2012 Olympics

Hi Tangle Intentionally did not watch. I am more interested in the sports and the achievements by the individual athletes than I am by the politicing, jingoism, and ignorant reporting.If they spent less time on talk and silly concern on medal counts, they could spend more time on covering actual events and action. The US media is the worst (it was much better in Canada when we lived there).Enjoy.

Hi Jar I have 4 to go -- all in the middle flat lands ...Hurray for Netherlands medals. I like reporting on ALL the athletes, not just the country (US especially fawns on US athletes and ignores others) of broadcasting.Enjoy

Hi Tangle I've been to Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, England, Scotland, France, Netherlands, Luxembourg (saw my first tour de france there), Belgium, Russia, and Alaska ...Enjoy.

Hi Theodoric, They are not a state, but an unincorporated territory, as are several other countries in the world. Panama was, the Philippines were, Samoa still is, and we still maintain military bases (deemed to be American soil politically - why McCain could run for president) on the Philippines (as well as other places in the world where soldiers need no passport to be stationed).That no passport is needed is not a good criteria - I needed no passport to visit Mexico or Canada (1984).Puerto Rico - Wikipedia

quote:

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Puerto Rico ... officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, literally, "Associated Free State of Puerto Rico"), is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.

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The relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States dates back to the Spanish-American War, in which Spain, under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898, ceded the island to the United States. Puerto Ricans became U.S. citizens in 1917, and the United States Congress legislates many aspects of Puerto Rican life.[14] However, the islanders may not vote in U.S. presidential elections.[15][16] Since 1947, Puerto Ricans have been able to elect their own governor. Its official languages are Spanish and English, with Spanish being the primary language. The island's current political status, including the possibility of statehood or independence, is widely debated in Puerto Rico. A referendum on statehood, independence, or continuance of the status quo will be held on November 6, 2012.

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Seems they do a referendum every election cycle.So they are borderline between states and foreign countries, and they certainly are different cultures from the ones in our mainland states. Hawaii is also different but a state (Hawaii 5-0 is a reference to their being the 50th state). Alaska is just out there (Palin comes from a different planet imho).And they can have athletes represent them in the Olympics (to nod at the topic ... )It is exposure to different cultures that is important not how much planet land mass you have covered, yes?EnjoyEdited by RAZD, : nod

kay Theodoric, And I enjoyed all my time there ... except the time in hospital when I had shingles (but that's another story).Apologies as no insult intended.Now perhaps we should get back to Olympics ...Thanks

Hi dronestar It's more a matter of opportunities that came my way from various people and organizations and business. Almost had an opportunity to go to Tokyo and was sad to lose that.I had hoped to get in the Peace Corp back in the 70's but they wouldn't take us as they could not place my wife and I in the same locations. I also would love to get down Greece and Turkey way, perhaps island hoping in a sailboat, and around the southern Mediterranean coasts. And I would love to do the Yucatan penn ruins (and do some snorkeling in the gulf there), maybe Cuba.But time and cancer may be against me here (if I have to be near here for periodic checkups and treatments it limits time to spend traveling. But the bucket list is there.Enjoy

Irish Olympic Sailing CommentaryEnjoy