![Framing #2 - Drottningholms slott/Drottningholm Palace (UNESCO World Heritage) [Explore First Page, THANK YOU]](http://static.flickr.com/7102/7204258846_3843eb8ecb_t.jpg "Framing #2 - Drottningholms slott/Drottningholm Palace (UNESCO World Heritage) [Explore First Page, THANK YOU]")
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Beijing, Communism, McDonalds commercial, Olympics, The More We Get Together
There’s a hell of a lot of RED in this commercial is all I’m sayin’. And what kind of athlete eats at the Olympic Village McDonald’s? An athlete that HAS to by state law, that’s who.*
*We are of course completely kidding and would in no way suggest that McDonald’s is attempting world domination by the promise of delicious Big Macs and multi-ethnicity. However, we will be dissecting this video frame by frame for subliminal Commie messages.
–By Jessica
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Beijing, Boris Johnson, Closing Ceremony, Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, Leona Lewis, Olympics
I once had a nightmare like this, but it wasn’t nearly as scary. The London sequence of the Olympic closing ceremony tonight has to be one of the best examples of suckitude I’ve ever seen. It was just atrocious. From the horrible, high school musical dancers to the completely and utterly underwhelming “spectacle” of the lone double-decker against the massive backdrop of the Bird’s Nest, it was probably one of the most ill-planned things ever seen by that many people.
And what’s this, is that Leona Lewis and Jimmy Page being expectorated from the Transformer bus? Oh mighty Astroturfatron, please don’t harm us with your shooting Leonas, their mucous-y gowns trailing behind them to snare those who somehow managed to escape the human fences made by the Chinese organizers. These were of course necessary when Gollum…ahem, Jimmy Page appeared. Somehow I don’t think many in that clusteryou-know-what of people on the stadium floor even knew that Jimmy Page was nearby, so miniscule was the pair’s stage presence inside that arena after the sheer magic and wonder shown us by the Chinese.
That they then proceeded to perform one of the most blatantly filthy songs (not that there’s anything wrong with that!) in the history of rock and roll in front of a family-packed and extremely conservative, mostly Chinese audience, just blew one’s mind. Way down inside? Gonna give you every inch of my love? Oh yes, let’s sing THAT song to close the Olympics!
I felt like I was on PCP. And honestly, I should have known I was in for something JPW (Just Plain Wrong) when Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, rolled out looking like they call him “The Mayor” because he’s that local drunk known at every pub in London for offering his sloppy opinions on the good ole days of Iron Maggie to anyone who will listen. Look Boris, maybe that was a little harsh and I’m sure you’re a very nice man but tuck in your shirt and button your damn jacket, you’re the Mayor of London and it’s the freaking OLYMPICS.
Thankfully the Chinese booted the British right good and got back to their beautiful program of extinguishing the Olympic torch. They certainly do know how to put on a show. As for me, lets just say I won’t be listening to any Led Zeppelin for a while.
–By Jessica
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Beijing, Diving, Gleb Galperin, Olympics, Platform
Wife: Where were you last night?
Husband: Out.
Wife: Out? Doing what?
Husband: Nothing, just hanging with a friend.
Wife: (dryly) Oh yeah? What’s his name?
Husband: Uh…Gleb.
Wife: His name is “Gleb”?
Husband: Uh-huh.
Wife: Okay. What’s his last name?
Husband: ….Galperin.
Wife: You were out with “Gleb Galperin”?
Husband: Yup.
Wife: Riiiiiiight. You’re going to need to do better than that.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 4x100m, Beijing, Martyn Rooney, Olympics
Generally we wouldn’t use language like “douche” at SmallTown City. But last night the very pasty, awkward, hipster-haired, unathletic-looking Martyn Rooney from Great Britain taunted fellow heat runners in the men’s 4×100. Prior to when the above photo was taken, he was seen flicking his baton at the runners behind him, urging them to keep up. Then he whispered “Shhhh” to his equally pasty teammates, so as not to call attention to their greatness I suppose.
Oh how we can’t wait for Martyn Rooney to be trounced today!
–By Jessica
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 400m, Beijing, Chris Brown, David Neville, Jeremy Wariner, LaShawn Merritt, Olympics
David Neville loves to dive. Not off a platform or even a springboard. David Neville loves to dive on synthetic track. While Jeremy Wariner trailed behind LaShawn Merritt, almost walking over the finish line in disbelief at the pounding he took, David Neville leapt–not gracefully–but effectively to score the bronze medal, inching out the Bahamas’ Chris Brown.
This is an athlete who really wanted a medal. There was no grandstanding, no disappointment that it was ‘only a bronze’–David Neville did whatever he could do, whatever was necessary, to get that medal. Congratulations David Neville, you are a true Olympian in our book!
(David Neville far left on ground :)
This isn’t David’s first dive either. He also flew Superman-style across the line to secure a silver for the US in the 2007 Pan American Games. Okay, maybe that one was a fall.
*Additional note: David Neville sang his heart out during the national anthem at the medals ceremony, where he proudly received his bronze. We love you David!!
–By Jessica
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Bela Karolyi, Kerri Walsh, Kinesio, LZR, Michael Phelps, Puma, Speedo, Timex, Usain Bolt
What’s that black thing on Kerri Walsh’s shoulder?
A branding scar? The latest in body modification? A cover for a pornographic tattoo? Brain Control Slugs? Leeches? The spot where they grafted Karch Kiraly’s arm to her body? None of the above, its Kinesio and she’s not the only athlete sporting “elastic therapeutic tape” made by the small US company. Instead of wrapping their wrists or elbows in an elastic tape to give support to an injured body part, Kinesio is adhesive and, according to the company, physical therapists say its a better way to support healing in a variety of situations all without inhibiting range of motion. The tape is arranged in specific patterns which according to Kinesio results in pain relief.
Is it new? Nope they’re 25 years old just using one of the best marketing strategies you could imagine: According to a story in the NY Times, Kinesio donated 50,000 rolls to 58 counties and let curiosity and NBC do the rest.
Kinesio tape isn’t the only product placement in the Olympics and its not the only new technology. Take a good Look at every swimmer’s suit. Is that the LZR by Speedo?
Probably, but not everyone is happy about it, primarily Speedo’s competitors. And teams that don’t have them. And marketeers that didn’t think of it first, and marketeers that did think of it first but couldn’t afford to do anything about it. In an interesting note, the BBC reported that in Bejing thirty-nine world records have been set, 90% in the LZR.
But Speedo’s not the only logo you’ll see if you’ve been watching the olympics. Usain Bolt blew away the competition in the 100m and stirred a hornets nest when when he grandstanded before and after the finish.
The golden shoes he kissed are made by Puma, in case you wanted to know. Puma loves Bolt.
I don’t know how much that kiss earned Bolt in Puma cash but I have read that Speedo sank a million bucks into Phelps’ account when he won 7 gold wearing their suit.
The product placement list goes on. Just how fast is the fastest man on Earth, lets check the clock– courtesy of Timex. There was an interesting story in the NY Post about how these sponsorship deals with individual athletes can circumvent very expensive corporate sponsorship of the games themselves. (I’m sure the Chinese will be sending Nautica a bill).
All of this comes back to my original question: What’s that black thing on Kerri Walsh’s shoulder? Its money. Lots and lots of money.
After reading this post I think the Olympics really missed a key opportunity to brand itself! I can say it in three words: Bela Karolyi Prozac.
–By Michael
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 100m Fly, Michael Phelps, Olympics, Swimming
Congratulations Michael Phelps, another great product of my hometown of Baltimore! We’ve got Oprah, now we’ve got Michael Phelps–B’more is moving up in the world!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Beijing 2008, gymnastics, Nastia Liukin, Olympics
No explanation needed. Congratulations Nastia Liukin, you deserved it!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Beijing 2008, Fabian Hambuechen, gymnastics, High Bar, Hiroyuki Tomita, Olympics, Rings
Fabian Hambuechen, the reigning world champion on the high bar, falls.
Hiroyuki Tomita flies off the rings, with an exceptionally hard landing on his right side.
Comments were made last night about the new scoring system, and how it makes these top gymnasts push themselves too far for the difficulty points. These falls were also shocking and completely unexpected. Is there a correlation? Only time will tell, but hopefully we won’t be seeing anymore falls like these–let’s hope these guys are okay.
-By Jessica
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Beijing, Bela Karolyi, Bob Costas, Chinese Team, gymnastics, Jiang Yuyuan, NBC, Olympics, Yang Yilin
Hoooo-boy!
Last night near the end of the women’s gymanstic team finals, Bela Karolyi called out the Chinese team on NBC, much to Bob Costas’ ashen chagrin.
Why did Bob look like he was about to simultaneously punch and hurl? That would be Bela’s answer to Costas’ question as to why the Chinese gymnasts were so cool under pressure as compared to the US women’s team. Karolyi said that 14 or 15 year olds couldn’t possibly understand the situation they are in they way the American women do. Costas caught this and said that they’ve all met the age requirements of 16, to which Karolyi responded that it’s been proven that the girls are underage, that their documentation is false and–cut to Costas firmly placing his hand on Karolyi’s shoulder and fade out…
But really, ARE they sixteen? This accusation is aimed specifically at Yang Yilin (second from left) and Jiang Yuyuan (second from right). And you know what, the bottom line is that they don’t look 16. They barely look 14. Sure, there are lots of people who don’t look their age and certainly women’s gymnastics is known for keeping women physically in muscle-y girlhood.
But there is just something wrong with their faces…they are both “off” in the same way, as if they’re not fully developed into the face of a woman yet. During puberty, the nose, ears and lips can grow out of proportion t the head, which may not have yet grown to it’s full adult size. They also don’t register the world-weariness of a gymnast who has competed at a high level for several years the way the other girls do.
As we know, gymanstics is serious business for the Chinese…but would they go this far, and will we ever know the truth? And will NBC muzzle Bela Karolyi for the individual and all-arounds? I say put Bela in a cage match with Jiang Yuyuan and Yang Yilin. If you watched at all last night, you’ll know who would win. Stay safe in your studio Bela :)
