indie pop rocks

Yesterday evening and a good part of tonight was spent watching the Olympics on television. Highlights for me included seeing Natalie Coughlin swim the first leg in the relay race that got America a gold medal and Wisconsin native Paul Hamm achieve his Olympic dream that also made history in the games. Both events were emotional and made for good viewing.

Generally speaking I don't watch any sports on television, but the Olympics have always appealed to me and I think that it has to do with the personal element. From my perspective the focus is more on the individual than some franchise that chews people up year after year. I suppose that people could argue that the same thing happens in the Olympics, but I guess I buy into the whole athlete as an artist image that the games likes to promote.

I also think that the fact that the majority of these people are so young plays a factor in my enjoyment. These aren't overweight men in their forties throwing a ball around and then collecting a paycheck. Quite often these people put the rest of their lives on hold so that they can devote as much time as possible to training and I can admire that dedication.

...

A week ago I sat inside reading The Happy Isles of Oceania waiting for the rain to stop coming down. Today that wasn't a problem. I sat outside in what for me was the ideal temperature and read about Paul Theroux making his way around Western Samoa. Now instead of just talking about the local people, he started to discuss the people who spend their lives on yachts. Part of me can understand the appeal, but I doubt that that is something that I could do. I like being able to sleep on land.

...

Thanks to internet radio, I've become aware of what for me is new music. Aislers Set, Camera Obscura and Rilo Kiley were soon added to my collection of songs.

 
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