"Passion lives here"

If you watched the Olympics over the last couple of weeks, like I did, then you likely didn't get much else done. But you also likely saw the phrase "Passion lives here" all over the Olympic venues - including on the podiums.

That's not a translation from the Italian. "Passion lives here" - three English words - were all over the Olympics in northern Italy. I'm not sure why it wasn't Italian. I know the announcements at the Games were done in Italian, French and English.

I know that there were be a big hoo-hah in Canada if Vancouver has only "Passion lives here" or any other English words splayed over their Olympic venues. Because there has to be French there also. In fact, what was done in Turin would likely be illegal in Quebec because of the language laws there.

C'est la vie.

Olympics are over

Well, the Olympics are effectively over for Canada, as the men's hockey lost in the quarter finals to Russia. No need to do any hand wringing about that here.

Now Canadians can just move on to other parts of their lives, and ignore the rest of the Olympics, because Canadians don't care about sports.

Hockey is an exception to Canadians general sports attitude, but it's not that much of an exception.

Question for the Great One

Mr. Gretzky, you gambled on selecting this team of players for the Olympics, and they haven't scored a goal in over two games. What do you wager are their chances now to win gold?

Questions du jour

When did I last receive a Valentine?

When did l last send a Valentine?

I remember there were Valentine exchanges in elementary school. One year - grade 1? 2? - I gave Valentines to everyone in class but didn't sign those I gave to the girls, and a couple of guys that I wasn't that fond of.

No one figured out it was me who did that. And I recall being surprised that no one could figure out it was me who sent the anonymous cards. I thought it was obvious, and you'd have to be stupid not to figure it out.

Ahhhhh, egocentrism.

Quote of the day

One is always surprised when one is described as anything.
Leonard Cohen during an interview with Shelagh Rogers on Sounds Like Canada, February 7, 2006.