Counting on the pity vote - Now San Franciscans can understand how Washingtonians felt, as NYC edges them out of Olympic consideration. The NY Times reports that the Big Apple has been selected over SFO as the sole American nominee to host the 2012 games. In addition to the sympathy vote, one wonders whether the dotcom doldrums haven't also tarnished the Bay Area's once shining world image. As recently as this summer handicappers were discounting the New York bid because of the extreme cost of hosting the Olympics there. C'est la vie, n'est pas, Ben?