Viva la Roller Derby

Alas, I do not have time for a full blown analysis of the controversy surrounding the upcoming 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, but I did want to comment on the events in Paris today surrounding the torch.

The Olympic torch has become something of a touchstone for protesters upset with China over its policy on Tibet and support for the government in Sudan. The torch relay has been met with protesters in Greece when it was lit, in London over the weekend and in Paris today. Leave it to the French to kick things up a notch, it is reported that the flame actually WENT OUT today during the fracas (which included a banner being hung from the Eiffel Tower, of course).  

But here is what I LOVE: I'm looking at the photos of the protests on NYTimes.com and I see this:

French Police

And I think "Man, things are getting heated, the cops have riot gear on. Those shoulder pads look like something out of the NFL. Hmmm, what are those funny helmets?"

And then, I see this:

Cops on skates2

And now I think, "Wait a minute, are those French Cops wearing Rollerblades? No, that can't be right, maybe they are just standing on some fancy French Police boot."

But then I see this:

Cops on skates