The Joy of the Olympics: Table Tennis

It’s that time of the four-year cycle again. Except, thanks to COVID, it has been five years since the last Olympics. Not that you’d know it from all the signage in Japan, which sternly insists these are the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Still, it’s time to slump in front of the TV, and become instant experts, passing harsh criticism on the failure of a gymnast to stick the landing. Another Dorito? Don’t mind if I do. But while the schedule is dominated by swimming, athletics and gymnastics, we get our greatest pleasure on the fringes. We enjoy watching the sports you never really see the rest of the time.

Read More

My quadrennial election rant: 2020

My main thought this morning is, thank heavens its over. Because it feels like this election campaign has gone on for four years, ever since the tumultuous events of November 2016, when Trump shocked the world. Looking back to what I wrote at that time, what stands out now is my concern about the media’s role, because those worries have proven completely accurate. I no longer have confidence in any American media outlet. What we have seen since is a press which is dedicated, not to representing the views of the people. but manipulating them. It’s ironic to see all the think pieces about “What if Trump does not accept the results of this election?”, because the media has collectively spent the last four years not accepting the results of the last one.

Read More