O.K., here we go!

[Nascent Dynamics ( )]

The "widget" above is a link to media for the Olympics. You can choose a specific sport, for example. and look into that. It does require some installation of plug-ins etc. Nothing has given me a problem so far. I think it just takes a little getting used to.

The RSS feed is a little confusing to me. Perhaps they have yet to start broadcasting event news. I chose their top recommended feed but wonder if it really will provide the best coverage. I figure I'll wait to see for a bit and change if not useful. Recommendations welcome. Enjoy the Olympics on Area Light.

Best,

Anthony

[Nascent Dynamics ( )]

One thing I find interesting about the Olympics is the emphasis on world unity. The opening ceremony is a bit long for my taste but I value it. I'll have to go back and check out the full event along with the torch lighting ceremony. I hear it was pretty good. Another good note regarding the benefits of online media.

[Nascent Dynamics ( )]

Looks like Phelps is cleaning up.

Now I had a chance to look into the openning ceremony. I didn't watch the whole thing but I gather it was incredible both in magnitude and importance. I really enjoyed an interview I saw about the event designer. I guess they had been practicing the routine for years up until the event itself and never performed it as perfectly.

China seems to be doing very well in the early stages. That has to be inspiring to the people. One announcer mentioned this was like a coming out party for modern China. It's been kind of off stage for the last 20 years. I think there has been a lot of talk about their economic impact, social issues, and industrialization. I gathered something about their national pride and world perspective from the ceremony. It seems like they are in a good position to be accepted now.

[Nascent Dynamics ( )]

Wow, interesting. If you read some of the news flashes on the blog feed below you can reflect on a lot of the broader ideas of what the Olympics presents. I guess there are a lot of humanitarian type ideals showcased. So, for one, I gues there was an exhibition reflecting the achievements in the para-olypics and the feat of organizing the olympics themselves. You can see China is right there acknowledging the issues and encouraging more in some ways. That is kind of a departure to what a lot of people have been fixated about given China's history of social and humanitarian controversy.

[Nascent Dynamics ( )]

Looks like the widget is still working. I was kind of considering whether to delete this group now that the Olympics are over. Then again, it's such a massive phenomena it's one of those things we could probably talk about until the next one- if at least the winter Olympics.

Something else on my mind recently was a commercial clip about some guy challenging the next generation to begin training for the next Olympics. I think I saw that last Olympics right at the end. That's pretty exciting if I'm recalling it correctly. I like the idea of tasking the participants to go for it and achieve their best as a service to society and all we gain by doing the Olympics. This is especially interesting for me...kind of like the conventional, "Where do you see yourself in five years? question. I created Area Light, in part, to shed light on my ambitions to play soccer. I'm so far away from that goal, but I wonder how much closer I might be in four years if I continue to push for it. Also interesting how the World Cup occurs in four year cycles. I guess I'll not be ready for 2010. However, there is a slim- very slim- possibility that I could be ready by 2014. I'd just be in my late 30's. The athletic ambition to perform and compete at the highest levels is something to admire about the Olympics. The pressure and sort of finality of only having one shot in four years adds to the dynamic tension and excitement of it. To the victors goes the glory for many years. To the shortcomers goes the suffering and motivation to go for it again. If you repeat then that reinforces the enduring value of your legacy. So much can happen in four years, I think this makes another point to the reality of human limitation and the ideal that you should put everything you can into whatever opportunities you get- they may not come around again. Then again it's neat to see others repeat again and again. So there's hope. Personally, the most impressive event was the Jamaican sprinter who simply shattered all the competition, records, and crossed the line beating his chest- an expression of the brilliant edge he had and the enjoyment he had in victory- consequently an obvious sacrifice to additional 100ths of seconds he could have shaved off his astronomical record. He won in style and that is all I could ever ask. A great moment, certainly, for Jamaica.

[Nascent Dynamics ( )]

I think I caught a new reggae music clip about this Jamaican sprinter on Phenomenal Business Peoples. There's no doubt this guy is an icon in Jamaica. I look up to him too. Hmmmm.....

The widget seems to be outdated now. The RSS feed seems to be covering some articles post Olympics for the organizers. I still haven't found the time, energy, or real interest to look into it too deeply. I do like keeping this group on board Area Light. Particularly, as the next Olympics come around, maybe we'll have the time to organize some real shared activity- a viewing party.

When I think of the higher ambitions of organizing a social network, you have to look at the Olympics for setting the bar. It may seem impossible- but I do think it is possible to reach that level of organization. Just like the Olympics, it would take a world wide massive effort. The question is just how do you organize such a thing? One of my concepts for Nascent Dynamics ( ), my personal business, is the idea of having a business that operates in sessions. That is, rather than just have a business that always operates, a business that forms for a moment in time- an event. So I think I'll keep revisiting this group. You have to keep an open mind for the possibilities. I aim high. So if/ when my business does have the opportunity, I want to be prepared for the Olympic proportions.