The 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver Opening Ceremonies

I am writing this while watching the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, however I won’t post it until the morning.  It will probably take that long to really put my amazement into words.  I love watching the Winter Olympics no matter what, but this year the opening ceremonies are amazing.  This production is amazingly beautiful and it is technically spectacular.

What really takes the cake here are the projections.  Turning the entire stadium into a projection surface was just beautiful.  From the floor of the stadium to every audience member who was given a white poncho it was a truly all inclusive and all encompassing performance.  The integration of imagery and acting and dance  was incredible.  The special effects that gave three-dimensionality to the 2D elements like the whales were beautiful.

Projected Whales with 3D elements like steam from their blowholes

The use of various fabrics and shapes as projection surfaces was pretty wild.  When was the last time you grew trees in the middle of an indoor stadium?  Not only were they trees but totem poles as well.

Fabric "trees" provide an amazing projection surface.

Of course how can we forget that they kicked the whole thing off with one man rapping the floor with his staff and rings of “electricity” emanated out along the floor.

Kicking off the celebration and the amazing effects!

It really amazes me that, given the state of the world today we are still capable of coming together as friends in competition.  Sure there are some countries that seem to still hold grudges against eachother, but they seem to put most of that aside to come and compete in the Olympics.  It is so great that we can come together as a global community, even if it only for sixteen days.  Good luck to all the athletes.

Citius, Altius, Fortius. – Swifter, Higher, Stronger.

If you have never played Apples to Apples you should give it a shot, it is a lot of fun.  I played tonight with Ruth and her family.  It has been quite a long time since I have had this kind of fun with a game, and it has certainly been quite a while since I have had such a good laugh.  Here is what I am tonight (in order by rounds):

1. Naïve
2. Loud
3. Classic
4. Sultry
5. Worldly
6. Industrious
7. Creative
8. Tame
9. Saintly
10. Exquisite
11. European
12. Hot
13. Unusual
14. Violent
15. Useless
16. Twisted
17. Fantastic
18. Sweet
19. Snappy
20. Stereotyped

If you really don’t know the game at all, they say that the cards you win describe you.  It is always fun to discover “new” aspects of your personality as dictated by a game!  I am not sure that all of my wins really describe me, but I think that many might.  I am not entirely sure what that says about me, but hey!