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This season’s American Idol just went weird tonight. Ryan Seacrest first placed Matt Giraud and Kris Allen on one side and Danny Gokey with Allison Iraheta on another. Then he asked Adam Lambert where he felt he belonged based on last night’s performance. Adam chose to be with Danny and Allison, but he made the wrong choice. Apparently, he belonged to Kris and Matt’s side which is the bottom 3. What?!!

Kris and Adam at the bottom 3 was way off. Of the 5 remaining contenders, it was Allison and Matt who were frequently at the bottom. Now, for the first time, Kris and Adam are down there. Simon did say Danny is a strong contender because of the sympathy factor. It would be a big disappointment if he wins over Adam who is the most original and consistent of all contenders — that is an objective opinion considering I really don’t enjoy rock music. Danny, on the other hand, remained stagnant all throughout. I have heard nothing amazing from him for weeks. As a matter of fact, I don’t even remember the songs that he sang. The most memorable for me were Adam’s Tracks of My Tears and Mad World. Kris was unforgettable in Ain’t No Sunshine.

Anyway, next week, it’s going to be rock and roll. If Simon is right, it could be Allison who will be packing next. But Kris will have to raise his performance a notch higher, else, the red-head teen can bump him off in this genre.

It’s the Rat Pack tonight for the Top 5 in American Idol 2009.  Their guest mentor for this round is Jamie Foxx.  Since there was a lot more time to kill now, they show a video of the contenders getting a surprise from Jamie.

The competition starts with Kris Allen singing “The Way You Look Tonight.”  It was an outstanding performance.  Danny Gokey really has to keep up now.  Allison follows with “Someone to Watch Over Me.”  It was another great performance.  But I hope the audience gives her a chance seeing how she keeps getting on the bottom 3 despite good performances.

Matt Giraud is next with “My Funny Valentine.” It was pitchy and I bet this is as far as he goes. Then again, there have been surprises in American Idol in the past years. Danny Gokey sings “Come Rain, Come Shine.” He doesn’t make any big changes to the song, but he definitely showed off his vocal prowess here. And finally, we have Adam Lambert singing “Feeling Good.” He did tell Foxx he was going to rock this one. It another unique performance from Adam and he remains consistent in showing the audience the type of performer he is. Though I am not much of a rock fan, I say he is up there among the best veteran rockers of the century. There is no doubt Lambert will make the finals.

Simon had a separate interview prior to the performances tonight where he predicts the showdown to be between Lambert and Gokey. Yet, he said Kris Allen made a big jump and could be the third. Here is my favorite performance tonight from Kris. I think I will add Adam Lambert’s great performance for his fans out there.

As the outbreak of swine flu claimed more lives in Mexico City, world health officials race to prevent the flu strain from reaching other borders.  The US prepared for the worst as news of contamination have already reached their shores.  The swine flue was reported to have spread already to at least 4 countries, though it unusually did not result in deaths similar to Mexico.

To prevent widespread outbreak, the US is preparing as if it will already become a pandemic.  This will ensure that extreme measures are taken to contain the new flu strain.  Meanwhile, other countries have become strict in allowing visitors in their country by placing those with symptoms in strict quarantine.

In Mexico, there have been 152 deaths reported due to swine flu.  Though the country is considered ground zero of the outbreak, Mexican officials claim the origin of the outbreak is still undetermined.  They even believe it could have come from the US.

The World Health Organization raised the alert level to Phase 4, meaning there is sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus causing outbreaks in at least one country.   It was the first time on Monday that it has ever been raised above Phase 3.  Phase 6 would mean a full-blown pandemic with outbreaks in at least 2 regions of the world.

Strangely, 50 cases were reported in the US but none were fatal.  Worldwide there were 79 confirmed cases, including six in Canada, one in Spain and two in Scotland. Thirteen are suspected in New Zealand, and one is suspected in both France and Israel.

Swine flu symptoms include a fever of more than 100, coughing, joint aches, severe headache and, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea.  The new flu strain is a combination of pig, bird and human viruses that humans may have no natural immunity to.  Nevertheless, Mexico reported that the number of new cases has declined the past 3 days.  To prevent mass contagion, Mexico canceled school nationwide until May 6 and is currently considering shutdown of public transportation.

Most residents of Mexico City wore blue surgical masks, despite reports that it offers little protection.  Many victims are in their 30s and 40s in Mexico while no deaths outside the country due to the flu were ever reported.

WHO officials claim that it could take 4 to 6 months before the first batch of vaccines are available.

Simon Cowell expressed embarrassment over his initial reaction to Susan Boyle during her audition in Britain”s Got Talent.  He wasn’t expecting someone who looked like her to be able to sing the way she did.  However, he warned that she still had work to do before winning, despite her increasing popularity.  With all the stories about the hair, the eyebrows, and her unmarried life, it may stray the 47-year old from winning the competition.

Boyle has 4 weeks to prepare for the biggest night of her life.  Cowell suggests that Boyle prepare for the semi-finals and focus on her song and come back stronger singing as the person she is, not the person people want her to be.

Following the disco performances of American Idol contenders, tonight is the double eliminations after judges saved Matt Giraud last week from elimination.  Yesterday, I guessed that the bottom 3 were Matt Giraud, Lil Rounds, and Anoop Desai.  I predicted Matt and Lil to exit tonight.  I was right about Lil and Anoop, but Matt didn’t make the bottom 3.  Apparently, he got more votes tonight than Allison Iraheta (unbelievable!).

Ryan Seacrest changed his format tonight.  Instead of calling the bottom 3 and declaring the safe contender, he called out Lil first and immediately announced her elimination.  After the dance and song numbers, he announced that the next contender to be booted out was between Anoop and Allison.  Since it was between these 2 contenders, it was obvious that the better singer would stay.  Anoop was sent packing tonight with Lil.  Too bad really.  I think he was the better performer than Matt.

This week, the Top 7 in American Idol Season 8 performed disco as they vie for the 5 slots and avoid the double elimination. After Matt Giraud’s save by the judges last week, 2 contenders will make the exit tonight.

After watching the show, it seemed transparent who the bottom 3 will be. The best 4 singers shone so brightly, it was pretty obvious that the bottom 3 will be Lil Rounds, Anoop Desai, and Matt Giraud. It seems the judges’ save was a waste last week as Matt failed to redeem himself. Of the 3, I think Anoop has the best chance to make it past this week while Lil’s defiance and attitude makes her the shoe in to go packing. Even if Anoop survives this week, it will take a miracle for him to get past next week. The top 4 are solid performers.

My favorite performances this week is Kris Allen’s acoustic version of “She Works Hard for the Money” and Adam Lambert’s unique rendition of “If I Can’t Have You.” Kris has been performing well the past weeks that he is starting to overshadow Danny Gokey’s initial popularity. Though Danny remains a strong contender because of his vocal talent, he hasn’t been delivering stunning or outstanding performances the past weeks. Meanwhile, Adam’s unique performances still keep him a cut above the rest. It may be a tough call guessing who America will vote for as the new idol. But if Danny continues to perform at this level, it will go down the wire between Adam and Kris.

Philip Markoff, suspect in the slaying of Julissa Brisman, was arrested by police after he was stopped south of Boston on Interstate 95. Brisman, a 26-year old masseuse who advertised her services at Craigslist, was found dead on April 14 from a gunshot wound at the Boston Marriott Copley Place.

Markoff, a Boston University medical student, was trailed by police for several days before he was arrested. His arraignment is scheduled on Tuesday in a court in Boston. He will likewise be charged for the kidnapping and armed robbery of another woman tied up in a hotel last April 10.

Police suspect that he may have had more victims and are encouraging them to come forward. According to police, the man who they identified as Markoff was seen on the video surveillance on both hotels where the crime took place. Forensic experts also linked Markoff to both crimes.

An email to Good Morning America was recently read on air claiming to be Markoff’s fiancee, Megan McAllister. The woman insisted that Markoff was innocent and could not hurt a fly.

Regardless of what happens to this case, I suggest everyone take the necessary precautions in Craigslist.

The prequel to the movie “The Da Vinci Code” will soon be in theaters on May 15, 2009. Still based on Dan Brown’s famous novel, “Angels and Demons” features the first adventure of Robert Langdon in Rome as he investigates a murder that would take him to the dark history of the Vatican. Tom Hanks reprises his role as Langdon while Ewan McGregor plays the role of the Camerlengo.

Compared to Da Vinci Code, many opine that this is the better novel. Though I was not pleased with the movie version of Da Vince Code, I hope the movie version of Angels & Demons will do more justice to the novel. Here’s a sneak peak of the upcoming movie.

Recent IPhone news over at MacRumors  reported the new features of the latest IPhone OS 3.0 beta.  Most of these are related to music and the podcast.   Here are some of the important ones:

• Variable scrubbing speed during iPod playback th.at will allow fine tuning of navigation within a track.
• Variable playback speed for podcasts.
• Tap a single icon to rewind podcast playback by 30 seconds.
• Additional data for podcasts saved on iPhone that display run time, time left, and publication date.

Other features include the ability to close all open Safari windows, battery percentage indicators, push notifications preferences, and expanded data detectors.

Ashton Kutcher finally grabs the crown as of King of Twitter after edging out CNN as he became the first to pass the million mark in followers Friday morning. He previously trailed behind CNN but made a rally the past days with friends campaigning for him.

However, Oprah is expected to challenge his throne as the big neophyte. She gained more than 130,000 followers in less than one day. Twitter is currently the newest technological sensation with visitors and members increasing exponentially over time. In the past four months, searches increased more than 5,559 percent over the same period last year. Keep on tweeting!

After Susan Boyle caught the attention of judges in Britain’s Got Talent (including Simon Cowell) and the audience, she has become the newest singing sensation. She now has talk show interviews scheduled for CNN, Larry King Live, and even rumors of her being in Oprah. What endeared her to so many people? I believe its the astounding voice coming out of a person who looks so ordinary you wouldn’t even look at her twice. She is so simple that she even refused a physical makeover offered to her. Susan claims she doesn’t want to change and hopes that people will accept her for what she is.

Following hundreds of thousands watching her performance of “I Dreamed a Dream” in the web, a recording she made 10 years ago for a charity CD now hits the web. Her haunting rendition of the blues standard “Cry Me A River” (not the Justin Timberlake song) is now all over the web and everyone is curious to listen to it. Here is the song for everyone to enjoy.

In the past years, the Nintendo Wii undoubtedly won the console wars over competitors Sony PS3 and the Microsoft XBox 360. Many believe the triumph was largely attributed to games that caters to the entire family while its competitors have hard-core gamers as their target audience.

Nevertheless, after 16 months, the Wii may be slipping as the PS3 overtook sales for the first time in March 2009. With the hardware problems of the XBox 360, it may appear that the competition now has come down only between 2 video consoles. The Wii’s slip may be due to the quality of games available for the console. Developers have continuously encountered problems with the Wii’s configuration. This leaves the PS3 at the type of the industry with its wide variety of quality games.

I have always believed the PS3 to be the stronger console with its blue ray playing abilities and astounding game collection. In the end, is Sony still the King of the Consoles? The ball is in Nintendo’s court. We’ll have to wait and see how they deliver against this challenge.

Hair exposure to dry heat or the sun requires immediate nourishing. Did you know that the solution may just be inside your kitchen cupboard? Olive oil is considered the best for dry hair. It nourishes, conditions, and strengthens the strands. Here is an easy concoction that will result in healthier, more manageable hair, plus an invigorated scalp. The mixture below may be good for 1 or 2 treatments, depending on the length and thickness of your hair.

INGREDIENTS:

½ cup olive oil
5 drops frankincense essential oil (it may be substituted by other essential oils if you desire)
1 plastic shower cap

Pour olive oil into a jar with a lid, then add essential oil. Put lid on the jar and shake well to disperse the essential oil. Let sit for 24 hours in a cool, dark place. Shake again before use.

Rinse hair with warm water. Warm (not hot) 1 tablespoon of oil treatment in the palms of your hands. With your fingertips, gently massage the oil into the scalp in a circular motion. Repeat until the entire scalp has been massaged. Rub the ends of your hair with the remaining oil.

Cover your hair with the shower cap and allow the oil to seep in for at least 30 minutes. Rinse well, then shampoo as usual.

Depending on the dryness or condition of your hair, you can do this treatment once or twice a week. With the treatment, you will notice that your hair will start to recover its healthy shine and softness. Who says you need to go to the salon to get hair treatment?

There was a time when TV shows were considered inferior to movies on all aspects of the showbiz industry. Now, with the popularity of crime and comedy TV series, talent competitions, and reality shows, television may have finally overtaken the movies in terms of viewership and big bucks. At the top of list making millions is Fox’s singing competition, American Idol.  Idol has a combined average audience of 26 million this season, making $7 million in revenues for every thirty minutes.  Whoa!  And guess how much a 30-second ad would cost?  It’s a whopping $623,000.

Here are the rest of the list.

2.  “24″ – Average viewers at 11.7 MM with 30-minute revenues of $3.7 MM and 30-seconds ads costing $366,000.

3.  “Desperate Housewives” – Average viewers at 15.2 MM with 30-minute revenues of $2.9 MM and 30-second ads costing $251,000.

4.  “Grey’s Anatomy” – Average viewers at 13.4 MM with 30-minute revenues of $2.7 MM and 30-second ads costing $224,000.

5.  “Two And A Half Men” – Average viewers at 14.1 MM with 30-minute revenues of $2.6 MM and 30-second ads costing $227,000.

When you think about it, it may pose greater risk creating a movie than a television series.  Movies generally cost more and the possibility that it bombs in the box office would be higher considering the number of films that have flopped lately.

After more than a year of wall climbing in their school gym and several tournaments, my son has now decided to do the real adventure, actual mountain climbing. I am hesitant at first considering the many dangers I felt a 14-year old may not be ready for yet. But with a lot of coercion from his coach and team mates, I had to give in.

Here goes the hard part again, shopping for Mountain Climbing Gear for my son. I had to read up and search the internet on all the necessities my son would bring. Of course, the first advise was to travel light. I don’t want my son lagging behind during their hikes and getting left behind because I almost threw in the kitchen sink inside his packs.

I already got him the Petzl harness months ago and it proved to be really durable. I’m certain it will still hold well — a really worthwhile purchase considering the price. His coach told him, it was essential to get him a pack that was big enough but sturdy enough to hold the essentials. I didn’t have to search long because I knew I had to get the best and bought him a North Face pack bigger than the one he uses for school. After getting him decent clothes to protect him from the weather, his coach told me he would take care of the heavier things.

My son is set to go on his first adventure in a few weeks, this nagging fear in my stomach keeps increasing daily. He tells me stories about experiences of his friends who have made the climb, but I still don’t feel reassured. Well, they say a mother has to learn to let go at a certain point. I am learning.