posted on January 7, 2002 02:55:34 PM
I LOVE IT!
Its always the same. If you want to go to the Olympics... just wait until they come down to your price. These are going to be my 7th olympics...
posted on January 7, 2002 05:39:55 PM
Reamond: We've watched this all unfold! We lived in Ogden (30 miles north of SLC and home to the curling competitions AND Snowbasin downhill events) for 21 years and just moved to California last month.
We watched people begin to demand $1,000 a night to rent their homes--or parts of their homes--and now of course there isn't the need for all those rooms.
When Utah first began trying to get the Olympics, back in the early 80s, Utah really needed the world exposure and needed its ski industry to get a boost. By the time the Olympics were awarded to SLC, that boost was no longer needed, and the growth-mavens were beginning to wonder if the state pop. was growing too fast.
Then we watched the pork barrels, led by our illustrious Sen. Hatch and Rep. Jim Hansen. Millions for this, millions for that, all in the name of the Olympics.
And then the scandal broke--and because we know one of the two principal players accused, we weren't surprised at all. He is a Slimy Guy.
And now of course The Church (you know which one) is planning to convert many. They won't say that, but just watch.
On top of all this, the state liquor laws, although altered a lot in the past decade, are still Very Weird. The Alcohol Control Commission is composed of all non-drinker Mormons plus one social drinker woman (a good friend of mine). And they try to make rules for liquor consumption! I don't do cocaine, and it would be ludicrous for me to try to set down social rules for cocaine use. And yet, that danged church calls the shots. Some of their leaders have even said it would be lovely to show the world that you can have fun WITHOUT LIQUOR. Try telling that to the German team when they want their schnapps and their beer (which in Utah is 3.2 only).
posted on January 7, 2002 07:58:16 PM
deja, wow your 7th Olympics! Which do you like better summer or winter games?
This has been the least advertised Olympics I've ever seen. Usually there is so much hype before you are tired of it by the time they start. All this will prove to be interesting, and I can't wait to hear about the behind the scenes stuff when it starts.
Have any countries shown any apprehension because of terriorists? I wonder how much extra security there will be. Roadsmith do you have any inside news about that?
posted on January 7, 2002 08:09:17 PM
I believe in free exercise and separation of church and state. It has been known for a long time that the LDS church runs that state. I know companies and people who will not go to that state because of the church entanglement. I hope the rest of the world doesn't base their opinion of America by what the LDS get their hands into during the olympics. After all, Afghanistan is just one example of a government run by religious zealots.
In a good Olympic season, the host usually loses a ton of money, the SLC venue may set a record for losses.
posted on January 7, 2002 09:48:00 PM
Chococake: Here's all I know about security at the Olympics: When I was on the Ogden City Council, I mentioned in a public meeting once, when the issue of Olympic security was brought up, in 1992 or so, that if I were wanting to cause trouble, one of the first things I'd do is blow up Pineview Dam. This is a dam at the top end of the narrow Ogden Canyon which provides water to the county. The dam is enroute to Snowbasin, up the mountain, and that road is one of only two ways to get to Snowbasin downhill events.
We had a getaway cabin on the Ogden River, in Ogden Canyon, before we moved to CA; across the river from our cabin is a bed and breakfast, and the owner told me two years ago that the secret service was wanting to rent his entire place--main building, outbuildings, and all. Of course, his place couldn't house ALL the secret service, all 1100 of them (and this was before 9/11 happened), so they were looking to sew up entire hotels up and down the Wasatch Front. I can only imagine many the secret service is NOW planning to bring.
The dam was scheduled for major repairs but was put off until AFTER the Olympics because some idiot told the authorities that the dam would be fine. I sincerely hope so.
This is just one small part of the Olympics, of course, but it's the part I know something about.
posted on January 7, 2002 09:59:53 PM
But what we have to remember is that terrorists do not attack where you are prepared, they will hit the place we overlooked.
The Olympics will probably be the last place they attempt anything.
I think they will hit somewhere the guard is down. It may be Europe, Australia, but it will be sure to be where we don't expect it and a weak spot.
A terrorist attack now done anywhere makes front page news so the venue doesn't have to be as news worthy as it once did.
posted on January 7, 2002 11:00:18 PM
REAMOND, I think it would be a mistake to overlook the prospect that they would hit the Olympics. Talk about weak spots, we still have plenty, how else can people still board planes with knifes, and bombs in shoes? Or a 15 year old kid can steal a plane and fly into a building?
You may be thinking too rationally. Terrorists don't think that way. They might not even be thinking big anymore, they already did that. The news said the guy with the bomb in his shoe was a trial run. They learn from their mistakes, as well as, their successes.
We will never figure them out, or know where they might strike next. So, the way I look at it just be alert, and go about our daily lives.
posted on January 7, 2002 11:16:45 PM
But there is a rationale to terrorism.
They do not want confrontation with armies or law enforcement, or for that matter confrontation in any situation where we have the means to stop them.
Israel gets hit where their army and police are absent or weakest. Terrorists rarely attack hard to get at targets. They don't want a battle, they want to cause as much death and destruction as possible with as little effort and resources as possible. It is probably 100 times harder for a terrorist to get into the U.S now than before 9-11.
That's why I don't think the continental U.S. will be the next target. Our guard is up. They only hit targets when and where the guard is down.
posted on January 7, 2002 11:34:14 PM
They may be organized, but they certainly aren't rational. Rational to me means reasonable or sane. These people are insane.
posted on January 8, 2002 09:11:32 AM
My ebay business is based on my going to the Olympics. I sell Olympic pins. I trade for them and sell them when I am at the games, and ebay them when I get home. As a business, I tend to do better at the winter Olympics over the summer games. Don't ask me why. For fun, I like them both. Summer is usually easier (although Atlanta in July was a bear). My end goal in my business is to pay for my travel, pay for my collection, and fund a retirement account every year. So far I have been successfull.
