Thursday, June 05, 2008

Meh Olympics Side Story: Meh Torch

A newspaper decided that it was really important for the public to know the difference between the authentic, "priceless" Olympic torch, and a fake eBay Olympic torch. It is baffling as to why they felt the need to use half a page to cover this news. Then I realized why after seeing this chart.

They just HAD to emphasize that the torch is priceless (無價). Oooooo, that's right... another reminder of how sacred and important and amazing the 2008 Olympics is going to be.

Also laughable is how they spend half the article explaining that the real torch can be lit, while the fake torch cannot. I don't know why I need to know this. Perhaps they thought that people would be dissuaded from buying the fake torch if they knew they couldn't light up the flame and parade around their neighborhood.

However, what I find to be absolutely the most absurd thing is how China spent tens of millions of yuan (US$X,000,000) over the past two years to create the special fuel that can manage to stay lit on the Himalayas leg of the torch relay. I won't even talk about how much could be done with that money in rural China. How about using that money to invent something good for the nation? Perhaps create the first LED Olympic torch? Show off China's technological prowess after inventing the first electric Olympic torch. It would also show China's newfound care for mother nature. Instead, the torch rides in it's own private plane that spews CO2 like there's no tomorrow.

Fun fact: did you know that this Olympic torch emits 5,500 tons of CO2? Read about it here.

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