Steel Kaleidoscopes

American Idol: Second Round, Males

This was much better than last week, but it's still not very good. There are only a few guys here who belong in the overall Top 12. Bring on the girls.

Here's the order of how the 10 male finalists performed last night, with the odds of winning it all in May:

1. Chris Sligh
Terrific. Brought back memories of Doug Gray in his prime. Beginning was the best part. Thought the song fell apart a bit in the middle, but he brought it home. Lots of talent here. Liked the suit and sneakers.
Odds of winning: 10-1

2. Sundance Head
Powerhouse voice. Clearly has loads of talent, but we're not seeing it 100 percent of the song. That could be deadly once he's singing against the girls. Wonderful range but over the top in spots. I hate it when the backup singers share the spotlight.
Odds of winning: 12-1

3. Blake Lewis
Nice performance. Thought the beatbox-scat moonwalk bit in the middle was highly original. That move alone brings him back next week and wins over thousands of fans. Well-done falsetto to close out. Get used to seeing him.
Odds of winning: 15-1

4. Phil Stacey
Pulled out John Waite classic, following in Alison Krauss' footsteps. Thought he was off-key, perhaps an octave too low, throughout. Just a very average performance. Not convinced this guy is that good.
Odds of winning: 30-1

5. Nicholas Pedro
Better effort than last week, but still kind of average. The bar is high, people. He's just not a contender.  Thought he took a song with which he could have dazzled, but kind of eased it out. Give him credit for the difficult arrangement.
Odds of winning: 40-1

6. Chris Richardson
Brian Austin Green was doing this stuff 10 years ago on "Beverly Hills, 90210." This is not original. Have to disagree with the judges. Their praise will keep him around, but I would be shocked to see this kid in the final 10.
Odds of winning: 50-1

7. Jared Cotter
Better than last week, but still mediocre. Singing a Marvin Gaye classic with his good looks will inspire the girl vote, but he's just not that talented.  Thought he forced a song that should have been delivered like velvet.
Odds of winning: 75-1

8. A.J. Tabaldo
Sorry. Just not going to convince me. Song choice exposed his lack of talent. He would be a good choice for a low-budget wedding, but doesn't belong on the Idol stage. Pitchy. Ending was OK but didn't save performance.
Odds of winning: 75-1

9. Brandon Rogers
Great song, weak delivery. Difficult to cover Cyndi Lauper, one of the underappreciated singers of our generation. Marginally talented at best. Seems like a nice kid, but his days are dwindling.
Odds of winning: 75-1

10. Sanjaya Malakar
What was that? Weak voice. Sounded like he was auditioning for the Mickey Mouse Club. No strength. It was like he raided his father's closet for the garb. No testosterone. To compete on Idol, you need to sing from deep within. There's only a tide pool here.
Odds of winning: 75-1

Quote of the Day

"The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything."

- - Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. President

Gewurztraminer

I've sampled Gewurztraminer several times now, and I've determined it's not for me.

Too spicy and sweet.

Granted, I haven't splurged for this and have only tried the 2003 Willm from Alsace, France, but I'm convinced I'd rather dedicate my leisure time to Viognier or Sauvignon Blanc when the mood is right for a white.

When it comes to whites, dry is fine.

Amusing Ourselves to Death

With everything in the "news" these days, it's hard not to think about Neil Postman's 1985 book "Amusing Ourselves to Death."

Postman writes that television has transformed meaningful conversations into entertainment, where the power of the sound bite has more of an effect than thoughtful dialogue.

He also writes that a good looks trump talent, which is why you rarely seeing a female newscaster over 40.

Indeed, the fact that John Kennedy beat out Richard Nixon largely based on the televised 1960 debate aligns with this theory. And the 300-pound Howard Taft would have never been elected president had TV been a medium to promote campaign efforts.

When we study history, the famous Lincoln-Douglas debate played out for hours. Think that would translate well to TV? It's all about sound bites. Give us your elevator pitch. Tell us how you'll defend the country, balance the budget and save the world in two minutes or less.

So is it any surprise that Anna Nicole Smith clogs the TV news? And why should we care about who Tom Brady slept with? And why is Britney Spears' shears news?

Without television, these events would not have nearly the impact they do. Never has a communications medium had the power to create and manipulate content.

It's not that the current state is appalling. We all have our guilty pleasures. We just need to admit what's happening.

Clearly, Postman is right. We are amusing ourselves to death.

Silverscape

Yesterday's snowfall creates a soft metallic backdrop to the back yard.

Want Fries With That?

It's funny how movies can have an impact on your life. Not just talking an emotional high or fodder for Sunday morning conversation, but a tangible impact.

Yes, "Rocky" made me feel like I could do anything. And "Schindler's List" gave me inspiration to research the Holocaust and it's horrifying place in history. "Beyond the Sea" tugged at my wallet to buy some Bobby Darin music.

But it was "Super Size Me" that has had the greatest impact.

I have not bought fries at McDonald's since seeing this more than two years ago. And I used to love McDonald's fries.

That's tangible impact.

American Idol: First Round, Females

So Tuesday night we watched "Star Search" and last night we watched "American Idol." The difference between the boys and the girls is immense. And what's up with Paula's trench coat?

Here's the order of how the 12 female finalists performed last night, with the odds of winning it all in May:

1. LaKisha Jones
A force. Made Jennifer Hudson proud. Her humble nature when she's not singing will only help. Big, big voice. She'll have to be careful not to be too over the top. Clearly the front-runner but there are others who will challenge. Big girls are back in vogue.
Odds of winning: 5-1

2. Sabrina Sloan
This is what "American Idol" is all about. Brilliant performance. Wonderful voice. There were no gimmicks. She just stood tall and sang. Terrific vocal control and range. I would be shocked if she's not singing in May.
Odds of winning: 5-1

3. Stephanie Edwards
Set the tone for the evening, making the boys' miserable performances history. Chose a difficult song and nailed it. Clearly one of the best and will challenge LaKisha and Sabrina all season. On her knees was a Fantasia move. Not necessary. See you in the Top 5.
Odds of winning: 5-1

4. Jordin Sparks
Reminds me of Joan Osborne. Big, strong powerhouse vocals. Amazing that she's only 17. Showed poise and polish and was undaunted by the moment. Another of the front-runners who should sing deep into the competition.
Odds of winning: 7-1

5. Haley Scarnato
Close your eyes and it's Olivia Newton-John. Had she tried out for "Grease: You're the One That I Want," she'd be a shoo-in. Broadway-style voice tackling Meat Loaf, not an easy thing to do. Another of the top talents.
Odds of winning: 7-1

6. Melinda Doolittle
The background singer steps to the forefront. Thought she was a little over the top, perhaps compensating for her reputation. Clearly went for it and the judges were complimentary. Very good, but she falls somewhere in the middle. Is she related to the doctor?
Odds of winning: 15-1

7. Antonella Barba
Nice-looking with a sweet voice. Agree with judges that Steven Tyler vocal was too big for her but they were a little harsh. If she chooses the right songs, she will attract a sizable fan base. There's a lot to like here, but she's got loads of talent to compete with.
Odds of winning: 20-1

8. Gina Glockson
Kind of looks like Joat Jett before she shaved her head. Tough song to sing, especially since other Idol contestants (but not Clay Aiken, as I originally commented) have raised the bar with this Eric Carmen classic. Thought she started slow but picked it up very well. She'll stick around for a few weeks.
Odds of winning: 25-1

9. Nicole Tranquillo
Too much. This was forced. More screaming than singing. She didn't come across as genuine. Was that Ace Frehley's space suit she was wearing? Need to see her sing a ballad to get a better take on what she can do.  We're into the long shots.
Odds of winning: 40-1

10. Leslie Hunt
Campy. Mediocre. Too many odd facial and arm movements. Kind of looked like she just emerged from a jack-in-the-box. The note at the end saved her performance, but she's no match for the best of these.
Odds of winning: 50-1

11. Amy Krebs
Off-key at the beginning and never really recovered. Tried a lot of runs and they were mostly bad. Not even close to the top talent in this group. Nice to see she made it this far, but the end is near.
Odds of winning: 75-1

12. Alaina Alexander
Could be the Lindsey Cardinale of Season 6. Good-looking, but short on the voice. This was bad karaoke. She seems like a nice kid, but she's light years from the top talent here. Still better than a lot of the boys, but the end is near.
Odds of winning: 75-1

American Idol: First Round, Males

The girls have to be psyched. After watching most of the guys struggle to stay in tune, it's clear that the month of May on Idol is going to look like Lilith Fair. That's two hours we'll never get back.  And Paula seemed drunk.

Here's the order of how the 12 male finalists performed last night, with the odds of winning it all in May:

1. Sundance Head
Gets the top spot based on difficulty of song. Don't believe anyone has tried this Moody Blues classic. Thought he was very good at times and then mediocre. Not as bad as the judges let on though he did sing through his nose at first. Seemed high-strung.
Odds of winning: 15-1

2. Blake Lewis
Beatboxing dude gets serious. Displayed subtle tonality and stayed in tune. Probably sounded better than he was since the six guys who went in front of him fell flat. The Anthony Federov of Season 6? Waiting for the U2 and Styx to come out.
Odds of winning: 15-1

3. Phil Stacey
Brought it home after a troubling start. Not sure why he mumbled through the first verse. Clearly has decent pipes, but have to agree with Simon. He's no Chris Daughtry. If this is one of the best, we're in for a long season.
Odds of winning: 20-1

4. Chris Sligh
So that's where Jack Osbourne went. Didn't like the song choice. Didn't feel like it fit his personality. We know this kid can sing. He just didn't find the right way to start his march toward the Top 10.  And here's where the talent ends.
Odds of winning: 20-1

5. Brandon Rogers
Nice composed opening. Once the band started playing, he started to lose his rhythm and hit a few bad notes. Showed poise and polish, but he's not talented enough to go far. Looks like a young Lionel Richie before he found the Commodores.
Odds of winning: 25-1

6. Nicholas Pedro
Pitchy but displayed a nice falsetto. Sounded average, but still better than the second tier of this group. Has the look and the past Idol experience. Could turn it around if he chooses the right songs.
Odds of winning: 30-1

7. Chris Richardson
Why would someone sing Bo Bice's breakout song? He does not even come close to generating the goosebumps Bice inspired. Thought he was off-key the whole song. He may have been an octave too high. Yecch.
Odds of winning: 50-1

8. Paul Kim
Yikes. Who let this guy through? He does not belong at this level. Boring, placid and typical.  Maybe if he gets some coaching he can improve, but there's not really any time. I'd be surprised to see him survive.
Odds of winning: 75-1

9. Sanjaya Malakar
There's always a Stevie Wonder type. Never was a fan of this kid. Sounded typical and played.  Lyrics were appropriate -- "I don't want to bore you with this" -- yawn. And yeah, I wrote this before Simon made the comment.
Odds of winning: 75-1

10. Rudy Cardenas
Weak. Great Edgar Winter song but couldn't understand the lyrics. Had a lot of odd pauses and he wasn't quite sure what to do with himself.  Sounded nasally and a bit phlegmy. Not unique nor memorable.  One of the first to go.
Odds of winning: 75-1

11. A.J. Tabaldo
Now where is that remote? The judges honestly have to be kicking themselves. This was the best of the best across America? Is Idol talent thinning, or are the producers' screens going awry as they hunt for William Hungs?
Odds of winning: 75-1

12. Jared Cotter
The worst performance of the night. Off-key and downright irritating. Disagree with the judges. He should be booted, but judges' praise and good looks will keep him around for another week.
Odds of winning: 75-1

Against All Odds

A palm tree stands alone in the Sahara Desert.

Photo courtesy of Thomas Frietz.

The Beach

Swirling white sand, piling in whip-cream drifts.

Azure water, rolling surf, the smell of sea salt.

Careless whispers, pastel images, gulls carrying on.

The endless search for a silver dollar, a horseshoe crab, a periwinkle.

And Thompson's Clam Bar sounds like a good place for dinner.