Slog - Comments on Team Mask http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask Athletes have begun to arrive in Beijing for the Olympics, and they're arriving in anti-pollution masks: ... four track cyclists on the United States Olympic team stepped off their flight wearing masks over their mouths and noses. The masks were designed by Randy Wilber, a 53-year-old scientist for the U.S. Olympic Training Center, who has been fielding bizarre questions from athletes for months: Should I run behind a bus and breathe in the exhaust? Should I train on the highway during rush hour? Is there any way to acclimate myself to pollution? Wilber answers those questions with a steadfast, "No."... Copyright 2008 Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:40:58 -0800 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:34:43 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Fnarf The athletes should turn around and come home.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask#c1093533 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask#c1093533 Enviro Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:57:48 -0800 Comment by Chris in Tampa I liked the masks better when they had scary mouths drawn on them.

]]> Chris in Tampa http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask#c1093543 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask#c1093543 Enviro Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:02:18 -0800 Comment by max solomon That ain't no track cyclist. I recognize a female shot putter when I see one.

And LA is not as polluted as Beijing. That's hyperbole.

]]> max solomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask#c1093568 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask#c1093568 Enviro Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:26:11 -0800 Comment by David Wright Yes, it's hyperbole to imply that LA's air quality to Bejing's. Bejing is must worse.

The portrayal of the problem in the press is also hyperbolic. These's athlete's lifetime risk of emphazema is not going to be measurably affected by spending a week in Bejing. And whatever competetive impact the air quality has, it will have approximately equally on all of them.

]]> David Wright http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask#c1093607 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask#c1093607 Enviro Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:57:32 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle LA used to be worse - but hasn't been since quite a few decades now.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask#c1093611 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask#c1093611 Enviro Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:59:10 -0800 Comment by juris @1:

Yes, turn right around, and come home to the states, and back to my apartment. I have been so oddly attracted to that girl in that photo. It's the combination of the hot bikes in the crate, her stance, the alluring mask, and the knowledge that she could kick my ass riding back to my place from the bar... mmmmm.

]]> juris http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask#c1093633 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask#c1093633 Enviro Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:15:50 -0800 Comment by elenchos I can't believe they are even allowing these hooligans into China in the first place. What are they going to say when the cyclists riot and kill somebody? At least confiscate their U locks before each event.

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask#c1093658 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask#c1093658 Enviro Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:45:34 -0800 Comment by P to the J The chinese don't stand a chance. That's not a mask. That's Sub-Zero's sister.

]]> P to the J http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask#c1093727 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask#c1093727 Enviro Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:55:26 -0800 Comment by trackie Just so you know, that woman in the mask is Seattle's own Jennie Reed, a world champion in the woman's keiren event.

]]> trackie http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask#c1093929 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/team_mask#c1093929 Enviro Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:34:43 -0800