Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Neither pale, nor male...

Just some postscripts while we wait for Hurricane Gustav to huff and puff and blow our house down. When I read Jean Lowrie-Chin's column "The best of times in Beijing" in the Observer yesterday i was seized with envy and regret. Why hadn't i thought of going to Beijing myself? Why oh why had the thought not even occurred to me? What a once in a lifetime occasion that would have been!

But then again the second best place in the universe to be when the Jamaicans took Beijing by storm was right here in Jamdown! You could have sliced up the euphoria in the atmosphere with a knife--i personally have been humming 'walk like a champion, talk like a champion' ever since...of course the rest of the x-rated lyrics to the Buju Banton song don't apply but those two lines remind me of Jacques Rogge and Usain every time.

Naturally Kingston's dancemasters, no, not the NDTC ( National Dance Theatre Company) but dancemakers such as Johnny Hype, Shelley Belly and Elephant Man, are tickled pink that Usain Bolt showed off their creations to a global audience in such fine form. Check out this video of Elephant Man and others demonstrating their brand new Lightning Bolt dance and the To di Worl'--

My friends from Left, Right and Centre (Nationwide Radio, Digital AM 720) had their usual wicked spoof on the Olympics advertising a product called
Haterade Plus:

Are you angry because your sprint career has ended without a gold medal? Do you feel the pain of your country’s poor performance at the Olympics? Are you so bitter that you want a review of your own false starts? Then reach for Haterade Plus! Haterade Plus is jam-packed with anabolic steroids, caffeinated beverages and the most bitter sinkle bible (aloe vera) in the world. So if you’re a hater with attitude break your own record with Haterade Plus!

They go on to mercilessly skewer the in-fighting in the PNP by sending up the whole 'core values' discussion. I am going to try and link to an audio clip as soon as possible so watch this space!

Also check out Clovis's cartoon in yesterday's Observer. This is Clovis at his best. I love it. This one is priceless.

Cartoon by Clovis, Jamaica Observer, August 25, 2008

And I was so sorry when Churandy Martina of the Netherlands Antilles lost his bronze medal for allegedly stepping out of his lane in the 200m. Glad to know an appeal has been mounted on his behalf, hope its successful. Read all about it here.

Finally moving on from the Olympic races to a different race altogether--the American presidential race--Michelle Obama was impressive, wasn't she? Neither pale, nor male--i can identify with that...

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Yes, Annie, why didn't you go?? We could have used your multi-dimensional spin (amidst the other reportage which all sounds alike, frankly.) Surely you knew at least one of the people who were jumping on the aero-bandwagon to go to Beijing on the govament's dole?

"The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat": that's what the olympics is all about. To win a medal is to have a good dose of luck on your side.

I want Michelle to run for Vice President, dammit?! Hilary cleaned up a bit, but I STILL don't trust that woman.

Annie Paul said...

Hey Long,

thanks, yeah, this may be one of the few things i'll always regret, not going to Beijing...

personally i want Michelle O for President of the US! can you imagine? what a President she would make? someone who's a dedicated and hands on mother is what we need in politics after the prevailing patriarchal monopoly--

Anonymous said...

Yes Annie, Clovis at his best! Love it!!