I was blessed to be at the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics in Dublin, Ireland in 2003, and got to be in the same stadium – along with 80,000 other people – as two of my most beloved heroes, Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali, which was too wonderful for words.
I honestly can’t even describe my emotions when Ali appeared, it was like laying eyes on God, and as for Nelson Mandela’s appearance …. just beyond magical.
This is them meeting up in Dublin, one of the VERY great images:
Any way, the climax of the ceremony was hometown boys U2 doing their thing, and they played my all-time favorite song, ‘One’ (see the video above). So, by then, I was in need of oxygen, it was too perfect an evening.
(Although the real highlight was probably the families and friends of the Special Olympians booing the Irish Prime Minister when he strutted in to the stadium, expecting a hero’s welcome – despite having cut services for those with special needs. They made their voices heard, it was a joy).
Now? I reckon Bono is a hypocritical, tax-dodging, insufferable dick, whose ego is comically large ….. but I’ll still always love him for ‘One’.
The best ever version of the song? Probably this, with the incomparable Mary J Blige:
Chat on, night owls!
The Obama Diary 
Fantastic.
The version with Mary J. Blige is the best.
Their performance at the Grammys was a phenomenal sight to witness.
Neeeeeeeeeeeeerdy!!
Thank you for sharing such a sweet story with us, Chips!
Yes, Chips, it is the best version of ‘One’ – EVER!!!
Thank you 🙂
ICYMI, President Obama’s introduction to the premier of Cosmos tonight. My local Fox station cut into the clip so I found the complete version.
COSMOS: Presidential introduction
PBO was great. He was encouraging young people to dream big. I also loved loved the fact that Carl Sagan reached out to Dr. Tyson to mentor him. He also gave a beautiful testimony for Dr. Tyson. “a future astronomer” That was so awesome.
Hahaha. See this, Vicki?
I wouldn’t have liked to be in this position. Imagine if it had affected HBO, not just HBO Go. 10.9M pissed off viewers.
Goodbye season one of True Detective. Goodbye Rust Cohle and Marty Hart. It was a thrilling and haunting ride.
Highly recommend this series.
As in First World Dilemma? Sheesh.
I hadn’t seen it NW but I will read about it now.
😆 Reminiscent of “Argo F**k Yourself*
Love it!
Oh, here I am!
Toodle-oo TOD! Chipsticks, love the special Olympics stories!! Unforgettable for sure! Love you, dear!
Howdy Folks!
I’m still all tingly from watching COSMOS! 🙂
I see you were in “Nerdvana” all night, as my friend called it!
Absolutely! 🙂
Uh oh … my friend just sent a less-than-totally favorable critique of Neil’s show … as compared to the original with Carl Sagan, so she’s a bit biased having watched that again first … but she’s giving it a big chance next episode, because she knows how important this is for students to see, etc., not to mention she loves both of ’em.
Hey Dudette!
Calif. Is watching the Cosmos and enjoying it emmesly. Glad your still up but hope you are getting rest too.
I am — at least, intermittently . About to hit the sack now. See you soon.
Hey Dudette!
Calif. Is watching the Cosmos and enjoying it emmesly. Glad your still up but hope you are getting rest too.
Nevada was watching Cosmos too. I’m totally hooked!
Didn’t mean to post twice.
This deserves and NEEDS MILLIONS of views ….
… please do what you can to make that happen.
Thank you.
Good night.
g’nite Bob – thanks for all your posts
Given the very important theme of what Chips has posted, I just could not depart without posting:
“Putin refused to congratulate the Ukrainian who won a gold medal against a Russian at the Sochi Paralympic Games.
Putin wanted to congratulate the Russian sportsman, but the race was won by Vitaliy Lukyanenko.
One of the most interesting moment of the first competition day at the Sochi Paralympics happened after the men’s 7,5 kilometre race in biathlon amongst athletes with vision impairment.
This episode was not filmed by any cameras, reports TSN.
A few moments after the end of the race, President of Russia Vladimir Putin ascended to the track with the goal to personally congratulate and shake the hand of the Russian sportsman Nikolai Polunin who had been predicted to win gold in the race. But our Vitaliy Lukyanenko beat the Russian by 11 seconds. Therefore Putin’s plans suddenly changed. The Russian President did not want to congratulate Vitaliy Lukyanenko.
God be his judge.”
In the previous thread, our dear desertflower posted this tweet:
If you want to know how evil Putin is, his actions described above, in the context of the tweet df posted should help convince you.
#TrustBarack … and be forever grateful he was willing to serve ….
What an absolute scumbag Putin is to fail to congratulate the Ukrainian winner. There are no words low enough to describe this slime of a man so adored by the right wing. I hope everyone in the world saw this and now understands what Putin is– a heartless, soulless, megalomaniac.
Yikes!
Yikes is right!
Thank God PBO is president. I am watching The Trip To Bountiful again. Ms Cicely Tyson is awesome.
We watched part of it, but have it recorded and will finish another time. She’s excellent in it.
I have got to see that the Trip to Bountiful, every since FLOTUS had the cast at the WH, and then Underwood and Williams were on the View last week talking about being at the WH and meeting FLOTUS.
And with this, I’m outta here!
She’s a sweet girl, but crikey…
‘I’m not stupid, I’ve got 17 GCSEs’, says girl who thought ‘Barraco Barner’ was Britain’s President
“It’s a corker of a gaffe by anyone’s standards. Making the most powerful man in the world sound more like the fizzy vitamin supplement Berocca is one thing. Demoting him to leader of the UK is quite another.”
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2577055/Stupid-Ive-got-17-GCSEs-says-girl-thought-Barraco-Barner-President-An-audience-beauty-salon-receptionist-story-speaks-volumes-modern-Britain.html#ixzz2vYTmRjBi
Good Morning…..
GOP’s New Kamikaze Plan: Punish Doctors If Obamacare Isn’t Chopped
House Republicans have a bold new strategy to attack Obamacare, which involves huge pay cuts for physicians unless Democrats agree to delay the law’s individual mandate to buy insurance.
GOP leaders intend to vote on legislation this week, aides say, to delay the individual mandate in order to fund a “doc fix” that avoids a 24 percent pay cut to physicians under Medicare — which will automatically take effect on April 1 unless Congress acts. Inaction would disrupt the health care system, in part by causing many doctors to stop accepting Medicare patients.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/gop-bill-doc-fix-obamacare-mandate-delay
We can not sit on our behinds 2014 and allow these sick ass Tea Republicans to keep control of the House, and we can’t let them get control of the Senate. I am not concern about 2016 and Hillary, not one bit. 2014.
Chips, just wanted to say, I’m very glad that you got to see both Muhammad Ali AND Nelson Mandela. That’s an experience of a lifetime and appreciate your sharing it with us.
Ah, thanks a million Jackie, it was a true honor!
Morning Early Birds!
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/03/10/early-bird-chat-179/