Idol Gossip for today, and the War in Iraq

Yeah, it's a day or two late, but I was so depressed over the results that I had to take a day or two to recover from the shock. Well, maybe shock is a bit too over the top, I mean how does a person go into shock over a TV show? So, let's just say I was upset and let it go at that, but do keep in mind the 'shock' reference, okay?
So, I was not surprised that Phil was voted off, but honestly, after his performance Tuesday night, I was pretty sure he was safe. I mean come on, out of all six performers, he really did give the best performance by far. So, America spoke and Phil got the boot. I was this () close to heartbroken.
Phil's rendition of "Blaze of Glory" was wonderful, and he finally hit his stride with that song, even Simon said so, and Simon hordes his compliments like a pimp hoards his stable!
But what really threw me for a loop was the reprieve that Jordin got. Now don't get me wrong, Jordin is one of my favorites. That child has a great and powerful voice, but her choice of songs, by all rights should have been her death knell. So, how she managed to slip under the radar with her performance is a true mystery, to me at least.
SO, then Chris gets the boot. Why do you suppose that is? He did a great job on "Wanted: Dead or Alive" Not nearly as good as Phil did on Blaze of Glory, but certainly better than Jordin.
So, my guess is most of the 130+ million votes came form boys who think Jordin is hot.
Oh, well, there is still some great talent left. My pick will have to be Jordin. She has come so far in this competition, and her poise, her stage presence and her talent have grown exponentially.
Melinda is a star, and will be huge even if she doesn't win Idol, and so will Blake and Lakesha, so my votes from here on out will go to Jordin.



On a new note, I know everyone has seen the picture of the little eight year old boy,tears streaming down his face, his little chin quivering as he accepted the American flag from a U.S. Marine at his father's funeral.
That my friends is also the face of war. I was actually surprised when GMA had an interview with the boy and his mother this morning. After all, they are extremely proud of that Marine who gave his life for freedom. This husband and father was on his second tour of duty in Iraq, one he volunteered for because he believed in what they were fighting for and he knew all too well that freedom isn't free. For every right we,as American's have in this country, someone gave his/her life to secure.
Okay, so this is not a popular war, but come on, how many wars have been popular? None, but as long as there are men, there will be wars. It is encoded on our DNA and nothing short of complete annihilation of the human species is ever going to stop that.
All we can do as Americans is support the men and women who have volunteered for this war and let them know that we honor their sacrifices and we support their decisions.
I know, I know, a lot of soldiers didn't opt to go to Iraq, but didn't they? Of course they did. They voluntarily joined the military, they weren't forced to join. Remember, all we have is an all volunteer Army; there is no draft any more.
A great many of the National Guardsmen joined for the sole purpose of getting the Army to pay fro their college. What better way than to join the Guard. They can serve their two or three years, get a bunch of bucks for college and be able to use the Veteran's preference on things from jobs to mortgages. I'm sure it never occurred to them that joining the military put them on the front lines should war break out. And break out it did.
So, we have an all volunteer Army fighting an enemy we can not define, or identify. THis war is unlike any we have ever fought before. In the Civil War, The Spanish-American War, WWl, WWll, Korean conflict, Viet Nam we knew exactly who we were fighting and why. Of course in the VN war the enemy was often disguised as SVN farmers, but we knew who they were.
This war, we don't have a clue. The guy standing next to you on the street corner could well be a terrorist wearing an IED. The guy riding down the street, wife and kiddies in the car with him could be a car bomber. How can we tell? So, how does one fight an enemy one can not clearly identify?
Carefully. That's all they can do. And these men and women are doing the very best they can. We need their support, not our petty political spats for power here at home.
Congress threatens a veto of the Presidents veto. Congress is screaming for a pullout and refusing to sign the President's request for more money for the war and on it goes. If Clinton had declared this war, then the Republicans would be screaming for pullouts and his head. It's all political B.S. and the ones who are suffering for this nonsense are the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Send them the freaking money they need for the supplies they need to stay alive. Stop bickering over money that, by the way isn't yours to bicker over, and support these guys and gals.
Don't tell me or the rest of the world that you support your troops, but not the war. The troops are the ones fighting this war, not Kennedy, Clinton, McCain, or Bush. Their asses are not on the line every single minute of every day, and their families are not the ones who die a little every day that the news bombards us with scenes of carnage against our soldiers.
AS usual, this whole thing boils down to partisan B.S. The Dems v the Repubs. SO, my thought is simply this: If Congress and the Senate want to fight so badly over who's right and who's wrong, let them don a uniform and hie their fat asses over to Iraq and have at it!
Just remember the faces of this war, and remember this child's heartbreak, and temper your diatribe with against the war with compassion for the ones who are sacrificing everything.
Congress and Senate are sacrificing nothing.

Tags: Reading Rucker, Linda Rucker, American Idol, war, Jordin Sparks, Iraq, Good MOrning America

The Many Faces of Sanjaya!!

Sanjaya, Sanjaya,
My little papaya!

Is that not the lamest rhyme you've ever heard? Sanjaya, my little buddy, what are you thinking? Do you really think you're going to win American Idol? Huh? Of course you do.
Well, I've got big headlines for you my young friend- and for the rest of America.
This kid actually has a shot at walking away with the whole enchilada! Seriously, he does.
Come on y'all, you gotta give this kid props! He knows how to play to his audience. He not only knows how to play them, he knows WHO to play!!
Every week this little guy walks out on that stage and performs. Now, I'm not saying he out performs or out sings any of the other contestants, because let's face it folks, he doesn't! He's one of those high school musical performers that wouldn't even make the lead in a production of Oklahoma! And his dancing leaves a lot to be desired, so I think old MJ is safe. Sanjaya may have a couple of Mj's moves, but he lacks MJ's style and form. Well, maybe not his form, cause Sanjaya is every bit as thin as the younger MJ was, but let's face it, he's not the hoofer MJ is and likely never will be.
So, what then is it about little Sanjaya that has folks gathered around the water cooler every Wednesday morning yakking?
I'll tell you what, this kid is smart. A whole lot smarter than the judges and America in general gives him credit for.
Sajaya knows that he is up against some stiff competition, and he doesn't really have the talent to beat the likes of Lakesha Jones, or Melinda Doolittle or Jordin Sparks or Blake Lewis or Chris Richardson or even Phil Stacey. The little guy doesn't have the pipes, but he does have the charisma to make the teeny boppers swoon and folks that's what drives this competition! The swooning teeny boppers who hang pix of Sanjaya on their bedroom walls and listen to him sing with tears coursing down their chubby pre-pubescent cheeks. These are the voters who are going to give this competition to Sanjaya, because they are the ones who decide who becomes a teen idol. Not you, and certainly not me.
These young girls could care less if the kid can carry a tune in a fifty gallon drum. All they care about is that his is young, he is cute, he is hot, and he makes them swoon. And they are going to make him big!!
And they're going to do this at the expense of some truly talented young people, like the remaining Idol wannabes.
All I can say is thank God for people like Simon and Randy who know true talent when they hear it, because without them, fantastic performers like Daughtry might well have fallen under the radar.
So go on and cry and swoon and vote a gazillion times for little Sanjaya kiddies. He can be YOUR American Idol, and he'll deserve it, because he knows his audience and he knows how to play them.
The rest of the crew, don't fret, you'll be stars in your own right and you'll have earned that title by your talent and not because you know how to make the teeny boppers swoon.
As for you little Sanjaya, all I can say is, more power to you, little buddy!

America Can't Seem to Get it Right!

Another season, and yet more proof that America has zero talent sense! Don't believe it? Let's take a look back over the last five seasons, shall we?
So far, America has managed to get it right exactly one and a half times! One and half out of five, apparently, soon to be six.
IN season one, America decided that Kelly Clarkson was a better performer than Justin. Okay, maybe she was, but come on, do we really need another Britney, Jessica, Nelly, Gwen? Do we? I don't think so. my point is, Kelly, while she has a pleasing voice, she is no more talented than any one of the dozen or so other female singers out today.
So, as far as Kelly goes, I give her only half props.
Season two, we got The Velvet Teddy Bear, Ruben Studdard. I was totally blown away when he walked away the winner. Not that he doesn't have a great voice, but was he really better than Clay? I don' t think so. What I do think, is that Ruben's family likely dialed their fingers to nubs voting for him as was evidenced by the tiny margin he won by.
So Ruben took season two, but Clay appears to be more well known and more prolific in his singing and appearances. So, America got it wrong in season two.
Season three. Fantasia Barrino. Hunh? Really? She was the most talented of the Idol contestants that season? Really? I don't think so. And I can't name a single song she has recorded. But, I'm sure those of you who voted for her probably can. So, she pulled it off, good for her, bad for American Idol. Our lack of taste is really beginning to show.
Now we come to season four. Bo Buice and Carrie Underwood, both wonderful performers and both more than worthy of the title. Carrie won, by how much I can't really say, and for the first time America got it right. However, America would have gotten it just as right if it had been a tie. Bo has a great rocker voice and style, and Carrie is the reigning queen of country, much to Faith Hill's chagrin!
Carrie has an amazing voice and her rendition of Heart's Alone knocked America's socks off! She very much deserves to wear the title of American Idol. And how many other past Idols can say thier first album went platinum? Kudos to Carrie and to America!
Season five? Oh my goodness! The Soul Patrol took top honors when America gave the title to Taylor, but once again proved that taste is relevant. While I loved Taylor and and his antics, I just knew Chris Daughtry was going to go all the way! I was flabbergasted when tone deaf, talent ignorant America voted him off BEFORE McFee! And Daughtry has proven he has more talent in his pinkie than Taylor does in his whole rhythm challenged body!!
Anybody heard "Home" by Daughtry? Sure you have, every Wednesday night when the loser is voted off the show! If Nigel Lithgow thinks Daughtry is good enough to be featured every week on the show, how could America vote him off?
Daughtry has an amazing, strong, very unique and easily recognizable voice and that young man is living proof that America has no ear for talent. And everyone thinks Simon is nutz!
And finally, we come to this years contest and Sanjaya Malakar! Wake up America. We had a Michael Jackson and there will NEVER be another soft voiced, crooner/rocker to compare,and certainly not Sanjaya! Proving once again that America has zero talent sense and is totally tone deaf!!
When Chris Richardson was in the bottom three and Sanjaya was left unscathed, I was floored. What the hell is going on? Chris can sing and perform rings around little Sanjaya,and does every week. I can only imagine what Simon and the other judges were thinking when Chris was voted in the bottom three! So, once again it's looking more and more like American will continue to get it wrong!!

Reality T.V. American Idol, The Amazing Race, Survivor, and Deal or No Deal!


Okay, fess up. How many of us watch these shows? Come on, come on, it's okay to admit that you are one of the millions who are hooked on reality T.V. I am, and I freely admit it. My husband thinks there should be support groups for people like me, sort of like A.A. and AlAnon, and twelve step programs to de-program us, but I don't .
These shows are pretty entertaining, really. Take American Idol. Where else can someone like Sanjaya Malakar have adoring fans crying and screaming in an audience? NOWHERE! Come on really, think about it. Here's this geeky little, skinny guy with weird hair and puppy dog eyes who has this soft, pre-plastic surgery, pre- skin bleaching voice of Michael Jackson, and a few, and I do mean a very few of MJ's moves, who is STILL on the show.I don't know about you all, but for me, I have to watch every week just to see if he's still there. It is amazing what America finds talented, or is Sanjaya a joke? I believe he is. I was told there was a website that is set up so people can vote for the worst A.I. contestant, and Sanjaya is winning. So what does that say? They are deliberating voting for him to humiliate A.I. and to show America that organization and determination will win the day. So, Sanjaya is still in the running for your American Idol. As for me, I'll take Lakesha, Melinda or Jordin, real singers, with real talent.
So, now we move on to The Amazing Race. Did you ever notice that in every race there is a gay couple? Oswald and Danny this season, as All Stars. I love them, and personally, I hope they win, because they got guts, you know? But, my favorite team is Charla and Myrna. You gotta give props to the little lady, she is one determined cookie. Oh boy, did I say cookie? How about having to bite through 600 boxes of cookies to find one licorice one. Give me a paint brush!
My least favorite team, Kandice and Dustin. Beauty queens? Bullbutter! Snooty queens is more like it. They have zero personalities, and I'll bet neither one of them was ever even nominated for Miss Congeniality! Nasty bunch, those two. Yeah bunch. I know there's only two of them, but they are so danged annoying and snippy that they seem like a bunch. Boo! Be glad when they're gone and I'll bet if Eric and Danielle have their way about it the queens will be history at the next yield!
I was real unhappy when Rob and Amber were eliminated, but hey, if you can't spell Philippines, then...
And Uchenna and Joyce already won, so sayonara.
I think I'll enter the race one of these days. How hard can it be?
And now Survivor! That show drives me nutz!! Really. I have watched it since the second season and it never ceases to amaze me at the stupid decisions these people make. Hello, did any of them EVER watch the show? Why would any sane, rational person vote out their strongest and most useful players BEFORE the merge?
The object of the game is to go into the merge with the most members of your tribe intact, so you can pick off the opposing tribe members one by one, but no, these bozos vote off their strongest players and go to tribal council where they lose yet another player and then they cry and moan about numbers when the tribes merge and there is this lunatic scramble to create alliances with folks who are out to vote them off and win.
Dummies!
Now, if I was going to be on that show, I would research the location's flora and fauna thoroughly to see if I could find food for my tribe and make myself indispensable, by feeding them. A tribe must eat to stay strong and defeat the opposing tribe. Does anyone do this? No. They sit around and they whine and moan because they are hungry and weak, instead of getting up off their butts and finding food. It just amazes me, and what's more, it happens EVERY flipping season.
I'll bet the creators of that show are in hysterics laughing at how dopey people can be! If you're that goofy, you don't need a million bucks. I think I'll sign up for that show. How hard can it be?
And finally, DoND! Now you talk about dumb folks, greedy folks. These people take the cake. Seriously, if you are a waitress from East Bumbleflip, Kansas and you are making ten thousand dollars a year, why in the name of all that is Holy would you pass up that two hundred thousand dollar bird in the hand for that elusive and not bloodly likely to be in your case, million bucks? Does that make any sense to you at all? I'm goofy, okay, but I ain't stupid. People are just plain greedy. They have got to know that the odds of them having that million are about the same as winning the lottery, but greed wins every time and people cry and moan because they walk out with $750.00. You big dummies, you had a shot a two hundred thousand and you blew it? I don't get it.
I think I'll sign up for that show. How hard can it be?

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I thought I eased into that rather nicely, don't you?
Thanks!

Antonella, American Idol and the WWE

So Antonella is safe for another week! Hmmm! Why? She has a so-so voice, and zero stage presence. So why is she still on? Okay, so America can go to MySpace and see her in her provocative poses, big deal, so what?
As Simon keeps saying, this is a singing competition, not a beauty contest, and even if it was, I kind a doubt she would win any prizes.
I wasn't in the least surprised to see AJ voted out. He's cute, but he has just a so-so voice, too. The other two losers, who cares, besides their families?
Paula was her usual stewed self. Can we say disgusting?
And what is with Ryan for pity's sake? This is a munchkin in dress, but a munchkin nevertheless. He loves dissing Simon, who most likely could buy and sell the little man a dozen times over just with his pocket change.
Why will this people keep disagreeing with Simon. The man knows talent, look at Il Devo. He is a record producer for crying out loud. If that doesn't give him an insight into what and who will or won't make it, then who does. Ryan. He's a freaking DJ.
Okay, okay, so he plays music, but does that make him an expert on what or who will be big? I don't think so. Hell, I buy cd's and I listen to the radio, so if Ryan is an expert by virtue of listening to music, then so am I and so are you.
This season of Idol promises to be a real eyeopener into the tastes of middle America.
If they don't give it to Melinda or Lakisha, then America has zero taste in music and a tin ear!!
So wrestling anyone? I love the WWE.

I have a major complaint. Okay, so its mostly major only to me, but hey, it's my blog!
Are you watching American Idol this season? I am, and I'm here to tell you it is painful in the extreme.
It looks to me as though America is fast running out of real talent, and what we are left with is now on Idol.
Okay, granted, there are some pretty decent singers on there, namely, Lakisha Jones, Jordin Sparks, Melinda Dolittle on the girl side and Blake Lewis, Brandon Rogers, Chris Sligh, Jared Cotter, Phil Stacy and Sundance Head, but sadly none of them, so far, have even come close to Carrie Underwood, or Taylor Hicks or Chris Daughtry.
I'm watching just to see if I can find that spark of fire the above named winners showed, but so far, zilch.
Now, I may change my tune as we progress farther into the show, but for now, I can't even find one I want to vote for.
I suppose the judges, with the exception of one that is, know what they are doing, but this season is just not up to par with the previous seasons.
Which brings me to my real complaint; PAULA ABDUL.
Why in the bloody blue hell Fox and the Idol producers don't axe that one is beyond me.
How did they come to the conclusion that a choreographer, a one hit wonder, could actually be a good judge of talent?
She contradicts everything Simon says, and most of what Randy says. The two guys, both music moguls know talent when they see it, or rather see and hear it, but Paula is worthless as far as I can see.
She offers no constructive criticism to these would be stars, preferring to lie to them and tell them they are truly talented. How does that help them to improve their games? It doesn't. It gives them a false sense of their abilities, and when the truth comes crashing in on them in the form of harsh criticisms or rejections, I can assure you they aren't going to thank Paula for her flattery.
I would much prefer Simon's blunt critique or Randy's oft times apologetic criticism to Paula's smarmy flattery any day.
And one other thing, I get so sick and tired of watching her slump farther and farther down in her seat as the show progresses and her speech becomes more and more slurred, her eyes blearier. She needs to start putting Coke in that glass and Coke alone!!