Above: Adam, Allison and Kris

I became a watcher of American Idol this season. It happened without my consent, but here it is the truth. I watch the show every week. I have a couple of friends that watch it as well, however, they will remain nameless. Some of us need to keep our dignity intact. This week, well lets just say the bad smell finally went away although it took a bit of breath holding and faith to get there. Anoop stunk, so did Megan and honey I am not sure you have fans. I think this little singing competition has gone to her head!

I think Danny, Kris and Adam stole the show. I would keep Matt around but, really, he needs to listen to the judges and get back on track. And because the judges wont say it I will. Scott needs to go home. He is not Idol material and he never was. I have a friend that has every right to say it and I agree with her. He got on the show because he is blind and because he is blind no one is honest with him. He would be great in a piano bar but I don’t see singing stardom in his future. I also thought telling him the 80’s do looked great was simply cruel.

I must say that Adam is interesting and I agreed with Kara. I also watch the show to see what he is going to do next. However, my Idol watching friend and I both agree that we could not sit through an all Adam concert. I could take maybe three songs of him screeching at me then I am going home! This guy also needs to stop watching the camera. Make love to something else, watch the audience, stare at your hand, anything, just stop looking in the camera!

To wrap this up, I thought Kris had a killer performance and I really enjoy Allison. What a great singer, not the greatest performance tonight but wow, 16 and all that! I guess that just leaves Lil. Too bad for you tonight, I like her voice but it was old and dull. She needs to step up.

Although I do not vote, for sure and without a doubt the bottom 3 are, Anoop, Megan and Scott. I think of those 3 Anoop should hit the road. Actually I say that because I think he let me down. I liked him and he so hot and cold, he cannot seem to pull it together. Really, it would be a toss up between the great yawn Megan and the smoky piano bar Scott. I am going to say good-bye Megan. Well, come guys I can’t say Scott, he is blind!

Detroit's Decline

I recently viewed these pictures on the Time Magazine website. It is a photo essay of the decline of Detroit. I was shocked at the obvious neglect of the structures in the downtown core of the City. I wonder, where is the leadership in this City? How irresponsible to allow the place to rot and become unlivable. I also wonder what the citizens of the City are thinking. Have they attempted to do something constructive about this situation? Maybe I am being simplistic but it seems to me that if they got together and demanded change, change would come. The pictures tell a story of what a lack of leadership combined with a lack of caring can do to a community. The picture above is William Livingstone House. The preservation society moved the house in an attempt to save it. Unfortunately, the house had to be demolished. They lost a part of Detroit's history. The upside is, apparently I am mistaken, and there is a group of people that care about what is going on.


The picture, below top, is a room at the Lee Palace Hotel. One of Detroit's finest. It was closed in the early 1990's. Furniture and appliances were left in the rooms to rot. I think that is a crime. Why not remove all the workable usable things and donate or sell them off?






To the bottom of the Lee Palace Hotel room is the Wilbur Wright School. It closed in 2005 and this is how they left it. What an outrage that City and School officials allowed this to happen.



Finally, this is the United Artists Theater. It was built in 1928 and closed in the 1970's. It too was left to rot. How sad to lose such a grand piece of architecture and history.

What a huge challenge it would be to turn this all around. It is possible however, it will take strong leadership and someone to reengage the community. Until then I guess it will all continue to rot. To view the entire photo essay check out Time and to view more work from the Photographers check out Yves Marchand and Roman Meffre's site.

Noticing

Somewhere along the way my thinking got lazy. I joined the status quo and started accepting everything at face value. I noticed today that people do some amazing things and that accepting life for what it appears to be is fatal, a form of living dead. I think what prompted this thought was seeing a guy on a skateboard with a camera system. As he moved the camera remained stationary allowing him to film the movement around him without adding to it. Ingenious.

Then across the busy street I notice a performer lying on the ground bouncing a ball on his feet. That is a unique way of making a living! The rest of us walk past him, maybe cast a glance or toss a coin, but we keep our pace. The pace of our lives must not be interrupted. I suddenly wish I had my camera to capture some of these moments. Beside me, arranging herself in the sun is a woman in pink; a cigarette and a pink laptop are the props of her life. Then a child gives into her fear of being left alone and chases after her Mother with both her feet and her voice. Then a young man gives away his station and lack of respect when he leans over and spits on the sidewalk. As he walks way I notice his un-tucked shirt hanging out from under his jacket.

I think most of walk with the gait of acceptance. We cannot change or impact the things around us. As we move through the space we want to, for the most part, go unnoticed. We certainly do not want to have attention drawn to us as the crazy man yells out his threats of damnation. We duck and swerve to ensure we are at a safe distance. In the mall, as in our lives, we select things that are made for the masses. We avoid our individuality, not wanting to flirt with the danger. We wear our garments like our thoughts. We place them on so we will fit in and be accepted.

But like I said earlier I noticed that some people are doing amazing things. They walk on the outside of the branding. They forge their own experiences without concern. They thrive on being left behind. They look for the ones among us that have something different to say and they consider it. I wonder if they have a secret code. Like gay men had with handkerchiefs; they have some way of spotting another of their kind. I think they do. I think it is through a look in the eye or a carefully crafted question that they recognize one and other. They connect silently across the tops of the masses and agree to meet and share. I think that and I know this because Starbucks and Second Cup are always full.

Dying Green Love One Month Later

It has been one month since the great Starbucks betrayal. I have missed my drink and dropping into the various Starbucks locations. There is a void there, a bit of an empty space. I had a lot of laughs with the partners in those stores. The drink on the other hand, I do not miss that much. Once or twice I wanted one, the fleeting memory of enjoying a Chai. I must say that for the most part I am glad to be done with the habit, the addiction.

I am also thrilled with the financial savings. $143.84 over the 31 one days I have not had one. That amount only accounts for the Chai, not any cookies or pastries I would sometimes buy to go with it. I am also happy to have the freedom. Not needing to find a Starbucks to get a drink. And before you start rolling your eyes I hope that you can say you have not and never have had an addiction. I get that Chai might seem like an odd addiction but then I bet you are in Tim’s or brewing yourself a pot of coffee every morning. Now that the Chai is gone I am addiction free. Can you say the same thing?
Ok, if you can then roll your eyes cause I get it, this is a kind of eye rolling issue.

I have considered sending Starbucks a thank you e-mail. Look at all the money they have saved me. In this economy that is a huge favour. I still hope they recover however, as I own stock. So, get thee to a Starbucks and buy something to make up for their $143.84 short fall!