Catharsis of sorts

Before we get back to more food related ramblings (have to make a field trip yet for data), a couple of short rants maybe to fill the void.  And I know some of the readership kind of disapproves of these, but it does make me feel better.  So if you’re “rant averse” this one’s not for you..  and there's no pictures!

And the lead rant will be a repeat of something I complain about every two years, summer and winter games.  As most folks know, the winter Olympics games from Pyeong Chang, South Korea are going on.  Of course as usual with some of my gripes, it is directed more at “the media”, not the athletes nor the games themselves.  But, our only window to them is through the magic of television, which is controlled by….. the Media, who decide what and how we see.

Olympic Gripe Number One:  Time zones.  The games are being played in Korea which is 14 hours removed from us.  So that creates the usual problem that live stuff is going on mostly when we’re not.  I like to watch sports “real time”, but the time difference makes it difficult.  I realize and mostly accept that. But what gets me going is the network pretending I’m too stupid to realize that and I will think they’re showing real time.  Case in point, Opening Ceremonies.  We watch the DC NBC outlet here at the digs, and generally watch the (local) news in the am.  So the morning of the opening of the games, Channel 4 cut to Eun Yang their anchor who was over there.  The first thing she said was:  “The opening ceremonies which have just concluded were fantastic” and talked a little about the American team, etc.  Fine.  True.  So then at 7am, The Today Show comes on the air with Samantha Guthrie leading off with “Tonight is the opening ceremonies of the Olympics which you can see right here on NBC, it should be a wonderful show”.  Not: “the opening ceremony was gorgeous and you can see the replay tonight… etc.”.   And before I tuned away after taking as much as Samantha as I can, there was “only a few hours to the opening ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Olympics!”

Olympic Gripe Number Two:   Medals.  Originally (I’m told) the Olympic games were a celebration of amateur athletes engaging in competition to challenge their ownabilities, and measure personal performance against the most talented people in the world.  Emphasis on giving your best, and mostly your opponent was yourself.  I don’t know the evolution here, but now it is country against country, proving that “My Country” is better than yours as measured by trinkets around your neck.   Again, I’m not sure that’s how the contestants view it, but it seems that the American’s fascination with “Who’s Number ONE” is all that matters.  A sports report this morning said “the US only trails Norway (?) by 4 medals and hopes to have a big push today”.  Obviously the objective is to have more toys than the other guy.  Never mind the personal sacrifices these athletes have made for years just to compete, only question for them is not “did you do your best?”.  It’s “what medal did you get?”

Okay, sorry, that’s enough for at least two years!  I do like watching the curling!

On a happier note, the Westminster Dog show was/is yesterday and today.  Over 2000 dogs compete for champions of their breed, then group, and so are qualified for tonight’s “Best of Show” (okay, okay, who’s number one).   It seems that there are more newly recognized breeds every year.   We thoroughly enjoy watching them.  I was surprised to see Shannon Sharpe appear on the broadcast team.  Apparently he is an ardent dog lover and knows a lot about them.  Today we watched the judging of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffons (to which our grand dog Stanley belongs).  It was streamed live on Facebook by one of the group members. 

And okay, I’ll descend a little bit.  Almost as much fun as watching the dogs trot around is watching their “handlers” who lead them around, pose them for the judges (move that rear right foot three inches) and try to make the best showing for their charges as possible.  While they are absorbed in putting the best paw forward, all the pup seems to be interested in is “treats”, which are used to lead them around, make them hold their head up, look this way, look that way, and so on.  And there are several techniques for the handler to store and dispense said “treats” (which apparently are mainly liver).  Some have little bags on their waist, but some seem to hold them IN THEIR MOUTH, and with all due respect, there was a lady today that reached under her top, and that’s all I will say.

Tonight we finish the last of the “Sea To Table” dishes, by doing something with the Northwest Pacific Cod (report to follow).  Good luck MFO

I’ll be
DFD