Completely off topic I know but just admiring the various
technicalities and timing control involved in the closing ceremonies
of the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing! Sort of interesting to any 'do
it your selfer' to wonder how the various effects achieved!

Yes, yes, I know got a dozen thing to do and it's a nice day, again,
outside, but hard to not watch this most impressive and international
event.

Started watching quite by chance after flipping on the TV around 9.00
AM local time, that's about 7.30 AM Eastern time. Been watching now,
live, on various Canadian Channels. In both English and French for
over 90 minutes. But not on any of the US channels we also receive?

Wow! Right now it's at the stage of introducing the next city to host
the games; London.

Also belatedly recalling seeing some events of the 1948 London
Olympics on black-white British TV back then, as a teenager! Quite an
achievement for Britain to host that first post-war Olympics in a
ravaged, bombed out and heavily rationed post-war Europe; only three
years after the end of hostilities.

By contrast when I first went away from home, to work in 1953, I took
my Rationing Book which my lodgings landlady would use to buy certain
foods etc. And THAT was eight years after the end of the war.

Also a post script": A genuine thank you USA for all the support for
Britain even before Pearl Harbour!

Ah; nostalgia! ................................... Let's hope 'never
again'.