1. Introduction
2. Sponsor's Spot: The Jubilee Academy
3. Weekly Topic: Summer Olympics 2008
4. What You are Missing This Week
5. Related Games
6. Quote of the Week
7. Subscription Management
#1. July 23, 2008
Dear Barbara,
Tomorrow we are leaving for Southampton, where we will pick up our cruise ship, and be off for two and half weeks. I do get a bit of the pre-trip crazies, which relates to trying to pack perfectly (not too much, not too little) and getting all my work done before I leave.
This year, as in past years, I simply write my weekly newspaper columns and newsletters in advance. So going on a trip always involves a lot of planning. But I love to travel, so in the end, I just handle it! Travel is we what we do instead of buying new furniture or doing the kitchen remodel.
The Games of the XXIX Olympiad will be held in Beijing, China August 8 to August 24, 2008. According to Wikipedia, 10,500 athletes are expected to compete in 302 events and twenty-eight sports. It will the first Olympics to be broadcast entirely in high definition TV, and four billion viewers are anticipated. Will you be watching?
CNN.com: Special Reports: Olympics
This special report is a central depository for all Olympic news, features and videos coming out of CNN. Currently the stories are divided into categories such a "Road to Beijing" and "China Hosts the World," but I am sure the structure will change when the games begin. Special video reports (such as Security Worries and Torch Tribute) are featured on the front page. I enjoyed the video tour of the Olympic Media Center, which, in addition to all the work stations, includes a gym and hair salon for the reporters! Reader submitted video has it's own section called Fan Zone.
Kaboose: 2008 Olympics
"Celebrate the world's largest sporting event by creating Olympic-themed kids' crafts and participating in kid-friendly activities and games." These crafts are really cute. I liked the Olympic torch made with orange and yellow tissue paper and the paper mache gold medals. There are also sport coloring pages and an interview with three-time Olympic medal winner (and mom) soccer pioneer Julie Foudy.
Kids News Network Sport: Beijing
Kids News Network Sport is a video news channel (from the Dutch media company Free Voice) with reporting by youth from six countries: Indonesia, Burma, Afghanistan, Zambia, South Africa, Surinam and Peru. During the Olympics, they will broadcast daily updates from Beijing for kids around the world. You can see their intro video by clicking on the purple China button on the interactive map. Alternatively, you can follow them on YouTube.
"If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble." ~~ Bob Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) American actor and comedian.
Dear Barbara,
