The real games

The other day I was flipping channels and came upon NBC's Olympics program. "Ah, Olympics reporting is actually more than still images!" was the first thought came to my mind. After watching so many still images in other channels, it was quite a feast to look at moving athletes.

I know NBC and other TV stations across the globe paid big money to get the exclusive right to broadcast Olympic games. I know they want to protect their investments by not letting other TV companies have any highlights. But the act also indicates that most of the games in Olympics are not so entertaining after all. Once you see the highlights, you don't need to watch the whole competition. For the 100m dash, the game is literally ended in 10 seconds. What an anti-climax! The real sports shows are the professional games. Those games whose owners/administrators/TV broadcasters do not sweat giving out the highlights to ESPN are the real ones.

(Picture: IOC)

However you say

I was seen by a registered nurse on campus the other day. The lady talked to me really slow as if I was her pupil in grade school. Because of my somehow thick accent and my Asian face, some people seem to think I don't have the capability of understanding what they say. It does not happen frequently, but definitely more often in this liberal town than in other places. I believe the nurse has the same problem as well. They think they are being considerate, when in fact they are condescending. That is exactly what happens when meritocracy gives way to counting on some stranger's good will. And that is why I am against all forms of affirmative actions.

Every time I encounter silly things like this, I always recall an episode of "30 Rocks" . In the show, a black rap singer was mistakenly believed to be illiterate. People started to be extremely nice to him. Having seeing the oddity, the guy found out but kept enjoying the perks associated with illiteracy, until he was caught reading the New York Times. I will keep enjoying strangers' slow talk, since I know I am not the one who has problems.

(Picture: patentpending.blogs.com)