The Olympic opening ceremonies are tonight! Is anyone else excited? I started watching the rowing competition last night. Four hours of rowing! I had it on in the background mostly but there were some exciting races.
This week in walking tours we have some backstreets in the rain.
I'm liking the idea of sharing a tweet occasionally to generate discussion.
Vaccines are broadly available in the US. To understand the significance of this, you need to talk to people in other countries.
— Andy Slavitt 🇺🇸💉 (@ASlavitt) July 16, 2021
I’ve spent much of the week talking to officials & media in Australia. Oh how they wish they were in the US. 2/
Song of the week
PULP COVER OF THE WEEK:
BOOKISH LINKS
It still boggles the mind how politicized vaccines are in the US. I mean, here in Canada, a group of people certainly try their best to create conflict, but, thankfully, we Canadians are a bit more Science-trusting people.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend, Greg. I hope you'll enjoy the coverage!
Yay for the Olympics! I watched the rowing last night, too. :D
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to the opening ceremonies tonight. It's always fun to see the countries represented - especially the vast difference in the number of athletes! Like the U.S. will have hundreds and some countries have, like, one guy. lol
ReplyDeleteI got vaccinated and my reward is I get to go back to work in the office full time while the unvaxxed get to continue WFH. Yippee!
ReplyDeleteI do not watch the Olympics *gasp* lol
ReplyDeleteIn the end it's all still about not getting vaccinated. How sad to be in a country with it so readily available and just shrugging it off while other countries are literally dying to get their hands on it.
Karen @For What It's Worth
I don't watch The Olympics but I only have Netflix so I can't watch it.
ReplyDeleteI got vaccinated over a month ago and now with things spiking back up where I live, I'm glad I did.
Greg, we like the rowing events as well. We are vaccinated but we are still concerned about the spikes nation-wide.
ReplyDeleteLoved listening to DaniSogen - Enchantments. "Pure Dream" is beautiful. 🎵
ReplyDeleteI love the Olympics.
ReplyDeleteMan, they've added such awesome things to Sea of Thieves. The Kraken was cool, but DAMN MEGALODON!
ReplyDeleteOh, btw, love how in that video preview the guy is holding out a banana - LOL!
DeleteI'm not a sports gal...😳 Then again, I can relate to liking the Olympics more than being excited about football - maybe because here in Italy people are crazy about it, and when there's the World Cup and our team plays, everything else sorts of stops mattering...it's annoying.
ReplyDeleteI have only been following the news on the Olympics, but now I want to see the races too. Playing it in the background sounds like a good idea, thanks!
ReplyDeleteIt's a terrible shame that vaccines and the Covid response in general were politicized in the US from the very beginning. We would've been much better off fighting it as a team. It's amazing how many people are still in denial.
ReplyDeleteTrue, biggest threat here is variants, oh and people who got one shot and think it is safe now
ReplyDeleteFour hours of rowing... nah bwhaha. I really do want to watch some stuff at some point, but I also have a feeling that I won't eep. Still love Tokyo, though!
ReplyDeleteUgh I will never, never understand the absurdity of the US's reaction to the COVID vaccine. Like, historians, anthropologists, psychologists, they'll be studying it forever and the only conclusion will be "guess humans are nuts" because there is no logical explanation for this completely asinine behavior.
I go the vaccine as soon as I could as did most people I know but I see online so many people who are so anti-vaccine it amazes me. I haven't watched the Olympics though I may try and see some gymnastics and some swimming or diving. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteIn Sri Lanka we are awaiting the second dose (for myself). Astra Zeneca was brought in first, there was a shortfall for the second dose. Then they switched to other kinds and thats going on apace. But for 300,000 of us we have been caught short. I really wish I could get the second dose quickly.
ReplyDeleteLoving the videos you shared and I also really enjoyed the opening ceremony of the Olympics this week! And living in the Netherlands I can tell you I wish we had had as quick access as people in the US!
ReplyDeleteJuli @ A Universe in Words
That Twitter comment is very, very true. Not as easily obtainable here in SA!
ReplyDeleteYes, the Olympics are finally here! Whoo hoo!! Did you see team South Africa's costumes (or whatever you call it)? I thought it was done brilliantly. Very South African in deed...
Have a good week Greg!
Elza Reads
Love watching the Olympics! I watched some of the opening ceremony and entrance of the countries on Friday morning.
ReplyDeleteWe just cut the cable on our TV and it occurred to me that now I can't watch the Olympics! Bummer. I guess I'll try to find videos. Hope you enjoy them!
ReplyDeleteI can't understand how divided the US is about almost everything, but it's unbelievable to express those divisions in a way that endangers us all!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing and for visiting my blog. I'm glad you are enjoying the Olympics!
As soon as I became eligible for the vaccine, I was on my computer, hitting refresh a billion times to get an appointment. Enjoy the Olympics! Hopefully I’ll be able to catch a few of the events.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I like to watch the olympics too. I hope the IOC refugee team wins some medals. I like that they have added skateboarding and surfing, really interesting.
ReplyDeleteOoh, the Megalodon video is cool! I heard a friend say something that really stuck with me about the vaccines this week. The vaccine has now had more "testing" with all the people who have taken it than it would have through trials. So anyone still using that as their excuse for not wanting to take it needs to realize that. Ugh, I am not a fan of wearing a mask, but I'm afraid we'll all be wearing them again at school this fall, and I'm not looking forward to that. Oh well. That's the US I guess. Have a good week!
ReplyDeleteLisa Loves Literature
My family and I love the Olympics. I am not sporty by any means, but watching sports gives me such a thrill. My favourite sports are diving, swimming and gymnastics. But I'm also loving the new additions like skateboarding!
ReplyDeleteOoo, I gotta checkout the Olympics highlights as I missed it and don't have cable. Looking forward to gymnastics. Skateboarding will be interesting to see.
ReplyDeletePoliticizing vaccines just boggles my mind. Don't they know that even their "fearless leader" got the vaccine? It's ridiculous since this is a health/medical issue. Enjoy the Olympics!
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen anything of the Olympics yet to be honest. Although I used to watch it a lot growing up, I'm just not feeling it this time.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week Greg and happy reading.
I haven't watched the Olympics. I don't usually watch them. I'm vaccinated but all the craziness about vaccines is...well, crazy. Hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI watched the Olympics opening ceremony only a few minutes here and there. I was too busy with other things and in Germany it was early afternoon. Well ... have fun watching the games.
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying the olympics! I can't wait to watch more tennis. I hope Naomi Osaka wins the gold for Japan. She has been through so much, but she is such an amazing athlete.
ReplyDeleteI love watching the Olympics! And I am also very happy to be fully vaccinated now!
ReplyDeleteYes, I've the Olympic triathalon on the TV as I'm visiting blogs, Greg:)). I've loved the tennis so far this year - Himself is busy with the cricket and now we have Tokyo. Thank goodness! Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteI'm so out of the loop this week. Ha ha. I need to look around for some place free to watch Olympic highlights. Especially for soccer. ⚽
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful new week! 🌞
I forgot the Olympics started on Friday! For some reason I thought it started this week... Oops.
ReplyDeleteHonestly it boggles my mind how vaccines are widely available here but people are very vehement about not getting it (and they're kind of proud about it? I guess that's why state is leading the cases of the new variant now). Meanwhile friends in other countries have to wait until September/October to get their first shot and even longer to get their second. Sigh.
That tweet about the vaccine program in Australia made the news here. I mean, there's no doubt our vaccine distribution program has been a balls up from beginning to end but to say that we wish we were in America is a stretch. Today in my state there are 11 cases out of a population of about 6 million and we haven't had a death for months.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Olympics, in previous years I would have been glued to the screen, but I don't think we will watch too much this year. It seems a bit crazy to me that they are still on, and there has been very little fanfare here about the fact that Brisbane was just awarded the Olympics in 2032. I guess there's 11 years to build up the hype!
I've watched a little of the Olympics, here and there, mostly our team have to admit! I feel a little conflicted that they went ahead with them. With Covid it's all the variants that creep in because of those who don't vaccinate. So sad. I really have difficulty understanding some of the very strange ideas held by people about it all.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I have been really exciting for the Olympics! I kept forgetting they were actually holding them after all, but it's a really fun event to have going on that sort of connects the world a bit. I'm excited about skateboarding finally being in the Olympics, and have had a great time watching them so far! Also always a huge fan of gymnastics and popping into all the other sports to see what's going on. I am really bummed about how many people seem to not be getting vaccinated. In my area (Los Angeles county), it's mainly younger people just choosing not to for what seems like no reason, and it's frustrating since they are super readily available. I will say, I'm not sure I'm looking forward to the Olympics being held in LA in 2028, though, haha, as if traffic weren't bad enough–but that's another story. Hope you have a great week, Greg!
ReplyDeletehello, how are you? i don't had time to see the olympics opening. very busy these days. have a nice monday!
ReplyDeleteDon't get me started on vaccines ... I don't understand why ppl won't get them. We've watched only a little bit of the Olympics so far.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I was watching and things are sure different from what they used to be when it comes to the Olympics. Watching the pretty much empty stands was a little bit sad, but it was cool to see the up close reactions from friends and family at home. I started with the rowing, then I was seriously caught up with Naomi Osaka's tennis match, the men's swimming with Phelps announcing for the first time, and ended with watching the gymnastics qualifying rounds. I was on pins and needles with that for sure. Go Olympics! Have a great week, Gorgeosu Greg and be well! Hugs, RO
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the Olympics!! After the Tour I think I am sportsed out. Although I have a feeling my husband will be tuning in to the cycling part.
ReplyDeleteWe actually watched a little this evening. Hubby does archery so he wanted to watch the competition so far. I watched a bit of gymnastics, and skateboarding cause I was curious about what it would look like
ReplyDeleteWishing you a great reading week
I have watched a little bit of the swimming and diving of the Olympics so far. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI've not got to watch any of the Olympics but I hope to get to see some!
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any of the Olympics yet. I think it's hard because of the time difference. Watching events that happened hours earlier isn't as much fun as watching live. Come see my week here.Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI am super excited for the Olympics because I love Simone Biles and she is the queen of everything and I can't wait to see her get a million more gold medals.
ReplyDeleteI can't miss her performing, but I refuse to watch any other events. The treatment of Sha'Carri Richardson being suspended for smoking a little weed when she found out her biological mother died vs. the fencer who has serious rape allegations against him but is STILL allowed to compete is fucking infuriating.
Have a great week, Greg!
ReplyDeleteI'm more of a swimming fan during the Olympics, but every sport has its excitement! I mostly have it on in the background as well. Hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteWe had actually cancelled our cable to save money so I haven't watched any of the Olympics yet. Need to figure out where I can stream it so I can watch my favorites, women's gymnastics, soccer, and swimming.
ReplyDeleteSo much hemming and hawing over a vaccine. Ridiculous. I'm watching the Olympics right now!
ReplyDeleteI watched all the athletes march in and last night I watched the women's gymnastics. I do like the rowing but haven't run into it yet. Watched the surfing for about 2 minutes. The waves seemed pretty small. I thought they'd be those humongous monster waves. LOL
ReplyDeleteI didn't watch the opening ceremonies, but I'm watching the men's team finals for gymnastics as I'm typing this lol. There's so much coverage for things available online if you have the right channels or streaming services, gotta multitask or it'll take your whole day lol.
ReplyDeleteI haven't managed to watch the Olympics - I wanted to but I've been too busy.
ReplyDeleteSo sad about vaccines/covid. It's so unfortunate we had the president we had when all this started - I think ANY former president we've had (in my lifetime at least) would have handled it better and we'd be in a much better place.
ahh yes, I'm quite jealous of the US at how fast they can rollout vaccines and the huge supply. In my place, it's been quite difficult. There was even a time they hold off vaccination for a specific brand because we ran out of stocks/donations. We still can't fully open because of how little of the population is fully vaccinated.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really one to tune in to the Olympics but I'm really proud of my country for finally winning a gold medal :D
Why did I find the popping sounds of the rain and the light traffic sounds so soothing?!
ReplyDelete