So here are my thoughts on the Winter Olympics which just started: The countries who can really compete in these games are either wealthy or covered with mountains filled with snow. I, honestly, think that these snow and ice competitions are a luxury shared among nations who can afford to have 19 year-olds snowboard all day long or build a luge training facility or have enough spare time to conduct curling practices. (I just want to stop right here for a second; is it just me or does it seem like "curling" was the result of utter boredom? Seriously, who the heck came up with that thing? It looks flippin' ridiculous!) It isn't like the Summer Olympics where the a large portion of the sports can be played or practiced by just about anyone just about anywhere. For example, how many of the track competitions can be duplicated at the park? Anybody can walk outside and start running but its a little tougher to do downhill moguls on the neighborhood park slope. You see, it takes alot of money to travel to the snow and do all these things which leads me to my next point of contention: this whole thing about America sending the best team; of course we are but thats only because we're the richest country and, somehow, have that much time and resources and manpower to spend on such activities. Is it any wonder that there are fewer countries that compete in the winter games, not to mention some nations only being able to send one or two people to these competitions? I'm not saying these games are frivolous or anything but let's not get too proud here...but then again, I guess Team USA can be since it seems we can afford it. ( How does America afford it considering the ongoing war in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina recovery, the Social Security discrepancy, rising gas prices...? Is there something more worthwhile with wider ranging effects that we can do with the money and time and resources thats invested in winning metal donuts in the snow?)