Idol 10

The hot blonde gets to stay. The tattooed arm that frightens me still has a great voice and was inexplicably in the bottom three. Huh? Probably because the others have bigger followings- it wasn't her performance.

But all three bottomers had attitude/defensiveness problems- maybe that turned people off. Amanda didn't need Simon's advice or Idol- she was playing to her imaginary fans. It would've been interesting to see if she could surprise... but I doubt it.

Many of them butchered the songs. Makes me wonder about the band and vocal teachers- leading people astray to find that "Idol Groove." The Beatles are the Master Class. Be adventurous, you better be damn good!

Political burnout

I think we're all burned out from this campaign. It's beginning to feel like silence would be better than hearing any further comment, observation, analysis, or especially bias. Even preference. I'm sick of it all- the candidates- the pundits- the debates, the coverage. SNL. I only know one thing for sure right now- I can't vote for a Republican. Forget "first black," "first woman," "first Depends-wearer," that's it. Obama could end up as an Eliot Spitzer- full of promise but ineffective. Both Hillary and McCain could end up as Bush2 on steroids. I've lost at least a little respect for each and everyone involved- the candidates- former heroes like Olbermann and Tim Russert- Tom Brokaw should raise his voice more instead of allowing Joe Scarborough to disrespectfully dismiss him as being "old-fashioned" for daring to voice the opinion- "enough analysis- let the people speak." I'm sick of hearing these ongoing voices. It's like being addicted to some terrible drug- watching CNN and MSNBC night after night. I need to go to Political Rehab and save my stomach.