So Last Night I didn't see all of what I wanted to. Some of what I saw was Diving. It was interesting to hear the comentator not agree with some of the scores. I know there is some kinda Formula they use where the dive is scored based on how good it is and how Hard of a dive it is. But I also wonder if there is a wow factor that fits in. What I mean is that someone ones style plays into it also. Two people could do the same trick and do all the aspects pretty much the same and it will look better from some people. I also think that if the style is good enough it might cover some slight flaws. The thing that is the most important is that each judge is consistant on how the Judge. You not only see this hear but you see it in a lot of events in the X-games as well. Different tricks have a higher level of diffaculty and there are things that are important Like if you extend your legs all the way and if you really commit to it. But there is also that style factor meaning how you look in the air do you make it look easy or do you look stiff. I think this plays a big part in all the Gymnastic stuff also. I guess the question is , is a really tough performance with a flaw or little mistakes (yes they have mandatory deductions) Better then a great flawless performance that is easier. It is a tough call in any sport that is judged. I guess the point I'm getting to is that it will never be completely fair in any sport from Freestyle motor cross to Synchro Diving.



My Suped uP Avatar

So Not sure if the link above will work it is for the Myspace page of Dali's Ghost. I will admit I have only seen part of one of there shows and then listened to there music on myspace. They are one of the bands I'm looking forward to seeing at MIA. I have no idea how many songs they will get to do. One of the Members of the band (I don't know him) is related to one of my cousins husbands. The reason I'm reposting the MIA stuff is the last time I did it I think some of it got cut off by the box.

Music is Art Festival '08 Announced for Saturday September 13
at Albright Knox Art Gallery
All day event to feature music, dance, art, dj performance and more


Music is Art Founder and President Robby Takac today announced that the annual Music is Art Festival will take place Saturday, September 13 on the grounds of the Albright Knox Art Gallery. The event is absolutely free.


"I founded Music is Art in 2003 to bring together all genres of music and to link them to the other art forms in our area," Takac said. "What better way to show that music is art than to bring our festival to the world famous Albright Knox Art Gallery."


The all day festival - kicking off at 11 a.m. - will take place outdoors (rain or shine) on the Lincoln Parkway side of the gallery on three stages featuring live music, dance and theatre performance. The event will also feature live art creation, displayed art and photography, a kids village, a not for profit row, and a dj performance area. The Music is Art Student Battle of the Bands winners will play on the main stage, and this year the other finalists and winner of The Big Easy in Buffalo battle will also perform.


"I am excited that Music is Art continues to do good work in the community, and I would like to congratulate Robby Takac and the entire Music is Art team for continuing this great tradition of bringing all the arts together in this festival," Albright Knox Director Louis Grachos added.


Now in its sixth year the Festival has entertained thousands and again takes its place as one of the most innovative and anticipated cultural events of the year. The festival is one of seven core programs of Music is Art, including a music instrument drive currently taking place at 18 Starbucks locations until August 17. Information on Music is Art and its programs can be found at www.musicisart.org.


"We're happy to be partnering with the Albright Knox and we're thrilled to have the festival back in Buffalo," Takac concluded. "Everyone in invited to come out and join me on September 13!"




Bands


Agent ME Maria Aurigema
Bev-Beverley Chylde
Crittenden Image Performance Dali's Ghost
Ron Davis Acid Funk Duo Family FUNKtion & The Sitar Jams
FreshGuac Gamalon
Handsome Jack A Hotel Nourishing
Inlite (student Battle of the Bands winner) Johnny Nobody
Juxtaposse Klear
Last Conservative Lazlo Hollyfeld
Mandy K The Mom And Dad Love Parade
Peanut Brittle Satellite Psuedo Intellectuals
Rhyson Hall Rhubarb
Terry Sullivan Those Idiots
Type:Relevant Wisp


ALSO AT MiA '08. . . . . . . gEt FrAcTaLs beat gallery


11 DJs including Jubei, Marc V, Tweak Nasty, dharmalab, DJ Brandon Chase and amungus . . . w/ special guest MCs and Vocalists throughout the day . . . .


w/ Dance Exhibitions featuring:

Amy Lynn's Dance Studio Bella Dea Bellydancing
Center for Dance Motivation Future Dance Center
Hamburg Performing Arts Ilya's Bellydancing
Janet Dunstan's School of Dance Rince Na Tiarna School of Irish Dance
Stacy Zawadski's ECNAD Dance


...And More!

There is a Part of me that wishes I was the Volunteering type but I'm really not, and I doubt I would be very good at anything they needed anyways, but I bet a lot of people think that way. Again the music is art site is

Yes getting to the fair was tough Yesterday I missed the 11am Bus. It turns out it wasn't labeled as a 14 or 36 but had some odd Ken/miliatary thin on it since the one that I caught had that on it at noon but I still had a good time. I went to see the bus Demolition Derby, they also had a rollover contest and figure 8 racing then after the figure 8 racing the non winning cars had a small demolition derby. I may include a few of those in the pictures.




















































































The Peeking Acrobats are really very good I wish the above pictures did them justice I picked randomly as to what ones I think will look good but it is hard to tell in small picture form.





























































Watching the Indian / Native American Dance was fun. Then it was off to the creative arts Building.


































Next was the Parade:














Then it was off to the Bus Derby





















































































































I had a good time and I'm sure people who are going today will have a good time at the demolition derby. But for me it is time to get back to the Olympics and see what sports are on. Congratulations on making it to the bottom, yeah it isn't the same as one of (e:theecarey)'s epics, I have to admit there is a part of me that misses reading those. Well in any event Hope everyone has and had a great weekend.

So I went to the Fair yesterday. The first event that I went to was pretty cool it was a Horse Pull, it is like a tractor pull but with horses. Here are some examples. The basics are that each Team gets 3 tries at each weight and that they have to pull it a certain distance to count, it is around 26.5 feet. I found it interesting.























After that I went to see the Banana Derby. It is monkeys who race on dogs. I think they had two races. That was a good time as well.

Missing Image ;(

Before I get into my next shot of Animal Pictures I thought I would put up some shots of the Fair Grounds them selves.

















At The back of the Kids Village there was a show about Monkeys. There where a lot of little funny things where one of the Baboons would take the guys hat and lots of other interaction like that here are some pictures that don't do the show Justice.























Next to that Place there is a place called Nickle city Extoics and you paid a dollar and then you could see them. There where some neat animals.















































The Grange Building ?



















Then Of course there is the parade. It was weired because it kinda came in sections on this day.













After tHe Parade I saw these interesting animals.














I really Enjoyed Testament even though I didn't know any of there music. I knew some of Motorhead's music and really enjoyed them. Black... was prettty good even though I didn't really know any of there music. The reason for that is it was Dio signing and I got into them through listing to Ozzy. But that being said all 3 bands where pretty good and I had a great time. Here are a few pictures.

[
img]0808/HeavenHellFair083870813.jpg[/img]























Well that Covers Moat of what I did at the fair hopefuly the pictures look nice in big form and anyone who made it to the bottom enjoyed it. I go back on Saturday for the Ultimate Night Of Descrution where they have Bus Demolishion Derby, I hope it is nice weather.

I didn't want to post any thing (heard rumors kinda) until it was offical Music Is Art will take place this year . Granted it isn't 2 days but I'm sure 1 day will be enough I'm glad they are having it. I know that a lot of people where upset when it was at the Fair Last year. That was kinda cool but I think where it is will be kinda interesting. Hopefully with it being a little later it will still be warm, we shall see. This is from the Music is art site.

[box]Music is Art Festival '08 Announced for Saturday September 13
at Albright Knox Art Gallery
All day event to feature music, dance, art, dj performance and more


Music is Art Founder and President Robby Takac today announced that the annual Music is Art Festival will take place Saturday, September 13 on the grounds of the Albright Knox Art Gallery. The event is absolutely free.


"I founded Music is Art in 2003 to bring together all genres of music and to link them to the other art forms in our area," Takac said. "What better way to show that music is art than to bring our festival to the world famous Albright Knox Art Gallery."


The all day festival - kicking off at 11 a.m. - will take place outdoors (rain or shine) on the Lincoln Parkway side of the gallery on three stages featuring live music, dance and theatre performance. The event will also feature live art creation, displayed art and photography, a kids village, a not for profit row, and a dj performance area. The Music is Art Student Battle of the Bands winners will play on the main stage, and this year the other finalists and winner of The Big Easy in Buffalo battle will also perform.


"I am excited that Music is Art continues to do good work in the community, and I would like to congratulate Robby Takac and the entire Music is Art team for continuing this great tradition of bringing all the arts together in this festival," Albright Knox Director Louis Grachos added.


Now in its sixth year the Festival has entertained thousands and again takes its place as one of the most innovative and anticipated cultural events of the year. The festival is one of seven core programs of Music is Art, including a music instrument drive currently taking place at 18 Starbucks locations until August 17. Information on Music is Art and its programs can be found at www.musicisart.org.


"We're happy to be partnering with the Albright Knox and we're thrilled to have the festival back in Buffalo," Takac concluded. "Everyone in invited to come out and join me on September 13!"




Bands


Agent ME Maria Aurigema
Bev-Beverley Chylde
Crittenden Image Performance Dali's Ghost
Ron Davis Acid Funk Duo Family FUNKtion & The Sitar Jams
FreshGuac Gamalon
Handsome Jack A Hotel Nourishing
Inlite (student Battle of the Bands winner) Johnny Nobody
Juxtaposse Klear
Last Conservative Lazlo Holyfield
Mandy K The Mom And Dad Love Parade
Peanut Brittle Satellite Psuedo Intellectuals
Rhyson Hall Rhubarb
Terry Sullivan Those Idiots
Type:Relevant Wisp


ALSO AT MiA '08. . . . . . . gEt FrAcTaLs beat gallery


11 DJs including Jubei, Marc V, Tweak Nasty, dharmalab, DJ Brandon Chase and amungus . . . w/ special guest MCs and Vocalists throughout the day . . . .


w/ Dance Exhibitions featuring:

Amy Lynn's Dance Studio Bella Dea Bellydancing
Center for Dance Motivation Future Dance Center
Hamburg Performing Arts Ilya's Bellydancing
Janet Dunstan's School of Dance Rince Na Tiarna School of Irish Dance
Stacy Zawadski's ECNAD Dance


...And More!


[/box]

Since it says and more I won't say that there is one Band I was hoping would play but that I don't see listed. Most of the bands music I don't know. But see that is part of the reason to go is to hear new music and find new bands that you like. I'm also assuming , could be wrong that they will have some big performance at the end of the night. Last year it was Amungus with a lot of different people. One time it was the Goo Goo Dolls they have had fire dancers before, not sure if they can do that there or not, but I look foreward to it. One cool aspect is dancing. Yeah I like watching ladies dance but don't like to do it myself. I also like that people do art and you can watch, sometimes at first it looks like nothing but by the end it is very nice, even if it isn't your style.

First of all I will admit that I'm not a George W. Bush fan, and a lot of stuff he does I don't like. That being said I like how he is Handling the Olympics and China. Yesterday Bob Costas interviewed him. I thought the interview was very good. There is a link to it on the main page. I have to admit that I really agreed with everything Bush said. It was also nice to see him talk and not get up there and put out a speech. I was surprised by agreeing with him so much. I also think that we are at a possible turning point in history. What will happen I don't know. But hopefully in the future it will be one of things that helped the world and I think that it will be. I think it really is a great interview. Here is the other thing I like it is also about sports some also. But there is another thing I like it is that Bush and Family sits with the people and watch the events and understands that you need to respect the people. What I mean about that is it, it would be easy for him and his family to sit up in a box with there rich buddies. I'm sure they where around and there was security they didn't show, but the fact that he is there in the fans is important.

I'm so glad the Americans won the 4x100 freestyle relay it was awesome to see them stick it to the French, they didn't win it by much but it was a great comeback, that is what the French Get for opening up there mouths and saying they would crush the Americans.

Volleyball is fun to watch. I include both the men and the women the indoor and the outdoor. That being said due to the Beauty Factor the women are a bit funner to watch. Add in the outfits and then rain and the women on the beach is great but you can still almost see some of the sport in it, well you can but your mind may go two places. The Hot Chinese girls looked oiled up and all the hugs even though it isn't about being hot it is about connecting and playing more connected was kinda hot. I like that the people calling the match kept a Tally on the Chinese Hugs.

Watching Wate rpolo is fun and did get to see some handball and look fore ward to seeing more of it. Not sure what other sports I want to see. I don't know if Archery would be fun to watch or not. I do want to see more Fencing though since it moves so quickly. Hope that those of you who are watching it have a good time and find the sports you like on TV and or though the internet.

So Tuesday is the next Camera test. Well Maybe Wends. with the downloading is more important since I know the Camera takes good out side pictures. I'm thinking of maybe taking some Black and Whites we shall see. I just hope there is no rain cause I don't feel like losing Camera #2. There are things that I do need to see like how it capatures things that are moving. For example There are these monkeys that ride some other animal I have to see those. Then I think at noon there is some kind of Budweiser horse pull that should be cool. Then at Night Testament, Dio's form of Black Sabeth and Motorhead. Plus I want to see the butter scupture. So the hopefully it is a nice day and the pictures come out well we shall see two days after today.

I will be the first to admit that I don't know how exactly sponsership of the Olympics works on the money end of it. I know for the companies they do have tie ins. For example McDonalds does have stuff on bags and cups and in Canada they have mascot glasses and not sure what else. Coke is another big time Olympic Partner and they have cans from different countries and all kinds of adds for this years Olympics. on there product. Since I have been a kid it seems like Mc Donald's and Coke have been part of the Olympics. I myself prefer the taste of there two biggest rivals in Pepsi and Burger King. I think that there are a lot of people who prefer those two brands taste wise. That being said I think Coke and MCD are a better fit. They are both what I call "Classic Brands" They have that Old Time history to them. There are pictures and video of Rey Crock and his Hamburger Place. The same thing could be said with Coke it was around and had the Cocaine taken out before anyone thought of Pepsi. I have also seen a few Budweiser Ads where they say they are a Supporter but they must not be a big one since they don't use the Olympic Rings. They are again an Old Time or at least I assume they are beer. That is right they are a beer and have all ways been a beer. Granted I could not tell you what makes a beer and a Lager different. That being said they have been a beer and are a beer. Unless they Changed how it is made then they are still a Beer. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about they put Lager in there ads now. They have even redone the add where the Dog trains the horse but now Lager is added, what horse shit. I'm an American I want a fucking beer, not some fucking weird lager shit (I don't like beer really). But it is all about not beeing true to who they are they are a beer don't try to be fancy when you are not. Like remember when coke changed there formula and everyone got pissed so they soled the new stuff As Coke and the old formula as Coca Cola Classic. Bud is a beer so stay that way.

There are so many ways to watch the Olympics. First of all you have CBC. Then you have NBC and MSNBC and USA has some coverage and then you have the internet. I Just watched the end of a Handball game live that was pretty cool, wish I caught it sooner. Then CNBC has some events also, I have to admit It is a bit overwhelming. But we shall see what we can see, I gotta go get some food for the house and see what sports I can catch, beach VB is always fun to watch, the women add fun to it also.

First of all (e:Jim) put a great link to Pictures from the opening of the Olympics in the chat. I saw some nice ones on Yahoo but they were not as bold or anywhere near as big this article was on Yahoo's news page and it kinda runs down what all ready happened that being said I still want to see it tonight and see how things look.

China opens its long-sought Olympics spectacularly

By DAVID CRARY, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 2 minutes ago

BEIJING - China didn't just walk onto the world stage. It soared over it. At last playing its long-sought role as Olympic host, China opened the Summer Games in spectacular fashion Friday with an extravaganza of fireworks and pageantry dramatizing its ascendance as a global power.


Disasters, environmental problems and human-rights disputes preceded the games, and questions abound about how they will unfold. But for an evening, at least for the 91,000 people packed into the new National Stadium, it was an interlude of fervor and magic - capped by the spellbinding sight of a skywalking, torchbearing gymnast floating around the stadium's top rim before sending a torrent of fire upward to light the Olympic flame.

Scores of world leaders were on hand, and the potential TV audience was 4 billion worldwide for what was certainly the costliest and probably the largest opening ceremony in Olympic history.

The centerpiece was the parade of athletes, climaxing with the entry of the 639-strong Chinese team. Its flag-bearer was basketball idol Yao Ming, accompanied by 9-year-old schoolboy Lin Hao, a survivor of May's devastating earthquake in Sichuan province.

A chanting, flag-waving crowd gave a thunderous welcome, and erupted again a few moments later when President Hu Jintao declared the games open.

President Bush and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin were among the glittering roster of notables who endured heat and humidity to watch China make this bold declaration that it had arrived. Bush, rebuked by China after he raised human-rights concerns this week, is the first U.S. president to attend an Olympics on foreign soil.

Already an economic powerhouse, China is given a good chance of overtaking the U.S. atop the gold-medal standings with its legions of athletes trained intensely since childhood. One dramatic showdown will be in women's gymnastics, where the U.S. and Chinese teams are co-favorites; in the pool, Chinese divers and U.S. swimmers are expected to dominate.

The run-up to the games had powerful story lines - China investing $40 billion to build Olympic infrastructure, reeling from the Sichuan earthquake, struggling right through Friday to diminish the stubborn smog that enveloped the stadium, known as the Bird's Nest. China's detentions of political activists, its crackdown on uprisings in Tibet and its economic ties to Sudan - home of the war-torn Darfur region - fueled persistent criticisms from human rights groups and calls for an Olympic boycott.

Second-guessed for awarding the games to Beijing seven years ago, the International Olympic Committee stood firmly by its decision. It was time, the committee said, to bring the games to the homeland of 1.3 billion people, a fifth of humanity.

"For a long time, China has dreamed of opening its doors and inviting the world's athletes to Beijing for the Olympic Games," IOC president Jacques Rogge said in his speech. "Tonight, that dream comes true."

Rogge mentioned the earthquake, saying the world was moved "by the great courage and solidarity of the Chinese people." And he exhorted the assembled athletes, as role models for the world's youth, to "reject doping and cheating."

The story presented in Friday's pageantry sought to distill 5,000 years of Chinese history - featuring everything from the Great Wall to opera puppets to astronauts, and highlighting achievements in art, music and science. Roughly 15,000 people were in the cast and crew, all under the direction of Zhang Yimou, whose early films often ran afoul of government censors for their blunt portrayals of China's problems.

He produced some majestic and ethereal imagery. At the start, 2,008 drummers beat out a pulsating rhythm with their hands. Later, a huge, translucent globe emerged from the stadium floor, and acrobats floated magically around it to the accompaniment of the games' theme song, "One World, One Dream."

It ended sensationally, when China's first Olympic superstar, former triple gymnastics gold medalist Li Ning, was hoisted by wires to the top of the stadium, circled the circumference as though he were spacewalking and then touched the torch to a thin pipe, setting off a spiral of flame to ignite the mammoth, scroll-shaped cauldron overlooking Beijing.

Li, now 44, whose six medals total at Los Angeles in 1984 signaled China's intention to be a sports powerhouse, admitted to being nervous about "the best memory of my life."

"This is a glorious but also huge task for anyone," he said. "I should never let the dream of all the Chinese people down. That was why I was nervous."

Li had trained for his part for a month. "The biggest problem is the wind," he said. "Every time I must balance myself in the air and hold the torch as close to the cauldron gas outlet. But every time the wind blew in different directions."

There were no such problems Friday, and when it was over, Li basked in his success. "That moment," he proclaimed, "means China is standing side by side with the rest of the world."

The show's script steered clear of modern politics - there were no references to Chairman Mao and the class struggle, nor to the more recent conflicts and controversies.

A record 204 delegations paraded their athletes through the stadium - superstars such as tennis great Roger Federer and basketball's Kobe Bryant, as well as plucky underdogs from Iraq, Afghanistan and other embattled lands. The nations marched not in the traditional alphabetical order but in a sequence based on the number of strokes it takes to write their names in Chinese. The exceptions were Greece, birthplace of the Olympics, which was given its traditional place at the start, and the Chinese team, which lined up last.

The U.S. team - second-largest after China's with nearly 600 members - was welcomed loudly, with many in the crowd recognizing Bryant and other basketball stars who brought up the rear. Bush rose from his VIP seat to wave at the athletes, nattily dressed in white trousers, blue blazers, red-white-and-blue-striped ties and white caps.

"It was a breathtaking experience walking into the stadium," said Oganna Nnamani, a volleyball player from Bloomington, Ill. "I am thankful to be part of this moment."

"This is the biggest stage," said LeBron James, who hopes to lead the U.S. basketball team to a gold medal.

Among the flag-bearers were basketball stars Dirk Nowitzki of Germany and Manu Ginobili of Argentina, and South African swimmer Nathalie Du Toit, who lost her lower left leg in an accident and made history by qualifying for both the able-bodied games and the Paralympics.

The American flag-bearer was 1,500-meter runner Lopez Lomong, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, who spent a decade of his youth in a refugee camp in Kenya. He's a member of the Team Darfur coalition, representing athletes opposed to China's support for Sudan. On Friday he avoided any criticism and said the Chinese "have been great putting all these things together."

Abroad, human rights activists were less generous.

"The Chinese government and the International Olympic Committee have wasted a historic opportunity to use the Beijing Games to make real progress on human rights in China," said Sophie Richardson of Human Rights Watch.

Few Olympics-related disturbances were reported in China. But in Katmandu, Nepal, hundreds of Tibetan exiles demonstrated outside the Chinese embassy, demanding an end to what they say is Beijing's brutal rule. In Turkey, an anti-China protester set himself on fire.

By all indications, the Chinese have overwhelmingly embraced the games, buying up tickets at a record pace, volunteering by the thousands for Olympic duties, nursing expectations of triumphs by their home team.

To their eyes, the omens were good. The ceremony began at 8 p.m. on the eighth day of the eighth month of 2008 - auspicious in a country where eight is the luckiest number.

I Am kinda worndering how often they will break into it, and if they show an add for say 2 minutes will they pick up in the spot that they left off or will they be 2 minutes further along. I think CBC will reshow it also and show other stuff to. Let the games begin oh yeah they all ready have.