I am a statistic

Positive diagnosis...... influenza. I had a shot this year, but I heard there was a strain that was not covered and I got it. 5 days worth of Tamiflu for me and a week off from work. For Amy it's 10 days of Tamiflu to protect her from me.

Never more sick

Slept 12 hours last night into this morning.
Went to church (late) and stayed for the bookstore volunteer appreciation lunch.
Stopped at Publix for crucial supplies (bar soap, cat food, dishwasher detergent) and met a mom just back from China with baby Emily, who we later found out we met Emily and her dad at the Steven Curtis Chapman concer last month).
Crashed for 2 hours downstairs and another 2 hours upstairs.
Amy woke me up for dinner, she's gone upstairs to nap before work at 11, and I may crash on the couch in front of The Italian Job on TV.
Wrestlemania is on, but we are not buying it because it is $54.95.

Saturday Photo Hunt - High

This is the city of Orlando, FL, shot from aboard the Blockbuster Video blimp in 1998. On the shore to the left above the fountain in Lake Eola is the restaurant where Amy and I had our wedding reception on October 6, 2001. Little did she know I was scouting locations (from the blimp!) a full 2 and a half years before we met!

Friday Feast #43

Appetizer - What does the color dark green make you think of?

The driver's door of my Jeep, as the rest of it is burgundy.




Soup - How many cousins do you have?

How many that I actually know? That would be 9. How many do I see or talk to more than once every few years? Zero.

Salad - On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how honest are you?

8 - I'm a poker player, you have to be able to lie.

Main Course - Name something that is truly free.

Air.

Dessert - Using the letters in the word SPRING, write a sentence.

Some poetry really is not good.

Is this random?

So I was sitting around surfing the internet this morning and I was invited to play a game where you have to identify a music video based on a single still frame picture from the video. There were 4 of the 15 I had no real clue about, but one of them I thought mught be Public Enemy's "Fight the Power."

I watched the video and found I could not match the picture I saw, but I did start thinking...

We're deeply and seemingly irrevocably involved in a war that is costing our government (and therefore our citizens) billions of dollars and now over 4000 lives of America's military servicemen and servicewomen. If we try to leave, civil war will wreak havoc on the nation of Iraq and the Middle East will further destabilize. I believe that Saddam Hussein was an evil person and posed a threat to all of his people, but was it worth it?

The price of fuel and related products is at an all-time high, and a ripple effect is taking place and impacting our economy in tremendous ways. Food resources are going up in price, as are shipping costs so the shelf prices are climbing. Our banks and major industries like automotive and air carriers are realing and all the banks can do is find new ways of recovering their losses by increasing fees and penalties against their customers.

The job market is taking a major hit as a result of the uncertainty of the economic future and people without secure jobs are going to be fighting for jobs below their qualifications, making it harder for those who are trying to improve their position in life to make any headway.

I have no faith in the political process in the United States of America. There are way too many people representing us who do so out of personal ambition and desire for wealth and power and too few who actually want to serve in order make the country and the world a better place.

We are looking at another presidential election here in about 7 and a half months and of the three people most-likely to become our nations leader, Barak Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain, I don't believe I want ANY of them making decisions that will impact my life, so I can not see that I will be inspired to vote this year, except if a referendum allowing the commercial sale of alcoholic beverages on Sundays in Georgia makes it to the ballot. There is no justification for making it illeagal for a grocery store to sell a case of beer on a Sunday. Unless I am grossly mistaken, the law is based on the respect of the Chrsitan sabbath, which means the will of one faith is being imposed on all citizens. I cannot imagine another reason for this law being on the books, though I once heard some argument about the impact it would have on the workers on Monday, as if they could not buy their alcohol on Saturday to drink on Sunday or go to a ar or restaurant and drink all they want on Sunday there.

Something Cool - MIchael Gives Back

Last week we had a bake sale at work to raise money for the American Cancer Society Relay for LIfe. In addition to brownies, cookies and cupcakes, I came up with the idea to print some 8x10 prints of some of my tiger pictures from the Memphis Zoo. We sold them for $3 each or 4 for $10. We made a total of about $56 for the sale and just over half of that was from photo sales.

I proposed the idea that we try a photo sale table on a semi-regular basis. This time is for Y-Me, a breast cancer charity. Today I printed about 20 different pictures, labeling the table Animals and Americana. Pictures include many animal shots from the Memphis and National Zoos, skyline shots of NYC with the WTC in the shot, pics of the Statue of Liberty, sunsets in Florida, and others from my archives. Today we sold $6 worth and have another $10 worth on hold. Another $9 couldn't sell because the customer did not have cash or a check.

We'll see how this plays out.

Interactive Back to the 1980's! You don't have to have been alive or socially conscious or aware of the big news or music or tv to participate in this Thursday Thirteen, just answer as best as you can, and remember that a great source of exposure and reminder of 1980's music can be found at my other blog - http://www.rockinthe80s.blogspot.com. 1. What was your favorite band that was popular in the 1980's? 2. What news stoy or stories do you remember the best? 3. What is your favorite movie from the 1980's? 4. What is your favorite TV show from the 1980's 5. What fashion trend would you MOST like to see return? 6. What fashion trend would you LEAST like to see return? 7. What was your favorite song from the 1980's? 8. What is your faorite commercial or series of commercials from the 1980s? 9. What is your favorite toy that was popular in the 1980's? 10. Who was your favorite world leader in the 1980's? (examples include Reagan, Gorbachev, Ayatollah Humani, Momahar Ghadaffi, Bush, Thatcher, Corasone Aquino, Ferdinand Marcos) 11. Who was your favorite solo musical artist in the 1980's? 12. If you drove a car in the 1980's, what was it, or if you have owned a car built in the 1980's, what kind was/is it? 13. If you attended concerts in the 1980's, what was your favorite show? Answers will be compiled and posted a la Frigga when she does interactive TT.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Wordless Wednesday - Champions

Happy Birthday Pixel!

Peter got home as I was reviewing some old photos and I realized it was on May 5, 2007 that we welcomed Pixel into our house. That dtermination, coupled with the belief he was 6 weeks old when we got him, means that Pixel turned one year old yesterday!

Ten on Tuesday

Ten Things To Do Before You Get Married

1. Find someone willing to say "yes."
2. Destroy all things related to anyone you might have dated before.
3. See anyone you dated before one last time.
4. Tell your family and hope no one is a jerk about your choice.
5. See the doc, just in case any evidence of anyone you might have dated before is lingering.
6. Register. This can be fun, but be careful about gag things you scan. Someone WILL buy them.
7. Double, no triple, quadruple check the bulletin that no one is left off, especially a bridesmaid.
8. Make a farewell trip to your favorite gentleman's club.
9. Mark your CDs and DVDs (just in case things don't work out).
10. Kiss your golf clubs goodbye (mine haven't seen the light of day in 7 years).

NCAA Basketball Expert

I just checked the brackets I filled out for a friend's contest on Yahoo. Of 16 teams that are advancing to the Sweet Sixteen, I have correctly picked 9 of those that will be playing next week. I am no expert on NCAA Basketball. To my defense, I watched about 3 minutes of NCAA Basketball this season.

On Behalf of My Wife....

Blogging at work at church!

Does it get much better than this?

It's 6:40pm on Saturday night. We're having a Saturday Easter service, and I volunteered to open and run the bookstore. In the bookstore area there is a TV showing the service, but there is no audio. I have nothing much to do, but alas we use a PC to run the store.

Open Windows - turn on the live streaming audio of The Way FM from Nashville. Open another window and do soe blogging!

They had a big kids event before the service today with bounce houses and games, an egg hunt, pizza and drinks, so things had been pretty busy. I worked at my store for Walgreens from 8-4 and came straight here this afternoon.

My lovely wife Amy worked last night and is working now, but we get to spend time together tomorrow. Actually she'll come hoe and we'll go to the early service and I have to work the bookstore again for the second service tomorrow. Amy will be working in the nusery during the second service.

I've seen a bunch of people we know today including China Dad Dan Chapman, China Mom and Dad Angela and Jay with Lanie, and 5 of the 6 people in our small group.

I'm looking forward to relaxing tomorrow.

Check out the links to the right up there. Amy has a comment gae running. Jeff has a video and American Idol stuff. Steven has a day out with friends in photos and Frigga always has about 4 things going on, usually including survey poll stuff on the weekends.

Friday Feast #

Appetizer - Given the choice, would you prefer to live in the country or in the city?

Country

Soup - Who is the cutest kid you know?

I'm biased, but my nephew Basil.

Salad - Fill in the blank: I couldn’t believe it when I heard Amanda was voted off of American Idol this week (I wanted that to happen!).

Main Course - If you could star in a commercial for one of your favorite products, which one would you want to advertise?

Habersett Scrapple (if you don't know what it is, ask, just don't ask what's in it).

Dessert - What type(s) of vitamins and/or supplements do you take on a regular basis?

Whatever is in Coke Zero (note, it is not advertised as a vitamin-packed product, I just consume a lot of it).

Thursday Thirteen - First Day of Spring

Today is the first day of Spring. Did you know it is no longer on the 21st of the month? It actually changed when we entered the new millenium. It was expected/planned because of the way the calendar works and so each season now begins on the 20th of it's calendar month. So as I was driving through the neighborhood, admirinf the bradford pear trees in full bloom, I decided to stop and take some pictures. Then, when I was uploading some of them, I was cooking burgers on the grill and noticed a visitor in the yard behind me... Mr. Robin!

Hey!

Rock on back to the 1980's! I have another blog I maintain, featuring music videos from the 80's on different themes for each day of the week. Go to http://www.rockingthe80s.blogspot.com and watch some videos and leave some comments and tell your friends!

Wordless Wednesday #43

Chinese Art at the Belz Museum in Memphis, TN

Ten On Tuesday #12

Ten Places I'd Take a Tourist in my Hometown

Oakland Cemetary - Georgia and Atlanta History

The Cyclorama - The entire wall of the circular viewing room is a painting depicting the Battle of Atlanta. The auditorium seats rotate as features of the painting are highlighted and explained.

Amicalola Falls - One of Georgia's State parks

Six Flags Over Georgia

Centennial Olympic Park - which can include the surrounding attractions of the CNN Center, The Tabernacle, and the Georgia Aquarium.

Turner Field - formerly Olympic Stadium. The stadium was converted and renamed to be the home of the Atlanta Braves.

Kennesaw National Battlefield Park

Georgia's Stone Mountain Park

The World of Coke (also at Centennial Olympic Park)

Zoo Atlanta - we have pandas!

The Varsity - It's the world's largest drive-in restaurant with a very long history and a reputation for eats even approved of by Rachael Ray. You have to try the chili dogs, onion rings and either an orange freeze (shake) or a chocolate shake.

From the Talkmaster

Found today at boortz.com

THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO DO ....
.. but I just know I would get the absolute dog squeeze kicked out of me:

Walk up to some guy with a nice brand new car and ask him where he got that nifty dealer sticker on his trunk and ask him if he could maybe get one for me.

Ask some guy with a fat wife: "Did she weigh that much when you married her?" I could ask the same question of some lady with a fat husband, but I really don't care all that much.

Walk up to some clown on a loud Harley and shove something up his exhaust.

Stand at an urban street corner with one of those compressed gas horns. When some jerk comes up with $10,000 worth of woofers in his auto sound system I'll stick the horn in his window and give him a blast.

Hang around a golf tournament and kick the first idiot that screams "get in the hole" right square in the nads.

Stand at the door of a welfare office collecting cell phones.

The next time I encounter a screaming ankle biter in a restaurant just walk right over there and administer a good spanking.

Hang around a grocery check out stand saying "You're welcome" to every person using food stamps as they check out ... just praying that one will say "welcome for what?"

Walk up to some sleeveless walking graffiti display and ask if I can make a rubbing of their tats.

Dare I even think of a comment?

While checking the local news and weather this morning at www.ajc.com I noticed a peculiar link on one of the columns to a story about "10 Cool Destinations for Gays and Lesbians."

The media is widely accepted to be liberal, and liberals (to me) seem to promote a we should all get along and live in harmony kind of attitude. So, why is it that they would publish a story promoting the places ideal for a subset and not ideal for all?

I looked at the list, hoping to laugh at one of the options being a place called Closet (pronounced claus-say if it's French). Instead I found Dublin, Ireland. Well there are a lot of Catholics there and we know what priests seem to like sexually. And there was Denver, Colorado, heterosexuals beware, they are vacationing in Denver. Marsielles, France, okay, they can have that one. Santiago, Chile, for your third-world gay and lesbian adventure. Shanghai, China, for your communist gay and lesbian adventure. Austin, TX is one I can't understand, unless you use the Louis Gossett, Jr. line regarding Oklahoma in "An Officer and a Gentleman" regarding steers and queers.

I should probably mention that this same newspaper ran a story a couple of years ago about Key West, FL and how it's no l0nger the Mecca for gay vacationers, awwwwwww. Perhaps Jimmy Buffett ruined it for all of them by living there and writing songs about the place. So Jimmy, what can you sing about Denver, "An Omelet Looks at 40?"

Corporate Preferences

Though Memphis is definitely part of the South, and Coca-Cola is king in the South, the Pepsi ad on this building on Beale St. is pretty unique. Over where the pigeons flock, it's clear who their celular provider of preference is.

Simply Amazing

This was the scene this afternoon in Orlando, FL at the Bay Hill course which Tiger Woods calls home. In a four-day event, playing 18 holes of golf per day, Tiger was behind the leader by 7 strokes after playing Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, he shot a round in which his score was 7 strokes better than the leader, resulting in a tie after 3 rounds with the final to be played today.
Approaching the final hole today, Tiger was tied with a different player than the leader Friday/Saturday. That leader played the final hole before Tiger and completed it in 4 strokes. Three strokes would have placed him ahead of Tiger and would require Tiger to complete the hole in 3 strokes in order to tie. As it turned out, the co-leader needed 4 strokes to complete the 18th hole, leaving the possibility of a tie-breaker if Tiger also shot 4. Tiger shot 3, putting a perfect 24 foot shot downhill to the cup to win the tournament and become tied at third place on the all-time list for PGA tournament wins. Tiger is 32 years old.

Friday Feast #42

Appetizer - On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 as highest), how much do you like your own handwriting?
8

Soup - Do you prefer baths or showers?
Baths, but who has the time?

Salad - What was the last bad movie you watched?
Alpha Dog - does it count as watching it if you turned it off after 20 minutes?

Main Course - Name something you are addicted to and describe how it affects your life.
I prefer not to answer out of personal shame

Dessert - Which instrument is your favorite to listen to?
Guitar

and don't forget to visit www.rockingthe80s.blogspot.com if you love or miss the music of the 1980s!

Crazy 8's Meme

About a week ago (maybe a little longer) I was tagged by my blogging friend Frigga for something called the Cray 8's Meme. Here are my responses.

Name 8 Things I Am Passionate About.
Disclaimer (my own) the term passionate is a bit unsettling, so I will ist things I care about a great deal.
My wife.
Poker
Baseball
College Football
My friends.
Lost
80's music
Photography

Name 8 Things I Want To Do Before I Die
Visit Greece
Have kids
Enforce the law
Lose enough weight to fit on a standard height/weight chart
Play in the World Series of Poker
See the Philadelphia Phillies win another World Series
See the Atlanta Thrashers play in the Stanley Cup Finals
Own a Chevrolet Avalanche

8 Things I Often Say
Thank You For Calling Walgreen's This Is Mike, How May I Help You?
AbsoSMURFly
I am a big fan of common sense
You know how I know you're gay?
I'd like to order for delivery
Kevin, you have a call parked on line 101. Kevin 101 please.
http://www.valtool.blogspot.com/
Pickle, pickle. (calling to my brother's cat, named Pixel)

8 Books I've Recently Read or am Currently Reading
True Light - Terri Blackstock
Wicked - Gregory Maguire
Son of a Witch - Gregory Maguire
How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie
The Witness - Dee Henderson
Heartbreak & Triumph, the Shawn Michaels Story
Night Light - Terri Blackstock
Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller

8 Songs I Could Listen To Over and Over
"Comfortably Numb" - Pink Floyd
"Rooftops" - Lost Prophets
"Drinkers Hour" - Vaughan Rhea
"Home" - Disney's Beauty & the Beast - Cast Recording
"I Won't Say I'm In Love" - Disney's Hercules Soundtrack
"On My Own" - Les Miserables Cast Recording
"Holy Water" - Big & Rich
"Don't Let it End" - Styx

8 Things That Attract Me To My Best Friends
The Willingness to Accept me Despite the person I am
The Willingness to Accept me Despite the person I am
The Willingness to Accept me Despite the person I am
The Willingness to Accept me Despite the person I am
The Willingness to Accept me Despite the person I am
The Willingness to Accept me Despite the person I am
The Willingness to Accept me Despite the person I am
The Willingness to Accept me Despite the person I am

8 People I Think Should Do Crazy 8's
April @ Discovering God's Plan
Jeff @ Eeyorejeff
Amy @ Amy's Random Thoughts
Steven @ Russell's Abode
Carlos @ Ragamuffin Soul
Sparky Duck @ Blujackit5
Bubba's Sis

Wordless Wednesday #42

Monday Trivia

So it's Monday. We actually got enough of our team together to go play trivia tonight. It was Me and Amy, with Dave from small group and his trivia friend Mike (whose wife is also named Amy).

We found ourselves in first place (tied) at the end of regulation. To get there we had to answer questions like

Mariska Hargitay of Law & Order SVU is the daughter of what late blond bombshell?

In what movie did Gwyneth Paltrow's character have her head cut off at the end?

What British Invasion band was lead by brothers Ray and Dave Davies?

Approximately how many weeks does the Tour de France last (1, 2, o2 3)?

Michael J. Fox appeared on which sitcom longer, Family Ties or Spin City?

These were all answers that I gae our team correct responses to. They were, Jane Mansfield, Seven, The Kinks, 3, and Family Ties.

Our final bonus was, place these four cities in order from Northernmost to Southernmost.... Madrid, Spain, Mogadishu, Somalia, Rio de Jinero, Brazil, and Bombay India. I had the correct order but it did not matter because a. we decided to bid 0 and hope other teams got it wrong, and b. Dave wanted to use a different order anyway. So we bet 0 and wound up not placing in the prizes. At least we have Wednesday coming, with our game at Winston's with friend Charlie playing with Amy nad me.

Excerpts from a movie monologue

A man's actions don't equal the sum of the psychological parts It just doesn't work that way.

It doesn't work, Frank. God doesn't punish the wicked and reward the righteous. Everyone dies. Some die because they deserve to, others die simply because they come from Minneapolis. It's random and it's meaningless.

Stuff, American Idol, 80's music

We are watching the "results" show of American Idol and so far all is well in the world of AI. Kady Malloy and Luke Menard have been announced as two of the four contestants who will not be continuing on to next week. Our hope is the other two are Amanda and Danny. We now know that Amanda is safe. She is the www.votefortheworst.com female favorite to vote for despite not deserving it. It's down to Asia'h and Kristy Lee as the last two of whom one is not advancing.... the one voted off is.....Asia'h is heading home. I'm okay with that choice. So one guy to go still.... it's down to Danny the gay guy and Chikizie the one-named black dude.... going home is.....Danny Noriega! So Vote For The Worst got beat early in the season!

If you like music from the 1980's, which was the theme for American Idol this week, please check out this website, http://www.rockingthe80s.blogspot.com I am the moderator and we get a music video from the 1980's every day and sometimes some other articles and flashback materials. Today would be Long Distance Dedication Friday, but I don't have any requests or dedications to post this week. Last week was a blast with a friend from college dedicating "Cars That Go Boom" to her sister. Email me at mjchristopher@comcast.net to make your dedication and request.

Friday Feast #41

Appetizer - If you could be any current celebrity for one whole week, who would you want to be?

Simon Cowell

Soup - On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how much do you enjoy talking on the phone?

3

Salad - Name a charitable organization to which you have donated (or would like to).

Compassion International and Love Without Boundaries

Main Course - What is a food you like so much you could eat it every single day for a month?

Four Seasons - Chinese dish of beef, pork, chicken, shrimp and vegetables.

Dessert - Have you or anyone in your family had the flu this year?

Not that I am aware of. I have a bit of a chronic cough right now, but it's not the flu.

My American Accent

This poll nailed me exactly. I have been told I have a good voice for radio or TV, and I was raised outside of Philadelphia.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland   "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
Philadelphia
The Inland North
The South
The Northeast
The West
Boston
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

American Idol 8 girls

Asia'h' Epperson - Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody - It was okay, nothing great, nothing horrible. The judges (Randy and Paula) liked her a lot more than Simon, and I think I'm with Simon on this one. It was good enough to survive the cut.

Kady Malloy - we don't know the song or the artist, neither Amy nor I have heard it before, but Ryan said something about Queen before the commercial break. Being an unknown song, even if sung well, can be dangerous. It worked for Bo Bice, but I don't think it will carry for Kady, she is vulnerable. Paula thinks it's Kady's best performance to date. Simon says it's an improvement but she lacks personality while she's performing.

Amanda Overmeyer - Biker Nurse and female favorite of www.votefortheworst.com - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - I Hate Myself For Loving You - good pick for herself because it lets her sing a raspy yelling song and well, that's the only manner in which she can sing. She can not leave the show soon enough. I don't care what the judges say.

Carly Smithson - I drove all Night - Roy Orbison, Cyndi Lauper - Amy says there's something about Carly she likes. I am distracted in a negative way by the arm full of tattoos. Her voice is decent, but there's also the whole thinag about her having had a record deal before and failing, so why does she deserve a shot here?

Kristy Lee Cook - Journey - Faithfully - She gave it a country edge, and changed the lyrics a bit, and it worked well. The judges liked the performance, but Simon called her forgetable.

Ramiele Malubay - Against All Odds - Phil Collins - the judges liked her a lot more than I did. For some reason Paula's first comment was about how pretty her face is and I was stuck thinking, "this is a singing contest, right?"

Brooke White - Pat Benatar - Love is a Battlefield - it's an acoustic arrangement and I like it. The odd thing is she's wearing Underdog's giant ring with the secret compartment. Randy liked it and they got off on a tangent about Paula as a choreographer. Simon applauded her originality in making the song hers because a performance of the original arrangement would not have worked for her.

Syesha Mercado - Whitney Houston - Saving All My Love For You - She nailed the song. I dont like the song. I don't like much of any Whitney Houston as you will notice she has been absent for two months on my 1980's blog www.rockingthe80s.blogspot.com. It was obvious that the judges knew they were short on time as they all said one or two word comments and moved back to Ryan.

We expect Kady Malloy will be gone, and my hope is Amanda will be the other one. My expectation is Ramiele is the next most vulnerable. I don't know what the judges love about her, but her performance tonight was pretty dry.

American Idol - 8 guys

Our friend Jeff has been singing the praises of the guys over the girls, and I have to agree, except for last night. For the most part, the guys sucked.

Luke Menard - Wham, Wake me up (Jitterbug) - weak song, no vocal challange, Simon was right, he won't be back next week.

David Archuletta - Phil Collins - Another Day in Paradise - the kid has a cute factor, the song was not great but not bad. He'll continue.

Danny Noriega - Soft Cell - Tainted Love - Paula called him a "bright light," I think she had the right idea, but it's a flame and it's bright. This is the hero of www.votefortheworst.com I can't stand him. They spent a ton of time on his attitude and his hair and the fact he speaks in "text talk."

David Hernandez - All Coming Back to Me Now - It's a song written by Jim Steinman, recorded by Celine Deon and later by Meatloaf. I would swear the song was in the 90's unless someone else recorded it earlier. Amy liked his performance, as did the judges. This is the contestant with the newest controversy because it has come out that he worked as a stripper in a gay club until last September.

Michael Johns - Simple Minds - Don't You Forget About Me - This is the Australian guy who lives in Atlanta. We like him, he rocks and he has a good voice. His performance is one of the best of the night and he'll have no problem advancing. The weird thing is when talking with the judges, Randy says something about the Aussie going home for 80's night. I don't know if Simple Minds is from Australia, but I know for sure that they recorded this song and not INXS which makes it weird that Randy mentioned Michael Hutchins.

David Cook - Hello - Lionel Richie - I like this guy, he rocks, and he reminds me of Homer Simpson. He did a great job adding some juice to a very recognizable ballad from the 80's. Rock on.

Jason Castro - Hallelujah - many performers over the years. Most people know it from the Shrek soundtrack. The judges loved it, and I thought it was okay. Personally I think the dude is a poser with the dredlocks.

Chikizie - She Builds Me Up - various versions including Luther Vandross and as Simon won't get past, Whitney Houston. It was fair, not worth bumping him, but not great either.

Wordless Wednesday #41

Some Memphis Pics

Sunday, just after Noon, and the blues is being played on Beale Street.

The Memphis Trolley Line

Mississippi River from the roof of the Peabody Hotel

Beale Street Northbound

Beale Street Southbound