Posted on 07/27/2012 5:02:27 PM PDT by jakerobins
Watching the start of the Olympics in London......Anyone else?
“Good Lord, the National Health System is saluted.”
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No kidding. I was watching the Canadian version, which came on earlier, but I couldn’t post for various reasons.
The guy in the top hat reading from a book was apparently some famous figure in the Industrial Revolution who is “revered” in England.
As for the salute to the National Health System, I almost gagged. I thought, I have GOT to get on to FR later when it’s on in the US to post this: “The next time the U.S. hosts the Olympics, I doubt they’ll do a musical extravaganza to Obamacare.”
The entire night I was teasing my Canadian husband. When it was on, I was saying, perhaps I’ll do a tap dance for Obamacare at this point.
It was unbelievable. The Canadian commentators were saying it was a “national point of pride” for England or some such. They tried to soften it by tying it in to Peter Pan, but please! That was revolting and by far the worst performance of the night.
Oh, and by the way, I am sending an email to CTV, the Canadian station. The woman commentator said that the man acknowledged at the end of the house party invented the Internet. Sorry, the U.S. did. However, I learned something tonight, as computer illiterate as I am. The U.S. invented the Internet, but apparently this man created the World Wide Web, which is a sort of application that runs on the Internet. Like many, I confused the Internet with the World Wide Web. I always thought the Internet was a military invention, and it seems part of it has morphed into something useful for civilians. Again, the rest of the world can thank the U.S. for creating something that others can build upon. :)
I apologize in advance for any facts I have gotten wrong. I don’t know much about computers but I do remember the days of bulletin boards, etc., when pcs first became popular. I guess the transition was so quick and or unnoticeable for civilians that people like me confused the two.
Anyway, looking forward to a great Olympics! And may I say, excuse me while I waltz away to bed humming an homage to Obamacare. ;)
I thought Algore invented the Internet.
Enjoyed the opening ceromony, except for the two parts, the one about the NHS and the other one about a certain guy who was said to have invented the world wide web. Sorry Great Britain, it was the USA and the military that invented the internet.
On the NHS part, could it have been Britain’s way of teasing the USA and even Bob Coastis said about big debate on both healthcare and politics last night. The irony of it all was that, both First Lady Michelle and the Romneys were at the opening ceromonies.
You heard Enola Gay by OMD.
America invented the internet, but the British gentleman is the inventor of the WWW.
The two are different.
Another Englishman invented the modern computer as well (Charles Babbage).
Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
He is a rather famous engineer, you know.
The World Wide Web with its hypertext is what made the Internet take off.
‘The Internet’ is really just an inter-network of multiple computers and computer networks, based on conventions around a number of protocols that were selected and popularized from various competing options—and yes, they were developed in the US.
Liked the use of rugby in the early clip montage.
Like television the internet/WWW devoloped over time and had many contributors.
But there was no cowbell.
So it WAS Brunel!
(We turned on late, and since there was no narration, it was a guess on my and dad’s part....)
The man was something. Way to get into all kinds of things.
WADR, depends on your definition of “modern”.
If electric is modern, then it’s ENIAC. ;-)
And yes, I found out that it is correct, it was Tim Bernners-Lee who invented the WWW.
What got me turned off was the reference to the “NHS”, as if it was the director’s way of poking his fingers into the eyes of the USA and the debate over “Obamacare”.
Exactly the way I see it. (And even if it wasn’t spitting in the eye of Americans since they’re flumoxed over why so many of us DON’T want “universal care”, it’s still weird, queer, incongruous, and unseemly.)
I don’t picture our next Olympics featuring dances about Social Security or Medicare! (Maybe that would be a hoot!)
Do you really think Danny Boyle or the British people care a toss about your healthcare?. Dont flatter yourselves.
How arrogant to think that a British show for a British audience for a British olympics, a show which was watched by 1 billion people all over the world, was aimed at just America.
“I thought Algore invented the Internet.”
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LOL!
Well to say the least the British were simply just singing the praises of their healthcare system, which was very obvious. But they know the “drama” that is going on over “across the lake” as the Atlantic Ocean is called with the “debate” over Obamacare.
“Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
He is a rather famous engineer, you know.”
I had forgotten his name but the announcers mentioned that he was a famous engineer. I meant no disrespect by saying “this guy.” It was late and I was tired. :)
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