Friday Round-UP

I finally watched the Olympics last night at a bar with Simon. There was no sound, which was a bit disappointing, but I have to say it is much more fun to sit in a bar with a beer in hand and more in the pitcher and watch athletes (who are like the circus freaks of the 21st century) perform feats of incredible strength and stamina.

I lucked out because I got to watch the mens 100 metres and women's gymnastics, two highly engaging events. I also talked to Simon (when not staring up in gape-mouthed fascination). The swimmers are incredible, they have built so much muscle, and ripped out every single hair that could possible contribute to drag, so much so that they resemble sea creatures almost more then humans. When they have the whole goggle, cap situation, and their nostrils are more like circular gills drilled into smooth face planes.

The way athletes move just before they start is also interesting, it's like they are no longer involving themselves in petty human concerns, like they have reduced their own point of view to that of a racehorse. I picture Joan of Arc just before she climbed up onto her stake, the same tension between utter focus and the will to be detached, in both cases what is required is that the body be nothing more than a vessel.

Oh boy that is poetic. I really just wanted to mention that I have been listening to Hefner this morning, remember them? The first Hefner song I ever loved was The Hymn for the Cigarettes.