Have you ever wondered what the Olympic Rings meant?

Even though NBC is doing the broadcasting of the Olympics in America in a delayed and edited and...incredibly obnoxious fashion (what--you don't yell at Ryan Seacrest?) the basic Olympic stuff gets through. Sort of. If you can wait up for it. And not yell at the inane questions they ask the Olympians. I mean seriously, "How does it feel to win a gold medal?" What are they going to say "Oh, absolutely awful, won't do it again. Can't stand it, darling". Ugh!

There's all sorts of rules about the Olympics, logos, and anything that could link to them. Like, you can't sell Olympic themed merchandise without permission. They're HEAVILY trademarked. Strange but it makes perfect sense.

The Olympic Rings, the five interlocking rings, have a fun back story which I didn't know before I was browsing the internet to avoid thinking about buying a coat (because it's going to cold this winter!). I'm damn good at procrastination.

Olympic Rings via Wikipedia

There are five colors and then the white background that represents all the colors of the countries that competed in the Olympics in 1912. The design was created by Pierre de Coubertin, who also is the founder of the International Olympic Committee and in theory the founder of the modern Olympic games, and the owner of a spectacular mustache.

Pierre de Coubertin, via Wikipedia

Isn't that fun to know. Don't you wish the NBC people talked about stuff like that? Or maybe they do. But I'm asleep by the time that happens.

Paralympic Symbol via Wikipedia

The Paralympics are also happening this summer and this is their flag/symbol. Which is new, from 2003. It's about unity and motion and the colors are the most common flag colors in the world.

Lab 42 made this infographic based on a poll they did from 500 social media users. I only feel bad for not picking up on what an Olympiad was, but I knew everything else question wise. Go me!

Via Lab 42

Links:

• Wikipedia article on the Olympic symbols such as the rings, flags, anthems, medals and mascots
• Wikipedia article on the Paralymic symbols such as the symbol, history, oath and anthem
• Times article, Who Made the Olympic Rings, about Pierre de Coubertin and other tidbits (Nazis and Dunlop tires)
• Pierre de Courbertin Wikipeida page
• Olympic Symbols -The Five Interlocking Rings from the Olympist

Dallas (the new TV show)

Hopefully I'm not the only weirdo on this planet who is super excited about the return/renewal/continuation of the TV show Dallas.

new cast of Dallas via Collider.com

I've never watched the original (sorry rest of the world!), but I strangely know a lot of about it, and even the characters (I KNOW who JR is) because of how popular it is.

It premiers tomorrow (Wednesday) with back to back episodes and apparently TNT has ordered the full season, which gives me a little hope that they won't cancel the series randomly. I HATE getting into a new series only to have it canceled for reasons I can't quite fathom.



Of course, if you want a quick recap of the original version of Dallas, as well as the newer version. Wikipedia has the recaps. Thank goodness for Wikipedia!

And here's the TNT official site for the TV show (Dallas on TNT) as well as a fairly comprehensive website on both shows (I think?) and tons of information (Ultimate Dallas).

GCB (Good Christian Belles)

I think I watch way too much television. I don't mean to...I just go a bit crazy with the DVR. It tapes soooo much and then I watch it when I get a migraine or can't sleep. Which happens a lot unfortunately.

That doesn't really matter. I found a new show that I love. It's called GCB and it comes on ABC. I knew it was going to be amazing because it had Annie Potts (from Designing Women) and Kristen Chenoweth. And before it aired it courted controversy. Notice how it's G.C.B. and not Good Christian Bitches? It had to be re-titled to Good Christian Belles. There was a freak-out. Then Newt Gingrich had a hissy-fit.

Via Wikipedia

The plot-line starts with Amanda Vaughn, who was widowed by her ponzi-scheming husband, returning to Dallas. Amanda was a (really) mean girl in high school and when she hooks back up from the girls in Dallas, she realizes that they all hate her. Kristin Chenoweth plays Amanda's foil in Carlene Cockburn (I'm so not making that name up).

Bachelorette Party...the GCB way

So why GCB? You know those women...holier than thou but back stabbing and gossip mongering. No? Well, lucky you. I've met a couple and I can't stand them. But I do love Carlene Cockburn as one. The whole show is southern and over the top. And I love it.

via tv.com

Of course, some people (critics) don't like it at all. Usually I think critics are fairly useless when it comes to movies and TV. We never, ever, ever agree. But it seems to be more a certain type of critic. Fox News (via a "Southern Christian Woman" tied with Concerned Women for America-no idea who they are...and their webpage isn't loading) isn't too fond, CNN finds it to be stereotypical, Entertainment Weekly was more of a "meh" on the pilot episode, the Washington Post finds it to be stereotypical as well, tv.com skews away from it and just to round it up...Hollywood Reporter lists some more.

I think my sense of humor veers from theirs. And I'd rather be characterized (and stereo-typed) in this way than in the in-bred, hill-billy way. So if you want to get offended, I'd focus on that first. I'm southern (and christian) and not offended at all so I don't know why these guys and gals were.

You can decide for yourself of course. Here's the promo from youtube--and I'm sure you can find episodes on the web, itunes, abc's website...

Pictures from GCB's Facebook page

Links: 

Good Christian Bitches Book (by Kim Gatlin) Webpage
Good Christian Belles (GCB) Wikipedia page
GCB IMSb page
GCB Promo YouTube Link
Interview with Marisol Nichols, who plays Heather
GCB's twitter page
ABC's GCB page
GCB's facebook page

Pretty Little Liars

Oh, I don't know how it happened, but it did. I'm addicted to this show on ABC Family called Pretty Little Liars (which is also a book series). I don't even think I fit their target audience but I love a show that has mystery, crime-solving and pretty clothes.

It's about four girls (Spencer, Hanna, Aria and Emily) who lost a friend named Alison a year previous to the first episode. Alison is more of a nasty piece of work; that friend you hate having around. The first episode begins when Alison's body is recovered and the four girls attend her funeral. At the end of it, they each get text messages from someone named "A".

Basically, to sum it up, "A" is a creepy stalker that plays lots of mind-games and tries to sabotage the four girls as much as possible. He/She threatens to out their deep dark secrets-which seem to be pretty bad for anyone.

Any-who, the season finale was this week. There was a masquerade ball before "A" was un-masked. But it was really an accomplice- Maybe. It's an addictive show and the last episode had a homage to Psycho, which was pretty awesome.

tell me someone else noticed this. This chick had to be important...

The season ends with Spencer linking "A" by clothes and gum and having to fight off "A" (one of the "A"s)

This site has a more thorough (and less confusing) write up of the episode with lots of screen caps from the  show.

All images from We Heart It