AI - 10 (and 11 for posterity)

Last week, despite a valiant effort, Chicken Little had to go home.  I think I actually might miss him more than none, which is hard to admit.  It boils down to the fact that I'd rather see him on tour with the top ten than Bucky.  Speaking of...

10. Bucky - Did you catch that he's married?  There go his constituents!  On a serious note....seriously, you're done.
9. Lisa - I thought she performed well in that she seemed passionate, BUT the only reason I really liked it is because it made me appreciate Kelly Clarkson that much more.  Sorry Lisa.
8. Ace - SO sick of the look that he always gives the camera.  And, I was more than a little skeeved out by his opening his shirt to show off a scar while giving the look; and to top it off, Paula propositioned him.  Easy Paula.  That didn't go over so well last time.  Oh yeah, and he can't sing.  Horrible performance.
7. Pickler - Suds in a Bucket?  Excuse me?  You could tell she wasn't into it.  But there's something about her that makes her impossible to not like.  Even when they ripped her up for song choice, she just kept apologizing in that southern twang.  I like that she doesn't take it personally or try to justify her poor decisions.  She's so cute, but in the way that I kind of feel sorry for her apparent ignorance.  But is it all a lie?  VFTW and her faithful country constituents will keep her around for a while.
6. Elliot - I really liked him again this week.  I almost busted him into the top five, but I'm not at all convinced he can break up the to five.

TOP FIVE - still intact, but a little mixed up
For these, because they'll be around for FIVE MORE WEEKS and have rock-solid constituencies, I'll rate just this week's performance.
5. Chris - He was SCARY.  The song was way too angry and might have scared away some of his tween fans.  The rocker thing is definitely already old and I crossed that fine line with Simon this week.  Last week he was praised for "knowing who he is."  This week it was just too much.
4. Paris - Not that memorable a song.  It was like she played dress-up with her mother's clothes -- too much makeup, jewelry and colorful clothing.  Definitely a wannabe performance.  The saving grace is that she can really command attention and dominate a stage.  And I actually found myself appreciating Paula's comment on the dancing, which I guess makes me totally OLD!
3. McPHEVER - I was very surprised that the judges liked it as much as they did.  They definitely see talent in her and don't want her to go home (conspiracy theories begin?).   I just don't wish Christina Aguilera songs on anyone -- to hard to replicate and make memorable.  As with Lisa, it just reminded me that she's not quite at that level yet.
2. Mandisa - SHACKLES!  I led an energizer to this song on stage in Florida in front of 200 high schoolers!  I was definitely up dancing.  The girl can BLOW!  I agree that it was a bit pretentious, but totally the right move.
1. Taylor - I can't put my finger on it exactly, but I just love how genuine he is.  Is it bad that I could tell he had a haircut?  Anyway, I look forward to him every week and I think as the petty people start to leave and older, wiser folks start to vote toward the end of the competition, he'll start to pull away.


BOTTOM THREE:
Bucky, Lisa, Ace with Bucky going home

AI - 12

Here we go again...

First, I'd be remiss not to point out the JPL cameo!! So funny: 1) that he was there and 2) that I recognized him after all these years...

LAST WEEK: I was pleased with results, though was just starting to like Gedeon who can sing better than at least Kevin, Bucky and Ace. No constituency. Felt bad for Ayla that she cried and still had to sing. Thought Bo Bice was horrible and looked exactly the same as last year.

THIS WEEK: There was a shocking amount of crying this week, which I normally appreciate, but it seemed excessive. Anyway, for the week's review I think from now on I'll go worst to best OVERALL not just for the week's performance:

12. Bucky - How in the WORLD did they think he did even a decent job. I couldn't stand him. I just tried to sing that song on a karoke machine and it's hard, but even I did better than him. He has no depth or range vocally.
11. Pickler - She was horrible, but her interview made up for her painful performance. She's completely cute and likable and will be around for a while.
10. Chicken Little - Definitely the JPL of the season where the only thing he has going for him is the whole sex symbol thing, and I'm already past actually laughing and to a forced chuckle when the jokes are made. While I'm still surprised at his singing, he'll be gone soon. Plus, he pissed Simon off trying to be a sexy thug. The makeup comment was funny though.
9. Ace - Pretty boy. I'm starting to lose interest in his voice. It's not the voice of a champion.
8. Melissa - I still like her voice and thought she did well.
7. Lisa - She's good and has potential. I just can't wait for her to sing a whitney song so she can go home.
6. Elliot - Nerves got to him. He still has a chance if he can control himself, figure out a way to command the stage and continue to find a personality...he's on the cusp of...

TOP FIVE!!!
5. Paris - She was great. She's spunky, always looks hip, has the attitude and stage presence all the time.
4. Mandesa - Love her. Solid every week. She'll be around for a long time.
3. Taylor - The kid's got soul! He's always unique and really takes control of whatever song he sings. He goes for it every week and always seems comfortable with the music. I look forward to themes that will push him.
2. Chris - He's solid every week. I really like him and his story (which I usually try to ignore). I only hope the rocker style doesn't get old 6 weeks from now. I also really thought he was going to throw the mic stand at the band or through the big screen there at the end! I actually got nervous about that. Also, he's got a little goat-girl in his voice.
1. McPHEVER - I've been infected. love the personality, stage presence; right on with the Kelly reference. I can't wait for HER to sing big band...or anything for that matter.

BOTTOM THREE:
Bucky, Kevin, Melissa with Bucky going home (pleeeeeeeease send Bucky home)

AI - prelude to the finals

I'm proud to say that I'm a BIG fan of American Idol. I have been ever since the second season when Justin and Anne forced me to watch in order to be friends with them. Now I'm hooked and completely unapologetic. Thus, the critique begins, mostly because I can't think of anything else to regularly post on this thing...


Thoughts on this week as we prepare for the finals to begin...

Women, performance order:
1. Paris - she's great, but i think she peaked a little early. not impressive this week. It shows she can keep up with a fast, energetic song, but that's not her strength. I want to see the jazz voice that came out in her original auditions!
2. Lisa - she and Paris are the same to me right now, in that they immediately went to the top and now struggle to stay there. love her. can't wait to hear some Whitney Houston
3. Melissa - i like her voice, the lower alto range is hot.
4. Katharine McPhee - possibly my favorite. still loved her first performance of this round best. love her personality, particularly maybe two weeks ago when she apologized to the audience behind her for having to stare at her butt!
5. Kinnik - she's nice, but is past her prime
6. Ayla - i'm surprised every week at her voice. hate that she's stuck in the role of the hard working athlete who tries really hard every week and gives it 110%....yeah! It's like Jerry Rice on the danding with stars...all he could ever say -- i'm a hard worker. i gave it my best. i'm a winner. Sorry Ayla has to be forced into that role. I'm still impressed by her. And it's hilarious when she stands next to Ryan.
7. Mandisa - GREAT GREAT GREAT. loved her from the beginning. such a powerful voice. i always look forward to her.
8. Kellie - SO CUTE. sucks to have to follow Mandisa, but at least she was last. she's just adorable, and i laugh all the time at her little stage stance - feet spread, knees bent as if beginning a squat. it's like Carrie Underwood's hip shake last year. and the way she pronounced SALmon!

BOTTOM THREE:
(should be) Melissa, Kinnik, Ayla with Melissa staying

Men (can't remember the exact order):
1. Gedeon - he's growing on me, though his pre-taped pieces sound way too robotic (like steiner in our hofo video). he finally started to sound normal when talking to Ryan after the performance. he's still odd, but can sing. though i can't envision his constituency...
2. Kevin - "the sky is falling, the sky is falling." i can't stop thinking of the chicken little picture they put next to him. poor kid. i like him. he's the JPL of the year.
3. Will - eh...not impressive anymore
4. Taylor - i like this kid. his love of the music shows. plus, he reminds me of a co-worker here (welcome to the list, Peter) who is a soul/blues music fan to the core...harmonica player, the whole bit.
5. Elliott - the boy can sing. i REALLY like him. and i'm finally getting over the under bite. he'll be around for a while. agree with Simon that it wasn't as passionate, but he's right on pitch all the time.
6. Bucky - has a twin!?! That was crazy. think of the great photo shoots that could have been done with they and the O'Donohue sisters!!! oh well. He does well with the country stuff, but i don't know what to make of his constituency. has there every been a stong male country singer to pull in some odd new round of votes? they could carry him like they probably carried Carrie last yr.
7. Chris - he'll definitely get a recording contract. they love him, as they should. and surely there's a band that would want him out front. but i did agree with Simon this week that he wasn't super impressive. like Paris and Lisa, he was put at the top immediately and has to find a way to continuously stand out.
8. Ace - hot enough to overcome his average voice. he'll last a while. J, don't you know him?

BOTTOM THREE:
(should be) Kevin, Will and ?? Gideon/Bucky. With the little kids leaving.

Paula - how funny was it when she switched seats with Randy and had to come up with her own thoughts. i laugh every time she opens her mouth to say the SAME THING RANDY SAYS. I want to see clips only of what she says. I think she often says the same thing about each person from week to week.

all for now...

Ice fishing 2006

The trip took place late January - the first time for this virgin ice fisher. And this is pretty much the view I had for much of the time. Lots of sitting and hovering over a very small hole, all while trying to stay out of the biting wind and not freeze to death.

I survived.

Reading women...

Thanks Aunt Martha!

One morning, a husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, his wife decides to take their boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and takes out her book. Along comes a game warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says,

"Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?"
"Reading a book," she replies (thinking, "Isn't it obvious?!").
"You're in a restricted fishing area," he informs her.
"I'm sorry, Officer, but I'm not fishing, I'm reading."
"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."

"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the woman.
"But I haven't touched you," says the game warden.
"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know, you could start at any moment."
"Have a nice day, ma'am," he said...and quickly left.

MORAL OF STORY:
NEVER ARGUE WITH A WOMAN WHO READS. IT'S LIKELY SHE CAN ALSO THINK.

Yo, Bert! I thought you were blogging about the weather.

Yeah, me too!

This is my snow angel from last weekend.

The first storm of the winter really packed a punch, dumping more snow overnight than I'd ever seen come down all at once. The winter was finally here! I'd mentally prepared myself after being repeatedly warned of the 119+ in. average snowfall every year. This southern boy was ready.

Since that early December weekend and a near record breaking month that doubled the average ... NOTHING!

We're on pace to easily have the least snowy January on record, currently at a measly 4.7 inches. This is pathetic, really.

The first 20 or so inches hung around for a while, but by the December holidays, we were no longer dreaming of a white Christmas. It actually hit the 60s this month for a day or two, constantly melting any little flurries that have tested their fate.

All the hype and joking about freezing my toosh off -- nada. Completely disappointing.

Bring it on, I say. Bring it on.

IRS chooses the "easy" target = the poor

Once again, these are painfully misplaced priorities that are only exacerbating much larger societal, political problems. There's general mistrust of the poor and marginalized while a blind eye is turned toward wealthy, corporate fraud cases. Basically, they see about $9 billion of EITC "fraud" money -- these are poor people. They can't afford tax prep help. At best the go to some sort of predatory lender like H&R Block who is already scamming they (and all taxpayers) out of those EITC funds. Only 40% of eligible folks have ever even HEARD of the program.

The rest of the country (wealthy, corporations, joe schmoe) avoid $340 billion....that's also fraud.

$9 billion vs. $340 billion

Where do they focus? The $9 billion from poor folks. I'm not trying to justify fraud; it's all bad and should be stopped. But there has been an intentional shift AWAY from tracking down the corporate funneling of major sums of money.

This isn't even really about fraud in our tax system. This is about an inherent, intentional and (finally) increasingly public shift of philosophical priorities away from building a community and country where "all" are created equal to one favoring a very conservative, selfish ideology where you bend and break the rules as much as possible in order to get ahead.

This is sick.

Read more with links to background here on the Mother Jones blog:

Auditing the Poor
By Bradford Plumer
The IRS stops going after corporations and starts hunting down the poor
January 10, 2006

The shift from "organic" to "local"

This is a good article, recently published in the NY Times entitled In Oregon, Thinking Local...

This helps even more get to the nuances of our approach to food.  It's not even about straight "organic"...

SIX years ago "organic" was the next big thing in grocery shopping, but ... it has been co-opted by agribusiness, which has succeeded in watering down the restrictions of the definition. Today "local" and "sustainable" are the new culinary buzzwords.

We're talking revolution here, people!

"I think there is a gathering sense that organic and local are not the same," said Michael Pollan, the author of a forthcoming book, "The Omnivore's Dilemma," and a frequent contributor to The New York Times Magazine. "Buying national organic products does very little for the local economy. Local food chains are very, very important. Organic has important values having to do with pesticides and how land is treated, but now that it is industrialized, buying organic doesn't necessarily support living in a place that still has farmers consuming less energy."

He added: "Moving organic food across the country uses just as much energy as conventional. I think this is becoming more important."

And the article highlights a chain in the Portland, OR area called New Seasons that focuses on locally grown foods.  The benefits are clear and broad...

The opportunity to sell locally has kept some area ranchers from going out of business in Oregon and nearby states. Doc and Connie Hatfield, who founded the Country Natural Beef cooperative in 1986, ... [were] pleased about an unexpected byproduct of selling locally: the bond forged between rural and urban residents.

"Most of the ranchers are rural, religious, conservative Republicans," Mr. Hatfield said. "And most of the customers are urban, secular, liberal Democrats. When it comes to healthy land, healthy food, healthy people and healthy diets, those tags mean nothing. Urbanites are just as concerned about open spaces and healthy rural communities as people who live there. When ranchers get to the city, they realize rural areas don't have a corner on values. I think that's what we are most excited about."

Bon appetit!

More on Wal-Mart

I came across these well before the revival of this internal dialogue I call a blog, so thought I'd now share...

The Wal-Mart You Don't Know, long but good...

...the real story of Wal-Mart, the story that never gets told, is the story of the pressure the biggest retailer relentlessly applies to its suppliers in the name of bringing us "every day low prices." It's the story of what that pressure does to the companies Wal-Mart does business with, to U.S. manufacturing, and to the economy as a whole. That story can be found floating in a gallon jar of pickles at Wal-Mart....

Wal-Mart has also lulled shoppers into ignoring the difference between the price of something and the cost. Its unending focus on price underscores something that Americans are only starting to realize about globalization: Ever-cheaper prices have consequences. Says Steve Dobbins, president of thread maker Carolina Mills: "We want clean air, clear water, good living conditions, the best health care in the world--yet we aren't willing to pay for anything manufactured under those restrictions.

And this if from a TPMCafe post, Wal-Mart and Public Subsidies, giving a little context to much of the Wal-Mart debate going on...

What we have here is a massive decision by the federal government to subsidize low-wage work rather than to force employers to pay more or provide basic benefits... The entire thrust of social policy over the last two decades, albeit a quiet one, has been to encourage the creation of low-wage jobs by subsidizing them. We made a bipartisan political choice not to impose that responsibility on companies, and to use public subsidies instead.

But having made that choice, we can unmake it, or reconsider it. And we should. And if focusing on Wal-Mart, the world's biggest company and the country's biggest employer, helps show the consequences of that choice, that's all to the good.

It's unfortunate that these issues are so complicated, though of course it makes perfect sense that major national shifts in employment, corporate and welfare policy didn't happen overnight. But it also makes it much easier for people to spin reality into a beautiful illusion that is everyday low prices -- ignoring both the historical context and the current and future local and global impact. Because I don't doubt that if people really understood that while Wal-Mart does seem to remain painfully loyal to its mission to provide low costs, it does so at the expense of millions of its own workers and tens of millions around the world.

SNL making a comeback?

According to Slate, I'm a loser.

If you haven't seen Saturday Night Live's Chronicles of Narnia rap, then you don't have any friends. Or at least any friends with Internet access.

Come on people! This is more than three weeks old and I'm just finding out about it. I'm disappointed...and talking to myself.

Anyway, it's funny and you should check it out. And the Slate article is almost as funny as the rap video.

FYI

I could never be a salesperson. I just don't have what it takes and I'm okay with that.

I just needed to get that off my big, burly chest.

War on Barbie

Seriously?

From the Jan. 4 Progress Report

CULTURE -- RADICAL RIGHT WING STARTS A WAR ON BARBIE: The Concerned Women for America (CWA), a radical right-wing group which works on "reversing the decline in moral values in our nation," has criticized the Barbie doll and its manufacturer, Mattel, for being influenced by the "transgender movement." Barbie.com recently featured a poll asking respondents their age and sex, with three options for the latter question: "I am a Boy, I am a Girl, and I Don't Know." The CWA's Bob Knight said the website's "agenda" is "bisexuality gender confusion" and is "very dangerous." Knight also criticized Barbie as anti-Christian: "[Barbie is] really steering girls away from the idea of womanhood as, predominantly, in terms of Christians, serving the Lord, getting married, having kids, building a home. You don't see any of that with Barbie." Mattel's spokeswoman claimed the poll's third choice was "an innocent oversight" and has been changed to read "I don't want to say."

Saturday "Morning" Poll #1

Attention faithful reader(s).....

Some of you may remember receiving a random telephone call one Saturday morning almost six months ago, asking the burning question that was on everyone's mind --

Was Angelina Jolie carrying Brad Pitt's baby?

The poll results are in. They've been counted and recounted and, despite developing circumstances (e.g. the whole adoption thing)

53% = YES
40% = NO
7% = Why should I care / Did you really just ask me that

Due to such an overwhelmingly positive response, we've decided to bring it to the blogosphere with --

Lizzy and Bert's Saturday Morning Poll

Without further adieu, let's get things started off right...

What was the best movie of 2005?

I'm not vegetarian. It's much more complicated than that...

So Liz and I are trying to walk the talk and live a life to adequately complement our worldview: economic and social justice, fair and living wages, respecting people's worth as individuals and not cogs in a system. Seems like an easy enough task, but it certainly is not. To tell you the truth, the phrase "ignorance is bliss" is taking on new weight. Whether it's reading up on all the truth about Wal-Mart (here, here, here, and here by way of here) and hitting at the consumerism realm which is so often and easily disconnected from reality as we continue living blind to the reality behind our purchases.

For now, however, we're focusing on a much more basic, subsistence need = FOOD!

I'm still trying to figure out exactly how to describe my commitment toward a more sustainable and just food system. It's easy to start by simply being vegetarian, at least taking a stand against the meat industries and their horribly unsustainable practices (see Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser) or even more mainstream reports on the amount of grain protein that is fed to animals in order to produce a significantly lesser amount of protein from the meat end product. (i'll have to find that)

But for now I'll stick with something like this...we're focusing on using our individual and collective purchasing power on foods that are locally produced, chemical free, minimally processed, and organic (and not the watered down USDA definition, but really organic). This doesn't necessaritly exclude meat, though in practice it's hard to find meat that fits both the criteria and the budget.

There you go.

In doing some self educating, I've come across quite a few interesting and helpful places to learn more about this realm. One was the Syracuse Real Food Coop and their blog. We went to the store a little over a month ago for the first time and it was a real treat. More than the thoughtful food selections with background on the origin of all products (the farm it came from, farm owners, farm philosophy, etc.), it also embodies a sense of community often lost in our culture today. It fosters a real sense of comfort as, by nature, it gathers people who are aware of and care deeply about their place in the world...or at least in the food chain.

Another pleasant surprise came to me after one of my Google News alerts sent me to a post on this U.S. Food Policy blog. I was then able to connect to a great, local source called Cookin' in the 'Cuse. I particularly liked a recent post that spoke to much of our recent seasonal frustrations, the difficulty of eating local in Syracuse in the winter. It's really true that winter, particularly in climates that have a REAL and significant winter season, brings out the nuances of sticking with locally grown foods. There's only so many roots that one can handle in a short period of time. I sure have much to learn.

And while I'm on the subject, I'd be remiss to forget to include one of Francis Moore Lappe's recent book, Hope's Edge. It's quite an amazing book, with unforgettable stories of courage and hope of neighbors from around the world -- and to top it off, there are wonderful recipes throughout.

When you spend your professional life focusing on food justice, it's hard not to make it personal.

football = quidditch?

It's the 4th quarter of the Rose Bowl and Reggie Bush just dove down straight down the sideline into the endzone for a touchdown. As the play was being reviewed, this was the announcer...

It's a game of Quidditch to Reggie Bush. Where's his broom? I don't see any broom. He's got the snitch in the endzone, touchdown for Reggie Bush.

That's just funny.

MUST SEE!

Oh, this is too funny.  I must be falling down on my game not to have thought of this first - though it does make me wish I'd souped up my clown prank just after college and submitted that....long (but funny) story.

Anyway, it's a video clip from the Today Show from today (Dec. 29).  It should still be visible on the home page and you must use Internet Explorer to play it (unfortunately).  In case you have to search, the title of the story/clip is...

"You've won the lottery! Not so fast..."

I'm still laughing.  Enjoy!

blissful correction

I guess if I visit Iowa in the spring I won't be visiting my niece, because...


very cute you two!

The next big thing

I might be woveling my driveway sometime soon!!

Thanks to Jeff Kramer.

What have I gotten myself into?

Front page story of today's Syracuse Post-Standard: Snow didn't wait for winter

Because we've already had over 56 inches of snow!!!

December's average temperature of 23.3 degrees in Syracuse through Monday ranks as the seventh coldest start to the month since 1922 ... Syracuse hasn'thad one day above 40 degrees the entire month.

Luckily, we at least have something to look forward to in The Great New York State Golden Snowball Contest, where we're currently in first place and doing well to blow away the competition.

Dingell's Jingle

Congressman John D. Dingell (MI-15) recited the following poem on the floor of the US House of Representatives.
-- from Crooks and Liars

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the House
No bills were passed 'bout which Fox News could grouse;
Tax cuts for the wealthy were passed with great cheer,
So vacations in St. Barts soon would be near;

Katrina kids were nestled all snug in motel beds,
While visions of school and home danced in their heads;
In Iraq our soldiers needed supplies and a plan,
Plus nuclear weapons were being built in Iran;

Gas prices shot up, consumer confidence fell;
Americans feared we were on a fast track to…well…
Wait--- we need a distraction--- something divisive and wily;
A fabrication straight from the mouth of O'Reilly

We can pretend that Christmas is under attack
Hold a vote to save it--- then pat ourselves on the back;
Silent Night, First Noel, Away in the Manger
Wake up Congress, they're in no danger!

This time of year we see Christmas every where we go,
From churches, to homes, to schools, and yes…even Costco;
What we have is an attempt to divide and destroy,
When this is the season to unite us with joy

At Christmas time we're taught to unite,
We don't need a made-up reason to fight
So on O'Reilly, on Hannity, on Coulter, and those right wing blogs;
You should just sit back, relax…have a few egg nogs!

'Tis the holiday season: enjoy it a pinch
With all our real problems, do we honestly need another Grinch?

So to my friends and my colleagues I say with delight,
A merry Christmas to all,
and to Bill O'Reilly…Happy Holidays.