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We have reached a momentous occasion. Actually, we’ve surpassed a momentous occasion, as I am currently composing post number SEVENTY. That’s right, Varsh. You came back just in time to achieve the number that might make Kevin-from-The-Office cry.

Speaking of crying, here are some things that bring tears to my eyes.

• The earthquake boy from the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. That’s two separate links, so check out both. His name is Lin Hao, and he helped to save some of his classmates after the Sichuan earthquake in May. His poise during the opening ceremony was impressive; his intrepid persistence as hall monitor, heroic.
• My people. Chinese Taipei? Bump that. Taiwan. We are democratic and peaceful, so back up off, China. Why don’t you improve the quality of life for your own people before trying to subjugate my little yam nation? That being said, we actually got to see the team enter the Bird’s Nest this year. I realize that, for purposes of financial gain, NBC must schedule cuts to advertisement, but you know what? It sucks. Millie was understandably dismayed when NBC excused the plumper Bob Costas and newbie Matt Lauer just as Peru was to make its entrance. For a nation reputed to have such diversity in forebears, we ought to do better. We can do better. Unlike Communist China, however, the federal government can’t just shut down commercials for two weeks.
• The commentary. Are you freaking kidding me? “Boy, these countries sure have some crazy costumes.” COSTUMES? That’s almost as bad as the lovely Midwesterners who ask me to “draw the Chinese for this word.” No. You write it. Some of the comments were bad enough to bring tears to my eyes. The continuous shock at the “topsy-turvy” order of nations marching in the opening ceremony. I understand that NBC wants to explain to latecoming viewers, but that sort of patronizing commentary was unnecessary. I’m a little-read blogger. My writing is colloquial and sometimes obscene. My thoughts are stream-of-unconscious and seldom insightful. It’s chill. It ain’t slummin’ when you’re in college. Bob Costas? Matt Lauer? NBC is paying the big bucks for some eloquence. By the way, kids, that’s not necessarily big words. Joe Starkey didn’t need FreeRice, although he did quite well in 1982 with The Play. Here’s a transcription, and here’s the video.
• Oh, and as for the rivalry. You’d think it’s something NBC would know about, sending Diane Dwyer to Sather Gate to talk about the Free Speech Movement and all. But then, they decide to talk about Stanford’s connection with the Olympics, the years of ‘Furd Turds who represented our country for the olive branch. Cool. Then they talk about Natalie Coughlin. HELLO? Remember how she went to Cal? They repeatedly mention that she’s an East Bay-er, but nothing of her alma mater. And they had to film on location for that? At least go to the freaking campus. Not just some random Palo Alto streetcorner. That’s neither representative of Stanford, nor Bay Area athletes (Kerri Walsh is from Santa Clara, by the way. Close, but no cigar.), and definitely not of Natalie Coughlin. A random streetcorner in Palo Alto is representative solely of whatever activity takes place there. The California Golden Bears are a big part of my life. The Free Speech Movement moves me. NBC Bay Area’s cluelessness, though–that moves me to tears.
• Also, speaking of Kerri Walsh. The volunteer who found her ring? Pretty cute. This isn’t touching, but it’s a nice segue to some talk of eye candy.

It’s like bonbons for your oculars

• He who shall henceforth be known as the Volunteer Who Saved Kerri’s Marriage actually has a name. It’s Song Zhendong. I can’t find any pictures at this time, but he’s pretty cute.
• Lucas Black. I should probably watch some other movies, but I’m kind of stuck on Friday Night Lights right now. I finally watched it for the first time this summer, then started watching the TV series on Hulu. Lucas Black isn’t in the TV series, but that’s okay. He’s not always photogenic.
• ANDERSON COOPER. I’ve always thought he was pretty cute, but didn’t talk about it much because I figured that if I mentioned it, people would be all, “He’s old!” Okay, I looked it up. He’s 41. Anyway, I know he’s a hard-hitting journalist and all, but I haven’t watched very much of it. I did watch Shark Week while in Taiwan, and that was pretty cool. (Sidenote: Lee Mama was apparently bored/jetlagged one night, and decided to watch a special feature on squirrels on the Discovery Channel. “I used to think they were kind of cute, but now I found out that they savagely kill each other! I don’t like them anymore.”) Then, there may be those who heard of the hullabaloo concerning our favorite celeb-parentals. I saw it first! Not really. I saw it three hours after those who saw it first. So, I have to admit, I was aware of this situation from the almost get-go, not because of my appreciation for hard-hitting journalism, but because I kind of like Regis and Kelly. So, I saw it first. It was awesome. Shark Week may have reminded me that I thought Anderson Cooper was cute, but Regis and Kelly ungirded my fear of proclaiming it. I have since been inspired to watch Anderson Cooper 360° several times, which is like the summer I went running six times of my own volition! Dude. The man looks good in a suit.