All Things Superficial

We all need entertainment at some point, don't we?
So instead of posting something about what our family is doing, we're going to review a few of this week's more interesting entertaining moments. Yes, these things are...
Superficial.

Up first...the dazzling Detroit Red Wings!

Last night they swept the Colorado Avalanche in impressive fashion, with an 8-2 bludgeoning of the sixth-seeded Avs. A small slice to show how impressive the Wings are is shown in this clip of Henrik Zetterberg's goal to put the Wings up 5-1. Just watch this:
Henrik Zetterberg's Amazing Blind Spin Backhand Goal

I played this over so many times, even in slow motion. I couldn't believe it. The man takes a shot, which is blocked by the goalie. As he begins spinning, the puck rebounds off the goalie toward him. He completes his spin, taking a blind backhand swing at the puck, lifting it up and over the goalie's left shoulder. Absolutely unreal. As the announcer says, "does he see this puck?" If you play it frame to frame (I did), you can see it looks like he truly sees the puck as it rebounds toward him, so he completes his spin quickly, and it looks like he actually sees the puck before he takes his backhand shot.

And so they wait for their opponent, which will be either the Dallas Stars or the San Jose Sharks.

(Bring on the Stars!)
I added this image as a bumper sticker on facebook. Feel free to become my friend on facebook and see it for yourself.

Up next: the genuine Brooke White
Sadly, Brooke was sent home from American Idol (Season 7) this week. She was a wonderful artist, but even those of us who love Brooke could see that she wasn't performing at her best the last couple of weeks. I think we all saw this coming on Wednesday night.
So long, Brooke. We hardly knew ye.
Beyond that, I have five AI things to say:
1) David Archuleta and David Cook are the final two.
2) David Cook is hands-down the most talented, and deserves to win, but Archuleta has that teeny-bopper fan base to buoy him.
3) Syesha Mercado should definitely go into stage musicals/acting.
4) For all my loathing of Neil Diamond songs over the decades (though when I hear one, I'll usually be humming it for days), I was very impressed with the man on Tuesday and Wednesday. Especially the song he performed. Can anyone tell me if this man is a Christian?
5) How on earth is Jason Castro still here?! Someone please tell me. Who is going to pay money for a ukulele rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow??? Listen folks, as my wife has said, you cannot buy his smile! All you get is a photo (awkwardness included), maybe some lyrics, and a lot of lousy music. Ugh!
OK, I'm done. Just let me step down here and...yah, the soapbox goes right over there...thanks.

And finally: An E-mail. About feet. And the number 6.
Have you heard about this? If not, you've got to try it. I tried it and was so frustrated, I had to send it on to my co-workers. It likewise frustrated them. It looked so easy on paper (or the computer screen, in reality). Can't believe my own body won't do what I tell it to.
Here's the e-mail:
~
HOW SMART IS YOUR RIGHT FOOT?
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You have to try this, it takes 2 seconds. I could not believe this!!! It is from an orthopedic surgeon...........
This will boggle your mind and you will keep you trying over and over again to see if you can outsmart your foot, but, you can't. It's pre-programmed in your brain!
Without anyone watching you (they will think you are GOOFY......) and while sitting at your desk in front of your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.
Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air with your right hand. Your foot will change direction.
I told you so!!! And there's nothing you can do about it! You and I both know how stupid it is, but before the day is done you are going to try it again, if you've not already done so.
Send it to your friends to frustrate them too.
~
OK, I tried it several times, and it was true every time. In fact, I even found that my foot changed direction when I started thinking about drawing the number six in my head (no hand involved)! That's when I gave up. At one point (and this happened to a co-worker also), I thought I'd done it, thinking I'd outsmarted my own brain. Then I realized my foot had been going the wrong direction the whole time. Kinda, weird isn't it?
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That, folks, is all for today.
Superficial stuff, but entertaining to us.

American Idol Season 7 - Top 12

Tonight we see what happens to the top 12.

Okay, Sylvia and I have become hooked on this program. We've never seen any of the previous seasons, except for commercials and snippets here or there. To us this is all new, and we're thoroughly enjoying it. We both love music, so we should've realized earlier that we'd enjoy this show, but we never gave it a shot. Now that we're hooked, we've come to the final 12 with some expectations and with some predictions. So here are my (Jon's) predictions for the final 12 and their eventual exits from the show:

#12 Kristy Lee Cook
Kristy has gotten a bad rap from the judges for weeks, and I just haven't seen what they've seen. I think she's done a great job with her songs...until last night. Last night was laughable. Her country version of that Beatles tune was awful. She has shown herself for what she is: a girl who can sing well, but who has no musical talent. And to boot, she has released recordings previously, and has failed to become successful, being dropped from her label twice. I say she'll go home tonight.

#11 Ramiele Malubay
This little girl showcased a powerful voice early on, but has really petered out of late. Last night's performance was pretty bad, from start to finish. I have to completely agree with Simon - the stair view was bad to start out, and the entire performance was boring. She won't last, and I predict she'll go next week.

#10 Jason Castro
I have been predicting this guy would go home for weeks. I just don't see what they've been seeing. I think he's so boring every time, has no stage presence, and looks so uncomfortable on stage that I can't bear to watch him. Last week I finally thought his poor performance wasn't as bad as others and thought he'd stay. But I don't think he'll make it through the next three weeks.


#9 Syesha Mercado
I like her attitude and smile. Her singing is okay, but it just isn't great, and I think she'll go home in the next four weeks.





#8 Amanda Overmyer
I liked her early on, but she was downright awful for a few weeks in there. Last week she was back on her game, and last night she was okay, too. But her style is so repetitive, and her smile is fake, and she has some really bad nights. I think she's still here thanks to VFTW, and will go home in the next five weeks.


#7 David Hernandez
This boy can sing, and has a good stage presence. Maybe from all that time as a stripper. Good grief! With the gossip surrounding this guy, he won't last until the top 6. He was not good last night, but not really bad either. He's part of the bottom seven unless he has some stellar nights in the near future.



#6 Michael Johns
I thought this guy was great the first several weeks of the show. He can sing well, I like his voice, and he has musical experience (supposedly having time "in the studio" as he said). But in the last two weeks, when he "showcased" his musical talent, it was...well, not there. Why doesn't he add some life to these songs? Does he not know how? If he doesn't show a lot more spark, he'll be first to go in the top 6.

#5 Chikezie
I have liked Chikezie from the outset. From a return contestant who matured enough to make it into the top 24, to that smile on his face. He seems real. I have liked what he's done so far, until last night. I loved what he did last night! Last night when that Beatles song started, I thought it was neat, but different. But when he turned it into a great rock song, I thought he was phenomenal! He rocked! He showed musical talent! He owned that stage. And he will be there for weeks to come, because he is consistent. Whether he can make it into the top 4 remains to be seen. So for now, I'll put him at 5. Great job, Chikezie!

#4 David Archuleta
This Boy Wonder (as they call him) has an incredible voice. But two weeks ago, with the Phil Collins song, he seemed flat. He added no life to the song. Then last night, he truly showed he has some growing to do. Give him a break, though, he's what...12? Okay, 17 I think. He was born in the 90's? Man that makes me feel old. I think he needs to have some fantastic nights to move ahead of the top three.

#3 Carly Smithson
This girl has some pipes! I have loved her renditions of Heart and the Beatles song. She has truly nailed it the last few weeks. And unlike Simon, I think she's been singing the right songs for weeks - unlike some weird Carly video going around the net (ugh). Yes, this girl has released an album before, as she has admitted. I hear there is something fishy about her, that she's been planted in the competition, but I read one article too many on VFTW (and that's the only one I read). She will be in the top 4 for sure, and I suspect the top 3, but we'll see.

#2 David Cook
I would guess most people think he'll make top 8 or so, but no further. But watch this guy. He has talent. If you've seen what he's done with the last few songs, you can see he has a great mind for musical composition. He can make a rock song out of anything, I say. I love his voice. I love what he does with the tunes, and I think he'll be a surprise entry into the top 4 for sure, but maybe the top three. I'm only putting him at #2 because of the "controversy" surrounding Carly.

#1 Brooke White
Brooke, Brooke, Brooke. America loves you, Brooke. She is the genuine article. She is very talented musically. Guitar. Piano. Songstress. Slice-of-America looks and personality. Sylvia, my wife, - a pianist, mind you - spotted the bare feet after she played the piano last night, so we were rewinding on the DVR to see if it was so. Then as we played through, Ryan pointed out the bare feet. She is so normal! I put her here at #1 because I know she'll make top 3, and at number one because that is what I hope. Whether she'll make it to #1 remains to be seen.

That's all I have to say about American Idol Season Seven right now. We'll see if Kristy goes home tonight. I borrowed these pictures from americanidol.com, so check that site out if you want to see the real info. I may have to update my take (or create a new one if I'm all wrong) on the contestants in another month. Now this was fun!