Posted on 08/05/2008 6:45:02 AM PDT by Red in Blue PA
MANHASSET, N.Y. — When viewers around the world turn on their TVs this Friday (Aug. 8) to watch the opening ceremony of Beijing Summer Olympics, few will be aware of a behind-the-scenes controversy quietly brewing in China over the use of MEMS-equipped electronic toy torches in the stadium. This tempest in a teapot represents both the Chinese desire to put the nation's best foot forward and its government's intention to quash even the slightest hint of potential political dissidence.
Suspense is building around a single question: Will the Chinese Olympic Committee allow spectators during the opening ceremony to use the Waving Torch -- a replica of the Olympic Torch designed to spell out messages in midair when spectators wave them rapidly back and forth? Officials are thought to be concerned that the programmable torches might be hacked.
Embedded with an accelerometer developed by Memsic Inc. (Andover, Mass.), the electronic torch can spell out messages by synching the illumination of a foot-long line of LEDs.
The high-tech torch was supposed to create a stark contrast to decidely low-tech foam No. 1 fingers, thundersticks, cheeseheads and other paraphernalia that enliven stadiums at U.S. sporting events.
The Chinese government originally green-lighted the Waving Torch project, but industry sources are now saying that the chances that will happen are even.
(Excerpt) Read more at eetimes.com ...
Cheeseheads are low tech ?
Moscow 1980, Berlin 1936, China 2009. The ollympic game to use a good old American expression has three strikes and its out. I think viewership will be way down this year, unless there’s a protest that breaks out.
That was china 2008. Really, who’s watching this nonsense?
I won’t be wasting a nanosecond on this Propaganda parade.
I think most of the viewership in the country will be women. I’m focusing in on preseason NFL action.
Neither will I. And I will be curious to see the ratings come in.
As am I. I don't plan to waste a minute on the Beijing spectacle.
Signed,
-Lady NFL Season Ticket Holder (Who can't go to but a couple of the games, but can still keep up with it all from afar)
God bless you.
Yep. I'm right there with you.
Maybe watch some of the events on ESPN as I catch up on baseball scores/highlights but zero couch/eyeball time for me.
Hadn't planned on watching any of it and then when I found out Bob Costas was going to be the anchor for them, that sealed the deal.
Do they have no one else other than that picayune prick?
I would bet you dollars to donuts those sync’ed LEDs don’t spell out anything when they are shown on TV, because the sync of the TV camera and screen are not going to match up.
What team?
Houston Texans. Reliant Stadium, Loge II, Section 530.
Oh. I was getting ready to bust on you because I’m pretty much a total bigot against any team other than the Jets (section 323, row 4), but I don’t really have much of an issue with Houston. I’ve actually always been a little envious of people who can watch their team evolve from the very start.
Yes, the evil Bud Adams afforded us that opportunity. (I had Oilers season tickets for a few years, too.) I was one of the first 5,000 people to buy Texans season tickets.
And it is fun coming in on the ground floor. I honestly think my team is going to be decent this year. Finally!
How long have you had Jets tickets?
My father had them from '85 until around '94, so I spent my childhood going to games with him. He's since moved, so I've split a set of two tickets with two of my stereotypically-drunken Jet fan friends since '01. And now we're going to have to cough up some serious bucks for these stupid personal seat licenses they're requiring for the new stadium. Blech.
Even without the whole China political fiasco, the Olympics stopped being fun when they went to WAY too many commercials and touchy/feely human interest stories about the athletes. Just show the actual competitions, already!!
Gary Kubiak has become quite well-loved in Houston.
Good luck to your Broncos and may the BEST team win. :)
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