29th
April
2009
Something went bump
posted in environment, Idol | Comments Off on Something went bump | 277 words
TubaOrNotTuba
Something went bump
22nd
April
2009
The last dance, for some
For some, things end before they should. Unfortunately, disco hasn’t. The guest spots and song choices on Idol this week were painful to watch and hear. KC used to rock; now he shuffles. The bump is gone. This was also a big week for departures, with the cohort finally reduced to five. A handful, which means more than one song per week from the survivors. On the cut list, Lil and Anoop. No surprises there. From here on, the competition gets interesting, as there are only a month of idle surmising left for those of us who have nothing better to watch.
posted in Idol, sports | Comments Off on The last dance, for some | 270 words
15th
April
2009
Even an imperfect illusion trumps none at all
Whether or not the next generation is aware, ours will teach them certain skills. Around the house, my ambition is to send the three sons off with the knowledge necessary to lead their own lives without needing recourse to a specialist for the simple things. Doing the dishes, running the vacuum, installing appliances (learning not at the knee of the master, but together, mentor and student in an amalgam).
posted in Idol, technology | Comments Off on Even an imperfect illusion trumps none at all | 344 words
7th
April
2009
Songs, stress and serious cinema
Fewer fingers needed each week, as the Idol decimation continues. For me, a chance to forget my growing stress, and the mute button serves as protection from the commercial interludes that more and more intrusive. At least we’ll soon get to hear more than one “less than two minutes to show your star quality” song; right now the comments are taking a lion’s share of airtime. Except for the final performance this evening, where Simon spoke for the team and even stood up and applauded. My “emo” mood wasn’t on for Adam, though.
posted in Idol | Comments Off on Songs, stress and serious cinema | 257 words
1st
April
2009
No more hippy-hippy-shake-shake
The girl with the hippy-hippy-shake-shake has gone home, and she doesn’t care. Neither does Simon, which shows that it’s still his show. Big dog won’t allow no disrespect in his junk yard. With all the other things going terribly wrong in the world, I’m glad that we still have American Idol to sneer over. Puts things in an odd perspective.
posted in Idol | Comments Off on No more hippy-hippy-shake-shake | 302 words
25th
March
2009
The power ballad as an anthem for my time
If you are of a certain age, and only mildly deaf, then you can identify with strapping on your air guitar. You strike the pose, you strike the chord, you start up the vocal generator and begin your best ever performance of the power ballad. Are you with me? On stage? Good.
posted in Idol, music | Comments Off on The power ballad as an anthem for my time | 287 words
5th
March
2009
Three points on a flat line graph
Another one of those days where there are minor peaks on a graph of not much else going on. Let’s label the points, in no particular order, as the silly, the serious and the sweet. A week from now, only one will matter, but that’s the way things go.
posted in Idol, politics | Comments Off on Three points on a flat line graph | 305 words
18th
February
2009
Let the winnowing commence
While my computer is busily installing a newer version of VMWare (where a machine pretends to be something it normally isn’t), it strikes me that this would be a good moment to catch up on American Idol. Where, as the pundits have it, talent tries to appear where normally it wouldn’t; in the middle of a glorified karaoke show. Harsh words for the most popular program on television right now. In passing, the analog to digital switchover began last evening, although we’re “safe” up here in the frozen north.
posted in Idol | Comments Off on Let the winnowing commence | 251 words
4th
February
2009
No corner unvisited, no object left untouched
There’s something intrinsically pleasant about applying textbook knowledge to real life. Despite the motivation of curriculum designers, the learner doesn’t always “get” the content of a lesson. No blame laid here; teachers and students are the warp and the weft of the cloth, each essential and neither able to sustain alone. But let’s cut to the chase on this one. Today I watched a video on YouTube that was simply cool.
posted in education, Idol | Comments Off on No corner unvisited, no object left untouched | 259 words
21st
January
2009
Easily distracted
“The show can’t always last for two hours”, I said to myself, as I settled in for another round of Idol auditions. It should, because how else can you get a feeling for the musical sense of a city. Tonight we saw the highlights of the visit to Louisville. Too much time showing us the grandstand from a racetrack. Too little music, considering that 11,000 potential (a word that covers a very wide range) musicians are distilled into a Kentucky barrel of 19 gold ticket holders.
posted in Idol, music | Comments Off on Easily distracted | 263 words
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