Fausta's Blog

American and Latin American Politics, Society, and Culture

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#Rio2016: The good, the bad, and the ugly

The good:

Phelps’s 6-pack has 6-packs!

The bad:
Authorities Evacuate Rio Basketball Venue, Detonate Unattended Backpack

A basketball venue was evacuated late Thursday as authorities carried out a controlled explosion on an unattended backpack, while police said they earlier arrested two Brazilian terrorism suspects as part of an operation aimed at curbing threats during the Olympic Games.

No-Show Volunteers, Food Shortages Add to Brazil’s Problems at Rio Games

A host of glitches are straining Brazil’s ability to deliver on its promise to make the first-ever Olympics in a developing-country democracy a success.

Shootings in Rio Favelas Continue Despite Heavy Security Presence

Shootouts in different neighborhoods in Rio injured a bystander and two police officers, as authorities struggle to contain violent crime during the Games despite mobilizing the largest security force in the city’s history.

‘Slum tourism’ spreads in Rio…

Microcosm alert: Stray bullets keep entering the Rio Olympics equestrian center

Dressage rider pulled out of Olympics to protect “My buddy, my friend, the horse that has given everything”

The ugly:
Israeli athletes in Rio endure ‘shocking’ hostility, taunting by Muslim nations

Defeated Egyptian judoka REFUSES to shake hands with Israeli rival after fans pressured him not to ‘shame Islam’ by taking part

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And today’s Boomer photo:

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Brazil: Second green pool at #Rio2016

First the diving pool, now the water polo pool,

Why?



Because they ran out of the chemicals.

It’s not as if they didn’t have years to plan for it / sarc.

In a happier note, here’s the US Swimming team car karaoke,

Now I want to know what car is that, which can fit so many tall people with so much head room?

And here’s what Boomer’s wearing today,



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Brazil: News from the #Rio2016 pools

Michael Phelps, the greatest Olympian of all time did it again, and it was fabulous. Boomer was there for his daddy,

Lilly King went at it, too. So did Katy Ledecky,

Meanwhile, the diving pool turned green, nobody knows why.

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Olympic pride: Thank you, Kobe, and Michael

With the exception of the men’s swimming relay (for which I stayed up last night in spite of not getting much sleep the night before), I haven’t been watching the Olympics, so I missed this:

Kobe Bryant Schools Liberal NBC Announcer On Patriotism (my bold print)

Chris Collinsworth: Tell the story when you first got your USA uniform.

Kobe Bryant: Well I had goosebumps and I actually just looked at it for awhile. I just held it there and I laid it across my bed and I just stared at it for a few minutes; just because as a kid growing up this is the ultimate, ultimate in basketball.

Collinsworth: Where does the patriotism come from inside of you? Historically, what is it?

Kobe: Well, you know it’s just our country, it’s… we believe is the greatest country in the world. It has given us so many great opportunities, and it’s just a sense of pride that you have; that you say “You know what? Our country is the best!”

Collinsworth: Is that a ‘cool’ thing to say, in this day and age? That you love your country, and that you’re fighting for the red, white and blue? It seems sort of like a day gone by(?)

Kobe: No, it’s a cool thing for me to say. I feel great about it, and I’m not ashamed to say it. I mean, this is a tremendous honor.

Video at Ms Underestimated has the video, which is also on YouTube, editorial bubbles and all:

However, Q&O sees Collingworth’s differently,

To me it seemed like Collinsworth was simply trying to set Kobe up to say how awesome patriotism is, and how much he loves America. If you’ve watched any Olympics coverage ever, then this is exactly the kind of saccharine backstory pablum fed to the viewers, regardless of who the interviewer is, or which network is providing the coverage. It’s a part of the basic formula: controversy, hard luck, sick/dead relative, USA! USA! USA! So I don’t think the question was Collinsworth’s opinion, but instead a softball for Kobe to tee off on.

Either way, thank you Kobe.

And Chris.

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The WSJ has a terrific slideshow of Michael Phelps winning his 8th gold medal.

All of us middle aged and older remember being excited when Mark Spitz won his seven golds.

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This week’s WSJ’s Five Best books on historical conquest, selected by David Day:

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This week’s shoes:
Merrell Encore

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