American Idol, Season 9: Top 12 Reveal

I was a bit surprised by the results. I was glad Todrick is out. Although Alex did nothing for me, I wanted to send Andrew home.

Hugs and best to our very own deer-in-the-headlights, Alex Lambert!

Without Andrew we could once and for all move beyond “Straight up.” I guess America wants to rub him after all.

I thought Lilly was a shoe-in based on total performances but last night I thought she chose a dud song. I’m stunned Katie hung on but she is 16 and might appeal to young voters. I thought Katelyn was doing better than Paige as well.

Fairly controversial to admit fandom for, I was glad to see Aaron and Tim made it. I’m realistic, though, I know they’re canon fodder and expect both will vanish in the next month.

Mike is clearly the top guy with maybe Lee as the dark horse. Crystal, if she stays healthy, and Siobahn will battle it out for the top girl spot.

Crystal didn’t look well tonight and wasn’t particularly celebratory when she was safe.

Top 12: Didi Benami, Siobhan Magnus, Paige Miles, Crystal Bowersox, Lacey Brown, Katie Stevens, Casey James, Tim Urban, Lee Dewyze, Michael Lynche, Aaron Kelly, Andrew Garcia.

X-Factor UK Winner

Congratuations, Joe!

X-Factor Final Two

Stacey eliminated. Congratulations, Joe and Olly. Joe FTW.

X-Factor Semi-Final Results

Simon just said Danyl is a ... "LOSER!!!!!!"

JOE! STACEY! OLLY! Finale!

Joe FTW!

Rarely have I been so gleeful over a contestant's elimination.

X-Factor UK: Top 7

Jamie Archer – “Radio Ga Ga” – I like the rough edge to Jamie’s voice but he didn’t totally “go for it” on this song. I thought Louis’ comments were inappropriate and smack of a deal with Simon to pimp Danyl over Jamie. 4/5

Lloyd Daniels – “A Crazy Little Think Called Love” – Not as bad as I feared, in fact he was relatively good to past performances. Definitely getting a bit more comfortable but he’s out of depth in this competition. Still, he’s cute as a button though. I didn’t realize he was only 16 until tonight. Good grief. It’s too young for these competitions. Louis is right, he’d be a shoe in for a boyband. 3/5

Olly Murs – “Don’t Stop Me Now” – What a mess. Is that dancing? Vocal was ok. Hair is better this week. Not his best performance. He still strikes me as a theme park performer. 3/5

Joe McElderry – “Somebody to Love” – Pleasant in parts but he doesn’t have the X-Factor. He should end up in musical theatre. 3/5

John and Edward – “Under Pressure” – LOLZ. Best they’ve been since “Oops.” They’re not great singers but quite entertaining when they try and I can’t say that about most of the acts. 3.5/5

Stacey Soloman – “Who Wants to Live Forever” – A bore and didn’t reach far enough. 3/5

Danyl Johnson – “We are the Champions” – What do they see in this guy? Are they all stoned? Wow. His voice is thin at times, his tone is boring, he still performs like he’s doing it for himself in a 360 degree mirror. It was lifeless, he’s still a middling, prima dona douche. Pimpage a mammoth turn off. Kris & Adam (in particular) blew him away in the Idol finale. Wish he’d just go away. 2/5

Who will be bottom 2: Stacey & Lloyd. Who will go home? I was wrong last week, but I’ll pick Lloyd again this week.

Who do I want to send home? Danyl

---

Bottom 2 were Lloyd and Jamie. The public vote sent Jamie home. There was a long segment about recording the charity single consisting entirely of a monologue by Danyl. Joe's vocal on the charity single has made me take new notice of him.

Idol 8 Wild Card Results

(Ricky Braddy, robbed by American Idol)

Listen to Ricky perform Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" (mp3)

This season really irritates me. Despite more unflawed vocals, Ricky Braddy was not picked by the judges for the Finals over some pathetic contestants. The show changed it up and put four in, not three, but of the three I predicted on Wednesday/Thursday's blog, all three were chosen: Anoop, Matt Giraud, Megan Corkrey. Jasmine Murray also advanced and that was no surprise either.

If he's so good, why not Ricky?

He's very good but they don't see him as commercial or fitting their desired demographic (numbers are down this season). As for Ricky, I don't know a thing about him but wish him well. My interest in the show is at new lows and I don't much care how it plays out.

Idol 8 Wild Cards

(Clockwise from Top Left: Megan, Jasmine, Ricky, Anoop)

Best - Great voice and control, good stage presence.

• Ricky Braddy

Next best - Decent voices; lousy songs or weird stage presence.

• Von Smith - Jesse McCartney looks with a far better range, people make fun of his wide open mouth singing, comes across as phony like a theme park attraction singer rather than recording artist.
• Anoop Desai - bad song, "drunken fratboy" vibe
• Tatiana Del Toro - sung the song ok but bizarre persona
• Jasmine Murray - pretty, ok voice, lousy song choice

Meh - No thanks.

• Jesse Langseth - mediocre voice, bad hair, weird outfit and presence
• Megan Corkrey - nice, quirky look and vibe, not a great voice
• Matt Giraud - weak voice, bad song, too much the Timberlake imitator, way over sold

That said I suspect these to go through to the Top 12: Giraud, Anoop and Megan.

I’m not really liking this season. Kristen McNamara was just great and deserved a WC slot but her song choice (Gimme One Reason - Tracy Chapman) and “sound” was probably panned as too “old skool.”

While I see potential in Kris Allen, I really don’t see anyone clearly relevant to the current market besides Lil Rounds.

Safari 4: Top Tabs? No Thanks!

Trying out Safari 4? On a Mac and can't stand those dumb-ass top tabs? Type this into a Terminal window:

defaults write com.apple.Safari DebugSafari4TabBarIsOnTop -bool NO

To get them back, change NO to YES.

Update: More hidden settings to revert to Safari 3 UI.

(Happy Birthday, Steve Jobs.)

A Silver Anniversary For The Mac

Congratulations Duckie

Duckie has a new job!

2008 Is Finally Over

I couldn’t take much more of 2008. In the last month it dealt me a friend’s death from brief illness of pneumonia. He was 45. There was a real lesson or two about life in that. First, work is not as important as your health. Had he seen a doctor, rather than continue working, he may well be alive today.

Second, trust your gut, the irritating sensation in your skull, your instinct, whatever you want to call it. Had he gone to emergency when his housemate asked if he wanted to, perhaps treatment could’ve been successful. Instead he was found deceased later that day.

Like Brian’s housemate, I had a similar sense when Mother was gravely ill a few years ago. I expressed that while she had no fever, had been seen twice by health care providers and had been under treatment for pneumonia, I had the nagging brain quake that this illness was different somehow and more serious than had been diagnosed. I was correct and, ultimately, by the time she asked to go to the ER, by medical standards she was beyond help and died within 12 hours. The diagnosis of pneumonia had been in error, she was suffering from sepsis, a systemic infection.

The final week brought hospitalization for friend, a circumstance which is as yet unresolved. I couldn’t hazard a guess as to the outcome. He’s had serious medical problems in the past and I wouldn’t speculate. While he expressed great concerned, it still took some effort to get him to agree to be transported to the ER. I was genuinely exasperated.

The end of 2008 brought breakups and jobless for some and struggles with depression for others.

The Onion: Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

When That Euphoria Wears Off...

...and the cruel reality of what happened begins to set in.

RIP Mervyns & Linens-n-Things

Two more claimed by this economy. I didn't really like Linen-n-Things as I felt their stores were claustrophobic. Stock was virtually piled up to the ceiling. I kept waiting for it to fall and pummel unsuspecting customers. My current utensils did come from there, however. I shopped there with Mother.

Mervyns, a western U.S. department store chain in business for 59 years is closing after the holiday season. While I haven't shopped there in probably more than five years, their clothes were popular with school peers in the 1980s. I remember their ads for Bugle Boy Jeans during afternoon cartoons like Transformers. While we did holiday and back-to-school shop there with some regularity for a few years, the local store seemed to stagnate and eventually we went elsewhere. I bought a watch there in the college while holiday shopping with the girlfriend.

California Election Picks

Prop   Vote    Reasoning
1A     NO      Bonds! Borrowing is evil. High speed rail 
               between SF & LA? Stupid.
2      NO      Would harm small local farms.
3      NO      Bonds again? They still have billions in 
               bond money left to spend on this!
4      YES     Stop sex predators from taking underaged 
               victims to get rid of the evidence!
5      NO      We authorized a rehab program for convicts
               a few years ago. Why is this back?
6      YES     Budget mandates are evil but we also need 
               a new prison. Flip a coin?
7      NO      Scam.
8     (See Update Below)
9      NO      Weakens impartiality of judicial system
               early in criminal court process.
10     NO      More Bonds?! “Free” money if you buy a 
               hybrid car? Just go away!
11     NO      We need redistricting reform but this 
               alternative scheme seems even worse.
12     YES     Self-funding loan program for veterans. 
               It's worked for 85 years, BUT (see below)

---

4 Nov 2008 Update:

Prop 12

Although I voted YES, voting NO on Prop 12 because it's more borrowing is acceptable to me. The program has been a solid success for 85 years but you can't ignore it will still mean added debt no matter how low risk. Veterans are more worthy than most but is unnecessary borrowing to the benefit of a tiny group in these tough times the kind of message we want to send to other special interests too?

Prop 8

I have removed my previous "NO" on Prop 8, the gay marriage ban. The campaigns on both sides have irritated me greatly.

Between SF Mayor Gavin "Whether you like it or not" Newsom, suppression of free speech statewide with organized theft of "YES on 8" signs and my original qualm with judicial activism, I can no longer strongly support a NO on 8.

The fact remains when the court made the move by the slimmest of majorities, California already had, still has and will continue to have available, comprehensive registered domestic partnerships with the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage available to gays (and seniors) who live here.

This has become a filthy political battle over a word, not of equal rights.

While I voted NO on 8 a few weeks back, I've recently moved to "neutral" on the proposition. I am ashamed of the NO campaign and supporter's tactics.

For those out of state who want to see infamous Mayor Newsom's controversial statement referenced above, I've included a clip here:

Happy Gift To Me

I ordered a self-gift. A 2GB stick for the iMac, ordered from Other World Computing. It was under $40 with shipping.

Galaxy Quest 2? You Wish!

This week brought us the first production photos from JJ Abrams upcoming "Star Trek" film. Many folks, myself included, thought it looked like something that might have been part of the 1998 Trek parody called "Galaxy Quest." See the crew and bridge for yourself!

I guess the Yeomen is ironing Kirk's shirt?

Best Knight Rider Live Blog

The Auto Blog is live blogging the new series Knight Rider. The blog perfectly captures the trainwreckness of the show. Here are links to the entries for the first four shows:

Ep 1: "A Knight In Shining Armor" - A simple package delivery becomes more complicated than it seems when Mike and KITT learn the package is actually a man with top-secret code decryption built into his DNA.

Ep 2: "Journey to the End of Knight". Mike infiltrates a racing gang with the help of an old army buddy; Sarah and KITT join him.

Ep 3: "Knight of the Iguana", a.k.a. "KITT and Mike go to the beach."

Ep 4: "A Hard Day's Knight" Pieces of Mike's past are revealed as a lethal poison threatens his life.

Mother's Cookies Gone!

Mother's Cookies, a CA-based company for 92 years, has suddenly ceased operations. The company is most known for it's icing-covered circus animal cookies. The pink ones were best but the most fun was trying to decipher just which animal shape you were eating!



Read more online (SF Chronicle)

Happy Birthday, Jane

Helen Mirren, Det. Supt. Jane Tennyson of "Prime Suspect," is 63.