Idol Top 8 (Added Results)

OK:
Jason Castro — Somewhere Over The Rainbow
David Archuleta — Angels
Syesha Mercado — I Believe

Fair:
Carly Smithson — The Show Must Go On
David Cook — Innocent
Kristy Lee Cook — Anyway
Michael Johns — Dream On

Awful:
Brooke White — You’ve Got a Friend

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UPDATE: Aussie Michael Johns was eliminated this week. Syesha and Carly rounded out the bottom three. Syesha and Kristy Lee Cook really need to go home. I'm not surprised Michael Johns got cut. As a rocker-type he's been overshadowed by David Cook primarily because of song choice and Cooks shameless cribbing over other's arrangements. The finally three will probably be Castro and the Davids.

Ryan White, Eighteen Years Later

It's been 18 years since Ryan White lost his battle with HIV/AIDS in 1990. Ryan is above, left, his growth stunted by HIV.

A young hemophiliac, Ryan became infected with HIV through contaminated blood products. He was diagnosed in 1984. When he attempted to return to school, he was shunned and harassed. Parents and teachers rallied against him.

A legal battle against the school brought his plight to national attention and humanized the HIV/AIDS crisis. He had hoped if he could live until he was 18, a cure would be found. Another eighteen years on and sadly HIV/AIDS is still just a treatable illness, there's no vaccine or cure.

Three years his junior, as a fresh-faced high schooler I found Ryan's story personally touching. It influenced my volunteer efforts in college, working to create a safer atmosphere for gays and others through education. Years on, I was a bit gratified learning the organization we formed continued doing that important work. I was fortunate enough to meet Ryan's mom during those years and so, waking today, I noted the anniversary and knew I wanted to blog about it.

I Want One

Kettering University student Will Foster builds fully operational half-size Panzer tank

25 Years Ago

Marvel Comics released "Alpha Flight" Volume 1, #1.



Guardian: James MacDonald Hudson is a scientist from Ottawa who wears a suit of battle-armor allowing him to fly and manipulate Earth's magnetic field. Guardian is sometimes the team leader, and wears a stylized maple leaf flag on his costume.

Northstar: Jean-Paul Beaubier is a mutant with powers of super-speed and light generation. He was the first openly homosexual superhero in the Marvel Universe.

Aurora: Jeanne-Marie Beaubier is Northstar's schizophrenic twin sister. Like her brother, she is also a mutant with powers of super-speed, flight, light generation.

Puck: Eugene Milton Judd is a dwarf bouncer from Saskatoon with enhanced strength and extraordinary acrobatic abilities.

Sasquatch: Walter Langkowski is a former American football player and wealthy scientist from British Columbia. Following a gamma radiation experiment, inspired by The Hulk, he can transform into a giant fur-covered beast resembling the mythical sasquatch.

Shaman: Michael Twoyoungmen is a First Nations medicine man from Calgary. He is both a skilled medical doctor and sorcerer.

Snowbird: Also known as Narya, is an Inuit demi-goddess from Yellowknife who can transform into animals of the north.

April First

"GRΣΣK" was better this week. They held a flapper/speak-easy party. It was amusing but I did end up flipping over to "House" where an ill couple ended up being half-siblings.

It's Idol Top 9 tonight featuring Dolly Parton. I'll try to contain my horror until I see who is destroying what song this week.

Happy Birthday to Apple, Inc. Do you miss the gay apple?