Rock Star: Day 20

Suzie got the encore and she got to pick another performer as her opening act. She chose Marty. So we all got to listen to the exact same songs we heard these performers perform last night.

Then the show tried to play on the performers internal conflicts. Don’t ya just love the Jerry Springer phenomenon? Actually, I don’t. It’s sad and pathetic but… everybody wants to be famous so what are you going to do.

So Bottom Three this week were J.D., Ty and Jordis. J.D. sang This Time. It wasn’t spectacular but still solid. With all the abuse, J.D. is getting a helping of humble pie. But I thought rock stars were supposed to be cocky sprockets?

Ty performed The One Thing. This song was my introduction to INXS. I can still remember the video, you know, back in those first two years when MTV actually played music videos. That song is awesome and Ty did it well. After it was over Gary gave him crap for changing one line of the song, one time. I guess you could say the writing is on the wall.

Jordis sang Listen Like Thieves. I thought she had the weakest performance of the night. It didn’t matter because the band sent Ty home. So what does Ty do? He plays the race card. Seriously. Didn’t he just stay longer than nine other performers? Bad call.

I feel bad for the guy. He’s amazingly talented but now he’ll be remembered as the Rock Star sore loser. Don’t worry Ty, there were only 10-15 million people watching.

Still in the Hunt

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Saturn Sky

In keeping with my current preoccupation with new cars, I present the Saturn Sky. A car that could potentially convince me to buy American.

2006 Civic Is Stylin’

I’m proud to say I drive a 1994 Civic. It’s been paid off for 6 years and still going strong, so I’m a big Honda fan.

The design of the new 2006 Civic Coupe is tempting though. Are you like me? Do you ever wonder if you’ve ever really grown up?

Dominate the Dojo 8/31/05

1. Interview with Adobe CEO Bruce Chizen
   I’m just afraid that he’s looking at this predominently from business/financial side and forgetting about the needs to use customer’s needs and desires to chart future paths. Everything comes back to UCD.
2. The What Background Image Suits U
   I’m not recommending this quiz, just merely pointing out that the person who created it, did so as a marketing effort to bring people to her witchcraft Web site. Sneaky freak.
3. GM drives Hummer-branded laptop
   Anyone who’s accidentally dropped their laptop will be interested in these laptops, designed by the same company that makes laptops for the U.S. Military.
4. Recording Industry vs The People
   “A blog devoted to the RIAA’s lawsuits of intimidation brought against ordinary working people.” The music industry is rapidly becoming the biggest bully on the block.
5. What’s That Called?
   Are you ever watching TV and hear a commercial that has some catchy song that you’ve never heard? Well, there’s a site for that dilema. I was disappointed however, to find that they didn’t list Choice Is Yours by the Black Sheep that’s currently pumping those JCPenny kid’s clothes spots. Love that song, though, KJ52′s remake is just as slick with a more positive message.

Rock Star: Day 19

We open with the performers getting grilled on their vocal effort during this week’s clinic. Sounded a bit like the Three Bears.

Marty – Too Gruff
J.D. – Too Lazy
Jordis – Too Rebellious
Ty – Too Ty
Mig – Too Greedy
Suzie – Just Right

Bottom of the Barrel

No horrid performances this week.

Fine, If You Like That Sort of Thing

Jordis sang Imagine. I hate the Beattles, therefore Jordis sucks. *unnnnt*
Just kidding. She did a right peachy job with this sappy, syrupy, over-hyped, hippy brigade’s anthem.

Good, But Not Great

J.D. did Suspicious Minds by Elvis. Cool song and the bonus is that we learned J.D. used to do Elvis for a living. It’s all starting to make sense now.

Marty sang Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd and for the first time the Rock Star crew didn’t need to call for an exorcist. The gospel choir didn’t fit this song but that’s not Marty’s fault and he sang the song quite well. He even threw in a little British accept. Posh fellow his is. The band ate it up.

Ty sang You Can’t Always Get What You Want by the Rolling Stones. If there was ever a rock song with a strong gospel influence to highlight Ty’s strengths, it’s this song. He even tossed out a piece of INXS’s What You Need. In a related note, did you see that Mick’s new song picks up where Greenday left off? Stops just shy of calling for Bush’s head on a platter. Political wanker.

Last week Mig’s original song was called Do or Die. This week he performed Live and Let Die. Do we have a theme here? I thought he did a great job with it. Fun song. Only gripe is at one point he made the same sound I remember from my childhood. It haunts me to this day. I remember it like it was yesterday that my Dad accidently backed over our dog’s tail.

Knocked ‘Em Dead

Once again Suzie dazzled the crowd and the band with Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. She didn’t have the skin-tight leather pants, sweaty mustache and bad teeth, but everything else was in place. I’m quite ready to admit I was completely wrong about her a few weeks back. She’s got a great voice and can play the audience. I’m not sure she’s “right for our band INXS” but she’s an out-and-out rocker.

Bottom Three

Going to have to go with Jordis, J.D. and Ty. I think Ty would work for INXS but I believe America has it in for him.

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100 Greatest Pop Songs

Here are the top 10 from the Top 100 Greatest Pop Songs.

• 01 The Beatles – Yesterday
• 02 Rolling Stones – Satisfaction
• 03 Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
• 04 Madonna – Like A Virgin
• 05 Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
• 06 the Beatles-I Want To Hold Your Hand
• 07 Aretha Franklin – Respect
• 08 U2 – With or Without You
• 09 The Jackson Five – I Want You Back
• 10 Backstreet Boys – I Want It That Way

I appreciate that they used real download stats instead of some self-absorbed music critic’s opinion but seriously? The Backstreet Boys made #10?!?

And with no Rush in the Top 100 it is safe to say that these results are without merit and worthless. I guess that’s why I consider myself “alternative.”

Hurrican Katrina

We can’t pray too often. Remember everyone who’ll be affected by this massive storm.

King of the Misnomer

We all know that an organization can name itself anything it wants. Progressive, the auto insurance company, actually lives up to their name by giving away some simple comparative information for free via the Internet in the hopes that it’ll draw more people to evaluate their products. That is “more advanced” than their industry competitors.

But in the world of politics, misnaming organizations is merely a crafty ploy. Perhaps the leading contender in the Misnomer Champion contest could be People for the American Way. I wish I had written this, but Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council does such a good job of it, I’ll just credit his recent email newsletter.

To the surprise of no one, Ralph Neas and his group, People for the American Way (PFAW), came out against Supreme Court nominee John Roberts the other day. PFAW, according to their website, was formed in 1980 when television and movie producer Norman Lear feared that the “Religious Right was determined to impose a radical and extremist agenda.” When it comes to “extremist agendas” it would appear PFAW has cornered the market. The group has opposed “God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, restrictions on simulated child pornography, efforts to protect marriage, and displays of the Ten Commandments in public forums.

Do any of those things sound even remotely similar to the views of our nation’s Founding Fathers? No wonder PFAW put a “watch” out on Tony and his organization. This reminds me of the pr0n people who bought whitehouse-dot-com with the plan of tricking people looking for real government information.

Spread the word, PFAW doesn’t stand for our view of the American Way.

Dominate the Dojo 8/29/05

1. Two Soldiers Get Beat Down In Seattle
   If laws were truly laws, we wouldn’t need “hate crime” laws. Turns out it’s a setup so some low-life video company can sell violence for money.
2. Gates of Fire
   What’s war against cowardly terrorists really like? Read this. [via Caltechgirl
3. Wooden withdraws support for Wooden Award
   Without knowing a single fact, I’ll side with the Coach. He’s a class act and has the highest integrity.
4. Bad press for the President
   Those that don’t learn from history, yada yada yada, and then comes the revolution.
5. Proof Is Provided That Vitamin C Can Potentially Eradicate Coronary Artery Disease, But a Major Medical Journal Declines to Publish It
   Smart detectives follow the money trail. Who has the most to gain if people don’t use Vitamins? Perhaps The Constant Gardner is spot on?

Come Play With Us

Just like last season I’m going to be doing a Fantasy Survivor league. Who wants to join? It’s free! It’s fun! It’s full of positive psychic energy! Send me your name and I’ll email you once I get the league setup.

And for all of you wondering how my Fantasy Football draft went today, let’s just say my opponents were astounded when I pulled out my Franco Harris pick. I rock.

Dominate the Dojo 8/28/05

1. Fortune 1000 Mapped
   I love maps. Should have gone to cartographer school.
2. Doctor Reprimanded By Board For … Honesty
   So, when the truth hurts your feelings, by all means, sue!
3. 39% Say Withdraw Immediately
   It’s 39% Withdraw/46% Finish the Job, but for military families it’s 34%/56%. How tellings.
4. Cardinal says enough of euphemisms—Terry Schiavo was killed
   Funny how this didn’t get covered by the MSM. Well, not funny, more like “stupid.”
5. “But the Army can’t meet it’s enlistment goals!”
   That’s right. The biggest crime is how our Nightly News anchorheads won’t talk about how Iraq is becoming a democracy. Oh no, then they would be forced to admit that George Bush had done something right.

The Life and Times of Russell Crowe

Find all the meanings to these words and more at the NZ English to US English Dictionary.

Movie: The Great Raid

Inspired by real life events, The Great Raid takes us on the journey of the greatest rescue mission in the history of the United States. And what a journey it is. With hundreds of American soldiers being held in a Filipino POW camp by the Japanese, Lt. Colonel Mucci and Captain Prince lead a band of Army Rangers to get them out.

The film doesn’t go full-blown Hollywood on us, but instead tries to be as realistic as possible, with very few artistic liberties thrown in. It even begins and ends with true-to-the-era film reels. It’s a gripping movie that I recommend highly. My only complaint was the invented love interest that seemed somewhat out of place at first. By the end of the film, it didn’t bother me one bit.

The strangest part of the film is that it was completed in 2002 but was shelved for the past three years. It’s release was given very little promotion by Miramax apparently to save money as it’s departure from within Disney approaches. Don’t let the anti-war partisans persuade you to skip the film. After it’s over, you’ll be proud to be an American and will want to walk up to every veteran and thank them for their heroic service.

8.5 out of 10

Rock Star: Day 18

The band surprised me by giving the encore to Suzie. The America surprised me by keeping Suzie out of the Bottom Three. I’ve been surprised a lot lately. Bad trend.

What isn’t surprising is that Navarro is increasing his rear-kissing/minute ratio. He’s starting to sound like a politician.

So Bottom Three this week were Ty, Deanna and Marty. Ty began with What You Need and did a great job. But you could tell he was mad. Mad at America. Mad at you and me. How could we not have voted for him? Even had a little emotional outburst at the end. Easy there big fella, keep your cool. Don’t you know that Rock Stars don’t cry?

Deanna went next with Elegantly Wasted. Also a strong performance but she’s got a deeper voice than Mary Carillo. There’s just something unsettling about a woman with a voice that deep.

Marty finished things up with Don’t Change—a non-angst song that Marty just had to twist with a little extended scream at the end. This guy’s a rebel, a fighter Dottie.

In the end, the band let Deanna go. But not before a tearful exit. Don’t worry Deanna, I’m sure some band in need of a true baritone, hard-rock vocalist straight off some serious national attention will give you a call.

Still in the Hunt

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Dominate the Dojo (formerly Dojo Info)

1. Foundations of the Fair Tax
   I completely agree. The only people who want to maintain our twisted IRS system are the bureaucrats who built it and the lawyers who benefit from it.
2. Hugh Hewitt
   Hugh is one of my favorite talk show hosts. His site, up ’til recently, didn’t do justice to his intelletual powers. Topic of the day? Who’ll get the Republican nomination in the next election. Politics is fine and all, but not 24/7.
3. Imposing Your Views
   A classic nonsequitur. Everyone has views. Everyone wants their views represented. Whether they are religious in nature doesn’t matter, that is, except to the left.
4. Exit Strategy
   “So the only conflicts I know of where there was talk of an exit strategy are those where we have lost the will to fight and sustain casualties: Vietnam, Beirut and Somalia.” Questions anyone?
5. McDonald’s Sign Prankster
   Saw this over on Digg.com. Some people must have too much time on their hands. As I sit here wasting hours browsing the Web. ;^)