As much as I utilize the interwebs, which is alot, I grew up without it, was in my mid 40's before I really started to delve in.  So at times I wish for the time when you had to read an actual paper ( that took time so verification of stories and shoot from the hip reporting was not so prevalent.

Or you had to go to the library to get books and do research. I miss libraries, the smell, the quiet and everything that goes with it.  I know they are still there and I could still go there but . . .

It would be a bit of an adjustment but I could go back with little trouble.  Unlike younger people that grew up with it and would be lost.

This is what the overt pressures of a 24/7 PC-mentality has wrought.

People need to get a grip.

People need to get a grip.

This is what the overt pressures of a 24/7 PC-mentality has wrought.

People need to get a grip.

People need to get a grip.

I heard about the latest 'scandal' of the Olympics, the morning drive jocks talked about it. Just after Gabby Douglas won the gold, Bob Costas made some remarks about young African-American girls seeing Gabby and realizing they could pursue that dream too. All well and good so far. Then go to commercial...

Shot opens with a spider monkey (?) in an Olympic uniform, on the rings. With voiceover like 'He has trained for years, just for this event'. In a spectacularly bad coincidence, NBC was promoting a new show, called 'Animal Kingdom' or something, and their promo featured a monkey doing gymnastics.

I saw it live last night and didn't think anything of it, but apparently it has blown up into a big deal, with accusations of racism and worse.

It's out on the interwebs, should be easy to find if you want to see.

The women swimmers have been very impressive as a group.

Actually, all of the U.S. swimmers have been impressive as a group.

Rebecca Soni.
She's from NJ!

Oh I know they're out there... but prime time is the only chance I get (forget streaming), and it's been gymnastics and swimming every night so far. 

Fencing would be cool to watch. Basketball is NBA vs. the world - nothing much there. Badminton? I can play that out back. How does badminton get to be an Olympic sport? 

which reminds me - I see golf is lined up to be an official sport in 2016.
 

badminton, basketball, fencing...

i've been pretty impressed with them both, great to watch. and with rebecca (forget her last name).

Rebecca Soni.
She's from NJ!

Agreed, Steeler.

So ... are there any events other than gymnastics, swimming, and beach volleyball? 
 

i've been pretty impressed with them both, great to watch. and with rebecca (forget her last name).

Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte both have stood tall in London. 

Phelps obviously struggled internally with whether to continue after capturing 8 Golds in Beijing.  He knew there was no way but down from that  pinnacle of pinnacles.  He probably knew he could not physically do what was necessary to be able to do that, and, even if he could, there were fates in play (2 Golds won by a touch, one individual and one relay) that were unlikely to be replicated.

And, by all accounts, including his own, he has grown.  He appears to be thoroughly enjoying this Olympics, and he is still performing at a champion's level.  He no longer dominates; he is no longer superman.  And he concedes that his training was not quite what it should have been, having taken off large chunks of 3 years before committing himself in the final year or so leading up to the Games.  His talent is immense, which is why he still is able to pick up 2 Golds, 2 Silvers, with possibly more to come.  And he accepts the disappointments (4th in the 400IM and an especially disappointing Silver in the butterfly) with exceeding grace and equanimity. There is life on the other side of the mountain (Mt. Everest in his case), and it is good. It has been a rare treat to watch him perform in this Olympics.

Lochte, too, has shown remarkable composure and humility.  He dared to declare himself as in position to scale the Phelps-style mountain, and he has slipped and descended a bit in the attempt.   If he did not know before, he knows now how unbelievable Phelps was in 2008.  One thing about Lochte is that you could always see the respect he held for Phelps and their rivalry.

It has been a sporting joy to watch both compete, struggle, and achieve.

Tremendous competitors. Tremendous sportsmanship.

They have captured the Olympic ideal.   

                       

Agreed, Steeler.

So ... are there any events other than gymnastics, swimming, and beach volleyball?