You can watch the Korean TV video that two Korean journalists recorded at rehearsal. 

 

The secret's out about next week's Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. Be ready for a dramatic countdown, giant whales, an illuminated globe and performers flying through the air like Peter Pan. A South Korean television crew filmed a rehearsal of the show earlier this week at the massive Bird's Nest national stadium.

 

Article at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080731/ap_on_re_as/oly_beijing_opening_ceremony

 

Click here for the link:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just in - Beijing announces an emergency plan to deal with the terrible pollution in Beijing.  The whole world is watching.  The world will see the pollution no matter how hard they try to hide it.  Read the article here:

 

 

More photos of the smog: 

 

 

 

 

The new James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, opens October 31, 2008.  It's the 22nd James Bond movie in the series. I a big fan of  James Bond and all his movies.  Can't wait til the new one comes out! 

 

 

   

 

If you're a fan and know you're trivia, click this link and take the short quiz about Bond themes.  How well do you know the Bond themes?

 

 

You can also watch the movie trailer on this site:

 

 

Go the official James Bond Quantum Solace website.  Here you can find all kinds of James Bond goodies. 

 

 

 

 

 

With the Beijing Olympics only days away, can Team USA Basketball capture the Gold Medal? 

 

 

August 10 will be the team's first match against the host, China.  Who will win?  My bet is on USA.  Too many good players and too good. 

 

 

Here's the full schedule for the 2008 Beijing Olympics Men's Basketball:

 

2008 Olympic Men's Basketball Schedule
Preliminary Round Pools
GROUP A	GROUP B
Argentina	Angola
Australia	China
Croatia	Germany
Iran	Greece
Lithuania	Spain
Russia	USA
Preliminary Round
10-Aug
9:00 a.m.	Russia - Iran
11:15 a.m.	Germany - Angola
2:30 p.m.	Spain - Greece
4:45 p.m.	Lithuania - Argentina
8:00 p.m.	Australia - Croatia
10:15 p.m.	USA - China
12-Aug
9:00 a.m.	Iran - Lithuania
11:15 a.m.	Croatia - Russia
2:30 p.m.	Greece - Germany
4:45 p.m.	China - Spain
8:00 p.m.	Angola - USA
10:15 p.m.	Argentina - Australia
14-Aug
9:00 a.m.	Germany - Spain
11:15 a.m.	Australia - Iran
2:30 p.m.	Angola - China
4:45 p.m.	Lithuania - Russia
8:00 p.m.	USA - Greece
10:15 p.m.	Argentina - Croatia
16-Aug
9:00 a.m.	Greece - Angola
11:15 a.m.	Russia - Australia
2:30 p.m.	Croatia - Lithuania
4:45 p.m.	Iran - Argentina
8:00 p.m.	China - Germany
10:15 p.m.	Spain - USA
18-Aug
9:00 a.m.	Iran - Croatia
11:15 a.m.	Australia - Lithuania
2:30 p.m.	Greece - China
4:45 p.m.	Angola - Spain
8:00 p.m.	USA - Germany
10:15 p.m.	Argentina - Russia
Quarterfinals
20-Aug
The top four finishing teams from each preliminary round group advance to the medal round quarterfinals. The fifth and sixth place finishers in each group will be eliminated and not play any further. The exact order and starting times for the quarterfinals and semifinals games will not be officially finalized until the evening of August 18 after all games have been completed. The quarterfinals game times are 2 :30 p.m., 4 :45 p.m., 8 :00 p.m. and 10 :15 p.m.
Time TBD	Game 65: B2 - A3
Time TBD	Game 66: A1 - B4
Time TBD	Game 67: A2 - B3
Time TBD	Game 68: B1 - A4
Semifinals
22-Aug
The four winners of the quarterfinal games advance to the semifinals. The losers in the quarterfinals are eliminated and will not play any further. The semifinals game times are 8:00 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.
Time TBD	Game 71: Winner 65 - Winner 66
Time TBD	Game 72: Winner 67 - Game 68
Finals
24-Aug
12:00 p.m	Bronze Medal/Game 76: Loser 71 - Loser 72
2:30 p.m.	Gold Medal/Game 77: Winner 71 - Winner 72
NOTES: Beijing, China is +12 hours from EDT.

 

 

Here's a link to a very nice map of the Olympic Torch route. (from IOC) 

 

 

The flame was first lit on March 24, 2008 in Olympia, Greece.  This is the longest torch relay in Olympic history and will last 130 days, visiting 135 cities on 5 continents, a total of 137,000km (85,000 miles). 

 

You can learn more about the torch itself from China Daily. 

 

 

 

P. Diddy (Puff Daddy) with Usher in I Need a Girl.  Check out this nice music video.  Lyrics below.

 

 

Yeah, Yeah
I need a, I want a

[ Usher ]
I need a girl to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl to make my wife
I need a girl who's mine oh mine
I need a girl in my life

[ P. Diddy ]
Yo, I'm internationally known on the microphone
I got it all, but I really need a wife at home
I don't really like the zone,
never spend the night alone
I got a few, you would like to bone
But, chicks don't romance me,
don't tickle my fancy
Only Tiffany, Nancy; that's not what my plans be
I need a girl that could stand
me, raise me a family
Go to trips at the Lancy, trip
to the Grammy's cause
Most of these girls be confusin me
I don't know if they really
love me or they usin me
Maybe's the money, or maybe you ain't used to me
Cause you was depressed and now you abusin me
That's why I need a girl that be true to me
Know bout the game, and know how to do to me
Without a girl on my side, shit I ruin me
Forget the word girl, it's just you and me

[ P. Diddy & Usher ]
Now let's ride.....

[ Chorus: Usher ]
I need a girl to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl to make my wife
I need a girl who's mine oh mine
I need a girl in my life
I need a girl to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl to be my wife
Nobody else cuz she's all mine
I need a girl in my life

[ Loon ]
Yo, now I have had a lot of women in my lifetime
But see it's not a lot of women
that got the right mind
I done had pretty chicks with
all the right features
And hoodrat chicks that only rock sneakers
Cellphones and beepers, and know how to treat ya
You break her heart, she'll walk out and leave ya
I find a girl, I'ma keep her
Cuz now I'm gettin money and
the game gettin deeper
I want some real shit, I need
somebody I can chill with
I need somebody I can build with
I need somebody I can hold tight
With the time and no full limits, no right
Anytime we together would feel so right
You the girl I been lookin for my whole life
God bless me, I'm glad I got the insight
It's cuz of you girl, now I understand life

[ Loon & Usher ]
I need a girl...

[ Chorus: Usher ]
I need a girl to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl to make my wife
I need a girl who's mine oh mine
I need a girl in my life
I need a girl to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl to be my wife
Nobody else cuz she's all mine
I need a girl in my life

[ P. Diddy ]
I had a girl that would've died for me
Damn 'preciate her so I made her cry for me
Every night she had tears in her eyes for me
Quarter K's, shorty took the whole ride for me
First we were friends then became lovers
You was more than my girl, we was like brothers
All night we would play fight under covers
Now you gone, can't love you like I really wanna
But everytime I think about your pretty smile
And how we used to drive the whole city wild
Damn I wish you would've had my child
A pretty little girl wit Diddy's style
This shit is wild
All dem days that I reminisce
About the way I use to kiss dem pretty lips
But as long as you happy, I'ma tell you this
I love you girl and you're the one
that I will always miss
I love you, yeah

[ Chorus: Usher ]
I need a girl to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl to make my wife
I need a girl who's mine oh mine
I need a girl in my life
I need a girl to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl to be my wife
Nobody else cuz she's all mine
I need a girl in my life
I need a girl to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl to make my wife
I need a girl who's mine oh mine
I need a girl in my life
I need a girl to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl to be my wife
Nobody else cuz she's all mine
I need a girl in my life
I need a girl to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl to make my wife
I need a girl who's mine oh mine
I need a girl in my life
I need a girl to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl to be my wife
Nobody else cuz she's all mine
I need a girl in my life

 

Check out the Police's remake by P. Diddy(Puff Daddy) with Faith Evans - I'll Be Missing You.  Watch the music video, lyrics below.

 

 

Intro: Puff Daddy

Every day I wake up
I hope I'm dreamin
I can't believe this shit
Can't believe you ain't here
Sometimes it's just hard for a nigga to wake up
It's hard to just keep goin
It's like I feel empty inside without you bein here
I would do anything man, to bring you back
I'd give all this shit, shit the whole knot
I saw your son today
He look just like you
You was the greatest
You'll always be the greatest
I miss you Big
Can't wait til that day, when I see your face again
I can't wait til that day, when I
see your face again...

Yeah... this right here (tell me why)
Goes out, to everyone, that has lost someone
That they truly loved (c'mon, check it out)

Verse One: Puff Daddy

Seems like yesterday we used to rock the show
I laced the track, you locked the flow
So far from hangin on the block for dough
Notorious, they got to know that
Life ain't always what it seem to be (uh-uh)
Words can't express what you mean to me
Even though you're gone, we still a team
Through your family, I'll fulfill
your dream (that's right)
In the future, can't wait to see
If you open up the gates for me
Reminisce some time, the night they
took my friend (uh-huh)
Try to black it out, but it plays again
When it's real, feelings hard to conceal
Can't imagine all the pain I feel
Give anything to hear half your
breath (half your breath)
I know you still living your life, after death

Chorus: Faith Evans

Every step I take, every move I make
Every single day, every time I pray
I'll be missing you
Thinkin of the day, when you went away
What a life to take, what a bond to break
I'll be missing you

[ Puff ] I miss you Big

Verse Two: Puff Daddy

It's kinda hard with you not around (yeah)
Know you in heaven smilin down (eheh)
Watchin us while we pray for you
Every day we pray for you
Til the day we meet again
In my heart is where I'll keep you friend
Memories give me the strength I
need (uh-huh) to proceed
Strength I need to believe
My thoughts Big I just can't define (can't define)
Wish I coul turn back the hands of time
Us in the 6, shop for new clothes and kicks
You and me taking flicks
Makin hits, stages they receive you on
I still can't believe you're gone
(can't believe you're gone)
Give anything to hear half your
breath (half your breath)
I know you still living you're life, after death

Every step I take, every move I make
Every single day, every time I pray
I'll be missing you
Thinkin of the day, when you went away
What a life to take, what a bond to break
I'll be missing you

[ Faith Evans ] Somebody tell me why

Interlude: Faith Evans

One glad morning
When this life is over
I know I'll see your face

Outro: 112

Every night I pray, every step I take
Every move I make, every single day
Every night I pray, every step I take
[ Puff ] Every day that passes
Every move I make, every single day
[ Puff ] Is a day that I get closer
[ Puff ] To seeing you again
Every night I pray, every step I take
[ Puff ] We miss you Big... and we won't stop
Every move I make, every single day
[ Puff ] Cause we can't stop... that's right
Every night I pray, every step I take
Every move I make, every single day
[ Puff ] We miss you Big

One, two, three, four, five... It's a little Mambo #5.  Watch Lou Bega dance the Mambo #5 in his music video.  Lyrics below.

 

 

One, two, three, four, five
Everybody in the car, so come on
Let's ride to the
liquor-store around the
corner
The boys say they want some gin and juice
But I really don't wanna
Beerbust like I had last week
I must stay deep
because talk is cheap
I like Angela, Pamela, Sandra and Rita
Ans as I continue you know
They are getting sweeter
So what can I do I really beg you my Lord
To me is flirting it's just
like sport, anything fly
It's all good let me dump it
Please set in the trumpet

Refrain
A little bit of Monika in my life
A little bit of Erica by my side
A little bit of Rita is all I need
A little bit of Tina is what I see
A little bit of Sandra in the sun
A little bit of Mary all night long
A little bit of Jessica here I am
A little bit of you makes me your man

Jump up and down and move it all around
Shake your head to the sound
Put your hand on the ground
Take one step left
And one step right
One to the front and one to the side
Clap your hand once
And clap your hands twice
And if it looks like this
Then you are doing right

Refrain

I do all
To fall in love with a girl like you
You can't run and you can't hide
You and me gonna touch the sky

Refrain

 

Get your sexy on!  Watch Justin Timberlake's Sexyback!  Lyrics below.

 

 

[ Verse 1 ]
I’m bringing sexy back
Them other boys don’t
know how to act
I think your special
whats behind your back
So turn around and ill
pick up the slack.

Take em’ to the bridge

[ Bridge ]
Dirty babe
You see these shackles
Baby I’m your slave
I’ll let you whip me if I misbehave
It’s just that no one
makes me feel this way

Take em' to the chorus

[ Chorus ]
Come here girl
Go ahead, be gone with it
Come to the back
Go ahead, be gone with it
VIP
Go ahead, be gone with it
Drinks on me
Go ahead, be gone with it
Let me see what you’re working with
Go ahead, be gone with it
Look at those hips
Go ahead, be gone with it
You make me smile
Go ahead, be gone with it
Go ahead child
Go ahead, be gone with it
And get your sexy on
Go ahead, be gone with it

Get your sexy on
Go ahead, be gone with it
[ Repeat 6 times ]

Get your sexy on

[ Verse 2 ]
I’m bringing sexy back
Them other fuckers don’t
know how to act
Come let me make up for
the things you lack
Cause your burning up I
gotta get it fast

Take em’ to the bridge

[ Bridge ]

[ Chorus ]

[ Verse 3 ]
I’m bringing sexy back
You mother fuckers
watch how I attack
If that’s your girl you
better watch your back
Cause she’ll burn it
up for me and that’s
a fact

Take em’ to the chorus

[ Chorus ]

 

This is Garbage- The World is Not Enough, the theme son g from the James Bond movie - The World is Not Enough.  Nice song and video.  Lyrics below.

 

 

I know how to hurt
I know how to heal
I know what to show
And what to conceal
I know when to talk
And I know when to touch
No-one ever die from
wanting to much

[ Chorus: ]
The world is not enough
But it is such a
perfect place to
start...my love
And if you're strong enough
Together we can take
the world apart...my
love

People like us
Know how to survive
There's no point in living
If you can't feel the life
We know when to kiss
And we know when to kill
If we can't have it all
Then nobody will

[ Chorus ]

[ Bridge: ]
(I...)I feel safe
(I...)I feel scared
(I...)I feel ready
(I...)And yet unprepared

[ Chorus ]

The world is not enough [ x2 ]
No nowhere near enough...

 

Classic 80's rock from Def Leppard.  Def Leppard was one of my favorite bands growing up.  This is a great song - Love Bites.  Watch the video and sing the lyrics.

 

 

If you've got love in your sights
Watch out, love bites

When you make love, do you
look in the mirror?
Who do you think of, does
he look like me?
Do you tell lies and say
that it's forever?
Do you think twice, or
just touch 'n' see?
Ooh babe ooh yeah

When you're alone, do you let go?
Are you wild 'n' willin' or
is it just for show?
Ooh c'mon

I don't wanna touch you too much baby
'Cos making love to you
might drive me crazy
I know you think that love is
the way you make it
So I don't wanna be there when
you decide to break it
No!

Love bites, love bleeds
It's bringin' me to my knees
Love lives, love dies
It's no surprise
Love begs, love pleads
It's what I need

When I'm with you are you somewhere else?
Am I gettin' thru or do
you please yourself?
When you wake up will you walk out?
It can't be love if you throw it about
Ooh babe

I don't wanna touch you too much baby
'Cos making love to you
might drive me crazy

[ Repeat Chorus ]

[ guitar solo ]

Ooh yeah

[ Repeat Bridge ]

Love bites, love bleeds
It's bringin' me to my knees
Love lives, love dies

[ Repeat Chorus ]

If you've got love in your sights
Watch out, love bites
Yes it does
It will be hell

 

 

Classic grunge rock from original Nirvana.  It's Come As You Are.  Seattle's Nirvana was the first true grunge rock group! Check out the video and the lyrics below.  Find out what the hell he's saying!

 

 

Come, as you are. As you were.
As I want you to be. As a friend.
As a friend. As an old enemy. Take your time.
Hurry up. The choice is yours. Don't be late.
Take a rest. As a friend. As a old memoria, memoria, memoria, memoria.

Come. Dowsed in mud. Soaked in bleach.
As I want you to be. As a trend. As a friend.
As an old memoria, memoria, memoria, memoria.

And I swear that I don't have a gun.
No I don't have a gun. No I don't have a gun.

Memoria, memoria, memoria, memoria (don't have a gun).

And I swear that I don't have a gun.
No I don't have a gun. No I don't have a gun.
No I don't have a gun. No I don't have a gun. Memoria, memoria...

 

 

Watch this classic 80's video by the Banlges - Manic Monday.  Lyrics below.

 

 

Six o'clock already
I was just in the middle of a dream
I was kissin' Valentino
By a crystal blue Italian stream
But I can't be late
'Cause then I guess I
just won't get paid
These are the days
When you wish your bed was already made

It's just another manic Monday
I wish it was Sunday
'Cause that's my funday
My I don't have to runday
It's just another manic Monday
[ Find more Lyrics at www.mp3lyrics.org/sjF ]

Have to catch an early train
Got to be to work by nine
And if I had an air-o-plane
I still couldn't make it on time
'Cause it takes me so long
Just to figure out what I'm gonna wear
Blame it on the train
But the boss is already there

All of the nights
Why did my lover have to pick last night
To get down
Doesn't it matter
That I have to feed the both of us
Employment's down
He tells me in his bedroom voice
C'mon honey, let's go make some noise
Time it goes so fast
When you're having fun

 

It's kind of a cheesy song, but I like it anyways.  It's A Teens - Floorfiller.  Check out the music video and lyrics below.

 

 

Check out this oldie, but classic by ABBA.  It's Dancing Queen!  Watch the music video and sing the lyrics below.

 

 

You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the Dancing Queen

Friday night and the lights are low
Looking out for the place to go
Where they play the right music, getting in the swing
You come in to look for a king
Anybody could be that guy
Night is young and the music's high
With a bit of rock music, everything is fine
You're in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance...

You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen
Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the Dancing Queen

You're a teaser, you turn 'em on
Leave them burning and then you're gone
Looking out for another, anyone will do
You're in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance...

You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen
Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the Dancing Queen

This is an old love song from the movie Con Air, Trisha Yearwood's - How Do I Live.  Check out the music video.  Lyrics are below.

 

 

How do I get through the
night without you
If I had to live without you
What kinda life would that be
Oh I need you in my arms,
need you to hold
You are my world, my heart, my soul
If you ever leave
baby you would take away
everything good in my life

Without you
There would be no sun in my sky
there would be no love in my life
there would be no world left for me
And I, baby, I don't
know what I would do
I'd be lost if I lost you
If you ever leave
baby you would take away
everything real in my life
and tell me now
How do I live without you?
I want to know
How do I breathe without you?
If you ever go
How do I ever, ever survive
How do I, how do I, how do I live

If you ever leave
baby you would take away everything
I need you with me
baby don't you know that you are
everything good in my life
And tell me now
How do I live without you
I want to know
How do I breathe without you
if you ever go
how do I ever, ever survive
how do I, how do I, how do I live
How do I live without you?
How do I live without you, baby?
How do I live without you?

 

Check out this video with Da Ali G and NBA's superstars.  Da Ali G is a comedian who is very funny, but stupid.  Watch it and your guaranteed to laugh!  In this video, he talks with NBA's stars: Shaquille O'Neal, Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant, Richard Jefferson, Ben Wallace, Steve Nash, Steve Kerr and the TNT NBA tv crew including Charles Barkley. 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was reading the news about the Olympics and saw this picture of the Chinese team.  China is sending it's largest Olympic team ever this year, 639 atheletes. 

 

Gee! Does someone stand out?

 

 

 

I've been living in Ningbo, China for almost 2 years now.  I'm studying standard Mandarin, but when I'm out in the city almost everyone speaks Ningbohua or the local Ningbo dialect.  To me, the sound of Ningbohua is so different than Putonghua (standard Mandarin).  My first impression of Ningbohua is that everyone is angry and yelling at each other.  Everyone speaks so loudly and they look like they're in a heated arguement.  I guess Ningbohua is not the most romantic language in the world, huh.  Haha!  Anyways, little by little I learn some Ningbohua, but the pronunciation is very difficult for westerners to imitate.  I at least know the numbers which is very helpful.  

 

The Chinese language has over 400 dialects in China.  Unlike different accents in America, for example Texans and New Yorkers, dialects in China seem llike totally different languages.  Ningbonese is a dialect of the Wu language which is the second most common language in China with about 81 million speakers. 

 

My mother-in-law is Ningonese and sometimes when she speaks to the waitress at the restaurant, the waitress looks at her and says, "Uh, sorry, I don't understand Ningbohua." (In Mandarin of course) 

 

Here are the Ningbonese numbers:

 

Number	English Pronuncation
One	yeah
Two	ni
Three	se
Four	si
Five	nnn
Six	lo
Seven	che
Eight	ba
Nine	ju
Ten	so

 

If anyone knows, the numbers 1-10 in other chinese dialects, please post them here.  I'd like to learn them.

 

 

I saw this commercial on Youtube.  I think it's an NBC commercial for the Olympics and the new Mummy 3 movie.  Check it out.  Pretty cool.