It's funny because you portray yourself as some kind of skeptical mind who doesn't just regurgitate what you read.

Well, here's the thing Putin33. If you can't answer a straight question, what you're doing is raising the cost for me, forcing me to dig through your statements and find "evidence", or else I'm a liar. That's a good ploy, I'm not going to bother doing that.

I'm not sure why answering that question *should* be contingent on my behavior, though. You could just answer it, and prove me wrong. Or right. But you'd rather evade the question, and make it too costly for me to prove my point.

Congratulations! I'm gonna go get something to eat.

^ When I was typing that I guess you were asking me things. So, to answer your questions, though you won't answer mine:

"Do you have an irrational hatred for all countries that aren't America and/or western?"
No.

"Do you demonize them on a near daily basis?"
No.

"Do you believe all the propaganda you read about them?"
Some of it.

I can't say that Putin has been less than forthcoming. Do you have any evidence that he has been? I'll say the same about Obama and Merkel, as I said. You portray me as blindly anti-western when in fact the real problem with me that you have is that I'm not blindly anti-everybody else. I have much more respect for western statesmen than you have.

I think opening ceremonies are always rather tedious and corny. I don't watch them.

Quick is good enough to carry a team, but the lack of anyone notable on defence and limited quality on offence makes me reluctant to think that the US will be going anyway.

Sweden, Russia and Canada will be the medallists. With Canada getting the gold.

Finland's goalies are going to be tough to score on.

@Putin33

"I can't say that Putin has been less than forthcoming."

Well, of course he's not going to provide anything that can be *proven*.

My mistrust of all people in authority as liars is not so much that they are making statements that can be proven wrong; it's just that they control what information is released and are trying to influence your judgment in a certain direction.

Richard Feynman has an interesting anecdote about this:

"Last night I heard that Wesson oil doesn't soak through food. Well, that's true. It's not dishonest; but the thing I'm talking about is not just a matter of not being dishonest; it's a matter of scientific integrity, which is another level. The fact that should be added to that advertising statement is that no oils soak through food, if operated at a certain temperature. If operated at another temperature, they all will--including Wesson oil. So it's the implication which has been conveyed, not the fact, which is true, and the difference is what we have to deal with."

Putin's statement about gays is about the same - it probably is true that he doesn't personally hate gays. But, the reality is, most authorities who build support through hatred aren't really "feeling it" anyway. Doesn't change what he's doing though.

But you're buying the technicality that he doesn't personally have anything against gays.

Western "statesmen" are no better.

Putin pointed out that Russian society holds many gay individuals in high esteem (like Tchaikovsky) and gay people do not suffer any discrimination in housing or employment (demonstrating that his western critics are rank hypocrites).

If you want to talk about dishonesty talk about the dishonesty of the western press about the Russian law. I mean I have people seriously claim that Russia executes gay people all the time. It's really absurd.

You're buying into the nonsense that Putin's critics even give a damn about gay rights. If it wasn't this issue they'd invent something else to bitch about. No lie is too big for the Russophobes.

"Western "statesmen" are no better."

Right, so your real complaint is that I don't subscribe to your reflexive hated for authority. That obviously makes me a bad person because anybody who disagrees with Tendmote is a sociopath, as he's already stated.

No, I said that people who hold and seek power are sociopaths.

You repeatedly portray those who disagree with you as having some kind of mental or moral deficiency.

I'm not sure if calling Krellin a "piece of shit" really counts, it's more of an insult.

"No lie is too big for the Russophobes. "

Being against the man doesn't mean one fears or hates or is against the nation. Putin is disgusting and despicable, but Russia is a beautiful country with a wonderful people. And yes, I know many - three off the top of my head are my bosses Arkady and Vladimir and my developer friend Yevgeny.

He's called all these nasty names only because Americans want a Russia that is weak and on its knees. Putin resurrected the country from the chaos of Yeltsin, who was much more autocratic but beloved by Americans.

Game by game predictions:

Preliminary Round
Sweden beats Czech
Switzerland beats Latvia (in OT)
Finland beats Austria
Russia beats Slovenia
Slovakia beats USA
Canada beats Norway
Czech beats Latvia
Sweden beats Switzerland
Canada beats Austraia
Norway beats Finland (in OT)
Slovakia beats Slovenia
USA beats Russia (in OT)
Switzerland beats Czech (in OT)
Sweden beats Latvia
Norway beats Austria (in OT)
Russia beats Slovakia
USA beats Slovenia
Finland beats Canada (in OT)

Group A:
Russia: 7
Slovakia 6
USA: 5
Slovenia: 0

Group B
Canada 7
Finland 6
Norway 4
Austria 1

Group C
Sweden 9
Switzerland 4
Czech Republic 4
Latvia: 1 point

Qualification Round:
Sweden, Canada, Russia and Slovakia receive byes.

Finland beats Slovenia
USA beats Austria
Switzerland beats Latvia
Czech Republic beats Norway

Quarterfinals
Finland beats Slovakia
Russia beats USA
Canada beast Switzerland
Sweden beats Czech Republic

Semi-Finals
Sweden beats Finland
Canada beats Russia

Bronze Medal
Russia beats Finland

Gold Medal
Canada beats Sweden

Aren't your pts messed up? You have Swiss with 2 wins, should have 6 right?

I think Slovakia will be tough but without Gaborik they'll lack the offensive power to get out of group A. I think it'll be Russia & USA; Canada & Finland; and Sweden & Czech. Swiss has a great goalie but they'll need more than that to overcome Elias, Krejci & co.

Sweden has an easy road to a medal but might get tripped up in semi's. I think it'll be Russia, Canada, and USA although USA's road will be very difficult. Finland is always a problem and I think they could get in there as well.

OT wins count for 2 , regular wins count for 3

"He's called all these nasty names only because Americans want " blah blah blah. So you avoid the issue and tacitly admit Americans don't hate Russians without saying it outright. Goody for you.

And Fasces, OT losses count for 1, right?

Canada is way too deep and lethal. Hometown Russia has a shot. Mikko Koivu and Filppula can't make it for the Finns. The Americans have a weak defense. Sweden couldn't afford to lose Henrik Sedin. They're solid in goal and on D. I think it's a Canada/Russia final, but Sweden can sneak in there.

Slovakia over the USA in Group A? I think not.

Slovakia's a decent opponent, but the USA was within a Crosby Golden Goal of winning it all last time...

USA, Sweden, Canada, Russia.

Those are your four contenders for the Gold.

Probably Canada Gold, Sweden Silver, and USA/Russia play for the Bronze (a classic case of an explosive offense meeting good defense/a great goalie like Quick...another reason I think the USA goes further than you think--a great goalie can take you a long way, and the USA has two in Quick and Ryan Miller, who was on fire last Olympics.)

The US team, with exception to goaltending is weaker then it was last time, and if they start Miller over Quick, they wont stand a chance against Slovakia.

Canada will get Gold, Sweden Silver and Russia will get bronze, Finland, USA and Slovakia are the contenders for that 4th semifinal spot. I think it will go to Finland.

Hey obi - Getzlaf and Perry and Nash.(oh my!)

lawl.

Don Cherry. Watch out for Russia

http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/sports/nhl/story/1.2529221

Sorry. Try this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91XXWOuXHJw

For those who missed it, Finland beat Canada 3-0 in womens today, major upset.

The only time the Female Canadian team hasn't taken home the gold was in 1998, where we got silver.

Congrats to Finland!

Canada beat Finland 3-0.

Can I smoke some of what you've got?