A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us at Daily Kos every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward.
If you are new to the site or have been lurking, we invite you to join in the friendly banter here. Don’t be shy, say anything, it will be well received.
Rainy Saturdays in the 1960s I would often be on the floor in front of the TV watching ABC’s Wide World of Sports, presented by Jim McKay:
“Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sports... the thrill of victory... and the agony of defeat... the human drama of athletic competition... This is ABC's Wide World of Sports! "
It was the variety of the show that attracted me…a miscellany of events as dissimilar in activities as surfing and figure skating. The typical team sports like baseball or football held no interest for me…I played them, but never watched them. So it was a treat when the Olympics rolled around. For many years, ABC did the broadcasts and good old Jim McKay was the host.
I liked the Summer Olympics. The events are easy to understand, because I could run, jump, swim, throw things and lift things up. As far as equipment goes, well for a good deal of the sports, there is not much to speak of. Some of the events might need a boat or a bike, maybe a racket of some sort, but for a major chunk of the contests, all you’re looking at is a specialized pair of shoes or swimsuit. Basically I could identity with the sports. (Well, except for Dressage.)
But Winter Olympics was a glimpse into a world that was alien to my life, the contests played out in an environment of snow and ice, things that we would only encounter for a few days each year, no matter how hard we wished otherwise.
In addition every single activity requires a piece of equipment, highly tuned for peak performance. If your bobsleigh isn’t up to standards, you lose. If your snowboard isn’t waxed properly you lose. If your ski binding breaks…you lose. The over-dependence on gear doesn’t seem fair, but that’s all part of the game I guess.
It’s the speed of some of the events…and (yikes!) the heights...The danger increases the viewing excitement. They are things I’d never be able…or want...to do. How do you get to the point where you decide that you’re ready to go flying off a ski-jump ramp…what are the intermediate steps, and more importantly, why do it in the first place!
It’s that exoticness of the Winter Olympics that I enjoy, those special skills. In the six times later in life that I attempted skiing, I never progressed farther than the bunny tow. (The kids were really helpful I must say). My only experiences of sledding always involved an inner tube. And the closest to ice skating were the times I saw the ice rink in Lloyd’s Center in Portland...and Tonya Harding’s signature scrawled on a beam in a pizza parlor in Seaside, OR.
So I’m looking forward to the diversion from politics a bit and check out some of the action these next two weeks in Korea.
I think I’ll do what I often do…watch a lot of the games on CBC…the Canadians do that stuff right. In addition to the regular thrills and spills, I’m in a mood to geek out on a little curling.
Are you watching the Olympics? Got a favorite event?
Post your own topics and news in the comment thread
Our CUA team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events. We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in. If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
View Interactive Map of Daily Kos Communities in a full screen mode. The orange pinpoints are the location of each organized group of Daily Kos readers. If you'd like to join a group, click on a point and a box will pop up showing contact links. If you'd like to start a group, kosmail navajo for instructions.
Comment if you have events that would be of interest to the readers of Daily Kos in your city or state?
navajo maintains this event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries about your event or if you have changes or additions to events listed below.
Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018 at 10:30 AM
The Smith East Village, 55 3rd Ave. between 10th and 11th Street
More details here
RSVPS
|
1. kathny, organizer (kosmail her to connect)
2. peregrine kate, guest of honor
3. joanbrooker
4. sidnora
5. gchaucer2
6. jeremybloom
7. belinda ridgewood
8.
9.
10.
11.
MAYBEES :
kathny
Denise Oliver Velez
Avilyn
|
Save the Date: Saturday, March 10th in San Francisco, 1:00 PM at the Beach Chalet, 1000 Great Hwy, San Francisco
RSVPS
|
1. navajo, organizer (kosmail her to connect)**
2. (joanbrooker canceled! Thinking about having get together anyway)
3. tbirchard
4. Lorikeet**
5. remembrance**
6. TLO**
7. Glen The Plumber**
8. jck**
9. side pocket**
10. kimoconnor**
11. maggiejean**
12. jotter**
13. aha aha**
14.
15.
16. MAX ALLOWED HEADCOUNT. RSVP SOON! (I was able to increase res size!)
MAYBEES :
|
**confirmed, even after joanbrooker canceled. Sweet!
Joan will visit in May.
Netroots Nation 2018
Puerto Rico Kos !
January 29, 2018 - Puerto Rico—L-R: Chris Reeves (Daily Kos Community Outreach Organizer), local relief workers and a documentarian and Kelly Macias (Daily Kos Editorial Staff Writer) in the long-sleeved black top, newpioneer aka Chef Bobby in purple and his partner.
Thanks for pulling this together, Chris! Great, great job!
January 27, 2018—Seattle— L-R: Ptressel, Bleeding Blue, DoingBusinessAs, Momomia, EagleofFreedom and Kay3295
dunnjen and peregrine kate marching in Ypsilanti, MI for the Women's March 2018
smileycreek and mimi2three marching in Sacramento, CA
Colorado: Monday Evenings, Michigan: Thursday evenings, North Carolina: Sundays, 1:00 PM Eastern, Missouri: Wednesday Evenings, Kansas: Monday Evenings
