I doubt very much that shufitz originated this. I've heard "That and a token will get you on the (NYC) subway" for years and years.
I don't think Kalleh meant that Shufitz originated the saying, simply that he used it often. The similar phrase I remember most is "That and a nickle will get you a cup of coffee." Now it's "That and five dollars will get you a cup of coffee."
The poor Canadians. As of yet they've had no medals in the Olympics. Simon Beck was on NPR talking about the top 10 reasons why they shouldn't worry about the medal draught. Here they are:
quote:
To make you all feel better, here's the top ten reasons we shouldn't worry about the medal drought.
10. Five days without winning anything is still 15,020 days less than the Maple Leafs.
9. We still get to watch Diana Swain on CBC's Olympics coverage and she's a fox when she does sports.
8. So what if Togo has a medal and we don't? Their health care system is terribly underfunded.
7. There's no way Celine Dion will need to lip-synch at the opening ceremony in 2010.
6. Who cares about swimming when you've got curling?
5. We might be terrible at sports, but at least we're not Spanish.
4. We can still watch Paul Henderson's goal on YouTube any time we get depressed.
3. That Canadian fencer who opened a can of whuppass on herself last night when she lost was far more entertaining than any medals ceremony.
2. There's plenty of time to give Michael Phelps Canadian citizenship before the 2012 Games.
I heard on the chat today how apathetic Wordcrafters are to the Olympics. Okay then. I am not passionate about them, but I watch them from time to time and find them a good way for creating some international harmony. Heaven knows we need it!
If it makes you feel any better, I saw Canada win a silver in the rowing event today. So you are no longer medal-less.
am not passionate about them, but I watch them from time to time and find them a good way for creating some international harmony.
That was the original idea, I understand - but I do not really believe it has been achieved amongst countries - even though it might have been achieved between competitors.
Richard English
Posts: 6117 | Location: Partridge Green, West Sussex, UK
I watched a TV documentary about the 1908 Olympics in London. It was the first to have competitors entering under their country's flag as part of a team, rather than as individuals.
There was apparently a lot of bad blood caused by arguments over judging, especially between the USA and Great Britain, the host nation. Plus ça change ...
Come on you raver, you seer of visions, Come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!
What bothers me most about TV coverage of the Games here is that NBC interviews only American competitors, even if they finish out of the medals. The winner is never talked to, even if they speak English, if they are from another country. Talk about promoting harmony among nations.
Sports writer Mitch Albom, author of such non-sports books as tuesdays with Morrie, decried that jingoistic attitude recently in a Sunday newspaper article. You might also see the official film of the Tokyo olympcs, entitled, "Tokyo Olympiad," directed by Kon Ichikawa, for something that's focused on the athletes, not on the country. It's hard to find, but excellent.
I realize it is very difficult to find "color commentators" to describe what athletes feel during the many events, but could someone tell them there is no such word as "heighth."
One of the more ludicrous comments occurred last night when a gymnast fell, putting him out of contention, and he left the platform, crushed. The commentator said, "You can tell how devastated he is by the sigh written on his face."
What bothers me most about TV coverage of the Games here is that NBC interviews only American competitors, even if they finish out of the medals. The winner is never talked to, even if they speak English, if they are from another country.
The US media? Covering only US achievements? Ignoring the rest of the world? Go on!
Richard English
Posts: 6117 | Location: Partridge Green, West Sussex, UK
Originally posted by Proofreader: ... there is no such word as "heighth."
Oh? The OED Online says there is. Dictionary.com says it is "a nonstandard spelling of height." Michael Quinion, World Wide Words says it, along with highth, was at one time a standard spelling.
quote:
Because of its odd history, we can hardly argue that highth is truly an error, more an archaism. Though nearly everyone now spells it height, it’s not that uncommon to hear it said as /haɪtθ/ among educated people in North America, and some authorities there consider it to be a permissible variant. So strong is the ending that it is not unknown to hear people use coolth, a word which some dictionaries mark as archaic, but which has had a resurgence in favour in recent decades.
I had a roommate from southeast Missouri in the '60s who used to say heighth. He also said onct, twict, and drouth (for once, twice. and drought). I just thought it was a regionalism.
What bothers me most about TV coverage of the Games here is that NBC interviews only American competitors, even if they finish out of the medals. The winner is never talked to, even if they speak English, if they are from another country.
So how much have you watched them, Proofreader? I realize that they don't interview non-English speaking winners, for obvious reasons, but I've seen many non-Americans being interviewed (3 tonight in fact, and I haven't been watching for more than an hour). I just don't think that's a fair comment, but it surely gave Richard some ammunition for his opinions.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kalleh,
Since at least 1956. When I first began wathching, whoever won, regardlesss of nationality, was interviewed. Period. If an interpreter was needed, one was available. Only after the winner was congratulated and given what might have been a perfunctory Q&A were any Americans who might have medalled spoken to.
That’s not the case today. I don’t know what time you watched but on at least three occasions the second or third place Americans were interviewed with scant mention of the actual winner, beyond showing the final stats list. And if the first place non-American isn't available, why not the second place before going to what is essentially the losers? Name another sporting event where the winner is ignored in this way in favor of someone out of the running.
When I first watched, professional players weren't allowed in the games. In the past, competitors who just played semi-pro baseball during the summer had medals taken away. Now the entire NBA competes, along with the National Tennis Association. I expect the National Hockey League to soon get involved in the winter games.
Aug 20 10:15 Women's 200-meter hurdles. Jamaican wins by almost a second. American 2nd place interviewed.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Proofreader,
I was just asking how much you've watched during this olympics, since this is the one you are complaining about. I watch them daily, but I will admit that I watch for less than an hour a day; perhaps my sampling is skewed. Just tonight, however, I saw the men's running, again a Jamaican won, and they interviewed the Jamaican.
I suppose it is U.S. television after all, and they do need for people to watch. Also, the Americans and Chinese have, by far, the most medals, and many of the Chinese don't speak English. Still, from what I've seen, there have been a lot of non-Americans interviewed.
However, as my cute father used to say, "I could be wrong, you know!"
