tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49124605043731097752024-03-06T05:56:47.483+00:00Sean's London Olympic BlogMy company supplies hardware and software for the communications systems used by many broadcasters, including NBC, who use a large system for covering the Olympics. This is my 8th trip to the Olympics providing support to NBC inside the International Broadcast Centre (IBC), and these are my ramblings on what's going on in London and at the GamesSean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-2324757457633112172014-01-16T15:07:00.000+00:002014-01-16T15:07:30.009+00:00See you in Sochi!It is that time again! I am heading off to Sochi on February 1st, and once again, I will be keeping a blog of my time at the Olympics. <br />
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You can visit my new blog at <a href="http://ssob2014.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sean's Sochi Olympic Blog</a>. I hope you'll come follow me around for my first time in Russia, it should be an interesting experience! <br />
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Cheers - Sean Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-7912066243987819532012-08-13T12:29:00.002+01:002012-08-13T12:29:21.495+01:00Saying Goodbye!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well, it's time to say goodbye to London! I got home after they wrapped up post-work on closing ceremonies at about 5am, and got up at noon. I have today off, and had hoped to get up and go visit <a href="http://www.stonehenge.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stonehenge</a>, but I just don't have the energy. Instead, I'm going to pack, and maybe do a little walking on the south shore of the Thames. Then I am meeting the rest of the Comms team for dinner at our favourite Italian restaurant Zizzi's. </div>
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(Me in one of the studios, leaning on a camera...)</div>
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I get picked up for the airport at 4:30am on Tuesday morning, and have an 8:30am flight (which because of the time zone change actually lands in Toronto at 11:30am on Tuesday morning - and yes, I plan to be at Synchro practice on Tuesday night to see <a href="http://www.leasideskatingclub.com/synchro/Leaside-Synchronized-Skating-Synergy-Junior.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Caitie's team</a>).<br />
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(My "credit" ran on the primetime show... "David" again as usual...)</div>
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People always ask what my favourite Olympics has been, and it is so hard to answer because they are all unique. I certainly enjoyed London very much, even though, working nights, I didn't see a lot of the Olympics live. For me, the best part about being here has been being able to see and learn about some of the history of London. There are so many things to see and do, and I didn't get to everything that I wanted to.<br />
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(One last look at the Olympic Stadium from last night)</div>
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And while (the modern) parts of London are kind of ugly, as were many of the Olympic venues (with all the chainlink and scaffolding), the older architecture is amazingly beautiful (and plentiful). I also have to say thank you to the people of London, and of England, who wholeheartedly embraced everything about the Olympics. Ticket sales were strong, and the crowds were enthusiastic (even for the "lesser" sports). The volunteers (and there were thousands of them) were fantastic, cheeful, and helpful.<br />
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And so now the torch has been passed (literally?) to Rio, Brazil, for the next Summer Games in 2016. But before then, we have the next Winter games in Sochi, Russia. Both of those should be interesting cultural experiences, and I hope I get the opporutinity to work both of them (as NBC has won the rights for both).<br />
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Looking farther down the line, the following Winter Olympics will be in PyeongChang, South Korea, in 2018. There is <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23SynchroInPyeongChang2018" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a campaign growing to have Synchronized Skating included</a> in these games, and Caitie will be just 22 years of age by then. Wouldn't that be great!<br />
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I want to thank all of you for following me on my journey in London. There have been nearly 2000 of you who have dropped by to view some part of my blog! I hope you have enjoyed my adventures, and my Olympic reports (there were some great stories to follow this year).<br />
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As always, I can't wait to get home and see Susan, Connor, and Caitie, I miss them a lot, and wish that it were possible for them to be here with me. Love you guys, see you tomorrow!<br />
Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-50766614055206262082012-08-13T01:25:00.001+01:002012-08-13T01:25:33.666+01:00Closing CeremoniesHope you enjoyed the show! Here are some of my favourite moments from the closing ceremonies...<br />
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First there were a few opening musical numbers, then the parade of flags...<br />
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Followed by the athletes...</div>
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<br />Nice arial shot from the blimp...<br />
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<br />I really liked the tribute to John Lennon with Imagine...<br />
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<br />And the image of him that they created on the floor using human puzzle pieces...<br />
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<br />Annie Lennox was great...<br />
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<br />But I really enjoyed this bizarre bit with Russell Brand and "I am the Walrus"...<br />
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<br />The Spice Girls rocked it...<br />
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And then it just got weird with Eric Idle (what was with that Bollywood bit?)...</div>
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This part of the Brazlian show reminded me of the Matrix...<br />
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Then it was time for the flame to go out...</div>
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And a phoenix to rise...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcvkaUYb-J5_hm0xMSYV0dm4gkCQj6Dz-Sqy-HLeAOxNttLXzuWWCce2OG-w_yYuFrqnIBf9BnZS-zXozaO5u4jE3MtyfYyYc_iduARSEVyeGJI1uG4ICOBeuXdcMpbEOTZTS4_q8R9U/s1600/DSC_2195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcvkaUYb-J5_hm0xMSYV0dm4gkCQj6Dz-Sqy-HLeAOxNttLXzuWWCce2OG-w_yYuFrqnIBf9BnZS-zXozaO5u4jE3MtyfYyYc_iduARSEVyeGJI1uG4ICOBeuXdcMpbEOTZTS4_q8R9U/s400/DSC_2195.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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After the Who played My Generation, we had the final firework sequence...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo0GVWul99CzC42ase8t-K4OlSNMhnZ8dgJ1AR6nZeRJl7dLEag1-INRbbLXQ4WX0isBgaTaH7XYFzSzmzUI1EmZwapBT8IzIX2tOs6j67GCrrPJVKRZPjBtw7KtjGkI9QqtDXzZbHU4/s1600/DSC_2201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo0GVWul99CzC42ase8t-K4OlSNMhnZ8dgJ1AR6nZeRJl7dLEag1-INRbbLXQ4WX0isBgaTaH7XYFzSzmzUI1EmZwapBT8IzIX2tOs6j67GCrrPJVKRZPjBtw7KtjGkI9QqtDXzZbHU4/s400/DSC_2201.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now we're here till morning as they record athlete interviews from the stadium, and then cut together how the show will air tonight (I don't think NBC showed this live this afternoon).<br />
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Overall, I thought it was pretty entertaining, though it got off to a slow start. I'll have one more post tomorrow to wrap things up. Thanks for sticking with me!Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-63618536406061231242012-08-12T19:36:00.000+01:002012-08-12T20:00:15.781+01:00Almost done...Well, here we are, only a few hours away from the Closing Ceremonies. In some ways, the past three weeks have gone by very quickly, and yet at the same time, I am ready to come home. <br />
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Today was the first day since before the games began that the entire Comms team was in the IBC at the same time, so we gathered this afternoon to take our traditional team photo.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfToL_J8XXuaYrfCbVr7dfudAsRagl7eV4rPr2G0fyAvwbOZxmCEfVPxj2TMF-RurY0IwPVyE9SMucjAgLJa3_1eGXctcUe3y8GuMlLSu1qMWQVqK1ufG0x-HNLYh7JZkXlIbEowN4DU/s1600/_JPP3472.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfToL_J8XXuaYrfCbVr7dfudAsRagl7eV4rPr2G0fyAvwbOZxmCEfVPxj2TMF-RurY0IwPVyE9SMucjAgLJa3_1eGXctcUe3y8GuMlLSu1qMWQVqK1ufG0x-HNLYh7JZkXlIbEowN4DU/s400/_JPP3472.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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(From left: Rickey, Patrick, Kevin, John, Bob, Sean, and Tony)</div>
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This is a great bunch of guys, and I am so proud to be a part of this team. Thanks to John, and NBC, for continuing to invite me to participate at the Olympics, and to Bosch for allowing me to come.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRPZROCJjQJSS0nZr3puvE1D0Ndxe2d_x1ghzoxpZmsUx-dR8zup9DL4vg1UmONTu-OOV1J9s6KPI5glYz5PbUBh-HUzK_a_cu183syG9Uzg46ln1K3h3T68W5Lo96YqM_8xHljhuoRM/s1600/461531_4065153199959_1418353139_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRPZROCJjQJSS0nZr3puvE1D0Ndxe2d_x1ghzoxpZmsUx-dR8zup9DL4vg1UmONTu-OOV1J9s6KPI5glYz5PbUBh-HUzK_a_cu183syG9Uzg46ln1K3h3T68W5Lo96YqM_8xHljhuoRM/s400/461531_4065153199959_1418353139_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Great photo from John from inside the stadium!)</div>
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Canada's final medal of the games was won by <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/boating/news/article/canada-mark-jonge-wins-olympic-bronze.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Marc de Jonge</a>, another bronze, in the men's K1 200m. Our goal had been to place in the top 12 for medal count, with an estimated 22 medals. We ended up in 13th spot, with 18 medals, and "only" one gold, but I hope that nobody is too disappointed.<br />
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Adam Van Koeverden talks about some of the Canadian Olympic veterans: Simon Whitfield, Clara Hughes, and Alexandre Despatie, and what they've meant to him and to Canada in <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news/article/van-koeverden-pays-tribute-canada-olympic-heroes.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this article</a>.<br />
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In another article from CTV, we hear the story of <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/athletics/news/article/best-athletics-surprises-sportsmanship-and-tears.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Damian Warner</a> and how he achieved 5 personal bests in 10 events, finishing 5th in the decathlon, after coming in ranked 24th in the world, and the story of<a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/athletics/news/article/best-athletics-surprises-sportsmanship-and-tears.html" target="_blank"> Paula Findlay</a>, who's heartfelt (and unnecessary) apology to Canada, after finishing last in the Triathlon (because of a nagging hip injury that has lasted more than a year), touched us all.<br />
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The same article talks about Grenadian sprinter <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/athletics/news/article/best-athletics-surprises-sportsmanship-and-tears.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kirani James</a> trading bibs with South African "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius after their 400m semi-final (an event in which James won the gold, while Oscar failed to qualify for the final). <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/athletics/news/article/pistorius-carry-flag-for-south-africa-closing-ceremonies.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar</a> has been selected to carry to flag in the closing ceremonies for South Africa.<br />
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Meanwhile, as I had hoped, <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news/article/christine-sinclair-carry-canadian-flag-closing-ceremony.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christine Sinclair</a> has been chosen to carry the flag for Canada. She led Canada to their first team sport medal since 1936, was the tournaments highest scorer, nearly single-handedly beat the US (gold medal winners) in the semi-final when she scored three times, is tied for second all-time with most career goals internationaly, and has been the face of Canadian women's soccer for as long as I can remember. I think she deserves it.<br />
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Our job here in Comms is pretty much done, we've just checked in the communications for the Olympic Stadium, the Blimp, and the two SNG trucks, now we just sit back and watch (and listen) for any problems.<br />
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I'll be posting live on Facebook during the closing ceremonies (spoiler alert if you are taping them to watch later), and will have another post with some photos from closing after it's done.Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-7786587090614320172012-08-12T02:28:00.002+01:002012-08-12T04:37:15.787+01:00NBC at the IBCSo, as usual, I wanted to give you a glimpse inside the IBC to see what we do here. I always think this will be boring, but there are some of you who always like this post. I've done <a href="http://vancouverolympicblog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/nbc-at-ibc.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a post like this</a> in all my blogs, and the details remain mostly the same, so I'll avoid too much repetition and just show you how we are setup here in London. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqfZ5K3dtYx2gbunHbBOiDCKcNXvVdBzUOaaAmoCqNWosJb2sb0N6AT7T64_vrHNjZMoXkPCp7qTAzZEWpUWbjwtz_qMoa4-_vtety3EtOVzNVjWoABAcGASOAVotzkinDAyQuAav3i4/s1600/DSC_2087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqfZ5K3dtYx2gbunHbBOiDCKcNXvVdBzUOaaAmoCqNWosJb2sb0N6AT7T64_vrHNjZMoXkPCp7qTAzZEWpUWbjwtz_qMoa4-_vtety3EtOVzNVjWoABAcGASOAVotzkinDAyQuAav3i4/s320/DSC_2087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Studio set "B", daytime show)</div>
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These are two of the sets you see on air. Above is Studio B, which is used for the daytime show, and below is Studio A (the interview area, not the desk where Bob Costas sits). I didn't show the Costas desk because I haven't been able to get in there yet when the lights are on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtc_YCXtm2_SaDE4kA3X21x9uWWU5kUP7i7RNQLhPRe5NdjnTvWpmaCCFVGB4K_PsY377dt-QZZxoKStQ5l18Mn13A0fF8OcFQ4quozrgqOu2vxEOe3un-VAF1soF5LLy87TwHOho7QdY/s1600/DSC_2139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtc_YCXtm2_SaDE4kA3X21x9uWWU5kUP7i7RNQLhPRe5NdjnTvWpmaCCFVGB4K_PsY377dt-QZZxoKStQ5l18Mn13A0fF8OcFQ4quozrgqOu2vxEOe3un-VAF1soF5LLy87TwHOho7QdY/s320/DSC_2139.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Studio set "A", interview nook, primetime, latenight shows)</div>
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Both Studios are associated with one of two Control Rooms (that look essentially the same, so I've only shown Control A). This is where the director, producer, tech manager, and other production people sit. The director has access to all the cameras (for a live event), or all the playback devices (for recorded events), and calls which source he wants on screen to the technical director, who does the actual switching.<br />
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<img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8Dv2IxZtkjxFtLj5GULjuKAs2CrYvdUfJaZwHoRAJWPNwAMsCyX29uit9D51T_NKGkxll1pid7zdWM4Qd3K1OgxYUIBAyCdTHKFu52GbJaFZkisNhJm23XTv9uc71EJnuQAlNM_lXKg/s320/DSC_2145.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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(Control room "A")</div>
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The audio portion of the show is mixed in a separate Audio room (there is one for each studio, and Audio B is shown below). The A1 (audio mixer) is the person responsible for what you hear on air. This includes mixing the announcer and studio host voices, "nat sound" which is the natural sound captured by microphones at the venue, and music.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlBHPAmEKnCVOaM9Jemkb59z9shxzMY8HRRtPQk4DWVN3XSYMlvenfzlacwP0nEoapYoNMUQqS5k1e52lY00DWEYq9twANCY2S_1yulSM2lf9xA1bbi3HE_4oTctVW8U2bKBWloT3w1Y/s1600/DSC_2071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlBHPAmEKnCVOaM9Jemkb59z9shxzMY8HRRtPQk4DWVN3XSYMlvenfzlacwP0nEoapYoNMUQqS5k1e52lY00DWEYq9twANCY2S_1yulSM2lf9xA1bbi3HE_4oTctVW8U2bKBWloT3w1Y/s320/DSC_2071.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Audio room "B")</div>
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The programs from the Control rooms are managed by Transmission (for playback to the US). Transmission also deals with all the VANDA's (Video and Audio) from each venue.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCXj81CvIrIZRqB6jsCYmYNObB-nlgdaAW3rgFlEj5MEsLKZpnCxIQgNP-aXSwjtCLUpNfwk_zD6d2MPCEKcwqH4BCwTyB28oslDuK2OzyasYhp3tyoHcISjnDRn3hKbEOH09x-YFRjc/s1600/DSC_2065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCXj81CvIrIZRqB6jsCYmYNObB-nlgdaAW3rgFlEj5MEsLKZpnCxIQgNP-aXSwjtCLUpNfwk_zD6d2MPCEKcwqH4BCwTyB28oslDuK2OzyasYhp3tyoHcISjnDRn3hKbEOH09x-YFRjc/s320/DSC_2065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Transmission)</div>
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The Broadcast Operations Center (BOC) is the traffic management center of the whole operation. They co-ordinate all the venue check-ins (with Comms for communication, and with Transmission for VANDA's) as well as all the playback to New York.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQJ3MpuahOYuy1Zf-pLYyIrwz7CoiSRMbmnJzXNQYovitiOuDNhgxp8U0nGHpBKrbfNzzPzLfRtmqqasJ1zUHf3PlzogeVudRqRKBwx722uLGAL7n5SPVVdrpVQ-0nHyTF0SoaudtO5I/s1600/DSC_2067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQJ3MpuahOYuy1Zf-pLYyIrwz7CoiSRMbmnJzXNQYovitiOuDNhgxp8U0nGHpBKrbfNzzPzLfRtmqqasJ1zUHf3PlzogeVudRqRKBwx722uLGAL7n5SPVVdrpVQ-0nHyTF0SoaudtO5I/s320/DSC_2067.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Broadcast Operations Centre, BOC)</div>
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Of course, in order for all of this to work, the people in every part of the IBC, and at every venue, need to be able to talk to each other, which is done using the ADAM broadcast intercom system that James and I write the software for, and which I help operate here in Comms.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0jRCpdbAqG7uLcqyYRUUIix7VaR5vcU0xbaHBLyjF1MT7NGjyPCPgecODhTQ9tOJuL-c7z8E3aBppjPUhrpcesffmHHDAXT2S4fSej9dZtgiDDApH7H8XaSxsQ4-tjc-ook2aIZArx0/s1600/DSC_2064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0jRCpdbAqG7uLcqyYRUUIix7VaR5vcU0xbaHBLyjF1MT7NGjyPCPgecODhTQ9tOJuL-c7z8E3aBppjPUhrpcesffmHHDAXT2S4fSej9dZtgiDDApH7H8XaSxsQ4-tjc-ook2aIZArx0/s320/DSC_2064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Comms - this is where I work!)</div>
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While I'm here, I'm not writing any code, but simply helping to run the communication system. This means checking each communication path to every venue daily (there are multiple paths in use, both copper and VOIP, for point-to-point, party-line, and interrupt circuits). <br />
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We also assist all of the keypanel users with the programming and use of their panels, and we eavesdrop on the director in each control room and try to anticpate what he will need, or to quickly start investigating any problems he might have.<br />
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Even though I am working midnights, Control A is still busy creating the US primetime show, followed by their latenight show. They finish up around 4am, and then check-ins usually begin at around 6:30am at the venues for the next day's competitions.<br />
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Our Comms team photo will be taken Sunday afternoon before the closing ceremonies, so I'll post that later.</div>Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-68870820211451089162012-08-11T11:10:00.003+01:002012-08-11T11:10:33.723+01:00Olympic NewsIn what I think is probably the most impressive performance of the Olympics, the US women's 4x100m team<a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/athletics/news/article/americans-smash-4x100m-relay-record-claim-gold.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> smashed a 27 year old world record</a> by more than half a second (in a sport where times are usually lowered by a few one-hundredths of a second at a time). To me, this is more amazing than anything Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps have done here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciCUp5EMHg9ouLYgpExRu-fRKFWpkl0Syxszc2I3ifciX-iPXWoi65Y_IWrNJhNKNruc3W0xzzOlema2bEJlQ8TdO-3s72J3pjfeCJGE637zR2u0QnzAc_OSel6SmI8rE9XLHqohrQTs/s1600/11448826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciCUp5EMHg9ouLYgpExRu-fRKFWpkl0Syxszc2I3ifciX-iPXWoi65Y_IWrNJhNKNruc3W0xzzOlema2bEJlQ8TdO-3s72J3pjfeCJGE637zR2u0QnzAc_OSel6SmI8rE9XLHqohrQTs/s400/11448826.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Tonight we have the <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/athletics/news/article/jamaicans-roll-canadians-into-4x100m-relay-final.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">men's 4x100m final</a>, where the US, Jamaica, and Canada have the fastest three qualifying times - it should be a good race, and another chance for a Canadian medal.<br />
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Speaking of which, Cananda earned yet another bronze medal when <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/aquatics/news/article/water-wars-canada-weinberger-captures-bronze.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Richard Weinberger</a> took third in the 10km open water swimming marathon event in the 21C waters of Serpentine Lake at Hyde Park.<br />
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As we near the end of the games, every one is wondering who will carry their nations flag in the closing ceremonies. In my mind, there should be no doubt for Canada that it should be soccer star <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news/article/who-could-carry-the-flag-for-canada.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christine Sinclair</a>, with a tournament high 6 goals, including 3 in their heartbreaking extra time loss to the US. However, <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/gymnastics/news/article/rosie-maclennan-wins-canada-first-trampoline-gold-27647.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rosie MacLennan</a>, is also a contender after her gold medal performance on the trampoline (Canada's only gold medal of the games so far).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSiN67GSlW8xTFcIpdLAf6A4GPDcCdPnl7PXAtamjzm42FQ9iV-XbBVN1TLkJzpiRPjs12UnGJBRDWS94MBauWjmK0oBieDMZOCX5Jqt5N-7O3voKwpApyycX9uSUf_a67B3AcGqKfSA/s1600/7065275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSiN67GSlW8xTFcIpdLAf6A4GPDcCdPnl7PXAtamjzm42FQ9iV-XbBVN1TLkJzpiRPjs12UnGJBRDWS94MBauWjmK0oBieDMZOCX5Jqt5N-7O3voKwpApyycX9uSUf_a67B3AcGqKfSA/s400/7065275.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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After the conclusion of the men's Marathon tomorrow, ending in the Olympic Stadium, the closing ceremonies will get under way. We are promised that it will be a "<a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news/article/london-closer-promises-pop-symphony.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Symphony of British Music</a>", with as many as 20 "household name" artists performing 30 tracks. The list of performers is said to include...<br />
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<SPOILER ALERT> <br />
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...a one-night-only reuniting of the Spice Girls, as well as The Who, members of Queen, Oasis, and maybe even David Bowie. No mention was made of Elton John or the Rolling Stones, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were there too. Other artists could include Adele, and 80's ska sensation Madness.<br />
<br />Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-16093674613472730572012-08-11T03:44:00.000+01:002012-08-11T04:40:47.397+01:00Brick Lane Street ArtPreamble: This post contains photos of graffitti and street art from the <a href="http://www.visitbricklane.org/#/about-brick-lane/4537674488" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Brick Lane</a> area in east London. Since I don't actually start talking about that till half way through the post, I thought I'd put this preamble in to let you know what you were looking at...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-75zv1fjnd8zTQ51rpmLerAcUThXkKRv6D5cZmvGWHiRCmb6CbcIIu2JQ9CnTIBvKc1YmFnz5okXCbd7t2pKNupLCLv1TNy5SEh_oVLqFzNYRZo1X0ziu33HrFsHvyRh0Wy5NKUMUnc/s1600/DSC_2098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-75zv1fjnd8zTQ51rpmLerAcUThXkKRv6D5cZmvGWHiRCmb6CbcIIu2JQ9CnTIBvKc1YmFnz5okXCbd7t2pKNupLCLv1TNy5SEh_oVLqFzNYRZo1X0ziu33HrFsHvyRh0Wy5NKUMUnc/s400/DSC_2098.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(I was impressed by the detail and emotion captured...)</div>
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Hard to believe, but the Olympics are almost over, and I will be heading home next Tuesday. Friday afternoon was my last chance for a new adventure before the Closing Ceremonies, as I plan to go shopping (back to the Portobello Market) on Saturday afternoon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP9Lb-oypEo7OvxYSckh2p18S6_JE8Nh7ZaUG7Ky-CVbEBQ0Ymi6q1jWNG7NyE5mpBsfHTYqEz-NZXItcbTZXNUuUSpRoSkx1Akf-CGKR5_BQHpGB2g0p5N-7kcxtmSGzSQUYizGRy3o/s1600/DSC_2134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP9Lb-oypEo7OvxYSckh2p18S6_JE8Nh7ZaUG7Ky-CVbEBQ0Ymi6q1jWNG7NyE5mpBsfHTYqEz-NZXItcbTZXNUuUSpRoSkx1Akf-CGKR5_BQHpGB2g0p5N-7kcxtmSGzSQUYizGRy3o/s400/DSC_2134.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(The size of some of these is incredible...)</div>
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I first went shopping at the <a href="http://www.oldspitalfieldsmarket.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Old Spitalfields Market</a> in London's east end (north of my hotel). Friday is Fashion day, so there were lots of clothing and jewellry stalls. I have to say that there was some really interesting stuff here.<br />
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Unlike Camden Town, where there seemed to be a lot of cheap, mass produced, merchandise, many of the vendors at Old Spitalfields were selling custom made clothing and jewellry that was very cool.<br />
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I didn't take any photos at the market (I was too busy shopping), but the market is very close to an area called Brick Lane, which is also known as Banglatown for its large Bangladeshi population.<br />
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(Street sign with Bangladeshi sub-title...)</div>
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The Brick Lane area contains lots of graffitti and street art, especially on some of the side streets, so I spent a fair bit of time just ambling along looking for interesting works to photograph.<br />
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(Street view of Brick Lane...)</div>
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The artwork is diverse, from black and white to colour, and from small to very very large. Some of these must have taken days or weeks to complete.<br />
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Some are very obviously meant to have a message, while others are just doodles, and other are tributes, or memorials to specific people.<br />
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(A peace message in the Cyanide and Happiness style?)</div>
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I did actually come across one artist who was in the middle of creating a new piece, though it looked like this might be part of a commerical street art campaign advertisement.<br />
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The Brick Lane area was also the scene of the crime for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_the_Ripper" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jack the Ripper</a> murders in 1888.<br />
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I ended up spending a long time walking through Brick Lane, and got a little lost, but ended up finding a Overground tube station at Shoreditch High Street that took me back towards the hotel, and I ended up getting to bed at about 5pm.<br />
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So tomorrow afternoon, I'll be back out to the Portobello Market for another day of shopping, and then on Saturday night (Sunday morning) when I come in, I'll only have to work a half-day. I'll get to go home around 6am, so that I can get some sleep and come back in for the closing ceremonies at 6pm, and my last overnight shift will be from then until 5am on Monday morning.<br />
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Not sure if I'll get out on Monday, but I'll need to make sure I am packed and ready to go for my flight home on Tuesday morning.<br />
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Even though I'm probably not going to get to do much more touristy stuff, I'll still have some posts about the Olympics, and some photos of the NBC setup here in the IBC. Stay tuned!Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-16829906268890314142012-08-10T07:02:00.000+01:002012-08-10T07:02:11.270+01:00Bronze LiningWell, it's not quite a Silver lining, but the women's soccer team pulled off an upset yesterday when they defeated France 1-0 with a goal in injury time to take the <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/field-sports/news/article/canada-defeats-france-win-bronze-medal.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bronze medal</a>. In a game in which they were <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/field-sports/news/article/molinaro-redeption-for-canadian-women-team.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">largely outplayed</a> (outshot 25-4), Canada hung in, played good defence, and were rewarded against a team that had beat them 4-0 at the last World Cup. Congratulations girls! Canadian soccer is on the map!<br />
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<a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/combat-sports/news/article/verbeek-settles-for-silver-again-women-wrestling.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tonya Verbeek</a> did win a Silver in the women's 55kg wrestling event. This was Tonya's third career Olympic medal (a silver in Athens and a bronze in Beijing). She has been beaten by the same woman in all three Olympics (the three-time gold medal winner Saori Yoshida of Japan).<br />
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(Call me maybe?)</div>
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As expected, <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/athletics/news/article/bolt-completes-historic-double-with-gold-200m.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Usain Bolt</a> defended his title in the men's 200m final, and declared himself to be the best ever. The guy is an unbelievable sprinter, but I hate his cocky attitude, and the fact that here and in Beijing he seemed to slow down near the finish line. How fast could he have run if he'd gone all out, all the way? On the other hand, here's someone who <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/athletics/news/article/did-bolt-fulfil-goal-becoming-legend.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">makes a case for Bolt</a> as more than what I could see.<br />
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(Cool looking dragon on Fleet St. near the Temple Church)</div>
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In contrast to the cockiness and bravado on display from Bolt, <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/athletics/news/article/mitchell-closes-deal-for-american-relay-team-with-broken-leg.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Manteo Mitchell</a> of the US displays the kind of spirit that makes me love the Olympics, as he completed the last 200m of his leg in the 4x400m relay after hearing a pop that was later revealed to be a broken left fibula. By continuing to race, he helped his teammates qualify for the next round, even though he probably will be unable to compete.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9mMCyeCeTlBfdffdKZDg2rKs8elxf0WlveDviJ4QUxTK-xn-IGq9Asishc8XTBVuaGxrqKWLu8CKIdmvEqYIrpHg6DVES0lFIMt4-ge5gPAvCmOCjsEnDGZsw9bji5uopf4wuDD4hy0/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9mMCyeCeTlBfdffdKZDg2rKs8elxf0WlveDviJ4QUxTK-xn-IGq9Asishc8XTBVuaGxrqKWLu8CKIdmvEqYIrpHg6DVES0lFIMt4-ge5gPAvCmOCjsEnDGZsw9bji5uopf4wuDD4hy0/s400/IMG_0031.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Curious military personnel check out one of our keypanels at a "Mag 'n Bag" security checkpoint)</div>
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It also appeared to be the end of the line for South Africa's Oscar Pistorius (the Blade Runner) after a collision with a Kenyan runner knocked his teammate out of the 4x400m heats before Oscar had had a chance to run his leg of the race. Fortunately, South Africa was <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/athletics/news/article/south-africa-wins-appeal-advance-relay-final.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">successful with their appeal</a> and will advance to the final.Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-39207853108024104882012-08-10T05:43:00.000+01:002012-08-10T05:43:00.938+01:00Temple Church (Magna Carta)The Temple Church also has a connection to the <a href="http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/magna-carta.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Magna Carta</a> (perhaps one of the most important legal documents in history). During King John's reign, from 1199-1216AD, he used his power to extort higher and arbitrary taxes from his Barons in order to finance his wars in France.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-KK-hKe6QqbnCRjlfT5An4EMrLfejwCaqq281M-fNaf-MACNaejH9PwJ8Nd6gRx37qHxpMurUtDB-XNSooaAei2qttFtlskc3n5Hzqd6tjJJX2XF5xbcrIkZa2iP80HUYSJMBBFNm24/s1600/DSC_2028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-KK-hKe6QqbnCRjlfT5An4EMrLfejwCaqq281M-fNaf-MACNaejH9PwJ8Nd6gRx37qHxpMurUtDB-XNSooaAei2qttFtlskc3n5Hzqd6tjJJX2XF5xbcrIkZa2iP80HUYSJMBBFNm24/s400/DSC_2028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Replica of the Magna Carta)</div>
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By 1214AD, many of the Barons were ready to revolt. In January of 1215, the King and the Barons met in the Temple Church to negoiate, with the Barons demanding a Charter of Rights, and the King demanding allegiance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqobulVS9pGoAJsEbcND7Wavpv1ZPOU4iQIHVlycyOIP_stTA7thMnq7JBGSxLJ5WPMD18LGdR43mJulyQMe_if7SvHy8LQ_z_d-MAAG_-uG03Liei510JdLav4MY1Yeu-xDxxdFboNM/s1600/DSC_2029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqobulVS9pGoAJsEbcND7Wavpv1ZPOU4iQIHVlycyOIP_stTA7thMnq7JBGSxLJ5WPMD18LGdR43mJulyQMe_if7SvHy8LQ_z_d-MAAG_-uG03Liei510JdLav4MY1Yeu-xDxxdFboNM/s400/DSC_2029.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />(Chancel of the Temple Church)</div>
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Negotiations continued through the spring of 1215 with the Knight William Marshall (whose effigy lies in the floor of the Dome here) at the center of the discussion. In June of 1215, King John signed the Magna Carta to avoid a civil war.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdv2Y6AVzdpog4yLFB20uAr1EUNSxYcn29qxrmhtPRSAar6Q1wuxGexBVBAsYVtc6HykB1mBAvT2HcAVuYXoOPbRPyzpH7JsO9jMHZzs3AhaO8ax41kkdcsa881TBzhDVHjbYbZAbTc8/s1600/DSC_2035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdv2Y6AVzdpog4yLFB20uAr1EUNSxYcn29qxrmhtPRSAar6Q1wuxGexBVBAsYVtc6HykB1mBAvT2HcAVuYXoOPbRPyzpH7JsO9jMHZzs3AhaO8ax41kkdcsa881TBzhDVHjbYbZAbTc8/s400/DSC_2035.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Another view of the Chancel)</div>
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The Magna Carta established that the King was not above the law, and that "free men" had rights under the law, such as: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHP4fJdOOIaZSwdEl1mgj7SCZ7V46sGrCrA0JU9q00OH7VRvGSBovfTa4Lk_SSYqwtyEcZ0XH7hJQjruGFfTtv0vQA_gpmucu4UHmNcyDbO5kRrjunuRrHJpptMC37lSDiSI-e5bVvXgM/s1600/DSC_1959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHP4fJdOOIaZSwdEl1mgj7SCZ7V46sGrCrA0JU9q00OH7VRvGSBovfTa4Lk_SSYqwtyEcZ0XH7hJQjruGFfTtv0vQA_gpmucu4UHmNcyDbO5kRrjunuRrHJpptMC37lSDiSI-e5bVvXgM/s400/DSC_1959.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Sculpture within the Church)</div>
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"No free man shall be taken or imprisoned or dispossessed or outlawed or exiled or in any way ruined nor will we go or send aginst him except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land." - Clause 39<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnIJC9f_8A2JIyUWHrSBIyCkU6nbKP4h9O_AjJAk1e8SzuZ3C0GdPgzEpsPsfBpt8mGuwQ5AmznIEhYn2ipd6JjN1K7RhW6dFDqRE3Z3olD9_4Pu-H1nxhuiC2shNibKpp4cVVVrZ18g/s1600/DSC_2034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnIJC9f_8A2JIyUWHrSBIyCkU6nbKP4h9O_AjJAk1e8SzuZ3C0GdPgzEpsPsfBpt8mGuwQ5AmznIEhYn2ipd6JjN1K7RhW6dFDqRE3Z3olD9_4Pu-H1nxhuiC2shNibKpp4cVVVrZ18g/s400/DSC_2034.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(The Church suffered extensive damage due to bombing during WWII)</div>
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And, "To no one will we sell, to no one will we deny or delay right or justice." - Clause 40.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kY5_Pca2xfld7xUfoJqAQo7ZIfM088OTtwcrgtJuJQ1TRK9lh45XK78qVrMBAN9kIwWfBOEzJx51HyESG3gGfZ78NQV7ah4CztyQGSarQGK9DeiJPopgY_AY63PV6Me3aF1aC2XqY5A/s1600/DSC_2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kY5_Pca2xfld7xUfoJqAQo7ZIfM088OTtwcrgtJuJQ1TRK9lh45XK78qVrMBAN9kIwWfBOEzJx51HyESG3gGfZ78NQV7ah4CztyQGSarQGK9DeiJPopgY_AY63PV6Me3aF1aC2XqY5A/s400/DSC_2011.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>
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(The Dome was collapsed and burned)</div>
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Though King John signed the Magna Carta, it was nullified just 10 weeks later by Pope Innocent III, and England was plunged into war anyay. However, the Magna Carta was reissued several times after his death, and continued to be an important legal document.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgO7w0CghmTBtnlPO5K2q3BApM3ncEkId-ex2RgkWkgthCbx6fZKTOmLW_qfxt4tbIvHH86-jrONSlJEQksLP4EnnyXPhPwxLv0lUCfWAumUyC-O3NjRwC2JmXNB9LrPJc45ukD3TfOkk/s1600/DSC_1989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgO7w0CghmTBtnlPO5K2q3BApM3ncEkId-ex2RgkWkgthCbx6fZKTOmLW_qfxt4tbIvHH86-jrONSlJEQksLP4EnnyXPhPwxLv0lUCfWAumUyC-O3NjRwC2JmXNB9LrPJc45ukD3TfOkk/s400/DSC_1989.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(A WWII memorial in the floor of the Dome)</div>
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It was an inspiration to the American colonists who later included similar clauses into their Constitution and the Bill of Rights.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3tqespCWtxW8kTJlgrpGyAWe-rUuN3euMVBX-OjQFqoSFmQmJc2fih500aTXTDTkhcqL-adL8lAm3OBn85nlXW1JuDZIKPEgH7ruxwXpksmX8-9kok4iXjZ3W2uKF7vjqCP48jgCLf8/s1600/DSC_2058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3tqespCWtxW8kTJlgrpGyAWe-rUuN3euMVBX-OjQFqoSFmQmJc2fih500aTXTDTkhcqL-adL8lAm3OBn85nlXW1JuDZIKPEgH7ruxwXpksmX8-9kok4iXjZ3W2uKF7vjqCP48jgCLf8/s400/DSC_2058.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(The Royal Courts of Justice, across the street)</div>
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The Temple Church is the Church of the Inner and Middle Temple, two of Englands four ancient societies of lawyers. These two Inns of the Court managed and built around the Temple for years, and in 1608, King James I granted them a Charter giving them use of the Temple in perpetuity, with the condition that they must always maintain the Temple, which they have always done.<br />Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-46813084550096912782012-08-10T04:29:00.000+01:002012-08-10T04:29:40.698+01:00Temple Church (Knights Templar)Yesterday I met up with Comms colleague, Rickey, he on his way to work, me on my way home, to go and visit the <a href="http://www.templechurch.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Temple Church</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6NGAYhDALnMxvq-vT125WD78Z-Rnu5KvY6Fkl0XL6Nm6vwpx7pxrLCkjyiy5y2Oo8giNZZsQyy7IKiOugJwsguSIzzrJ80tfYvwv0pxIKfcL6qyCA4lNMC3An8rysNT8-sOA1_pATIo/s1600/DSC_1957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6NGAYhDALnMxvq-vT125WD78Z-Rnu5KvY6Fkl0XL6Nm6vwpx7pxrLCkjyiy5y2Oo8giNZZsQyy7IKiOugJwsguSIzzrJ80tfYvwv0pxIKfcL6qyCA4lNMC3An8rysNT8-sOA1_pATIo/s400/DSC_1957.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(The Round Church, Chancel to the right...)</div>
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Built by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Templar" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Knights Templar</a> over 800 years ago, the Round Church was designed to recreate the shape and sanctity of the Round Church of the<a href="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/jerusalem-church-of-holy-sepulchre" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Holy Sepulchre</a> in Jerusalem. The Chancel was added in 1240AD.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWwyLvhq5-STR_QAGy6rpQXlTEFXwFxH1DfYb1SynaPhXeO5AIjlmbUeefdSksLZI0MQUYlkSnvfkddTsvKK5Qqbk3gsMtlhyphenhyphenuKEiwkuwImphSpP-j7VSeKkcPfDzh5Y4ijZ95unC9i4/s1600/DSC_1964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWwyLvhq5-STR_QAGy6rpQXlTEFXwFxH1DfYb1SynaPhXeO5AIjlmbUeefdSksLZI0MQUYlkSnvfkddTsvKK5Qqbk3gsMtlhyphenhyphenuKEiwkuwImphSpP-j7VSeKkcPfDzh5Y4ijZ95unC9i4/s400/DSC_1964.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(View looking down the Chancel...)</div>
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The Knights Templar were an order of warrior monks founded during the <a href="http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/the-crusades.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Crusades</a> to Jerusalem in 1118AD. The vowed themselves to poverty, charity, and obediance, and to the protection of pilgrims in the Holy Land.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PxSFbK0AbUnp1UxcoyGpExuwO8xncN9PCW5ra4t8j2Fty3zZ315Tl3iYJsNG2a6MS2rWhc-bjn7uRZTijkF-5xyobJ8g1YADXaGGkKAtOGF64tSh1AVZJ9uiP5pSWxQrf4OHCSy5LL8/s1600/DSC_1969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PxSFbK0AbUnp1UxcoyGpExuwO8xncN9PCW5ra4t8j2Fty3zZ315Tl3iYJsNG2a6MS2rWhc-bjn7uRZTijkF-5xyobJ8g1YADXaGGkKAtOGF64tSh1AVZJ9uiP5pSWxQrf4OHCSy5LL8/s400/DSC_1969.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(The Altar)</div>
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The didn't remain poor for long, as their expertise in the managment of money across national boundaries turned them into financiers to all of Europe and they became very powerful money lenders.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpwNXQCPmDOSnwQecb3u3XrVkDhZ9XCHzTYn5iokGiI6xAPz4AICCzOVV6hMRrG7PuRiEnmnI4ObfhwvjyxB8DS8fp23sciwJjZN22Vf75b48rhktXisO7-Gfbnhyyw5j8LVfiWwoLzU/s1600/DSC_1994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpwNXQCPmDOSnwQecb3u3XrVkDhZ9XCHzTYn5iokGiI6xAPz4AICCzOVV6hMRrG7PuRiEnmnI4ObfhwvjyxB8DS8fp23sciwJjZN22Vf75b48rhktXisO7-Gfbnhyyw5j8LVfiWwoLzU/s400/DSC_1994.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Stained glass in the Round Church)</div>
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When the Holy Lands were lost, their military power was no longer necessary, and their wealth and power made them a threat to Kings and Popes alike. Their secret rituals also made them a target of mistrust.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBR6pL7niXtphyphenhyphen_k5TCoBeyje1yV0SEC5pAJaoKcyFYiZl9al_Pjsq_hu2CwWOXHHB7q8xUbr3frZ1fsQyEHqsfgjM4VSrp-zF-ND9TPy0CYwnpLDgcnhWoUyKPTz0v0dOzCHFUKTcEZ4/s1600/DSC_1990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBR6pL7niXtphyphenhyphen_k5TCoBeyje1yV0SEC5pAJaoKcyFYiZl9al_Pjsq_hu2CwWOXHHB7q8xUbr3frZ1fsQyEHqsfgjM4VSrp-zF-ND9TPy0CYwnpLDgcnhWoUyKPTz0v0dOzCHFUKTcEZ4/s400/DSC_1990.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(The Dome of the Round Church)</div>
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King Philip IV of France, who was deeply in debt to the Templars, used this mistrust to have them arrested and charged with gross blasphemies. They were tortured into giving false confessions, and 54 Knights were burned at the stake outside Paris in 1310AD.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmPNZeqj84sH_U34G87N8bKb4GH4EI2xvSV3K-yMw4AAheUqbC-hIRcitikrVMGLnI7cMH7Zy-3hEuvwp71PLS_wWdFB8zLvqjbDHlM8gwiIG5BvoqVeSofhrTGLHbAqEsAFulA77QJA/s1600/DSC_2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmPNZeqj84sH_U34G87N8bKb4GH4EI2xvSV3K-yMw4AAheUqbC-hIRcitikrVMGLnI7cMH7Zy-3hEuvwp71PLS_wWdFB8zLvqjbDHlM8gwiIG5BvoqVeSofhrTGLHbAqEsAFulA77QJA/s400/DSC_2014.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>
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(Floor to ceiling in the Dome)</div>
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The Temple Church has become popular in recent years due to its inclusion in Dan Brown's novel, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Da_Vinci_Code" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The DaVinci Code</a>, as the location in which they initially search for the tomb of "a knight a Pope interred". <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJ0z3Kz_dl4oXPumuivAsUhShYIY1JBCtkiDAVVgYhdqCFCMSmOrfjZyvd9HpEE4o1d8gkcaG-zZ11Yzlr6n6zDAmsixFZt4UG3DX_Q40jHXTt2Jzgx1zDW9Y56GeiUVerR5xbakOGcg/s1600/DSC_2005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJ0z3Kz_dl4oXPumuivAsUhShYIY1JBCtkiDAVVgYhdqCFCMSmOrfjZyvd9HpEE4o1d8gkcaG-zZ11Yzlr6n6zDAmsixFZt4UG3DX_Q40jHXTt2Jzgx1zDW9Y56GeiUVerR5xbakOGcg/s400/DSC_2005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Effigies of Knights on the floor of the Dome)</div>
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However, the stone carvings on the floor of the Temple are not tombs, but <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effigy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">effigies</a>, as they later realize and head to Westminster Abbey to find the tomb of Sir Isaac Newton.<br />
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-nRgqwHOPbAkKrep75G9BK252Txn4NcuPRHhsxkpVbkv26bMAOnGw9S7K2anDE3TO4-Ba1T1TfiEqPidAgUirXG9D-751SgPVEbtpH74LWg3ndIGs0TKzN92Ekvsx93uKwWbkaOvxrg/s400/DSC_1980.JPG" width="265" /></div>
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(Effigy of a Knight)</div>
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More on the history of the Temple Church in my next post...<br />Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-56553250593131352642012-08-09T06:08:00.000+01:002012-08-09T06:08:21.248+01:00Beach Volleyball Royalty!American Beach Volleyball superstars <a href="http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/blog=olympic-talk/post/misty-may-kerri-walshs-three-peat-wont-be-repeated.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty Mae-Traenor</a> completed their three-peat, winning Gold for the third straight Olympics, never losing a single match (and only one set) in their Olympic careers. They are simply awesome.<br />
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They also came in to the studio tonight to talk to Bob Costas, and I can't believe I was the only one who came out into the hall to see them when they were done (maybe because it was 2am?). Anyway, they were really nice, and posed with me for this picture:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLg1ShhvFwotoJa49wFsMYC4Czzc1aFQUI-g9ptZ8738NgrYspr4CBkR1-a4sRUVcZcI_uqnH9Guy68-lU0nSgwsrl5TCj_FSDR61qHc6tR95lfJgA7K-w4yhzGDgF7qZi2hrhdrAlMB0/s1600/DSC_1946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLg1ShhvFwotoJa49wFsMYC4Czzc1aFQUI-g9ptZ8738NgrYspr4CBkR1-a4sRUVcZcI_uqnH9Guy68-lU0nSgwsrl5TCj_FSDR61qHc6tR95lfJgA7K-w4yhzGDgF7qZi2hrhdrAlMB0/s400/DSC_1946.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Me and Kerri and Misty... yup, I'm cool...)</div>
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I don't know if you noticed, but if you watch Kerri after each match, she runs around the court and high-fives all of the officials and volunteers. Not sure if it is a "thank-you", or a superstition for good luck, but I like it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAl15VeYOt0zb6SSw6L8v3sDDBx8C6wq76k0AGQ1XivSWhb8kpk6bGTf0Vwxyont5etWrvSGt1msp1MIQyBBR9dCI3rXMhyphenhyphennqmbM6AijkvsV_NRnt5s-rPh4PRdGRGc7lWbEN_5S12l0/s1600/DSC_1084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAl15VeYOt0zb6SSw6L8v3sDDBx8C6wq76k0AGQ1XivSWhb8kpk6bGTf0Vwxyont5etWrvSGt1msp1MIQyBBR9dCI3rXMhyphenhyphennqmbM6AijkvsV_NRnt5s-rPh4PRdGRGc7lWbEN_5S12l0/s400/DSC_1084.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(London 2012 Gold Medals, at the British Museum)</div>
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I was also really impressed with American Gymnast <a href="http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/blog=olympic-talk/post/raismans-olympic-bronze.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aly Raisman</a>, not just because she won the gold in the floor exercise (though her routine was spectacular), but how she carried herself as team captain and calmed down Gabby Douglas during the team competition. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintH6lkS0Myx_NOeb7zxrPay8q2sakYicHlLKYWp6EvMBFjR72Qg592NuSSIC0oFt-vctyhAw7HKkthLauU8fHR7LuoVoTv_jC67NN_vSiZ7ZTp0PMuBeW8ORNfIb2nK8tv8UEObVQIqA/s1600/DSC_1088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintH6lkS0Myx_NOeb7zxrPay8q2sakYicHlLKYWp6EvMBFjR72Qg592NuSSIC0oFt-vctyhAw7HKkthLauU8fHR7LuoVoTv_jC67NN_vSiZ7ZTp0PMuBeW8ORNfIb2nK8tv8UEObVQIqA/s400/DSC_1088.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Athens 1896 medals, at the British Museum)</div>
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Also, three more medals for Canada yesterday! (News interspersed with random photos from about town...)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrJhXGt4LhESwOYO7YTuq9z1w0yL0-MU-evgMcGiRhEjv8AjvlKzdIg8op_v3Mt9vemyIKz1C9V12zqPMIgr6OU-p_6UEDRwcoYVf0rggFq7aZ5P2_4U3eOHkWmNK2mCJe2AfdFqfrdg/s1600/DSC_1929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrJhXGt4LhESwOYO7YTuq9z1w0yL0-MU-evgMcGiRhEjv8AjvlKzdIg8op_v3Mt9vemyIKz1C9V12zqPMIgr6OU-p_6UEDRwcoYVf0rggFq7aZ5P2_4U3eOHkWmNK2mCJe2AfdFqfrdg/s400/DSC_1929.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Walked across London Bridge... contrary to reports, it was not falling down)</div>
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<a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/combat-sports/news/article/huynh-wins-bronze-medal-women-wrestling-31285.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Carol Huynh</a> took bronze in the 48kg wrestling category (she had won gold in Beijing), and <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/boating/news/article/oldershaw-wins-olympic-bronze-1000m.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mark Oldershaw</a> also took bronze in the men's C-1 1000m canoeing event.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0pE_5EN3xW84oLGkO4eO9z0OLYomuOLO_VmQjTGX2Fkx7OMg8pyYiQw9g9_eyJhz3zc3c9PkHLkKHOQ0D0ZolQ0EVO85Yoc8ELw5DnvgGyU_QYHNo1cKyBCqWFdqJh2C-USpaaKmfWU/s1600/IMG_0246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0pE_5EN3xW84oLGkO4eO9z0OLYomuOLO_VmQjTGX2Fkx7OMg8pyYiQw9g9_eyJhz3zc3c9PkHLkKHOQ0D0ZolQ0EVO85Yoc8ELw5DnvgGyU_QYHNo1cKyBCqWFdqJh2C-USpaaKmfWU/s400/IMG_0246.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Included this because Connor hates when I do "selfies", plus I get to include another shot of Tower Bridge)</div>
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Also at the Eton Dorney Rowing Centre, <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/boating/news/article/van-koeverden-claims-silver-men-1000m.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AdamVan Koeverden</a> took silver in the men's K-1 1000m kayak event.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4ceqlyrSOaZrYAQUnZSp5VF3EOpZXZvrqkBdlW8ia5u_4OOK8widZtPfCI-k-xouazhOZDW6Iz4m0HJhXIQiBmMCPx9SZfaqVoTneQ_LC1ytHVaO5t6jyqKqrHxp9bhyGELDJnOX0FM/s1600/DSC_1814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4ceqlyrSOaZrYAQUnZSp5VF3EOpZXZvrqkBdlW8ia5u_4OOK8widZtPfCI-k-xouazhOZDW6Iz4m0HJhXIQiBmMCPx9SZfaqVoTneQ_LC1ytHVaO5t6jyqKqrHxp9bhyGELDJnOX0FM/s400/DSC_1814.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(This is why it's called the "Underground"...)</div>
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I should also mention that the <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news/article/women-eight-increase-canadian-medal-haul.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Women's Eight</a> took silver last week, giving 52-year old coxwain Leslie Thompson-Willie a medal in five different Olympic Games (something no other Canadian has done). This was her seventh Olympics!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IKMBSd2ZliVgxGtpF4l9WAaf9rMCEEoi_KruMBkRPOTlmVjcFKYjE0NvPC69zvNp-E3UfPYdkn2OHpXWDdlVg4E-dfUN59OoR9bb27GrF2EcwBhwgd92vD6rchPxyVFCmEn_OrRNdQM/s1600/DSC_1921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IKMBSd2ZliVgxGtpF4l9WAaf9rMCEEoi_KruMBkRPOTlmVjcFKYjE0NvPC69zvNp-E3UfPYdkn2OHpXWDdlVg4E-dfUN59OoR9bb27GrF2EcwBhwgd92vD6rchPxyVFCmEn_OrRNdQM/s400/DSC_1921.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Now I know why they say "Mind the Gap"...)</div>
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Sadly, <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/athletics/news/article/whitfield-broke-collarbone-crash-during-triathlon.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simon Whitfield</a> crashed early in the bicycling segment of the triathlon, breaking his collarbone, and eliminating him from the race. At 37, this is probably his last Olympics, but he has been a great inspiration to all Canadians.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xYsWGuQ_fKRcPZbEEMcCqah6QXpkAo7O17XjeYztuPfRZiMK9iqlPWzNjzmCFGkO_uG68cKxJcihi5h8PvbGPrG-rCUZJanZL7P4uLOw2NN4UGqQzgtJP_iNm6oem8CjJSRxR9-IhGI/s1600/IMG_0233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xYsWGuQ_fKRcPZbEEMcCqah6QXpkAo7O17XjeYztuPfRZiMK9iqlPWzNjzmCFGkO_uG68cKxJcihi5h8PvbGPrG-rCUZJanZL7P4uLOw2NN4UGqQzgtJP_iNm6oem8CjJSRxR9-IhGI/s400/IMG_0233.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Some of the Underground is above ground...)</div>
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Lastly, Canada's women's soccer team takes on France today for the bronze medal, while the US plays reigning World Cup champions, Japan, for the gold medal.Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-63132090498531135492012-08-09T05:05:00.001+01:002012-08-09T05:05:07.695+01:00The Beer Olympics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, the pastries are very good, and the highlight of my mornings, but it wouldn't be a visit to England if I didn't try to sample some of the beer on tap here. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP70yqZdMZAw1FnbQtCVPg7YTII5VEswaotitIlkLaDq40kAcRg8VqBmqK1h5AHWyxO9HrHz-SGzeGJRljY3VyLGZpkYm7k0IiZD1IqkcznUhyphenhyphenhY0Jc7LNo0Yk4EYhZo55v6V7xp3T5_g/s1600/IMG_0235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP70yqZdMZAw1FnbQtCVPg7YTII5VEswaotitIlkLaDq40kAcRg8VqBmqK1h5AHWyxO9HrHz-SGzeGJRljY3VyLGZpkYm7k0IiZD1IqkcznUhyphenhyphenhY0Jc7LNo0Yk4EYhZo55v6V7xp3T5_g/s400/IMG_0235.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And really, I'm probably more qualified to judge a beer competition than a pastry competition, so without further ado, welcome to the Beer Olympics... who will win the gold medal?<br />
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In 9th place, Tiger, a Japanese beer served in the outside patio bar at the IBC. Only included here because I was able to also buy "Chilli and Lime Almonds". They were better than the beer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCS7oexjNrhwVAdoT-FWz2VdwJ7QlVelfOT4kgNLtFl8je0Sr7-EQb0JbjUJWVBMwhhjWSg1B-Ci7GJsVYW3qv3Q3SWgt3Gh0cmp2n-m2as3ldLi6EGrPZpt3PXvTCgqYKeugwnBuGaQ/s1600/DSC_0840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCS7oexjNrhwVAdoT-FWz2VdwJ7QlVelfOT4kgNLtFl8je0Sr7-EQb0JbjUJWVBMwhhjWSg1B-Ci7GJsVYW3qv3Q3SWgt3Gh0cmp2n-m2as3ldLi6EGrPZpt3PXvTCgqYKeugwnBuGaQ/s400/DSC_0840.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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In 8th place, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, an Italian beer served at Zizzi (a restaurant near my hotel with very good pizza). The best part about this beer is that it comes in a big bottle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ105NzhRgPhjRjPLJrvY8yI-usCL1sfI-T7mkEMUQ0C3HhH4dT4VCaciZsWjHSwLsqWF95to_ssn7hV2V4SGdrOVGKo-D4ZvXVmfq1ZhTQW1n9fzGNG3J6gYfx3cfZSyazFpjApndlkA/s1600/IMG_0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ105NzhRgPhjRjPLJrvY8yI-usCL1sfI-T7mkEMUQ0C3HhH4dT4VCaciZsWjHSwLsqWF95to_ssn7hV2V4SGdrOVGKo-D4ZvXVmfq1ZhTQW1n9fzGNG3J6gYfx3cfZSyazFpjApndlkA/s400/IMG_0240.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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In 7th place, also at Zizzi's, is Menabrea, another Italian beer (Birra), but this one had a very nice clean taste. Plus it was hot outside, and this beer was served very cold.<br />
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In 6th place, Bodingtons, on tap at my hotel bar, with outside cafe. Now we're getting somewhere. A cold pint, a sunny day, and a view of the Tower Bridge. Tasted like a Canadian beer (that's a good thing in my book).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9jS-RP-sOyU7SpjdgvM8VFT9j0w29rqwUOmFe4emzKI8bVSHqXVkt8IvOeivdVSt4IzxV4QqJQFJO8ttMtm24ieGCEpP4wk2e5TqJoACn9atjXamppLMpKcV-4y_EgP__-1faL8kSzY/s1600/IMG_0219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9jS-RP-sOyU7SpjdgvM8VFT9j0w29rqwUOmFe4emzKI8bVSHqXVkt8IvOeivdVSt4IzxV4QqJQFJO8ttMtm24ieGCEpP4wk2e5TqJoACn9atjXamppLMpKcV-4y_EgP__-1faL8kSzY/s400/IMG_0219.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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In 5th place, Murphy's Draught (in a can), served at the IBC outdoor patio bar after work on my first day here. This is kind of a Guiness clone, dark and smooth, and has the in-can <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widget_(beer)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Widget</a> (dissolved nitrogen released on opening to create the creamy head). Might have scored this higher if it hadn't been served in plastic cups.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDtdoM2FC_XQ2vEIlu6cteJSDmrIB6HihNBHKLejGdSaVxJ8kPaGLOwM60Uho4UrOmkQMfHHR_0ryoTa6ZfBuXNsnk_4PGEiFAiR2q4125dyWP1_VnO8iOhMrfcsYg29P5Mva-282FRE/s1600/DSC_0838+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDtdoM2FC_XQ2vEIlu6cteJSDmrIB6HihNBHKLejGdSaVxJ8kPaGLOwM60Uho4UrOmkQMfHHR_0ryoTa6ZfBuXNsnk_4PGEiFAiR2q4125dyWP1_VnO8iOhMrfcsYg29P5Mva-282FRE/s400/DSC_0838+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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In 4th place, just out of the medals, is Fuller's London Pride, a local beer (well, local to all of England). A kind of amber ale, this is very popular in the UK, and was decent, but tasted a little watery to me. I scored it higher than it deserves because it was served in a pub with a really good meat pie (venison and roasted red peppers in a red-wine sauce).<br />
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I gave the Bronze medal to Hoegaarden, a Belgian Wheat beer, again served at my hotel patio after work and just before going to bed. I really like wheat beers, especially when cold and served on a hot day. This was very good.</div>
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The Silver medal goes to the classic Guinness. There's nothing like watching the bubbles cascade to the top to create the creamy smooth head. Served cold, it's a bit of a myth that the British drink it warm - it is served at "cellar temperature", about 45F, not "room temperature" - so it is slightly warmer than our fridge temperature, but still tastes cool. <br />
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In this link, a Guinness brewmaster describes the "<a href="http://www.esquire.com/the-side/guinness031207" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">perfect pour</a>", which should take almost 2 minutes. Or better yet, watch the perfect pour here, it's almost like poetry...<br />
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<br />So, what can beat the perfect pint of Guiness for the Gold medal? How about, <a href="http://www.affligembeer.be/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Affligem Dubbel</a> a nice "monastic beer" from Belgium, served in the Cloister of a 12th century Priory Church...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKO4qNBO020yhBDXQ_aE2kFqzzQgJMTZflTOTLR8-vQKaiIMuywVgWCd2hRYc2uu2s8MtZqEveBqEhqQ0EeeegWB_9GSN6rm8BdQa1MO11YkeZBIE6FIU3DN_iQSP8QlEb4ugfydmOd8/s1600/DSC_1832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKO4qNBO020yhBDXQ_aE2kFqzzQgJMTZflTOTLR8-vQKaiIMuywVgWCd2hRYc2uu2s8MtZqEveBqEhqQ0EeeegWB_9GSN6rm8BdQa1MO11YkeZBIE6FIU3DN_iQSP8QlEb4ugfydmOd8/s640/DSC_1832.JPG" width="404" /></a></div>
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This beer had great flavour and finish, and won out over the Guinness in part because of the atmosphere in which I got to sit and enjoy it.Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-36345720019180189352012-08-08T05:35:00.002+01:002012-08-08T05:35:12.152+01:00St. Bart's ArtWhile the architecture and atmosphere in St. Bart's is amazing, there are also some pretty interesting things to see in the transepts. I'm just going to show some of the things that caught my eye, like this creeping looking carving...<br />
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(Creepy looking carving of a skull)</div>
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This is the tomb of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahere" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rahere</a>, founder and first Prior of St. Bartholomews...<br />
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(Tomb of Rahere)</div>
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The15th century Baptismal Font where the artist <a href="http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/PRhogarth.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">William Hogarth</a> was baptized...<br />
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(Baptismal Font)</div>
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An elaborate memorial to a church patron...<br />
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This memorial used to be a popular attraction because it was made from "weeping marble" that would absorb moisture from the air, and then "weep" water droplets to make it look like the stone was crying...<br />
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(The Weeping Memorial)</div>
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Here's a bit of the mosaic floor tile in front of the Sanctuary...<br />
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(Mosaic floor tile)</div>
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As mentioned earlier, the church still has some original 12th century floor tiles, but they also have some fake structures left behind by Hollywood studios, like this fibreglass pedestal, on the right, used to hide some modern structures (plumbing, electrical) from the cameras during filming...<br />
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(Original 12th century floor tiles, left, fibreglass pedestal, right)</div>
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Here is the tomb of Walter Midmay (and his wife). Walter was a Chancellor under Queen Elizabeth I and was the founder of Emmanuel College at Cambridge.<br />
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(Tomb of Walter Midmay)</div>
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The wooden carving atop the lecturn in the Quire...<br />
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(Statue on the lectern)</div>
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I found it a bit odd that there were many memorials and gravestones (with actual tombs below) embedded in the floor throughout the church. It would have been quite an honour to be buried this way...<br />
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(Memorials and actual tombstones in the floor)</div>
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The last odd thing I learned about St. Bart's is that, in 1725, Benjamin Franklin once worked as a printer in a shop that is now the Lady Chapel, back when parts of the Church had become used for secular puruposes. Weird, right?Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-905843200669878822012-08-08T03:40:00.001+01:002012-08-08T03:40:33.155+01:00St. Bartholomew-the-GreatOn Tuesday I visited <a href="http://www.greatstbarts.com/Pages/Church/history.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">St. Bartholomew-the-Great</a>, one of London's oldest churches, founded in 1123AD as an Augustinian Priory, and has been in continuous use as a place of worship since at least 1143AD.<br />
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(Looking down the Quire towards the Sanctuary)</div>
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The church was built during the reign of King Henry I (son of William the Conqueror). The Priory was disolved in 1539 (during the <a href="http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/dissolution_monasteries.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">disolution of the monastries</a> by King Henry VIII), and later was restored as a Parish Church under Queen Elizabeth I.<br />
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(The Sanctuary)</div>
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In 1305, William Wallace (Braveheart) was dragged behind a horse to a gallows near the priory where he was <a href="http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/hung-drawn-and-quartered.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">hung, drawn, and quartered</a> (hence the bizarre name of this pub near the church).<br />
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(The Hung Drawn and Quartered Pub)</div>
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Various portions of the church have been damaged or destroyed over the centuries, though there are still original 12th centruy floor tiles on display in the church. <br />
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(From behind the Sanctuary)</div>
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The church survived the Great Fire of 1666 as well as the bombing of London during World War II.<br />
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(The Lady Chapel, behind the Sanctuary)</div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartholomew_the_Apostle" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">St. Bartholomew</a> was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus, and was reputed to have brought Christianity to Armenia and where he was later flayed alive and crucified head down, becoming a martyr.<br />
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(Alcove in the Transept)</div>
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While St. Paul's Cathedral is larger, and certainly more opulent, than St. Bart's, the atmosphere in St. Bart's is incredible, and you really feel like you are in a medieval church.<br />
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(Looking back down the Quire to the organ)</div>
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Admission to St. Bart's is only 4 pounds, plus another pound if you want to take photos, which I gladly paid, because the place is beautiful, despite its unimpressive exterior.<br />
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(The Church Entrance)</div>
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St. Bart's is famous for having been used as a set in many popular Hollywood movies, including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Shakespeare in Love, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, and Sherlock Holmes.<br />
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(From the organ loft)</div>
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I was fortunate to find that there were not many visitors, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verger" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Verger</a> allowed me to go up to the Organ loft for an opportunity to take some photos from a place most people don't get to go.<br />
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(From the organ loft)</div>
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloister" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cloister</a> was rebuilt during the early 20th century and now serves as a Cafe where you can sample various cheeses and cakes, as well as trying one of several different <a href="http://www.greatstbarts.com/Pages/Cloister_Cafe/beers.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">monastic beers</a>.<br />
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(The Cloister Cafe)</div>
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It isn't often that you have an opportunity to sit and have a beer in church, so I was happy to sit down and sample one of their best.</div>
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(Window in the Cloister Cafe)</div>
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I think I might have enjoyed my tour of St. Bart's more than St. Paul's. I was allowed to take photos, the atmosphere and lighting were incredible, I got some of my best photos of my trip, and I didn't have to climb 528 stairs, plus I got to drink beer.</div>
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I'll have more about the art inside St. Bart's in my next post.</div>Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-49887380746504872062012-08-07T10:55:00.000+01:002012-08-07T10:59:26.985+01:00HeartbreakerCanada's women's soccer team lost to the US in a heartbreaking semi-final game yesterday. Canadian soccer star<a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/field-sports/news/article/sinclair-performance-stands-with-the-best.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Christine Sinclair scored three goals</a>, giving the Canadians a lead each time, only to see the US come back to tie the game, and then crushingly take the lead 4-3 on a header in the 2nd minute of injury time following a 30 minute extra time period (just before a shootout would have decided things).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENSWGZqDcCXGght6_qLsNTXPslFO7UZNZtIiR5kJiJ_7lq3cHxTt7fiBLj2YWmcBlxtbIMPzhk5Tgpz226DJ-RTdilwsKocf7TXa6rgEdwFHrkvABaTJglIR5uDcbd64zFVe57CXDwzs/s1600/c72887ae4e308e03e7885a86d32b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENSWGZqDcCXGght6_qLsNTXPslFO7UZNZtIiR5kJiJ_7lq3cHxTt7fiBLj2YWmcBlxtbIMPzhk5Tgpz226DJ-RTdilwsKocf7TXa6rgEdwFHrkvABaTJglIR5uDcbd64zFVe57CXDwzs/s400/c72887ae4e308e03e7885a86d32b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Canada hadn't beaten the US since 2001, and were heavy underdogs, but for the most part outplayed ths US and might have won if it weren't for <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/field-sports/news/article/canadian-coach-livid-after-controversial-loss.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a few controversial calls</a> by the referee <a href="http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/blog=olympic-talk/post/about-that-call-against-canada-goalkeeper-erin-mcleod-wasting-time.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(particularly leading up to the third US goal</a>).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrpBD6ESfwG9mlPoHk9d1YsskmFDBHJhD0e88Agzd8gvawAH8V2K7Xq-Sj-EtvdZZ7Ksx-5EeYR4eKVLLdUwTcIIcWGaTe4zTPDdfamYlmHmJhW4XpGgNgQIgj7Q3je-UCwApFDH6wHE/s1600/tumblr_m8crsbgzoT1rndoaco1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrpBD6ESfwG9mlPoHk9d1YsskmFDBHJhD0e88Agzd8gvawAH8V2K7Xq-Sj-EtvdZZ7Ksx-5EeYR4eKVLLdUwTcIIcWGaTe4zTPDdfamYlmHmJhW4XpGgNgQIgj7Q3je-UCwApFDH6wHE/s400/tumblr_m8crsbgzoT1rndoaco1_500.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>
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It has been a bit of a dry spell for Canadian medals, but we still have a few good opportunities to come. Hurdler <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/athletics/news/article/geoge-olympic-debut-will-bittersweet-moment.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Phylicia George</a> and her<a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/athletics/news/article/pearson-dominates-canadian-hurdlers-advance.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> teammates all qualified</a> for the semi-finals which take place tonight.<br />
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The Canadian horse jumping team <a href="http://camdenlock.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">suffered a setback</a> when rider Tiffany Foster was disqualified because her horse was deemed unfit to ride (because of a scratch on his left forelimb above the hoof). The team ended up having to ride 4 riders instead of 5, and had to count all scores, instead of having the luxury of dropping their worst score. They ended up in 5th place.<br />
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Top officials of the Olympics gathered yesterday to remember the <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news/article/olympic-authorities-remember-athletes-killed-munich-1972.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">11 Israeli athletes and coaches slain 40 years ago</a> in a terrorist attack at the Munich Olympics in 1972. This was not the public tribute that the families of those killed had been hoping for (and asking for for many years).Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-43370072287154724372012-08-07T05:48:00.001+01:002012-08-07T05:48:33.279+01:00Camden Town<a href="http://camdenlock.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Camden Town</a> is in London's north end and hosts several markets as well as being home to many of London's alternative clothing crowd, including punks, goths, cyber-punk, fetish, etc... However, the market is at its busiest, and is best for people watching, on Sundays, so I was a little disappointed not to see too many of the alternative crowd out on Monday, although I did run into a boisterous crowd of Spanish Olympic supporters...<br />
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Still it was an interesting place to walk around, although I think I preferred the Portobello Market for the diversity and quality of merchandise and vendors.<br />
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After getting of the canal boat, you start in the food market, and there were stalls for every type of food you can think of, including African, Thai, Japanese, Mexican, Italian, Chinese, and of course, American. <br />
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With all that choice, why did I choose American? Well, first, it was the gourmet Mac+Cheese offering with cherry tomatoes and japapeno peppers. But most importantly, it was for the "deep fried Oreos"...<br />
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Seating for your meal was also interesting, with a series of motorcycle seats facing the canal...<br />
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When I started walking through the market, it seemed to me that there were a lot of stalls selling cheap junk, tacky souvenirs, and T-shirts, although there were a lot of clothing vendors too...<br />
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As I mentioned, this is the mecca for alternative clothing, so there were also some stalls with interesting looking Goth outfits for women...<br />
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Plus some more "normal" looking dresses...<br />
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There was also a place that offered a "fish massage and pedicure"...<br />
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Leaving the lock market area, I headed in to Camden Town to find the tube station back to the hotel. I think this area can get a little rowdy in the evenings. I loved this sign...<br />
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Which seems to imply that nomally drinking is allowed on the streets! I also found this goth-inspired pub called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devonshire_Arms" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hobgoblin</a> (also known as "the Dev", or Devonshire Arms) in Camden Town...<br />
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... and another locally famous pub called "<a href="http://www.theworldsend.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The World's End</a>"...<br />
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...previously known as the <a href="http://feralstrumpet.com/2009/12/29/mother-red-cap-or-the-crone-of-camden/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Old Mother Redcap</a>, in reference to a creepy story about an unfortunate young woman (witch?) who supposedly lived on this site in the 17th century.<br />
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I did slip in here for a pint before heading home. More to say about the beer here in a later post (I have one more place to visit, and try a beer or two, before I can write that post)...<br />Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-1913021713636221712012-08-07T04:30:00.001+01:002012-08-07T04:30:53.003+01:00Little Venice and Regents CanalI hadn't realized how central to London's existence was the Thames River. And, as it turns out, there are several other waterways through London. There are several canals through the city, and yesterday, I took a water taxi ride from Paddington to Camden Town Lock market on the <a href="http://www.londoncanals.co.uk/regents/reg00.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Regents Canal</a>.<br />
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This canal has been around for over 200 years, and starts in an area dubbed "<a href="http://www.londoncanals.co.uk/lvenice/lv00.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Little Venice</a>". The canal is filled with long narrow boats, and several taxi/tour companies, along with several boats that look as thought people live in them.<br />
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There are lots of mansions backing on to the canal which passes through a long tunnel before winding around the top of Regents park with a stop at the London Zoo.<br />
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As we approach Camden Town, there are even appartments that are right on the canal. It amazes me how close to the water the windows are...<br />
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At Camden Town, we can see the first set of locks...<br />
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The locks are pretting amazing. They are just sets of wooden doors, that are MANUALLY operated with a hand crank. Please have a look at <a href="http://www.burgundy-canal.com/ulockit.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this animation that shows how the locks work</a>.<br />
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The canal journey ends for me a Camden Town Lock market, which I'll talk about in my next post.Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-17365322290431791122012-08-06T05:01:00.000+01:002012-08-07T04:32:34.055+01:00Happy Birthday!Today, August 6th, is Caitlin's 17th, and Connor's 19th birthday!<br />
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This is the first time I've been away at the Olympics for their birthday, but I just wanted to wish them a Happy Birthday, and tell them both I love them and am so proud of them...<br />
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Caitie is skating on the Leaside Synergy synchronized skating Junior team, and hoping to qualify for the World Championships in Finland next March.<br />
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Connor is at the University of Guelph, just about to enter his seond year in Biomedical Engineering, and is Vice President, Internal Affairs, for the Guelph Engineering Society.<br />
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He is also now officially of drinking age in Ontario (so I'm sure the photo above was snapped just a few seconds ago..., or perhaps it's just a root beer, right?)<br />
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Happy Birthday to both of you!<br />
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Love - DadSean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-4574623377602450522012-08-06T04:13:00.000+01:002012-08-07T04:32:57.039+01:00Fast TrackI didn't go on any adventures yesterday because I wanted to get to sleep in order to get up earlier and watch the men's 100m final live on TV at the hotel before going to work.<br />
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It was worth it, as the race was very exciting, and <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/athletics/news/article/bolt-wins-olympic-gold-men-100m.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Usain Bolt</a> won with a time of 9.63 seconds (the second fastest time ever, behind his 9.59 world record from a few years ago).<br />
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Consider also that this was the fastest 100m final ever, with record times for places 3 to 7. Unfortunately, Asafa Powell pulled up with an injury, or else this would have been a race with all 8 finalists under 10 seconds (Powell has run under 10 seconds 88 times, more than any other person).<br />
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The lightning bolt pose has become a meme on the internet, much like the <a href="http://tebowing.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tebowing</a> phenomena from last year, so I thought I would get in on the act!<br />
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<a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/athletics/news/article/rest-day-athletics-28472.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Pistorius</a> did not qualify for the final of the men's 400m, but will still compete in the 4x400m relay later this week.<br />
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Just because I didn't go anyhwere yesterday doesn't mean that I didn't see anything interesting. It turns out that the women's Marathon course runs right by my hotel, so I had to walk along part of the course after getting off the tube on the way home, and managed to snap a decent shot of some of the runners...<br />
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Also yesterday, history was made, with <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/combat-sports/news/article/early-favourites-win-women-boxing-debuts.html" target="_blank">female Boxing</a> making it's first appearance in the Olympics. Canada has a contender in the 75kg class with <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/combat-sports/news/article/athlete-snapshot-mary-spencer.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mary Spencer</a>.<br />
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Tomorrow, Phylicia George will race in the <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/athletics/news/article/your-canadians-george-holder-hurdle-into-london.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">women's 100m hurdles</a>. I wrote about her in my <a href="http://lob2012.blogspot.ca/2012/07/renting-podiium.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Renting the Podium</a> post. In that post, I linked to an article about her by National Post writer, Sean Fitzgerald. In the "its a smal world" category, when I arrived in London, I ended up riding with with Sean and his photographer on the train from the airport. <br />
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We had been chatting about the hurdling event, and I mentioned that I had read a great article in the National Post about Phylicia, and he said "I wrote that" - like I said, small world. Anyway, ahead of her race tomorrow, Sean has written <a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/George+races+with+guardian+angel/7042262/story.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">another article</a> about her, and her relationship with her mother Glenna (who worked with Susan at Bunnomatic in Aurora), and who, sadly, passed away two years ago. Please read, it will make you cry...Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-4279895654305051332012-08-05T05:45:00.000+01:002012-08-07T04:33:54.187+01:00Portobello MarketOn Saturday, I went to the <a href="http://www.portobellomarket.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Portobello Market</a>, which is one of the most famous street markets in the world, and a very popular destination (for tourists and locals alike), especially on Saturdays.<br />
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The market is in the trendy neighbourhood of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125439/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Notting Hill</a>, made famous by the film with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant.<br />
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The market has something for everyone, and a little bit of everything. There seems to be a lot of antique dealers, jewellry, vintage clothing, and food.<br />
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There were several street performers, including this authentic looking Rockabilly band called the "Hightown Crows"...<br />
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The market had everything from African masks...<br />
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... to gas masks...<br />
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I loved this display of antique cameras...<br />
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The food section was also diverse, with lots of fruits...<br />
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... vegetables...<br />
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... bread...<br />
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... and beer... (yes, beer is a food group...)<br />
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It had vendors with very narrow niche markets, like vintage signs...<br />
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... and magnifying glasses and shaving brushes? ...<br />
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I only walked along about half of the length of the market, and missed a lot of the clothing and vintage clothing vendors at the north end. Though there were some clothing vendors at the south end from traditional...<br />
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... to trendy...<br />
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... and glamourous...<br />
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In addition, although I visited most of the street vendors along my way, there are also shops behind the street vendors, that are each just basically another mini-market with several other vendors in each unit. You could spend an entire day here, and not be able to visit every vendor.<br />
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I realized that I hadn't had many (any?) photos of me in London, and I found this pretty young lady outside the Highland Store in the market, and she was nice enough to pose with me.<br />
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This was a really fun place to be, I found some interesting things here, and would like to come back next Saturday if I can arrange it.Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-35168935485561417062012-08-05T05:02:00.000+01:002012-08-07T04:34:09.278+01:00More Medals!Yesterday was a good day for Canada, with <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news/article/canada-enjoys-medal-performance-day.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">three more medals</a>, including our first gold of the London 2012 games from <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news/article/canada-enjoys-medal-performance-day.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rosie MacLennan</a> on the trampoline.<br />
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The other medals were won by <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/aquatics/news/article/ryan-cochrane-does-again.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ryan Cochrane</a> at the pool with a silver in the 1500m freestyle, and by the women's <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/cycling/news/article/whitten-leads-canadian-women-bronze.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Team Pursuit</a> team, with a bronze at the Velodrome.<br />
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In diving, Emilie Heyan's <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/aquatics/news/article/heymans-bounces-back-following-dive-disaster.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">survived one disasterous dive</a> and climbed back into the top 12 to qualify for the final round of the 3m Springboard event.<br />
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Canada now has 10 medals, and sits in 11th place on the medal list. Our goal for this Olympics was to be in the top 12... so far so good.<br />
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Michael Phelps closed out his <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/aquatics/news/article/looking-back-phelps-career.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">amazing career</a> with his unprecedented 18th career gold medal in the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4912460504373109775#editor/target=post;postID=3516893548556141706" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">4x100m medly relay</a>.<br />
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Michael came in to the NBC Studio tonight to be interviewed by Bob Costas, and I caught him as he exited the studio...<br />
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The halls were packed with people trying to catch a glimpse of Michael, so much so that Bob Costas had to push his way through the crowd to get back to his dressing room (and was good naturedly joking about nobody hanging around to get his picture).<br />
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It was a very good day for the host country, as Great Britain hauled in<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19133133" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> 6 gold medals</a>, moving them into third spot on the <a href="http://www.nbcolympics.com/medals/2012-standings/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">medals list</a> behind the USA and China.<br />
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In other news, Oscar Pistorius, the double leg amputee from South Africa, who runs on prosthetic carbon fibre blades, and has the nickname "Blade Runner", has qualifed for the <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/athletics/news/article/blade-runner-pistorious-advances-400-metre-semifinals.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">400m semi-finals</a>, although some wonder whether his prosthetics give him an <a href="http://www.ctvolympics.ca/athletics/news/article/olympic-science-does-pistorius-really-have-unfair-advantage-27488.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">unfair advantage</a>.<br />
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Personally, I don't see anybody cutting of their legs to gain an advantage in the Olympics, and he is unlikely to challenge for a medal, so I have no problem with him competing here.Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-54018977819002039772012-08-05T02:21:00.000+01:002012-08-07T04:34:41.032+01:00Walking in WestminsterLast week, I took a Thames river cruise from Tower Hill down to Westminster, but really all I did in Westminster was get off the boat, walk across the bridge, take some photos, and head back to the boat. However, there's actually quite a lot within a few minutes walk from the foot of the Clock Tower. <br />
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On Thursday (I think) when I went to Beach Volleyball, I took a <a href="http://www.london2012.com/about-us/the-people-delivering-the-games/locog/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LOCOG</a> (London Olympic Committee for the Olympic Games) bus from the IBC to Horse Guards Parade in Westminster (which is the venue for Beach Volleyball). <br />
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This would be great if my accreditation actually allowed me into any venue other than the IBC (which it doesn't). Instead, I had to walk around to the spectator entrance, which is actually a fair distance away.<br />
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Since I was early anyway, I decided to extend my walk to see some of the sights in Westminster...<br />
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(Horse Guard's Parade)</div>
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The bus lets us off right in front of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_Guards_Parade" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Horse Guards Parade</a> at Whitehall. The Palace at Whitehall used to be located here, and the Beach Volleyball court actually occupies the courtyard where tournaments, including jousting, used to occur in the time of Henry VIII.<br />
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The Horse Guards Parade used to be headquarters for the British Army, and is also the site of the annual ceremony called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trooping_the_Colour" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trooping the Colour</a> commemorating the monarch's birthday.<br />
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(Her Majesty's Treasury)</div>
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I actually walked past Downing St. without knowing it, so I could have stopped at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10_Downing_Street" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">10 Downing St.</a>, home of the Prime Minister (David Cameron).<br />
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Walking towards the bridge we pass run into the Clock Tower / Big Ben and the Parliament buildings...<br />
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(Clock Tower / Big Ben and Parliament)</div>
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Just north of them is Parliament Square, a small park with many statues, including this one of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Winston_Churchill,_Parliament_Square" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Winston Churchill</a>...<br />
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(Winston Churchill)</div>
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In the 1950's,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Churchill</a> was being shown the plans for the redevelopment of the square. He drew a circle in the northeast corner of the square and declared "that is where my statue will go". The statue was unveiled in 1973.<br />
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<a href="http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Westminster Abbey</a> lies at the other end of the square. Here's a shot of the side entrance to the Abbey, taken from the square...<br />
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(Westminster Abbey, from the side)</div>
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The Abbey has been the location for coronations in England since 1066AD. Construction on the current Abbey begain in 1245AD under Henry III, The Abbey is the final resting place of 17 monarchs, and many other important people.<br />
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(Westminster Abbey, from the front)</div>
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I'm not sure whether I will get a chance to come back and take a tour. John says that the tour is mostly about the crypts and monuments to the 17 monarchs, and that the inside of the Abbey is not nearly as spectacular as St. Pauls.<br />
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From there I walked toward St. James park and the Mall, where at the west end you will find <a href="http://www.royal.gov.uk/theroyalresidences/buckinghampalace/buckinghampalace.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buckingham Palace</a>...<br />
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(Buckingham Palace, entrance)</div>
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I was a little disappointed by Buckingham Palace, I was kind of expecting it to be more impressive (I guess I was looking for a castle!).<br />
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Walking east through St. James park I came across this <a href="http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">floral crown</a> created in celebration of Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee earlier this year.<br />
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(Queen Elizabeth II, Diamond Jubilee topiary)</div>
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Finally, I walked through the park and came into the Beach Volleyball venue on the other side of the Horse Guards Parade gates from the other side.<br />
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Of course, there is a lot more to be seen in Westminster, including the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, the Churchill War Rooms, and more...<br />
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I may have to go back...<br />
<br />Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-42255879299165261902012-08-04T06:26:00.000+01:002012-08-07T04:35:27.797+01:00The Pastry OlympicsOne of my most popular posts from Torino was my <a href="http://stoblog.blogspot.co.uk/2006/02/torino-pizza-of-week.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pizza of the Week</a> post. I've had a request from Howard to do something similar here in London. <br />
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Unfortunately, being on the midnight shift, my first meal of the day at the NBC commissary is usually left-overs from earlier in the day. I end up eating a lot of (mediocre) pizza and (very good)<strike> french fries</strike> chips. The exception has been whenever they do battered fish - awesome!<br />
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The good news is that the overnight shift means that I am here when they serve breakfast with all the fresh (baked on site) pastries. The normal breakfast menu (eggs, bacon, beans, hash browns, bagels, etc...) are OK, but they've brought in a company just to do organic pastries, soups, salads, sandwiches, muffins, and cookies, and they are amazing!<br />
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So, without further ado, here are the unofficial results from the Pastry Olympics...<br />
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In 8th place, we have your basic Cinamon Danish. This is more of a store-bought mass-produced pastry (not made by our on-site pastry specialists). It was OK, but just...<br />
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In 7th place, the Apple Danish. Again, better than the Cinamon Danish, but still your generic grocery store variety (looks better than it tasted)...<br />
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In 6th place, our first entry from the on-site bakery, an organic Praline Danish. Flaky and crunchy, this was good, but could have used more flavour...<br />
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In 5th place, a deceptively simple looking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brioche" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Brioche</a>. This was very good (much better than it looks)! It is just a bun really, but it has a lot of egg and butter, and has a wonderfully soft and chewy center with great flavour...<br />
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In 4th place, and this was really a close contender for the bronze, we have an organic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pain_au_chocolat" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pain-au-Chocolat</a>, which is kind of like a chocolate croissant, except that it is square shaped. Flaky layered pastry and rich chocolate pieces - yummy (especially when still warm from the oven)...<br />
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The Bronze medal goes to a classic Banana Chocolate Muffin. Soft, moist, warm, with great chocolate and banana flavour. Muffins don't get much better than this... (technically not a pastry, so could be controversial that I put it in a medal position)...<br />
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The Silver medal goes to a traditional organic Croissant. No gimmicks, just ultra-light crisp and flaky pastry that melts in your mouth, with a soft, chewy, doughy center. Trying to eat one of these is a challenge because the pastry is so flaky it practically falls apart in your hands...<br />
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And the Gold medal goes to the ultime organic Almond Croissant. Same great qualities as the traditional Croissant, but add a generous topping of sliced almonds and icing sugar, with a center filled with an amazingly delicious sweet almond butter paste. Out of this world taste, and very, very decadent...<br />
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There is another amazing breakfast item produced by our baker, but I couldn't allow it to compete in the pastry event because it doesn't qualify, but this is one of my favourite items here...<br />
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This is fruit and granola over amazingly rich yogurt (no non-fat, sugar-free stuff here). I've had several of these, and don't think I could ever get tired of them (even with the blueberries).<br />
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I also had to disqualify the white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, as that just would not have been fair...Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-22477002584273183062012-08-03T06:25:00.003+01:002012-08-07T04:36:12.927+01:00Beach Volleyball (scenery)As mentioned before, the sport of Beach Volleyball is very demanding, and accordingly, the athletes are very fit, so it stands to reason that they might look good in the shorts and bikini's they wear to compete.<br />
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In addition, the sport's organizers seem to feel it necessary to suppliment the action with a team of dancers who perform for about 30 seconds between games, and during the "technical timeout" taken after 21 total points are scored in each game.<br />
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Kerri Walsh Jennings, American Beach Volleyball legend, two-time defending Olympic gold medalist, and mother to two, doesn't mind that <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympics--kerri-walsh-revels-in-beach-volleyball-s-status-as-the-sexist-sport.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the sport has a sexy reputation</a>.<br />
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For the London 2012 games, the sports ruling body has allowed women to wear longs sleeves and shorts, or pants, if desired. Given the chilly nights here in London, this is probably a good idea.<br />
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At the same time, most of the teams continue to wear the bikini uniform, and really, I'm not going to argue with them, if that's what they feel comfortable wearing.<br />
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Really, if the girls were that concerned about the uniform, they'd wear something else, and you'd think they'd find a different way to signal plays to their partners...<br />
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At times, I felt like I was a Sports Illustrated swimsuit photographer...<br />
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And yet, I was well back in the stands, with only a 105mm lens, and the "pros" were down at courtside with a giant 600mm lens on. What were they shooting that they needed to have that kind of zoom?<br />
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I don't think the crowd needed any additonal reason to be excited about the action. The stadium plays pump music between each point, and the announcers encourage the fans to be as loud as possible.<br />
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Ultimately, I think it is great that the sport is athletic, exciting, and sexy. As I said earlier, it makes for great TV, and people want to watch it.<br />
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The uniform doesn't interfere with or distract from the play, it just shows off how fit these athletes are - and if you've got it, flaunt it...<br />
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Sadly, there were no men's matches at the session I was at yesterday, so I have to apologize to my female followers for not having any photos of the men's Beach Volleyball players, but I would have taken photos of them for you too if they had been there (no really, I would have)...Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912460504373109775.post-40768711630933489952012-08-03T05:26:00.003+01:002012-08-07T04:36:53.774+01:00Beach Volleyball (action)NBC has always made sure that I get a ticket to go see at least one event at each Olympics I've been to. Thanks to John Pastore for getting me a ticket to Beach Volleyball yesterday, it was great!<br />
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Beach Volleyball is a very demanding sport, and the particpants are tremendous athletes. They are also very fit, very good looking, and scantily clad. Makes for good TV, and enthusiastic spectators.<br />
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I'm going to separate my Beach Volleyball photos into "Action" and "Scenery" shots. The action shots illustrate the athleticism of the sport, while the scenery shots "expose" the more entertainment-like aspects of the sport. (If that doesn't appeal to you, you might want to skip my next post).<br />
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The matches started at 2:30pm, and there were four matches scheduled, but I could only stay for three, and even that was pushing it. I ended up getting to bed at 6:30pm, and had received permission to sleep a little longer and come in later at 1:30am, so that I could get at least 6 hours sleep.<br />
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The first match was between Germany and the Netherlands, and Germany took the match in two games straight, though both were close games.<br />
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The second match was between Great Britain and Russia. The crowd was, of course, solidly on side with Team GB, but they were really no match for the Rusians.<br />
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The third match was between the USA and Spain, and was a very close match. Both teams came into this match with two victories, so this match would determine the winner of their group.<br />
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The teams split the first two games, forcing a third game for the match. In Beach Volleyball, the first two games are played to 21, and the last game is played to 15. Points are scored on each rally, regardless of who is serving.<br />
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The third game was the closest of the match, and ended up going beyond 15 points because you must win by two points.<br />
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Ultimately, the USA prevailed, after which I had to leave to get home to sleep (so I missed the fourth match). <br />
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Overall, it was a really pleasant day. The London weather is totally weird though - if the sun was out it was hot, when the clouds came it was breezy and cool, and it rained on and off, even when the sun was shining.<br />
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Lastly, I also wanted to note that my daughter's synchronized skating teammate's father, John Child (and his partner, Mark Heese), won a bronze medal for Canada in Beach Volleyball at the summer games in Atlanta 1996, in which the sport of Beach Volleyball debuted (which was also my first games providing support for NBC).Sean McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748905258714007583noreply@blogger.com4