An Open Invitation to Craig Ferguson

Hi Craig! Would you like to have sex with me? That'd be awesome.
Seriously, this video is awesome. The election is less than two months away!

Awwww x1,000

This video is super cute. I'm kind of in love with both of them!

Coming up tomorrow: Gender of niecephew announced!!!! Yes, I'm the only one who really cares, but still. It's my very first niecephew.

Cheers!

a cheer

Rat shit, bat shit, dirty old twat!
69 linemen tied in a knot!
Hurray, lizard shit, FUCK!

Hey, George, here's hoping God recites the seven words with you. Happy trails, and may Buddy Christ greet you at the gates.

Also, universe? Maybe enough with the taking of awesome people who should have had more time. Between Ledger, Carlin and Russert, you should be occupied for a while.

That's How You Know What a Giant DORK I am

Ok, so Enchanted is basically my favorite movie in the world right now. I'm 26 years old and every time I see this at the two minute mark? I get shivers and almost cry.

*sigh* Do girls ever stop wanting that? I hope not. I'm gonna have to convince Jon to do this for me sometime.

Movie Meme: Why not?

1. Pick 10 of your favorite movies.2. Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie.3. Post them here for everyone to guess.4. Fill in the film title once it's guessed.*5. NO GOOGLING/using IMDb search functions.
1. The bad stuff is easier to believe. You ever notice that?
2. Well, technically speaking, the operation is brain damage, but it's on a par with a night of heavy drinking. Nothing you'll miss.
3. I know. She's heading an expedition to China shortly. I'm to go as her servant. But only on the understanding that I am to be very badly treated.
4. Person 1: If I was a guy, I think women would like, line up to go out with me. I'm smart. I have a good sense of humor. I make a great living.Person 2: I'd fuck you. Person 1: Thank you, honey. I know you would.
5. But the point being, our child learned two very important lessons. One, about life and death. The other, some things, once you do, they can't be undone. I knew just how she felt.
6. Also, I sleep in the nude. Au buffo. Winter and summer rain or snow with the window open and because I may have to go to the potty or to the fridge in the middle of the night and because I don't want to put on jammies which I do not own in the first place... unless you're looking for a quick thrill or your daughter an advanced education I would keep my door closed.
7. I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up DOES rejoice. Still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they're gone. I guess I just miss my friend.
8. My friends. You bow to no-one.
9. Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
10. Person 1: You don't mean to tell me that you're living in poverty? Person 2: No. But I'm broke.
11. Pull-yourself-together! "What will you do?" Is this a question? You will show him that you remember that he is [character name], and you will remind him who *you* are. Well, you know where he is. Go, confront the problem. Fight! Win! And call me when you get back, darling. I enjoy our visits.
12. I just want you to feel you're doing well. I hate for people to die embarrassed.
13. The chinaman is not the issue here, Dude. I'm talking about drawing a line in the sand, Dude. Across this line, you DO NOT... Also, Dude, chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature. Asian-American, please.
14. Now I'm stuck with Mr. Happy here, sleeping on a fucking sofa. Look, I know you are a homo and all, but maybe you can appreciate this. You go to one of those places, there's four women for every guy. Can you imagine what that's like?
15. It's the same things your whole life. "Clean up your room.", "Stand up straight.", "Pick up your feet.", "Take it like a man.", "Be nice to your sister.", "Don't mix beer and wine, ever.". Oh yeah, "Don't drive on the railroad track."
16. Oh. Where you going?... Oh, you men are all alike. Seven or eight quick ones and then you're out with the boys to boast and brag. YOU BETTER KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT. Oh... I think I love him.
17. What have I done? My brains... are going into my feet.
18. Janice Van Meter got hit with a baseball. It was fabulous.
19. We take Pete's car, we drive over to mum's, we go in, take care of Phillip - "I'm so sorry Phillip". - then we grab mum, we go over to Liz's place, hole up, have a cup of tea and wait for this whole thing to blow over.
20. You have no power over me.

In Concert

I’m fishing for writing prompts and it’s only November 8, sweet Jesus.

However, the Queen, and her friend Caroline, have both given me great prompts! Huzzah!

What was my first BNL concert? (Barenaked Ladies is tied for my favorite rock band in the world with Guster.)

BNL was actually my first concert ever, and I was 18. My mom way over-sheltered me. I got to go to the concert because I had made a friend at college, Marc, who introduced me to BNL, and, in an effort to get to know each other better (and a foreign city, as Marc is a native Chicagoan), he asked me to go to the show. My mom was hesitant to let me go (yeah, I lived at home, it was cheaper) and it was actually my grandma convinced her that it would be okay. My mom was on the phone with my grandma, and mentioned the show and that I wanted to go see some band about naked people. My grandma responded “Oh, Barenaked Ladies! I saw something about them on VH-1! They’re nice boys, one of them has cancer.” It’s funny, because I’m certain my grandma has never heard a BNL song in her life, but I still owe her one for that. So my mom bought the tickets for Marc and I to see Barenaked Ladies at Conseco Fieldhouse. Marc was extra psyched because Guster was opening for them. I’d never heard of Guster at all, but I was still excited about the concert.

We got there super early, and we still had a great time. Someone across the Fieldhouse yelled, “Whoo, Guster!” before people were even really filing in, and Marc was like, “Whoo! Fellow Jew!” because the guys in Guster all happen to be Jewish (though I don’t think that’s a requirement). After Guster played maybe a 7 song set, I was hooked, went to the lobby, and immediately bought “Lost and Gone Forever,” my first and favorite Guster album.

BNL was promoting the “Maroon” album, so there was a chef flinging donuts ala “Pinch Me” and big weird inflatable things. Marc and I sang and yelled and shouted and essentially just had an awesome night. That’s why no matter how far apart Marc and I end up living, I’ll always owe him one for that first BNL/Guster show.

Up next! Earliest childhood memory! Suggestions? Note me!

Pushing Daisies

I'm telling you, if you're not watching Pushing Daisies you're missing one of the best shows ever. Last week's case in point: Kristen Chenowith and Ellen Greene sang "Put a Little Birdhouse in Your Soul." Awesome.

Two weeks ago case in point: Emerson, Chi McBride's character, is discovered to be a knitter. Double Awesome.

Seriously, with all due respect to Comic Book Guy, and possible exception of The West Wing, Greatest. Show. Ever.

I'll write more if at some point I come up with something more substantial.

More Recs, etc.

Jesus, I wish I got to update this thing as much as I would like to... but oh, well! We do what we can do!

So a couple weekends ago, I saw a review for I Sold My Soul on eBay, and the concept sounded so interesting, I actually went to Borders later in the day and picked it up. The basic premise is the author, Hemant Mehta, auctioned off the chance to send him to church, because he's really open-minded, and he wanted to see what he got out of it. Well, the auction raised $550, and every $10 bought someone a week, so the winning bidder and Mehta worked out an agreement, and he went to church for a year. He went to small churches, medium churches, big ones and megachurches, participated in the services and took notes of what worked and what didn't work. People hoping that he converted to Christianity might be disappointed, as Mehta remains an atheist at the conclusion of the book. But if you like honest discussion of the strong and weak points of religion from an outsider's eyes, and especially if you're looking for the big answers yourself, you'll probably really like this book. I did. A lot of the stuff that Mehta grapples with is stuff that I'm trying to work out as well. We have a lot of beliefs in common, with one difference: (well, not just one, but for the purpose of this point) I believe in God, and he doesn't. And you know what? That's not really that big a deal. Because the bottom line is we're both good people who want to do good things in the world and ultimately want to get as close to the truth as we can. Check out his website The Friendly Atheist for more on him.

Furthermore, I can't for the life of me figure out why I wasn't watching Arrested Development when it was on? I've been watching it with Jon since we started dating (actually a first date activity!) and it is seriously brilliant. Jason Bateman has been totally upgraded to TV boyfriend, and so has Michael Cera. It's to Will Arnett's credit as an actor that he hasn't been, as Gob is one of the funniest and most irritating characters I've seen. Get thee to Netflix and rent it if you haven't seen it!

Damn, what do I do on this thing besides recommend stuff? Bitch and moan, right. Well I don't actually have a bitch and moan in me at the moment, so this'll have to do.

How Not to Get Called a Douche By Me At a Concert

Observed whilst seeing Guster play the lawn last Saturday.

1. Do not pop the collar on your jacket or polo shirt up. I know you think it is a cool fashion statement. It is not. It makes everyone around you call you a douche. Why? Because you are. The only time this is acceptable is if it is freezing cold and you are trying to protect your neck. No? Collar down, skippy.
2. If you are obviously pregnant, like in the neighborhood of 4-9 months, don't smoke AND drink in public. Everyone around you is judging you. Harshly. And you suck.
3. Don't make fun of people for liking the opening band. I love Guster because they opened for Barenaked Ladies. Shut the fuck up and listen, or get a drink and chat, but mocking doesn't make you look cool, it makes you look like a douchewaffle supreme.

I still haven't finished reading Harry Potter yet. Can you believe it?

HP Manic

Work is totally kicking my ass right now, so please forgive the lack of posting. It's not even that I don't have anything good to talk about right now! So first things first, the latest movie review

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
I have to tell you, I was not super-excited about this movie until I saw it. I hadn't watched any of the trailers, and though Goblet of Fire was good, it wasn't that good. Frankly, Michael Gambon seriously turns me off as Dumbledore. I've had the debate several times where people say that if he'd tried to play it as Richard Harris did, he'd get accused of aping Richard Harris. Well, I get that, I guess, but the thing is, Richard Harris was the absolute physical manifestation of what my mind sees Dumbledore as. In the two movies he is in, he shouts exactly one time, when the cave troll is let into Hogwarts, and that's to get the students to be calm and quiet. Other than that, his voice constantly sounds like he's having a conversation with one person, even if he is speaking in front of everyone in the Great Hall. Harris's eyes sparkled in the exact way I've imagined Dumbledore's, and the quieter moments he had with Harry really gave off that sweet, grandfatherly vibe that I think is key to the character. Albus Dumbledore is the most powerful wizard in the world, but he's also remarkably gentle, and has shown compassion to everyone, including Tom Riddle. Gambon is just so abrupt and harsh in comparison. In the Great Hall in Prisoner of Azkaban, his establishing scene at the opening banquet immediately turned me off. He sounded like was shouting immediately, and that's just not in character from the books. Yes, they're separate entities, but the character is who he is. My other big nits to pick is his absurd little wink near the end of PoA when he's telling Harry and Hermione to use the time-turner. It's so skeazy and not in character. It didn't come off right at all to me. And the last thing I'll bitch about was the Champion selecting scene in GoF. The way he shouted Harry's name, then ran up and grabbed him? No. Sorry, wrong number, not Dumbledore. So anyway, mostly because of that and the complete wussification of Ron Weasley, I wasn't the biggest fan of the last two movies.

Pleasant surprise, though, this was actually one of the best yet! So much stuff ended up working. Imelda Staunton could not have been a more perfect cast for Dolores Umbridge, nor could Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood. They were both fabulous editions to the cast. Also, it was good to actually get to spend some time with the character of Sirius Black, since he really didn't have much at all to do in GoF. I think Gary Oldman really got it right with the warmth and penned up energy Sirius has in the book. It was really nice to get to see that character fleshed out in movie form. Rupert Grint, Dan Radcliffe, and Emma Watson were all really good as well. Ron was less of a wimp! Huzzah! Their interactions were really solid and probably the best I've seen them yet.

Some of the special effects were stunners, too. Sirius speaking from the fire place was SO much better than it was in GoF. If you recall, GoF has his face basically animated in the coal bed of the fire. OoTP has his head as a form in the flames, which is so much closer to what I saw in my head, and much more satisfying. Tonks's transformations were great fun, but she was barely in the movie, which is a bit of a bummer. The Veil also looked awesome. It was a little more ethereal than I think I had pictured it, but it really worked, I was quite impressed. The thestrals didn't really fit my mind's eye picture. They looked more like dinosaurs to me. But they still worked, overall, and the scene with Harry and Luna was a nice one. The Wizard Duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort looked a bit too much like a light saber fight for me at first, but it moved away from that, which was good.

The best part to me was the training scenes for the DA. Those completely embodied to me what the book showed. Harry is a really good, really warm teacher, and the class is excited and eager to learn. The only omission I really missed was Harry seeing Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom at St. Mungo's. Seeing Mrs. L give the gum wrapper to Neville and to see Neville's reaction really changed that character for me. I actually really started to care for and about him as a main character at that point. The movie handled it fairly well, but I did miss the scene a lot.

Anyway, that's my two cents on that. The book comes out Saturday! And I have to go to a concert Saturday night! D'oh! Oh well. I'm sure I'll have more to say on that subject soon.

My Super Sweet go F' Yourself

Every single person who has been on "My Super Sweet Sixteen" should be put on an island and forced to Lord of the Flies each other. Seriously. I have never seen a single child on that show who could behave like a human being. This girl freaks out and sobs and pitches a tantrum the size of Alaska because her mom gives her a brand new Lexus at school on her birthday rather than at her party. "You fucking ruined everything!" she cries. Seriously, what the hell kind of entitled bitch acts like that? And what kind of parent allows it? Fine, you get to be on TV or whatever, but now the entire viewing audience of MTV knows that

• if you're the girl, you're a giant, pissy, bitchy twat
• if you're the parent, you're spineless and your kid owns your ass.

And how the fuck do you not know that? You know MTV cuts this show to make you look like the biggest asshole possible. Why play into it? Why not be sweet and normal and fuck with them instead? If I had at any point in my life acted for a moment like one of these kids, my parents would have slapped the ever loving shit out of me, and rightfully so. Jesus. This is the kind of stuff that makes me hate everyone.

Dramatic Look

I don't know why this is the funniest thing on the internet ever, but it kind of is. I had to post it in case you haven't seen it yet.

Actually, I ammend that: Will Ferrell's "The Landlord" is the funniest thing on the internet ever, but this is really, really close.

Oh Dear

Hurray! It's time for more letters that won't get read!

Dear Person Who Left a Note on My Car Last Friday,

You left the following message on my car window last Friday, in the parking garage at work:
"Shame on you! For taking up more than one space!!! You have been reported to Parking Service!"

I sincerely apologize for parking slightly to the right of the line. I didn't notice it that morning because I was running late to work, and the person parked next to me was about two inches from the line on his side, so I had to compensate a little to, you know, not hit the fuck out of our cars. But really. This is how pissed you get about someone parking slightly over the line in a parking garage that is not even moderately full at the time? This stirs your moral outrage? This causes you to SHAME ON ME? Wow. You really don't have a lot else to get pissed about, do you? Because if you watched the news or read the paper and saw that people kill other innocent people and kick puppies and cheat poor people, et cetera? You would lose your fucking mind. But really, thank you for pointing out to me what a horrible, immoral person I am. When my illustrious career as a serial killer begins, I will blame you. (And given our justice system sometimes, I'll probably get off!)

Take a Valium, Bitch,
Angie

Dear Kristy Swanson,

Buffy, Buffy, Buffy. Did you really need to go all Tonya Harding on your lovechild's dad's ex-wife? In Canada? Well, if you didn't, thanks, because it's still kind of awesome.

See above re: Valium,
Angie

Dear Screech,

Fuck off some more. The Celebrity Fit Club people this season seemed nice, but you're a giant doucherag, and I hope someone shits on your head. I'm not talking about you ever again.

So go away,
Angie

Dear Humidity,

FUCK. OFF.

Angie

Dear Wario Ware, Inc,

Jon lent you to me over the weekend, and I have to say, I think you're going to be trouble. Ridiculously short games tend to hold my ADDed attention span just fine. Last night, I spent 25 minutes "five more minutes"-ing you while I should have been falling asleep. Consequently, I tossed and turned for an hour waiting for my brain to shut down. However, I don't think I'm ever giving you back to Jon.

With love,
Angie

Reviews and Fall Throughs

So my trip to New York is being postponed. Our tickets to The Daily Show fell through, which was our primary reason for going. We're going to reschedule for another time when we can actually go to that. As much as I was looking forward to a vacation, I just gained back a weekend and 16 hours of vacation (I'm taking tomorrow off, anyway). Plus, it's more money I don't have to spend, which is also nice.

But screw that real life stuff, let's talk pop culture consumption!

Knocked Up

I loved The Forty Year-Old Virgin. It was one of the funniest, best performed movies I've seen in ages. So when I heard Judd Apatow had a new movie coming out starring Seth Rogen (Cal in TFYOV) I was pretty excited. The excellent thing is, the movie didn't at all disappoint! Rogen and Katherine Heigl actually worked great off of each other, and the supporting cast is hilarious. Judd Apatow doesn't necessarily "get" women as well as he does men, but he still does a great job overall. I feel like I had more to say about the movie, and I'm sure I'll think of it, but until my brain is working, that's a quick review. It's awesome, go see it.

Lamest post ever, but I'm too tired to care!

Latest Pop-Culture Consumption

So, on the plate for review are about the two most different movies humanly imaginable, and both will probably be kind of brief, but let’s do this.

Shrek the Third

This was a perfectly serviceable installment of the Shrek franchise. It was by no means unfun, but definitely not as clever or as cute as the first two. Actually, the most fun parts are the parts that kind of glossed over. I’d watch a movie about the princess posse, and also one about the ugly stepsisters. Donkey was pretty funny, and Puss is a totally winsome character. The Shrek character didn’t seem to have the energy throughout that he did before, but that may be just what I saw. But overall, it’s a fun way to spend an afternoon. Frankly, though, I wish I’d paid matinee price instead of $9, but oh well.

Into Great Silence

I went and saw this last night with my friends Suzy and Dave. I actually didn’t stay all the way through it because I got a serious headache and the light was killing me. But the movie’s a German documentary about Carthusian monks. The Carthusians live very simple, quiet contemplative lives and the film shows it as just that. It’s startling how quiet the movie is, especially for the standard movie-goer. At one point, you spend about a minute listening to the snow falling. The movie was very peaceful and zen-like to watch, and it’s definitely something I want to see the rest of and probably own because it just gave me a nice, calm feeling. Also, it’s quite a compelling movie given the subject matter and the fact that very little happens. Anyway, if you’re into that kind of thing, check it out, it’s really good.

This weekend, I’m supposed to be seeing Knocked Up, which I’m stoked on. If it’s half as good as The Forty Year Old Virgin it’ll be a great popcorn flick.

Finally, in other pop-culture consumption news, I got The Office seasons 1 and 2 for my birthday. There is just some freaking killer acting on that show. Steve Carell is brilliant as Michael, and I’d forgotten how much of season 2 I watched through my fingers. The episode where he cooks his foot and Dwight gets a concussion is sheer genius. Also, the tête-à-tête between Pam and Jim, the flirtation, et cetera, is some of the best chemistry I’ve seen on TV. I’d not seen “The Booze Cruise” episode, and when Jim told the documentary filmers, “For the record, I’d save the receptionist,” my heart broke for him more than a little. And with The West Wing over, I can’t think of a better ensemble cast on network TV. How I Met Your Mother is a lot of fun, but this just feels more real. If you haven’t watched this show yet, please make it your summer mission to Netflix them, I highly doubt you’ll regret it.

Finally, a quick memo to the weather:

To Whom It May Concern:

It’s too hot for barely the beginning of July. Please take the wet towels off the planet and crank the air back down to the mid-70s or low 80s ASAP.

Cordially,
I Don’t Have Air in My Car, Please Give me an Effing Break

Zen

Help me make sense of the following please:

They showed Marlee Matlin in the audience of American Idol last night. Can she really fully appreciate... a singing competition? How does a deaf person develop an invested interest in that? It's all kind of confused.

Prediction: Jordin. I initially thought it would be Blake, but Jordin kind of burned it up last night, and frankly, I think she got the pimp. But I've been wrong almost every other time, with Fantasia as the exception, so we'll see what I know.

Religious Ponderings

I was meaning to write about this great PBS documentary I've been watching on Mormonism, so that'll be the focus of this, but first, Jerry Fallwell has died.

Now, this guy has a family, and I'm sure there were many, many good things about him. But he was also a bigot who thought that the Anti-Christ would have to be a male Jew (Funny, considering that's who your savior was as well) and that "pagans, and the abortionists and the feminists and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say 'You helped this happen,'" in regard to September 11. It was a pretty narrow view of the world this guy had. And I sincerely hope that if there is something tangible about the soul that continues on to Heaven or Nirvana, or whatever, that Fallwell gets to spend some much needed time right now to learn the tolerance he didn't practice in life. (Oh, and also, this is a secular nation, whether he likes it or not, so he can stick that in his pipe and smoke it. Or could. Whatever.)

Anyway, The Mormons. So, I have a few (okay, one) Mormon friends, and from what I know from her and that one awesome episode of South Park, it seemed very strange. Of course, when you really look at any religion in the world, they look pretty strange. Take Catholocism for example. "So, your guy came to earth to teach love and tolerance and they killed him. And even though he supposedly took away all your sin with his death, you're pretty much going to feel guilty for every little thing, and decide what your Big Book really says about everything, but sometimes you ignore the stuff your guy said about loving other people and reaching out to the people no one else would. And at some point, you're going to turn some stale crackers and bad wine into his body and blood, and ask us all to participate in cannibalism? Riiiiiight." Now, my point here isn't to mock Catholicism. I was raised Catholic, and I still have a great respect for the Church even if I don't agree with alot of its principles and practices. Same kind of thing that goes for Mormonism. But here's a couple of things that blew my mind in a good way:

• The Mormon Church is easily the most effective with regards to charity and assisting in communities. According to the documentary, Mormons were on their way to Louisiana before Hurricane Katrina even hit, and they didn't just drop off supplies and leave. They helped clean and rebuild as much as they could.
• Generally speaking, Mormons put their money where their mouths are. Most serve on missions when they're around 20 and go to preach their gospel and I assume work in the community. They also put a huge amount of emphasis on the family, and are actually required to spend one evening a week with their families, which sounds harsh, but is probably very good for the family unit.

Here's a couple of things I wasn't so stoked on:

• You can be excommunicated if you have an opinion that differs from Church dogma. So, if you're a feminist and are outspoken about it, you can be thrown out of the Church, and "unsealed" from your spouse, children and family. If I were a practicing Mormon, I think that would be devastating. The Church essentially tells you that your entire family will all be together, physically together, in the next life, and you won't be with them anymore.
• Mormons are a bit more secretive than I would like. They're not transparent about where tithing money goes to, and they're even more guarded regarding their temple ceremonies. On the one hand I know they want to keep their sacred practices sacred and private, but on the other, don't be surprised when people make assumptions about your religion that aren't true. Myths are more interesting than truth, and I can almost guarantee the things we imagine going on are far more benign. But still, it gives an air of caginess I could do without.

Anyway, the documentary was terrific, extremely interesting. You should try to catch it if you can. It's just interesting to think about and I find the more I learn the more everything seems to boil down to similarities. Who knows what I'll arrive at eventually.

The DJ of my Brain

The lovely and talented Doppelganger over at 50 Books, is requesting that we honestly list the soundtrack that plays in my head. This is going to be humiliating, and also awesome.

1. “Girlfriend” or whatever that new piece of shit Avril Lavigne song is. It gets in my head because I think of songs that I fucking hate and there it goes.
2. “Lips of an Angel” – Hinder. See Number 1 re: Songs I Hate.
3. “Call Me Al” – Paul Simon. This is my bounce in my chair song. I always feel happier when it’s playing.
4. “Before He Cheats” – Carrie Underwood. Don’t love this song, don’t hate it. It’s on the radio a lot.
5. “Never is Enough” – Barenaked Ladies. Huh, interesting. I thought, “What BNL song goes in?” and that was the very first thing to pop into my mind. I haven’t listened to that song in ages.
6. “For You” – BNL. Now I’m going to be on a BNL roll for a minute.
7. “Call and Answer” – BNL.
8. “Demons” – Guster. That was the first Guster song to come to mind. Love it.
9. “Manifest Destiny” – Guster. Again with the awesome.
10. “Either Way” – Guster. Go buy some Guster. Now.
11. “Winter” – Tori Amos. One of my top favorite songs by Tori or anyone else.
12. “Time After Time” – Cyndi Lauper and Sarah McLachlan. If you haven’t heard this version yet, it kicks ass.
13. “When You Come Back Down” – Nickel Creek. The mandolin rocks me out of my shoes.
14. “Man of Constant Sorrow” – Foggy Bottom Boys. Well that’s random and also excellent.
15. “Never Again” – Kelly Clarkson. I love her to a degree that embarrasses me.

What’s playing in your head? Leave a comment.

Attention!

Today is George Clooney's 46th birthday! Happy birthday, George! In case you were curious, I am available for birthday love, tawdry sex, Republican bashing, or whatever else your needs might require.

That is all.

The News in Idol

Ah, Idol. Every week you give me new reasons to love and hate you. Some notes:

• Phil sounded not bad last night! He still looked like a cadaver, but he actually sang pretty well, which was a nice change. I don't dislike him so much as I... nothing him.
• Lakisha was really not great last night. I'm not as big a fan of hers as I am of Melinda, but she just didn't really hit it with "Jesus, Take the Wheel" last night, which is odd, because I pegged that as a homer for her. She should have gone with some Reba or Patsy Cline.
• Sanjaya... okay, first of all, is Bonnie Raitt even legitimately country? Because I don't usually hear that song on country stations. But we'll leave that aside. The dude's voice is just not strong enough. He's talent show at best, and he's not even the guy who would win the talent show, he's the guy who'd have a whole bunch of friends show up and then act all whiny and obnoxious when he lost to the Blake or the Melinda. He's going to live through tonight almost undoubtedly, and that makes me sad.
• Jordin is awesome and I am in love with her. Let me make that clear. But I'm not entirely sure what the lather was about last night. I really, really liked her, but she had a couple of clunker notes in there that I guess I didn't get passed. And she wasn't in the bottom three last week, so it's not like they were working on saving her. But whatever, because I love her and want to take her to Starbucks and so everyone should talk nice about her.
• Melinda was awesome. Melinda is always awesome. She sounded absolutely terrific, and though I was kind of harshed by Simon's "Stop acting surprised" bit, (although, how cute was he saying "Dude, I know.") the closeups on her reactions, the grin, the glow... she's frickin' awesome. LOVE.
• Chris Richardson is dead to me now. It wasn't the singing, because I actually liked it. Rascal Flatts tends to sound a bit nasally sometimes, so I got where he was coming from there. It also wasn't him getting snitty with Simon, although, dude? Don't you know he's the only one on the judge panel who knows jack? No, it was him getting snitty with his "nasal is a singing style" (granted, but there are few people who make it work) and THEN having the nerve to bring up the Virginia Tech tragedy. It would have been an entirely different thing if he had said something about appreciating Simon's critique, but he wanted to take the opportunity to send his love and prayers to the school. But he was a douchebag to Simon, he must have known it, and he either had already planned on saying something and decided to do it without really noticing it was no longer appropriate, or, and this is my problem, he knew he was a douchebag and thought he could pull that out of pocket to make up for his ass-hattery. Seriously, I don't care if the guy goes up and sings "Dick in a Box" next week, I'm done with him. People losing their sons, daughters, siblings, etc. cannot be compared in the same breath to Simon being mean to you.