pull! push! Adventures in Internet land :-)
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Big Caribbean win at Olympics 100m - Gold for Jamaican Bolt and Silver for T&T Thompson
Caribbean people have two big reasons to celebrate this weekend! Usain Bolt (Jamaica) and Richard Thompson (Trinidad and Tobago) won gold and silver medals respectively in the Men's 100 metre running event of the 2008 Olympics. Congrats to both atheletes as well as to the people of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago!
(Images from L to R are from CNN and The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games respectively)
Usain Bolt (Wikipedia)
Richard Thompson (Wikipedia)
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"“I’m not really worried about world records,” Bolt said in the aftermath of his world-record time of 9.69 seconds in the 100 on Saturday night at the Bird’s Nest. “My aim is to come here and win. That’s the aim. I have a lot more time to think about that.”" (Houston Chronicle)
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"(BEIJING, August 16) -- Usain Bolt has won the Men's 100m gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in a world record time of 9.69 seconds.
Silver medalist Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago ran a time of 9.89 seconds, leaving American Walter Dix to take the bronze in a time of 9.91 seconds.
The twenty-one-year-old broke his own world record of 9.72 seconds, which he set in June this year. The Olympic record stood at 9.84 seconds, set by Donovan Bailey at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games." (The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games)
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"Usain Bolt glided to a new world record as he produced a stunning run in the Olympic 100m final.
Bolt was well clear at 60m and although he eased down and started to celebrate 15 metres from the line he still set a new mark of 9.69 seconds.
Richard Thompson finished second while American Walter Dix came third but they were yards behind the Jamaican.
"I wasn't worried about the world record. I didn't know it until I'd done my victory lap," Bolt told BBC Sport." (BBC NEWS)
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"Usain Bolt smashed his own world record in winning the Olympic 100 meters title in Beijing with one of the most remarkable performances in the history of track and field.
The 21-year-old Jamaican clocked 9.69 seconds to win from Trinidad and Tobago's Richard Thompson (9.89 seconds) and America's Walter Dix (9.91 seconds).
But it was the manner of his victory that was truly astonishing as he started his celebrations before crossing the line, showboating with his arms out wide before slapping his chest in triumph." (CNN.com)
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"It was calm, it was still and then suddenly there was lightning all around the Bird's Nest stadum last night, Usain Bolt lighting up the night sky with a world record 9.68 seconds in the Olympic 100 metres." (Stuff.co.nz)
************************
"BEIJING (Reuters) - Jamaica's Usain Bolt won 100 metres gold at the Beijing Olympics in a world record time on Saturday, running 9.69 seconds to claim victory in an exhilarating showdown with his compatriot Asafa Powell.
The 21-year-old won his country's first Olympic title in the blue riband event and capped an astonishing rise to the top of his sport. His former world record was 9.72 seconds.
Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago won the silver and American Walter Dix the bronze." (Reuters)
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"JAMAICAN sprinter Usain Bolt won gold in the Olympic 100metre final with an incredible world-record breaking performance." (Manchester Evening News)
************************
"Beijing, China (Sports Network) - Jamaica's Usain Bolt won gold in the men's 100 meter finals Saturday at the Beijing Olympics, lowering his own world record to claim the title of World's Fastest Man.
Bolt ran the race in 9.69 seconds, taking .03 seconds off the record he set in New York City on June 1." (The Sports Network)
(Images from L to R are from CNN and The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games respectively)
Usain Bolt (Wikipedia)
Richard Thompson (Wikipedia)
************************
"“I’m not really worried about world records,” Bolt said in the aftermath of his world-record time of 9.69 seconds in the 100 on Saturday night at the Bird’s Nest. “My aim is to come here and win. That’s the aim. I have a lot more time to think about that.”" (Houston Chronicle)
************************
"(BEIJING, August 16) -- Usain Bolt has won the Men's 100m gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in a world record time of 9.69 seconds.
Silver medalist Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago ran a time of 9.89 seconds, leaving American Walter Dix to take the bronze in a time of 9.91 seconds.
The twenty-one-year-old broke his own world record of 9.72 seconds, which he set in June this year. The Olympic record stood at 9.84 seconds, set by Donovan Bailey at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games." (The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games)
************************
"Usain Bolt glided to a new world record as he produced a stunning run in the Olympic 100m final.
Bolt was well clear at 60m and although he eased down and started to celebrate 15 metres from the line he still set a new mark of 9.69 seconds.
Richard Thompson finished second while American Walter Dix came third but they were yards behind the Jamaican.
"I wasn't worried about the world record. I didn't know it until I'd done my victory lap," Bolt told BBC Sport." (BBC NEWS)
************************
"Usain Bolt smashed his own world record in winning the Olympic 100 meters title in Beijing with one of the most remarkable performances in the history of track and field.
The 21-year-old Jamaican clocked 9.69 seconds to win from Trinidad and Tobago's Richard Thompson (9.89 seconds) and America's Walter Dix (9.91 seconds).
But it was the manner of his victory that was truly astonishing as he started his celebrations before crossing the line, showboating with his arms out wide before slapping his chest in triumph." (CNN.com)
************************
"It was calm, it was still and then suddenly there was lightning all around the Bird's Nest stadum last night, Usain Bolt lighting up the night sky with a world record 9.68 seconds in the Olympic 100 metres." (Stuff.co.nz)
************************
"BEIJING (Reuters) - Jamaica's Usain Bolt won 100 metres gold at the Beijing Olympics in a world record time on Saturday, running 9.69 seconds to claim victory in an exhilarating showdown with his compatriot Asafa Powell.
The 21-year-old won his country's first Olympic title in the blue riband event and capped an astonishing rise to the top of his sport. His former world record was 9.72 seconds.
Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago won the silver and American Walter Dix the bronze." (Reuters)
************************
"JAMAICAN sprinter Usain Bolt won gold in the Olympic 100metre final with an incredible world-record breaking performance." (Manchester Evening News)
************************
"Beijing, China (Sports Network) - Jamaica's Usain Bolt won gold in the men's 100 meter finals Saturday at the Beijing Olympics, lowering his own world record to claim the title of World's Fastest Man.
Bolt ran the race in 9.69 seconds, taking .03 seconds off the record he set in New York City on June 1." (The Sports Network)
Labels: Caribbean, China, Jamaica, life, Olympics, Richard Thompson, sports, Trinidad, Usain Bolt, World
Thursday, November 29, 2007
BREAKING: Barbados hit by earthquake/tremor/aftershock
UPDATE, Nov 29, 2007 at 1945 hrs: Soon after finishing the last update, I left home to see what some of my friends were up to at our usual liming spot and to get fuel and some cash. One doesn't stay home after an event like that. It's like the hurricane parties, or going out after the hurricane has passed.
I was worried about fuel because my gas tank was almost empty and I figured that the pumps would shutdown as a precaution after the tremor. Turns out that the gas stations, the two that I stopped at, were still pumping. I wonder if they'll be doing any checks on the underground 'plumbing' to ensure that there are no damaged pipes. The other stop I made was the ATM for some cash. In the event of a disaster (or just after one) it doesn't hurt to have some cash on hand.
Before leaving, my brother wondered about the Brittons Hill area, where the cave-in took place. Those underground caves apparently run up a great length of that part of the island and this tremor may have caused further instability, or, it may have 'settled' the loose rocks, but I'm no geologist.
People that I met and spoke with were saying pretty much the same thing, some of them said it felt as though they were dizzy/sick, others were just plain confused, one person I heard was extremely upset (and I can't blame her). After all, you spend all of your life avoiding hurricanes (knock wood) and volcanoes thinking you're safe on your little island and then WHAM!
Imagine your country was small enough to fit in a shoebox, along comes a giant and suddenly lifts up the shoebox and starts shaking it around. That's sort of what it felt like today, and we only experienced a tremor and for a few seconds at that. No hint, no preview of what was to come. What you think is solid and take for granted every day when you wake-up, isn't that solid after all. That, for me, was the most disturbing part of the whole thing.
UPDATE, Nov 29, 2007 at 1609+ hrs: Google is all over it. Check out the first few results of this query: "powerful earthquake hits caribbean". I'm on IM with Janine from Global Voices, she tells me that TT had a scary one last year, but this one was way stronger. She also says that the aftershocks are expected to be quite strong.
UPDATE, Nov 29, 2007 at 1557 hrs: I don't know the state of the mobile phone network in Barbados, but I'm a Digicel subscriber and at 1557 hrs, I am unable to make outgoing calls to Cable & Wireless mobile subscribers, nor can I call C&W land lines. I cannot call from a C&W landline to my Digicel mobile. My C&W land line, however, is now operational. I can also hear quite a few police sirens in the distance.
While chatting with a friend about 30 or more minutes ago, I heard that there were people all over the streets in Bridgetown (the capital). Another friend told me, just after the shaking stopped, that his office was being evacuated (he works in Christ Church). Another friend who works in Ch. Ch. as well is now leaving the office for the day (work normally stops at 5:30).
Barbados Underground: Barbados Experiences Earth Tremor
DISCLAIMER: IANAEE (I'm Am Not An Earthquake Expert), but click here for what I think may be the quake that I felt (and according to the news, the majority of St. Michael and Christ Church felt, but comments on BU and BFP indicate that it was island wide). Apparently, it hit near Martinique and measured 7.3 on the scale!
At around minutes to 3 pm (or minutes after) this afternoon, I felt my house shake. At first, I thought it was me feeling dizzy. I had just taken a tablet for a headache and I was sitting on the couch watching TV. This dizziness was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was like being on a boat in the water, gently being rocked by the waves. I looked at the metal gate by my gallery door and it swung every so slightly. But what really gave it away, was a little stuffed dog on large shelf, the one where the head bobs up and down at the slightest movement. The dog's head was bobbing quite a bit. I left the living room (in a hurry) and went outside in the open. As I left that room, I could hear the TV creak on the small wooden stand on the floor. I went outside in the open and I could hear kids screaming from a school closeby. Neighbours were outside as well, they felt something. Another neighbour told me her mum called from Trinidad and said that a quake was felt there.
This was my first experience with an earthquake/aftershock/tremor. It was not a pleasant one. It was extremely disorienting at first, because your whole body is thrown off balance. It lasted a few seconds. During those few seconds, all I could think of was getting out of the house and into the open, away from any structures.
Land lines and mobile phones are giving a lot of trouble right now, thankfully, my DSL line is up and I can access the Internet to blog about this and to instant message and check on a few friends. A friend of mine IM'd and said that he heard half a house was destroyed in St. George. Someone commented on Barbados Free Press that the quake/tremor/aftershock was felt down on the East Coast of the island as well.
I was worried about fuel because my gas tank was almost empty and I figured that the pumps would shutdown as a precaution after the tremor. Turns out that the gas stations, the two that I stopped at, were still pumping. I wonder if they'll be doing any checks on the underground 'plumbing' to ensure that there are no damaged pipes. The other stop I made was the ATM for some cash. In the event of a disaster (or just after one) it doesn't hurt to have some cash on hand.
Before leaving, my brother wondered about the Brittons Hill area, where the cave-in took place. Those underground caves apparently run up a great length of that part of the island and this tremor may have caused further instability, or, it may have 'settled' the loose rocks, but I'm no geologist.
People that I met and spoke with were saying pretty much the same thing, some of them said it felt as though they were dizzy/sick, others were just plain confused, one person I heard was extremely upset (and I can't blame her). After all, you spend all of your life avoiding hurricanes (knock wood) and volcanoes thinking you're safe on your little island and then WHAM!
Imagine your country was small enough to fit in a shoebox, along comes a giant and suddenly lifts up the shoebox and starts shaking it around. That's sort of what it felt like today, and we only experienced a tremor and for a few seconds at that. No hint, no preview of what was to come. What you think is solid and take for granted every day when you wake-up, isn't that solid after all. That, for me, was the most disturbing part of the whole thing.
UPDATE, Nov 29, 2007 at 1609+ hrs: Google is all over it. Check out the first few results of this query: "powerful earthquake hits caribbean". I'm on IM with Janine from Global Voices, she tells me that TT had a scary one last year, but this one was way stronger. She also says that the aftershocks are expected to be quite strong.
UPDATE, Nov 29, 2007 at 1557 hrs: I don't know the state of the mobile phone network in Barbados, but I'm a Digicel subscriber and at 1557 hrs, I am unable to make outgoing calls to Cable & Wireless mobile subscribers, nor can I call C&W land lines. I cannot call from a C&W landline to my Digicel mobile. My C&W land line, however, is now operational. I can also hear quite a few police sirens in the distance.
While chatting with a friend about 30 or more minutes ago, I heard that there were people all over the streets in Bridgetown (the capital). Another friend told me, just after the shaking stopped, that his office was being evacuated (he works in Christ Church). Another friend who works in Ch. Ch. as well is now leaving the office for the day (work normally stops at 5:30).
Barbados Underground: Barbados Experiences Earth Tremor
DISCLAIMER: IANAEE (I'm Am Not An Earthquake Expert), but click here for what I think may be the quake that I felt (and according to the news, the majority of St. Michael and Christ Church felt, but comments on BU and BFP indicate that it was island wide). Apparently, it hit near Martinique and measured 7.3 on the scale!
At around minutes to 3 pm (or minutes after) this afternoon, I felt my house shake. At first, I thought it was me feeling dizzy. I had just taken a tablet for a headache and I was sitting on the couch watching TV. This dizziness was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was like being on a boat in the water, gently being rocked by the waves. I looked at the metal gate by my gallery door and it swung every so slightly. But what really gave it away, was a little stuffed dog on large shelf, the one where the head bobs up and down at the slightest movement. The dog's head was bobbing quite a bit. I left the living room (in a hurry) and went outside in the open. As I left that room, I could hear the TV creak on the small wooden stand on the floor. I went outside in the open and I could hear kids screaming from a school closeby. Neighbours were outside as well, they felt something. Another neighbour told me her mum called from Trinidad and said that a quake was felt there.
This was my first experience with an earthquake/aftershock/tremor. It was not a pleasant one. It was extremely disorienting at first, because your whole body is thrown off balance. It lasted a few seconds. During those few seconds, all I could think of was getting out of the house and into the open, away from any structures.
Land lines and mobile phones are giving a lot of trouble right now, thankfully, my DSL line is up and I can access the Internet to blog about this and to instant message and check on a few friends. A friend of mine IM'd and said that he heard half a house was destroyed in St. George. Someone commented on Barbados Free Press that the quake/tremor/aftershock was felt down on the East Coast of the island as well.
Labels: Barbados, Caribbean, earthquakes, Trinidad
