Some of the news that is fit to print

The crooner gets the boot...

And then there were five...
Some 29 million votes were cast... Yes! 29 million!... and on American Idol last night, as predicted here, John "The Crooner"... "The Stool"... "Cardboard" Stevens got the boot. And just when next week is big band week. Say it isn't so!

Again, they had a horrible way of grouping folks. Hello! We like it when you pull out the three, save one, and then boot one of the two! No fancy stuff for us, thanks!

Anyway, as predicted, (yes, I know I mentioned that, but when you hit that nail on the head, you gotta point it out!) the bottom three were Jasmine, George and John. Jasmine was saved... and then George was saved.

The WP's take on last night's events...

'Idol' Boots Stevens: Can 4 Million Fans Be So Wrong? [WP, 4.29.2004]
By Lisa de Moraes
John Stevens was finally put out of our misery last night, robbing TV critics of another week's worth of conspiracy theories and editorial page writers another easy week of comparing the "American Idol" voting controversy to the presidential election.

So, it's on to big band week... only after a sweeps AI special on Monday, which will have no filler whatsoever, I'm sure.

SPECIAL PROGRAM NOTE: Don't miss the all new special AMERICAN IDOL: THE FINAL FIVE '04 where we get intimate with the final 5 and hear them sing their favorite song from the season so far! Watch it Monday at 8/7c on FOX!

Each contestant has come this far and nobody wants to go home now. Not when they're this close to the big brass ring. Speaking of big brass, it's Big Band Week this time around. Who will be able to throw us back to the '40s with a classy and masterful performance in front of the band? And who will finally let the spotlight get to them?

Find out when you watch another round of live performances this Tuesday at 8/7c on FOX! Then come back Wednesday at 8:30/7:30 for the live results show. Only four can move on, so somebody has to go home!

Yeah, yeah...
So here are some early predictions, without having seen the performances, about how the mighty will fall...
Next... Diana "Deldorko"Degarmo
Although George Huff could be a surprise boot next week. Regardless, whichever one doesn't go one week, the other shoe will fall the week after.
That leaves Fantasa and Latoya in the finals. The last show airs May 26.

My pick at the beginning of the year was Fantasia and I'm comfortable sticking with her, although I have become a real Latoya fan. She is one class act.

The AI news round-up...

Cowell responds to Sir Elton: "You're nuts!" and the BBC

And The Stool gets support on his way out the door...
Newsday: He's 16, he's terrible and he's ours

Yes, there is even an ilovejohnstevens.com. Who visits, who knows, but... they have put out a press release.

Idol helps Fox beat not only all the other networks, but all the other networks... COMBINED

CJD will be back next week with his keen insights.
For now... CJD-out!

... then the terrorists win!

This actually comes from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the excellent show on Comedy Central. And before you go on, I actually recommend that you watch the bit yourself from Monday's show regarding the big pro-choice march over the weekend.

On Monday's Daily Show, Stewart noted that the Bush administration equates just about every issue to the war on terrorism -- including abortion.

He goes on to run a clip from Bush advisor Karen Hughes on Sunday's CNN Late Edition

Wolf BLITZER: There is a clear difference when it comes to abortion rights between the president and his Democratic challenger, John Kerry. In your opinion, Karen, how big of an issue will this abortion rights issue be in this campaign?

HUGHES: Well, Wolf, it's always an issue. And I frankly think it's changing somewhat. I think after September 11th, the American people are valuing life more and realizing that we need policies to value the dignity and worth of every life.... I think those are the kind of policies that the American people can support, particularly at a time when we're facing an enemy, and really the fundamental difference between us and the terror network we fight is that we value every life. It's the founding conviction of our country, that we're endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights, the right to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately our enemies in the terror network, as we're seeing repeatedly in the headlines these days, don't value any life, not even the innocent and not even their own.

So, Stewart notes, if you are pro-choice, you are supporting terrorists!

AI... Did the rhythm get you?

So American Idol last night was Latin music with guest judge Gloria Estefan, who says she is there to "root and to smile, not to judge." Great! Now we have two!?! And let’s be honest – just hearing that the theme was Latin music made you cringe, didn’t it?! “Conga”? Argh!

Two other asides: Does anybody else think the Miami Sound Machine may have been a bit flat on their back-up vocals and that may have been dragging the singers down? There was one section where they were singing and it just sounded flat to me, but… perhaps I’m just looking for anything to explain away the evening.
And what was that ridiculous Subway video? So we have the Coke “red – not green” room, the Ford SUV arrivals, and now Subway commercials? Can they possibly milk any more money out of this show?

Anyway, after last week’s travesty, Ryan opens the show by thanking everybody for their "call, letters, and threats" about Jennifer Hudson's exit. The audience boos, and Ryan says, "Hey, I didn't do it. Remember, you vote. You decide." [Sir Elton has called last week's vote racist! How great is THAT?!]

By the way, did you happen to see Hudson’s Top 10 list on Letterman?
Top Ten Things I Can Say Now That I Lost "American Idol"

Fantasia Barrino signing Estefan’s "Get On Your Feet"… This was Fantasia’s weakest singing performance to date, but considering the unstomachable theme, she still puts on a great show and is fun to watch. And that is generally what the judges say. Randy: "That was a great performance. Vocally, it didn't wow me, though." Simon: You sounded like a cartoon character…Donald Duck on helium." Um, what? [Just an aside here – what is Simon’s thing about bizarre comparisons? He made one last week too comparing somebody to Laurel of Laurel & Hardy. Totally wacky!] The two sacerine judges. Gloria: "You haven't sung a bad note in the whole competition. Great job." Paula: "It's about performing, and you gave it your all."
The best thing about Fantasia for me is her confidence on stage. She knows she is good and that comes through. Therefore, you aren’t worried about what gaffs she is going to make as I do with some of the others. Even it isn’t her best performance, she is still great.
One last Fantasia aside: She clearly was still smarting from last week’s appearance in the bottom two. She comes on stage saying, "This is for Jennifer. We love you, baby!" She even manages to get in a "We love you, Jennifer!" while she's singing, too.

George Huff signing "Live For Loving You"… Um, what was that? He sounds a-right, I guess – you know I’m not a fan of the Huff sound – but the performance is just uncomfortable. And when did Members Only jackets make a return? The judges are not impressed either. Simon says: "If this was the first time I'd seen you, and I had to judge you on that, I'd be amazed you were in the final six. That was amateurish."

Latoya London singing "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You"… She has just really improved week after week and she does the best performance of the night. She looks and sounds great. And she has some pretty good moves on stage. Randy agrees that Latoya looks amazing, but says he is still not “wowed.” Simon: "You needed to do what you did tonight. It was an OK performance. Vocally, it wasn't your best, but it worked."

John Stevens signing "Music Of My Heart"… So we have all pretty much been terrified of this moment ever since we heard the theme – the Stool singing Latin music! The performance is just boring. It is like cardboard, much like John seems to be. Granted, he is only 16-years-old and he is doing better then I would have at 16, but… He just seems completely out of his league at this point. The judges aren’t that enthused either. And you know it is bad when Paula says, "That was a valiant effort. You did your best." Randy is less kind. "I like you. You're a really nice guy. But, the song and the vocals were horrendous." Simon: "John, I'm going to start out by giving you a compliment. You have taken every bullet thrown at you like a man. I wish every ex-contestant could behave in your way. But you and Latin music go together like chocolate ice cream and an onion. It just does not work. But, you're still in the competition." Yes, but will he be after tonight? Let’s hope not. Put us out of our misery, people, please!

Jasmine Trias… "Here We Are"… Jasmine continues her on-again, off-again trend with an off performance. She sounded flat and seemed uncomfortable. (I know how she feels!) And she misses some notes, although this is where I noticed the back-up vocals the most.
Randy: "That was a good song choice for you. It fell a little short, though. I give it 7 out of 10. It was very pitchy in spots." Wow. Better then I gave it, but… Gloria: "Beautiful job." WHAT? Paula: "I've always been a fan of your voice, and tonight is no exception to the rule." Simon comes closest to getting it right: "At best, that was a pleasant imitation…the sort of thing you would hear if you were recording an album for elevators."

Diana Degarmo signing "Turn The Beat Around"… “Come on!” she says, as she always says… Before getting to the vocals, the dress. This is apparently controversial. We really liked it. Simon did not. Anyway, it was one of DeDorko’s better performances with a lot of energy. But I still don’t like her and would not be at all disappointed if she goes… which she will not, but… The judges liked it better than I did. Randy: "You have mad talent. That was really good." Paula: "Another great week, Diana." Simon: "I give the performance a 7 and the dress a 0."
Apparently Diana and Simon are going dress shopping. I hope they tape THAT!

Definitely not the best of weeks.

So CJD’s Predictions:
Best performance of the evening: Latoya London
Worst performance of the evening: John Stevens
Who should be in the Bottom Three: John Stevens, Jasmine Trias, George Huff (although Fantasia Barrino was very close to making the list… and if they go to a bottom two this week, John and George)
Who will be in the Bottom Three: John Stevens, Jasmine Trias, George Huff (If they go to 2 this week, I'll say John and George)
Who should go home: John Stevens
Who will go home: John Stevens… He has dodged the bullet just too many times – well, along with DeDorko, who did OK last night but not nearly as good as the judges gushed, as I have already said.

CJD-out!

The round-up

Before I call it a day... and I don't want to just leave it on Iraq, so...
some items worth reading...

It is TV sweeps season starting later this week... so...
For the May Sweeps, Double-Wide Movie Trailers [WP, 4.27.2004]
Hollywood studios, concerned about the skyrocketing cost of buying ad time on the broadcast networks to promote their new flicks, and about the increased use of technology that allows viewers to skip through those ads, have found a way to cope.

Friends' Costly Farewell [WSJ, 4.27.2004]
NBC airs the final episode of "Friends" on May 6, and marketers are shelling out big bucks for ad time on a broadcast that isn't likely to match the ratings of past sitcom finales.

Cognitive Rascal in the Amorous Swamp: A Robot Battles Spam [NYT, 4.27.2004]
Since 1984, scientists at the Cyc project have been spinning a vast database to equip computers with good old-fashioned common sense.

Companies Launch War Over Web Messaging [AP, 4.26.2004]
Instant-messaging software has evolved into the latest weapon in a fierce battle among major Internet companies to reap revenues off whatever you do, wherever you go online.

IBM, Stanford team to investigate vaporware: [SJMN, 4.26.2004]
As semiconductor designs increasingly run afoul of fundamental physical limits, researchers are investigating new ways of storing and moving data. One of these is spintronics, an emergent technology which exploits electrons' magnetic spin, instead of their electrical charge. Today, IBM and Stanford University will announce a joint research program into the field, SpinAps. Their hope: to harness this spin and use it to power faster chips that throw off less heat. Or perhaps no heat at all. Stanford researcher Shoucheng Zhang believes spin can be detected even in the absence of an electrical charge, which would make it possible for a chip to perform electronic functions in the absence of heat generated by a charge. "I feel we are at a historical moment," Zhang told The Mercury News. "Electronics is running into some fundamental roadblocks. There's an opportunity to rethink the way we do things."

A PC's weakest link is still the password [IHT, 4.27.2004]

Summer Film Fight [WSJ, 4.24.2004]
Again, Big-Budget Movies Gird for a Box-Office Brawl; Studios' Darwinian Exercise
In an industry that feeds off sequels, there's one that Hollywood would rather not see again: the teeth-baring movie wars that have come to haunt the studios every summer.
In recent years, Hollywood has squeezed scores of "event" movies into summer paid tens of millions for a big opening, then watched many of them fall off a cliff after the first weekend.
Last year's schedule was littered with victims such as "The Hulk" and "The Matrix Reloaded." With nearly two dozen sequels and "franchise" pictures competing for audiences, they flamed out fast, ultimately to be judged as disappointments, often despite spectacular openings.

Writing an op-ed in the Journal, former CIA agent Robert Baer says the problem with the much-discussed Aug. 6 2001 presidential briefing isn't that it had prescient yet ignored warnings of an attack; it's that the intel was "pretty awful" and indicative of the CIA's overall capabilities. The briefing's top item-about al-Qaida's desire to strike the U.S. mainland-was based on some old TV interviews with Osama.

From the NYT: "An editorial on Saturday about citizenship testing referred to a question about voting rights that many people get wrong-and gave the wrong answer. The Constitution does not specify a 'right to vote.'"

Scientists offer blueprint for 'green' SUV [IHT]

The Poets Die Young [NYT, 4.24.2004]
Why is it that poets die younger than most other artists? A new study is revealing: "Overall, poets lived an average of 62.2 years, compared with nonfiction writers, who lived the longest at 67.9 years. Playwrights lived an average of 63.4 years; novelists, 66 years. The differences between poetry and prose were pronounced among Americans, where poets lived an average of 66.2 years, and nonfiction writers lived an average of 72.7 years."

Retailer Prospers With Sexy Clothes For the Plus-Sized [WSJ, 4.27.2004]
Torrid has found success by solving an important retailing riddle: What do the growing ranks of overweight young American women want to wear? Fishnets, tulle prom dresses and thongs -- the same clothes other young women want.

And last week, they announced the 50 worst songs of all time.
'Built This City' Tops Worst Songs List

Um, Helloooo, McFly!!!

So the war of words in the presidential campaign heated up yesterday.
Slate.com's Today's Papers says...

Most of the papers front the harsh back-and-forth in the presidential race. While Kerry defended himself on the medals and ripped President Bush on his National Guard days (or lack of them), Vice President Cheney suggested that Kerry isn't fit for Air Force One, saying there are "ample grounds to doubt the judgment and the attitude he brings to bear on vital issues of national security." As the LAT headlines, the speech was pointed enough that the president of the college where Cheney gave it sent a campus-wide letter saying he was "surprised and disappointed."

The NYT has a decent round-up from the day...
Kerry Questions Bush Attendance in Guard in 70's [NYT, 4.27.2004]
John Kerry questioned the president's National Guard service; Dick Cheney said Mr. Kerry was unfit to lead in wartime.

Here is the VP's speech in total. It is somewhat interesting when you look at the details.

The Senator from Massachusetts has given us ample grounds to doubt the judgment and the attitude he brings to bear on vital issues of national security.

This comes from the same person who more than suggested that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction? That Iraqi citizens would be throwing rose pedals at the feet of our troops? Whose national security credentials should we really question?

Chaney then goes on to talk about the "coalition" that is fighting in Iraq.

When Senator Kerry speaks about the direction of the war on terror, he often returns to a single theme -- the need for international cooperation. He has vowed to usher in a golden age of American diplomacy. He is fond of mentioning that some countries did not support America's actions in Iraq. Yet to the many nations that have joined our coalition, Senator Kerry offers only condescension. More than 30 nations have contributed and sacrificed for the freedom of the Iraqi people, including Great Britain, Australia, Italy, Poland, South Korea, and Japan. Senator Kerry calls these countries, quote, "window dressing." They are, in his words, 'a coalition of the coerced and the bribed.'
I am aware of no other instance in which a presumptive nominee for President of the United States has spoken with such disdain of active, fighting allies of the United States in a time of war. Senator Kerry's contempt for our good allies is ungrateful to nations that have withstood danger, hardship, and insult for standing with America in the cause of freedom

Unfortunately this is not a broad, international coalition as waged battle in the first Gulf War. Unfortunately the war in Iraq has divided us from our long-time allies, divisions that we can only hope can be repaired.

There is a critical missing link -- the fact is that we didn't have to go to war immediately. War should have been a last option. It wasn't.
Because the Bush administration harbored the false belief -- some might say manufactured belief -- that the United States was in imminent danger from Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, that justified the timing -- that the U.S. launch the war sooner rather than later and without taking the time to build a true coalition.
Diplomacy takes time. Building coalitions necessitates one work with others. Building an international coalition requires humility. The United States was sorely lacking in all of the above. Instead, we arrogantly told the world that we were going to act and they could join us or not. Most did not. And now we are backpedaling in the hopes that the United Nations will and can take over on June 30. And, unfortunately, there was no rush. We had the time to build a true coalition.

Even worse, as NYT columnist Maureen Dowd pointed out in her column on Sunday, we even are attacking democratic nations that want to leave the "coalition."

In Bushworld, we went to war to give Iraq a democratic process, yet we disdain the democratic process that causes allies to pull out troops.

We are now stuck with the situation. To use Secretary of State Colin Powell's Pottery Barn rule on Iraq -- "You break it, you own it." And I fully believe that fixing this situation is going to be costly -- in terms of money and in terms of lives.

I might recommend two other reads. First is NYT columnist Thomas L. Friedman's Sunday column about the United State's role in the Middle East.

Will there ever be a street in Baghdad named after George W. Bush or any U.S. president? The fact that even asking the question today seems absurd tells you how far things have deteriorated. Indeed, the question I am asking myself is this: Has America become so radioactive in the Arab-Muslim world that we glow in the dark - and therefore it is dangerous for anyone to walk the streets with us, let alone name one after a U.S. president? Has America become so radioactive that Iraqi democracy and a prolonged American presence in Iraq have become a contradiction, not a necessity? ... You don't get from Saddam to Jefferson without going through a little Khomeini and Nasser - not in this neighborhood - and we're going to have to let Iraqis find their own path through this maze.

The other is Newsweek International editor Fareed Zakaria...
"Our last real chance" [Newsweek International]

While in Europe, we had many discussions about the situation in Iraq. My step-father, who grew up in the Vietnam era, sees many connections. And he strongly believes that the U.S. should pull out now.

To be honest, I don’t get the Vietnam analogy. Granted, I'm not part of that generation, but I just don't get the connection. If all that is meant to refer to a situation that has become a quagmire and a situation that has broken down into gorilla war, it seems there are better analogies we can use rather than using Vietnam, which seems overused at this point. Frankly, Israel’s experience in Lebanon seems more relevant.

Perhaps the most relevant point against this connection is that Vietnam had a leader who had the popular support of his people. Iraq did not. Furthermore, the people of Vietnam were opposed to the United States action. By every account, the majority of the Iraqi people are tacitly supporting the U.S. action – so far. That can turn quickly, but…

It doesn’t seem that getting out as an option now. That was an option before the war started, but once we overthrew Saddam, we are responsible to fix it. It leaves us in a paradox – Iraq had no real ties to terrorist organizations before. In fact, Saddam was largely contained. That is not true today. Today, Iraq clearly is on the front lines in some kind of battle. And the country would clearly be a bastion of terrorists groups if the U.S. were to pull out altogether.

The United States does have an opportunity to make things right. By most accounts, the Iraqi people want calm and stability. They are just waiting to see who wins this skirmish before determining whether it is truly safe to speak. So we have to reinstate some degree of order. It seems to me that necessitates more troops.

My fear is that this administration will not do what is necessary to make things right in Iraq – much as leaders have largely failed in nearly every rebuilding decision so far. Unfortunately, if they keep on their present track record, Iraq could well become our Lebanon or another Vietnam.

Iraq is a mess, and it will likely get worse before it gets better, but it seems there is plenty of time for the Vietnam connections further along the road. It just doesn't seem that we are there yet.

Another picture worth 1,000 words...

Earlier I posted the photo montage of John Ashcroft made up of porn pictures.

Well, here is one of Bush made up of casulaties from Iraq.

They have larger, more detailed photos on their site.

Erie.

Back from the MotherLand...

Some stuff from my travels last week. As I mentioned, I was in the United Kingdom -- London to be exact. Earlier, I posted where I was staying at Hampton Court Palace. It was nothing short of amazing. We were staying in the "Georgian House," which was actually used as the pastery shop when Henry VIII was there. Anyway, it was a fantastic place to visit.

I was lucky enough to get tickets to Michael Frayn's new play, "Democracy." Frayn is one of my favorite playwrights who wrote "Noises Off," which was turned into a movie in 1992... but see it on stage...
He also penned one of my favorite plays ever, "Copenhagen," which is the re-imagining of the mysterious wartime meeting between two Nobel laureates to discuss the atomic bomb. It sounds dense, but it is amazing. Here is a link to some reviews.
"Democracy" follows a similar vein. It is about the chancellor of what was then West Germany, who made the initial efforts to reconcile with communist East Germany. Again, it sounds dense, and if it was anybody other than Fryan, it would be, but he just makes this subject sing. The play is wonderfully acted. But it is the way the production is written and crafted that makes this otherwise stoggy subject a dramatic powerhouse.
Don't take my word for it.
Here is the UK Telegraph's review...
The Telegraph's political reporter loved it too...
And a story about Fryan himself...
The NYT did one as well...

Some of the UK news while I was over there...
So you think housing here is expensive????
In U.K., fears that the roof will fall [IHT]
A few weeks ago, a steel magnate, Lakshmi Mittal, paid what is believed to be the highest price ever recorded for a home anywhere in the world, forking over £70 million for a mansion in West London that was previously owned by Bernie Ecclestone, the head of Formula One auto racing.

The big news during the week was British PM Tony Blair announcing that he would change course and put the UK's participation in the EU up for a referendum.
Blair stakes his future on Britain's place in EU [UK Telegraph]

No Reverse Gear, Please [Newsweek International, 5.3.2004]
Blair relishes being a passionate advocate of Europe to his wary countrymen

The Economist opines...
Britain's referendum on the EU constitution [The Economist]
Why Tony Blair is right to propose a national referendum on the draft EU constitution

One UK media note...
UK publisher Richard Desmond went on an extraordinary, anti-German tirade during what was supposed to have been a routine business meeting with executives.

The WSJ actually opines on the issue...
Fleet Street Uber Alles [WSJ, 4.26.2004]

There was tech news in the UK papers as well...
ID card technology trial launched [BBC]
Home office minister Des Browne demonstrates the proposed ID card
A trial of identity card technology was launched on Monday involving 10,000 volunteers.

And, of course, Iraq...
But more on that later... plus more on the AI travesty that occured while I was away.

Overall, a good trip, but I'm glad to be back.

The Iraq Index...

While in Great Britian, we had many interesting discussions about Iraq, which I will detail more later. It seems to me that there is a lot of mis-information out there.
To that end, I found this site interesting...

IRAQ INDEX
Tracking Reconstruction and Security
in Post-Saddam Iraq

The Iraq Index is from the Brookings Institute and is updated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The Iraq Index is a statistical compilation of economic and security data. This resource will provide updated information on various criteria, including crime, telephone and water service, troop fatalities, unemployment, Iraqi security forces, oil production, and coalition troop strength.

The index is designed to quantify the rebuilding efforts and offer an objective set of criteria for benchmarking performance. It is the first in-depth, non-partisan assessment of American efforts in Iraq, and is based primarily on U.S. government information. Although measurements of progress in any nation-building effort can never be reduced to purely quantitative data, a comprehensive compilation of such information can provide a clearer picture and contribute to a healthier and better informed debate.

CJD out...

So this the traveling TypePad will be dark for a few days as I jaunt across The Pond to gay London.

This trip is actually going to be quiet fun. Thanks to my mother, we are staying at the historic Hampton Court Palace. By the look of it, it should be pretty amazing.
Here are a few links...
These are the amazing photos of the place...
The history...
The history of the clock...
General tourist info here ... and here... and here... and here
Shakespeare at Hampton Court
and there is a ghost at Hampton Court

CJD... out!

Idol movie night...

So the traveling TypePad is jumping across The Pond to London for the next week or so, but even with the 10 billion things I have yet to finish up, I did get to watch Idol last night. No full rundown this week or next, but a few points...
First, they should hire Quentin Tarantino. He was a excellent addition to the judging panel. He was just great.
The Tarantino line of the night came when George Huff was signing Phil Collins' "Against the odds":

You made me forget that I hate that song.

Overall, even given the Bush delay, I thought last night's delayed AI was a great show.

So my soap box...

Best performance of the night... Fantasia.
Worst performance of the night... DeDorko (I just LOVE that)... followed up by Georgie Huff...
Who will be in the bottom three...DeDorko, Jasmine Trias and George Huff.
Who will/should go home... DelDorko

And for next week... Unfortunately I think Jasmine gets the boot.