some of the cool changes in Pregame!), but it was good to revisit some of my old haunts. Weird, but nice.

( Highlights of my trip down memory lane )

So, for those of you who haven't seen these on Facebook (and since not all the pictures are mine), here are some of my favorite pictures from my trip to Michigan for Anne's wedding!

( Pictures )

During the parade of nations, I have quite a bit of time on my hands, so I thought I'd go ahead and share my thoughts on the opening ceremony instead of procrastinating until I never get around to it....

I have been looking forward to these ceremonies ever since they announced that China would be hosting this year. While I may have issues with the government and their policies, I have always thought that the ancient Chinese culture is absolutely beautiful, so I knew they really had the ability to do it right. Plus, while an authoritarian Communist regime is anything but the best way to govern, but there's something to be said over having the power to just hand out English booklets to cabbies and saying "Learn this!"

Plus, the architecture that has been developing has been exciting to me, as well. It's just all so beautiful and iconic that you just have this feeling from the images that something HAS to happen.

And the Chinese did not disappoint me. As the director of the ceremonies said to Matt Lauer, they had the people, and they used them! I've had issues in the past few Games because they chose obscure themes and then created visuals that were TINY in comparison to the scale of the stadium and the event. Not so here! While there were definite symbolic things that needed a bit of explanation from the announcers (more about them below), there was no question that 2008 people at a time can create a visual image that is mind boggling. Add giant LED screens that go around the entire stadium and more fireworks than DC on July 4 (not that NBC really showed them...), and you have an incredible spectacle. (Though I think there were only about 3 women outside of the all-woman portion of the show in the ceremony).

I enjoyed the Chinese national anthem--it's fun! I liked the little throw the soldier gave to the flag as a flourish to start it up the flagpole. And is there a fan built into the flagpole so the flag is always waving? It doesn't look like there is any other movement in the stadium, yet the flag is practically straight. If so, that's a really cool idea.

That said, I miss my days at MSU where I could substitute CBC coverage for NBC. Not only did they delay the coverage for 12 hours (check out the story here)
but they broke up everything into <5 minute segments (and covered some things up with commercials) and had some truly inane announcing. I mean, discussing ordering a Big Mac at McDonald's in the middle of the ceremony? Having NBC's China guy there to explain some of the cultural things was a great touch, but there was still way too much talking and sharing of useless information.

One advantage of the delay and editing of the ceremony is the chance to abbreviate the parade of nations somewhat. Still, I think it's telling when there's a country--I don't remember which one, but it comes somewhere in the English alphabet just after Canada--that emails NBC asking them not to cut to commercial and not show them, as was the normal tradition for the ceremonies. At least I think NBC is showing at least a snippet of every country that comes in during their commercial breaks, so that's a bit better. Especially since the outfits are a lot of fun, especially with the countries with a very strong cultural dress. Ralph Lauren wanted the US to have a bit more of a polished look for these Games and reclaim the position of statesmen, and I rather like the 8-piece look. Of course, it seems like almost all the non-folk dressers are going in the sports-coat look. [Except Australia. They're going super casual.] Still, as the athletes gather in the infield of the stadium (and then flock around Kobe Bryant to take pictures!), it's creating a great picture.

I also admire all the cheerleaders along the athletes' route. They are still going strong after an incredibly long period of time since the entrance of the athletes began. I see they have water bottles on their hips, and they need it! And the the music has been fun. They have music from all over the world, but the thing that made me laugh the hardest is when the bagpipes started up, playing what the Spartan Tenors call the "Scottish Ditty." Let's just say I was highly amused. [Note--I have now heard it at least 4 times. It's not quite as funny the 3rd time around.)

Also, I like the idea of everyone walking across giant stamp pads to leave their footprints on the painting that was featured and made during the ceremony. If I were there, I would ask some of the larger guys in my delegation to pick me up after I got a bit of paint on my shoes and carry me about halfway across, to the point where all the color starts to die out because people run out of ink on their shoes. Then they could put me down in the mostly white portions, and my footprints would be more visible! But then, I suppose that would be a bit egotistical. :)

The cheer for China's delegation gave me chills. Yao Ming made a striking picture carrying the flag about a mile above the stadium floor. And then the story of the little boy with him! This is why I love the Olympics.

Also, I just saw a car commercial that features a Brandi Carlile song ("The Story"). BOOOOOOO!!!

Running along the red carpet on the screen on the top of the stadium is an AWESOME (truly) way to light the torch. Right up there with Muhammad Ali in Atlanta and the archer in Barcelona. Plus, to have the torch hidden until about half an hour before the lighting, only for it to appear over the top of the stadium was a nice touch. Too bad NBC is the worst network ever and cut off the fireworks in the middle of the display. Not to mention--where was the Olympic Oath? You know someone took it for all the athletes, but NBC, in their monopoly blow-a-big-raspberry-to-the-US glory, decided that Visa ads were more important.

The Braves baseball world was saddened today by the loss of Skip Caray, who has been an announcer for them since 1976. Along with the other announcers, he would broadcast on both radio and TV--until a few years ago, two teams of two announcers each would broadcast half a game on TV, half a game on radio. As a result, his voice is at the heart of some of my greatest memories of the Braves. His knowledge of the Braves organization and baseball in general was absolutely awesome, in the truest sense of the word.

I'm happy that he got to work with his sons, both of whom have followed in his (and their grandfather's) footsteps in becoming sports announcers. Unfortunately, Chip found out about his father's death in the middle of the Angels/Yankees game today when his father (who has been really really sick for some time) didn't wake up from a nap this afternoon.

Even if the Braves had changed the way they did radio and TV announcing, Skip's voice and skills will be greatly missed.

Seriously--if you get caught up in the wonderful world that is animals on YouTube, don't blame me!!!

First up is the sappy:



Next is the funny (Note: this is actually a gibbon, an ape, not a monkey, but it's still funny):


Finally, not an animal video. But at the baseball game tonight, they did the Kiss Cam. They were going through, and then all of a sudden the music switched to "All By Myself" and there was a lone male Phillies fan, looking rather tired and dejected (at that point, his team was behind). In a section that, but for him, was EMPTY. He sat there for a few minutes, until an usher came up and pointed out the fact that he was on the big screen. The entire stadium was laughing, and his reaction of startlement, followed by embarrassment and a little amusement. But it was a great moment that the whole stadium, including the many Phillies fan, enjoyed.

Your Superhero Name Generator is

The Illustrious Crusader

Get your Superhero Name Generator at Quizopolis.com

May i just say that I LOVE the latest HP commercial? It's for their touch-screen computer, and it features a young guy conducting to a cool piece, and his movements cause pictures, words, images to fly around. Not only is the music great, and the visuals beautiful, but I like the fact that it features a conductor!

Also, the next time the Dunkin' Donuts commercial featuring people cleaning up after an all-night party comes on (or the next time you watch it here, make sure to look carefully. Does anyone else see anything odd when she pulls the shoe out of the aquarium? Be sure to listen, as well.

I talked Gabe into taking a study break and going to see The Dark Knight with me today.

That's right, on opening day!!!

No spoilers, but I will say that it was AWESOME. Not only was the storyline great, but the performances were incredible. Yes, it was pretty sad seeing Heath Ledger on screen for the last time, but his performance is everything the critics say it is.

The whole movie was absolutely wonderful. And the theater was packed, but because everyone was so excited to see the movie, the only bad thing about the full house was the lack of good AC. Still worth it, though!