Whine & Cheese

Gym Music

Since there was no American Idol on last night (though I did see this one guy do quite a bit of dancing), I thought I would still keep today's blog entry music oriented. I have been to the gym 2 times in the past 4 days (quite the record of late)...and my workout would not be complete with my MP3 player.

With a little hesitation, I thought it would be interesting to disclose the songs that I work out to. My fear was that it would be "too gay"...but then it crossed my mind that I should have thought of that before I started blogging! But let's face it - gay-cons like Cher and Madonna are good workout music material...

So here's the current playlist... I hit shuffle and jotted them down:

"Get Down Tonight" - KC and the Sunshine Band
"The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)" - Cher
"Whenever, Whereever" - Shakira
"Vogue" - Madonna
"My Love Don't Cost A Thing" - JLo
"Rock Your Body" - Justin Timberlake
"It's My Life" - Bon Jovi
"Got To Be Real" - Cheryl Lynn
"The Rising" - Bruce Springsteen
"I'm Gonna Get You Good" - Shania Twain
"Midnight Train to Georgia" - Gladys Knight & The Pips
"Sweet Dreams" - Eurythmics
"Don't Tell Me" - Madonna
"Walking on Broken Glass" - Annie Lennox
"Half Breed" - Cher
"Why Can't I?" - Liz Phair
"Believe" - Cher
"Intuition" - Jewel
"Everywhere" - Michelle Branch
"Missionary Man" - Eurythmics
"Long Time Gone" - Dixie Chicks
"I Drove All Night" - Celine Dion
"Sledgehammer" - Peter Gabriel
"One Week" - Bare Naked Ladies
"If I Wanted To" - Melissa Etheridge
"This Kiss" - Faith Hill
"Kiss" - Prince
"Up" - Shania Twain
"Deeper and Deeper" - Madonna
"Smooth" - Santana w/ Rob Thomas
"All Things Just Keep Getting Better" - Wide Life
"Crazy in Love" - Beyonce
"Into the Groove" - Madonna
"Come to my Window" - Melissa Etheridge
"Drops of Jupiter" - Train
"3 AM" - Matchbox 20
"Strong Enough" - Cher
"Even Better Than The Real Thing" - U2
"That Don't Impress Me Much" - Shania Twain
"River of Dreams" - Billy Joel
"Suspicious Minds" - Dwight Yoakum
"Fighter" - Christina Aguilera
"Soak Up The Sun" - Sheryl Crow
"Walking on Sunshine" - Katrina & The Waves
"Breathe" - Michelle Branch
"Keep Your Hands To Yourself" - Georgia Satellites
"Pavement Cracks (MacQuayle Mix)" - Annie Lennox
"Hard to Handle" - Black Crowes
"Always On My Mind" - Pet Shop Boys
"Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me For Me)" - Blessed Union of Souls
"Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves" - Cher
"Elevation" - U2
"Can't Get You Out of My Head" - Kylie Minogue
"Lady Marmalade" - Moulin Rouge soundtrack
"One Last Breath (Six Feet From The Edge)" - Creed
"Maria" - Ricky Martin
"Steve McQueen" - Sheryl Crow

Pretty darn eclectic I think... spanning musical genres and the past three decades!

What's your favorite music to workout to? I am always looking for new stuff to add into the mix.

Bush Outfoxes "Idol" & "24"

Just a heads-up that the Bush press-conference tonight led Fox to move both American Idol and 24 off the air tonight. I know Bush needs to fix things in the eyes of the American public but couldn't he have done it on another night... say pre-empt Hope & Faith on Friday?!

But for those watching tonight... Idol viewers keep in mind that you are voting to keep in your favorite... so when Mr. Smirky shows up on your TV don't be surprised if he is "a little pitchy" when explaining that "Bin Laden Determined To Strike in U.S." thing and no matter that things in Iraq are not as "Aiiii-ght" as he'll try to make it sound.

For 24 viewers, let's just pray that the phrase "The Sky is Falling" is not uttered at any point during the press conference.

TiVos have not updated yet -- so keep in mind that tonight's Idol is moved to tomorrow (results show Thursday) and 24 will air Sunday night.

The Beat Goes On...

Pretty much swimming in work here...but when has that stopped me from blogging!

Just thought I had to do a little commentary on The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour. I totally enjoyed it and thought it was a pretty wicked tongue-in-cheek tribute to The Sonny and Cher Show...right down to the "I Got You Babe" closing duet.

But I am kind of wondering how many people really got it (and I may include Ms. Simpson in that as well...though my gut tells me she is far more shrewd than she lets on)? Highly doubtful that they current MTV-generation (and fans of Newlyweds) remembers Sonny & Cher... or that those who do remember S&C even know who N&J are (or more importantly care)?! I am probably in that slim overlap group in this Variety Show Venn Diagram...folks age 35-45... maybe slip in parents of children who are obsessed with N&J (if an obsession exists?). Nonetheless it was the most watched show Sunday evening... so I am sure the ratings-deprived execs over at ABC are already abuzz about another outing...which I really do not think would work in the long run...

Kudos to Nick for playing second fiddle in general with Jessica (a duet with a car? the fact that if you search for "Nick Lachey" on TiVo it did NOT find the Variety Show!). Though they are still all lovey-dovey ... I hope their marriage does not result in the usual train wreck of 90% of "entertainment" couples where one spouse overshadows the other.

I've Been Googled: Edition III

It has been a craaazy week: 3 MLB baseball games (Spring Training last Saturday, Opening Day on Tuesday, and another one tonite), the house getting painted (looks great and, now that it is done, absolutely needed it), the busiest work week in awhile, and, in general, anxiety steadily building over my parent's arrival in two weeks from tomorrow... my brain is pretty much flat-lining at the moment!

So without much of an original thought in my head (well, except maybe a little discourse about karma and Lex from Survivor) what better to pull out the blogger hat but another edition of I've Been Googled! I believe we are up to Chapter 3 in this wacky review of what people think will be answered by clicking onto a link to this very site:

AOL Web Search Results for: "Serious Jai Rodriguez Fan Fiction"
The questions surrounding this one abound! Are these fictional (perhaps sexual...wink, wink) fantasies about Queer Eye's "culture vulture"? What is "serious"...Jai, the fan, or the fiction? Why my site? Oh yes, I used each of those words in one month's time... these are Internet searches after all!

Google Search: Carrie's dress in penultimate episode season 6 sex in the city
Ok, I remember the dress. Remember it was the huge, flowy one that Carrie wore in Paris and fell asleep in after waiting all night for the Russian? But I am more impressed that there is someone else out there who pulls out their SAT dictionary and comes up with (and expects to find a search hit on) a word like "penultimate."

Google Suche: biggest bloop-bloops movie
I am hoping this is just some kind of language barrier... note the "suche" and not a "search." Or it could be that I am not up on hot new phraseology...is "bloop-bloops" some distance cousin of "bling-bling"? In case you are wondering, I did actually write the phrase "bloop-bloop" in this blog...but I was just trying to describe the sound TiVo makes when you fast-forward.

Google Search: gracin "goin down" video
I know what this is really about...someone looking for a video of Season 2 American Idol contest Josh Gracin performing the Garth Brooks hit "Ain't Goin' Down Until The Sun Comes Up"...but this search sounds more like the singing Marine is involved in some "don't ask/don't tell" porno movie.

Google Search: "josh duhamel" nude coffee table
Oh the images going through my head!! Can it be on my coffee table? Anyways, this person left out the most important word...coffee table book. Hopefully, the Googler saw my new link to my F.A.G. list which notes the book where Joshie is featured in. Also, added some new pix links in my Josh section (including one of him in a speedo).

Have a good weekend!

Idol Week 4 Results: I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues Camile

An overdue goodbye to Camile Velasco. My advice would probably be for her to keep putting herself in front of large audiences in hopes of getting over her stage fright.

But alas, the more interesting aspect of the show was not Camile's ultimate exit but putting the remaining contestants into groups of three - top, middle, and bottom vote getters. First off, I think it was a special delivery to Diana DeGarmo that her days are numbered. I have a feeling Jasmine Trias will hang for a bit... but now at least the state of Hawaii does not need to split their vote.

But which group was Top 3?
Group B: John/JPL/Fantasia or Group C: Jennifer/LaToya/George?

Given those options, I would hope that it was C...but that leaves Fantasia out. Here are my theories for why each group was top getters.

Group B: Fantasia probably deserves to win the competition - the complete package of uniqueness, voice, and personality. John/JPL apparently have rabid fan bases since despite some horrific performances they have yet to land in the bottom 3. Remember that JPL won the audience "wild card" slot. Jennifer has been a perennial bottom feeder as well as LaToya who landed their last week.

Group C: All three have far better vocals than either John or JPL. Jennifer arguably had her best performance of the competition (as well as the prime position of closing out the show). Both Jennifer and LaToya fans might have been scared by their bottom 3 finishes last week and fired up the phone lines this week. George has been one of the best and most consistent performers of the competition. There is already serious backlash swirling around Fantasia for what is deemed diva-ness/bad attitude.

So who knows...I guess we'll just have to keep on watching. Good goin' Fox!

UPDATE!: Entertainment Tonight/Yahoo is reporting Group C was the "winner" last night: "Group C, which turned out to be the highest scoring, included Jennifer Hudson, LaToya London and George Huff."

American Idol Week 4: Where's the John?

I was never under the impression that Elton John was the best singer in the world (give him more nods as a writer and "entertainer"), but after last night I think I have to re-evaluate that thought. Only a couple performances really jumped off the screen in this season where apparently walking through the audience or sitting at the edge of the stage is considered "something different."

So here are my thoughts (in order of performance):

After she was done I turned to Todd and said that I thought it was the weakest showing for Fantasia Barrino thus far in the competition. After Randy and Paula bowed down before altar of "BoBo" I added "I guess I was wrong"...but then Simon uttered my words verbatim. That said, the weakest Fantasia still beats out over half of the folks left in the competition.

A pretty choppy performance of "Rocket Man" from Jon Peter Lewis. I think his voice in general is pretty flat...it is like letting air out of a balloon. But he is cute and appeals to the teenage girls I guess (I never read anything from that particular demo) so I do not expect him to land into the bottom 3...although I think he is longer overdue to be singled out on a Wednesday night.

After two pretty poor weeks, I thought Jasmine Trias was back on her game last night... sure she hit a bad note or two, but overall my ear did not detect all the pitchiness. Not a Idol-winning performance, but upper-middle rank-wise.

Sounding like a broken record re: John Stevens. He was totally out of breath - don't know if it was doing a fast-paced song or attempting to "dance." It was hard to watch (in an embarrassing way)... if he does not land in the bottom 3 my conspiracy theories will be in full flight.

Ditto Camile Velasco. "Garbled" is the word I jotted down during her performance... other than the words "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" I did not understand a single word she sang...and I am somewhat familiar with it! A no-brainer bottom 3, but at this point I would not put any $$ on it.

In my eyes George Huff easily won the night. I think he has shown the best ability to find songs that fit his voice/personality. His "Take Me To the Pilot" was about the only song that did not make me yearn for the Elton version.

Diana DeGarmo continues to stumble. Since being told she does not connect with the audience, I think the little spitfire is trying too hard to do it...and not doing a great job. The fast and choppy songs don't suit her at all...she needs songs where she can hold those notes and show off her power. While I would put others there, I think she will be bottom 3 tonite.

Was not as wow-ed with my other favorite, LaToya London, last night either. But as with Fantasia, an "off" LaToya is still pretty darn good. I am finding she is sometimes slightly off the music (singing behind)...but her ability to hold a note is impeccable.

Randy and Paula proclaimed that the "old" Jennifer Hudson was back last night. I guess they meant...big showy voice on autopilot. When J-Hud has done this I thinks she zaps out her personality (which I am still trying to determine what it is). Vocally it definitely top 3, but otherwise a little empty. Given the past voting, I would not be surprised if she was singled out again tonite.

My placements:
Top: George, LaToya, Jennifer, Fantasia
Middle: Jasmine, Diana
Bottom: JPL, Camile, John S

My bottom 3 hunch: Jennifer, Diana, Camile... Diana out.
(Hopefully I will be wrong again w/ these predictions)

Where's Jack Bauer?!

The house painting is progressing...or should I say the prep work is. I feel like I am in the middle of an episode of 24... the windows are all taped up and covered with plastic (can't see out) and there is a buzz of activity and foreign voices somewhere out there.

It is as if I have or am being protected from some deadly virus. Granted I *can* get out of the house...and don't have to worry about CTU stud-ette Michelle Dessler-Almeida pumping some bullets into me... but it all still has a creepy feel to it.

The Return of Suzy V

Just a quickie entry today... a lot going on... the house is getting painted, the dogs are already at the kennel (excuse me..."pet hotel"), going to Opening Day MLB D'backs vs. Rockies...and trying to get some (any!) work done before that...so a whole lot of craziness!

Get to see a real American Idol contestant today... remember Suzy Vulaca? She was/is our Arizona Idol who I think was robbed of a spot in the final 12 (Leah? JPL?)...well Suzy gets the honor of singing the National Anthem for the big Opening Day game.

Our Arizona Idol from last season, Rebecca Bond must be stewing! Remember Rebecca from last season...she had a Toni Braxton vibe going on but also failed to make the final 12... more so I think for rubbing the American public the wrong way when she compared herself to Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald... mighty big shoes for a youngster in her 20s!

See you tomorrow with my thoughts on tonight's American Idol...it's Elton John night ... oyyy, does that mean JPL is singing "Tiny Dancer" again?

Coming Soon: Big Brother! The Amazing Race!! Dunkleman???

A couple of TV tidbits from Zap2It to start off the week:

'Big Brother,' 'Amazing Race' Return in July

Although I knew that two of my favorite reality shows were scheduled to be back this summer, it was still nice to read about it in print! Big Brother is the guiltiest of pleasures...while if I was forced (and it would be by force dammit!) to limit myself to one reality show it would be The Amazing Race.

There is a little crossover between the two shows this season...the "good" news is that they will be airing back-to-back on Tuesday nights (with BB getting its traditional two more airings per week)... the bad news BB4's Alison and her footballer-boyfriend Donnie will be one of the teams on TAR5. Remember finalist Alison or had you almost (like myself) managed to repress her from your memory? She was last year's runner-up but was most well known for flirting with almost every guy on the show...then running off and crying about hurting her boyfriend Donnie...but recovering quickly enough to straddle some other guy five minutes later. I know its part of the "game"...but she was still pretty annoying beyond this "strategy." I will have to come up with some of my own reality TAR "dream" teams some time.

Another site also unveiled a new feature for TAR5...which I am sure host Phil will happily define for us each week...it is called "the yield." Like the fast-forward, teams will have a one-time opportunity to delay a team that is on its heels. This should
be pretty juicy...tensions get high on this show and I can only imagine how pissed off teams will be when they are purposely delayed by the competition.

VH1 Will Test Celebs' 'Gaydar'

Is America's new favorite pastime trying to figure out who is straight or gay? Apparently so (though the producers of Playing It Straight may tell you otherwise), VH-1 entering the "game" with a twist on "To Tell The Truth" where a "celebrity" panel will grill contestants to determine their sexual preference.

Who's hosting... American Idol ex-co-host Brian Dunkleman! Yes, the very man who left (was let go?) after season one because (I believe) he did not want to be pigeon-holed as a game-show host...and thus allowed Ryan Seacrest to take over the world! But heck who knows, maybe he is on to something...before Survivor Jeff Probst's greatest claim to fame was hosting VH-1's "Rock 'n Roll Jeopardy."

Won't You Be My Friendster?!

Let's start at the beginning.

Several months ago, I signed up on Friendster. I heard about it on some morning talk show and it sounded like a fun idea. Obviously I was not listening well enough to the story... missing the fact that the very essence of Friendster is having at least one "friend" to link up with so can ultimately have some connection to Kevin Bacon or even Ben Affleck. (Well not really, different game...same concept) Big Problem! I didn't have anyone nor could I find anyone nor could think of any of my real-life friends who were Internet-savvy enough to want to do it. So there my Friendster page sat... no picture, no profile, password forgotten....

So this past week, Ed over at Inert One starts trolling (a word I think he will happily admit to! ) for new Friendsters. I offer myself up as a Friendster candidate - realizing I have little to offer - but Ed links up and mercifully ends my Friendster dead end road. I spiffied up my profile and now I have 9 2nd-degree friends and 200+ 3rd-degrees. With my network at least now having a pulse, I go through my in-box to see if any of my friends have popped up there...and sure enough I find one of my best college friends from college, Ron, on the site...we link up...hooray!

Now, if only if the Friendster site will kick into gear... it seems like the "friends network" has been unavailable last night and today...so I can't see if I have made any further progress beyond my two brand-spanking new "first degrees."

So, if any of you regular readers of this blog are out there and wish to be my Friendster let me know and I will more than happy (dare I sound desperate and say thrilled) to add you on ... just leave me a comment and we will go from there!