August 31, 2004

The US Open may not be hitting the headlines with the media focusing on The RNC and protests in New York, but online interest in the tennis games is hot.

Arthur Ashe Stadium is in New York, but far removed from the political events. If you're thinking of going in person, you'll find a seating chart helpful in picking out the best seats - or the best seats you can afford. Prices range from US Open individual ticket prices range from US$22 to US$94 if you get them at the stadium or at a normal ticket outlet. Premium services, which do all the work for you and may have access to better quality seating will charge more to cover their services.

If tennis isn't your game, take a break from the political scene with a fall foliage tour. As September begins, there will be plenty of glorious colors to remind you that every season offers enjoyment and the cycle of the year is going to keep on...no matter what else is going on in the crazy world of politics, economy or life in general.

August 30, 2004

The Indian community around the world is celebrating Raksha Bandhan, a holiday that honors true family values...the fragile yet unbreakable bond between brothers and sisters. The Olympics has officially closed and the US Open Tennis Championship has begun, but news of tennis will take a back seat to political posturing for the next few days.

The big protest march in New York on August 29th, the Sunday before the RNC opened, drew between 100,000 and 400,000 people depending on your source. Whatever number is accurate, there was a mass of humanity of all ages, colors, religions and sexual persuasions walking calmly and purposefully through the city streets in blistering heat.

No matter who wins the circus that the voting process in America has become, there is a big country out there watching and not accepting the political spin - from either side.

On a lighter note...

Anyone who is afraid that this convention will follow the normal political patterns and just be a lot of hot air should be relieved by this news tidbit. According to NewYork1...100,000 balloons, blown up by 200,000 volunteers, will be used at the RNC. How much hot air can possibly still be available?

August 29, 2004

The last few medals of the Olympics have kept the ups and downs alive. A Silver in diving went to an Australian, not a Canadian... and the Gold went to an unexpected member of the Chinese team. Great Britain picked up a few more medals, those prayers to the Greek gods must have been heard!

In New York for the Republican National Convention, the security forces were at full alert for illegal gatherings in Central Park, but the protestors must have been sightseeing or meeting to plan the weeks outings or just hanging out in air conditioning to escape the unseasonable heat.

Madison Square Garden and the area around it is beginning to resemble a bunker and the city now says the total cost of security will be about $70 million...about $15 million coming from the city's tax payers.

The police are gearing up for a Sunday march by protestors that promises to be just one of many large marches through city streets in the up coming week. This march was the one denied a permit to hold a rally in the park and could be the first big conflict with the security forces, if the marchers get carried away and invade the park area.

While the city braces for convention related news, political pundits are trying to guess what surprise announcements the RNC will bring.

Favorite rumors are:

• Dick Cheny withdraws from the race due to "health" reasons and McCain takes the VP nod. You might remember that there were rumors that Kerry was going to pick McCain as a running mate back in March. Although a Bush-McCain ticket would certainly have some appeal, it doesn't seem to be a likely scenario. In a recent poll, only 7% of the delegates responded that Cheny should be replaced. Likely replacements also don't favor McCain. Colin Powell and Rudi Giuliani top the list of people delegates would like to see in the VP slot if Cheny does bow out.
• Osama bin Laden has already been captured by the Pakistanis and the "surprise" announcement will be made during the RNC. This rumor can be traced back to a joking comment made off camera by former Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright last December. She has repeatedly said that the remark was just a joke...maybe not so funny, but still...not based on fact.

If you find yourself wondering when the candidates for political office in the United States will get around to discussing, let's say:

- the state of the world,

- or the state of the economy,

- or real actions to reduce the threat of terrorism,

- or how to repair the damage being done to the US image as a strong backer of freedom and constitutional rights by the treatment of prisoners in Cuba and in the Middle East...

...don't expect any breaking news. The military trials in Guantanamo Bay, which began last week, have received very little attention from the US media and it doesn't look like any substantial problems are going to get resolved during the campaign. Perhaps the protestors will try to bring up those issues in a moment of rational discussion...

August 28, 2004

There is still plenty of news on day 15 of the Olympics, but the tempo is definitely winding down to the finish. As Athens gets set for the closing ceremonies of the Olympics tomorrow, New York and New Yorkers are getting ready for the Republican National Convention to start on Monday.

The Democratic Party Convention in Boston caused a mass exodus of city residents getting away from the conventioneers, but it doesn't look like New Yorkers are going anywhere unless they already had a planned vacation.

The expected 50,000 delegates even with the 250,000 expected demonstrators, are a drop in the bucket compared to the 600,000 people who funnel through Penn Station on a daily basis to get to work and shopping in the city.

It seems that most New Yorkers are looking at the planned demonstrations as a carnival of bicycle riders, marchers and street theater. Since no normal person who lives in New York City drives anyway, street closings are not going to cause much chaos for the residents. Many commuters have arranged to take the week off or work from home, so the net effect of the RNC will probably be to reduce the normal congestion in the city. The last week in August is normally a good time to get in that last vacation before back-to-school becomes a reality.

Anyone who remembers the reason that the convention wound up in New York should be embarassed to complain... although apparently they aren't. The Republican Party agreed to come to the city to add needed revenues to the downtown area hit hardest by the destruction of September 11th. Many of the delegates are a bit nervous about terror attacks, as evidenced by the preparations and security measures inplace for this gathering. Yet, they all are coming to the city to show support and spend their money to beef up the city's economy. Yes, it will cost a fortune to beef up security while they're here, but that money will be paid to local cops for the most part who spend their pay checks in the area.

New Yorkers, despite the gruff reputation, are not immune to human emotions. While rudeness may be a characteristic associated with the city, delegates will find that real New Yorkers -- not the 'make a quick buck and move to the surburbs' crowd -- will be welcoming and glad to have the diversion at the end the summer. There will be plenty of out-of-towners besides the delegates and demonstrators watching the show.

The scenic Hudson Valley area is wondering if they'll get an influx of tourists during the RNC. One owner of an upstate B&B said, ''I don't mind if they come here for any reason, but I can understand if they want to avoid the push and shove of the city.'' Apparently, she missed an important point. If New Yorkers wanted to avoid the push and shove of the city...they wouldn't live in New York to begin with. New Yorkers like the hustle and bustle. The hum of the traffic is as comforting as the trickle of a brook to the suburbanite. The biggest reminder of things gone wrong after September 11th was the cloak of quiet that pushed down on the city streets.

The RNC is just another event in the colorful fabric of life in New York. Don't expect New Yorkers to be making any efforts to flee the crowds. They'll be enjoying the relative peace and quiet that will result from all of the commuters staying home! For most New Yorkers, the RNC will mean business as usual...well, almost...

August 27, 2004

Olympic medals are piling up as the games approach the closing ceremonies. If you want to see how your home team is doing, here are the top ten totals so far:

Country------Total--Gold--Silver--Bronze
USA-----------83-----28-----31------24--
Russia--------60-----15-----21------24--
China---------54-----25-----17------12--
Australia------43-----16-----11------16--
Germany-----40-----12-----13------15--
Japan---------34-----15------9------10--
France--------27-----10------7------10--
Great Britain-25------7------8------10--
Italy------------24------9-------7-------8--

But the real winners at these games seem to be the fans. From most accounts, the combination of Greek sports, weather and hospitality has made these games the best party that long time fans can remember. OOPA! Of course, you'll always find one party pooper...

The Olympic Committee seems to be a little perplexed about George Bush using the Games in a commercial to boost to his political campaign. They've filed a formal protest, but Bush's team stands on their right to use the images of the Games in the ad.

And speaking of protests and George W. Bush, the USA has begun it's latest round of political games with the arrival of protestors in New York City. The Republican National Convention is not supposed to start until Monday, but the protestors are already putting on a show in the city and the FBI is getting ready for them. One large group arrived after strolling down from the Democratic Convention in Boston. The march was peaceful and only one protestor was arrested. The other group making the news was protesting the Bush administration's attitude towards gay marriage. It was the full monty without music (popup warning for this link!) and five of the unclad line wound up in jail. Credit goes both to the protestor's peaceful ways and the NYPD's training that in both protests not a fist was raised. Both Ghandi and Martin Luther King are smiling this year. Let's hope the situation stays that way on Monday!

August 26, 2004

For Greece, Wednesday was a day of bitter disappointment as the men's volleyball team faced the American's in the quarter-finals. After four games, with what looked like an unbeatable lead, Greek fans were savoring the victory when the Americans staged a rally. Coming from behind, team USA won that game and took the last game in an overtime win to advance to the semi-finals.

It was a different story on the track. Fani Halkia of Greece crossed the finish line first in the women's 400 meter hurdle final. Not considered a favorite to win the Gold, Fani's determination to show her "Greek soul" was enough to push her to triumph. The barefoot victory run was truly moving. It was a nice reminder of what these games are really all about in the middle of judging controversies and doping scandals.

In need of more inspiration? The IOC and the UN announced that they have collected more than 10,000 T-shirts, shirts, trousers, caps and shoes to distribute in refugee camps throughout the world. Other groups have donated sports equipment and clothes. With more than "17 million refugees, internally displaced persons, returning refugees, and others, in the world", this is far from a solution, but even as a token gesture it will bring some happiness to these children. Find out more or give a donation at the UN Refugee Agency home page.

In the New York City, the Olympics are taking a back seat to the arrival of the delegates for the Republican Party Convention... and the thousands of protestors who are expected to flock to the city. The convention will start on August 30, but early arrivals are already enjoying the city. With George Bush a sure bet for winning the nomination, the excitement will revolve around the demonstrations. New York has turned the event into a wonderful tourist opportunity. The City is even giving out cards to registered demonstrators. The cards are for discounts on tourist attractions, restaurants and souvenirs...

Only New Yorkers would see political unrest as a reason to party! Could this be another Woodstock in the making? It will definitely be an interesting four days.

August 25,2004

The Olympics are still at the top of the most visited sites. Today's events to keep an eye on are:

Equestrian Individual Dressage Freestyle Final;

Women's Points Race Final in Cycling and

Women's Quarterfinal in Basketball.

Other interesting news...

Paris is celebrating the 60th anniversary of it's liberation from Nazi occupation. Along with all of the planned events, a call has gone out to all Parisians to dress in 1940s era clothes for the day. Wouldn't it be wonderful if this was a yearly festivity. It could get to be as popular as the Halloween parade in New York's Greenwich Village or Mardi Gras in Rio!

August 25th is Kiss and Make up day... Why not send an e- card to end that argument!

Don't you just love all the wacky holidays that have been invented?
Curious about the rest of August?

Women's Equality Day: 26

The Duchess Who Wasn't Day: 27

Race Your Mouse Around the Icons Day

AND

Crackers Over The Keyboard Day: 28

More Herbs, Less Salt Day: 29

Pony Express Day: 29...
and to end the month...

Love Litigating Lawyers Day: 31

Brownielocks and the Three Bears actually lists all of these - and has NO popups...

A more traditional holiday is coming up on the 30th of August -- Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi). This is one of the most beautiful and festive holidays in the Asian calendar. It honors the bonds between brothers and sisters. Wouldn't it be nice if this celebration made it into the mainstream in other cultures -- along with Mother's Day and Father's Day. Find out more about it and maybe you'll want to add a simplified version to your family calendar!

August 24, 2004

The Olympics may not operate on democratic principles, but spectators sometimes do get a voice. In the men's gymnastics horizontal bar final today, booing spectators not only delayed the games, but caused a change in scores that two judges had awarded to the Russian gymnast and 2000 Olympic bar champion, Alexei Nemov.

These were new judges replacing the ones that had been removed after the fiasco in the men's all around gymnastics competition.

The crowd refused to stop the booing, even after the Russian gymnast went to the floor to plead for quiet so that the games could continue.

The gymnast's reactions? "Paul was just like, 'Wow.' All of us were. None of us had ever seen anything like it," Morgan Hamm said in an Agence France Presse update. "I thought it was a little bit exciting to see such a reaction because of gymnastics."

It is such a shame that the gymnasts can't rely on the judges to be qualified to give impartial and accurate scores. The saddest commentary is that after the crowd's uproar, two scores were changed. When a scoring system is that flexible, how reliable is any result?

Svetlana Khorkina, the Russian diva, told the Associated Press that she felt she had been judged unfairly in Thursday's women's gymnastic event, "Everything was decided in advance," was her contention. "I'd like to work for the International Gymnastics Federation. These competitions have shown the sport needs a lot of changes," she said. "It should be judged primarily on grace, elegance and beauty rather than simply on mechanic tumbling." Having watched the competitions, it seems that her attitude is not justified, but if the integrity and ability of the judges is not above question these kinds of questions will keep cropping up.

There was no dispute in the women's softball arena, and no booing from the stands, as the American team blasted their way to the Gold. The Australian team played hard and even scored a run, but the American's dominated every aspect of the game.

If you are ready for a break -- or a breakdown -- after all of the uproar at the Olympics, stop by the new music therapy section. Matt Bush, a practicing therapist and member of the Freudian Slip, a band that produces therapeutic music for teens and preteens, has offered his selection of the best links in the field of music therapy.

August 23, 2004

Welcome back to the work week. After a weekend of relaxation it's time to get back to the serious business of...keeping up with the Olympics!

On day 10 of the Olympics the Softball matches are ending. Artistic Gymnastics and Table Tennis will also be awarding medals. But as some sports wind down others get in gear...

Synchronised Swimming and Canoe / Kayak Flatwater Racing, starting today, should add some beauty and excitement to the Games. Russia is heavily favored for the Gold in the synch swimming events. Japan and France look likely to bring home a Silver, but Spain, Canada and the USA are very much in medal contention.

The doping issue keeps cropping up. The Russian shot put Gold medalist lost her Gold and the Greek Bronze winner in Weightlifting was strippped of the medal after failing drug tests.

There is a lot riding on the outcome of these events both for the athletes and the countries they represent. The temptation to use any means possible to enhance performance is hard to resist. Many athletes get drawn into the mistaken belief that everyone is cheating -- and they need to use illegal substances just to keep even.

Hopefully, the strict testing and quick action by the Olympics committee will help all of the athletes who are thinking of using harmful drugs to think again. We can only feel sorry for the winners who worked so hard to make their dreams of an Olympic medal come true...and lost it all because they made one bad decision.

We know enough about how the human body works and the vitamins and minerals that enhance performance, and health, naturally that there should be no need to use banned substances to become a great athlete.

August 22, 2004

The latest word on the Hamm Gold medal is that it will remain his. The rules for the gymnastics events say that if there is a question on the judging it needs to be resolved before the athletes leave the floor. It seems that Hamm would have been very happy to get a Silver - if he had been told at the event. It is a bad situation no matter what the outcome. Perhaps someone will suggest giving both Olympians a Gold in the event and eliminating the Bronze this once.

Today and Monday will bring back the gymnasts for the Individual Apparatus finals.

Coming up in the 2004 Games is a great softball matchup. The Americans look very strong, but they have plenty of competition for the Gold. This will be one to follow, even if you aren't a fan.

Stepping away from the Olympics...

The New York Time's Sunday Magazine Section online published an article on the latest slang in the young urban professional crowd. Some examples...

- Lush flush n. The rosy hue you get in your cheeks after a few too many glasses of wine.
- Mitin Pronounced ''mitten.'' Acronym/codespeak for ''more information than I needed.''
- Mouse potato n. The wired generation's answer to the couch potato.

Which seemed a perfect opportunity to explore what the future might bring for household slang...

- Keynut butter n. The sticky mess that the diaker deposits on the keyboard. Hopefully, it was once peanut butter? The verb, of course, is keynut buttering.
- Mouse spouse n. Husband or wife who disappears into the computer room for hours...or days.
- Scrud n. Whatever that stuff is that is all over the computer screen.

Check out the rest at Time for Some Blamestorming...That Diaker Keynut Buttered the Computer, Again!...you'll even find out what a diaker is.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend whether you are at the beach, watching the Olympics or at the computer...

August 21, 2004

The Olympics are still grabbing the headlines. The Japanese women pitched a perfect softball game and the American women are being hailed as the "Dream Team" with their perfect record - so far no one has scored against them - officially - in the 2004 Games.

Paul Hamm may be in jeopardy of losing the gymnastics Gold Medal no one thought he'd win after his fall. It seems the Korean Bronze medal winner may have been been the victim of a judging mistake that should have awarded him the Gold. Yang Tae Young received the wrong start value, a 9.9 instead of a 10, on Parallel Bars. The final results were so close that reversing the error would make him the Gold Medal winner. Judge's decisions are final, but this is a sticky one...

As further proof that not all Olympic dreams come true, Haile Gebrselassie who won the Olympic gold in the Men's 10,000m event at the 2000 Sydney and 1996 Atlanta Games, finished in sixth place in the event this year. But in swimming, the American Gary Hall, brought his dream of remaining the fastest swimmer to life in the 50m Freestyle. At 29, he won the Gold for the third time - in his third Olympics.

If you are pining to get away from the Olympics din, stop and visit Glasgow or the middle ages with the newest articles in the Art section at Chiff.com.

August 20, 2004

Phelps is continuing on his quest for a record collection of medals in swimming. Compared to Paul Hamm's nerve shredding battle for the Gold as the best male gymnast, Carly Patterson's stroll to Olympic Gold for the top individual female medal was a breeze. Now track and field is set to enter the spotlight. Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie is determined to become the only man to win the 10,000 meters at the Olympics three straight times, despite an Achilles' tendon injury that may interfere with his goals.

If you belong to part of the population that would rather watch the competitions than think about running 10,000 meters, with or without an aching Achilles' tendon, or swinging from anything...other than a hammock, there are alternatives available.

Travel is beginning to pick up. It's the last gasp before those with children end summer vacations. For singles and couples without kids this is the best time for travel planning. With the weekend coming up online surfers are checking out the beaches and pool parties... Enjoy!

August 19, 2004

The roller coaster of the Olympics continues...

The USA briefly owned third place in the team Equestrian event. A protest removed the Gold from the German team...then, officials reversed themselves, awarding Germany the gold, France the silver and Britain the bronze -- leaving team USA without a medal. America's Kimberely Severson did medal with the bronze in the individual event.

In men's gymnastics, Paul Hamm gave the Gold to the Koreans with his vault landing - which came very close to ending in the laps of the judges. His next two performances were so close to perfection that he squeaked by the disappointed Korean rivals to claim the first place Gold.

Is your young gymnast dreaming Olympic dreams? Check the tips on what to do about it offered by an expert in training children. There are simple steps you can take at home to develop gymnastic talent if a class is not on your schedule. The bottom line is that training for a sport is a good thing - even if the Olympics dream don't last.

If you're getting a bit dizzy with the ups and downs of Olympic sports, take a break and check your home for used items to recycle in a new way. Freecycling is catching on around the world and while it will never be an Olympic sport, it is a great way to get "new" previously owned household items, toys and appliances. You recycle your unwanted items to someone who can use them... and get items you're interested in for free. Who needs a Gold Medal when you can get free kitchen cabinets?

August 18, 2004

Oil prices are easing a bit and International affairs are bumbling along in their normal fashion as the world takes a break to battle in the athletic arenas of Greece. The Olympics are getting even more attention as they move closer to the end of the first week of the 2004 Summer Games.

Disappointed with the British medal situation, the Sun has decided to appeal to the Gods of ancient Greece for a bit of assistance. If it works there may be more pleas to Athena for Athens Gold.

The top medal winners so far are:

GOLD United States - 6; China - 10; Australia - 6; Russia - 2; Japan - 6

SILVER United States - 7; China - 6; Australia - 3; Russia - 5; Japan - 2

BRONZE United States - 6; China - 2; Australia - 5; Russia - 5; Japan - 1

TOTAL United States - 19; China - 18; Australia - 14; Russia - 12; Japan - 9

The most viewed Olympic sports online are still football-soccer, equestrian, gymnastics and swimming with trivia still bringing up the rear. Check out how your teams are doing and keep up the latest from Athens...

August 17, 2004

As the Olympics continue, the drama mounts. In swimming, Australia's Thorpe-edo ended Phelps' ambitions for matching the Mark Spitz record, but the dashed hopes won't be so hard to take with the gleam of at least one Gold shining from the American swimmer's neck.

Japan broke back into gymnastics Gold after a wait of 28 years when the men's team produced stellar performances - as close to 10s as you can get. The American team, with the Hamm brothers, took the podium for the first time since 1984 with the Silver.

The home town crowd in Athens was treated to a Greek Gold in the Men's 3M Synchronized Springboard as Nikolas Siranidis and Thomas Bimis survived the error plagued diving event.

Iraq beat the odds and advanced to the quarter finals in the men's football-soccer tournament. Among the women's teams meeting today will be the Australians and Americans. It's looking like a hot match, so catch it if you can.

The hottest events online are still football-soccer, equestrian, gymnastics and swimming with triathlon and weightlifting bringing up the rear. Take some time from your training and check out the latest from Athens...

August 16, 2004

The Olympics are here and, despite the hype and the heat, the games are tight and exciting. Phelps may not break the record for Olympic Gold Medals, but the swimming events are real races with the winner decided by milliseconds. The Chinese women's gymnastics team had plenty to high five about after their performance on Sunday and the American women are keeping their spirits up despite a second place showing.

The winner, so far, in the most popular online events is football, or soccer if you live in the USA. Although the equestrian events are a very close second. Looks like the Bronze for the events is going to swimming, but gymnastics is picking up the pace and may wind up in one of the top three positions.

Check the entire Olympics coverage or catch up on trivia. Click on your fave sport and we'll keep you updated with what the spectators are looking at throughout the games.

August 2, 2004

As the depth and breadth of the Chiff Main Directory grows, the more varied the suggestions submitted. So here's a long overdue 'thanks' to Chiff.com fans who regularly send us nominations for what they feel are the Best Sites on the Web.

With grateful appreciation:

...to a UK post-doctoral student in chemistry who recently told us that our science jobs resources were good, but could be better...and proceeded to suggest two new links: ChemSeer and Acadamic Jobs EU.

...to Paul Silver, the Reluctant Mechanic, who yesterday alerted us to his new Volkswagon maintenance and repair guides, a cache of illustrated tutorials created to help fellow-VW owners continue to poke and prod their old Bugs back to life. With a nod to the appropriately spare design.

...Also don't miss Invention Submission Corporation a site recently submitted to Chiff.com BUT for which the directory has yet to create an inventive category (Small Business > Inventors? Science > Inventors?) While we tinker, surf over to ICS for some fun invention trivia, offbeat inspiration for inventors, related news and links...

Thanks again to all. Keep those e-mails coming! Suggest a site.