The Olympics start in week, and I keep thinking about the ways in which China will succeed and fail. The International press will not be respectful, in fact they already aren't. I think China will fail in ways for which they haven't the faintest inkling and won't understand, even in hindsight. The Chinese leadership will be both arrogant and ignorant.

They will also succeed spectacularly in their earnestness and helpfulness and through the force of sheer numbers of proud, willing people. I hope the press gets that.

When I visited, it often went like this. I'd ask for something at the front desk of a hotel. They wouldn't respond. No "I'll be right back" or "Of course I can help you with that." They would disappear. Just when the discomfort got to be so great I'd want to start pounding the desk, they'd come back and the issue would have been taken care of in a way more gracious and deep than I ever imagined.

I'm a total Olympics fan, and wouldn't you know it my TV has gone on the blink! I think it's time to upgrade.