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Posted (edited)
Go on, Baron, how do I get a signed copy?

Andrew,

Send me 28£* on PayPal using my email: razor323@gmail.com, and you'll get a signed copy some 10 bus days after.

Please specify your exact shipping address.

*Includes the Global Priority S&H.

Edited by baron-pierreIV
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Posted (edited)
CAF, but I did post there..as with all the drawn illustrations, that they are "NOT TO SCALE." They get shifted a bit to fit the captions and what I want to say in the map...rather than cartographic accuracy...which you will get on standard maps.

M.,

I do not know how I should say it - I think this map is just marvellous and you did a great job with it - and I do not have any problems of the shift of Hamburg to the position of Rostock or the shift of Germany to the east, I just wanted to mention it, since two reasons:

1.) there are no territorial claims between Germany and Poland, but the former German areas in Poland are a sensitive issue...

2.) I am a map nut person and I just had to tell you it

But let me repeat I love your map!!!

:)

Edited by Citius Altius Fortius
Posted

M.,

I had to log in again and tell you that chapter III is just fantastic and I am very glad that you dedicated this chapter to Todd!

I have the impression that chapter I and II are a kind of "introduction" - the preparations for the OC in Los Angeles is just great to read and full of information!!!

Posted

If I had the money right now, I'd buy your book in time for Vancouver as a good read learning about the Opening Ceremony with my other Olympic books that I have! Nice to see that you dedicated the LA chapter to Todd's memory (RIP LA84).

PS: Great forum makeover! :)

Posted

If I had the money right now, I'd buy your book in time for Vancouver as a good read learning about the Opening Ceremony with my other Olympic books that I have! Nice to see that you dedicated the LA chapter to Todd's memory (RIP LA84).

PS: Great forum makeover! :)

Tried to send you a PM, but it wouldn't transmit. Watch this space on Feb 2nd or 3rd for a new announcement.

Posted (edited)

FLASH!! Amazon just dropped the price of the book to US$27.72 (beats me where they picked this number out of!!) for a limited time offer!!

Don't know how long the offer will last, but grab the book ASAP!!

Edited by baron-pierreIV
Posted

"The Secret Of Olympic Ceremonies" belongs onto the bookshelf of everyone, who is interested in the Olympic Games...

It isn't full of information only, but it is fun to read, too!!!

I just can recommend it - it is like GamesBids - we gather here, since we do love the Olympic Games and the "joke" is this board reflect in a way what belongs to the secrets of success of the Olympic Games = internationality, friendship and fun!

Posted

Thanks, CAF. Yes, I made it a fun, informative read...just the sort of material that true GamesBids and Olympic aficionados would treasure. Obviously, something that I too would be thrilled to have and read.

Should be something to give the Vancouver viewing an extra dimension.

Posted (edited)

Should be something to give the Vancouver viewing an extra dimension.

you are welcome, baron!

yeah - definitely, it changed my watching of ceremonies completely and I would recommend the "makers" of the London OC and CC to read it too, before they start the planning!!!

Edited by Citius Altius Fortius
Posted

Well, I'm planning on picking up the book before Vancouver, especially since Baron has had such interesting insight into past Games. Should make a fun read.

One interesting thing that raised my eyebrow was the Amazon.com posting IDed the book as Vol. 1. You already working on a post-Vancouver version, Baron?

Posted (edited)

Well, I'm planning on picking up the book before Vancouver, especially since Baron has had such interesting insight into past Games. Should make a fun read.

One interesting thing that raised my eyebrow was the Amazon.com posting IDed the book as Vol. 1. You already working on a post-Vancouver version, Baron?

Amazon kinda picked that up wrong. This is the 2010 edition. I am hoping that there will be a 2012 edition (to include Vancouver & London; and other stuff that didn't get included in this 1st edition). So, maybe semantix...2010 would actuallly be Vol 1, 2012 - Vol II...but I think a "2010 Edition" or an "2012 Edition, new and expanded" sounds more contemporary and classier.

Re Bear Mountain, yes, the sources I checked had Bear Mountain, CA bidding. But see, back then that was no different from Lake Placid or in 1955, even the development resort of Squaw Valley bidding. The Winter Games were so small back then that all these unbuilt resorts could bid for them.

Edited by baron-pierreIV
Posted

I had to go online again and tell you how wonderful the chapter about the entrance of the nation is and the chapter about Athens 2004 is very good - you hit the nail on its head!

Now I am reading the chapter about the lighting of the cauldron (but I won't finish it, since I am already very tired)

Posted

Thanks, Andrew. That was quick!!

Adrian, sent yours out today. So you should get it hopefully a good week before Feb 12th!!

The "Special Relationship" must also extend to our postal services..?

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

Bump!!

You will need this book to decode the Opening Ceremony.

You have until Feb 28 to enlighten your mind and fully understand the messages of the CLosing.

OTHERWISE, you are Lost and will forever be addled until London 2012 rolls around!!

Posted

Just thought I'd share another great review on the book...from Amazon.com

By Blade "Blade"

I am not a professional reviewer nor do I write many reviews (this might be only my second on Amazon), but I do want to comment on this book -- and hopefully for everybody it won't be too much more THAN a comment -- which I've read, since I firmly believe it to be a stand-out and exceptional product.

First off, there was never any doubt in my take of "Secrets of the Olympic Ceremonies," that Myles Garcia knows as much as anybody I've ever heard on this subject. And I don't say this because frankly I've never heard of anybody else claiming to be an authority. He speaks in authoritative tones, very much appears to know what he is talking about, obviously ENJOYS the subject matter, DOES have some semblance of on-the-ground credentials (having personally participated in the ceremonies), lucky coincidences, or just plain infectious excitement about the event -- all the while admitting that there could be the possibility that others might know more about this -- that makes you feel he can lead you through the journey of learning where before your knowledge could merely fill a thimble.

But it goes beyond that too, there is wit and witticism, good humor, plain hard facts, and endless amazing anecdotes that opens up an entire world of what I'll call the "other" side of the Olympics -- the part really that has little or nothing to do with the athletes or competition, excepting of course that athletes sometimes get involved by showing themselves or holding a flag or some (or are part of some) prop. I never fully understood to what degree the opening ceremonies were such a separate and autonomous part of the Olympics, replete with political haggling and positioning, production appointments, an almost obscene struggle to top or make different any number of showpieces and host-country storytelling, and of course the individual budgeting equaling the gross national product of many single countries in the world. It's all just utterly unbelievable and endlessly fascinating.

I won't go into detail about all the wonderful amazing facts that you would never have begun to imagine had you not acquired this book -- and there ARE so many -- or the experience you feel when you do discover that the opening ceremonies ("OC" in Mr. Garcia's parlance in a virtual cornucopia of Olympic-infused acronyms), but I DO want to say this: I am just a regular guy who quite honestly very seldom watched the Olympics and when I did, did so as not more than an afterthought; maybe if something else was not on to watch (although I admit, I do like the luge and downhill..). As for the opening ceremonies, I never even considered it PART of the Olympics (and boy was I wrong on that). What I'm saying is that I had no specific or particular interest in any facet of the Olympics. However, I did happen to get a copy of this book because I was interested enough in perusing it and sopping up information I'd never been privy too. And guess what? I found I couldn't put it down and have since become a convert! That's about as sterling a testimonial as I think I can give. Now, in almost exactly 90 minutes from this second, the Vancouver Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies begin, and you have to know I'll be watching it with more keen an eye and anticipation of wonderment and joy than a Claim Jumper chocolate creme pie being brought into my house (OK, private abstract joke with myself). But you know what I mean, really just can't wait!

Without hesitation, I unequivocally recommend the purchase or reading of this book. I'm sure it will -- and I greatly look forward to the commencement of this momentarily, forever greatly enhance the enjoyment of this unique and one-of-a-kind spectacle we call the Olympics because quite sincerely, this book is too, one-of-a-kind and a spectacle in its own right.

Posted

Oh, I have procrastinated the purchase of your book for far too long, Baron! I won't have it by the time of the CC. Shame on me, really. As soon as my credit card (and the carriers responsible for the shipping) allows me, I'll put my hands on a copy!

  • 1 month later...

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