We’ve had another entertainment industry death. This time it’s music icon Isaac Hayes. He died yesterday at a Memphis hospital. He was 65. And to add a freaky weird note to his death, he and Bernie Mac, who passed away on Saturday, had just finished a movie with Samuel L. Jackson. I’m thinking Jackson had better watch out. 
In archaeological news, we have this story out of Afghanistan:
- Ancient city uncovered in Afghanistan
Centuries-old shards of pottery mingle with spent ammunition rounds on a wind-swept mountainside in northern Afghanistan where French archaeologists believe they have found a vast ancient city.
And now for the Olympic report.
The U.S. women really had me worried during the qualifying events. Lots of little mistakes and some pretty major ones, too. Scary! But they ended second to China, so we can rest easy on that point, anyway.
One of the great stories from the women’s gymnastics is former Soviet & Uzbekistan gymnast, Oksana Chusovitina who now lives in and competes for Germany. She & her husband moved to Germany so they could get advanced healthcare for her son who’d been diagnosed with leukemia. She’s qualified for the individual vaulting event at age 33!!! Most of her competitors are 16 & 17. I’m rooting for her! (You’d think I really hated all those little teenagers! 
)
Then there was the men’s 4×100m freestyle relay. Wow! The French spent a lot of time trash talking about how they were way better than the Americans. 
Hah! And again, I say HAH!!! We beat them! And we obliterated (isn’t “obliterated” a great word?) the world record doing it. 
Tonight, in addition to the Olympics, we have The Closer and The Middleman both of which I’ll be recording since I’ll still be glued to the Olympics. *g* And I see late this afternoon some of the equestrian events are on Oxygen. Cool! They’d been airing them at O Dark Thirty in the morning.
And I’ll be back in the writing saddle tonight.
Reading: Still reading The Mislaid Magician. I’ll easily finish it tonight. *grumble* My book order did not arrive. Stupid postal service.
Do you remember the gymnasts from the last Olympics that acted like a big baby? She was from one of the European teams. I wonder what happened to her.
I was scared for the American team first because there were only 4 girls and when two of them made mistakes on the floor exercise and then the fall on the unevens, I was like there goes our chances.
The relay race was awesome! Yeah we showed them!
Comment by Dru — August 11, 2008 @ 11:26 am
Two random deaths in row, it just wasn’t a very good weekend. First Morgan Freeman gave us a scare, then Bernie Mac dies when people expected he was doing better. Now Isaac Hayes and the cause was unknown! I hope next weekend is better…
Read my post on Isaac Hayes
Read my post on Bernie Mac
Comment by Billy — August 11, 2008 @ 12:48 pm
I’m amazed at how little attention is being given (in the media) the murder of the FIL of the US Volleyball Coach.
I DID read about Phelps second Gold late last night.
Enjoy everything! Have a good day!
Comment by Brandy — August 11, 2008 @ 2:42 pm
I really love a 33 year old doing gymnastics. That’s just amazing! If ever there was a young person’s game.
Comment by Anonymous — August 11, 2008 @ 8:53 pm
Brandy - the murder actually received local news coverage not just through the Olympics. It’s very sad.
And I was amazed by the 33 year old gymnast. An amazing story! I just stared in awe. Wouldn’t it be cool if her son ended up growing up and competing for Germany some day?
Comment by Melissa Mc — August 12, 2008 @ 9:24 am