Canadian Story

I am working on a story out of the National Post in Canada, I will get it up as soon as possible but it may take till tommorow.

Day 4

Day 4 is done! The medal counts have changed. Using the same process I have explained already (based on total number of gold medals won), the top three are: China, USA, Australia. If we were counting total medals the order is: USA, China, Australia. Canada has dropped a few spots in the standings with still only having one bronze medal. They sit in a 6-way tie for 36th (yes, that means that 41 countries have won medals already). CBC results has the complete list of the medal count.

Phelps v. Thorpe

High expectations are the name of the game at the Olympics. But do we often set the bar too high? Take Michael Phelps, the 19-year old swimmer from Baltimore and Ian Thorpe the 21-year old from Sydney, Australia. Two very, very talented swimmers. Michael Phelps is simply known as Michael Phelps. Ian Thorpe is known as the Thorpedo. You tell me, who do you think is going to win a race? Ok, granted there really isn't much of a nickname you can come up with when using Michael Phelps, still who would you rather cheer for. Phelps and Thorpe didn't race each other the first day and they both managed to win their respective races. The first time they met, they and their teams were both defeated by the South Africans. The next time they met it was Thorpe on top. Today was race day again. It was the 4X200m freestyle relay, and after losing the last time around, the Aussies and the Americans weren't about to be beat again. Today it was a battle for 3rd, as it was a near garuntee that either the Aussies or Americans that would take the gold and likely silver. True to form the Americans and Aussies made it a battle, the Americans sending Phelps out first to get a lead over the Aussies. The aussies sent a different strategy, they waited to send the power till the end. Phelps kept a sizable lead on the Aussies in the first leg. As the race wore on it really did become a battle for thrid. The Americans sent all they could at the Aussies and when the Thorpedo hit the water, the race was on. The winners, the Americans. However, Phelps dream of beating the Mark Spitz record.

I suppose now is a good time to pause and talk a bit about Mark Spitz. An American swimmer, who competed in the 1972 Olympics in Munich, set 7 world records in 7 different races winning 7 gold medals. Everyone said the Phelps was the new Spitz.

Now it's clear, Michael Phelps will not win 7 gold medals. The most he can take is 5. Of course he and Thorpe will come out with a medal in every race they are in but it's a matter of color. As Americans cheer on Phelps and get mad at Thorpe. I'm torn...

Let's talk about the Canadians. They can't seem to win a race, they can't even seem to qualify for the final (with a couple of exceptions). I live in the United States, however, I still don't know who to cheer for. Maybe you can help me out. Should I cheer for my failing native Canada? Or should I cheer for my current residence country, the winning America? Or maybe I should cheer for the Aussies, who for the most part I just like the color? Before giving your opinion, I'm only talking about in the pool. And also if you don't care at all about the olympics I want to know that as well and why you don't care. More to come...maybe

As night falls on Day 3

Olympics, day 3 is done. Day 4 starts bright and early tommorow morning USA/Canada time. Canada while they haven't been doing to poorly also has not been doing that great. The Canadians have one medal so far. It came today in syncronized diving. From the 10m platform Emilie Heymans and Blythe Hartley performed extremely well and captured the bronze, although they did drop a spot at the end. In the medal count Canada sits in a 7-way tie for 31st. The United States sits 4th, based on a majority of gold medals. What do I mean by that? By a strict medal count, the United States is tied for 2nd along with Australia, they both have 13 medals. But Japan has 2 more golds than the US, therefore, Japan is placed higher even though they have half the medals that the Americans have. For more information about the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad check out CBC.ca or for you Americans NBC.com.

Welcome to Athens

"Good evening from Athens, Greece and welcome to these the games of the XXVIII (28th) Olympiad" With these words CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corparation) host Brian Williams began CBC's near round the clock coverage of the Olympic Summer Games live from Athens, Greece. For those of you living in Canada, this is not news. For those of you in the United States, you're getting screwed once again by NBC. They claim it's better to have 5 networks, right, in Canada you never have to change the channel. CBC coverage begins tommorow morning at 4 a.m. PT, Canadians enjoy, for those of you in the United States ummmm....I'll try to keep up, but I may not get up at 4 a.m. to watch the games we'll see. Look for Olympic blogging over the next 16 days right here on the E Street Opinions page.

Been Slow

Ok, I know I'm bad, I haven't put anything up in a quite some time. Its mostly because I haven't come across anything good. And that's not to say that good only applies to things that prove Democrats wrong but I just happen to side a little more with the right than the left. During his Democratic National Convention acceptance speech, presidential candidate Sen. John F. Kerry (D-MA) lied. And here is the proof from The Union Leader. It may be a small lie but it's a lie none the less.

Sergeant Brad Crawford

I know I said I was off this week and I am. However, there is one thing I need to talk about. Today I was a part of a memorial service remembering Clark County Sheriffs Deputy Sergeant Brad Crawford. Sergeant Crawford lost his life in the line of duty last friday as his patrol car was rammed by a suspect. I know one of his sons. My heart goes out to the Crawford family. For more information you can probably do a online search or check out the local paper The Columbian.
(The emotional radio call as spoken in the service)
(beeps heard)"One X-Ray 68 Seargent Brad Crawford... (silence) One X-Ray 68 Sergeant Brad Crawford... (silence) One X-Ray 68 Seargent Brad Crawford... gone forever but never forgotten..."

Sorry,

I will have full anaylsis of tonight's John Kerry speech either first thing in the morning or later tonight. That's all that's going on pretty much. I'm off for the remainder of this week and all of next week. I may post I may not but have a good time and I'll talk to you soon.

Canada Beef

From Washington Associated Press: A recall in the meat industry. Quaker Maid Meats of Reading, Pennsylvania is recalling 170,000 pounds of hambuger patties that contain Canadian beef. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that meat should not have been imported from Canada, particularly after the rules imposed after the Mad Cow Disease cases in Canada. The USDA says the meat is safe because it's from cattle not old enough to have mad cow disease. Ummmm...WHY RECALL IT THEN!!!!!!!!!!! I mean come on if it's deemed safe for human consumption why bother recalling it. I would think the USDA has better things to do with it's time then manage how much Canadian beef is in Quaker Maid Meats products, but what do I know. Yes, I suppose it has something to do with the fact that I am Canadian and I love Canadian beef (particularly Alberta beef) but come on. The Mad cow thing is over, open the borders up to let the beef in. Hey, to you liberals out there this is one of the times that I actually disagree with the current administrations policy. That's my two cents.

Bad Me

Ok, I know I've been bad, I haven't published anything for a few days and I'm sorry but I have a couple of "low hanging" stories. First from CNN.com a man is being charged with murder after he was in an accident because he was watching a DVD on his DVD player. DVD players for vehicles are not supposed to be able to play unless the vehicle is in park or neutral.

Also from Channel 4 WTAEThe Pittsburgh Channel. A couple was maced, that's all I'm going to say. I really don't understand the reason behind this on at all. Email me with you're comments and the like please, I really want to know what you think. Or sign in on the left. Later