Unparalleled Controversy

Watched the uneven parallel bar competition last night (as opposed to the even unparalleled bars) and saw the controversy unfold. I think the real controversy is what is not being talked about that much and it's the stupid rule changes. But first what actually happened.

He Kexin, China's 37 year old gymnast and Americas Nastia Liukin (actually a Russian) tied in the uneven parallel bar competition. Normally in the past this would have had both He Kexin (37) and Nastia Liukin (18) win a Gold Medel and all would be happy. . However THIS year because of the world wide lack of gold (because SOME people were giving out too many Keys To the City) they said NO MORE TIES.

So they decided to create some odd tie breaker system. Here how it all went down.

Both woman started with difficulty score of 7.70 and you can now forget that number as it does not come into play here.

There are six judges and none of them are very good. I say this because of another silly rule. If you have a contestant in the Finals your country can not judge. Sounds fair until you realize that this means the Countries who actually know what they are doing and what perfection is are no longer judging. Only the countries with poor athletes are judging. The "B" team is judging.

He receives scores of 9.30, 9.10, 9.10, 8.90, 9.00 & 8.90
Nastia receives scores of 9.00, 9.30, 9.00, 8.80, 9.00 and 9.10

He averages 9.05
Natsia averages 9.03

But wait - you throw out the top and bottom picks, so NOW

He averages 9.03
Natsia averages 9.03 and it's a tie!!!!

Here is where it gets murky as I have heard and read conflicting tiebreakers but I will go with Bela Karolyi's (coach Mary Lou Retten) explanation. You now'a throw'a out'a the smellest score'a of each'a girl'a. So you toss an 8.90 for He and a 9.00 for Natsia and He wins.

Who wins? No, He wins. The little girl? Yes He wins. But I thought you said the girl won. Yes He did.

Must I continue this?

There are many ways you could look at the tie but in the end . . . . . . He won no matter how many times you crunch the numbers.

I thought you said the girl won. He did!

Moving on . . . . .

Then there is Horseless Water Polo games. Good God I just get tired watching these people swimming back and forth. Then I read today about the 10K SWIMMING MARATHON!! Holy crap! OK but WAIT. It's FULL CONTACT SWIMMING.

Yea - they swim like they are in the paleton in a bike race. All grouped up in a bunch, there are fouls for hitting other swimmers and swimming over the backs. They form in packs to keep other swimmers away. They wear transponders to see who comes in first but in reality it's to scoop knocked out swimmers off the bottom of the bay!

Yea - sign me up for that one!!
========================
Moving away from the Olympics I have news on the Mosquito front!

A while ago at the Kurth I was able to obtain a can of Bug Off from Cable Guy and it's a hit on the golf course. So much that a few of us are looking into buying some cans. You can only buy a case of them from the Superior Chemical Corporation the same people that bring you barrels of Aero Drop Dead Residual Insecticide. YEA BABY!!!

ANYWAY - back on topic - new findings about DEET are telling us that we were wrong about DEET. In the old days of research they thought that DEET blocked the mosquitoes sense of smell. NOW we find out that mosquitoes just think that DEET stinks. Well - WELCOME TO OUR WORLD MR. MOSQUITO!!

How did they find this out? Read further.

Scientists recorded individual neurons on the mosquitoes little antennae and Mr. Mosquito thinks DEET has an "unpleasant" smell. Isn't that precious!

So next time you go to kill a little mosquito you better check to see if it has a neuron collar on it's little antennae - those things cost money.
=====================
Hey - a big HEY to Kelly's Mom!!!

I'm always surprised at how many people read this blog (and saddened at the same time at how bored people must be) .

A woman was walking by our house a few weeks ago walking her dog and told DJ "I read your husbands blog EVERY day".

To all of you that read this and are silent - A sincere thank you. If you see me say Hi (so I know who YOU are).
=======================
At some point I have to mention

The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus

It seems Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell are going to donate their pay check from the movie to Heath Ledger's two-year-old daughter Matilda.

So what is this movie about?? It sounds pretty interesting and is on my radar.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a fantastical morality tale, set in the present day. It tells the story of Dr Parnassus and his extraordinary 'Imaginarium', a travelling show where members of the audience get an irresistible opportunity to choose between light and joy or darkness and gloom.

Blessed with the extraordinary gift of guiding the imaginations of others, Dr Parnassus is cursed with a dark secret. Long ago he made a bet with the devil, Mr Nick, in which he won immortality.

Many centuries later, on meeting his one true love, Dr Parnassus made another deal with the devil, trading his immortality for youth, on condition that when his first-born reached its 16th birthday he or she would become the property of Mr Nick.

Valentina is now rapidly approaching this 'coming of age' milestone and Dr Parnassus is desperate to protect her from her impending fate.

Mr Nick arrives to collect but, always keen to make a bet, renegotiates the wager. Now the winner of Valentina will be determined by whoever seduces the first five souls. Enlisting a series of wild, comical and compelling characters in his journey, Dr Parnassus promises his daughter's hand in marriage to the man that helps him win.

In this captivating, explosive and wonderfully imaginative race against time, Dr Parnassus must fight to save his daughter in a never-ending landscape of surreal obstacles - and undo the mistakes of his past once and for all...
=======================

Have a great day

Rod