Slow boat to China preps for departure

A month from today, they begin the beguine in Beijing, so we'd better start getting ready. Up to date yet on your synchronized swimming terminology?

The Olympics are coming. You can tell by all the anxiety. Not to mention the NBC promos.

We've just been reviewing various warnings and announcements from the State Department, health authorities and other official worrywarts. But we can report that despite concerns about air the color of lemonade, chemically laced chicken wings, Tibetan protests, traffic gridlock, bugged hotel rooms, hacked computers, government surveillance, visa confusion, terrorist threats, bird-flu outbreaks, dog bites and algae choking the sailing venue, everyone is planning on having a swell time.

For the Olympics, the next few weeks are like a roller coaster creeping up the first hill. Pretty soon comes the big drop, and there is no stopping what happens after that. Success, or doom. Already, judging ...