Noise, crowds and traffic jams are very real issues. The NY Yankees just won the World Series, and the ticker tape parade was one block from my house. Granted, this is just one day, but still -- I wasn't planning to get up at 5 am but I didn't have a choice. They were out there screaming before dawn, and there is still paper and broken beer bottles out there.

I'm sure the Olympics are inspiring, but there are a lot of headaches and very real problems for the host city. I wouldn't call concern about those problems cynicism.

Pam