Beginning January 1st 2009  the City of Los Angeles has notified independent producers that 1220cable access channels and production facilities  will close. These studios and channels have been financed and maintained for the last 20 years by  Time Warner cable in leiu of a 2% franchise fee in Los Angeles.

These studios and channels also serve as public access community media centers; checking out portable mini-DV production kits and providing non-linear edit bays for hundreds of producers free of charge. The physical loss of equipment, personnel, and channel air time, will be due to the fact that the City of Los Angeles has failed their obligation to provide the public access facilities when Time Warner opts out under the new State Franchise Law.  

The obligation of the City to continue operations of public access studios and channels, were originally created by the Federal Communications Act that was later amended to give local authority for their operation. 

 Under the new State Franchise system now in place, the City's failure to exercise the operation of the channels and replace the studios, in a timely manner may jeopardize public's use of the cable access channels, and by default, allow Time Warner to take them over for commercial use.  

This would be the loss of a valuable PUBLIC ASSET.  These public channels have provided an open forum where producers are free to display their creations and more importantly, inform the public as a balance to the government cable channels that are operated by the City.

Beginning January 1 a new State law, called DIVCA or the Digital Infrastructure & Video Competition Act, transfers the responsibility of maintaining access studio operations to the individual ci ties throughout California.  We see an unfortunate trend unfolding across the country where many cash strapped cities are choosing to abandon their access systems rather than refit them for the digital age. 

 At best only a few cities have had the courage and insight to tackle these problems head-on while maintaining their commitment to the Public and Independent producers.  It seems fitting that Los Angeles California, the entertainment capital of the world, should be leading the fight for the rights of individual producers to have an outlet to 20 share their creations.  Unfortunately this is not the case.

I have not seen one story in Los Angeles concerning the loss of access television in either print or on our local TV news.  Our city leaders seem at a loss as to how to use this protected resource while big cable is glad to see it finally out of their hands.  If someone doesn’t speak up for this resource that is not directly associated with its operation, how can we expect it to survive?  

In a report regarding the future of access, the ITA or Information Technology Agency warns that if the city does not find a way to use its access channels they may be lost forever.

Though viewing options are ever expanding, we may be set to lose one of the most important and often ignored choices.  The choice that means; local creative individuals are what make up the bedrock of any community and protecting their right to create is something that will benefit us all.

As the access system waits in limbo, it is important that advocates step forward to remind our political and corporate leaders of their responsibility to maintain open and free outlets of communication.  By monitoring the quickly moving battle for a vital and productive access system, we can ensure that at the core of our

great country lies the freedom of the individual to create and share ideas.

Una temporada más, se sigue en esa linea y se cuenta con varios jugadores juniors que completarán los equipos seniors del CB Capuchinos.

Jose, junior entrenado este año por Josema Castro, reforzará el senior masculino que dirige Jose Angel Mayor y que se acaba d eproclamar Campeón de la Copa Presidente 2008-09 al derrotar al CB Santomera 66-53. Un equipo que en lo spartidos de pretemporada ha ofrecedido muy buenas sensaciones y promete ser uno de los que luche por los puestos de cabeza otra vez, tal y como hizo en la campaña anterior.

De la misma forma, Irene y Gema, jugadoras del junior femenino a las ordenes de David Hernández, completarán el equipo Senior femenino de 1ª nacional entrenado por Quini García. Este equipo senior 2008-09 ofrece un perfil más dinamico que la pasada temporada, con defensas más agresivas y un juego más directo, lo que nos dará sin duda momentos de diversión. No se descarta algún refuerzo más del equipo junior femenino.

Passports Denied: Mexican Americans Can't Travel

by Roberto Lavato

Texas native David Hernandez, a decorated Army veteran who served his country in different parts of the world, can no longer see the world after his country denied him a passport.

Plaintiffs say that the U.S. government is denying them passports because they are persons of Mexican and Latino descent whose births were assisted by parteras, or midwives. (File image: Guardian/UK)Hernandez and other residents living in and around the U.S.-Mexico border are plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit alleging that, in denying them passports, the U.S. State Department is engaging in a new kind of racial discrimination: non-citizen profiling.

"This all started when I sent them (the U.S. State Department) my passport and they sent me a letter saying that it wasn't sufficient. So, I sent them all kinds of documents -a baptismal certificate, military records, pictures of me in the pre-kindergarten, a copy of my grandmother's birth certificate that showed that she was an American citizen," he said, adding, "and that still wasn't enough. I knew something was wrong when they even started asking me for things like Census documents from the 1930's that don't even exist."

Hernandez and the other plaintiffs say that the U.S. government is denying them passports because they are persons of Mexican and Latino descent whose births were assisted by parteras, or midwives. "The law says that if you're born in this country, have parents who are or who get naturalized, you are a citizen," said Hernandez his voice cracking with anger and frustration. "We were all born here. We're all citizens. The only difference is that we're Hispanic, we grew up poor and we happened not to be born in a hospital. My mother had to pay a partera $40 instead."

Lawyers for Hernandez and the other plaintiffs say they have documented a systematic pattern of racial discrimination among hundreds, perhaps thousands of people of Mexican descent who, like him, applied for passports and were subjected to unreasonable and arbitrary demands for an inordinate and often impossible-to-find documents proving they are citizens of the United States.

For Robin Goldfaden, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which is co-counsel in the case along with other law firms, the passport suit "shows a spirit of disregard for birthright citizenship and a reckless disregard for the actual citizenship of an entire class of people."

Goldfaden pointed out that although midwifery is a long-held tradition among whites, blacks and others living in Appalachia, Texas and other parts of the United States where hospital-assisted birth is unaffordable or unavailable, the denial of passports is only taking place among people of Mexican descent living along the southern border.

"Some of the plaintiffs in this case were born in the 1930s and earlier, when, for example, half of all babies in Texas were delivered by midwives," said Goldfaden, who believes that the case raises concerns beyond those raised by Hernandez and other plaintiffs. "Anytime the government violates due process and the constitutional promise of equal protection as they did in this case, we should all be concerned."

The passport case comes on the heels of intensified efforts to fundamentally alter the definition of who is and isn't a citizen. For several years, members of Congress and anti-immigrant groups in Texas and several other states have proposed state and federal laws denying birthright citizenship to the U.S. born children of undocumented immigrants. Some Texas residents like Father Mike Seiffert also trace such practices to the long history of denying citizenship to different categories of people in the United States.

"I was born in Alabama" said Seiffert, who is pastor of the San Felipe de Jesus Catholic church in Brownsville, "and I've seen this kind of discrimination before; I've seen government officials trying to deny rights to people by not recognizing them as citizens, only here in Texas it's not African Americans, but Latinos."

Seiffert became aware of the passport denial issue in his church. "After a couple of the members of my congregation came to me concerned and even crying because they were denied passports and would no longer be able to see their families in Mexico, I decided to ask the congregation if there were others facing similar situations," Seiffert said. "And 60 people came up and said they had the same passport problem."

He called what happened to members of his congregation affected by the passports situation "disgraceful." Behind the tears, he said are, "Many members of our congregation (who) won't be able to do what they've done for decades: cross the border to see their families; many won't be able to sustain themselves by doing business as they've always done in Mexico," he said. "There's no hospital around here and when you drive many miles to get healthcare, it's very expensive. So people will also be denied basic healthcare because they will no longer be able to go just across the border to get cheap medicine or see a doctor in Matamorros for $15. This is deeply disturbing and it reminds me of Alabama."

And like in the deep South, the non-citizen profiling in Texas is also inspiring activism among many. "I grew up studying the history of civil rights, Martin Luther King and how he had to fight his own government," said Hernandez, " But I never thought I'd be fighting for my civil rights. Now I understand history in a different way."

2008 Copyright © Pacific News Service

The mission is grand (creepy?): We'll document the lives of every last Scholar, from birth to death.

No, not really. But it's going to be big!

To get things rolling, we've scoured The Internets and collected a few videos that were already out there, of such luminaries as Sean Aiken ('02), Clare (Ellsworth) Aslan ('96), Esther Cardona ('00), David Hernandez ('04), Zeb Hogan ('91), John Ingraham ('08), Matt Petterson ('05), Wayne Shen ('04), Anna Thanukos ('93), and Mitch Turbenson ('08). We've also got the Flinn-centric band Hermit Tree, the Classes of 2004 and 2007 in Europe, and that same Class of 2007 doing something SPAM-related at a talent show.

And... we've added these to the pile:

A 2008 retreat montage:

Matt Hom ('08) recounting his way-ahead-of-schedule mentorship experience:

Nicole Rennell ('05) describing a year of study and travel in southern Africa:

Amy Stabler ('07) telling a Sandra Day O'Connor tale:

and Sarah Trainor ('07) and Sam Wang ('07) delivering an enticing account of the Scholars community:

Come back for more from time to time. And, all you Steven Soderbergh wanna-bes: Send us your finest work!

Tons and tons of performances in AA ball for your viewing pleasure...

Brad Mills

• 7 IP 4H BB 9K---12-4 1.89 ERA 147K/133IP .224 BAA

Jose Tabata

• 4-4 2B 2R---13-36 2 HR 9 RBI 7 R since trade to Pirates

Lars Anderson

• 2-3 2B 2R BB---'08 Bowman Chrome Auto will be gem of the set!

Josh Reddick

• 1-4 HR(20) RBI---.219 3 HR 15 RBI 13 R in 19 games w/Portland

Kris Johnson

• 5.2 IP 6H ER 8K (W)---8-7 3.38 ERA 98K/120IP

Nolan Reimold

• 1-3 2 RBI 2R 2BB---.289 19 HR 72 RBI 78 R (nothing left to prove at Bowie)

Matt Wieters

• 2-3 2B RBI 2R 2BB---.362 9 HR 43 RBI 1.091 OPS at Bowie (nothing left to prove in MILB)

David Hernandez

• 5 IP 7H 2ER 2BB  5K (W)---3-3 1.98 ERA 65K/55IP last 10 games

Sean Henry

• 1-3 HR(11) RBI---.299 11 HR 68 RBI 19 SB

Michael Brantley

• 2-4 2R---.335 4 HR 39 RBI 44BB/22K 25 SB in 89 games

Cole Gillespie

• 3-4 2R 2 RBI---.438 8 RbI 6R last 10 games

Ivan DeJesus

• 2-4 HR(4) RBI---.309 4 HR 52 RBI 13 SB 72 R

Heath Rollins

• 7 IP 4H ER 9---Nice AA debut

Gerardo Parra

• 3-3 2 3B R 2 RBI---Breaking out of August funk

Jordan Schafer

• 3-4 HR(6) 3B 2 RBI---.342 HR 6 RBI last 10 games

Brandon Allen

• 3-5 HR(22) 2 RBI 2R 2B---.277 7 HR 17 RBI 19 R .994 OPS in AA

Tyler Colvin

• 3-6 2 RbI 2R---.364 HR 11 RBI 16 H last 10 games

Jake Fox

• 1-4 HR(27) 3 RBI 2R BB---HR's in 3 of last 4 games

Adam Moore

• 2-2 2 RbI 2BB---Slumping .188 5 RBI 12K last 10 games

Dan Cortes

• 6 IP 3H ER 3BB 9K---6-1 4.47 ERA 46K/50IP last 10 games

Chris Nelson

• 3-5 4 RbI 2B R BB---Awful season, not ready for AA

BUY/SELL Analysis

Lars Anderson has taken a gigantic step forward this season as one of baseball's best young power-hitting prospects.  After a torrid start at High-A Lancaster, Anderson was promoted to AA Portland where he is surpassing the numbers he posted in the California League hitting .333 with 5 HR 23 RBI and 19 Runs in 25 games.  Anderson is just 20 and has yet to fully fill out his 6-4 215 lb. frame.  When he does, he will evolve into a 30-40 HR hitter in the mold of Jason Morneau.  Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell are both signed by the Red Sox through 2010 which gives the Red Sox ample time to be patient with Lars, though the rapid and successful development of Greenville 1B Anthony Rizzo will continually press Anderson to keep performing.  Anderson's first cards have just been released as autographs in the new '08 Bowman Chrome set and there is not nearly enough market data yet to accurately represent what they will be selling for.  I think one could expect to pay $50-75 for a regular chrome auto.  I did see one that sold with one bid for $20.  That price is an aberration for sure!

Market Advice: Anderson is much hyped and will be expensive, but he also is destined to do great things in Boston.  There are few flaws in Anderson's game, aside from his K rate (which isn't at an unacceptible level) and speed.  His power will develop for sure and if you can get an auto for $40-50, BUY it.

Travis Snider

• 3-6 HR(15) 3 RBI 3 R---Adjusting well at AA but has K'ed 103 times!

David Hernandez

• 6.1 IP 2H 2ER 2BB 9K (W)---96 K's thusfar with opponents hitting only .211 against him

George Kontos

• 5 IP 4H ER BB 7K (L)---3rd straight quality start but can't win games (3-7)

Kris Johnson

• 6 IP 2H 2BB 4K (W)---6-3 3.32 ERA 59K/89IP

Jeremy Slayden

• 3-3 2B BB---.291 8 HR 53 RBI

Alcides Escobar

• 3-6 HR(7) 3 RBI 3R 2B---.326 50 RBI 111 Hits 21 SB

Mat Gamel

• 1-3 2B RBI 3BB---.371 118 Hits 15 HR 68 RBI .632 SLG

Michael Brantley

• 2-3 R SB(25)---Multiple hits in 4 of last 5 games

Matt LaPorta

• 2-4 2 2B 2 RBI BB---.297 19 HR 61 RBI .601 SLG

Jordan Schafer

• 2-3 R BB SB(5)---.378 10 RBI 10 R 10 BB last 10 games

David Price

• 6IP 4H 2ER 4BB 7K (W)---Solid 1st outing at AA now 5-0 on the season

Tyler Colvin

• 3-4 3B 2 RBI R---Back to back solid outings in a season that has been a struggle for Colvin

Matt Mangini

• 2-4 2B 3 RBI---Starting to get acclimated at AA after struggling early

Allen Craig

• 2-4 2B RBI R BB---.273 11 HR 47 RBI

Adam Ottovino

• 6IP 1H BB 5K---1st good outing in quite a while

Aaron Cunningham

• 3-4 R 2B---.283 5 HR 20 RBI 8 SB

Brett Anderson

• 6IP 3H 2ER 12K---Stellar AA debut, Anderson seems to have put his early struggles behind him

BUY/SELL Analysis

Kris Johnson was a supplimental 1st round pick in 2006 out of Witchita State.  He suffered an elbow injury and had Tommy John surgery following the 2006 season.  Johnson struggled a bit coming back last year, but has pitched well at AA.  While he has not dominated, .282 BAA, 38 BB, Johnson has found a way to win.  Johnson has good life on his fastball which can reach the mid-90's, but his secondary pitches need some polish.  Johnson has autographed first year cards in the 2006 Bowman Draft and Chrome and Bowman Sterling.  The chrome autos sell for about $7-10 each and the Sterlings sell for about $6-8. 

Market Advice: The fact that Johnson is a Red Sox prospect makes him more attractive than if he was a Pirates or Marlins prospect.  I am having a hard time gauging where Johnson fits in, but the fact remains that he is a raw, left-handed prospect that throws in the low to mid 90's.  He has to develop his secondary pitches or else he will be a lefty middle reliever, which is the equivalent of death as a baseball card prospect.  Tentatively, I would BUY a chrome auto and watch his development closely. Now that Masterson and Buchholz have shown their faces at Fenway, Johnson trails only Michael Bowden as Boston's top minor league pitching prospects.

Alcides Escobar has been one of many Huntsville Stars prospects that has terrorized AA pitching this season.  In his previous 4 minor league seasons, Escobar accumulated just 7 HR in 1,595 AB.  This season, Escobar has 7 HR in just 341 AB.  Escobar has always been an above average SS, and now that his hitting seems to be on the upswing, it is just a matter of time before he is playing in Miller Park.  Escobar has 1st year cards in the 2006 Bowman Chrome Prospects set which are selling at $2 each. 

Market Advice: Escobar is never going to be a prolific power hitter, but he has an opportunity to be a special top of the order hitter in a offense-friendly ballpark.  At $2 each, it seems that Escobar is a solid BUY, and though he likely will not replicate these current numbers at the major league level, he still should receive a nice bump in value once he makes it to The Show.

And as promised, I'll be posting a blog entry about my favorite moments in this season of AI. The auditions will always be memorable because we saw potential talents, as well as weird and funny people. There are contestants from the Top 12 who already shone during the auditions. But the most memorable audtion for me is Reynaldo Lapuz's audition... Yeah, a fellow Filipino who sang the hit "I Am Your Brother". The auditon clip was really funny most especially when Randy, Ryan, and Paula (dancing) joined Reynaldo. I think it should've been really memorable because he performed in the finals with a band. Good job!

There were also contestants from the Top 24 who I thought ca make it to the top 12, like Asia'h Epperson and Danny Noriega. I really love Asia'h's "Piece of My Heart" performance. I am somehow disappointed when she got eliminated. I know it's tough for her to sing "I Wanna Dance With Somebody", after being eliminated.

Danny Noriega is one of the coolest guys I saw on Idol. He is really entertaining when he performs. His reactions to Simon's comments are really funny. Many admired him for being true to his self. But nevertheless, Danny already gained fans.

My most favorite themes in this season are the Lennon and McCartney Songbook, songs of the Beatles, and songs of Mariah Carey. The contestants for this season are lucky to sing songs from those music icons.

It's so nice that the contestanst have recorded studio versions of the songs they sang in the contest. I know that it was a really big help for them so that people will like them more.

There were some results night when the results were disappointing, like when Amanda Overmyer, Carly Smithson and Michael Johns were eliminated. On the other hand, there were also contestants whom I wished have been eliminated earlier, like Kristy Lee Cook and Jason Castro (I am sorry to all their supporters!). Syesha Mercado is a talented girl but I don't know why I don't like her. There were times when I wished she will be eliminated. I like her studio version "Got To Get You Into My Life". But I don't think it was good when she performed it live. This is also the same with Jason Castro's "If I Fell", and Ramiele Malubay's "I Should Have Known Better".

Speaking of Ramiele, one of the reasons why many Filipinos watched this season of AI is because of her. Filipinos were really supportive of Ramiele. But like what many Filipinos said, she always had a wrong choice of song. Unfortunately, Ramiele got eliminated in the Dolly Parton week. But Ramiele is such a sweet and talented girl. I hope to see more of her soon!

There were also some contestants who forgot the lyrics of the song they were singing during the performance night - David Archuleta, Brooke White, and Jason Castro.

I love Brooke. She really sings from the heart. I know there's a bright future ahead of her.

I am happy for Carly when Simon loved her performance during the Andrew Lloyd Webber week. She even got a t-shirt with the words, "Simon loves me! (This Week)". The funny thing there is she got eliminated the day after.

Of course, there were performances that really stood out, like David Archuleta's "Imagine". That performance really moved me. But it is David Cook who got more peformances that I really like: "Hello", "Eleanor Rigby", and "Always Be My Baby". Those performances really rocked that's why I wanted him to be the winner, and fortunately, he is.

We should also not forget the people of American Idol... Ryan Seacrest, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and the much awaited comments from Simon Cowell.

I believe that Season 7 of AI isa really successful. But like what they say, all good things come to an end. And so, my American Idol Season 7 blog entries end here. It was one wonderful ride... It is also inspiring seeing other people dreams come true! Dream Big... Dreams do come true!

I'm so glad my prediction on this one was wrong. I love David Cook! And he was such a humble winner. I love that his audition was happenstance, and not something that he sought out. It's so perfect. I just hope that the AI machine doesn't stifle his creativity on his first album. That would be awful. At least the AI finale song wasn't that bad this year. That's a plus for him. Way to go, David. I hope it all works out for you. And I hope you bring your little brother along with you. He is the reason you are where you are.

As for David Archuleta, he's a nice, cute kid. I had kind of wanted him to win just so his dad wouldn't disown him or something. I hope things work out for him too and that he does find some independence. He'll be 18 soon, right? However, I don't think we've heard the last of Jeff Archuleta. You just wait.

On tonight's finale:

I quite enjoyed that they brought back the So You Think You Can Dance dancers tonight. I LOVE that show. I also quite enjoyed that we finally got to hear the two Davids sing together, side by side. During the performance of "Hero," it is obvious that DC is the better singer. Next to him, Archuleta sounds a bit boring, a little generic, and somewhat immature.

I was quite annoyed with the Love Guru trailer/commercial/"comedy" skit. They took this one a little too far. However, despite it's annoying-ness, parts of it were a little funny. Little Archuleta looked so uncomfortable during the whole skit.

I love that they bring back all the contestants in the finale. I like to see if any of them get better after the pressure is off. Jason Castro was much better. "Hallelujah" reminded me of why I liked this kid in the first place. I also very much loved Syesha and Seal. Don't we all sometimes wish we were Heidi Klum? He outshone her by a mile, of course, but she looked AMAZING. Carly shined during the girls group performance (loved the red dresses, even Paula wore hers).

Random Notes:

• Ryan asking if Archuleta had his driver's license after giving the Davids new Ford hybrids = classic.
• Micheal Johns + Carly Smithson = Hot!
• I want a red dress. I love red.
• The Cowell comment montage was too great.
• Chikeze rocked "Summer of '69."
• David Hernandez's tight black shirt outfit seemed more appropriate for his former job than the AI finale.
• An American Idol theme park attraction - WTF!? Will you go?
• David Cook rocking out with ZZ Top = awesome.
• I don't quite get Jonas mania. But I'm sure my mom didn't get NKOTB mania, either.
• Let My People Gooooooo!
• "I am your brother. Your best friend forever. Singing the songs, the music that you love. We're brothers 'til the end of time. Together or not, you're always in my heart." I would be willing to bet that this guy ends up actually making money off of this song. Remember William Hung?
• Wow! Simon admitted that he was wrong and even apologized to Mr. Cook. Wow!

My predictions for the future:

• Carly Smithson will get another record deal. She may or may not make something out of it.
• Amanda Overmyer will perform on the bar circuit and may be coming to a college bar near you.
• David Hernandez has Royal Caribbean Cruises in his future.
• Syesha - Broadway, of course.
• Brooke will have a bunch of little kids of her own, but she won't hire a nanny. She will sing them to sleep with cutesy folk songs.
• Ramiele will star in her own Disney show alongside Danny Noriega. I could also see her playing Mulan at Disney World.
• Chikezie will end up in gospel music.
• Micheal Johns will be the Bryan Adams of this generation.
• Kristy Lee Cook will unfortunately turn AI fame into a country music career.
• Jason Castro will be singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" at a reggae festival near you.
• David Archuleta: He will finally (hopefully) get out from under his father's thumb after being offered a record deal by the American Idol people. They are not going to let this kid slip through their greedy little fingers that easily. Let's just hope we don't see a reprise of From Justin to Kelly, renamed as David Squared. For his sake, let's hope that Daddy Jeff doesn't take this loss too badly and take it out on poor little Archuleta. That would be tragic.

Ugh. I literally just pressed pause to go pour myself a bit more Dran-O and it seems that, is it that Holly Robinson Peete chick? I’m not sure, but I realize, standing directly over your daughter’s shoulder is GREASY CONSTANTINE and he is, naturally staring DIRECTLY INTO THE CAMERA. His mouth is in some strange position, it reminds me of what my (dead) Grandma Daley would look like after removing her teeth. I think he’s I just caught him mid-smarmy mouth with my Tivo pause, who knows.

But 1 minute in and I’m already subjected to creepy cult purification rituals AND Greasy Constantine? This is not looking good, folks, not looking good.

97.5 million votes…smashing the record by over 23 million. 56% vs. 44%.

CHIKIEZE! Why the hell did you let Randy borrow your suit and put white ric-rac on that shit?

Mikalah Gordon. I still don’t understand how they haven’t found a sex tape on that girl. This Matt Rogers person is surrounded by a bunch of young & blond Children of the Corn.

Eeek. The Top 12 is in white. Recycled outfits from Idol Gives Back, perhaps? At least they straightened Kristy Lee Cook’s hair. Everyone is in white! Bizarre cult ritual! Even those Think You Can Dance People. They should let David Hernandez show off more of his dancing skills. YES! Janice Dickinson! Never saw her that enthusiastic about anything on America’s Next Top Model. She actually mouthed out I LOVE YOU!

First Commercial Break: :06 - :09

Oh good. Cook and the Eunuch back in more proper attire. Guess they’re singing the power ballad Hero from Spiderman. Gee, its just funny hearing how the Eunuch has no clue what to do except sing it all ballad-y and runny and stuff. He is completely overpowered and overshadowed by Cook.

You know the Eunuch is so scared he’s not gonna win and his Daddy’s gonna beat him senseless. SPIRITUAL ADVISIOR??

Guru Pitka? Huh? Of course…Mike Meyers’ The Love Guru plug. At least we get to see a little Verne Troyer. I bet the Eunuch covered his face for most of the film.

I think my favorite scene was the bar fight…Kind of brought me back to what I was doing before the show. -- Cook

I liked the weird random sitar music videos. -- Eunuch

Cook is wondering what the hell he got himself into…the Eunuch just smiles. You know he is totally weirded out by those edgy PG-13 body hair jokes.

Ok. Watching that was better than the group sing. Guess “Guru Pitka” is the supposed biggest star in the world. Wow. This show does nothing but shill whatever it can. And speaking of Mariska Hargitay, I wish she were in the audience. Mariska Hargitay rocks. I love Mariska Hargitay.

How many people have predicted the winner’s name will be David? And people still laughed at that joke?

Coretta Scott Mercado & Seal
Waiting For You
Now this really isn’t too bad. Although she should sing it with a bit more power. She’s up there with Seal, for chrissake. Seal is the luckiest bastard to ever walk the earth, btw. He was homeless. Then he releases a few hit songs and then marries a hot ass German supermodel. Most men, and even women, should bow to Seal, as he is living the dream of all people.

2nd Commercial Break :20 - :25

Stoner J
Hallelujah
Yay! He’s back and singing Hallelujah! So good. I love Stoner J. Even if he publicly denies blazing up. He’s just gotta keep it clean for 19 Entertainment b/c they still have him by the balls until the end of the tour.

OH WOW. IT’S A TOP 12 REUNION THAT’S ALSO A FORD COMMERCIAL. No wait. Its more like a montage of all the other Ford Commercials with a new(?) song.

Oh come on Eunuch, Like you didn’t know the second place finisher always gets a car. You’re just scared that you’re Daddy’s gonna sell it if you lose so he and your MILF-y mom can take a vacation while you're locked in your windowless cellar singing Castle on a Cloud from Les Miz. Don’t be scared, Eunuch, don’t be scared. Hush, now, little Eunuch. Everything is going to be alright…

Top 6 Chicks Group Sing
She Works Hard For The Money
Wow. I forgot how much I’ve missed the completely unenthusiastic looks of Amanda Overmyer during the group sings. She looks like she would rather be shot. I LOVE HER. Oh Carly, you were so robbed…so robbed. Now we got Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo happening and Donna Summer comes out. (And I just keeping thinking about that SNL skit Simmer Donna.) I wonder if she’s using the same blinged out mic that Mariah used, or is this her own blinged out microphone. I could see Mariah Carey having issues with other people using her blinged out sound equipment.

Hey, do you think they let Coretta stay up with Donna because she finished third or because she’s the only black chick? She just sang with Seal for chrissake. I think Carly may have sounded kind of cool up there, but whatever, Coretta Scott Mercado is the only black chick. Is this a valid question or am I being ignorant?

3rd Commercial Break :35 – :39

Yay! Carly Smithson AND Michael Johns
The Letter
I saw a clip of them singing on Ellen and I kind of like the idea of them being a duo for some reason, like a new-fangled Ashford & Simpson with cool accents. Awww, Sexy Aussie is such a Sexy Aussie. Yeah. These two went home way too soon. Way too soon. I like them. I think I want them to dump their respective spouses and run off together, is that so wrong of me? Yeah, it is…but they just got some chemistry together, ya know? But that kind of crap only happens on Dancing With The Stars.

Jimmy Kimmel has arrived. Sanjaya as valet joke, quick scan to Sanjaya in audience where it does kind of look as if he is wearing a valet’s uniform. May God Bless the new American Idol…whomever he may be? Was Jimmy being ironic?

Top 6 Guys
Summer of 69
Yay! Sexy Aussie! Then David Hernandez and Stoner J. Chikieze! Love you Chikieze! And here come the Davids oh Christ, please do not tell me they have made this a Bryan Adams medley so the Eunuch could sing a BALLAD. And a ballad entitled Heaven, of course. Here comes Bryan Adams singing some new song. I’m kind of annoyed that they just all couldn’t sing Summer of 69. Seriously. I’m sure it had something to do with the Eunuch being physically unable to sing anything with a rock beat. Sure, he may be able to do it in the midst of a group sing like to I Need Somebody, but on his own, no way.

Bo Bice! Bo Bice! I love you Bo, but sometimes I just want to give you a V05 Hot Oil Treatment.

4th Commercial Break :50 -- :53

Jordin Sparks is like, singing at the Magic Kingdom or something. Because she’s pimping out The American Idol Experience, debuting at Disney’s MGM Studios in January.

Wow. The rumors WERE true. ZZ Top is here! Sweet!

D-Cook & ZZ Top
Sharp Dressed Man
Love it. Love it. I loved ZZ Top ever since the Legs video where they gave the sweet girl a makeover and then she went in and shit all over everyone who was mean to her. See? ZZ Top are great guys. I’m fairly impressed with Cook’s guitar skills when playing with a couple of legends. I’m gathering that he doesn’t really care who wins at this point, after all, his parents are just proud of him regardless of what he does. There’s no chance that losing the title could get him locked in a windowless cellar until its time to go on tour.

Brooke White & Graham Nash
Teach Your Children
I almost gagged on my Spicy Maki when I heard the song choice. Ugh. Of course she’s gonna love this song, but seriously, if she’s going to play the guitar barefoot, she really needs to keep the soles of her feet clean. And now they’re playing videos of random children in the background. People are just way too pro-children these days.

5th Commercial break 1:02 – 1:06

Ok, so these are The Jonas Brothers. I’ve seen some pictures of them online and I think one of them looks like a younger, uber-wholesome Adrian Grenier doppleganger. See, I have a natural aversion for singers who ask me to clap my hands, to come on, et al. It’s kind of like begging, ya know? If I feel moved to clap my hands, I’ll clap my damn hands. Uh, why does the one kid have a faux-LV logo print guitar?

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it annoying when Ryan takes an elderly audience member and brings them up on stage and tells them how all the kids are doing it or how iPhones are the new things, yada yada yada…

It can’t be an AI finale without showing some of the season’s terrible auditions. Yay! They’re bringing out Renaldo! HE IS OUR BROTHER! I love him. Now all I can ask for is for Valentina Hasan to make her American stage debut. That would be awesome. Renaldo is awesome. I will always consider him my brother and best friend forever.

6th Commercial Break 1:12 – 1:17

One Republic performs Apologize. This is one of those songs I think I might like when it starts, but I can never listen to the entire thing all-the-way through. This guy’s vocals are not good. Those high notes. Ouch. He really needs some studio fixing. Uh oh. Here comes Eunuch. I just realized something. I want to see what the Eunuch looks like when he’s ANGRY. Can you imagine? Actual steam may come out of his ears. Now him doing this song with One Republic, sans the ridiculously over-the-top series of runs, is probably the most I’ve ever liked that kid on stage. In my opinion, that was the best he’s ever done.

People in Utah are a completely different breed. Wow. Such blank expressions.

Jordin Sparks
One Step At A Time
I kind of like Jordin Sparks, and yeah, I kind of like this song, just like I like No Air and Tattoo. Leave me alone. I like Jordin frakking Sparks and I’m not ashamed to admit it. With that being said, what was she thinking wearing day-glo orange nail polish with a shimmering gold lame dress. Her stage moves need a little work but the kid’s got undeniable talent. It’s also nice to see she didn’t go anorexic in the year following her win, a la Carrie Underwood, who just looks way too thin these days.

(Wow. I just sounded like a pathetically catty chick. Guess it happens sometimes. Alas.)

7th Commercial Break 1:25 – 1:30

Uh Oh. I think its that “Dead Elvis” thing, but with Gladys Knight “auditioning” Pips. Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. I think Downey is the best because he’s not over-hamming it up a la Black & Stiller. He’s a bit more subtle in his delivery.

I have yet to understand the point of this portion of the Finale show.

Ugh. Carrie Underwood singing Last Name. See? Way too thin, even if she’s come a LONG way in stage presence than when she was on this show. She still bugs me and she always will, but she does have one thing going for her: She is not Kellie Pickler. Speaking of Pickler-ish things, did Carrie Underwood get implants?

But I got a bigger question for her:

Does Jesus Take The Wheel when you’re making the drive of shame back from the house of the guy whose Last Name you don’t know?

8th Commercial Break 1:38 – 1:43

Top 12 singing…FAITH?

And that’s not Faith as in Magical Underpants Faith. It’s like George Michael’s Faith, where you have to have faith you’re gonna run into that special stranger in the park bathroom. Obviously Mormon Brooke could just sing the gotta have faith part, as she would not be as bold as Kristy Lee singing if I could touch your body.

Now the guys are singing Father Figure, obviously, so the Eunuch can sing. But notice how these are all being started off by the Sexy Aussie himself? Yes, indeed, I suspect this guy may have a decent and well-deserved career. Seriously. He is not going to be heading down the Path of Grease & Smarm mapped out by Greasy Constantine. I think he just might have something.

David Hernandez did some odd whisper thing, but lemme just tell you, I still adore Chikieze. And Stoner J, of course. But whenever I think of this song, I just think of George Michael singing it to some young boy in a park bathroom.

Now we got guys and girls singing Freedom. See, this is what I’m talking about. Kristy Lee needs a stylist 24/7. She actually looks decent tonight. Last night, she was wearing vintage Contempo Casuals. Tonight, her hair is straight and she’s got cleavage galore.

GEORGE MICHAEL IS HERE. Ooooh, If I could only see a him and Randy in a death match for the Eunuch’s hand and honor.

BTW, I actually do like George Michael. Everyone should hear Cowboys & Angels, from the Freedom album. Frakking incredible. But tonight he’s singing about God’s Children or something because, after all, this is AMERICAN IDOL.

Paula is crying. Paula has been standing almost the entire episode. George Michael gets a standing ovation.

9th Comercial Break 1:52 – 1:56 (Shit. If my Tivo cuts this off…)

Ok. Let’s not hear Randy talk. Let’s hurry this up before my Tivo cuts it off. Wow, Paula just rattles this crap off now…hmmm….WOW. Simon apologized to David Cook. WOW. Nice. See? It was a good idea he stuck up for himself last night. He had every reason to do so.

My Tivo just cut off right after Ryan said “The Winner is David ---“ BEEP

I blame Randy. Frakking Randy, you suck dawg, you suck!

Ok. Now I know who winner is because I checked my email…wow, I’m surprised they let it happen. Wait, I think I know what happened, so I'm gonna go with...Well done. Let’s hope the Eunuch doesn’t get his ass kicked by Daddy on the way back to Salt Lake City.

Yay for David Cook! Let's hope you get your ass back to KC for a few hours real soon, and don't forget to partake in some delicious Gates BBQ!

I guess I'll have to watch the Finale-Finale on YouTube. Sigh...this always seems to happen to me...YES! Already posted!

MAGIC RAINBOW? MAGIC RAINBOW? This song talks about a MAGIC FRAKKING RAINBOW? Ugh...I'll taste every moment of its complete and utter suckiness. Oh who cares, the right person actually won. The song sucks but imagine how bad it would be if the Eunuch was doing it.

(And to the person who couldn't answer their phone after emailing me the outcome-in-so-many-words, right as my Tivo cut out on me...you know who you are. I'm shaking my head and tsk-ing at you right now. Wi-Fi doesn't work properly in living room...you were the next best thing to going online when that stupid Tivo beeped! Tsk! Bad! Tsk!)

It was easy to forget that the purpose of the night was to award the Idol title as Fox paraded star after star among this season's Top 12.  But never fear, the answer to your long awaited question of who is the next American Idol is answered.

With a fairly narrow 56% of the record-setting 97 ½ million votes, David Cook beat out David Archuleta for the 2008 American Idol title.  Who knew that the cougar vote was more powerful than the teen vote?

Seriously, I was sure that Archuleta had the crown cinched especially after the judges gushed all over him last night.  But just before the winner was announced, Simon apologized to Cook saying that after rewatching the performances from Tuesday night, he didn't give Cook enough credit and that the race was closer than he thought.

As the new Idol, a very emotional Cook closed out the show with a performance of "Time of My Life," the songwriting contest winner.  This song was worthy of the award and suited Cook to a tee.  It was a nice finish to a busy night.

Individual Performances

But if I was Cook, the highlight of my night would have had to been jamming with ZZ Top to "Sharp Dressed Man."  Second on the list would have been doing the Guitar Hero commercial a lá Risky Business - which for me was the best cross-promotion of the night (sorry Archuleta, your boxer version just didn't cut it).

But sing with a star was the name of the game tonight.  Archuleta sang the hit "Apologize" with One Republic.  And I actually liked him with this group.  Maybe there is hope for him yet.  But did anyone else notice that he seemed to have a little trouble keeping up with the group?  I think the multiple performances were taking their toll on him.

Syesha Mercado returned to sing "Waiting for You" with Seal.  I'm not sure if it was the time off, the song or her duet partner, but I thought she sounded great.  Guess it's easier to perform without the pressure of being judged.

But apparently the producers couldn't find anyone willing to sing with Jason Castro, who gave us an encore performance of "Halleluiah."  My husband kept wondering if he'd remember the words.  I think the song was handpicked for him because they knew it was his best performance all season.

Brooke White teamed up with Graham Nash to sing "Teach Your Children," a song that suited her style well.  She seemed more relaxed than ever.  Maybe she wasn't struggling with stage fright afterall, but with the stress of the competition.  Either way, I was impressed with her performance.

Carly Smithson rounded out performances of the Top 6 by teaming up with fellow contestant Michael Johns to perform "The Letter." 

Group Performances

The finale was packed with so many performances by the Top 12 that it seemed more like a preview of the upcoming tour with special guests.  But if the confident performances we saw tonight are any indication then the tour shouldn't be as bad as I once imagined - at least for the more individual performances.

The group numbers weren't quite as impressive.  The finalists of So You Think You Can Dance joined the Top 12 to liven up the opening number.  Clearly the producers are saying they don't expect the Idol contestants to have any dancing abilities.  Do you think the dancers will be going on the tour too?

The two Davids treated us to a duet of Chad Kroeger's "Hero," a performance that clearly exaggerated the differences between the two and why Cook deserved the title.  As my husband said, Cook has a rocker sound that is more interesting to listen to.

The Top 6 women did a medley with Donna Summer featuring her new song "Stomp Your Feet."  I was not impressed with this number.  Amanda Overmyer looked totally uncomfortable - maybe it was all the red outfits for "She Works Hard for Her Money."  Somehow with these outfits the song wasn't bringing to mind a woman working as a waitress.  But even with the prostitution undertones, Brooke still managed to look pure and innocent. 

And then there was the aging Donna Summer who had to be helped down the steps.  Couldn't they come up with a better entrance that didn't make her seem so feeble?

The Top 6 men had a better outing with their Bryan Adams medley.  They all looked sharp in their dark suits and Adams aged better than Summer.  He sang his new single "I Thought I'd See Everything."

And finally the Top 12 performed a George Michael medley with the man himself.  Who knew that the Wham alum was resurrecting his career with his first American tour in 17 years?  Personally, I can do without the medley numbers.

Additional Filler

The musical side of the show was rounded out with performances by past Idol winners Jordin Sparks and Carrie Underwood.  The Jonas Brothers also performed.  I guess they had to have someone on the show that was within Archuleta's age range.  But even the Jonas Brothers made Archie look young.

While I expected to see the array of singers, I was a little shocked by the number of comic acts.

Of course, we'd be treated to a promo for the new Mike Myers's movie The Love Guru.  The mock advice of the guru was cute, but it was when Ryan almost drove his "flying pillow" off the edge of the stage that I laughed.

Surprisingly, Jimmy Kimmel (not a Fox product) put in an appearance to give us a season recap monologue.  Unfortunately, his Simon video just didn't compare with his Ben Affleck video.

My favorite comic act of the night was the try outs for Gladys Knight's Pips which featured funnymen Ben Stiller and Jack Black, and the surprisingly stoic Robert Downing Jr.  This skit was my favorite bit of the night.

It definitely beat out the return of Renaldo Lapuz who got to perform his original "My Brother" song with the USC marching band.  This Best of the Worst feature was still better than last year's "awards."

Overall, the two hours of fluff could have been worse - at least most of the time was filled with performances and a few of them were even good.

What do you think?  Did the best David win?  Was the show a complete waste of two hours or have the producers finally found a good mixture of fluff and performances?

-----------------------

Related articles:

Is Idol's Credibility Shot?

How Big of an Idol Fan are You?

Are Reality Contestants Entitled to Privacy?

Top 2 Perform

Top 3 Perform and Results

Top 4 Perform and Results

Top 5 Perform and Results

A Closer Look at Top 12 Men and Top 12 Women

And here comes some more coverage of the 23rd class of Scholars:

The Tucson Citizen offered a profile of Jason Xu ('08) and another of David Ware ('08) as part of the paper's coverage of this spring's area graduates. They also ran a story on all four new Scholars from the Tucson area--Jason, David, Alice Cai ('08), and Matt Hom ('08). The Arizona Daily Star followed suit.

The Ahwatukee Foothills News gave some much-deserved attention to Aubri Carman ('08), noting her scheduling conflict--go to the Scholars Recognition Dinner or accept her award as (deep breath...) the Arizona Interscholastic Association and Cox Communications Class 4-5A female Everyday Hero Scholar Athlete of the Year.

The Arizona Daily Sun has bestowed upon Ben Lang ('08) his very own article, although they mention in flattering terms those good people who paved the way, David Hernandez ('04), Margaret Neff ('03), Alex Lau ('03), and Marian Lacy ('03). A couple of weeks back, the Daily Sun chipped in with another brief on Ben, and way back in October, they were reporting on Flag's swim team and Ben's 50m and 100m freestyle prowess. (Which has us thinking: We'd probably pay at least three or four dollars to watch Ben, Sam Ng ('94), and Jon Wilkening ('92) in an aquatic grudge match to determine once and for all whether age and treachery do in fact triumph over youth and skill.)

The East Valley Tribune spilled a little ink on John Ingraham ('08) of Saguaro High, the Ahwatukee Foothill News noted the Desert Vista triumvirate of Kellie Mejdrich ('08), Eric Stout ('08), and Joanna Yang ('08), and the Arizona Republic's Gilbert edition did the same for Amy Kaczmarowski ('08) and Mitch Turbenson ('08).

Most comprehensive in its treatment, the statewide edition of the Republic has an article on all 20 new Scholars.

Meanwhile, the Foundation's web site has posted articles on the incoming class, as well as their Honored Educators and the outgoing Scholars.

"En un fin de semana muy importante para el club y los 3 equipos cadetes, podemos decir que el resultado, aunque pudiendo haber sido mejor, ha sido más que satisfactorio, logrando un 1º y dos 3º puestos, sumando así al segundo puesto del Junior Masculino y al primero del femenino.

En categoria masculina, tras caer derrotados en semifinales frente al Jairis, nuestros Cadetes se han impueto al ADM logrando la tercera posición, lo que iguala el resultado conseguido la temporada pasada. Enhorabuena a nuestros Cadetes A y a Juanfra Hernández por toda la temporada y al resto de equipos participantes por el gran nivel mostrado.

Cadete Masculino

1.- PW CB Murcia
2.- CB JAIRIS
3.- OBRALIA CB CAPUCHINOS A
4.- ADM

Las chicas por su parte, se enfrentaron en semifinales, donde obtuvo la victoria el equipo del 93. Asi pues, el equipo entrenado por David Hernandez, Obralia CB Capuchinos 92, se enfrento al CB Jairis por el 3er y 4º puesto, logrando la victoria.

Posteriormente se jugo la final entre el, a priori, favorito, CD Eutyches y el Obralia CB Capuchinos 93, entrenado por Eugenio Alcaraz.

Las de Archena dominaron durante todo el encuentro, rompiendo las estadísticas al marcar mas de 10 triples, compensando con su gran juego exterior su falta de altura en la pintura. Pero las Cadetes 93 no tiraron la toalla en ningún momento y su gran trabajo durante todo el partido se vio recompensado a falta de un minuto y medio del final, donde pudieron consolidar su ventaja. Gran partido de ambos equipos.

Felicidades a todas, Cadetes del 92 y 93, por el gran trabajo realizado durante toda la temporada, habiendo superado muchos problemas y lesiones.

Por supuesto, felicitar al CB Jairis y CD Eutyches por la temporada y los grandes partidos disputados en esta FinalA4.

Por tanto, la clasificación final seria:

Cadete Femenino

1.- OBRALIA CB CAPUCHINOS 93
2.- EUTYCHES
3.- OBRALIA CB CAPUCHINOS 92
4.- CB JAIRIS

Por último, agradecer al CB Jairis la organización de esta FinalA4 Cadete 2007-08. "

Visto en: http://www.cbcapuchinos.net/2008/05/19/tenemos-nuevas-campeonas/
Fotos de www.cbcapuchinos.net

[dailymotion id=x5ftix]

Chikieze!!! And Jason Castro is back! Even David Hernandez is hanging out, fully dressed, even. I read Amanda was also there but have yet to see her. You always knew she was too cool to hang with the other kids, at least while the cameras were rolling. That was one of the things I found so endearing about her, too.

All the kids are back in town to prep for that big finale on Wednesday night. I'm almost looking forward to it...maybe its best to uh, shoot me now.

Those former contestants are circling around, and its kind of funny, like Carly is leading the way, then there’s little Ramiele and Mormon Brooke was scurrying to catch up. The Eunuch is wandering around looking clueless and chewing gum, maybe because his father isn’t there to tell him which direction to walk just yet.

All the while Coretta Scott Mercado is telling the Seacrest Sycophant, JD Roberto, how she’s just sooooo happy to have come this far. She just keeps smiling for the camera. You never know who could be watching, right? I’m sure CAA will be calling her tomorrow morning.

Performance Recap

I’m not even going to bother because it pretty much blew the first and second times around.

Oooooh! CELEBRITIES. Like real ones, or semi-real ones, or something like that…

(Interviewed by Gina and Greasy Ass Constantine)

YAY! LLOYD is there. I heard he was, but did not see him. Yes, I know Lloyd’s real name is Rex Lee but I love his Entourage character so much, I insist on calling him Lloyd for the duration of this paragraph. The Sultan of Smarm does his ridiculous interview style in which he bobs his head up and down while pretending to look both intense and interested in whomever he is talking to, this time, its Marilu Henner, and what they happen to be saying. This is noticeably tougher for him to do if the woman (they seem to give these co-hosts members of the opposite sex for the post-show interviews) does not have visible cleavage. Gina is not talking to someone named Brandon Rogers who was on the show last year or something. I have no idea. Constantine nods at some chick who is on that Brothers and Sisters show. Yay! Lloyd is back. I think he gained a little weight but he’s still my lovable Lloyd. He says at this point, everyone has got to care, even the viewers at home.

Oh, Lloyd, I don’t care, but that was a nice sound bite you gave. And I care about you Lloyd, you’re my Asian-American Idol 365 days a year!

The Mercado family is sitting with the Poor Man’s Seacrest on that RIDICULOUS Coke couch, which is kind of funny, b/c they’re dismantling everything and behind them is a building and a truck, maybe a few trees. It’s kind of like putting a sofa on your front lawn and hanging out on a Saturday evening or something…

Oh, no way! Syesha is ENGAGED. Someone named Hess Wesley. I love how these chicks on here, the pretty ones who are probably think they are prettier than they really are…I love how they hide the boyfriend or fiancée until they get booted. Maybe they are told to do this? Who knows. But I bet Coretta ditches Hess-Wes for someone who promises her stardom...who knows...perhaps it is true love and I am only being cynical based on impressions I formed while watching a lame ass TV show.

Groan. Backstage again. Greasy Constantine is talking to these people…The Cheetah Girls? It’s the first time I’ve never seen him even glance at the camera when talking…these girls are all shorter, one has a very pronounced rack and the others are just so, so, but damn do they look and sound easy. He looks like a catering service waiter who just got off work. Now Gina is talking to Chris Richardson, someone else from last year but I don’t know who he is. She is wearing a horrible outfit which should not be seen on any female under the age of 45…or Paula Abdul.

Speaking of Paula! YES! Greasy Constantine is interviewing Ms. Abdul and whenever he does this, you can sense a real intimacy between the two of them. Maybe she pops an extra pill before so it’s easier when he semi-holds her, don’t know, but I am always in awe of how they have non-existent personal space while these “interviews” take place. Paula must be oblivious to this, as well as the warmth of his smarmy breath in a gentle, cascading breeze upon her silicone breasts. Or she likes it. Who knows.

(Yeah…obviously, I have no plans of writing a trashy torrid romance novel anytime soon…)

AWESOME. When talking about the Nokia, Greasy Constantine says, while staring at her ta-tas the entire frakking time and doing a strange lip thing:

It’s even bigger, if you can imagine, than the Kodak.

Between Simon’s reaction to Fantasia’s performance and Greasy Constantine undressing Paula with his Chlamydia Eyes, I finally get it. It took me 4 months, but I finally get what Magnum said when he told me the best part about this trash was making sure to never miss the subtleties.

Wow. That was cool. Like it all just dawned on me in that one moment. I feel so, uh, enriched! Yes! Enriched!

Coretta gets her one-on-one now, basically in uh, a parking lot. This chick can’t catch any breaks. She eventually says something again about “who she really is” but I’m only half listening. This pint of Haagen Dazs chocolate sorbet is requiring more attention than I initially thought it would. Now they’re talking about her fashion choices and how her goal was to make the Top 3, positive thinking, meditating…I’m trying not to drop my spoon again so I can type.

The show isn’t even half over but I swear it is the longest hour on TV. My mother used to claim the same thing about MacGyver, how it was the only 3-hour show that aired for one-hour. Claimed it got longer every time she watched it with my father, but she’s a realist, so she just couldn’t buy a dude building explosives with duct tape and Juicy Fruit, even if it was the true beauty of the show.

But guess who is gonna be on in a little bit…that’s right…SANJAYA! Apparently, all day Saturday is an American Idol Extra marathon. Yeah…think I got plans…

Debra Byrd is back. I like Debra Byrd, she’s like the medical examiner of American Idol, if it were a Law & Order show. Like she only shows up for a few minutes occasionally, but the information she offers is knowledgeable and stated with a soothing calmness. Byrd and Debbie the Stage Manager are the brains behind this whole thing, I just know it. This show would be Puttin' On The Lips if it weren't for these two fine ladies.

Ooooh, first impressions during Ford Commercial filming. Oh Jesus, David Cook makes pirate jokes…I want to hope its totally in jest and not because you know, he is one of those people who makes regular pirate jokes because they think they’re actually funny. Cook also thinks the Eunuch has a dry sense of humor, which is apparently evident during these big send-off dinners, when they roast the poor sap who is going home. I guess he told Amanda Overmyer she was scary. I now realize that of all the Idol bullshit, the only stuff which may be worth watching are the send-off dinners.

Note to producers: Next year, screw this AI Extra shit and just put some cameras on the send-off dinners.

Now this Diana DiGarmo chick is singing some shit ass song. Isn’t she a teenager? Or she can’t be more than in her early 20s…really need stop dressing like a 38-year-old divorcee/single mom.

SANJAYA! SANJAYA MALAKAR!

For some reason, I would love to see him in a very bit, blink-or-you’ll-miss-him part as one of Baltar’s followers on BSG. He would make the perfect altar boy for Gaius Baltar. But as I said, it would have to be a blink-or-you’ll-miss-him role because casting any reality TV star would totally ruin the Battlestar street cred. And if you don't watch BSG, you're probably wondering what the frak I'm talking about...whatever. Your loss.

Sanjaya…he’s openly gay, right? He’s got to be…right? When asked if he is single, he also uses the word “person.” Now he is singing Always On My Mind. Now I’ve always loved this song, as my parents played a lot of Willie Nelson during my childhood. The Elvis version, the Pet Shop Boys version, even, all great…Sanjaya’s…not so much. But you know, its Sanjaya, and I appreciate Sanjaya for just being Sanjaya and pissing a bunch of Idol viewers off last season.

Groan…Mormon Brooke gets a few minutes to talk about what she’s been up to since getting the shaft. She wants to craft a “really great album”. The Top 3 talk pre-performance rituals…Cook closes his eyes and breathes…Coretta calls her sister or texts someone…the Eunuch says a prayer to himself to keep the spirit high.

Yay! It’s over. Time to say goodbye from the parking lot! Yay! Only one more week of this nonsense!!!

Before I begin, let’s congratulate Whitney, the first “full-figured” winner of America’s Next Top Model. Yeah. I love that show…and the incredible Mr. Nigel Barker.

Ok. Back to Idol…

GROUP SING SUCKAGE

Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now
Poor D-Cook looks woefully out of place in this terrible dance number. The Eunuch is just doing what the Eunuch probably does every other night of his life, sing along to an oldies station. And why, Coretta Scott Mercado, day-glo white sneakers, is working overtime to show viewers she has a casual side! And a black side!

As sometime TopIdol commenter Magnum astutely noted:

When did Syesha get confused and think that black people watched American Idol?

In tonight’s audience: David Hernandez! CHIKIEZE!!

Wow. We’re already on to the FORD COMMERCIAL, which apparently has the 3 contestants going to a FORTUNE TELLER while singing Los Lonely Boys’ Heaven. (FYI, my mother goes gaga over this inane song for some reason.)

Now as I look into my crystal ball…I see big things…Oh, tiny Eunuch, you are hiding a secret folded ever so neatly besides your magical underpants in your closet. Oh, D-Cook, you will become an Idol but your Flock of Seagulls hair will have to say goodbye…forever. Oh, Coretta Scott Mercado, this is the last time you will be doing a Ford Commercial but you may find Fame…if they ever do a broadway remake of the 1982 film.

Re-mem-ba, Re-mem-ba, Re-mem-ba…

I digress…let’s watch the damn commercial.

Is it just me, or has the Eunuch been featured in a shot with some sort of flowering plant for at least half of these commercials?

LAST NIGHT’S RECAP…WHY MUST WE RELIVE IT?

The Eunuch sang some terrible songs, Coretta Scott Mercado sang some really boring songs but wore lots and lots of sequins and danced on a chair, D-Cook did some really good Roberta Flack and then sang a virtual coronation song with a small orchestra.

FANTASIA

Does anyone remember Grace Jones? Fantasia reminds me of a plumper, new-fangled version of Grace Jones right now. The En Vogue-esque backup dancers are a nice touch. But other than that, I have no idea what I’m watching but there are a lot of jerky movements and yelling. Lots of yelling. Hell hath no fury like a Fantasia scorned. OMG. OMG. The look on Simon’s face. The look on Simon’s face. That was just…that was just incredible. But Fantasia seems like she’s a lot of fun for some reason, a bit scary, but on occasion, scary can be fun.

EUNUCH

Wow. The only person who isn’t taller than Ryan is the Eunuch. Now let’s see David’s Day in Murray, Utah.

Oh, my gosh! The Murray High School Cheerleaders are here, too!

I can’t believe the under-12 set, in this day and age, still hasn’t figured out that they’re probably not Little David’s uh, type.

8-year-old girls are grabbing this poor kid. He is overwhelmed with emotion after seeing all the people at the mall, that so many people appreciated all his hard work…whoa, this poor kid’s Daddy Issues are bound to come to a head once he gets disowned for losing the whole thing.

I was overwhelmed how many people showed up. Gosh, where did they park?

I actually think that proves this kid may be a wee bit observant? Because I might wonder the same thing, but I don’t know what size the Murray mall’s parking garage is, but I did notice they had an Anthropologie.

YES! Mayor Daniel Snarr, the Tom Skerritt wannabe with a Dali moustache is BACK! LOVE HIM. Now that’s a man who needs his own reality show!

I never noticed before but I think the Eunuch’s mom may be sort of MILF-y? And it seems like the Scary Stage Dad has her held captive a la Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes.

I just realized, the more this kid says gosh, the more he sounds like Napoleon Dynamite, or Jon Heder, which is actually an LDS, so maybe breathlessly saying Gosh a lot is a Mormon thing?

Now they are showing the Eunuch’s Idol journey and I saw a glimpse of Miss Kristy Lee Cook and Carly and almost got a bit nostalgic, even though I still think Kristy Lee kind of sucked.

CORETTA SCOTT MERCADO

What was it like to get the star treatment back at home? How excited is she that she’s uh, getting star treatment. The crowd seems a bit more subdued than the Eunuch’s, although one large woman in nurse’s scrubs wanted her to kiss her baby, which is probably because, well, you know, Coretta Scott Mercado is the mythical love child of Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama…

Ooooh, BLOCK PARTY!! Dad mention’s his sobriety, because tragic back stories help with getting votes. Now she is on a helicopter…and singing Proud Marry…and the energetic Sarasota mayor, Lou Ann Palmer, just did a cartwheel. Nice touch, but still doesn’t top the Skerritt wannabe with the handlebar moustache. And now Coretta is crying…I’m sure I’m just as annoying when I cry but I kind of want her to shut up already.
Onto her journey…oh Hollywood week, when I still really liked Coretta and thought she was gonna be the second coming of Nadia Turner.

D-COOK

Wow, does he look apprehensive before he comes out on the stage, is he maybe thinking he’s too deep in and gonna be forced to sing a really bad song next week. Let’s hope his brother tries out again…is that allowed? Oh, I slightly giggled when he was doing the green screen and giving the “weather report”. Oh wow. That little kid with the identical hairstyle. Why is that girl crying? Never understood those people who get so verklempt upon meeting someone famous. Awwww, he brought flowers to the music teacher.

Parade…someone is dressed up like Colonal Sanders and another girl says she drove 10 hours from Wisconsin.

I like how his younger brother is there for all of this for some reason. It’s sweet. And then he threw out the first pitch at a KC Royals game. Still haven’t met a real KC fan so if you know any, have them write me. But he totally should have stopped by a Gates BBQ for a Hi-May-Eyz-Help-Youz? From the friendly staff.

When he tried out, his hair was totally Flock of Seagulls. Crazy. I really do think, for all his smirks and lemon face high notes, he is the only contestant who expresses genuine emotion and humility.

FINALLY! THE RESULTS! YOU'RE ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT, RIGHT??

esus, if I hear Randy say HOT one more frakking time…I swear the gastric bypass did something to limit his vocabulary…56 MILLION VOTES…

Yeah, yeah, no shocker here, I’m sure…

You think they’re gonna be able to get Coretta off the stage?

Also in the audience: Ramiele, Kristy Lee Cook (wearing that same horse tank top she always wears), MICHAEL JOHNS (Love you, Sexy Aussie, love you…), Mormon Brooke and Carly

(Notice how Amanda Overmyer hasn’t made a post-exit appearance? And I'm surprised Danny Noriega still isn’t milking past-contestant audience shots, but he’s probably drinking pina coladas with Rosie O'Donnell and Kathie Griffith right now.)

Ugh, never cared for this Alicia Keys song to begin with and I don’t feel like listening to it again now. So long, Coretta Scott Mercado! Perhaps I will see you on Broadway one day, or maybe in a bit part on Law & Order, because you know, everyone on Broadway does Law & Order.

Free at last, free at last, thank god almighty, she is free at last. (Free to do Broadway, right?)

Este fin de semana del 17 y 18 de mayo se juegan las Finales a Cuatro Cadete Masculina y Femenina de la temporada 2007-08. Se jugará en el Pabellón Fausto Vicent de Alcantarilla .
Mapa de los Pabellones de la Región: http://maps.google.es/maps/ms?hl=es&gl=es&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=112396339813037081482.0004403e3685a4ef13125
 
Más allá de los resultados que se puedan obtener este fin de semana, hay que destacar el merito que supone lograr clasificar a tres equipos para estas Finales, un cadete masculino y los dos cadetes femeninos. Un triunfo del trabajo y el afán de superación de todos y cada uno de los miembros de estos equipos que han salvado esta temporada numerosos obstáculos hasta situarse entre los mejores de la Región de Murcia. 
 
Como caso excepcional este año, nuestros dos equipos cadetes femeninos han quedado emparejados en la semifinal al haber quedados en 2ª y 3ª posición de la liga regular, lo que nos privará de una hipotética  Final entre dos equipos del Club. Será un partido muy disputado que no nos perderemos por nada de mundo. 

A todos ellos y ellas, sus familiares y a sus entrenadores: Juanfra Hernández, Eugenio y Jose Alcaráz y David Hernández, nuestro agradecimiento y enhorabuena. Mucha suerte.
 
El sábado 17 se disputan las semifinales, por la mañana los chicos con los siguiente partidos:

• a las 10,30 horas, CB Murcia-Resort 3 Molinos
• y a las 12,30 horas, CB Jairis - OBRALIA CB CAPUCHINOS

Por la tarde se disputan las semifinales femeninas:

• a las 16:00 horas, OBRALIA CB CAPUCHINOS 92 - OBRALIA CB CB CAPUCHINOS 93
• desde 18:00 horas, CB Jairis - Eutyches

Las finales se disputarán el domingo, siguiendo el formato antes descrito: los chicos por la mañana y las chicas por la tarde.
Mas información en la web de la FBRM: http://www.fbrm.es/fbrm/brm_a.php?menu=1&sub=0&op=0
 
Os esperamos a todos los miembros del Club, familiares y amigos para animar a nuestros chicos y chicas y conseguir crear un ambiente especial que los aupe hasta las finales.

Visto en: www.cbcapuchinos.net
Fotos del foro de: www.cbcapuchinos.net

On Jason Leaving: He didn't look too sad to be leaving; he looked relieved. I will admit that I loved Castro at the beginning of the season, but he just lost it toward the end. American Idol is definitely not his vehicle. It's too fast paced for a kid like him. I don't think he's the type that gets into competition too much. His goodbye song was great, what they showed of it, anyway. He does better without all that pressure, man.

Your Top Three: Syesha, David Archuleta, David Cook (and we all know that the two Davids will be the two finalists)

Now, we all know what happened with Paula Abdul and her rambling last night. And AI has a tendency to just ignore anything controversial or buzz worthy (David Hernandez's stripping, David Cook's brother, David Archuleta's dad), but Ryan did address the Paula controversy. "Last night," he says as Paula is beginning to cry, "the judges were thrown a curveball on the air, which is just part of a live show. But it sparked a lot of gossip about Paula. And I read some of this online this morning, and just for the record, the rumors … they're not true. She's part of our family, and we love her." What I want to know is which rumors Ryan is addressing. Is it the one about her being on drugs? The one about her Coke cup containing vodka? The one about the show being scripted and fixed? I could go on, but the point remains that Ryan didn't exactly clear up any of the controversy.

Now, from Paula Abdul's "craziness" to David Archuleta's bad acting. As little Archuleta walks onto the stage, we all know that he is not going to be the one to go home. So, why is it that when Ryan says that he's safe, he makes a big show of looking relieved/surprised/confused? I'm not buying it. Everyone, including him, knows his spot in the finale is a sure thing.

And as for the two girls being in the bottom two, we all knew that would happen. Is it just me, or does Syesha look like that girl from Fresh Prince tonight? She's so pretty. And I'm glad Brooke is acting like her old self instead of the simultaneously whiny and obnoxiously perky robot she's been for the past few weeks.

On to the American Idol Call-In Show … Did Nigel set up that call with Simon's first kiss, Tara? It seems too good to be true. I loved his surprised reaction. But what surprised me is that he remembers the girl (even her last name) so many years later. Wow! She must have left an impression!

Finally, after what seems like a lifetime (but not quite so as long last night's performance round), Ryan announces that the contestant leaving us tonight is Brooke. (Guess my votes for Syesha paid off.) I quite enjoyed the camera pan to Brooke's husband during that uncomfortably long embrace between Ryan and Brooke. I wonder what he was thinking. I also wonder who the idiot was that decided to use that song from the guy who stole the American Idol title from Clay Aiken a few years ago. It is just so annoying.

Well, so long Brooke. At least Ryan is there to comfort you. You guys did see Ryan consoling her again after she stammered through her goodbye song, didn't you? Hmmm …

For Dustin Cox ('03), winner of a UA Pillar of Excellence Award;

For David Hernandez ('04), finalist for the Marshall and Gates-Cambridge Scholarships, and selected as outstanding senior in the UA Department of Astronomy;

For Brian Indrelunas ('04), named editor of the State Press for the fall;

For Christina Kwong ('04), winner of a UA Pillar of Excellence Award and selected as outstanding senior in the UA College of Science;

For Alan Mackey ('06), who scored a three on the Putnam exam (apparently the most difficult mathematics quiz since Good Will Hunting);

For Devin Mauney ('05), awarded a 2008 Truman Scholarship;

For Margo Neff ('03), selected as outstanding senior in the UA Department of Anthropology;

For Megan McGinnity ('03), a national finalist for the William E. Simon Fellowship for Noble Purpose;

For Ke Wu ('06), winner of a 2008 Circumnavigators grant.

(We know, we know--this is the tip of the iceberg. No offense meant, and updates as we come across them.)

Update 1: For Brittany (Erwin) Shaw ('04), named outstanding graduate of the ASU Department of Supply Chain Management

Update 2: For David Hernandez (again...), recipient of the UA Outstanding Hispanic Senior Award.

Now, let me pull a Simon and allow me to just bitch and blog about the Idol Top 12. :)

Amanda: What's up with the hair? Woke up one morning and thought, "Ooh, I wanna be a skunk today." You turn even the sweetest melodies into rock and roll. You bore me to tears.

Brooke: You should have been Carly. As in Carly Simone. You look like her, except you’re prettier. You have nicer lips. Nicer nose, nicer hair. Fine. You don't look like her at all! Haha, But hey, I like you. But I don’t like you that much. I like you because you didn’t fuck up Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles. I don’t like you that much because you didn’t own the song.

Carly: You are just a tad better than Amanda. I wish you'd hide your tattooed arm even once. I think it's scaring Simon. One time lang, magpaka-girl ka naman. Sing Don't Cry for Me Argentina in the Andrew Lloyd Webber round!

Chikezie: You took the extra mile to suck when you brought out your harmonica and played it. That's it. I have no more opinion of you.

Kristy: Your eyebrows have evolved through the entire season, except your voice. Let Kelly Pickler and Carrie Underwood handle all the country shit. Anyway, you have what those two lack, a pretty pretty face! Model or act. Just stop singing. Please.

Michael: I'm still disappointed that you got booted out early. Too early IMHO. I loved your version of Aerosmith's Dream On and I think it's just sad that your dream ended with that song. :(

Ramiele: I'm happygladjoyfulelated that you went bye-bye. Understand that your singing prowess (?) is normal to my ears. I'd rather listen to Lani Miasalucha at any given day. You don't give me Pinay Pride. I don't remember you being hugged by Ellen. Or Oprah.

Syesha: I have three words for you. You go girl! I just hope that you start singing upbeat songs because no matter how good you a singer you are, I have yet to see you just enjoying the moment on stage. Let loose, girlfriend!

David A: You're a darling. A lying, little son of a bitch, but still a darling. I agree with Paula when she said, you can sing to us the phone directory and you'd still make us fall in love. Anyhoodles, you're so cute you make me want to cheer, "Go, baklita, go go baklita go..." Go fig.

David H: Uhhh... forgettable. I didn't even realize that there were three Davids in the Top 12 until I stole these pics from the site. Oh well.

Jason: You are the long-haired, thinner version of.... *drumroll* John Travolta! You're pretty, boy. Pretty pitchy. You never cease to distract me with your kilometric eyelashes.

David Cook: I LOVE YOU! Just when I thought Billie Jean would be your best performance to date, you triple wowed me with Always Be My Baby. You will be the next American Idol. You will make gazillion records and you will make Justin Timberlake eat shit.

That still wasn't Simon-ey enough. I know, I know. I'm not as articulate.

And I'm not as mean. 0=p

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Down to the Top 6: Brooke, Carly, Syesha, David Archuleta, Jason, and David Cook.

Next stop: Andrew Lloyd Webber night.

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listening to: David Cook - Always Be My Baby