A curiosity has built inside me concerning the Google 2010 Olympic logos. That slight art deco/water color feel with the beautiful color schemes appeals to me. So of course I got right on Google and asked it who designed its logos! Well, wouldn’t you know, the jerk wouldn’t tell me.
I searched and searched and found many message boards ASKING who the artist was, but none answering the question. YOU CAN’T DO THAT, GOOGLE. I THINK IT’S ILLEGAL! Maybe it isn’t, but by the Law of Jocelyn it sure as hell is.
Anyway, the search continues.
Another aspect of the Olympics that’s been fascinating to me is men’s figure skating. The one-sided rivalry between U.S.’s Evan Lysacek and Russian’s Evgeny Plushenko has enthralled me.
I love the Russians because they aren’t afraid to say the whiney, obnoxious and often rude things we all think on a daily basis. Plushenko is no exception. After tooting his own horn as loudly as possible (yes–we know you got gold four years ago, too bad you have bad hair) he was still bested by our very own Lysacek.
It’s a bit of an underdog story (but not really). Plushenko spent so much time putting Lysacek down only to be put down himself by the subject of his slander! That didn’t stop the trash talk, however (thank god!). After the medals were doled out, we were treated to Plushenko’s statements that he really deserved gold because he pulled off a quad and Lysacek didn’t. After all, figure skating is a sport, not an art! Or is it? This Slate article is cool.
Back in the day, when figure skating was first in the Olympics, competitors had to literally draw and then perfectly retrace figures in the ice with their skates; hence the name. This element of the event gives it more of a gymnastics feel (which I consider to be a sport). That portion has been eliminated and figure skating has since evolved to resemble dance (art). Multiple elements must be taken into consideration as a whole. The effect of many tricks on an entire program, how they relate to one another, the feel they create, it’s all important.
In fact, Ottavio Cinquanta, president of the International Skating Union, said that Plushenko was like a prodigious concert pianist who will only play one composer:
“We ask a pianist to perform more than Chopin,” said Cinquanta. “We ask a figure skater to do not only jumps but spins and footwork…otherwise we become guilty of the accusation we are only an acrobatic sport.” See, he also doesn’t want figure skating to be like gymnastics.
Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, has backed Plushenko during his four-year-old style fit about the horrid cruelty that is his silver medal blah blah blah. Putin has stated that Plushenko’s performance was worth gold. I can just see Cold War II: Injustice on Ice. Logline: “The judges had their say, time for the nukes to take care of the rest.”
Also, Plushenko’s wife, Yana Rudkovskaya, has demanded that the Russian government push for Plushenko to have the gold.
“This is a gross mistake by the judges,” she said. Now, she’s an interesting woman. She’s a specialist in skin and venereal diseases and now channels that expertise to her current position as CEO of Franck Provost beauty salons, where she clearly focuses on making STI’s look attractive.
She also has decided to take the practical (and obvious) move to music producer. Of course. Dima Bilan is a very popular musical artists in Russia and Europe, supposedly thanks to Yana, but she wants more for him.
“I want Dima to be popular in the West,” she said of her star. “I want him to be the first Russian singer who will be awarded a Grammy.” Bad news, my dear, the Americans will plant their own Russian artist to become the first Russian Grammy winner just to spite you. We’ve beaten you in races before, and we will forever.
She seems a perfect partner to our lovely Plushenko, and clearly an expert on men’s figure skating. Here’s a nice quote of his I found:
“I am not prepared to skate well and lose,” Plushenko complained. “This is men’s figure skating–not ice dancing.”
But either way, when you get down to it, Lysacek’s technical score was still higher than Plushenko’s. Argument settled. Plushenko, I find you massively amusing but it’s time to take your Russian mentality to something else (and please be very public about it…you’re hilarious).
Lysacek is the first U.S. man to win the gold in figure skating since Brian Boitano in 1988. It was a very proud moment for Lysacek and America.
Another proud moment for America in men’s figure skating is Johnny Weir. Yes, he is the embodiment of a moment. The Lady Gaga of figure skating. He may have ended sixth, but he’s first in my heart.
Better luck next time Russians. Once again, America’s starry-eyed delusory overcame your cynical bitchery! Also, you can never hope to find a Weir equivalent…EVER! It’s not within your culture.
You can ask questions of Lysacek (and the real rock star of skating, Johnny Weir) here!