CGI Olympics

I wasn't surprised to read this morning that the girl who sang at the Olympics just lip-synced and that it was actually another girl's voice. Another girl that the Chinese Olympics officials considered too homely to use in the ceremonies. Sad, but that's show biz I guess.

No, what really bothered me was finding out that those 29 fireworks footprints that I was so impressed with weren't real. They were just a CGI generated video that had been prepared long in advance. Only one of the 29 footprints actually went off. What the hell?!? Well, why stop there? It cost a fortune to build that bird's nest stadium to say nothing of the security protecting all those people. In 2012 London should consider a 100% CGI opening ceremonies. So what if the Chinese stadium can seat 90,000? London's CGI stadium can hold 100 million people! And they don't even have to install bathrooms. Yeah, I think that China's on to something here.

Opening of the Olympic Games

I always watch the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games live so I was ready at 8 am. yesterday to see the action in Beijing. I was really impressed with the ceremony. Beautifully done. Especially nice were the 29 fireworks footprints and the movable type "dance." The best opening ceremonies since 1996 in Atlanta.

Will this make a difference in terms of China becoming a better country? Maybe, but it's doubtful. China was awarded the Games seven years ago and has made very little progress in terms of environmental issues and human rights. With seven years and the pressure of the world community on them, China pretty much thumbed its nose at everyone. Why should the dictators change things? They've got a pretty good life.