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She must be hearing what I'm hearing



This, by the way, in case you can't tell---and I might not have been able to other than actually doing a deliberate search for her and running across this photo---is Kelly Clarkson. American Idol and movie soundtrack princess.

I'm watching the American Idol auditions. It's silly background noise (and I use the word noise deliberately since it means unpleasant to the ear) and let's be honest, entertainment. Something to amuse me while I do other unpleasant things like slowly shred the collection of credit card preapproval letters my husband collects (in lieu of a more interesting and less fire hazardous hobby).

My point is that I really, really wonder WHY.

No, not why I am watching. That's obvious. I already explained. I like rubber necking, reminding myself a million times over why I never wish to audition for anything ever again and recalling vividly that my one consistent life goal is to avoid fame.

For some reason, something (or someone?) propels these people to not only believe they can sing, but moreover, that they do it well and ought to pursue it professionally.

Simon Cowell may have a reputation as an obnoxious man, but let's be honest, he is an expert on some level. And he is very often correct.

What possesses people---facing three judges and experts---to doubt unanimous opinion that really, they haven't got It plus the singing is simply dreadful? Is it real, or is it endeavoring to save face? I don't always agree with their assessment, but really, some cases, it is simply not subjective. It is fact.

The one notable exception was a very nervous girl from North Carolina who auditioned in Austin. She could hear how off she was. She seemed sweet and I suspect her voice is sweet enough, but nerves shot it right off pitch. She was the only one they showed who got that. I know, creative editing for dramatic effect and all that.

Speaking of fact versus fiction...rewriting/revising history...and so forth...

I love the new Wikipedia rule that .gov and legislative/political locations are now barred from editing entries. Politicians were deleting unpleasant memories such as failed marriages and unfulfilled campaign promises.

We should all be so lucky and able.

But seriously, can Wikipedia still bill itself as "the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit?"

Sure, a little ISP block never stops the truly motivated; and politicians are clearly in the top five of the Truly Motivated.

While on the subject of Truly Motivated, let me go back once more to George Bush.

I wish I could make it funny, but other than that horrified laugh---you know, the one that bursts out of you nervously when someone cracks a joke about dead to a dying person---there is simply no humor left in me when it comes to discussing our government's duplicity.

I refer today, of course, to the news story that, to paraphrase and quote, tells of what smells like a conspiracy (at worst) or "better to beg forgiveness than ask permission" strategy (at best) between Blair and Bush:

A memo of a two-hour meeting between the two leaders at the White House on January 31 2003 - nearly two months before the invasion - reveals that Mr Bush made it clear the US intended to invade whether or not there was a second resolution and even if UN inspectors found no evidence of a banned Iraqi weapons programme.


All manner of charm today.

By Julie Pippert
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© 2006. All images and text exclusive property of Julie Pippert. Not to be used or reproduced.

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