Olympics and other crazy events

Olympics and other crazy events

This has been an interesting week.  For those of you who may be reading this blog article a year or a decade from now, possibly after it has been awarded that elusive Pulitzer Prize for “Oddest writing style on the weakest topic”, this week is the first full week of the 2012 Summer Olympic games, being held in London, England.

The opening ceremonies of the 2012 games were highlighted, in my opinion, by Agent OO7 and the Queen of England parachuting in to the stadium during the opening of the games.  I really liked it when the Queen, upon safely landing, spiked her crown on the turf, then did a war whoop and a double back flip.  I think it scored a 9 out of 10.  It would have been better had Mr. Bond not immediately shot the Queen, suspecting she was an imposter.  That’s what she gets for stepping out of character. 

There have been the typical heartwarming tales about specific Olympic athletes.  A perfect example:   In the Kayak event, the New Zealand kayaker was disqualified by his mother, for brushing one of the poles in the race.  I bet she also sent him to bed without dinner and admonished him not to run with scissors or talk with his mouth full.  I also understand that she asked him if all the other Olympic athletes jumped off a cliff, would he too? Turns out she was a real judge in the event and had to score her son’s performance.  In the entire world there are not enough judges to keep this guy from having his mom penalize him? 

It was heartbreaking to hear that the Olympic swimmer from Mexico came in fourth in his event, and did not receive a medal.  This is surprising to me.  Some of you may remember that I wrote a blog entry decades ago (actually Sept of 2005) that said the wet-backstroke was the official Olympic swimming event in Mexico.   I guess all the best Mexican swimmers have already made it across the river to the U.S. 

And there’s the female javelin thrower from Paraguay.  She is beautiful, and readily admits she has no hopes of being competitive in her event.  She is there at the Olympics to promote her own modeling career.  At least she is honest and realistic.  She will earn more gold in that field than in Track and Field.

The crazy events of this week have not just limited to the Olympics.  I happen to be in Mexico City for a business conference.  I found out yesterday that my personal Yahoo email account was hacked.  Someone used it to send a message to everyone on my Contacts List that I had gone to London for an “unplanned vacation” (yeah, right, during the Olympics?) and there I got mugged.  The message said all my money and credit cards were taken, and I needed money.  The hacker gave a number to wire funds to.  In today’s 24 hour / Global culture, it is interesting that I first found out about this scam from a friend who is in India.  I later heard it from a friend in Buffalo New York.  I am still waiting to hear from my mother.  I think she is busy judging the Olympic kayak events.  Thank goodness she is not judging the Olympic blog writing event.  All my boyhood misbehaviors would come back to haunt me big time.

I quickly sent out a note to everyone in my Yahoo Contacts list that the message was a fake.  I had not been mugged, and it was a scam.  But if they wanted to, they could send me money anyway.  I was really touched that several people contacted me to make sure I was all right.  Even my Insurance Agent wanted to double check my safety.  She contacted the fetching Mrs. Intrepid Traveler to find out about my condition.  (I must have some policies due for renewal soon).  One person, who I don’t know, but I had emailed a message to regarding a fence that separated our properties, used the opportunity to remind me, in a return message, to Trust in Jesus.   Gee,Thanks.  Trust him to wire me $?

My daughters knew instantly that this was not a message from me since there were no hidden jokes in it.  Or subliminal messages, like:   vote Republican, or buy your dad a new chainsaw for Christmas.   And I am sure my wife knew too, since she knows I live in dread of putting myself in a spot where she can say “I told you so”.  So, I appreciate all the concerned friends who contacted me and their messages telling me that my account had been hacked.

It is pathetic in today’s world that a stranger half way around the world would fabricate an attack on me to solicit a sympathetic reaction for money.  (That’s my job) Now I have to come up with another scam to tug at your heartstrings.  I will have to rely on my brains and intellect.  Damn.  Maybe this time someone will send money.  You still have a chance to prove that you are a caring, concerned Yahoo Contact person.  Just fill a manila envelope with large denomination bills for the “Hacked Victim Fund” and leave it under the mat.  Or, better yet, stuff the Queen’s crown with cash and drop it off.  I saw it rolling around on the ground and am pretty sure she no longer has a use for it.