OT: Olympics start in a couple of weeks, aaaaaand ...

[Norm Peterson]

I'm looking forward to watching these Olympic Games as much as any in my lifetime for the same reason I always enjoyed watching the bad singers try out for American Idol; for the same reason that people slow down and rubber-neck as they drive by car crashes; for the same reason people can't seem to avert their gaze from a slow-motion train wreck.

 

It's going to be entertaining.  I'm looking forward to it.

 

 

[jimmykc]

Norm: Now we understand why you are the most prolific poster in the history of HHC.

[Norm Peterson]

Norm: Now we understand why you are the most prolific poster in the history of HHC.

 

Jimmy, the answer is pretty simple.  It's because I post more than other people.

 

(I have the advantage of having brief thoughts and I type really fast.  And I'm not on any social media, so no Facebook or tweeter or snapchart or anything like that.)

[HuskerFever]

I've been to Rio de Janeiro. Fantastic city, but expect the worst.

[atskooc]

Of the many things during my adulthood I have grown to not give a shit about, the Olympics are quickly moving to the top of the list.

[Huskerpapa]

With all of the tragic events occurring across the globe...I fear the worst and hope for the best.  Go USA!!!

 

I haven't played golf for three years, but thought they may need to drop down to me in order to get a golfer from the US to play...

 

Norm, you forgot to post a question regarding that pesky zika virus and the killer mosquitoes

[hal9000]

[jimmykc]

Just got around to looking at the poll results. It appears we have more Republicans than Democrats at HHC.

[trickey]

Just got around to looking at the poll results. It appears we have more Republicans than Democrats at HHC.

 

All right, Jimmy, I'll bite. How does this poll relate to party preference?

[jimmykc]

Nothing special, it was just a spin on all the pundits who opined that Trump's acceptance speech portrayed a very gloomy and dismal outlook on the world situation. i.e. all Republicans are pessimists who fail to appreciate the perfection of our Democratic government.

[trickey]

Nothing special, it was just a spin on all the pundits who opined that Trump's acceptance speech portrayed a very gloomy and dismal outlook on the world situation. i.e. all Republicans are pessimists who fail to appreciate the perfection of our Democratic government.

 

So you are telling me I crossed party lines!

[HuskerFever]

Now that we have a few votes locked in, let me touch on the key topics that Norm brought up:

 

1. Sewage/polluted water events?

- This is a HUGE issue in Rio. Back when Rio won the Olympics, they were contracted to build 4+ water treatment facilities but they only ended up building one. You'll notice a central theme here, but part of the reason for this is the corruption issues that Brazil has been facing for decades. I can't tell you who or how much of the money of the remaining 3+ water treatment facilities flowed to people and not contracts, but I guarantee it happened.

- I have personally seen locals releasing fluids and bowels in the rivers that flow out into the ocean. Their level of 'sanitary' is very different than ours.

- I would not swim in the rivers or oceans if I were you.

 

2. Terrorism?

- When I have been to Brazil, I haven't really faced this issue. The only thing I can speak to is that the favelas (slums) are a real thing. There is a very obvious divide between rich and poor. In the favelas, there are not police presence; they have things called "peace officers" which are locals who carry heavy ammo and guns and are very visible throughout the neighborhoods.

- Let's not be ignorant; we know there are people out there eying this major worldwide event.

 

3. Construction incompletion?

- As mentioned before, corruption is a huge issue. I have visited Petrobras (Brazilian Petroleum company) which was once a Top 10 world's highest revenue company. This company was involved in a $3B money laundering scandal, called Lava Jato (Operation Car Wash) which involved price-fixing and hiding money in various small expense accounts. To make matters worse, the Brazilian government owns a majority in most of the major companies in the country.

- This led to many Petrobras executives, government legislators, and a former Brazilian president getting convicted for this crime. This was tremendous news for the people of Brazil, because this was the first time in its history where the big powers were actually being held accountable.

- So with these construction issues, keep in mind the corruption, price-fixing, and government influence in attempting to keep most of the money with the government and high powers in corporations.

 

It's really a shame. Brazil has had the potential in the past 2-3 decades to really become a Top 5 powerhouse world economy, but they've continued to struggle with corruption and a large social class divide. Brazil's economy is heavily dependent on petroleum, agriculture (e.g. coffee, beef, sugarcane), and forestry. With the Petrobras scandal and the current global affect on petroleum prices, Brazil's economy has been hit hard. I really hope the best for Brazil, but there are so many underlying issues with that country that need to be fixed before the country can take that next step as a key player in the global economy. The Olympics this year is their chance to show what they have to offer to the world, but I don't have much confidence in their ability to cover up the media coverage of sewage/pollution, crime/terrorism, and incomplete construction.

[jimmykc]

All this and anacondas too.

[Norm Peterson]

All this and anacondas too.

 

And capybaras.

[Norm Peterson]

And so it begins:

 

Australia is refusing to move their athletes into the Olympic Village due to plumbing problems, exposed wiring, etc.  Alternative accommodations have been made.

 

Italy is bringing their own building crew of laborers including electricians, plumbers, and bricklayers to bring the facilities up to "normal standards" before their athletes move in.

 

I have a feeling not only will NBC not "hide" the problem of unfinished or poorly finished facilities, but they might make it a specific element of their coverage of the Olympics.

 

http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/36879349

[hhcmatt]

And so it begins:

 

Australia is refusing to move their athletes into the Olympic Village due to plumbing problems, exposed wiring, etc.  Alternative accommodations have been made.

 

Italy is bringing their own building crew of laborers including electricians, plumbers, and bricklayers to bring the facilities up to "normal standards" before their athletes move in.

 

I have a feeling not only will NBC not "hide" the problem of unfinished or poorly finished facilities, but they might make it a specific element of their coverage of the Olympics.

 

http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/36879349

 

Almost every Olympics faces the same problem. Should go as well as the Sochi Winter Olympics where everything ends up fine at the end.