You know how sometimes you can get a completely inappropriate song stuck in your head? Well, I keep humming Devendra Banhart’s “Chinese Children as we watch the opening ceremonies in Beijing and there’s probably something vaguely racist about that song in this particular context.
Oh, good some Chinese opera, that’ll get rid of Devendra.
My impression of the opening ceremonies so far – very red, far too much singing but technologically fantastic.
One other tip for the Chinese Olympic Committee, if you want don’t want to be thought of as authoritarian, probably best to keep the goose stepping soldiers to a minimum. Dr. O’C and I are having an argument as to whether or not China’s government is Communist, Fascist, or something else entirely. She argues for fascism, but I stand by the assertion that fascism died with World War II and thus at most, China would be neo-fascist. Which they aren’t.
Don’t you wish you could hang out with us?
“Now if I lived in Russia, I’d have some Chinese children
If I lived in Prussia, I’d have some Chinese children
Well if I lived in India, they’d still be Chinese children uh huh
And out my toes my little blue baby grows
And that’s another fact…”
I’m warning you, don’t push play…
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by headbang8
08 Aug 2008 at 23:20
German TV introduced the ceremony with an hour long chat-show beforehand, direct from the studio in Beijing. As they ventured onto the subject of political protests effectively silenced in the city, the sound cut out. Hmmm…
Have not seen Australia enter yet, but they cut to a very grumpy looking George Bush as Canada marched in happily.
by headbang8
08 Aug 2008 at 23:30
P.S. By the way, Master Right informs me that Chinese alphabetical order is determined by the number of brush strokes in the first character that represents you, read from the right. Japan had only four in the second character, so it came early. The USA has nine. And Australia has 14, so it will be near the end.
headbang8s last blog post..Photo Friday 2: Rough
by SSG
08 Aug 2008 at 23:56
after reading your post i’ve got the barenaked ladies ‘one week’ in my head: “Chickity China the Chinese chicken You have a drumstick and your brain stops ticking …”
by Jason
09 Aug 2008 at 02:40
I was thinking that I was being funny and original while reading this post, but I see SSG beat me to the punchline. I could have sworn the title said “chinese chicken”.
As for the Olympics, is it possible for me to have less than zero interest? NBC seems to be promoting the heck out of their coverage, and yet it does nothing to draw me in.
by Mike from the Newborn Identity
09 Aug 2008 at 02:47
Thanks for the preview of the opening ceremonies! Here in the states it won’t start for a good ten hours!
Mike from the Newborn Identitys last blog post..POSITION AVAILABLE: STAY AT HOME PARENT!
by Toasty
09 Aug 2008 at 03:34
I remain flummoxed by date on the last two posts. Is it already Aug 9 in Australia? What day is it in China? Very confusing. I’ve only ever been to North and Central America and Europe… does it show?
Glad that you’re already enjoying the Olympics. I’m not really into it either, but will probably watch the opening and the gymnastics…
Toastys last blog post..100 Things I Love
by courtney
09 Aug 2008 at 05:39
I’m looking forward to watching the Opening Ceremonies tonight. I’ll be shocked if the people on the field don’t assemble into the shape of Mao’s head.
courtneys last blog post..Twelve Years Ago…
by Not Afraid To Use It
09 Aug 2008 at 07:16
Dude, Hubbie and I would SO be in on that conversation. And just HOW did fascism die with WWII? I’m very curious to know why you think so?
Not Afraid To Use Its last blog post..How Out of Shape is Too Out of Shape?
by Coal Miner's Granddaughter
09 Aug 2008 at 11:15
Fascism, socialism… it’s all communism to me!
Just kidding. My irritation over the opening ceremonies, watched via NBC, is listening to Bob “I Love the Sound of My Own Voice” Costas talk over every-friggin’-thing. Grrrrr.
Coal Miner’s Granddaughters last blog post..That’s Not Your Water
by A Free Man
09 Aug 2008 at 14:23
Headbang8 – couldn’t stay up to see the Americans or Aussies for that matter. But had the misfortune to see the Aussie team come out on the repeat this morning and damn they were wearing some ugly outfits!
SSG – Watchin’ x-files with no lights on, we’re dans la maison
I hope the smoking mans in this one
Jason – Like Harrison Ford I’m getting frantic
Like Sting I’m tantric
Like Snickers, guaranteed to satisfy
Mike – sorry, didn’t realize that you guys were behind. Tape delayed. Nothing blew up, in case you were worried.
Toasty – yep, the time/day thing is a challenge. Particularly when trying to arrange Skype calls with the family.
Courtney – well, be prepared to be surprised. They actually spell out U-G-A with Chinese children.
NATUI – my theory is that Fascism relies on the cult of personality surrounding a charismatic, if evil, leader. That kind of thing kind of doesn’t happen anymore after Hitler, Franco and Mussolini died. Certainly there are still Totalitarian and Authoritarian regimes and China is probably one, but I don’t think they’re Fascist, per se. I also think that Islamo-fascist is bullshit.
CMGD – I’m really glad that the Aussie announcers kept things pretty quiet. Makes a difference. I’m with you – don’t need some muppet’s opinion on every little thing…
by Agnes
09 Aug 2008 at 21:58
The Aussie outfits were terrible, yet right on target, for deep down, we are all trackie wearing bogans! Though I didn’t see any footwear shots, I’m sure they were all wearing moccies as well!
Agness last blog post..Incoming: Motel Motel
by arizaphale
10 Aug 2008 at 19:20
I am sorry, I was so ‘bah humbug’ about the whole thing really. The kids watched it in our usual snowstorm of reception while I did therapeutic painting. About midnight I switched on the digibox just in case it felt like working and to my absolute amazement…it did! So I was able to see the Aussie outfits in all their daggy glory. (why BLUE?????).
But getting back to fascism etc. The definition from my Year 10 course book is that fascists are:
nationalistic, imperialistic, racist, anti-communist and anti-socialist, regard parliamentary democracy with contempt, believe in the right of dictators to rule and glorify war and violence.
So…uh….aren’t the Chinese Communists? They therefore fail the fascism test.
Oh and in answer to your last question…yes…constantly.
arizaphales last blog post..Playing About With Paint
by admin
13 Aug 2008 at 21:24
Agnes – one of the things that I’ve learned by living in three different countries is that there are bogans no matter where you go. Different names – chavs in Britain, rednecks in the U.S. Ironically, all have a penchant for ugly track suits.
Ariza – On the radio I heard the Chinese government described as Authoritarian Capitalist.
by SSG
18 Aug 2008 at 21:07
can we have a fascism- communism-ismismism post? what about the situation in Zimbabwe? that fail/pass Arisaphale and afreemans definitions? and dont the two meet- if you go so far left and so far right they kinda meet round the back in my head…