“Keep the secret!” the uniformed man chirped at me as he ceremoniously escorted me out of the Olympics Opening Ceremony dress rehearsal.

I got kicked out of BC Place tonight, for attempting to send a text message to Ed.

We weren’t allowed to have cameras; that was made painfully clear. Cell phones, however, were NOT on the contraband list – and we weren’t asked not to use them. Don’t spill the beans, the Artistic Director begged us. You’re here because of someone else, and that person has sworn to uphold the VANOC blah blah blah. Behave! Or else!

Contrary to everything I wanted to be doing at that time, I DID behave. I tweeted vague observations – along with other people; I certainly wasn’t the only one – and tried to text Ed. I wasn’t breaking any rules, but I got kicked out anyway. Hooray! It wasn’t in any way totally humiliating! Boy, I certainly want to keep the secret NOW!

But I will. Because I promised.

I’m annoyed. Very much so. As multiple people are pointing out, I was warned twice to stop doing whatever it was I was doing – but remember how we weren’t told we couldn’t use our phones? I assumed they thought I was taking pictures, so I didn’t fight it. Honest mistake. Especially since the man who kicked me out said “Do you have your camera? We’re going to go delete your pictures”. Except it wasn’t a camera, and I WAS trying to text Ed. What difference does it make, though? People are going to think what they want. I know what I did and didn’t do, and I know I haven’t uttered a word to anyway. Details are already coming out, but they’re not from me.

I have a list of non-specific opening ceremony observations I wanted to share. I was in a much better mood when I wrote them, but here they are anyway:

• The Olympics are an exercise in waiting in line
• Seriously, if you have tickets for Friday’s opening ceremonies, you should probably get in line now
• It will help if you break a bone and/or have small children – broken people and those with spawn got advance entry, as though I wouldn’t poop myself and have a tantrum too if I thought it would get me inside any faster
• I hope your tickets were worth the thousands of dollars you probably spent, because they’re going to put you to work – this is Canada; I figure the budget for the opening ceremonies was so small they need the audience to do all the work
• We didn’t get to see many of the key players, but their stand-ins were very inspirational – I felt like I could hold a fake candle all night long
• One of the MCs made a comment to the audience about this being the only Canadian Olympic games during our lifetime – what does the VANOC know that we don’t? Also, this is my third Canadian Olympics. Yes, I existed during Calgary in ’88 and Montreal in ’76.
• They shilled merchandise at us during the pre-show – stay classy, VANOC!
• I CALLED IT! I totally called it! I can’t tell you what it is I called, but be assured that I completely nailed it!
• Someone in our row answered the call for more cowbell for some reason
• I am only half convinced that this entire thing is just an elaborate test of my character. I can’t tell you why, but you’ll know what’s killing me the instant it goes live. Vancouver will definitely be remembered for this, but I doubt it was exactly what they had in mind

The Opening Ceremonies will be very cool. Check it out on TV if you’re able. As pissed as I am, I can’t ignore the fact that it was very well done and it will be a grand spectacle when it all unfolds.

That’s all I was planning on writing, VANOC. Call off your dogs.

Thanks to everyone who weighed in both here and on Twitter – I’ve decided what I’m going to do.

While I am still bristly at the whole “being censored” thing – I *hate* being told what I can and cannot do – I will not be giving a play-by-play recap of what I see this afternoon. I’m not doing this for the VANOC or for to keep the element of surprise or because I’m afraid of the IOC – I’m doing it for Shan. I would have to jump off a bridge if she lost her spot in the closing ceremonies because of me, and there isn’t much I’d be able to write about if I were paste on the Trans Canada.

Those of you hoping for all the dirt on what Vancouver has in store for you on Friday will have to get your spoilers elsewhere. I won’t write about specifics – and I won’t write about the security measures, because that would probably bring Big Brother down on me even harder than if I were to spill – but like Miranda pointed out, I’ve got ways of sharing information without .. you know, sharing information. I’ll be good. Yes, I was temporarily swayed by the possibility of being a breaking story for once and seeing my hits climb – but in the long run, doing right by people I love is much more important than fleeting e-fame.

delicious juice dot com: we have integrity when we absolutely have to

I’m playing by all the rules: I left my camera at home. I’m wearing white. I won’t conduct myself in any way contrary to what Big Brother has posted. I will refrain from taking any cellphone pictures of the TOP SECRET ACTION, and I will keep my clothing on. Isn’t that enough?

This afternoon I’ll be at BC Place, attending the first public dress rehearsal of the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. The ticket is courtesy of Shan, who received them as a perk for being in the Closing Ceremonies later this month. I didn’t think I’d get a chance to see ANY Olympic events, so even though this is a dress rehearsal and likely won’t be the complete ceremony,  I am excited.

I fully admit that some of my excitement comes from being one of a select few who get a sneak peek at what will happen this coming Friday – I’m planning on blogging it, because I blog everything. This is a rare opportunity, and I want to take advantage of it in my usual way: sharing what I see with the internet at large. I may not be able to take pictures, but I can write. Oh boy, do I like to write.

Unfortunately, I’m the devil for doing so.

CTV posted this lovely article pointing figures at we social media types because we make keeping things a secret hard. They don’t see it as sharing, they see it as spoiling: the world wants to be surprised, and I am single-handedly RUINING IT FOR EVERYONE. I am a bad man. I am why we can’t have nice things.

Obviously, I’m on the other side of the coin here – I think the sharing of information is vital and fun, and I try to bring value to my seven readers – a story, an opinion, naked pictures of people I know. I share EVERYTHING, including things that should probably be kept to myself: if it happens to me, I will write about it.  It’s what I do; what I have done for the past 9 years. I get to experience some of the opening ceremonies, so I will share my experiences for those who can’t be there with me. What’s so bad about that?

Everything, says traditional media.

Ed agrees with them, saying I shouldn’t ruin the surprise for those who plan on watching the ceremonies live or on TV. He thinks I should just go and enjoy the spectacle, and leave it off my blog for the greater good.  I’m already full of angst because I can’t take pictures, and now I’m being told I can’t write about it either? Where’s the fun in that?

I can’t trust my own judgment on this, because I am a big fan of spoilers and I hate surprises. I like having some idea of what to expect. I actively search out movie spoilers, and will read plot lines of things I’m watching at that very moment. I like knowing what’s coming. So why *wouldn’t* I “spoil” the Opening Ceremonies? Maybe other people want to know too!

.. but there’s a chance that they don’t, so I’m leaving it up to you: should I blog what I see today, or just keep it to myself so I don’t ruin it for everyone?

I *hate* being censored, no matter how little.

Here is some art. I hope I’m not spoiling it for anyone who has not yet had the chance to walk down Granville Street.

to this day i wonder why i still think about you

sadly, this has nothing to do with the enigma song of the same name

double happiness chicken!

part of the giant mural at the vag