Swap Blog

Well I watched the Olympic opening ceremonies, just to see what 300 million dollars get you, and well it was impressive - the big membrane screen, the unison / precision of the actors, the actual stadium, etc - but it was still felt to me like the total control of the central government played through it. It seems sports took a backseat to politics in this one.

The NBC commentator who helped Matt and Bob - a NBC Chinese analyst / bureau worker of some sort - said way to many times - “all the Chinese people watching will understand this” or “the Chinese will see the significance of this” , or other similar statement for my taste. When did the opening ceremonies of the Olympics become about telling the people of the host nation about itself. Even more when did the opening ceremonies become about projecting political power.

The analyst’s statements reinforced my view that the opening ceremonies were largely about the Chinese government expressing it’s power, control, and vision to the world and it’s citizens. The analyst seemed to only have praise for the Chinese government and all they do. It got so bad that even Matt and Bob had to step in and add a few things that “challenged” the comments of the analyst and the images / opinions being portrayed. Adding to the power trip when more were the political statements about managing resources, the environment, etc … issues which China has been one of the worst offenders in … yet it was played like China was the innovator not the laggard.

At times I was waiting for an accidental shot of green uniformed guards just out of camera range with AK’s ready to “correct” any mistakes on the stage. This thing just felt so political and came across as a statement both the Chinese citizens and the world that China, and it’s government, is to be feared and respected. Atlanta, Sydney and Athens certainly did not feel that way. Sports really took a back seat to politics and power this time. That is unfortunate as the effects, the work, the technology, the artisans, the artisanship, etc was truly amazing. China puts on a good show, it is just unfortunate that the show was so biased to self and so slanted away from sportsmanship and hope.

Well the 2008 Summer Olympics OFFICIALLY kick off tonight, they have been having preliminary rounds in some sports (like soccer) since Wednesday. Unfortunately I really don’t care that much any more. In fact, the winter Olympics seem far more important to me now then the summer ones. More on that later though.

This shift of the Olympics as been less important to me is a major shift for me as I use to look forward to the Olympics for months before they began, especially when athletes I follow would be in them. In years / decades past I would have been thinking about the Olympic cycling road race, track cycling, kayaking, the modern pentathlon, the cross country equestrian event, and a few others weeks before they occurred. The chance to see cyclists like Sarah Hammer, Levi Lephiheimer, Carlos Sastre, Cadel Evans, David Ziberiski, Taylor Phinney, and alike would have be a big deal to me. Heck, I would even be pondering fencing and sailing competitions at this point. I would have been thinking about the traditional big swimming and track events as well. Admittedly Micheal Phelps has been hard to miss, but outside of him there really has been little buzz in my mind about Olympic competition. Bottom line, today I am really just not that interested though I will still watch some of the Olympics hoping to see something that interest me.

I think there are three (3) major reasons that have lead to this shift in my view/ interest this year. First, it is the location of the Olympics. They are in China. China, regardless of the recent PR, is still the largest communist nation in the world, and one that poses a security threat to many nations (including the US). Additionally, it is a nation that oppresses it’s people political and religious freedom.

Freedom is neither free nor common in China and for the Olympics to honor one of the most oppressive nations in the world with the Olympic games (supposedly a bastion of freedom and quality) is a travesty. I understand the idea was to put pressure on China to change it’s ways via additional worldwide scrutiny. Unfortunately, it has not worked.

If anything China has locked down freedoms of both visitors and it’s citizens even more due to the games. There have been numerous stories about international news people being surveiled constantly, and being questioned about how much money they have in their pockets when they leave their hotels. Protests are only allowed if approved and approval is not going to be coming if the protest is large, controversial, or potentially embarrassing to China.

Never forget, this is a nation with mobile death vans (story here and here). A nation that many have allegedly deals in the organ trade business. A nation that oppresses ALL that oppose it. A nation that tells the rest of the world that they have no business to speak about what occurs when their country even though international money and business is common there. This is a nation that limits / filters the Internet - including banning this site. Honestly we are sort of proud of that. Bottom line, this is a nation that deals in smoke, mirrors, lies, oppression, and complete control. They have little to no interest in truly becoming free or allowing their citizens to be free. They only want to appear open, while still tightly controlling most of those within the nation.

Yes I know there is a growing Chinese middle class and I know that China has the most Internet users in the world. I know there are thousands of millionaires in China. I know about all of that and more. I also know about forced labor camps, one child per family, Tiananmen square, political and religious prisoners, despotic rulers, controlled official churches, and the death penalty for non violent crimes - including tax evasion.

I know Russia had the Olympics in 1980 and virtually fell apart by the end of the decade. It was not the Olympics that made this happen though - it was a combination of politics, society and economic forces which lead to a Russian collapse. China is not making the same mistakes Russia did. China’s move toward freedom will only come from a powerful international desire combined with the force of a oppressed internal people pushing for change. These Olympics are allowing a oppressive Chinese government to show a large part of the world a relatively “loose” public China. That does not move China down the road toward freedom.

Honestly, if I was president I would personally not go to the opening ceremonies. I understand we need to converse, meet and such but for the leader of the FREE world to grace China with a PR gold mine by attending the games is a bad idea to me. IF I was president and I chose to attend for some reason I would begin the answer to EACH and EVERY question about China with something like “Well the communist Chinese” or “The communist nation of China” or “The oppressive Chinese government” or “The Chinese opponents of freedom and equality”. I know the state department, and many others, would hate me, but hey they work for me and my policy and views on China is suppose to be carried out by them. Of course any real student of government knows that the actual bureaucrat’s do not change election to election, so little on the ground in terms of personality and purpose changes regularly in the Federal bureaucracy. Bottom line I understand there needs to be a flexible policy toward China, but I think the presidents job is to hold a harder line publicly while flexibility is done behind the scenes.

Moving on, the second reason I am really not interested in these Olympics is the the lack of order and schedule from NBC. I understand there is a lot to cover but NBC is making it hard to find what you want to see and when it is on. With scheduling like -

Olympic Schedule Example

or -

Olympic Schedule Ex 1

Olympic Schedule 2

it is virtually impossible short of having 5 DVR’s to actually catch what you want to see and then watch it or to even know if it is going to be on or not. I think the plan is for a person to regularly check for updates and such but honestly that is just not realistic when the events are on the other side of the world during the work day.

I do understand they will need / have to cut in and out of covering certain events but shouldn’t you have a plan that is +/- a hour or two not 10 hours. This pattern is true for minor as well as some major events throughout the day. Admittedly the prime time coverage of major events seems to be a bit more structured, but it seems to me outside of that they are on 10 hour block scheduling and you just have to hope to get what you want to see while you are taping. I don’t have enough DVR room to tape 15 hours a day while trying to watch maybe an hour or two of the total 15 hours every day. I know that sounds terrible, but at this point I am an adult with a life, family, job, etc and I need a bit of a structure if I am going to actively engage in a event or activity.

The third reason I am not that interested is a far broader issue, and one that simply reflects our changing times. This issue is one of the shrunken earth, instant communications, and fewer and fewer borders to cross which makes a worldwide gathering of sports seem less and less unique. I mean honestly how many of these same athletes face each other year in and year out at other events. It is at least once a week that I see sporting events from all over the world. Even minor sports - like cycling, sailing, kayaking and equestrian events - get regular TV coverage now due to the increase in the number of cable channels and the need for all of them to have 24/7 programming.

Sure you see super teams in sports like basketball, soccer, baseball and such but over all we can and do these athletes regularly now and seeing them compete is just not that special any more. World championships occur almost every year in every sport now and with fewer political borders more and more athletes participate in those annually anyway. Micheal Phelps has swum against every person he will face in the Olympics already in the last two years. Though the Olympics are still special, their specialness is more based on history and prestige now, not the actual uniqueness of the event. I hate to say that but that is how I feel.

Well the true ID of the vague and elusive Clark Rockefeller has come to light. Mr “Rockefeller” (no relation to the famous family) is actually Christian Gerhartsreiter from Bergen Germany. Full story at the NY Daily News here

The fact that he never showed any proof of his identity came out early in the story. That seemed odd to me even then and made me assume he really did have something to hide. That also meant to me that he never went to Kroger, Target or Lowes as they all seem to want a DNA swap now when you buy something, even if you pay cash. His habits seem to rule out frequenting banks as well as they fingerprint you to get YOUR OWN MONEY now. Anyway, it seems that Mr. multiple identity’s ability to remain anonymous has come to a end now and he is even a “person of interest” (read PRIME SUSPECT) in a California murder from the mid 80’s. Explains the reason that he did not show ID all these years I guess.

Now back to the past. It turns out old Christian G came to American in 1979 as a exchange student. Seems as if he has been living here for almost 30 years with no social security card, not real ID, etc. Where is the INS / ICE when you need them. Again, how did he avoid ever ID’ing department store, bank and agency all those years.

Honestly, I have always found it strange that he was able to marry without showing any real proof of his identity, etc. I have read / heard several stories that report that this even bothered his ex wife, but she still went through with the marriage. How many women would marry a man that will not even show them proof of who he really is?

Now for my big issue here. My big concern is if, big IF, he actually had no real papers or credentials and moved openly in popular and visible circles without being checked on, ID’d, or noticed all these years then it scares me regarding our national security.

Admittedly, THIS guy was no national threat, but the next one with the same past / pattern may not be only focused on getting his child back after a divorce. Can we really feel secure if a person can openly live in the US for 30 years without a credible ID and go undetected. I mean seriously think about it. In the last 30 years, this guy has married, moved numerous times, bought and sold homes, bought a boat, divorced, attended court trails / hearings / cases, transacted his affairs openly with others, been a social butterfly in well publicized circles, while trading on numerous unchallenged alias’s all these years. One even being that of one of the most famous family names in America. That does not give me a warm fuzzy as we quickly approached the 7th anniversary of 9/11.

———– Update 8/11/08 —————

It seems that Clark Rockefeller / Christian Gerhartsreiter / Christopher Chichester may have gotten a legal green card via a civil marriage ceremony in Wisconsin in the mid 80’s. story here

Well WVLT(story here) is basically saying this AM what I was thinking last night as I watched the local voting numbers come in. WOW THESE NUMBERS ARE LOW!!!

Once again 10% or less of people decided what the political make up of the county is going to be. Interesting to see just how many incumbents won a few months after political incumbency was the closest thing Knoxville had seen to leprosy in several generations.

For the interest in voting to fall off so quickly in a county that cared so much about voting and politics six months ago, due to insider and back room politics shows, so why most politicians really don’t worry about voters. Such voter apathy and political laziness almost makes the two charter changes that increase the likelihood of challenges and amendments moot.

In a regional / national story I was personally glad to see the dirty campaigning of Nikki Tinker did not work and that Steve Cohen won his primary, and by proxy the seat as no Republican stands a chance in that district. I mean honestly to label a Jewish man with the KKK banner, when the Klan hates Jews as much as they do African Americans, is just a foolish and dirty move.

I am a lifelong and proud resident of metro Knoxville. I always look forward to this great area getting attention where even more can learn about this great area of the nation. Unfortunately all the national news about Knoxville has been bad the last 36 hours or so.

As the world knows there was a shooting (2 dead, numerous others injured physically and emotionally) Sunday morning at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church (TVUUC). Though my personal beliefs and faith have little in common with the beliefs and views of the Unitarian Universalist church I personally am horrified by the acts of David Adkisson - the lone gunman. As a church going Christian is offends me when ANY house of worship is attacked and desecrated, even if it is one that I personally have differences with.

The letter found in Adkisson’s truck told of how he choose TVUUC because he disagreed with the “liberal” views of the congregation. As I said before I personally have major differences in beliefs and views with the UU church, but such disagreements are NOT grounds for violence (or even threats of violence). What makes America great is that people can live / exist side by side peaceably and disagree on large issues of life / personal views. Everyone has the right to their own views and beliefs, even if I do not agree with them. The fact that conservative and liberal people live and work side by side all day and every day while never getting into fights or resorting to violence speaks to that fact. It is the few people on each end of the spectrum that make the news when they resort to extreme actions, while the remaining 99.9% of people go through life respecting and understanding the differences between themselves and others.

With all of the above said, I am personally praying for God to move mightily in this situation and for His love to heal the hearts, minds and lives of those directly impacted by this shooting. God is good all the time, and all the time God is good. All of those at TVUUC know you and yours are in my prayers.

I am rarely one that finds the LA Times a source of thoughtful writing but James Rainey of the LA Times yesterday correctly evaluates the current flap over the controversial New Yorker cover cartoon which betrays the Obama’s in the White House. Full Story Here

The Supreme Court (SCOTUS) handed down a 5-4 decision overruling Washington DC’s gun ban. The decision still allows for restriction and rules on gun ownership. The DC Police are responding by quickly establishing new guidelines and a information hot line. Washington’s Mayor Adrian M. Fenty is disappointed. The Brady Foundation has mixed reviews, but is overall accepting of it. The NRA is now going to move on to challenge bans in other cities. Full story at CNN here, LA Times here, NY Times here, Washington Post here, Fox news here, and AP here