Moron of the Week - or Democrats eat their young!

This Article demonstrates how individuals will have more power in this election cycle than ever before and how individuals with too much time, too much ego, and warped sense of loyalty will be making news at the expense of others (Political Candidates and arguably the American public who tries to be well informed). Phillip de Vellis, from the article has effectively damaged the two-front-running campaigns in the Democratic Party.

While it could be argued that we are way too early to be talking about a candidate, let alone a front-runner in the 2008 presidential race, there is no denying that these "win at all costs- destroy the opposition" tactics can only harm a political party that is trying to find its voice while actually listening to diverse opinions.

If individuals who only marginally claim affiliation with any candidate can draw to themselves such attention while scorching two potential presidential nominees what happens when the candidates themselves become engaged?

Unfortunately, Obama is going to have to act decisively in this case and probably follow the example of the culprit's employer- separating Phil from his campaign. That will leave this guy unemployed and shilling for FOX News or some other entity willing to extend his 15 minutes of "fame."

As a Party- we need to expect better of our candidates. More importantly, we need more discipline than was displayed by this creative and ambitious, yet arrogant, young computer whiz.

Music Shuffle!!

'Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon' by Neil Diamond
Finale for "Little Shop of Horrors" (Movie Cast)
'Courtin' Disaster' by Neil Diamond
'Calypso' by John Denver
'Street Life' by Neil Diamond
'Punky's Dilemna' by Simon and Garfunkel
'No Man's Land' by Peter, Paul and Mary
'I'm Alive' by Neil Diamond
'Do I Creep You Out' by Weird Al Yankovik
'The Purple People Eater' by Sheb Wooley

Moron of the Week-

The first to make a repeat appearance in 2007, our Moron of The Week goes to Alberto Gonzales (see week 3). The Attorney General holds the position for the second time this year because his bumbling into a scandal over firing US attorneys has managed to move the Vetran's Hospital scandal off of the front pages.

This blatantly political move was so badly mishandled that even GW, who- if its possible to say something positive about him- has the loyalty of a labrador retriever (matches his brain- no offense to the canines who read this blog), may ultimately have to accept his resignation.

Music Shuffle

"Leaving on a Jetplane" by John Denver
"Peggy-O" by Simon and Garfunkel
"Somewhere they Can't Find Me" by Simon and Garfunkel
"Home is a Wounded Heart" by Neil Diamond
"One Day More" from Les Miserables (Original London Cast)
"And the Grass Won't pay No Mind" by Neil Diamond
"Mrs Robinson" by Simon and Garfunkel
"Steel Rail Blues" by Gordon Lightfoot
"Let Me Live" by Queen
"If I had a Hammer" by Peter Paul and Mary

Moron of the Week-- YOU!

In the spirit of narcissism and Time Magazine's "Persons of the Year" and inspired by all YouTube 'celebrities', I declare all the YOU's on Youtube to share the title of Moron of the week.

There are some legitimate reasons for this site but for the most part it is filled with twenty-somethings whose egos are so overblown that they share even the most personal and remote aspects of their lives. Too many of them waste hours of time talking to a camera and too often comment on nothing of import.

Second only to the moronhood of these self-proclaimed celebrities is the moronhood of the countless tweenines who declare themselves as 'fans' of these time wasters.

We have a generation that is being raised with technologies that we could not have begun to imagine when we were children. Yet, instead of using this technology to better ourselves a vast too many are using it to better our opinion of ourselves.

A request that makes some sense.

I received an email- That's the way most people are communicating on this board. I like the public comments though- suggestion that all American Idol stuff go to Page Too so that the original flavor of the board can continue. She has a point since that's why I created Page Too .

So check things out there for continuing Idol coverage. In the meantime, check out this link. It is one of many great resources to determine how the world is thinking before and after the performances.

Idol Results--

No Surprise that Lakisha and Blake are declared in the top twelve straight away. No surprise either that Chris Sligh and Jordin were kept in the game. Next Phil was named to the top 12. He and Chris S engaged in an uncomfortably long hug.

Then Jared is sent packing because we didn't really love him afterall. That means that Sundance or Sanjaya will be around next week. No surprise either that they cut to a break at this point. They do need to drag this out for an hour and milk the ads for Coke and company- not to mention the ads for the FOX line-up.

The challenge questions are lame BTW.

Melinda and Brandon are both safe. Gina and Chris R are both safe. That means we get to hear the chipmunk for another week. Three of the remaining six will be sent packing. That leaves several scenarios on how they can play with the contestants emotions.

So here we go!!! Antonella and Stephanie- Antonella goes (Yeah)!! Oh, she's gonna cry. Stephanie will stay.

It occurs to me that we are going to see Sanjaya and Sundance standing next to each other and one of them is going to return next week. Yuck!!! But if I had my druthers at this point I would choose Sanjaya to return- Yeah, he is out of his league, but unlike Sundance, he knows it.

Haley and Sabrina are up. Haley STAYS- that is just plain wrong. Sabrina is going home.

And finally, Sundance (he's the fat one with the hairy chin) and Sanjaya step up. 82% of the people who voted on which guy to send home voted for Sanjaya and 4.8% (putting him in second place) picked Sundance. These have been the bottom two since the beginning.

Sanjaya and Sundance step up. of course they would go to a commercial- that's what this hour is really about. Oh dread, we have to hear one of them sing again tonight- Sundance get's what he deserves. Sanjaya lives to get eliminated next week.

That makes the top twelve: Lakisha and Blake, Chris Sligh and Jordin, Phil and Melinda, Brandon and Gina, Chris R and Stephanie, Haley and Sanjaya, the two least deserving of the bunch.

Antonella, Sundance, Sabrina and Jared are sent home. None of them was going to win it so there is no sense feeling bad.

Idol Women

were completely awesome.

Antonella and Haley will go home if there is a God but truth be toldTheir ratehr dismal performances were better than most of the guys from last night.

If there is a surprise and Antonella or Haley survives Jordin is vulnerable.

American Idol Guys Perform

Okay, let's be honest. This was a weird night on Idol. There are 8 vying for 6 positions. They could send four home and noone would really care.

I would wager, however, that if you get into particulars about who to send there would be a small battle.

Chris Sligh, who I really don't like much because he tries too hard to be funny, was easily the best performance of the night. That should solidify his place in the top twelve. As I hear his voice I would really like to see him do a Meatloaf song. He has the voice for it and such a performance would help him break away from the pack.

Sanjaya is everyone's pick, it seems, to be one of the two to go home. Based on the previous weeks I would agree. However, his performance tonight ranks him easily as the most improved. This is the week to make that distinction because people who have been been ignoring him might notice.

Blake coasted this week. His choice was unoriginal and his tone was problematic. Simon called his performance 'a mess' which is exactly what I wrote down about it. If Blake goes on to the final twelve- and I believe he will- it will be because of his past performances.

Chris was quite good doing a Keith Urban song. This is the first time he didn't sound like Alvin and his brothers- at least for part of the song. Chris should be back next week.

Phil was very weak tonight, I thought. Fortunately he has some strong past performances and has developed a bit of a following.

Jared sang Stevie Wonder and was okay. He should be worried for the next two nights.

Brandon was also a shaky performance. Simon predicted he would go.

Sundance yelled the whole song. I simply did not enjoy it at all. He should go. He can't expect to perform well one out of five times and stay.

Top four should be Chris Sligh and other Chris, Blake and Phil (based on previous performances),

Sundance and Sanjaya should be leaving but either Jared or Brandon could be sent packing too at this point. Based on Tonight's performance the only one that should feel good about himself is Chris Sligh.

If these guys don't step it up- the girls will run away with the show within a couple of weeks.

Democratic Presidential Rankings

See this article http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16710815/. Al Gore is propelled to third place behind Clinton and Obama (who is considered to have the momentum. This is a worthy bi-weekly read.

Music Shuffle:

"Suzanne" by Neil Diamond
"Island Girl" by Elton John
"Fat Bottomed Girls" by Queen
"Read 'em and Weep" by Barry Manilow
"Love Burns" by Neil Diamond
"Tonight's The Night" by Rod Stewart
"This Jesus Must Die" from "Jesus Christ Superstar"
"Castle on a Cloud" from "Les Misrables"
"Oh Daddy" by Fleetwood Mac
"There but for Fortune" by Peter, Paul and Mary.

Moron of the Week - Ann Coulter

See the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx9Bi3C4rs8&mode=related&search=

'Nuff said.

Ann Coulter...

...called John Edwards a "faggot" so I guess it's ok for me to call Ann Coulter a "giraffe neck!" I believe even those on the right are going to steer clear of her. She is one hateful woman.

Good Times Never Seemed So Good... 2 years ago!!!

A review from the second concert in Christchurch New Zealand
March 8th Concert Review - 2005
Okay, after last night’s concert I understand a bit better why Christchurch folks are so reserved.There was a guy behind me who looked about 25 or so. Married to a girl, he says who “hates Neil” so he was there with his dad. They both were very stoic in their appreciation (arms crossed and all that) but seemed to get a huge kick out of me. As the show progressed I noticed the older of the two was singing and clapping along with every song. At “America” I stood and my whole group was right with me.

I would later learn that the commentary before the song would perhaps not be well received by many there given the political climate. The group standing for this song was again a small minority. I got the first hint of what can happen when a kiwi let’s his guard down (probably because someone around them is being more foolish than they could ever look themselves) during “Forever In Bluejeans”.

The stoic, macho father/son pair behind me, my whole row, and eventually the whole stadium (save about 6 really stubborn kiwis in the first raised row just to the left of my seats) were on their feet and quite unwilling to sit at the end of the song.

A Loud sing-along from a group in my section during You Don’t Bring Me Flowers was a surprise even to me. I don’t think I have ever seen that before. Now when kiwis cut loose, and they did, a reasonable person might fear, just a bit for his life.

How many of you have ever been the person in the center of a row during Sweet Caroline when the half to your right is swaying to- and- fro and the half to your left is swaying fro- and- to? I was getting seriously squished ( the son from the father/son team behind me found that very amusing, btw).

I even tried without success to get the two groups to come together but ultimately decided that my best move was to duck and cover. At this point the whole crowd was pretty well into the show. They stayed on their feet through “I’m a Believer” and seemed quite reluctant to sit as “Glory Road” began. The crowd, once they came to life were quite lively indeed. They stood (every one) from the end of IAIS until the band left the stage.

Other than the fact that I am a bit black and blue - this could well be one of the best concert experiences I have ever had (perhaps a top-10). Neil was rock solid tonight. His voice was rich and his timing is really coming together. As I sit here in the airport at Christchurch, there is much more to reflect on regarding my experience here. I learned that the further south you go in NZ, the more culturally conservative the people are (remember folks, no pink shirts on guys south of Aukland). I also learned that you should be careful what you ask for when trying to get people to come out of their shell. There is usually a party animal locked somewhere deep inside. In groups this can be quite dangerous.

I also benefited from conversations with the natives which helped me to understand relations between our nations and a bit about the Kiwi economy. Given their liberal politics and conservative lifestyles, any mid-westerner from the US would feel quite at home here. I recommend NZ for anyone whether you are coming to see Neil or take in the sites and possible rugby game. In the Band intro, Neil promises, “we’re gonna rock this town.” He delivered big time. A few doses of pain killer and a good couple of nights sleep and I will be ready for Sydney.

Wow, that was a shock--

Nick was not a surprize but AJ did not deserve to go. Sanjaya was given a gift.
I still need someone to punch Sundance- what a blubbering sack- he was crying after each one got the boot. How bad is he going to cry when he is sent packing.

Alaina was was not a surprize, Antonella was safe for another week- unbelievable. That makes the choice to send Leslie home a surprize as well. If this thing comes down to a Sanjaya/Antonella final I am going to PUKE!!!

Okay, seriously. If Sanjaya is to survive he needs to really step it up and do something completely different. Perhaps pull something out of the Leif Garrett covers library or a country number. Fact is- guys goin' home after next week anyway- so he might as well take a chance.

Okay, I confess. I didn't see the women on Idol

That being said- the buzz is that Antonella was not that good and got real snarky with Simon. People who were her fans (fantonellas) are apparently turning on her.

The instant poll yesterday on one sight where people vote for who they would kick off- wouldn't that be more fun- had 80% saying it was time for Sanjaya to go. we shall see.

According to that poll the bottom three men in order are Sanjaya (80% disapproval), Nick(4.1% hate him). Third in this anti-popularity contest was Sundance at 3.8%. Brandon, my pick to go home scored a 3.7% - if the poll is acurate Sanjaya and Nick will go. If it were me I would send home Sanjaya and Brandon and I would kick Sundance just because I still don't like him, even though he was rock solid on Tuesday.

For the ladies Antonella have 70% wanting her to hit the road and take her smutty pictures with her. 17% think Alaina should go, and take Antonella's smutty pictures with her. Then there is Leslie who 5.7% want to dismiss. I think the poll is clear enough that there is no reason for me to doubt that Antonella and Alaina will go home- I hope someone takes pictures.