Downfall for American Idol

I read a tv blog from yahoo.com about American Idol called "When 'Idol' goes Idle". This blog talked about how with each season of American Idol fans the contestants become less and less talented, saying that Jordin Sparks wasn't as much of an idol as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia etc. I disagree with him, because I thought Jordin sparks was really talented, and was impressed with the contestants last year including the last two standing David Cook and David Archuleta. The blog goes on to say that the show has suffered a 8% rating decline last season. After the dip the show decided to change up some things, like add a new judge named Kara DioGuardi, show less of the less talented singers, getting to know the contestant's stories more, lets the judges decide the top 3, and shorter result shows. I think this all could possibly cause some people to watch it, but the majority of people not watching it probably won't start just because of these minor changes. I know i will probably end up watching some of it since my mom is a fanatic, and maybe these changes will end up impacting the show more than I thought.

Jett Travolta

The article I read was from MSNBC.com. It talked about how the funeral for John Travolta's son Jett Travolta's funeral took place in their Florida home on Thursday. Jett died last week in their vacation home in the Bahamas. They tried to celebrate his life rather than his death with a bunch of red roses. It was a scientology funeral, which is the Travola families religion. The cause of death for now is a seizure, and Jett was cremated. I of course think this is tragic and love John Travolta as an actor, and can't even imagine their pain right now.

Picture Perfect Part 2

I finished reading Picture Perfect. After Cassie finally figures out the reason for her severe amnesia was because she had been beaten by Alex, her husband. and knowing she was pregnant had decided to run away but then woke up later not knowing anything about herself, which is where the book started out. After her memory comes back she realizes that she's been trying to rebuild her life with the man she was running away from in the first place and knowing that she is still pregnant takes off once again. Cassie ends up going to an Indian Reserve that her friend Will Flying Horse takes her to, as it was the place he grew up. While Cassie is hiding in the one place that Alex will never think to look, Alex is back in LA searching wrecklessly for her, while his career falls to shambles. After a couple months of learning the ways of Will Flying Horse's Grandparents she finally gives birth to a boy whom she names Conner. Finally when Cassie gets back in touch with Alex she tells him where she is but that she needs more time there to take care of their son Conner. Expectedly, Alex can't wait and shows up to take her back home with him, saying he'll do whatever it takes to never lay a hand on her again and to make their marriage work. After living in LA with Conner and Alex for awhile, Alex's abuse starts up again and she finally realizes that if she can't leave for herself she has to leave for Conner. She then tells the public about the the abusive behavior of Alex fully knowing this will ruin his entire acting career. She does this because she knows that to make it ok to leave she must make him stop loving her, although she sees him at the press release and they have a moment where she figures out that he forgives her and understands. This book is really sad because even though these two people love each other so much, and will probably never love someone the same again they can't be together because they at the same time have a toxic relationship. I was really proud of Cassie for leaving Alex for Conner because it was inevidible that Conner would grow up and most likely take the abuse as well.

Picture Perfect

I've decided to keep following my Jodi Picoult book trend, and have been reading another book written by her entitled Picture Perfect. This book is about a woman named Cassie who is an Anthropologist and is married to a famous actor named Alex Rivers. Behind their luxurious perfect lifestyle is a hidden secret that the couple keep, that Alex has anger management and abuses Cassie. Despite the moments when she is being beaten by him, she continues to love him way more than she loves herself. Therefore Cassie continues to stay with him, knowing that two minutes after he starts beating her he'll come back to reality feel sorry and hold her begging for forgiveness. Since this book shows all sides of the story, you get to read about how Alex is truly not a bad guy and loves Cassie so much, but can't control his rage when he loses control. This book really makes you have trouble figuring out your take on the situation, whether she should leave or stay. The reason being that while they are in good times, it's more perfect than you could ever imagine a relationship to be and you find yourself thinking why would anyone ever leave that. It goes back in time and you read about how they met on a movie set in Africa and how they had a private wedding there, and then how they came back to the US and Alex protected her from the insane papparazzi and public. But then when you read through the moments when he loses it and starts beating her, she always forgives him right after and tells him it's not his fault and that she forgives him. It always made me so angry that she could never stand up for herself and let him take full advantage of her forgiving nature.

Joker Nomination

I read an article on yahoo about how Batman The Dark Knight was one of the top movies this year, and is probably going to be nominated for best picture and best director. Also Heath Ledger may be in the running for posthumous nomination for supporting actor in the academy awards. It talks about how Heath would be very proud of the reactions to his acting in the movie and how people were very moved by his performance. I think it would be really appropriate for Heath to get a posthumous award because he did an amazing job in the movie and it would be a good thing in his honor and in the remembrance of all his great acting accomplishments.

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org-oscar-knight-batman-rises-serious-contender-ap

End of Keeping Faith

I recently finished reading Keeping Faith. It was an overall very moving and meaningful book. One part of it that I really enjoyed reading was the chapters that were about the trial of who got full custody of Faith. I really enjoyed this because it really teaches you a lot of things about the law in general, and in this case a lot about munchausins by proxy and other kinds of different conditions. To me, it was like watching a movie, and the whole time rooting for Mariah. After watching numerous episodes of Law and Order: SVU and taking government last year it made it even more interesting to read this whole hearing because I understood how everything worked and could definitely picture it as a law and order episode. There were many emotional parts of it, including when they had Faith walk into the courtroom after her near death experience in the hospital followed by a coma. I won't give away the ending to this book because I think it's definitely a book that everyone should read. But I will say Jodi Picoult never ceases to amaze me with her writing and how she makes you understand everyones complicated side of the story.

Myspace Trial

I read an article about a mother who allegedly made a fake myspace of a boy named Josh, to see if Sarah Drew, her daughter's friend Megan, had been spreading mean rumors about her daughter. After trying to get back at Megan, Sarah Drew's mother proceeded with telling Megan to kill herself and that the world would be better off without her. Soon after, Megan was found hanging in her room with a belt and died the next day. This is the first cyber-bullying trial for the nation. Instead of being blamed for Megan's suicide, the mother is only being charged for violating the myspace terms of service. I think this is stupid, and she should be charged with homicide because she clearly created a person who Megan would fall for with the intent of turning on her. I think she fully knew the consequences of it all. Being an older adult, I think she should be held fully responsible for convincing a young gullible teenager to kill herself, and anything less is ridiculous.