I tell ya, there's no kind of deranged like Olympics opening ceremony deranged. In just 20 min. so far I've seen Armani-does-Logan's Run costumes, in-line skaters with flaming jet packs, waltzing fiberglass cows, the Ricola guys, people dressed like giant pine trees, and one actual XDU playlisted singer (Carla Bruni). I also note that the Italian PM (Berlusconi) is not in attendance. The somewhat slightly figurehead-ish President of the Republic is representing for the gu'mint. The Bob Costas script-reading 'bot mentioned that Silvio B. is standing for re-election in the spring, as if that explained his absence. I'd think the reverse. Was he concerned people would start booing? Throwing slushy snowballs? I was gonna say it'd be like sending Cheney to open an Olympics in the US, except he's hardly a beloved elder statesman and powerless ceremonial figure.