Opening ceremonies: Nice job, hey?

Despite a little erectile dysfunction at the very end, I found the opening ceremonies at the Vancouver Winter Olympics lived up to the "pageantry" one expects of these things.  And it cost kajillions less than Beijing spent, too.  Count on Canadians to be tasteful and restrained during an economic downturn.

Only, even the "restrained" budget still ran into the billions.  For a couple hours of strangely fascinating entertainment to be sure.  But still, it strikes me that the Olympic opening ceremonies could be considered a roaming economic stimulous package geared toward the creative/mentally-unbalanced.  In what other situation do you get to say the following:

"Ummm, I know the Virtual Floor costs more than all the facilities we built to house the sporting events.  But we need those spouting whales and splintering icebergs, damnit!"

[At open casting]: "NO!  I want authentically crazy fiddlers and grundge tapdancers.  We need to round up some actual street people, spend four years intensively training them in the performing arts, and then hope they don't bring heroin into the arena."

[After viewing early run through]: "It's CRAP!" [tears at hair dramatically] "The Native Peoples just aren't bringin' it.  They're enthusiastic, but it's all just a bunch of drum banging.  It's clearly lacking in power and emotion.  Get me Bryan Adams."