Last week, RockBandLounge.com announced The Big Twist, where one of the eliminated rockers would be voted back into the competition. After several days of campaigning and voting, TWO singers actually made it back into the contest. Zayra Alvarez and Ryan Star wound up with a tie for the most votes, and both of them made their way back into the contest, complete with a free pass for Christmas week.
When the voting for the week's performances came to an end, the Bottom Three was made up of Toby Rand, Magni, and Josh Logan. And yet another Twist was introduced in this twisty week...it would be another Double Elimination and the two highest vote-getters would be leaving the competition.
This time, we are seeing the end of Josh and Magni's runs in Rock Star: All Stars. But if you want to hear more from them, be sure to check out their MySpace pages. You can find Josh's here, and be sure to keep an eye out for news about his album release. And for news on Magni, check him out here and look for his album on iTunes!
If Toby is your favorite, or any of the other remaining eight singers in RockBandLounge.com's Rock Star: All Stars contest, be sure to head over there and VOTE!
And don't forget that the whole purpose of this is to get Rock Star back on our TV's! The networks are starting to solidify their lineups of reality TV, and so far, there is no Rock Star for us. If you want to do something about that, take a look at RockBandLounge.com's Big Letter Writing Campaign Thread.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
See You Later Ryan? Maybe...
This week on RockBandLounge.com's Rock Star: All Stars, the superbly talented Ryan Star got the boot. BUT...don't forget about the Big Twist! From today through Saturday, fans can vote to bring any of the ousted rockers back into the competition, complete with a free pass through next week's elimination. If you want to see Ryan back in the competition, head over to RockBandLounge.com and cast your vote!
Other singers in this week's Bottom Four (yes, Four, not Three) were Josh Logan, Magni, and Storm Large. If you want to see them have a chance at winning this thing, you have to vote!
Other rockers eligible to be brought back into the competition include Zayra Alvarez, Neal Carlson, Dilana, Brandon Calhoon, Ty Taylor, Patrice Pike, Deanna Johnston, Suzie McNeil, Jordis Unga, and dirtyPhil Ritchie.
In case you want to hear more from Ryan, check him out at MySpace or at his Official Website.
Other singers in this week's Bottom Four (yes, Four, not Three) were Josh Logan, Magni, and Storm Large. If you want to see them have a chance at winning this thing, you have to vote!
Other rockers eligible to be brought back into the competition include Zayra Alvarez, Neal Carlson, Dilana, Brandon Calhoon, Ty Taylor, Patrice Pike, Deanna Johnston, Suzie McNeil, Jordis Unga, and dirtyPhil Ritchie.
In case you want to hear more from Ryan, check him out at MySpace or at his Official Website.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Send a Pretty Baby eCard!
Yeah, that's right. Zayra Alvarez and Co., otherwise known as Pretty Baby, have created some ecards that you can send to friends. Each one comes complete with a free download of their new tunes too! Not a bad deal.
Check it out here.
Not only do you get the download, but the photos used for these ecards are from their recent photo shoot.
Check it out here.
Not only do you get the download, but the photos used for these ecards are from their recent photo shoot.
Monday, December 17, 2007
The Big Twist Revealed
So they've been hinting about a Big Twist for a little bit over at RockBandLounge.com's Rock Star: All Stars competition, and the twist has now been revealed.
After tomorrow's elimination vote, each of the eliminated rockers will be up for reentry into the competition. One of the eleven eliminated singers will be allowed to come back, and they will be given a free pass for their first week. So, if you are one of those who was outraged by Zayra's early elimination or dumbfounded by Suzie's removal, head over to RockBandLounge.com to vote on who should be able to come back!
Singers eligible for this are Zayra, Neal, Brandon, Ty, dirtyPhil, Deanna, Jordis, Suzie, Dilana, Patrice, and whoever is eliminated in tomorrow's vote.
This week there is a bottom four, as there was a tie for the final spot in the bottom three. So Josh, Magni, Storm, and Ryan are all up for elimination tomorrow. If one of them is your favorite and you want them to stay in the competition, be sure to vote tomorrow between midnight and 11:59 pm Pacific time for someone else to be the one leaving.
After tomorrow's elimination vote, each of the eliminated rockers will be up for reentry into the competition. One of the eleven eliminated singers will be allowed to come back, and they will be given a free pass for their first week. So, if you are one of those who was outraged by Zayra's early elimination or dumbfounded by Suzie's removal, head over to RockBandLounge.com to vote on who should be able to come back!
Singers eligible for this are Zayra, Neal, Brandon, Ty, dirtyPhil, Deanna, Jordis, Suzie, Dilana, Patrice, and whoever is eliminated in tomorrow's vote.
This week there is a bottom four, as there was a tie for the final spot in the bottom three. So Josh, Magni, Storm, and Ryan are all up for elimination tomorrow. If one of them is your favorite and you want them to stay in the competition, be sure to vote tomorrow between midnight and 11:59 pm Pacific time for someone else to be the one leaving.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Pretty Baby Photo Shoot
So apparently Zayra Alvarez's new band Pretty Baby had a photo shoot. Check out what came out of it...
Also, here is a video on YouTube with some behind the scenes footage from that photo shoot. Looks like there are good things to come from Pretty Baby in 2008. I can't wait!
Also, here is a video on YouTube with some behind the scenes footage from that photo shoot. Looks like there are good things to come from Pretty Baby in 2008. I can't wait!
Friday, December 14, 2007
My Babies
This is just a little video I put together of my cats, to the tune of "Don't Change" by INXS.
I hope you enjoy!
I hope you enjoy!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
New(ish) Music I Love
I will admit it. I rarely listen to the radio anymore. It feels like, more often than not, they are playing the same 10 songs in heavy rotation and very little else. And since MTV no longer plays music videos and VH1 only does in limited doses, I find myself rarely hearing new music that I fall in love with.
But somehow, these musicians and/or songs have made it through into becoming some of my new favorites. I know some of them aren't terribly new...but they are new to me. So, check them out...
Finger Eleven - Paralyzer: Who would have really imagined a hard rock band doing a dance video? I love it.
One Republic - Apologize: I first heard this song on So You Think You Can Dance and liked it then, but now that Timbaland has come on board and remixed it, it is phenomenal!
Pink - Who Knew: I've liked Pink for a while...but she just might make me love her with this song. I think it is just gorgeous, and the emotion is so raw here.
Feist - My Moon My Man: Most people have heard their song "1 2 3 4" on iPod commercials at least, but this one to me is even catchier.
And while we're at it, I suppose you can go ahead and watch that one too!
Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Face Down: I prefer the acoustic version of this song, but I love the song regardless.
OK Go - Here it Goes Again: One of the most innovative music videos of recent years that I've seen.
Check them all out!
But somehow, these musicians and/or songs have made it through into becoming some of my new favorites. I know some of them aren't terribly new...but they are new to me. So, check them out...
Finger Eleven - Paralyzer: Who would have really imagined a hard rock band doing a dance video? I love it.
One Republic - Apologize: I first heard this song on So You Think You Can Dance and liked it then, but now that Timbaland has come on board and remixed it, it is phenomenal!
Pink - Who Knew: I've liked Pink for a while...but she just might make me love her with this song. I think it is just gorgeous, and the emotion is so raw here.
Feist - My Moon My Man: Most people have heard their song "1 2 3 4" on iPod commercials at least, but this one to me is even catchier.
And while we're at it, I suppose you can go ahead and watch that one too!
Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Face Down: I prefer the acoustic version of this song, but I love the song regardless.
OK Go - Here it Goes Again: One of the most innovative music videos of recent years that I've seen.
Check them all out!
Steroids in Baseball
This is not a new issue. Talk first surfaced publicly about the widespread use of steroids in Major League Baseball back in the 1980's, and it has only escalated from there. Players have been charged with steroid use over the years. Jose Canseco published a tell-all book detailing how he aided various teammates in using steroids over the years, including Mark McGwire. Now there is a big report (The Mitchell Report) about to be published with somewhere from 60-80 names of players who have supposedly been involved in this drug culture in the MLB, supposedly including Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte amongst other All Star players and the like.
So what does all of this mean for baseball? It certainly paints a different image of these players who have set records over the years. But really, what effect will it all have? Sure, some of these great players might be overlooked by the Hall of Fame when they are up to be nominated, due to the speculation that they might not have earned their records without the help of performance enhancing drugs.
But will the public stop watching? I don't know that that will happen. Until the general public stops paying the money to go to games, I don't forsee any major changes occurring. Essentially, baseball fans don't care enough about this issue to stop attending game. So what would drive MLB to change their ways? They are still making their money, arguably even making more money due to the gargantuan numbers of home runs being hit out of ballparks due to their use of performance enhancing drugs. So what truly will force them into the decisions to truly crack down on this epidemic and clear the name of the game?
I'm just not sure that anything will happen due to all of this. Maybe they'll do an additional random drug test or two, but overall, will they really start to make changes? It all comes down to the bottom line...to the money. They are making more money due to these players who are using steroids and other performance enhancing drugs, so why should they change?
So what does all of this mean for baseball? It certainly paints a different image of these players who have set records over the years. But really, what effect will it all have? Sure, some of these great players might be overlooked by the Hall of Fame when they are up to be nominated, due to the speculation that they might not have earned their records without the help of performance enhancing drugs.
But will the public stop watching? I don't know that that will happen. Until the general public stops paying the money to go to games, I don't forsee any major changes occurring. Essentially, baseball fans don't care enough about this issue to stop attending game. So what would drive MLB to change their ways? They are still making their money, arguably even making more money due to the gargantuan numbers of home runs being hit out of ballparks due to their use of performance enhancing drugs. So what truly will force them into the decisions to truly crack down on this epidemic and clear the name of the game?
I'm just not sure that anything will happen due to all of this. Maybe they'll do an additional random drug test or two, but overall, will they really start to make changes? It all comes down to the bottom line...to the money. They are making more money due to these players who are using steroids and other performance enhancing drugs, so why should they change?
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
The Project Runway Rundown, v4.5
The girls are lamenting Chris' demise in the competition. Jack is discussing what he thought was a pimple, but is getting progressively worse. This might not be a good thing, especially considering we already learned that he is HIV positive.
Heidi brings out the models...except that it isn't their models. These are everyday women wearing very, very large clothes that are falling off of them. They have all lost a large amount of weight, and they are wearing what had been their favorite outfits prior to their weight loss. Their weight loss ranges from 44 pounds to well over 100 pounds. They are going to create a new outfit for them using the old outfit as their materials for the challenge. They don't get to choose their models/outfits. Instead, Heidi pulls their names out of a bag and simply goes down the line. Steve is the lucky designer who gets to rework a HUGE wedding gown.
Tim is going to fill them all in on the rest of the details. They only have one day for this challenge. Tim reads aloud to all of them the note that Chris left for them, then reminds them they need to make this design work not only for their client's every day life, but also express their point of view as a designer. They will have 30 minutes to meet with their clients.
Kevin is excited about making clothes for real people. Rooty Tooty is getting turned on by the idea. Christian is a little bit nervous. Okay, a lot nervous. Steve is overwhelmed by the idea of making a sequined and beaded wedding gown into something that can be worn every day, but he is calling on God for help.
Tim comes back to tell them they get 15 minutes to shop and a budget of $15 for anything else they need to make it work. Steve is getting stretch black to go with his white wedding dress...and using the wedding dress simply as trim. That could be risky. But then again, it could really pay off.
Jack is having a problem that he seems to have had in the past...something to do with a dangerous bacteria. He called the doctor, and they want him to come in immediately. I think he is going to have to leave the competition. This sucks. He goes out to talk privately with Tim, and then Tim asks the designers to "gather round". That's not a good sign.
Jack made the decision to leave and get the medical treatment that he needs. I hate that he is leaving over something like that. He was doing really pretty well. I prefer when the designers leave because they didn't do well on a challenge, not because of something completely unrelated. But it's a good thing that he is doing what he needs to do to take care of himself.
The designers find it difficult to get their heads back in the game. But Ricky decided to try his garment on with some heels, to see how it might look on his model. Wow. He did well in heels. Maybe not as well as Santino, but he did well.
Tim is getting ready to bring their models/clients in for a fitting, but then tells the designers that he has another surprise. In walks Chris, the last designer eliminated. So, since Jack had to leave, they brought Chris back. That really brought up the spirits in the room. He is going to be working with Jack's client and materials, and since he is getting such a late start, he gets the option of working through the night. While the rest of the designers are fitting their clients, Chris is meeting and getting to know his.
Tim comes back in to discuss things with the designers. Christian says his is fierce. Fresh 'N Fruity has Tim concerned. That shouldn't surprise me. Tim thinks that Steve is very courageous to discard the wedding dress almost entirely. Chris is making a bit of a nautical/sailor type theme, but Tim says to be sure that he doesn't go too costumey. Then he says he is an old fart. After talking about the bad decisions he's made at three o'clock. Wow. The designers are starting to get a little loopy. I like it when they get loopy. Apparently they are picking on Christian for being a 12 year old. Time is up for most of them, but Chris stays behind to keep working on his design. He doesn't want to be eliminated twice in a row. No kidding! He has a second chance that is rarely given...and he should take as much advantage of it as he can.
When the designers come in the next morning, Chris has fallen asleep on one of the couches. He apparently did get at least a couple of hours of sleep. I'm sure he could have used more. His outfit was done...but he had no idea if it would be any good. Steve is worried about his time and getting everything done on time. Tim sends their models in and they have two hours for the usual routine. Kevin feels like he could win a competition. Jillian didn't use much of her original materials but is confident. Christian is confident...as usual. Fresh 'N Fruity is only concerned with what the "ultimate judge" otherwise known as her client thinks. Ricky is crying again...remembering why he does what he does. Steve is panicking and in serious trouble, so Kevin is nice enough to help him. He is using glue. Wow. Time's up, and off they go. Victorya is helping with last minute things for Steve too as they are walking out the door.
Runway Time! Heidi introduces the judging panel with the usual faces plus Patrick Robinson from The Gap.
Sweet P designed an olive colored sack dress. The boob area doesn't seem to fit very well. I like that she is showing off the shoulders and arms though.
Jillian designed a bright red halter top dress. It's okay, but not great. Again, we are seeing some leg and some arm and shoulder...and some cleavage. I think the fit on her dress is much better than the fit on Sweet P's dress. It's got a little bit of black striping that really seems to distract from the overall design, at least to me.
Ricky made a pair of close fitting denim crop pants and a halter top with a deep plunging vee neckline. It's a tan color with black and gold accents. Really well made from what I can tell, it looks great on her, and it looks very different from what he was given. I like this one.
Chris made a black pencil skirt with a blue top. The boobs again don't fit right. And he created a red and black belt of sorts. I'm really not sure about this one Chris. I had hoped that with your second chance you would have done a little more to make a good impression. This is just okay at best.
Christian took the jeans he had been given and made them really well fitted crop pants. Then he paired that with a taupe colored undershirt and a black shirt that he really Christianized. LOL. Poofy sleeves, texture, well fitted around the sides. It looks good, and it looks like him. But not so over the top and dated as some of his looks have been so far.
Victorya turned a dark green velvet dress into a shorter dark green velvet dress. It isn't anything special, from what I can see. The color was already fabulous on her client. But I am not impressed with the design of the dress. It fits okay. Again, nothing to write home about.
Rooty Tooty's dress. Hmmmm...well, it is a black sack, with another black sack underneath it, and a red unfitted jacket over it. And nothing appears to be finished. A lot of what she has put out I have liked. This one, I do not. Frankly, you can't see her model's figure. She should be accentuating it, since this is all about how much weight she has lost. I don't know about this one.
Kit designed a black lace over white mixed with red dress. It's got a wrap top and is a nice length. Again, I like that we are seeing leg and arms and a bit of cleavage. I like the ideas that she is putting into this dress, with the black over white on top and peeking out at the bottom under the hem. Also using the same red as in the skirt to trim the top with is a nice touch.
Kevin designed a sleeveless, strapless top that is adorable! He is really showing off his model's recently acquired figure with this one. It is a light yellow with black accents, paired with a black crop pant. Really well fitted, really adorable. Even though it is strapless, it has some length to it, and still maintains its shape without looking like a sack (coughSweetPcough). Really nice work.
Steven's dress looks downright matronly. It is black with white trim. It feels very boxy to me...too long at the bottom, the sleeves are too long, the neckline is too straight. it is just not good. I think he made a huge mistake too, with not using more of the wedding dress in his design. I don't think this looks good for him.
Rami's design is a high waisted knee length brown skirt paired with a white halter top. The top fits amazingly well, and makes her look fierce. I'm not sure it is as innovative as what Kevin did, but it is very well done. Again, we are getting leg and shoulder and arm and cleavage. It is good.
Before we get to the judging, I have to say that I love Heidi's hair! LOVE IT.
Okay, so the top and bottom designers models come out. They start with Kevin's design, and his model says she loves it. The leggings aren't terribly innovative, but otherwise it is great. They think Rooty Tooty might have pushed some of herself onto her client, and they think they have made her look a little shorter and choppier than she is. They question Jillian for not using the shirt that was part of the original material, but they think she looks sexy and tasteful. Only the pearls, the neckline, and the sleeve cuffs are from the wedding dress that Steve started with. They say he went from a wedding to a funeral...or maybe a French maid at a funeral. They love what Christian did with his outfit, and love that it is not only him, but also commercial. They aren't too sure about Chris's design because it is a bit costumey. They think he needs to think about cliche's and maybe tone it down a bit.
Our winner is Christian. I liked Kevin's design better, but I think I understand why Christian won...it was the commercial appeal of his design. Chris also survived another day! Tone it down baby. Tone it down. Steve is out, and Rooty Tooty will be back next week. I'm not surprised about that decision. He really should not have gone with so much fabric that he bought and ignored the dress he was given to work with. And on top of that, what he made was just not good. Not at all.
So next week they are going on a field trip. Should be interesting. Until then...
Heidi brings out the models...except that it isn't their models. These are everyday women wearing very, very large clothes that are falling off of them. They have all lost a large amount of weight, and they are wearing what had been their favorite outfits prior to their weight loss. Their weight loss ranges from 44 pounds to well over 100 pounds. They are going to create a new outfit for them using the old outfit as their materials for the challenge. They don't get to choose their models/outfits. Instead, Heidi pulls their names out of a bag and simply goes down the line. Steve is the lucky designer who gets to rework a HUGE wedding gown.
Tim is going to fill them all in on the rest of the details. They only have one day for this challenge. Tim reads aloud to all of them the note that Chris left for them, then reminds them they need to make this design work not only for their client's every day life, but also express their point of view as a designer. They will have 30 minutes to meet with their clients.
Kevin is excited about making clothes for real people. Rooty Tooty is getting turned on by the idea. Christian is a little bit nervous. Okay, a lot nervous. Steve is overwhelmed by the idea of making a sequined and beaded wedding gown into something that can be worn every day, but he is calling on God for help.
Tim comes back to tell them they get 15 minutes to shop and a budget of $15 for anything else they need to make it work. Steve is getting stretch black to go with his white wedding dress...and using the wedding dress simply as trim. That could be risky. But then again, it could really pay off.
Jack is having a problem that he seems to have had in the past...something to do with a dangerous bacteria. He called the doctor, and they want him to come in immediately. I think he is going to have to leave the competition. This sucks. He goes out to talk privately with Tim, and then Tim asks the designers to "gather round". That's not a good sign.
Jack made the decision to leave and get the medical treatment that he needs. I hate that he is leaving over something like that. He was doing really pretty well. I prefer when the designers leave because they didn't do well on a challenge, not because of something completely unrelated. But it's a good thing that he is doing what he needs to do to take care of himself.
The designers find it difficult to get their heads back in the game. But Ricky decided to try his garment on with some heels, to see how it might look on his model. Wow. He did well in heels. Maybe not as well as Santino, but he did well.
Tim is getting ready to bring their models/clients in for a fitting, but then tells the designers that he has another surprise. In walks Chris, the last designer eliminated. So, since Jack had to leave, they brought Chris back. That really brought up the spirits in the room. He is going to be working with Jack's client and materials, and since he is getting such a late start, he gets the option of working through the night. While the rest of the designers are fitting their clients, Chris is meeting and getting to know his.
Tim comes back in to discuss things with the designers. Christian says his is fierce. Fresh 'N Fruity has Tim concerned. That shouldn't surprise me. Tim thinks that Steve is very courageous to discard the wedding dress almost entirely. Chris is making a bit of a nautical/sailor type theme, but Tim says to be sure that he doesn't go too costumey. Then he says he is an old fart. After talking about the bad decisions he's made at three o'clock. Wow. The designers are starting to get a little loopy. I like it when they get loopy. Apparently they are picking on Christian for being a 12 year old. Time is up for most of them, but Chris stays behind to keep working on his design. He doesn't want to be eliminated twice in a row. No kidding! He has a second chance that is rarely given...and he should take as much advantage of it as he can.
When the designers come in the next morning, Chris has fallen asleep on one of the couches. He apparently did get at least a couple of hours of sleep. I'm sure he could have used more. His outfit was done...but he had no idea if it would be any good. Steve is worried about his time and getting everything done on time. Tim sends their models in and they have two hours for the usual routine. Kevin feels like he could win a competition. Jillian didn't use much of her original materials but is confident. Christian is confident...as usual. Fresh 'N Fruity is only concerned with what the "ultimate judge" otherwise known as her client thinks. Ricky is crying again...remembering why he does what he does. Steve is panicking and in serious trouble, so Kevin is nice enough to help him. He is using glue. Wow. Time's up, and off they go. Victorya is helping with last minute things for Steve too as they are walking out the door.
Runway Time! Heidi introduces the judging panel with the usual faces plus Patrick Robinson from The Gap.
Sweet P designed an olive colored sack dress. The boob area doesn't seem to fit very well. I like that she is showing off the shoulders and arms though.
Jillian designed a bright red halter top dress. It's okay, but not great. Again, we are seeing some leg and some arm and shoulder...and some cleavage. I think the fit on her dress is much better than the fit on Sweet P's dress. It's got a little bit of black striping that really seems to distract from the overall design, at least to me.
Ricky made a pair of close fitting denim crop pants and a halter top with a deep plunging vee neckline. It's a tan color with black and gold accents. Really well made from what I can tell, it looks great on her, and it looks very different from what he was given. I like this one.
Chris made a black pencil skirt with a blue top. The boobs again don't fit right. And he created a red and black belt of sorts. I'm really not sure about this one Chris. I had hoped that with your second chance you would have done a little more to make a good impression. This is just okay at best.
Christian took the jeans he had been given and made them really well fitted crop pants. Then he paired that with a taupe colored undershirt and a black shirt that he really Christianized. LOL. Poofy sleeves, texture, well fitted around the sides. It looks good, and it looks like him. But not so over the top and dated as some of his looks have been so far.
Victorya turned a dark green velvet dress into a shorter dark green velvet dress. It isn't anything special, from what I can see. The color was already fabulous on her client. But I am not impressed with the design of the dress. It fits okay. Again, nothing to write home about.
Rooty Tooty's dress. Hmmmm...well, it is a black sack, with another black sack underneath it, and a red unfitted jacket over it. And nothing appears to be finished. A lot of what she has put out I have liked. This one, I do not. Frankly, you can't see her model's figure. She should be accentuating it, since this is all about how much weight she has lost. I don't know about this one.
Kit designed a black lace over white mixed with red dress. It's got a wrap top and is a nice length. Again, I like that we are seeing leg and arms and a bit of cleavage. I like the ideas that she is putting into this dress, with the black over white on top and peeking out at the bottom under the hem. Also using the same red as in the skirt to trim the top with is a nice touch.
Kevin designed a sleeveless, strapless top that is adorable! He is really showing off his model's recently acquired figure with this one. It is a light yellow with black accents, paired with a black crop pant. Really well fitted, really adorable. Even though it is strapless, it has some length to it, and still maintains its shape without looking like a sack (coughSweetPcough). Really nice work.
Steven's dress looks downright matronly. It is black with white trim. It feels very boxy to me...too long at the bottom, the sleeves are too long, the neckline is too straight. it is just not good. I think he made a huge mistake too, with not using more of the wedding dress in his design. I don't think this looks good for him.
Rami's design is a high waisted knee length brown skirt paired with a white halter top. The top fits amazingly well, and makes her look fierce. I'm not sure it is as innovative as what Kevin did, but it is very well done. Again, we are getting leg and shoulder and arm and cleavage. It is good.
Before we get to the judging, I have to say that I love Heidi's hair! LOVE IT.
Okay, so the top and bottom designers models come out. They start with Kevin's design, and his model says she loves it. The leggings aren't terribly innovative, but otherwise it is great. They think Rooty Tooty might have pushed some of herself onto her client, and they think they have made her look a little shorter and choppier than she is. They question Jillian for not using the shirt that was part of the original material, but they think she looks sexy and tasteful. Only the pearls, the neckline, and the sleeve cuffs are from the wedding dress that Steve started with. They say he went from a wedding to a funeral...or maybe a French maid at a funeral. They love what Christian did with his outfit, and love that it is not only him, but also commercial. They aren't too sure about Chris's design because it is a bit costumey. They think he needs to think about cliche's and maybe tone it down a bit.
Our winner is Christian. I liked Kevin's design better, but I think I understand why Christian won...it was the commercial appeal of his design. Chris also survived another day! Tone it down baby. Tone it down. Steve is out, and Rooty Tooty will be back next week. I'm not surprised about that decision. He really should not have gone with so much fabric that he bought and ignored the dress he was given to work with. And on top of that, what he made was just not good. Not at all.
So next week they are going on a field trip. Should be interesting. Until then...
Jordis's Reign Comes to an End
At RockBandLounge.com's Rock Star: All Stars competition, Jordis Unga had been crowned the new Queen of the Bottom Three, taking over that title from Suzie McNeil. However, she has now been voted out after countless visits to the Bottom Three. She finally just ran out of steam and momentum.
While she still hasn't released any new music since her stint on Rock Star: INXS, you can still check out her myspace page to stay abreast of what she is up to.
Other members of this week's Bottom Three were Magni and Josh Logan, both second-time visitors to the Bottom Three. If they are one of your favorites, be sure to visit RockBandLounge.com and vote for them to keep them alive in the competition.
In other Rock Star: All Stars news, there is a Big Twist that is soon to be revealed. Stay tuned for more information!
And don't forget to keep sending in letters to CBS! We want more Rock Star on our TV's!
While she still hasn't released any new music since her stint on Rock Star: INXS, you can still check out her myspace page to stay abreast of what she is up to.
Other members of this week's Bottom Three were Magni and Josh Logan, both second-time visitors to the Bottom Three. If they are one of your favorites, be sure to visit RockBandLounge.com and vote for them to keep them alive in the competition.
In other Rock Star: All Stars news, there is a Big Twist that is soon to be revealed. Stay tuned for more information!
And don't forget to keep sending in letters to CBS! We want more Rock Star on our TV's!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
The Project Runway Rundown, V4.4
And we're off.
Sweet P is relieved that Carmen is gone instead of her. Can't say I blame her. Better anyone other than yourself.
Heidi brings out the winning and losing designer's models, female, not male. And now there are two losing models, so Jack gets to choose between three models or all of the models. He wants to change it up, so everyone comes out. Jack takes Ricky's model, and Ricky is not too happy about that. So, a model-switch ensues, with Ricky winding up with Jack's model.
Heidi tells the designers that Tim is waiting for them in the workroom with a guest...and that she has brought some friends with her as well, to help introduce them to their next challenge. For some reason, Sweet P thinks it has something to do with senior citizens. Hmm...
Nina is waiting for them with Tim, and they have a bunch of photographs of fashion don'ts from the years. Nina calls them fashion trends that are "out." They each have to select a trend before they reveal the challenge.
Jack chooses pleather, Victorya takes underwear as outerwear, Christian chooses the zoot suit, Rami chooses the poodle skirt, Kit takes fringe, Elisa selects cutouts, Jillian chooses overalls (because she is wearing overalls), Ricky goes with neon, Kevin selects 70's flair, Chris chooses shoulder pads, Steven grabs the dancewear, and that leaves Sweet P with the baggy sweater.
Nina informs them that they are working in teams of three, and they are creating three looks that incorporate all three of their outdated trends, in a way that is cohesive and works for today. And they are selecting their own teams. They have one minute to team up and get into teams of three. Some of the groups form based on chemistry, others based on trends. The teams have budgets of $225 and two days. They have one hour to sketch and then they will go shopping. And the teams must elect a leader during their hour of sketching time.
Chris is leading a team of Steven and Sweet P. Jillian is leading a team of Kevin and Rami. Ricky is leading the team of Elisa and Victorya...but Victorya seems to be taking the lead anyways. Christian is leading the team of Kit and Jack. Some teams are planning to incorporate all trends into all looks, while other teams are planning to tie their separate trends together through fabric and color choice. Interesting.
Chris is excited about being the group leader, to break away from his pigeonholed image of over the top. Ricky is trying to speak to Elisa in her language. It is all about the center. He made sense to her somehow. Whatever. She is still Rooty Tooty, to me. Jillian is not worried about Rami, but is very worried about Kevin for some reason.
On their second day, they are finding it "hard." Boo hoo. Steven is now the one doing Tim Gunn impersonations. He's not as good as Santino was. Ricky isn't happy with how Victorya is trying to micromanage him, when he is the team leader, and in that, she is not working on her own design. Tim sends their models in for a 30 minute fitting.
Victorya decides to change the concept of her garment without discussing it with her team, and Ricky is having a hard time with making all of the looks seem cohesive due to that. Jillian is still panicking about Kevin's garment. Rami is worried about time and vision.
Tim Gunn comes in to discuss things with the designers. He is worried about cohesion with Sweet P, Chris, and Steven's team. Steven's garment doesn't seem to fit with the rest of them. He tells Jillian's team to "make it work." Ricky's team isn't looking finished and refined to Tim. He is confused by them. Victorya is now asking Ricky why he wanted to be the team leader, and saying he hasn't fulfilled his responsibilities as such. Rami feels that Jillian did not micromanage enough as the leader of their team. Ricky says that this challenge was a disaster.
Runway day arrives. Jillian is nervous about Kevin, Rooty Tooty is concerned about their collection. Hee! They talked about going to Denny's for breakfast. Kevin is trying to pull a rabbit out of his ass. Tim sends in the models, and they have their typical two hours. Steven is concerned about Chris's jacket and wishes that Chris was concerned about it too. Ricky thinks that Victorya's garment is just "wrong!" Eventually, Victorya agrees that he knows what he is doing with lingerie. That's good, since that is his specialty. Kevin finally finishes his garments, even though it was last minute, and Jillian feels guilty for doubting him. Christian thinks their collection is fabulous and "ferosh." He is certainly always good for a soundbite, as he is never short of words.
Donna Karen is joining the usual suspects on the judging panel.
Jillian's team put all three trends into all three looks. Their first design has a flaired pant overall. I don't see poodle skirt there. The second look is a pair of denim shorts with a really cute print top. The final look is an overall denim poodle skirt.
Team Chris designed a long tan dress that is really simple and elegant topped by a gaudy jacket with shoulder pads. HUGE shoulder pads. The next outfit is a shorter dress in the same color pallete, kind of a sack of a dress, but its okay. The final look is a satiny wrap top in an off white with a sleek, slim black pant. I like it, but it doesn't seem to go with the other two.
Christian's team sent out a suit with a knee-length heavily pinstriped skirt, a neat black jacket, and a high necked blouse. It is an interesting look. I like it. The next look is a black legging with a boxy gray striped shirt that could be a dress. I hate the neckline on that thing. The final look is certainly the edgiest look of the three, with more prints and patterns, on a knee length pencil skirt, a cap sleeved blouse, and a tight fitted vest. Also a tie. All in blacks and grays. Nice overall look.
Team Ricky send out a short sleeveless dress in golds and magentas. It's pretty meh. Supposedly all three of their designs are in all of their garments, though I'm not sure that I see any of them in that first one. The second garment is a one-shouldered black garment with a stained glass effect at the top. Other than the fact that it is pretty boxy and too short, I really kind of like this. The final look is in those same horrid colors, and is a very similar dress to the first one. Ugh. Plus, it makes it look like the model has zero chest. The primary difference is the pleating in this skirt.
Heidi tells them that there was a clear winner. Jillian wins and her team is all safe. They are allowed to leave the runway. Team Christian is told that they can also leave the runway. Ricky and Chris's teams are at the bottom.
Chris's team is told that they should be in three different fashion shows, not one collection. Chris's outfit looks dated with the shoulder pads. He is questioned on how he could lead if he couldn't take care of himself.
With Ricky's team, they like Rooty Tooty's dress (as did I). They say his dress is the least well constructed. He says it is because he was spending so much time trying to lead his team. The judges can see that she was trying to run things instead of working as part of a team.
It comes down to the two team leaders. Chris is out, because his team's designs were not cohesive, and his look was the worst of the three. His design was not at all modernized or refreshed. That jacket was straight out of the 80's and needs to go back there. Sorry Chris. I've liked some of what he's done, but that was still over the top, like what he does in costume designing.
Looks like next week we will have some sort of "everyday woman" type challenge instead of using their normal models. Should be interesting.
Sweet P is relieved that Carmen is gone instead of her. Can't say I blame her. Better anyone other than yourself.
Heidi brings out the winning and losing designer's models, female, not male. And now there are two losing models, so Jack gets to choose between three models or all of the models. He wants to change it up, so everyone comes out. Jack takes Ricky's model, and Ricky is not too happy about that. So, a model-switch ensues, with Ricky winding up with Jack's model.
Heidi tells the designers that Tim is waiting for them in the workroom with a guest...and that she has brought some friends with her as well, to help introduce them to their next challenge. For some reason, Sweet P thinks it has something to do with senior citizens. Hmm...
Nina is waiting for them with Tim, and they have a bunch of photographs of fashion don'ts from the years. Nina calls them fashion trends that are "out." They each have to select a trend before they reveal the challenge.
Jack chooses pleather, Victorya takes underwear as outerwear, Christian chooses the zoot suit, Rami chooses the poodle skirt, Kit takes fringe, Elisa selects cutouts, Jillian chooses overalls (because she is wearing overalls), Ricky goes with neon, Kevin selects 70's flair, Chris chooses shoulder pads, Steven grabs the dancewear, and that leaves Sweet P with the baggy sweater.
Nina informs them that they are working in teams of three, and they are creating three looks that incorporate all three of their outdated trends, in a way that is cohesive and works for today. And they are selecting their own teams. They have one minute to team up and get into teams of three. Some of the groups form based on chemistry, others based on trends. The teams have budgets of $225 and two days. They have one hour to sketch and then they will go shopping. And the teams must elect a leader during their hour of sketching time.
Chris is leading a team of Steven and Sweet P. Jillian is leading a team of Kevin and Rami. Ricky is leading the team of Elisa and Victorya...but Victorya seems to be taking the lead anyways. Christian is leading the team of Kit and Jack. Some teams are planning to incorporate all trends into all looks, while other teams are planning to tie their separate trends together through fabric and color choice. Interesting.
Chris is excited about being the group leader, to break away from his pigeonholed image of over the top. Ricky is trying to speak to Elisa in her language. It is all about the center. He made sense to her somehow. Whatever. She is still Rooty Tooty, to me. Jillian is not worried about Rami, but is very worried about Kevin for some reason.
On their second day, they are finding it "hard." Boo hoo. Steven is now the one doing Tim Gunn impersonations. He's not as good as Santino was. Ricky isn't happy with how Victorya is trying to micromanage him, when he is the team leader, and in that, she is not working on her own design. Tim sends their models in for a 30 minute fitting.
Victorya decides to change the concept of her garment without discussing it with her team, and Ricky is having a hard time with making all of the looks seem cohesive due to that. Jillian is still panicking about Kevin's garment. Rami is worried about time and vision.
Tim Gunn comes in to discuss things with the designers. He is worried about cohesion with Sweet P, Chris, and Steven's team. Steven's garment doesn't seem to fit with the rest of them. He tells Jillian's team to "make it work." Ricky's team isn't looking finished and refined to Tim. He is confused by them. Victorya is now asking Ricky why he wanted to be the team leader, and saying he hasn't fulfilled his responsibilities as such. Rami feels that Jillian did not micromanage enough as the leader of their team. Ricky says that this challenge was a disaster.
Runway day arrives. Jillian is nervous about Kevin, Rooty Tooty is concerned about their collection. Hee! They talked about going to Denny's for breakfast. Kevin is trying to pull a rabbit out of his ass. Tim sends in the models, and they have their typical two hours. Steven is concerned about Chris's jacket and wishes that Chris was concerned about it too. Ricky thinks that Victorya's garment is just "wrong!" Eventually, Victorya agrees that he knows what he is doing with lingerie. That's good, since that is his specialty. Kevin finally finishes his garments, even though it was last minute, and Jillian feels guilty for doubting him. Christian thinks their collection is fabulous and "ferosh." He is certainly always good for a soundbite, as he is never short of words.
Donna Karen is joining the usual suspects on the judging panel.
Jillian's team put all three trends into all three looks. Their first design has a flaired pant overall. I don't see poodle skirt there. The second look is a pair of denim shorts with a really cute print top. The final look is an overall denim poodle skirt.
Team Chris designed a long tan dress that is really simple and elegant topped by a gaudy jacket with shoulder pads. HUGE shoulder pads. The next outfit is a shorter dress in the same color pallete, kind of a sack of a dress, but its okay. The final look is a satiny wrap top in an off white with a sleek, slim black pant. I like it, but it doesn't seem to go with the other two.
Christian's team sent out a suit with a knee-length heavily pinstriped skirt, a neat black jacket, and a high necked blouse. It is an interesting look. I like it. The next look is a black legging with a boxy gray striped shirt that could be a dress. I hate the neckline on that thing. The final look is certainly the edgiest look of the three, with more prints and patterns, on a knee length pencil skirt, a cap sleeved blouse, and a tight fitted vest. Also a tie. All in blacks and grays. Nice overall look.
Team Ricky send out a short sleeveless dress in golds and magentas. It's pretty meh. Supposedly all three of their designs are in all of their garments, though I'm not sure that I see any of them in that first one. The second garment is a one-shouldered black garment with a stained glass effect at the top. Other than the fact that it is pretty boxy and too short, I really kind of like this. The final look is in those same horrid colors, and is a very similar dress to the first one. Ugh. Plus, it makes it look like the model has zero chest. The primary difference is the pleating in this skirt.
Heidi tells them that there was a clear winner. Jillian wins and her team is all safe. They are allowed to leave the runway. Team Christian is told that they can also leave the runway. Ricky and Chris's teams are at the bottom.
Chris's team is told that they should be in three different fashion shows, not one collection. Chris's outfit looks dated with the shoulder pads. He is questioned on how he could lead if he couldn't take care of himself.
With Ricky's team, they like Rooty Tooty's dress (as did I). They say his dress is the least well constructed. He says it is because he was spending so much time trying to lead his team. The judges can see that she was trying to run things instead of working as part of a team.
It comes down to the two team leaders. Chris is out, because his team's designs were not cohesive, and his look was the worst of the three. His design was not at all modernized or refreshed. That jacket was straight out of the 80's and needs to go back there. Sorry Chris. I've liked some of what he's done, but that was still over the top, like what he does in costume designing.
Looks like next week we will have some sort of "everyday woman" type challenge instead of using their normal models. Should be interesting.
Sad Day for Sobbing Sweet Suzie
That's right. The fantastically talented "Sweet Suzie McNeil" was eliminated this week from RockBandLounge.com's Rock Star: All Stars competition. And while she may not be all that upset about it, or sobbing about it, I certainly am. She was my favorite out of all of them, by a large margin. Yeah, I love JD with INXS. And yeah, I love Storm with her Balls. And of course I love dirtyPhil with Lennex. I love a lot of them.
But Suzie was my girl. I'm going to be mourning her elimination for a while. I still like all of the singers left in Rock Star: All Stars. And I love a handful of the ones that are left. But Suzie was the one that I really wanted to see in this thing a long time.
Other members of the Bottom Three this week were (once AGAIN) Jordis Unga and for the first time in this competition, Josh Logan. If they are your favorites, be sure to head over to RockBandLounge.com to vote for performance night on Sunday and then vote in the Bottom Three competition on Tuesday.
Oh yeah, and don't forget to check out more from Suzie McNeil. You can visit her MySpace Page or her Official Website. And be sure to purchase her debut CD Broken and Beautiful, available both in stores and online. It is well worth it.
And here are a few of her best Rock Star performances that we didn't get the opportunity to hear during the competition.
Losing My Religion:
Bohemian Rhapsody:
Get Back:
Bring It On Home To Me:
What's Up:
In addition to all of that, there is an absolute treasure trove of other Suzie McNeil videos available on YouTube.com. Just do a search once you get there with her name, and you will find several interviews, lots of live performances, official videos, and even instances where her music has been used as part of commercials, television promos, and Olympic moments.
But Suzie was my girl. I'm going to be mourning her elimination for a while. I still like all of the singers left in Rock Star: All Stars. And I love a handful of the ones that are left. But Suzie was the one that I really wanted to see in this thing a long time.
Other members of the Bottom Three this week were (once AGAIN) Jordis Unga and for the first time in this competition, Josh Logan. If they are your favorites, be sure to head over to RockBandLounge.com to vote for performance night on Sunday and then vote in the Bottom Three competition on Tuesday.
Oh yeah, and don't forget to check out more from Suzie McNeil. You can visit her MySpace Page or her Official Website. And be sure to purchase her debut CD Broken and Beautiful, available both in stores and online. It is well worth it.
And here are a few of her best Rock Star performances that we didn't get the opportunity to hear during the competition.
Losing My Religion:
Bohemian Rhapsody:
Get Back:
Bring It On Home To Me:
What's Up:
In addition to all of that, there is an absolute treasure trove of other Suzie McNeil videos available on YouTube.com. Just do a search once you get there with her name, and you will find several interviews, lots of live performances, official videos, and even instances where her music has been used as part of commercials, television promos, and Olympic moments.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Reality TV Onslaught
We are seriously about to be bombarded by tons of reality TV. LOL. And I know I am a reality TV junkie, and I LOVE reality TV. But even I am starting to wonder if I will be bored to tears before long.
I'm all for what the Writer's Guild is striking over. I totally 100% support them. But I really wish it wasn't going on so long, and that there would be a little bit of real scripted TV to balance it all out.
It's not that I watch the scripted TV. Not really. I only watch Gray's Anatomy out of all of the scripted series. I think my issue is more that since primarily what I watch are the reality TV shows, and there will be SO MANY of them on, that I will be back to watching as much TV as I used to watch. I don't want that to happen. I don't want to be trying to decide which of my shows I want to watch.
As it is, I typically only watch on average one or possibly two shows a night. And that is enough. Maybe even too much. I don't need to be tempted to watch even more, especially when it is all this drivel that is reality TV.
So far, we will have Dance Wars: Bruno vs Carrie Ann, The Biggest Loser: Couples, The Apprentice: Celebrity Edition, Big Brother (starting in February instead of its usual summer run), and American Idol. Who knows what else the networks will start to throw at us, with no new scripts available.
It could be a reality TV junkie's dream come true...or a nightmare.
I'm all for what the Writer's Guild is striking over. I totally 100% support them. But I really wish it wasn't going on so long, and that there would be a little bit of real scripted TV to balance it all out.
It's not that I watch the scripted TV. Not really. I only watch Gray's Anatomy out of all of the scripted series. I think my issue is more that since primarily what I watch are the reality TV shows, and there will be SO MANY of them on, that I will be back to watching as much TV as I used to watch. I don't want that to happen. I don't want to be trying to decide which of my shows I want to watch.
As it is, I typically only watch on average one or possibly two shows a night. And that is enough. Maybe even too much. I don't need to be tempted to watch even more, especially when it is all this drivel that is reality TV.
So far, we will have Dance Wars: Bruno vs Carrie Ann, The Biggest Loser: Couples, The Apprentice: Celebrity Edition, Big Brother (starting in February instead of its usual summer run), and American Idol. Who knows what else the networks will start to throw at us, with no new scripts available.
It could be a reality TV junkie's dream come true...or a nightmare.
World Literature
Admit it. When you hear the term *world literature*, you automatically start to think about Greek tragedies and The Odyssey and a bunch of other works traditionally written by European authors who died a long, long time ago, don't you? I know I did.
At least I did until I took a World Literature course this semester.
Don't get me wrong. Most World Literature courses still focus on those same old *tried and true* works that really only focus on Europe and North America, while largely ignoring Asia, Australia, Africa, South America, and so many other places. They ignore anything that does not fit into the traditionally held canon of works. And that is really a very dated and limited view of things.
This course that I took really challenged that view, and has successfully convinced me that there is a lot more out there that should be studied, but is more often than not overlooked. I really think that it will aid me in my own teaching as well, to not be stuck in that rut of studying only those works that were traditionally seen as world literature.
This semester, none of the works we studied would have fit into the usual sphere. They were all written in the last half-century. We studied pieces from Turkey, Vietnam, Nigeria, and Chile. Each novel we read had a focus on thoughts and ideas that challenged not only our own beliefs, but also those of their own cultures and countries. As such, many of these works have been banned or seriously challenged in their native lands.
I truly hope that the rest of the literary community will begin to take a look at world literature and how narrow the traditional view is. It is only through challenging those beliefs that any changes can be made.
At least I did until I took a World Literature course this semester.
Don't get me wrong. Most World Literature courses still focus on those same old *tried and true* works that really only focus on Europe and North America, while largely ignoring Asia, Australia, Africa, South America, and so many other places. They ignore anything that does not fit into the traditionally held canon of works. And that is really a very dated and limited view of things.
This course that I took really challenged that view, and has successfully convinced me that there is a lot more out there that should be studied, but is more often than not overlooked. I really think that it will aid me in my own teaching as well, to not be stuck in that rut of studying only those works that were traditionally seen as world literature.
This semester, none of the works we studied would have fit into the usual sphere. They were all written in the last half-century. We studied pieces from Turkey, Vietnam, Nigeria, and Chile. Each novel we read had a focus on thoughts and ideas that challenged not only our own beliefs, but also those of their own cultures and countries. As such, many of these works have been banned or seriously challenged in their native lands.
I truly hope that the rest of the literary community will begin to take a look at world literature and how narrow the traditional view is. It is only through challenging those beliefs that any changes can be made.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Building a Creative Writing Portfolio
I've never built a portfolio of my writings before. For my Creative Writing course this semester though, it is a requirement. We are to put together the pieces we have worked on during the course, along with all of the various drafts that went into them, other writing exercises we have done, and a journal that we've kept. Anything else that we want to include is also acceptable, so things that we've written but never presented are options, as are things which may have inspired us during the semester.
I bought a 1/2" binder to compile it all in, assuming that it would be more than ample space for all of my pieces. I've only presented four pieces this semester, three of which have been single page poems. The one short story I wrote only wound up as 8 pages. I assumed that it would be more than enough room to fit everything in and have it all look nice and neat. I was wrong.
Once I put in tabbed dividers, printed out all of the copies of my pieces, included the various drafts of those pieces and a few other things, I was shocked to discover that my 1/2" binder was already almost as full as it could go! Not only that, but I hadn't put everything in it that I had planned to put in it. I wound up getting a 1" binder to make it all fit properly.
It really does take up a bunch of space, all of this. But I really have been enjoying the experience of building a portfolio and determining what should be included. I've included the song lyrics of some songs that have inspired me. Also a couple of photographs that I've taken. I think I might burn a cd with the songs that I added the lyrics to. And I like having everything together, especially having all of the various drafts of my pieces together. It really begins to show my writing process, how I work as a writer. It is a good learning process for me. If I can learn more about how I write, I can better know how to attempt to write. At least, I hope so.
I think I will likely try to maintain a working portfolio of my writings now. It will only continue to help me grow in my craft. Of course, I will likely need to move to a larger binder!
I bought a 1/2" binder to compile it all in, assuming that it would be more than ample space for all of my pieces. I've only presented four pieces this semester, three of which have been single page poems. The one short story I wrote only wound up as 8 pages. I assumed that it would be more than enough room to fit everything in and have it all look nice and neat. I was wrong.
Once I put in tabbed dividers, printed out all of the copies of my pieces, included the various drafts of those pieces and a few other things, I was shocked to discover that my 1/2" binder was already almost as full as it could go! Not only that, but I hadn't put everything in it that I had planned to put in it. I wound up getting a 1" binder to make it all fit properly.
It really does take up a bunch of space, all of this. But I really have been enjoying the experience of building a portfolio and determining what should be included. I've included the song lyrics of some songs that have inspired me. Also a couple of photographs that I've taken. I think I might burn a cd with the songs that I added the lyrics to. And I like having everything together, especially having all of the various drafts of my pieces together. It really begins to show my writing process, how I work as a writer. It is a good learning process for me. If I can learn more about how I write, I can better know how to attempt to write. At least, I hope so.
I think I will likely try to maintain a working portfolio of my writings now. It will only continue to help me grow in my craft. Of course, I will likely need to move to a larger binder!
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Greatest Albums
In the INXS Lounge at RockBandLounge.com, we've started a new discussion that really got me started thinking. They asked what our top 10 albums that influenced us (either positively or negatively) are and to tell why. Well, that has prompted some excellent discussion, and it has provided me with an excellent reason to avoid working on my final projects for the semester for a little while. So, here are my choices.
Okay, I couldn't limit myself to 10...but I did limit myself to 15. LOL. I've granted five honorable mentions.
So, my Top 10 (in no particular order):
The Beatles - The White Album: One of my all-time favorite albums by one of my all-time favorite bands. This double album is full of everything. It has introspective songs, songs that only make sense if you're high, sing-along songs, and everything in between. Even if it was devoid of almost everything else on the album, it would likely make my list simply for While My Guitar Gently Weeps. George Harrison never got enough credit for his songwriting.
Guns 'N Roses - Appetite for Destruction: At a time when *rock* consisted of Hair Bands, more Hair Bands, and still more Hair Bands singing sappy power ballads and cheesy songs about a girl being Cherry Pie, this album hit like a bomb...in a good way. Welcome to the Jungle began to change the face of music. And Sweet Child 'O Mine garnered them female fans, without having to resort to a using an uber-cheesy power ballad. This was a power ballad that ROCKED.
U2 - The Joshua Tree: I struggled with which U2 album to include in my list. And while The Joshua Tree isn't my favorite U2 album, it was the first to make me seriously take notice of this band. I had heard Pride (In the Name of Love) and New Year's Day and a few other of their songs before. But this was something else entirely. And it truly speaks to the power of this album that tracks like Where the Streets Have No Name and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For still have the same kind of fresh feel to them when performed live today as they had when they were first released (might be why Where the Streets Have No Name is my ring tone). Oh yeah...and don't forget about the gorgeous video to With or Without You! This album, like the majority of their subsequent albums, also truly felt cohesive...like they were making a statement, sending a message, with the entire album. It isn't just an album full of hits and some filler. Everything works together to paint a larger picture.
Pearl Jam - Ten: While the rest of the world was caught up in Nirvana lust, I was falling for the power of Eddie Vedder's vocals. He may not have a perfect voice, but there is a passion to what he sings that I never found in Nirvana...so Pearl Jam is what I connected with from the grunge scene/Seattle sound. Songs like Evenflow and Alive knocked my socks off, but the album as a whole really sucked me in. Songs like Jeremy, Black, and Release gave me a complete experience. It didn't hurt that this album...this movement in music...occurred at a time when I was searching for anything to take me away from my own life. I connected to the angst in this music...
INXS - Elegantly Wasted: Much like with U2, I struggled to settle on which INXS album to include on my list. I wound up going with Elegantly Wasted because of the rawness of Michael Hutchence's lyrics. Even though the music is still the trademark INXS sound, the lyrics take this album to a different sphere than any of their others...a place that Full Moon, Dirty Hearts hinted at but didn't quite ascend to. The lyrics on this album are heartfelt, raw, pure emotion. Particular favorites for me are I'm Just a Man, Everything, and Searching.
REM - Document: There were a number of REM albums I thought about including on my list. But Document wound up making the cut because of its sheer listenability. This is an album with a feel. Even all of these years later, I can put it in and listen to it over and over again without ever feeling like I want or need to hear something different. This is REM at their finest. Oh yeah, and it doesn't hurt that one of the quirkiest songs ever written is on it...It's the End of the World as We Know It...and I Feel Fine.
Metallica - Metallica: Heavy metal may not be for everyone. And that's okay. But heavy metal made its way to everyone with this album. It's often referred to as the Black Album...much like the Beatles' White Album. Songs like The Unforgiven and Enter Sandman broke the barriers of popular music when the entire face of popular music was on the verge of changing, and Nothing Else Matters brought a lot of women to become fans of true heavy metal (not Hair Band "metal") for the first time.
Led Zeppelin - IV: Yeah, I know...Stairway to Heaven is almost a cliche now. But even if you disregard that track (which would be a mistake), this album is full of some of the best true down and dirty rock 'n roll music ever made. If you've never listened to it...LISTEN TO IT! You will not regret it. And it may just wind up being one of your favorite albums of all time too. Don't say I didn't warn you. There is not a bad *skip over it* track on the album.
Beach Boys - Pet Sounds: A groundbreaking album by a band more traditionally known for their "surfer rock" music. Does it still have some of that feel good vibe? Of course. But it also has an experimental quality that most people would relate to The Beatles at the time. They took chances with this one, and those chances paid off. Also, this album has one of my all-time favorite songs ever, God Only Knows.
Michael Jackson - Thriller: The King of Pop before he became The King of Odd. I don't care who you are, this album was the shit. And it is still very listenable today, though some of the tracks feel a bit dated. Just go ahead and admit it...you wore a red jacket and a single fingerless glove too. It's okay. We all did back then.
And my honorable mentions:
Aerosmith - Get a Grip: I had to include an Aerosmith album, and I really struggled with which one to include since there are so many that have affected me over the years. I wound up settling on Get a Grip though, possibly because of how it virtually plays like a Greatest Hits type album. Yeah, they had a lot more hits than what you find on this album, and some probably were bigger hits than some of these. But you can't ignore the fact that virtually every song on this album was a hit. That says something.
Def Leppard - Hysteria: And while we are speaking of albums full of hits, we have to include Hysteria. This one is just plain FUN. That is all. I love it.
Willie Nelson - Half Nelson: For an album that I used to hate, I sure do love this one. An album full of duets, this one is one that my father wore the tape out...TWICE. He listened to it constantly. When we would travel to visit my grandparents (a 12 hour drive) this is what we would be forced to listen to the entire way...both directions. So yeah, I was *over* it for a long time. But when I picked it up again a few years ago, I was filled with nostalgia. And honestly, there are some great duets on it! Some of my particular favorites are Pancho and Lefty with Merle Haggard and To All the Girls I've Loved Before with Julio Iglesias.
Empire Records Soundtrack: I struggled between choosing this soundtrack and the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever. Essentially, it boiled down to the fact that this one is full of music that I can listen to all the time, and SNF is full of disco. Granted, it made me love disco. But anyways, this soundtrack to me, is one of the greatest soundtracks ever compiled. This one is quirky and fun and sexy and just plain awesome. If you've never listened to it, check it out. You won't be disappointed.
AC/DC - Back in Black: The only AC/DC album I've ever owned. But this one kicks my butt every time I put it in. I love it. I love everything about it. I love that it can take me back in time. Priceless.
I may come back at some point and change my mind...add something, take something away, do an entirely different kind of list of favorite albums. But, this is it for now!
So...what albums impacted you, and how?
Okay, I couldn't limit myself to 10...but I did limit myself to 15. LOL. I've granted five honorable mentions.
So, my Top 10 (in no particular order):
The Beatles - The White Album: One of my all-time favorite albums by one of my all-time favorite bands. This double album is full of everything. It has introspective songs, songs that only make sense if you're high, sing-along songs, and everything in between. Even if it was devoid of almost everything else on the album, it would likely make my list simply for While My Guitar Gently Weeps. George Harrison never got enough credit for his songwriting.
Guns 'N Roses - Appetite for Destruction: At a time when *rock* consisted of Hair Bands, more Hair Bands, and still more Hair Bands singing sappy power ballads and cheesy songs about a girl being Cherry Pie, this album hit like a bomb...in a good way. Welcome to the Jungle began to change the face of music. And Sweet Child 'O Mine garnered them female fans, without having to resort to a using an uber-cheesy power ballad. This was a power ballad that ROCKED.
U2 - The Joshua Tree: I struggled with which U2 album to include in my list. And while The Joshua Tree isn't my favorite U2 album, it was the first to make me seriously take notice of this band. I had heard Pride (In the Name of Love) and New Year's Day and a few other of their songs before. But this was something else entirely. And it truly speaks to the power of this album that tracks like Where the Streets Have No Name and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For still have the same kind of fresh feel to them when performed live today as they had when they were first released (might be why Where the Streets Have No Name is my ring tone). Oh yeah...and don't forget about the gorgeous video to With or Without You! This album, like the majority of their subsequent albums, also truly felt cohesive...like they were making a statement, sending a message, with the entire album. It isn't just an album full of hits and some filler. Everything works together to paint a larger picture.
Pearl Jam - Ten: While the rest of the world was caught up in Nirvana lust, I was falling for the power of Eddie Vedder's vocals. He may not have a perfect voice, but there is a passion to what he sings that I never found in Nirvana...so Pearl Jam is what I connected with from the grunge scene/Seattle sound. Songs like Evenflow and Alive knocked my socks off, but the album as a whole really sucked me in. Songs like Jeremy, Black, and Release gave me a complete experience. It didn't hurt that this album...this movement in music...occurred at a time when I was searching for anything to take me away from my own life. I connected to the angst in this music...
INXS - Elegantly Wasted: Much like with U2, I struggled to settle on which INXS album to include on my list. I wound up going with Elegantly Wasted because of the rawness of Michael Hutchence's lyrics. Even though the music is still the trademark INXS sound, the lyrics take this album to a different sphere than any of their others...a place that Full Moon, Dirty Hearts hinted at but didn't quite ascend to. The lyrics on this album are heartfelt, raw, pure emotion. Particular favorites for me are I'm Just a Man, Everything, and Searching.
REM - Document: There were a number of REM albums I thought about including on my list. But Document wound up making the cut because of its sheer listenability. This is an album with a feel. Even all of these years later, I can put it in and listen to it over and over again without ever feeling like I want or need to hear something different. This is REM at their finest. Oh yeah, and it doesn't hurt that one of the quirkiest songs ever written is on it...It's the End of the World as We Know It...and I Feel Fine.
Metallica - Metallica: Heavy metal may not be for everyone. And that's okay. But heavy metal made its way to everyone with this album. It's often referred to as the Black Album...much like the Beatles' White Album. Songs like The Unforgiven and Enter Sandman broke the barriers of popular music when the entire face of popular music was on the verge of changing, and Nothing Else Matters brought a lot of women to become fans of true heavy metal (not Hair Band "metal") for the first time.
Led Zeppelin - IV: Yeah, I know...Stairway to Heaven is almost a cliche now. But even if you disregard that track (which would be a mistake), this album is full of some of the best true down and dirty rock 'n roll music ever made. If you've never listened to it...LISTEN TO IT! You will not regret it. And it may just wind up being one of your favorite albums of all time too. Don't say I didn't warn you. There is not a bad *skip over it* track on the album.
Beach Boys - Pet Sounds: A groundbreaking album by a band more traditionally known for their "surfer rock" music. Does it still have some of that feel good vibe? Of course. But it also has an experimental quality that most people would relate to The Beatles at the time. They took chances with this one, and those chances paid off. Also, this album has one of my all-time favorite songs ever, God Only Knows.
Michael Jackson - Thriller: The King of Pop before he became The King of Odd. I don't care who you are, this album was the shit. And it is still very listenable today, though some of the tracks feel a bit dated. Just go ahead and admit it...you wore a red jacket and a single fingerless glove too. It's okay. We all did back then.
And my honorable mentions:
Aerosmith - Get a Grip: I had to include an Aerosmith album, and I really struggled with which one to include since there are so many that have affected me over the years. I wound up settling on Get a Grip though, possibly because of how it virtually plays like a Greatest Hits type album. Yeah, they had a lot more hits than what you find on this album, and some probably were bigger hits than some of these. But you can't ignore the fact that virtually every song on this album was a hit. That says something.
Def Leppard - Hysteria: And while we are speaking of albums full of hits, we have to include Hysteria. This one is just plain FUN. That is all. I love it.
Willie Nelson - Half Nelson: For an album that I used to hate, I sure do love this one. An album full of duets, this one is one that my father wore the tape out...TWICE. He listened to it constantly. When we would travel to visit my grandparents (a 12 hour drive) this is what we would be forced to listen to the entire way...both directions. So yeah, I was *over* it for a long time. But when I picked it up again a few years ago, I was filled with nostalgia. And honestly, there are some great duets on it! Some of my particular favorites are Pancho and Lefty with Merle Haggard and To All the Girls I've Loved Before with Julio Iglesias.
Empire Records Soundtrack: I struggled between choosing this soundtrack and the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever. Essentially, it boiled down to the fact that this one is full of music that I can listen to all the time, and SNF is full of disco. Granted, it made me love disco. But anyways, this soundtrack to me, is one of the greatest soundtracks ever compiled. This one is quirky and fun and sexy and just plain awesome. If you've never listened to it, check it out. You won't be disappointed.
AC/DC - Back in Black: The only AC/DC album I've ever owned. But this one kicks my butt every time I put it in. I love it. I love everything about it. I love that it can take me back in time. Priceless.
I may come back at some point and change my mind...add something, take something away, do an entirely different kind of list of favorite albums. But, this is it for now!
So...what albums impacted you, and how?
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Justin Furstenfeld's Baby
*waves to lovely readers*
So, I'm not sure how y'all are ending up here at my little ol' blog while searching and trying to find out more about Justin Furstenfeld's baby...but up until now, you've been leaving without learning anything about her. In fact, until so many of you found me while trying to find out about her, I had no clue that he had a baby. So thank you to you all for helping to educate me.
Anyways, I figured that since you are all somehow winding up here and having to go away without learning anything about what you came looking for, I figured I would help you out a little. I asked a few of my friends at RockBandLounge.com who happen to be Blue October fans as well if any of them knew anything. Several offered that they thought he had become a father at some point this year. But the lovely Maritime Gal dug up these links.
This link will take you to a video where Justin discusses taking a few months off earlier this year to be home with his wife when his baby was born. And in this one one, you will find a short video clip where Justin is discussing the joys of fatherhood. *Edited to remove broken second link. Sorry, the article with the video must have been moved by the publisher.*
I hope that this helps all of you out who are looking for information on him and his baby. I do not know exactly when she was born, or what her name is. I don't know anything about a song written about or for this baby, so for those of you who are looking for a baby song, I am sorry. Also, if any of you know any more about this, let me know and I will gladly blog about it so that everyone who is looking can find it.
So, I'm not sure how y'all are ending up here at my little ol' blog while searching and trying to find out more about Justin Furstenfeld's baby...but up until now, you've been leaving without learning anything about her. In fact, until so many of you found me while trying to find out about her, I had no clue that he had a baby. So thank you to you all for helping to educate me.
Anyways, I figured that since you are all somehow winding up here and having to go away without learning anything about what you came looking for, I figured I would help you out a little. I asked a few of my friends at RockBandLounge.com who happen to be Blue October fans as well if any of them knew anything. Several offered that they thought he had become a father at some point this year. But the lovely Maritime Gal dug up these links.
This link will take you to a video where Justin discusses taking a few months off earlier this year to be home with his wife when his baby was born. And in this one one, you will find a short video clip where Justin is discussing the joys of fatherhood. *Edited to remove broken second link. Sorry, the article with the video must have been moved by the publisher.*
I hope that this helps all of you out who are looking for information on him and his baby. I do not know exactly when she was born, or what her name is. I don't know anything about a song written about or for this baby, so for those of you who are looking for a baby song, I am sorry. Also, if any of you know any more about this, let me know and I will gladly blog about it so that everyone who is looking can find it.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The Project Runway Rundown, V4.3
Jack reveals at the beginning of the show that he is HIV positive. I'm not sure why that is relevant, but whatever. The guys are giving Christian a hard time, but he seems to take it pretty well. His confidence has taken a bit of a knock, but he knows that he makes clothes "so much better" than a lot of the other designers.
Heidi tells them that they won't need their models for their next challenge, and sends them on a field trip to meet Tim Gunn and find out what this Project Runway first will be. Tim introduces them to Tiki Barber at 10 Rockefeller Center in New York. They don't know anything about him, or who he is...but they all think he's hot. They're right. And their challenge is to design an outfit for Tiki to wear on the Today Show. They are starting to panic about having to design a menswear outfit due to the meticulous nature of the fit required.
Back at Parson's, they have 30 minutes to sketch and a budget of $150. They will have two days for this challenge. Of course, Tim says to "make it work."
Sweet P doesn't know how to even sketch for men. We are shown lots of empty pages, finger tapping, and panicked expressions. This is going to be a serious challenge for most of these designers. Kit is a tv stylist, so she feels a bit more confident about color and fabric selection than many of the other designers. This one could be really scary, what they wind up putting out.
Several of the designers chose to do a suit, even though Tiki specified that a suit is not mandatory. That will be a LOT of work for them, and a ton of tailoring. It is interesting to see how so many of the designers are asking each other questions about how to do it. Jack is using his own pants as a pattern for his design, and some of the designers are starting to think it is unfair. And then still others want to borrow his design. This could get ugly. I think what Jack asked Tim Gunn and what he wound up interpreting Tim's answer to be are two very different things. Victorya and Carmen are tracing his pattern, and he is allowing it to happen. Things are getting chaotic in the workroom, that is for sure.
Christian sews fast, which is an asset. Chris says he's older than everyone else and doesn't have formal training. Rami makes a comment about his slacks being draped and not traced off of another pattern.
Tim announces that he is sending in the male models and that they will have an hour with them. They are pretty boys. Very pretty boys. The girls are excited about how hot the male models are, and some of the guys are excited too. I can't say I blame then. Kevin says he is the only straight guy in the room, so he stays focused. Sweet P is excited about how well her pants fit her models ass. Fresh N Fruity turns around so that she can't see her model while he's changing. Ricky is in full on panic mode. Jillian is practically starting over from scratch after working with her model. It doesn't seem that she is alone.
Tim comes in again and asks them to gather around, to meet a special guest. Tiki's wife, Ginny, has joined them briefly to do a walk-through with Tim and critique their work. She loves the color and idea of Jack's work. Ricky is planning on doing a jacket, vest, shirt, and pants. That is a bit scary. Four pieces is nutso. Kevin is working on a double-vent in the jacket, for Tiki's butt issues. Carmen is working on a more leisurely look and Ginny and Tim are worried about the design that she is working on. She is now going to panic about what to do, since it is reminiscent of a Members Only jacket. She doesn't have enough fabric to make major changes. Jack doesn't think he can finish his jacket, so he will try to finish the shirt and pants. Ricky is *bleeped*. In his own words. Time is about up, and no one seems to have anything finished. This is going to be really, really interesting.
Runway day arrives, and everyone is seriously nervous and scared. It seems that Jack has decided to carry Christian into the workroom every day. Ricky is going balls out. Carmen is concerned that she won't have time to do a shirt that she hasn't even started on yet. Tim arrives and sends the models in, and they've got two hours to get everything finished. Kit finished three pieces and is pleased with how they came out. Ricky puts his model to work sewing buttons. Sweet P's shirt looks horrific and doesn't fit right at all. Everyone is running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Carmen didn't do a shirt, so she just draped a piece of cloth around him underneath the jacket. And time is up.
Joining Heidi, Michael, and Nina on the judging panel is none other than Tiki himself.
Jillian's design is four pieces: pants, shirt, vest, and jacket. The collar is awfully big, and there is a lack of color. It is all in black other than an off white shirt. Sort of boring, but at least it is all finished. It looks to fit fairly well, though I'm not sure it is fitted as well as Tiki would like.
Carmen designed a khaki pant with a taupe jacket lined with a touch of some red patterened fabric. Instead of a shirt, she has placed a piece of blue fabric and draped it across his chest. The jacket looks very dated to me, the pants don't fit well, and all in all, it is just blah!
Christian made a three piece casual look. The shirt is an interesting design, with no collar but a touch of an off-center opening. The pants look to fit okay, maybe a tiny bit baggy, but I'm not sure about the jacket. It looks a tiny bit old fashioned too, much like Carmen's only in a different way.
Kit designed three pieces: a jacket, pants, and a shirt. The shirt is a simply textured collared shirt. The jacket looks a bit feminine to me, it is done in a fleece. The navy, khaki, and white are a good color combination, though a bit overdone. I would have liked to see some more color in her design to make it stand out. The double-venting in the jacket are a nice touch.
Rami made a navy pant, khaki casual jacket, and a white collared shirt. I like the design of the jacket. It is different than everything else we've been seeing. Again though, I would like to see some color. Tiki looks good in color. The pants are a pretty good fit.
Sweet P made pinstripe slacks and a collared shirt with a tie. The tie won't fit in the collar because it is so poorly done. The collar is far too big. The pants look a bit feminine in the way they fit at the waist and hips. The sleeves appear to be too short. The shirt is baggy in places and too tight on the shoulders. It is pretty horrific.
Steven made a gray slack, a striped collared shirt, and a fitted hunter green sweater. I really like this look. Without going to a suit, it still looks professional and well put together. The crotch of the pant doesn't look quite right though...something is not right there. There is also some sort of a scarf going on around the neck.
Victorya designed a black pant, black shirt, and a white fitted jacket. I actually really like the jacket she made, and I think that it looks good with the black underneath. And even though this outfit is devoid of color, I think it works and is more interesting than many of the other designs we have seen. It has a black collar on it, and the shirt underneath is a knit top instead of a button-down collared shirt. It is a good look.
Kevin gave us color too! He designed a basic black pant and jacket, and paired it with a lilac collared shirt, a deeper purple tie and pocket square. I like how he has styled it, with the shirt untucked, to give it a more casual feel. The pants seem a bit loose, but overall this is a good look. The back of the vest is a lovely gray.
Chris gave us black, black, and more black. He designed a basic pant, a knit collarless shirt, and a zip up jacket that appears to be collarless as well. Smart moves on his part to avoid the collars, as far as time is concerned. I'm just not wowed. I would have liked some color, or even different shades of a monochromatic look. It all appears to fit pretty well.
Jack designed a pinstripe slack and a pinstripe shirt. I like the details he put into the shirt, as far as how the stripes went at a different angle over the buttons, the pocket, and the collar. This look works for me. He may not have had time to finish all the pieces he originally intended, but he made a smart choice by putting in the extra details in what he did and leaving the parts he could not finish.
Ricky designed a basic black slack and jacket and a white shirt. He threw in a touch of color with a red pocket square. It looks okay, but there is nothing in this outfit at all that wows me. It is simply too safe. At least his clothes fit his model pretty well though. He still has pins in the outfit, it seems, and can see them in the runway lights. Not a good sign.
Rooty Tooty put out a casual gray slack, with a khaki long sleeved knit top and a brown vest. It is a pretty good casual look. It all seems to fit pretty well. It looks more put together than a number of other looks we have seen.
Jack is named the winner, and his design will be worn by Tiki on the Today Show. Nice. My favorite was Kevin's, though.
Somehow Sweet P made it through and is still in. That leaves Carmen and Ricky as the possibilities for going home. Carmen is out though, for leaving her model half-naked to go along with other pieces that didn't work. I can't say I am too upset about her leaving. She seemed way too full of herself for my taste, but without the talent to back it up.
Heidi tells them that they won't need their models for their next challenge, and sends them on a field trip to meet Tim Gunn and find out what this Project Runway first will be. Tim introduces them to Tiki Barber at 10 Rockefeller Center in New York. They don't know anything about him, or who he is...but they all think he's hot. They're right. And their challenge is to design an outfit for Tiki to wear on the Today Show. They are starting to panic about having to design a menswear outfit due to the meticulous nature of the fit required.
Back at Parson's, they have 30 minutes to sketch and a budget of $150. They will have two days for this challenge. Of course, Tim says to "make it work."
Sweet P doesn't know how to even sketch for men. We are shown lots of empty pages, finger tapping, and panicked expressions. This is going to be a serious challenge for most of these designers. Kit is a tv stylist, so she feels a bit more confident about color and fabric selection than many of the other designers. This one could be really scary, what they wind up putting out.
Several of the designers chose to do a suit, even though Tiki specified that a suit is not mandatory. That will be a LOT of work for them, and a ton of tailoring. It is interesting to see how so many of the designers are asking each other questions about how to do it. Jack is using his own pants as a pattern for his design, and some of the designers are starting to think it is unfair. And then still others want to borrow his design. This could get ugly. I think what Jack asked Tim Gunn and what he wound up interpreting Tim's answer to be are two very different things. Victorya and Carmen are tracing his pattern, and he is allowing it to happen. Things are getting chaotic in the workroom, that is for sure.
Christian sews fast, which is an asset. Chris says he's older than everyone else and doesn't have formal training. Rami makes a comment about his slacks being draped and not traced off of another pattern.
Tim announces that he is sending in the male models and that they will have an hour with them. They are pretty boys. Very pretty boys. The girls are excited about how hot the male models are, and some of the guys are excited too. I can't say I blame then. Kevin says he is the only straight guy in the room, so he stays focused. Sweet P is excited about how well her pants fit her models ass. Fresh N Fruity turns around so that she can't see her model while he's changing. Ricky is in full on panic mode. Jillian is practically starting over from scratch after working with her model. It doesn't seem that she is alone.
Tim comes in again and asks them to gather around, to meet a special guest. Tiki's wife, Ginny, has joined them briefly to do a walk-through with Tim and critique their work. She loves the color and idea of Jack's work. Ricky is planning on doing a jacket, vest, shirt, and pants. That is a bit scary. Four pieces is nutso. Kevin is working on a double-vent in the jacket, for Tiki's butt issues. Carmen is working on a more leisurely look and Ginny and Tim are worried about the design that she is working on. She is now going to panic about what to do, since it is reminiscent of a Members Only jacket. She doesn't have enough fabric to make major changes. Jack doesn't think he can finish his jacket, so he will try to finish the shirt and pants. Ricky is *bleeped*. In his own words. Time is about up, and no one seems to have anything finished. This is going to be really, really interesting.
Runway day arrives, and everyone is seriously nervous and scared. It seems that Jack has decided to carry Christian into the workroom every day. Ricky is going balls out. Carmen is concerned that she won't have time to do a shirt that she hasn't even started on yet. Tim arrives and sends the models in, and they've got two hours to get everything finished. Kit finished three pieces and is pleased with how they came out. Ricky puts his model to work sewing buttons. Sweet P's shirt looks horrific and doesn't fit right at all. Everyone is running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Carmen didn't do a shirt, so she just draped a piece of cloth around him underneath the jacket. And time is up.
Joining Heidi, Michael, and Nina on the judging panel is none other than Tiki himself.
Jillian's design is four pieces: pants, shirt, vest, and jacket. The collar is awfully big, and there is a lack of color. It is all in black other than an off white shirt. Sort of boring, but at least it is all finished. It looks to fit fairly well, though I'm not sure it is fitted as well as Tiki would like.
Carmen designed a khaki pant with a taupe jacket lined with a touch of some red patterened fabric. Instead of a shirt, she has placed a piece of blue fabric and draped it across his chest. The jacket looks very dated to me, the pants don't fit well, and all in all, it is just blah!
Christian made a three piece casual look. The shirt is an interesting design, with no collar but a touch of an off-center opening. The pants look to fit okay, maybe a tiny bit baggy, but I'm not sure about the jacket. It looks a tiny bit old fashioned too, much like Carmen's only in a different way.
Kit designed three pieces: a jacket, pants, and a shirt. The shirt is a simply textured collared shirt. The jacket looks a bit feminine to me, it is done in a fleece. The navy, khaki, and white are a good color combination, though a bit overdone. I would have liked to see some more color in her design to make it stand out. The double-venting in the jacket are a nice touch.
Rami made a navy pant, khaki casual jacket, and a white collared shirt. I like the design of the jacket. It is different than everything else we've been seeing. Again though, I would like to see some color. Tiki looks good in color. The pants are a pretty good fit.
Sweet P made pinstripe slacks and a collared shirt with a tie. The tie won't fit in the collar because it is so poorly done. The collar is far too big. The pants look a bit feminine in the way they fit at the waist and hips. The sleeves appear to be too short. The shirt is baggy in places and too tight on the shoulders. It is pretty horrific.
Steven made a gray slack, a striped collared shirt, and a fitted hunter green sweater. I really like this look. Without going to a suit, it still looks professional and well put together. The crotch of the pant doesn't look quite right though...something is not right there. There is also some sort of a scarf going on around the neck.
Victorya designed a black pant, black shirt, and a white fitted jacket. I actually really like the jacket she made, and I think that it looks good with the black underneath. And even though this outfit is devoid of color, I think it works and is more interesting than many of the other designs we have seen. It has a black collar on it, and the shirt underneath is a knit top instead of a button-down collared shirt. It is a good look.
Kevin gave us color too! He designed a basic black pant and jacket, and paired it with a lilac collared shirt, a deeper purple tie and pocket square. I like how he has styled it, with the shirt untucked, to give it a more casual feel. The pants seem a bit loose, but overall this is a good look. The back of the vest is a lovely gray.
Chris gave us black, black, and more black. He designed a basic pant, a knit collarless shirt, and a zip up jacket that appears to be collarless as well. Smart moves on his part to avoid the collars, as far as time is concerned. I'm just not wowed. I would have liked some color, or even different shades of a monochromatic look. It all appears to fit pretty well.
Jack designed a pinstripe slack and a pinstripe shirt. I like the details he put into the shirt, as far as how the stripes went at a different angle over the buttons, the pocket, and the collar. This look works for me. He may not have had time to finish all the pieces he originally intended, but he made a smart choice by putting in the extra details in what he did and leaving the parts he could not finish.
Ricky designed a basic black slack and jacket and a white shirt. He threw in a touch of color with a red pocket square. It looks okay, but there is nothing in this outfit at all that wows me. It is simply too safe. At least his clothes fit his model pretty well though. He still has pins in the outfit, it seems, and can see them in the runway lights. Not a good sign.
Rooty Tooty put out a casual gray slack, with a khaki long sleeved knit top and a brown vest. It is a pretty good casual look. It all seems to fit pretty well. It looks more put together than a number of other looks we have seen.
Jack is named the winner, and his design will be worn by Tiki on the Today Show. Nice. My favorite was Kevin's, though.
Somehow Sweet P made it through and is still in. That leaves Carmen and Ricky as the possibilities for going home. Carmen is out though, for leaving her model half-naked to go along with other pieces that didn't work. I can't say I am too upset about her leaving. She seemed way too full of herself for my taste, but without the talent to back it up.
Double/Double Week
This week was Double/Double week at RockBandLounge.com's Rock Star: All Stars competition. Each singer put up one Rock Star performance and one non-Rock Star performance...and out of the Bottom 3, two singers were cut from the competition.
So, now it is time to say goodbye to the fabulously talented dirtyPhil Ritchie from Season Two, and husky voiced Deanna Johnston from Season One. It was a hard week for me personally, because all three of the singers in the Bottom 3 were amongst my overall favorites in the competition, so I knew that we would be losing two of them at once. I suppose I will eventually get over it. LOL.
Anyways, you need to check these two out! You can listen to dirtyPhil singing with his band Lennex at their MySpace page. While you're there, be sure to listen to their new song, Thank You and Goodbye. I really, truly love that song. I've blogged about it before. So listen to it! And be sure to listen to some of Deanna's music on her MySpace. Also, check her out as one of the singers on The Singing Bee! She is my favorite of the regular singers on that show. Big shock, I'm sure.
Also in the Bottom 3 this week was Jordis Unga. She has survived for another week, but if she is your favorite, be sure to go to RockBandLounge.com and VOTE for her!
So, now it is time to say goodbye to the fabulously talented dirtyPhil Ritchie from Season Two, and husky voiced Deanna Johnston from Season One. It was a hard week for me personally, because all three of the singers in the Bottom 3 were amongst my overall favorites in the competition, so I knew that we would be losing two of them at once. I suppose I will eventually get over it. LOL.
Anyways, you need to check these two out! You can listen to dirtyPhil singing with his band Lennex at their MySpace page. While you're there, be sure to listen to their new song, Thank You and Goodbye. I really, truly love that song. I've blogged about it before. So listen to it! And be sure to listen to some of Deanna's music on her MySpace. Also, check her out as one of the singers on The Singing Bee! She is my favorite of the regular singers on that show. Big shock, I'm sure.
Also in the Bottom 3 this week was Jordis Unga. She has survived for another week, but if she is your favorite, be sure to go to RockBandLounge.com and VOTE for her!
Monday, November 26, 2007
The Project Runway Rundown, V4.2
Sorry it has taken me so long to get to this. The holiday weekend has put me behind on everything, but I am finally getting to this now.
This second episode begins with all of the designers reminiscing about Simone and discussing how difficult the judging was. Note to designers: Y'all had it easy for your first challenge!
Heidi meets them on the runway and allows them to choose their models. I still miss how they did it in the first season, where each challenge, they got to choose their models again. You still had some relationships form between certain models and designers...but overall, it was interesting to see how they would mix things up. It gets boring when the same designers choose the same models over and over and over again. Then Heidi tells them they will be designing for a "pop culture and fashion icon." Of course, they all start speculating on who it will be. Madonna??? Come on people. Y'all sure do think big, don't you? Snow White would be interesting though.
Tim Gunn has the designers gather around, and he introduces them to Sarah Jessica Parker, their icon, client, and a judge for this competition. They will be working in pairs to design a two piece outfit for SJP's line Bitten, with a budget of only $15. Their designs will sell for under $40, and the winning design may be sold as part of the Bitten fall/winter collection. They all sketch and then pitch their designs to SJP...and then she chooses 7 to go ahead with their designs. Sweet P is starting to panic about the team thing already. I can't say I blame her. The team challenges are always iffy...and there are some people on this cast I would NOT want to be paired up with!
Dear lord, during their sketching time they cut to a diary room quote from Ricky where he is once again CRYING! He may challenge Andre in this area. As they are pitching to SJP, some of them are so verklempt that they can't speak. Elisa pitches a "polymorphic" design to SJP. Oy. What the fuck is polymorphic? She is seriously on another planet. And Carmen Webber is a bit full of herself. LOL. Oh well.
The seven designers chosen to go forward with their designs are Elisa (WTF???), Kit, Victorya, Marion, Ricky, Christian, and Rami. Sweet P is the last teammate to be chosen...and Elisa is the last one to choose. Poor Sweet P. I am not sure that I like her, but I really don't want to subject her to Planet Elisa. I am worried for her. But Elisa is excited for some reason...she wanted Sweet P from the beginning, she says.
While shopping at Mood, most teams go for jerseys, fleeces, and cottons. With their limited budget, they will have to shop smartly. They only have until midnight that night to finish their pieces, so they will have to work very quickly.
Rami is thinking about how to make his design work for varying body types. Stephen is concerned about the intricacy of Marion's design. Elisa is trying to explain her polymorphic dress to Sweet P and winds up spit marking the fabric. With the spit marking, Sweet P starts to freak out. I can't blame her. Elisa is a fruit loop. I think I will now call her Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity. Ricky is crying again...this time because SJP chose his design to move forward with.
Tim comes in to give his comments. He is concerned about time with Marion's garments. He also thinks that Christian's design is looking a bit fashion backward instead of fashion forward. Me too. Victorya has designed a vest with a racer back that Tim is intrigued by. He tells Rooty Tooty that she is cuckoo. I agree. I am glad someone has said it to her. I don't think she knows how to use a sewing machine. She may be afraid of them. I'm not sure. But she is trying to do everything by hand. Sweet P is worried about time and "making it work." I can't say I blame her.
Elimination day arrives, and the ladies are discussing how they are worried that Rooty Tooty can't use a sewing machine. Sweet P is determined to MAKE IT WORK. Let's hope she can. At least for her sake. Part of me hopes she can't, so that Fresh 'N Fruity goes home.
Tim Gunn comes in and tells the designers to knock SJP's socks off. They've got two hours to fit their models and do the whole hair and makeup thing. Marion's design seems to be growing. How is that top continuing to get bigger??? Bad choice of fabric. Oh well. Too late now. Sweet P is actually really liking Rooty Tooty's design now. Christian thinks he will be in the Top 2 again...but I am not so sure. It looks like it is straight out of the 1980's. Stephen is still sewing things on his and Marion's model when time is up. Oy. Not a good sign.
Runway time! SJP is joining the usual lineup of judges, Heidi, Michael, and Nina.
Kit & Chris created a pair of chocolate brown leggings and a black short-sleeved sweater top. It's really pretty cute. It is not something that anyone over a size 12 should wear, but it is very cute, and it looks like it would be budget friendly and hold up well.
Fresh 'N Fruity & Sweet P created a "polymorphic" dress and a really cute cape. I'm pretty much over the color of the dress (Chloe blue again), but I like the sleeves and the skirt on the dress, and I absolutely love the cape. I don't get the whole polymorphic thing though.
Rami & Jillian created a pair of leggings and some sort of giant shirt with a huge belt around it. To me, it is pretty ugly. I can see that it could be worn by women of various sizes, but that does not mean it will look good on any of them. Blech.
Marion & Steven put out a garbage bag. Okay, it wasn't a garbage bag. But I don't know what you would call it. The top has grown even more since the last time we saw it. It is like watching lava. Ridiculous. It is so big that you can't see the skirt underneath. But you can see her bra through the top. And what a boring color. I'd take Chloe blue over that any day. Blech. The fringe on the bottom of the top is longer than the skirt.
Victorya & Kevin created a babydoll dress with a plaid vest with a racer back. Honestly, to me, it is very boring. It looks well made, but that is about all I can say for it.
Christian & Carmen created a super tight dress (in Chloe blue) and a jacket that is straight out of the 80's. It looks like he even included the shoulder pads. Ugh. It is black and gray, with way too much going on. Super busy. I'm not impressed this time Christian. Not at all. Last time I felt like he was sort of updating the 80's...but this time he went straight back into them. Was he even alive in the 80's? Maybe the problem is that he doesn't remember them. And that dress is so tight that his model looks like she's got tummy rolls and such. She is likely a size 0, she should NOT look like that!
Ricky & Jack created a beautiful red dress with an interesting black belt. The dress could easily go from somewhat casual to somewhat dressy. I can see how it would work with several different body types. I like the color. I like the neckline. I like the fringy stuff hanging off of the belt. Nice work.
Judgement time arrives, and Rooty Tooty and Victorya have the top designs, while Marion and Christian have the worst designs. I'm not surprised about the bottom...but I am a bit surprised about the top! I am bored by Victorya's design, and could have seen either Ricky or Kit's designs above hers.
Somehow though, Victorya wins and Marion goes home. Christian had better update his looks in the future, or he is gone soon. I think he is talented, but he's got to look to the future instead of the past. I am glad though, that Fresh 'N Fruity did not win. I don't understand her at all. Granted, I like what she designed this time in the end...but it still seems a bit overcomplicated and confusing. I love that Heidi asked her what planet she is from!
So, in a couple of days we will have the next episode. Later!
Oh yeah, and I'm going to have some Project Runway related polls going, so be sure to check them out and cast your vote.
This second episode begins with all of the designers reminiscing about Simone and discussing how difficult the judging was. Note to designers: Y'all had it easy for your first challenge!
Heidi meets them on the runway and allows them to choose their models. I still miss how they did it in the first season, where each challenge, they got to choose their models again. You still had some relationships form between certain models and designers...but overall, it was interesting to see how they would mix things up. It gets boring when the same designers choose the same models over and over and over again. Then Heidi tells them they will be designing for a "pop culture and fashion icon." Of course, they all start speculating on who it will be. Madonna??? Come on people. Y'all sure do think big, don't you? Snow White would be interesting though.
Tim Gunn has the designers gather around, and he introduces them to Sarah Jessica Parker, their icon, client, and a judge for this competition. They will be working in pairs to design a two piece outfit for SJP's line Bitten, with a budget of only $15. Their designs will sell for under $40, and the winning design may be sold as part of the Bitten fall/winter collection. They all sketch and then pitch their designs to SJP...and then she chooses 7 to go ahead with their designs. Sweet P is starting to panic about the team thing already. I can't say I blame her. The team challenges are always iffy...and there are some people on this cast I would NOT want to be paired up with!
Dear lord, during their sketching time they cut to a diary room quote from Ricky where he is once again CRYING! He may challenge Andre in this area. As they are pitching to SJP, some of them are so verklempt that they can't speak. Elisa pitches a "polymorphic" design to SJP. Oy. What the fuck is polymorphic? She is seriously on another planet. And Carmen Webber is a bit full of herself. LOL. Oh well.
The seven designers chosen to go forward with their designs are Elisa (WTF???), Kit, Victorya, Marion, Ricky, Christian, and Rami. Sweet P is the last teammate to be chosen...and Elisa is the last one to choose. Poor Sweet P. I am not sure that I like her, but I really don't want to subject her to Planet Elisa. I am worried for her. But Elisa is excited for some reason...she wanted Sweet P from the beginning, she says.
While shopping at Mood, most teams go for jerseys, fleeces, and cottons. With their limited budget, they will have to shop smartly. They only have until midnight that night to finish their pieces, so they will have to work very quickly.
Rami is thinking about how to make his design work for varying body types. Stephen is concerned about the intricacy of Marion's design. Elisa is trying to explain her polymorphic dress to Sweet P and winds up spit marking the fabric. With the spit marking, Sweet P starts to freak out. I can't blame her. Elisa is a fruit loop. I think I will now call her Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity. Ricky is crying again...this time because SJP chose his design to move forward with.
Tim comes in to give his comments. He is concerned about time with Marion's garments. He also thinks that Christian's design is looking a bit fashion backward instead of fashion forward. Me too. Victorya has designed a vest with a racer back that Tim is intrigued by. He tells Rooty Tooty that she is cuckoo. I agree. I am glad someone has said it to her. I don't think she knows how to use a sewing machine. She may be afraid of them. I'm not sure. But she is trying to do everything by hand. Sweet P is worried about time and "making it work." I can't say I blame her.
Elimination day arrives, and the ladies are discussing how they are worried that Rooty Tooty can't use a sewing machine. Sweet P is determined to MAKE IT WORK. Let's hope she can. At least for her sake. Part of me hopes she can't, so that Fresh 'N Fruity goes home.
Tim Gunn comes in and tells the designers to knock SJP's socks off. They've got two hours to fit their models and do the whole hair and makeup thing. Marion's design seems to be growing. How is that top continuing to get bigger??? Bad choice of fabric. Oh well. Too late now. Sweet P is actually really liking Rooty Tooty's design now. Christian thinks he will be in the Top 2 again...but I am not so sure. It looks like it is straight out of the 1980's. Stephen is still sewing things on his and Marion's model when time is up. Oy. Not a good sign.
Runway time! SJP is joining the usual lineup of judges, Heidi, Michael, and Nina.
Kit & Chris created a pair of chocolate brown leggings and a black short-sleeved sweater top. It's really pretty cute. It is not something that anyone over a size 12 should wear, but it is very cute, and it looks like it would be budget friendly and hold up well.
Fresh 'N Fruity & Sweet P created a "polymorphic" dress and a really cute cape. I'm pretty much over the color of the dress (Chloe blue again), but I like the sleeves and the skirt on the dress, and I absolutely love the cape. I don't get the whole polymorphic thing though.
Rami & Jillian created a pair of leggings and some sort of giant shirt with a huge belt around it. To me, it is pretty ugly. I can see that it could be worn by women of various sizes, but that does not mean it will look good on any of them. Blech.
Marion & Steven put out a garbage bag. Okay, it wasn't a garbage bag. But I don't know what you would call it. The top has grown even more since the last time we saw it. It is like watching lava. Ridiculous. It is so big that you can't see the skirt underneath. But you can see her bra through the top. And what a boring color. I'd take Chloe blue over that any day. Blech. The fringe on the bottom of the top is longer than the skirt.
Victorya & Kevin created a babydoll dress with a plaid vest with a racer back. Honestly, to me, it is very boring. It looks well made, but that is about all I can say for it.
Christian & Carmen created a super tight dress (in Chloe blue) and a jacket that is straight out of the 80's. It looks like he even included the shoulder pads. Ugh. It is black and gray, with way too much going on. Super busy. I'm not impressed this time Christian. Not at all. Last time I felt like he was sort of updating the 80's...but this time he went straight back into them. Was he even alive in the 80's? Maybe the problem is that he doesn't remember them. And that dress is so tight that his model looks like she's got tummy rolls and such. She is likely a size 0, she should NOT look like that!
Ricky & Jack created a beautiful red dress with an interesting black belt. The dress could easily go from somewhat casual to somewhat dressy. I can see how it would work with several different body types. I like the color. I like the neckline. I like the fringy stuff hanging off of the belt. Nice work.
Judgement time arrives, and Rooty Tooty and Victorya have the top designs, while Marion and Christian have the worst designs. I'm not surprised about the bottom...but I am a bit surprised about the top! I am bored by Victorya's design, and could have seen either Ricky or Kit's designs above hers.
Somehow though, Victorya wins and Marion goes home. Christian had better update his looks in the future, or he is gone soon. I think he is talented, but he's got to look to the future instead of the past. I am glad though, that Fresh 'N Fruity did not win. I don't understand her at all. Granted, I like what she designed this time in the end...but it still seems a bit overcomplicated and confusing. I love that Heidi asked her what planet she is from!
So, in a couple of days we will have the next episode. Later!
Oh yeah, and I'm going to have some Project Runway related polls going, so be sure to check them out and cast your vote.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
In the Silence, I Think of You...
...I send a message and I hope it gets through.
Ten years ago today, Michael Hutchence left the world. He had spent the previous twenty years as the lead singer and frontman of INXS, writing and recording groundbreaking music, touring the world, playing to crowds of adoring fans, and otherwise being the embodiment of what most people would consider a rock star.
Ten years ago, his friends, family, bandmates, and fans across the world mourned together. Ten years ago, we all lost an icon, a poet, a singer, a legend.
Ten years ago, we cried.
Today, we remember, we reminisce, we regret, we relish, we relive. It has been ten years without Hutch...ten years of sadness and of joy. We no longer have INXS with Michael, but we once again have INXS.
Today in the United States, it is Thanksgiving. Today, I am thankful for the twenty years that Michael graced the world as a whole with...I am thankful for his heart and soul that he poured into his music...I am thankful that INXS has chosen to continue to honor his legacy instead of allow his music to die with him...
Today, I may cry. But more than that...today, I celebrate. I choose to celebrate the life of this beautiful man, a life that he opened to the world. So I will listen to his music, and I will reminisce about his legacy. But I will spend the day, thankful for all that he gave instead of mourning for all we have lost.
Today, Hutch will be alive for me.
Cheers mate.
Ten years ago today, Michael Hutchence left the world. He had spent the previous twenty years as the lead singer and frontman of INXS, writing and recording groundbreaking music, touring the world, playing to crowds of adoring fans, and otherwise being the embodiment of what most people would consider a rock star.
Ten years ago, his friends, family, bandmates, and fans across the world mourned together. Ten years ago, we all lost an icon, a poet, a singer, a legend.
Ten years ago, we cried.
Today, we remember, we reminisce, we regret, we relish, we relive. It has been ten years without Hutch...ten years of sadness and of joy. We no longer have INXS with Michael, but we once again have INXS.
Today in the United States, it is Thanksgiving. Today, I am thankful for the twenty years that Michael graced the world as a whole with...I am thankful for his heart and soul that he poured into his music...I am thankful that INXS has chosen to continue to honor his legacy instead of allow his music to die with him...
Today, I may cry. But more than that...today, I celebrate. I choose to celebrate the life of this beautiful man, a life that he opened to the world. So I will listen to his music, and I will reminisce about his legacy. But I will spend the day, thankful for all that he gave instead of mourning for all we have lost.
Today, Hutch will be alive for me.
Cheers mate.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Bye Bye Ty
Another week is finished in RockBandLounge.com's Rock Star: All Stars competition. This week saw three of the competitors from Season One reunited in the Bottom Three, and Ty Taylor is the latest casualty.
Ty was joined in the Bottom Three this week once again by Jordis Unga, and also by Deanna Johnston. This is two weeks in a row now that Jordis has fallen victim to not receiving enough votes. With both Ty and Patrice, on their third visit to the Bottom Three, they were cut from the competition. If you don't want that to happen to Jordis (or to Deanna, or to any of the contestants) you need to VOTE. The only thing that can keep your favorites in the competition is having fans who vote.
Next week is Double/Double week. Each contestant will put out a Rock Star performance coupled with a Non Rock Star performance (cover or original) for the fans to vote on. This could be the first time a number of people see and hear what some of these competitors are capable of outside of the constraints of Rock Star, so it should be very exciting.
Ty was joined in the Bottom Three this week once again by Jordis Unga, and also by Deanna Johnston. This is two weeks in a row now that Jordis has fallen victim to not receiving enough votes. With both Ty and Patrice, on their third visit to the Bottom Three, they were cut from the competition. If you don't want that to happen to Jordis (or to Deanna, or to any of the contestants) you need to VOTE. The only thing that can keep your favorites in the competition is having fans who vote.
Next week is Double/Double week. Each contestant will put out a Rock Star performance coupled with a Non Rock Star performance (cover or original) for the fans to vote on. This could be the first time a number of people see and hear what some of these competitors are capable of outside of the constraints of Rock Star, so it should be very exciting.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The Joshua Tree
Can you believe that it has been 20 years since U2 first released The Joshua Tree? I still remember hearing the songs from U2's groundbreaking album on the radio and seeing the videos on MTV as a young girl, and how they were so very very different from anything else I was hearing. I was already a fan of U2. Pride (In the Name of Love) is the first U2 song I have clear memories of hearing, but I am sure I had probably heard some of their music from the War album before all of that.
But The Joshua Tree changed everything for me...the emotion of With or Without You...the plodding Gospel search of I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For...the relentless drive of Where the Streets Have No Name...the imagery of the desert of In God's Country...the desperation of Exit...the violence and anger beneath the surface of Bullet the Blue Sky...the sadness and despair of Mothers of the Disappeared...the running rivers of One Tree Hill...the confusion of Trip Through Your Wires...the need to hang on in Red Hill Mining Town...the lonely desolation of Running to Stand Still...
It seemed like, in a way, they took all what was found in Bad from The Unforgettable Fire and turned it into a whole album. "This desperation, dislocation, separation, condemnation, revelation, in tempation, isolation, desolation. Let it go and so to find a way." In expounding on all of the components in this one song, U2 managed to achieve recording the album that would essentially define their careers.
Today, a remastered version of The Joshua Tree has been released for sale. They are releasing a box set among other versions of the album. And while I already own every U2 album, I will likely have to purchase this one as well.
But The Joshua Tree changed everything for me...the emotion of With or Without You...the plodding Gospel search of I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For...the relentless drive of Where the Streets Have No Name...the imagery of the desert of In God's Country...the desperation of Exit...the violence and anger beneath the surface of Bullet the Blue Sky...the sadness and despair of Mothers of the Disappeared...the running rivers of One Tree Hill...the confusion of Trip Through Your Wires...the need to hang on in Red Hill Mining Town...the lonely desolation of Running to Stand Still...
It seemed like, in a way, they took all what was found in Bad from The Unforgettable Fire and turned it into a whole album. "This desperation, dislocation, separation, condemnation, revelation, in tempation, isolation, desolation. Let it go and so to find a way." In expounding on all of the components in this one song, U2 managed to achieve recording the album that would essentially define their careers.
Today, a remastered version of The Joshua Tree has been released for sale. They are releasing a box set among other versions of the album. And while I already own every U2 album, I will likely have to purchase this one as well.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes
Tired of the same old boring cranberry sauce and cornbread dressing? In my family, we look forward to the variations we've made over the years on traditional Thanksgiving recipes. If you want to change things up a bit, feel free to try out any or all of these family recipes.
Sausage Sage Dressing
Tired of cornbread dressing? Try this bread based sausage dressing for an alternative.
1 medium onion, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
2 sticks butter
2 lbs sage sausage
salt
pepper
2 tsp sage
1 loaf bread, cubed
water, as needed
In a large skillet, melt the two sticks of butter and saute the onion and celery until they begin to become tender. Crumble the sausage into the skillet. Add salt, pepper, and sage, and cook until the sausage is browned. In a large mixing bowl, combine sausage mixture with cubed bread. Stir until all ingredients are well combined. The mixture should be sticking together well. If not, add small amounts of water and continue to stir until it becomes sticky. Spray a LARGE baking dish with non-stick spray and spread dressing into the dish, pressing it down to make it compact. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake at 350-375 for about 30-35 minutes. Then remove the foil and cook an additional 5-10 minutes, until lightly browned on top.
Chile Rellenos Casserole
For a change with a bit of a Tex-Mex flair, your family will love this non-traditional casserole.
2 lbs Monterrey Jack cheese, grated
4 4.5 oz cans green chiles, diced and drained
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
salt
pepper
Spray a large baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Spread a layer of chiles across the bottom of the dish, then cover with a layer of cheese. Continue to alternate layers of chiles and cheese until it is all in the dish. Combine eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour this mixture over the chile/cheese in the dish. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.
If desired, you can use a combination of 50% Monterrey Jack cheese and 50% Sharp Cheddar cheese as a variation. Green chiles are fairly mild, but you can certainly adjust the amount of chiles down if you feel it is necessary. Some enjoy this with 1/2 tsp of dry mustard mixed in with the milk and eggs mixture.
Cranberry Candied Yams
These are not your mothers candied yams. A delightful twist on the traditional yam, complete with the bite of cranberries.
4 large cans yams, drained
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup dry oats
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans
12 oz fresh cranberries, frozen
1 medium bag small marshmallows
In a very large, deep baking dish, pour in the yams. In a separate bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, oats, and cinnamon. Cut the butter in until well combined. Add the pecans and cranberries to the yams, then sprinkle the brown sugar/butter mixture over the top. Bake at 350 for approximately 35 minutes. Carefully pour marshmallows over the top and bake for few more minutes, until the marshmallows just begin to brown.
The best part about all of these dishes is that they cook at the same temperature and in approximately the same time. Begin to prepare these after you've put your turkey into the oven. You should be able to completely prepare each of them before your turkey is done. When you take your turkey from the oven, pop these in. By the time your turkey has been allowed to rest, your sides should be just about finished! It makes for a perfectly timed meal. A traditional green bean casserole also bakes in this time frame, so it would be an excellent addition. While they are all in the oven, you can be preparing mashed potatoes and gravy, a salad, or something else of that nature to round out your Thanksgiving feast.
Sausage Sage Dressing
Tired of cornbread dressing? Try this bread based sausage dressing for an alternative.
1 medium onion, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
2 sticks butter
2 lbs sage sausage
salt
pepper
2 tsp sage
1 loaf bread, cubed
water, as needed
In a large skillet, melt the two sticks of butter and saute the onion and celery until they begin to become tender. Crumble the sausage into the skillet. Add salt, pepper, and sage, and cook until the sausage is browned. In a large mixing bowl, combine sausage mixture with cubed bread. Stir until all ingredients are well combined. The mixture should be sticking together well. If not, add small amounts of water and continue to stir until it becomes sticky. Spray a LARGE baking dish with non-stick spray and spread dressing into the dish, pressing it down to make it compact. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake at 350-375 for about 30-35 minutes. Then remove the foil and cook an additional 5-10 minutes, until lightly browned on top.
Chile Rellenos Casserole
For a change with a bit of a Tex-Mex flair, your family will love this non-traditional casserole.
2 lbs Monterrey Jack cheese, grated
4 4.5 oz cans green chiles, diced and drained
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
salt
pepper
Spray a large baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Spread a layer of chiles across the bottom of the dish, then cover with a layer of cheese. Continue to alternate layers of chiles and cheese until it is all in the dish. Combine eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour this mixture over the chile/cheese in the dish. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.
If desired, you can use a combination of 50% Monterrey Jack cheese and 50% Sharp Cheddar cheese as a variation. Green chiles are fairly mild, but you can certainly adjust the amount of chiles down if you feel it is necessary. Some enjoy this with 1/2 tsp of dry mustard mixed in with the milk and eggs mixture.
Cranberry Candied Yams
These are not your mothers candied yams. A delightful twist on the traditional yam, complete with the bite of cranberries.
4 large cans yams, drained
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup dry oats
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans
12 oz fresh cranberries, frozen
1 medium bag small marshmallows
In a very large, deep baking dish, pour in the yams. In a separate bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, oats, and cinnamon. Cut the butter in until well combined. Add the pecans and cranberries to the yams, then sprinkle the brown sugar/butter mixture over the top. Bake at 350 for approximately 35 minutes. Carefully pour marshmallows over the top and bake for few more minutes, until the marshmallows just begin to brown.
The best part about all of these dishes is that they cook at the same temperature and in approximately the same time. Begin to prepare these after you've put your turkey into the oven. You should be able to completely prepare each of them before your turkey is done. When you take your turkey from the oven, pop these in. By the time your turkey has been allowed to rest, your sides should be just about finished! It makes for a perfectly timed meal. A traditional green bean casserole also bakes in this time frame, so it would be an excellent addition. While they are all in the oven, you can be preparing mashed potatoes and gravy, a salad, or something else of that nature to round out your Thanksgiving feast.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Thanksgiving Insanity
We used to spend a fortune every year for this one meal. Just for Thanksgiving dinner in my family, we could easily spend over $100. That was for not only my immediate family, but for relatives, too. $100 is more than I spend on a weeks worth of groceries for myself these days, so that amount of money, to me, is simply astronimical.
My siblings and I have all grown up now though, and we all have jobs, and some of us aren't always able to make it together to eat Thanksgiving dinner. Our relatives all have families of their own, and not as many of them make it out to our home each year. This year, much like last year, it is likely just going to be my mother and my sisters and I eating together. Four people. That's it.
Last year, my Mom was worried about how we would manage Thanksgiving. She is on a very tight budget, as are my sisters and I. I told her that for one thing, we could make a lot less food. We didn't have to make as much of each thing as we used to make. Instead of making a whole turkey, we could make simply a turkey breast. Instead of making 7 or 8 different side dishes, we could each select our favorite *must have* side dish, and we would only make enough for the handful of us who would be eating, plus a little for leftovers. Thanksgiving dinner leftovers are great, but there is no reason we should all be eating on them for a week, at least in my opinion. In addition to that, I told her that I would make up a list of everything we would need, scour the grocery store ads, and do the shopping...and that I could do it all for under $40. She didn't believe me...but I did it. The four of us each chipped in $10, and I did the shopping and the cooking, and we still had an ample Thanksgiving dinner with enough leftovers of each of our favorite dishes.
Since we are likely going to be doing the same thing this year, my Mom asked if I thought I could work it all out again the way I did last year. Only this time, she wanted to come with me to do the shopping, to see how I did it. I got a little chuckle out of that. But I agreed. We went to the store yesterday and got everything we would need for Thanksgiving dinner. And once again, it came in at less than $40. Even though she knew that I had searched through all of the ads and knew where the best deals were, Mom was shocked when we got to the checkout and she saw the total. Our basket was nearly as full as she would have it be when she used to shop for Thanksgiving dinner when we were feeding 12+. We were planning to make nearly as many dishes as we did back in those days, and with some of those dishes, we were planning to make nearly as much of it as we used to do. But still, I managed to figure it out so that we spent less than half of what she used to spend. She was flabbergasted.
I think that I have now solidified myself as the official deal shopper in the family. Many years ago, I solidified my position as the official Thanksgiving Dinner cook. No one else really wants to do it, and I enjoy it.
Anyways, if you're looking for ways to cut some corners and save a few dollars when you do your shopping for Thanksgiving dinner, my best advice is to look at the ads! There are sharp differences between the different grocery stores in how much they charge for various Thanksgiving essentials. Make a thorough list, noting how much things cost and where...and then fight the crowds! It is nuts, but it is well worth the savings to simply go where the deals are.
My siblings and I have all grown up now though, and we all have jobs, and some of us aren't always able to make it together to eat Thanksgiving dinner. Our relatives all have families of their own, and not as many of them make it out to our home each year. This year, much like last year, it is likely just going to be my mother and my sisters and I eating together. Four people. That's it.
Last year, my Mom was worried about how we would manage Thanksgiving. She is on a very tight budget, as are my sisters and I. I told her that for one thing, we could make a lot less food. We didn't have to make as much of each thing as we used to make. Instead of making a whole turkey, we could make simply a turkey breast. Instead of making 7 or 8 different side dishes, we could each select our favorite *must have* side dish, and we would only make enough for the handful of us who would be eating, plus a little for leftovers. Thanksgiving dinner leftovers are great, but there is no reason we should all be eating on them for a week, at least in my opinion. In addition to that, I told her that I would make up a list of everything we would need, scour the grocery store ads, and do the shopping...and that I could do it all for under $40. She didn't believe me...but I did it. The four of us each chipped in $10, and I did the shopping and the cooking, and we still had an ample Thanksgiving dinner with enough leftovers of each of our favorite dishes.
Since we are likely going to be doing the same thing this year, my Mom asked if I thought I could work it all out again the way I did last year. Only this time, she wanted to come with me to do the shopping, to see how I did it. I got a little chuckle out of that. But I agreed. We went to the store yesterday and got everything we would need for Thanksgiving dinner. And once again, it came in at less than $40. Even though she knew that I had searched through all of the ads and knew where the best deals were, Mom was shocked when we got to the checkout and she saw the total. Our basket was nearly as full as she would have it be when she used to shop for Thanksgiving dinner when we were feeding 12+. We were planning to make nearly as many dishes as we did back in those days, and with some of those dishes, we were planning to make nearly as much of it as we used to do. But still, I managed to figure it out so that we spent less than half of what she used to spend. She was flabbergasted.
I think that I have now solidified myself as the official deal shopper in the family. Many years ago, I solidified my position as the official Thanksgiving Dinner cook. No one else really wants to do it, and I enjoy it.
Anyways, if you're looking for ways to cut some corners and save a few dollars when you do your shopping for Thanksgiving dinner, my best advice is to look at the ads! There are sharp differences between the different grocery stores in how much they charge for various Thanksgiving essentials. Make a thorough list, noting how much things cost and where...and then fight the crowds! It is nuts, but it is well worth the savings to simply go where the deals are.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
The Wit of Wilde
I've been a fan of Oscar Wilde since I read his play "The Importance of Being Earnest." His use of wit is so predominant throughout the work, and so unlike anything else I'd ever read before, that I became an instantaneous fan. However, I'd never read any of his other works.
Until now.
I've just started to read his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. I knew that the plot of this novel was much darker than "Earnest," much more gothic in nature, so I wasn't expecting to find the same kinds of witicisms that were present in the dialogue of "Earnest." I have to say, so far I am pleasantly surprised to find that I was wrong. The first two chapters are full of the same wonderful style of dialogue, and I can't wait to read more. It makes his writing very interesting, and exceedingly easy to read.
Of particular interest to me is the Preface that Wilde included in his second edition to Dorian Gray. Critics of the novel felt that there was no moral value to be found in the work, and attacked it due to that fact as well as for the homo-erotic overtones found throughout. It did not sit well with Victorian England. But Wilde was part of the aesthetic movement in art, a movement based on the idea that art need serve no function other than beauty. So, in answer to his critics, this is what he included to lead into his novel.
Until now.
I've just started to read his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. I knew that the plot of this novel was much darker than "Earnest," much more gothic in nature, so I wasn't expecting to find the same kinds of witicisms that were present in the dialogue of "Earnest." I have to say, so far I am pleasantly surprised to find that I was wrong. The first two chapters are full of the same wonderful style of dialogue, and I can't wait to read more. It makes his writing very interesting, and exceedingly easy to read.
Of particular interest to me is the Preface that Wilde included in his second edition to Dorian Gray. Critics of the novel felt that there was no moral value to be found in the work, and attacked it due to that fact as well as for the homo-erotic overtones found throughout. It did not sit well with Victorian England. But Wilde was part of the aesthetic movement in art, a movement based on the idea that art need serve no function other than beauty. So, in answer to his critics, this is what he included to lead into his novel.
The artist is the creator of beautiful things.
To reveal art and conceal the artist is art's aim.
The critic is he who can translate into another manner or a new material his impression of beautiful things.
The highest as the lowest form of criticism is a mode of autobiography.
Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault.
Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are cultivated. For these there is hope.
They are the elect to whom beautiful things mean only Beauty.
There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.
The nineteenth centure dislike of Realism is the rage of Caliban seeing his own face in a glass.
The nineteenth century dislike of Romanticism is the rage of Caliban not seeing his own face in a glass.
The moral life of man forms part of the subject-matter of the artist, but the morality of art consists in the perfect use of an imperfect medium.
No artist desires to prove anything. Even things that are true can be proved.
No artist has ethical sympathies. An ethical sympathy in an artist is an unpardonable mannerism of style.
No artist is ever morbid. The artist can express everything.
Thought and language are to the artist instruments of an art.
Vice and virtue are to the artist materials for an art.
From the point of view of form, the type of all the arts is the point of view of the musician. From the point of view of feeling, the actor's craft is the type.
All art is at once surface and symbol.
Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril.
Those who read the symbol do so at their peril.
It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors.
Diversity of opinion about a work of art shows that the work is new, complex, and vital.
When critics disagree, the artist is in accord with himself.
We can forgive a man for making a useful thing as long as he does not admire it. The only excuse for making a useless thing is that one admires it intensely.
All art is quite useless.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
The Project Runway Rundown, V4.1
It is time for a fourth season of Bravo TV's Project Runway, and I am more than ready to dish it out. This season, we don't get the episode of two leading into the season where we see all of the designers auditioning and such. Instead, we are thrown directly into the show. Too bad. I've always enjoyed seeing the nuts out there who think they should be on the show. Plus, we typically would get to see some previous contestants as they join Tim Gunn on the panel, helping to decide who gets on the show and who doesn't. Bravo has been diligently rerunning the previous three seasons for the last few weeks, to remind us all how much we love the show, including an all day long marathon today of Season Three.
Tim Gunn is rejoining us again for Season Four, in addition to continuing with his duties on Tim Gunn's Guide to Style as a mentor and guide for the contestants. Also returning is our lovely host, Heidi Klum, as well as mainstay judges, designer Michael Kors and fashion editor Nina Garcia.
We start off by meeting the various designers as they move into their apartments in New York. Of course, Project Runway wouldn't be Project Runway if we didn't have the interpersonal aspect going on alongside the actual design challenge aspect. Yeah, that stuff is important to the show...and I am sure I will be caught up in it all before long...but I watch to see the designs! So...ten minutes into the show, and we've already seen tears. Oy...is this a sign of things to come? I would imagine so.
They meet up in Bryant Park and find champagne, so of course they start to party. And then of course, Heidi and Tim come along and tell them their party is over. They seem to be given an easier first challenge than the previous seasons. Mood Fabrics has donated $50,000 worth of premium fabrics which are lining three tents, which the designers then have to choose from for this challenge. So, they have to race across a big field and choose their materials...and Chris is left way far behind. These outfits are supposed to express who they are as a designer and they only have the remainder of the day to construct their garments. The designers only have 10 minutes to race across the field and choose their fabrics, so everyone is grabbing like crazy, not really thinking too much yet about what they will be making, they just want to get anything and everything that inspires them. Even though Chris was last, something that really spoke to him was still there when he arrived. One designer decided to stain her silk chiffon with GRASS in order to add a natural element to the fabric. What??? Seriously? Not cool, to me. It seems that the only thing left hanging in the three tents was a big ugly furry looking thing. Who knows what will come of all of this, but I have to say...at this point, I am thinking Season Four designers have it EASY.
The designers arrive at their workroom and set down to work. Tim arrives to tell them to "make it work." You knew that one was coming. Ricky decides to make a baby doll dress inspired by lingerie, since that is where his background lies. Rami wants to mix feminity with edge. Elisa (grass stain girl) wants to make something avant garde and "magic." Already, on day one, people are talking about how "weird" some of the others are. It'll be interesting to see how these interpersonal things work out over the course of the season. Christian is designing something with a pattern that he is matching up some places and not in other places, and he doesn't seem all that responsive to Tim's constructive criticism. Note to designers: Tim knows his stuff. Listen to him when he gives you his observations. Elisa finished with more than two hours to spare...though she left things in her "avant garde" fashion, and went to take a nap. I'm not sure that is going to serve her well, in the long run.
Judgement day arrives, and the panic begins to set in. Tim has the designers "gather around" and gives them their pep talk before sending in the models. They have two hours to get hair and make up done, in addition to final fittings and accessories. Models were assigned for this first challenge, so they had never seen them before. Some designers were stitching their models into their garments, as seems to happen every season on the first episode. Elisa's "avant garde" design was causing her model to trip as she walked in the workroom, and she thought about chopping about 5 feet off of it, but for some reason, decided not to listen to that inner voice. Eepers, could be a bad decision.
Runway Time! Heidi welcomes them to the runway, explains the prizes at stake, and introduces the judges. Heidi, Michael, and Nina are joined by Monique Lhuillier. And we're off!
Tim Gunn is rejoining us again for Season Four, in addition to continuing with his duties on Tim Gunn's Guide to Style as a mentor and guide for the contestants. Also returning is our lovely host, Heidi Klum, as well as mainstay judges, designer Michael Kors and fashion editor Nina Garcia.
We start off by meeting the various designers as they move into their apartments in New York. Of course, Project Runway wouldn't be Project Runway if we didn't have the interpersonal aspect going on alongside the actual design challenge aspect. Yeah, that stuff is important to the show...and I am sure I will be caught up in it all before long...but I watch to see the designs! So...ten minutes into the show, and we've already seen tears. Oy...is this a sign of things to come? I would imagine so.
They meet up in Bryant Park and find champagne, so of course they start to party. And then of course, Heidi and Tim come along and tell them their party is over. They seem to be given an easier first challenge than the previous seasons. Mood Fabrics has donated $50,000 worth of premium fabrics which are lining three tents, which the designers then have to choose from for this challenge. So, they have to race across a big field and choose their materials...and Chris is left way far behind. These outfits are supposed to express who they are as a designer and they only have the remainder of the day to construct their garments. The designers only have 10 minutes to race across the field and choose their fabrics, so everyone is grabbing like crazy, not really thinking too much yet about what they will be making, they just want to get anything and everything that inspires them. Even though Chris was last, something that really spoke to him was still there when he arrived. One designer decided to stain her silk chiffon with GRASS in order to add a natural element to the fabric. What??? Seriously? Not cool, to me. It seems that the only thing left hanging in the three tents was a big ugly furry looking thing. Who knows what will come of all of this, but I have to say...at this point, I am thinking Season Four designers have it EASY.
The designers arrive at their workroom and set down to work. Tim arrives to tell them to "make it work." You knew that one was coming. Ricky decides to make a baby doll dress inspired by lingerie, since that is where his background lies. Rami wants to mix feminity with edge. Elisa (grass stain girl) wants to make something avant garde and "magic." Already, on day one, people are talking about how "weird" some of the others are. It'll be interesting to see how these interpersonal things work out over the course of the season. Christian is designing something with a pattern that he is matching up some places and not in other places, and he doesn't seem all that responsive to Tim's constructive criticism. Note to designers: Tim knows his stuff. Listen to him when he gives you his observations. Elisa finished with more than two hours to spare...though she left things in her "avant garde" fashion, and went to take a nap. I'm not sure that is going to serve her well, in the long run.
Judgement day arrives, and the panic begins to set in. Tim has the designers "gather around" and gives them their pep talk before sending in the models. They have two hours to get hair and make up done, in addition to final fittings and accessories. Models were assigned for this first challenge, so they had never seen them before. Some designers were stitching their models into their garments, as seems to happen every season on the first episode. Elisa's "avant garde" design was causing her model to trip as she walked in the workroom, and she thought about chopping about 5 feet off of it, but for some reason, decided not to listen to that inner voice. Eepers, could be a bad decision.
Runway Time! Heidi welcomes them to the runway, explains the prizes at stake, and introduces the judges. Heidi, Michael, and Nina are joined by Monique Lhuillier. And we're off!
- Elisa's dress is up first. The model got tangled up in the dress, just as Elisa expected. It is this boring bright blue thing, with shards of torn up fabric hanging all over the place off of the bottom. Remember Santino? I hated Santino, because he went overboard so often. This is worse. It is minimalistic as a dress, and then ten times overboard on the shredded stuff hanging off. Blech.
- Chris's dress was really pretty. A nice eggplant color with some gold thrown in on top. The skirt of the dress was long and neatly done, and the top was elegant. I like it. On the back, you have a gorgeous poofy bow, with an open diamond shape. Really well done.
- Kevin's dress is okay. Black, burgundy, and silver. I'm not really fond of the silver part in the middle...to me, leaving that out would make the whole dress more accessible. It is well done though, neatly tailored, fitted. He could be a contender.
- Sweet P made a potato sack with a splash of color on the edges and a bow. Okay, maybe it isn't a potato sack. But you coulda fooled me. Blech.
- Simone's dress is okay. Nothing special here. I will forget about it in an hour. Some sort of blah print on top as a jacket, off white on bottom, a yellow ribbon around the waist. Not really any sort of innovative design element or anything to make it stand out.
- Jillian's dress stands out primarily because of the bright orange/red color. It's got a slim, long top and a very full, poofy, short skirt. I like it okay, but it isn't anything I would write home about on this show. Kick it up a notch honey...don't just go for the shock value with color choice. The skirt is somewhat reminiscent of Angela from last season...though more tasteful.
- Christian's plaid pattern on top certainly makes a statement. I like how the skirt is asymetrical, though I'm not really fond of the fit of it for some reason. I agree with Tim that the matchiness of the plaid needed to be done better. It looks to mix old-school with a new flair. I think he shows some promise, but needs to pay attention to details like the pattern.
- Victorya designed a plain black baby doll type dress with a slightly interesting sleve action. Really pretty boring. Big silver flower thingy on top. Not really working for me.
- Rami made a bold choice by going with a slate gray. I liked it a lot better on the form in the workroom than I do on his model, though I am getting a bit of a Grecian Goddess vibe from it. I think he has promise though. It looks very polished and finished.
- Ricky's dress is a black/silver patterned baby doll dress. The stripes of the fabric are really the only thing on the whole dress that make it stand out. He is going to have to try a lot harder in the creativity department.
- Jack's dress is a black and white print with turquoise accents. I like the color scheme he has going, but like with Ricky, I think that the print and colors are what make this dress, not his creativity. Step it up.
- Marion's dress is really a bit questionable. It is a black see through lacey fabric on top, and everything but the kitchen sink on bottom. I'm not a big fan of the type of skirt he's got going on here, with things hanging out at odd angles. It is at least interesting though.
- Stephen's dress is boring black, straight, long, fitted jacket, and accented with a red scarf. I don't get it.
- Carmen designed a pantsuit. It looks really sleek, but there is maybe a bit too much going on with all of the colors popping out around the neck. I'm not sure that I get how it all goes together. I like the pant and the jacket though. Just forget about the rest.
- Kit's dress is a black and white print combined with a bright red fabric. I think it is interesting how she combined the two, and I like the single shoulder. I'm not sure I would wear something like this, but it is very intriguing to me.
After the judges deliberations, Rami won with his Grecian Goddess Grey dress, and Simone's boring outfit that didn't go together got her out. I would have sent Elisa home, but I'm sure that they have kept her around for the weirdo factor, in addition to the Santino factor. Oh well.
These designers better realize how easy they had it for their first challenge, and get ready. And Project Runway had better make it harder from now on. Which I'm sure they will. Can't wait for the next episode!
Wave Goodbye to Patrice...
This week, RBL's Rock Star: All Stars Competition said goodbye to Patrice Pike. Falling into the Bottom 3 for the third week in a row, it seems that voters have decided that they are bored with her. She may have had spectacular vocals, but sometimes her passion didn't come through in performing the covers required by Rock Star.
If you want to hear more from Patrice, visit her Official MySpace Page, and be sure to check her out if she comes to your area.
Other members of the Bottom 3 this week were Ty Taylor (making his second appearance in the Bottom 3) and Jordis Unga. They have both survived for at least another week of the competition, but if you want to be sure they stay in it, you have to vote!
Note that the address for the All Stars competition has changed. Click on the new link in this post to find it. And now, if you are a registered member at RockBandLounge.com, your login will work for voting. You no longer need to register seperately for the All Stars competition.
Be sure that you vote, if you want your favorites to stay in the competition! And don't forget to send in your letters to CBS. We want more Rock Star on our TV's!
If you want to hear more from Patrice, visit her Official MySpace Page, and be sure to check her out if she comes to your area.
Other members of the Bottom 3 this week were Ty Taylor (making his second appearance in the Bottom 3) and Jordis Unga. They have both survived for at least another week of the competition, but if you want to be sure they stay in it, you have to vote!
Note that the address for the All Stars competition has changed. Click on the new link in this post to find it. And now, if you are a registered member at RockBandLounge.com, your login will work for voting. You no longer need to register seperately for the All Stars competition.
Be sure that you vote, if you want your favorites to stay in the competition! And don't forget to send in your letters to CBS. We want more Rock Star on our TV's!
Friday, November 9, 2007
Ellis Hall
I've been a fan of Tower of Power for a long time. This is a band that has been around since before I was a twinkle in my parents' eyes...and yet they are still making music. There've been a few changes in their lineup over the years, including their singers. But through it all, they've been making phenomenal music.
All of the singers they've had have been outstanding. One of them, Ellis Hall, has a voice that has always stuck with me. Not only was he a singer for Tower of Power for a while, he was also one of the California Raisins. Yeah, you remember them. I know you do. And you liked them too, didn't you? It's okay. Go ahead and admit it. Those guys could sing, even if they were raisins. LOL.
Well, if you've been reading me for a while, you know that I'm a fan of INXS. (I know, it seems like I'm jumping around, but I do have a point, and I will tie it all back in together, I promise.) As a matter of fact, I am such a fan of INXS that I saw them five times on their Switched On Tour. Yes...five. I am an addict. They had a couple of backup singers with them on the tour. Wendisue and Melody. After a while, they only had Wendisue with them. I have to say...Wendisue has a phenomenal voice. I loved hearing her backing the band...she never left me feeling cold. She also has some of her own music, and a while back I added her as a friend on MySpace, so that I could keep up with what she is doing, other than just touring with INXS.
Wendisue sent out a bulletin yesterday...with music from her father. ELLIS HALL! Who knew that Ellis Hall was her father?!?!?!?!??!?!!??!?!?! I know I didn't! But I love the man's voice, so of course, I checked it out. What a small world this is though...
Anyways, check him out!
A Change is Gonna Come:
Forever Song:
Girl You're Not in Kansas:
Gotta Be Ready for Anything:
Planet Hope:
And if you want to hear more from his days with Tower of Power, there is some of that available on YouTube as well!
You're Still a Young Man:
Don't Change Horses in the Middle of the Stream:
What is Hip?:
If you want to check out more from Ellis Hall, visit his website at EllisHall.com.
You can check out Tower of Power at TowerofPower.com or at their MySpace page.
And take a listen to Wendisue's music too! She can be found at MySpace as well.
All of the singers they've had have been outstanding. One of them, Ellis Hall, has a voice that has always stuck with me. Not only was he a singer for Tower of Power for a while, he was also one of the California Raisins. Yeah, you remember them. I know you do. And you liked them too, didn't you? It's okay. Go ahead and admit it. Those guys could sing, even if they were raisins. LOL.
Well, if you've been reading me for a while, you know that I'm a fan of INXS. (I know, it seems like I'm jumping around, but I do have a point, and I will tie it all back in together, I promise.) As a matter of fact, I am such a fan of INXS that I saw them five times on their Switched On Tour. Yes...five. I am an addict. They had a couple of backup singers with them on the tour. Wendisue and Melody. After a while, they only had Wendisue with them. I have to say...Wendisue has a phenomenal voice. I loved hearing her backing the band...she never left me feeling cold. She also has some of her own music, and a while back I added her as a friend on MySpace, so that I could keep up with what she is doing, other than just touring with INXS.
Wendisue sent out a bulletin yesterday...with music from her father. ELLIS HALL! Who knew that Ellis Hall was her father?!?!?!?!??!?!!??!?!?! I know I didn't! But I love the man's voice, so of course, I checked it out. What a small world this is though...
Anyways, check him out!
A Change is Gonna Come:
Forever Song:
Girl You're Not in Kansas:
Gotta Be Ready for Anything:
Planet Hope:
And if you want to hear more from his days with Tower of Power, there is some of that available on YouTube as well!
You're Still a Young Man:
Don't Change Horses in the Middle of the Stream:
What is Hip?:
If you want to check out more from Ellis Hall, visit his website at EllisHall.com.
You can check out Tower of Power at TowerofPower.com or at their MySpace page.
And take a listen to Wendisue's music too! She can be found at MySpace as well.
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