Idol Thoughts: Week 2 - The Girls

Katharine, “All In Love Is Fair” – It started out well, with a cool jazz sound, but it didn’t go anywhere. The runs absolutely stank and the top of her voice was screechy, pinched and just plain horrid. 6.5

Kinnik, “I’m Here for the Party” – I’m telling you, she is the black Angelina Jolie. Not too shabby. I don’t think her voice is really meant for country music, but she definitely could have picked a better country song to show off her voice. 7

Lisa, “Who’s Loving You” – Yikes, that was a pitchy start. I love the songs she’s picked so far, but I don’t think her voice is mature enough or big enough to pull them off yet. And that vibrato is way too slow. Two words: breath support. 7

Melissa, “Why Haven’t I Heard From You” – Good song, decent voice, but she didn’t wow me. Paula called her voice “smoky” last week, but I call it a disaster in vocal nodes waiting to happen. She won’t be singing much longer if she continues singing like that. 8

Heather, “Hero” – Well, that was totally a Disney show choir performance: dull and lifeless. That high note was very unpleasant and the “Woo!” was ridiculous and seemed out of place. I don’t hear or see anything special about her. 5.5

Brenna, “Last Dance” – Enough with the posing already. It makes us want to kick you in the shins. What’s with the song choices tonight? They don’t show any range or wow. Everything is just blah. 6

Paris, “Wind Beneath My Wings” – The majority of the song was so-so, but repeat of the chorus was impressive. OK, breath is the most important part of singing, but the deep pauses and obvious nose breaths are not necessary, honey. 7.5

Ayla, “I Want You To Need Me” – Great song, although I’d rather have a bigger voice singing it. It was better than I expected, although I hate the obvious change between her head and chest voices. Simon is dead right: she’s mechanical. It feels too rehearsed. 8

Kellie, “Let’s Give ‘Em Something To Talk About” – She looks so uncomfortable and unnatural on the stage, but she sounds really good. I liked the rough, rock edge in combination with the twang. Nicely done! 8.5

Mandisa, “Cry” –That’s what I’m talkin’ about…girlfriend can blow! She’s a natural on stage, picked a good song, and rocked the house. Yeah, she’s gonna be in this for the long haul. 9

Happy Birthday, Mr. E!

Yesterday was Ernie's fourth birthday. Actually, I don't know exactly when he was born because he was a stray I adopted from Tucson animal control. But he was about 8 months old when I adopted him on October 26th, so we celebrate his birthday on February 26th.

He's very happy with his new squeaky toy and peanut butter-flavored rawhide.

Video of the Week: Basketball Mayhem

Watch this, but make sure you have a few tissues handy.

(Via Andrew Sullivan.)

60 Minutes on Denmark

On Sunday, 60 Minutes aired a segment on what's been happening in Denmark since the publication of the Mohammed cartoons (video available at Expose the Left). It was absolutely appalling. Bob Simon's report portrayed Denmark as a fairytale land of daydreamers who are guilty of bringing this chaos on themselves.

Who could ever imagine that this lovely little land would spark riots sweeping the Islamic world? Is it a quirk, a coincidence? Correspondent Bob Simon traveled to Copenhagen to find out and discovered that there is something really strange in the state of Denmark and that it’s no accident the firestorm started here.

[...]Ever since the second World War, the Danes have been pleased with their country, pleased with their generous welfare system and, above all, pleased with themselves.

The lines between fantasy and reality aren’t sharply defined around Denmark. The elite troops guarding the royal palace look like toy soldiers, the national symbol is a bare-breasted mermaid luxuriating in Copenhagen’s harbor and the capital’s streets are lined with homes that could be gingerbread houses.

Considering the heinous tone of the report, I was surprised that Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen's beautiful response to this question was included in the segment:

"You are on record as defending the paper, defending its right to publish. And your critics have said that defending them so strongly has served to further inflame the Muslim world. What’s your view on that, sir?" Simon asked Rasmussen.

"Well what I’ve done is to insist on the principle of free speech, the principle of free press. And I have made it clear that the government has no means whatsoever to interfere with a free and independent newspaper," the prime minister replied.

Of course, that was prefaced by the following statement from Toger Seidenfaden, a newspaper editor who works for the rival of the newspaper that originally published the cartoons:

"Because sadly enough, in the domestic political situation in Denmark, the logic was simple. As conflict between the biggest newspaper in the land and religious Muslims. On whose side am I on? It's very simple for a prime minister to answer: ‘I'm with the big newspaper,’" Seidenfaden says.

Among those interviewed was Ahmed Abu-Laban, the imam who spread the twelve published cartoons, as well as several fake, unpublished cartoons, around the Middle East, inciting the mayhem that continues today.

The Muslims felt totally rebuffed at home in Denmark. So the imam sent a delegation to the Middle East with a dossier of pictures, not only of the published cartoons, but of others that were even more offensive. One showed the prophet with the head of a pig.

Abu-Laban told 60 Minutes he had received these in anonymous threatening letters. But the dossier left the impression that those pictures had been printed in the newspaper.

"I guess what I'm getting at, imam, didn't you include these obscene cartoons as a way of really stirring up the pot?" Simon asked.

"We didn't give it to media. Don't forget this point," the imam said.

"I'm the media. And I have it," Simon replied.

It was the dissemination of that dossier which ignited the flames that are still burning today.

"You weren't getting any attention here before you spread the word. Now, you're getting attention and engagement. Do you think your mission was a success?" Simon asked.

"Yes. The whole world is engaged. I'm so positive," Abu-Laban replied.

Asked if he thought the casualties are worthwhile, the imam said: "I feel sorry. But we make cars and they make accidents. We build skyscrapers, but they collapse in an earthquake. This is life. We have maybe unexpected tragedies. And we have to live with them."

So, in a nutshell, the report portrayed Muslims as victims who were baited by the cartoonists, the newpaper, and ultimately shunned by Danes and their government. Nice, huh? That's today's MSM for you.

Don't forget:

Virginia Won't Break for Bacon

From The Washington Times:

[Virginia] has rejected two proposed markers near the sites of fatal crashes, contending that the memorials are for people, not pigs.

[...] People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) proposed the signs, each at a cost of $300, in memory of hogs that were killed on the way to slaughter at Smithfield Foods, the world's largest hog processor.

[...] The signs were to read: "99 pigs died here because of driver negligence Please drive with caution. PETA."

I hit a rabbit once and cried about it on and off for the rest of the day. I've put my life in danger many times, swerving to avoid animals. Yes, I'm an animal lover, but this suggestion is beyond ridiculous. What's next? We start carrying little R.I.P./awareness signs to post on the road sides when we accidentally hit something? We get points on our licenses or our insurance rates go up for nailing a squirrel?

(Via Nick.)

The Human Clock

This is really neat. Would it be wrong to watch the clock all day to see each picture?

(Via annika.)

Idol Schedule

Here is an important message about your favorite show.

(Yes, this is my new favorite toy. Who doesn't love monkeys with British accents and great accessories?)

Weekend Plans

Thanks to President's Day, I've got a three-day weekend. Woohoo! Tonight, I'll do dinner and games at Dave & Buster's with KB, Ann, Chris and Conrad. Tomorrow, I'll run some errands and get together with Brian. I'll be lazing on a Sunday afternoon when Ernie and I head to PA to spend the day/night with my folks. Monday, I get to see my beloved chiropractor (thank God!) before returning to Frederick in the late afternoon or early evening. Then it's back to the usual routine on Tuesday.

Happy weekend, y'all!

A Day in the Life of Lee

This email is just one example of the many reasons to love Lee.

You will NOT believe the afternoon I have had.

12:30 - I missed a phone call from Hillsborough Community College (henceforth referred to as HCC) in Plant City, FL.
12:47 - Realized I missed phone call and returned call.
12:51 - Set up interview in Plant City for Saturday (yes, Saturday) Mar 4 at 12:30.
1:12 - Purchased airline tickets to Florida, leaving Thu, Mar 2 and returning Sun, Mar 5 (both direct flights).
1:24 - Realized I would need official transcripts to take to interview (HCC policy) and began work on mailing transcript requests to the plethora of schools which I have attended.
1:57 - Went to post office to ensure mailing of transcript requests today.
2:17 - Returned home from post office.
2:18 - Recieved phone call from HCC in Brandon (different HCC branch) to set up a different interview. Choice of either Friday, Feb 24 (next Friday) or Tuesday Mar 7. Chose Friday, Feb 24 because schedule at ESM is very busy on Monday (didn't want to miss).
2:29 - Realized that I cannot miss school on Friday, Feb 24 for various reasons.
2:30 - Called HCC Brandon HR to reschedule for Tues, Mar 7. (Big mess - details to follow via phone conference).
2:57 - Called Airtran Airways to beg them to change my reutrn flight from Orlando to Rochester on Sun, Mar 5 to Tampa to Rochester on Tuesday, Mar 7. Yolanda was very helpful and agreed.
3:04 - Realized I need two official transcripts from the plethora of schools which I have attended because I now have two intereviews.
3:05 - S#!$ my pants!
3:06 - Cleaned myself and began filling out transcript request for fax services.
3:16 - Discovered that the University of Hawai'i has increased their transcript fee from $9 to $15 (what a rip-off), so the previous request is now invalid which is mute anyway because I still need to send another request.
3:34 - Head off to the Kinko's (I wonder if they're open) to fax.
3:37 - Realize that the Kinko's listed on the website is no longer there (what is this, Friendly's)
3:38 - Curse Kinko's.
3:41 - Arrive at UPS store to fax requests.
3:42 - Get in a fight with a woman who is trying to decide if her vintage comic books and "delicate" (her word) bone china is considered "magazine size" - she ruined my life.
3:51 - Called ONU Registrar to verify receipt of transcript request.
3:53 - Called UH Registrar to verify receipt of transcript request.
3:55 - Called IU Registrar to verify receipt of transcript request.
4:08 - Returned home and wrote this e-mail.

I hate my life.

BFF
XOXOXO

Cartoon Madness Continues

I guess we should have expected this.

A Pakistani cleric announced a $1 million bounty for killing a cartoonist who drew the Prophet Muhammad caricatures...

..."This is a unanimous decision of by all imams (prayer leaders) of Islam that whoever insults the prophets deserves to be killed and whoever will take this insulting man to his end, will get this prize."

(Via Andrew Sullivan.)

Batman Goes After Bin Laden

There's going to be a welcome addition to the cartoon drama of late.

Batman will use his extensive knowledge of caves to go after a new villain — Osama bin Laden.

DC Comics' famed Caped Crusader will turn his focus from clowns like the Joker to face off against chillingly real al Qaeda thugs in an upcoming graphic novel called "Holy Terror, Batman!"

"It is, not to put too fine a point on it, a piece of propaganda," legendary Batman writer Frank Miller said of his latest project. "Batman kicks al Qaeda's ass."

Miller called the comic "an explosion from my gut reaction of what'shappening now" and "a reminder to people who seem to have forgotten who we're up against."

(Via Michelle Malkin.)

Cheney's Hunting Mishap

Considering the media frenzy over the past few days, no doubt you’ve heard that Vice President Cheney accidentally shot someone. At first glance, this would appear to be headline news, but look again.

Here's the short version of the story: While hunting quail in southern Texas on Saturday, the VP accidentally shot his friend Harry Whittington, 78, with birdshot. The hunting party notified the White House of the incident and took to getting medical attention for the injured man. Katharine Armstrong, the owner of the hunting ranch, broke the story to her local newspaper (after letting the VP know she planned to do so). She had this to say of the incident:

The shots "broke the skin," Armstrong said. "It knocked him silly. But he was fine. He was talking. His eyes were open. It didn't get in his eyes or anything like that."

[...]"This is something that happens from time to time. You now, I've been peppered pretty well myself," said Armstrong.

So, it took almost twenty-four hours for the White House to hold a press conference to answer questions about the incident. Why? Maybe because the incident wasn’t such a big deal until the White House press corps found out that the Corpus Christi Caller-Times newspaper got to break the news first, so they turned into a bunch of whining crybabies. (The video of the press briefing is here.) Believe it or not, one reporter actually asked if the VP could offer his resignation. The White House probably should have shared the news earlier, but to imply a cover-up? Come on.

At least we've gotten a few good laughs out of the incident. My favorite so far comes from "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart":

Jon Stewart: "I'm joined now by our own vice-presidential firearms mishap analyst, Rob Corddry. Rob, obviously a very unfortunate situation. How is the vice president handling it?

Rob Corddry: "Jon, tonight the vice president is standing by his decision to shoot Harry Wittington. According to the best intelligence available, there were quail hidden in the brush. Everyone believed at the time there were quail in the brush.

"And while the quail turned out to be a 78-year-old man, even knowing that today, Mr. Cheney insists he still would have shot Mr. Whittington in the face. He believes the world is a better place for his spreading buckshot throughout the entire region of Mr. Whittington's face."

Jon Stewart: "But why, Rob? If he had known Mr. Whittington was not a bird, why would he still have shot him?"

Rob Corddry: "Jon, in a post-9-11 world, the American people expect their leaders to be decisive. To not have shot his friend in the face would have sent a message to the quail that America is weak."

Jon Stewart: "That's horrible."

Rob Corddry: "Look, the mere fact that we're even talking about how the vice president drives up with his rich friends in cars to shoot farm-raised wingless quail-tards is letting the quail know 'how' we're hunting them. I'm sure right now those birds are laughing at us in that little 'covey' of theirs.

Jon Stewart: "I'm not sure birds can laugh, Rob."

Rob Corddry: "Well, whatever it is they do … coo .. they're cooing at us right now, Jon, because here we are talking openly about our plans to hunt them. Jig is up. Quails one, America zero.

Dogs vs. Men

I couldn't agree more.

Pooches have a perennial good mood. They are always willing to spend time together, and always up for a cuddle on the couch. They're keen to exercise, and rarely complain about what is served for dinner.

Other key qualities, says New York psychologist Joel Gavriele-Gold, are that "dogs don’t talk back and you don’t have to worry about their emotions."

"In fact, you don’t have to worry about what they are thinking either," says Gavriele-Gold..."

Ain't it the truth?

(Thanks to KB.)

Quiz: What Planet Are You From?

You Are From Neptune

You are dreamy and mystical, with a natural psychic ability. You love music, poetry, dance, and (most of all) the open sea. Your soul is filled with possibilities, and your heart overflows with compassion. You can be in a room full of friendly people and feel all alone. If you don't get carried away with one idea, your spiritual nature will see you through anything.

What Planet Are You From?

Music Recommendation

It's Time
Michael Bublé

This CD is perfection. Really. The arrangements and instrumentation are exciting and refreshing without over-shadowing the vocals. And Bublé's voice is fantastic. Sultry, yet genuine; powerful without over-singing; effortless, yet full of emotion. Even if you have other recordings of these standards, this is a definite must-have.

Update: I'll be at his concert in D.C. on Friday, March 3rd. Can hardly wait...

Brokeback to the Future

Brilliant!

(Via Sam.)

Worth A Thousand Words

Actually, this is priceless.

All Because of Cartoons?

Unbelievable.

Remembering Rand

Today marks Ayn Rand's 101st birthday. If you've never read any of her works, you really should; her ideas are more appropriate now than ever before.

From Atlas Shrugged:

"If you saw Atlas, the giant who holds the world on his shoulders, if you saw that he stood, blood running down his chest, his knees buckling, his arms trembling but still trying to hold the world aloft with the last of his strength, and the greater the effort the heavier the world bore down upon his shoulders--what would you tell him to do?"

"I . . . don't know. What . . . could he do? What would you tell him?"

"To shrug."

Support Free Speech - Buy Danish

If you aren't sure why you should be stocking up on butter cookies, Michelle Malkin has excellent coverage.

Update: Ed Brayton's post over at Positive Liberty has Denmark's and Norway's (where the cartoons were also published) responses to demands for an apology.

Those Shaggy Steelers

So that's why Ben is so darn hairy. Personally, I think he's just trying to compete with Polamalu's fabulous locks.