Survivor Recap 3/31/11

Zapatera continued it's losing ways on "Survivor-Redemption Island" last night, and voted off yet another member. Lawyer David was pretty beligerent about his vote against Sarita last week, but despite his tribe's increasing lack of trust for him, they voted the weakest member off... Sarita.
Meanwhile, Matt defeated Stephanie on Redemption Island. He's won five weeks in a row, and whoever wins between Matt and Sarita next week will rejoin the tribe. And it'll just be one tribe because next week is also expected to be the merge. The merge should put a much larger target on Boston Rob's back, and answer questions regarding several contestants that appear ready to jump alliances. Number one is our old friend Phillip who seems to have developed a tremendous rapport... with the camera during his on-camera segments. You have to laugh though at the way he confides in the camera, telling us all the things he's going to do. If only he had any real power. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer!
The big question for next week - if Matt survives his 6th challenge on Redemption Island, will he and Boston Rob (see picture) clash or mend fences??

The Cover of the Rolling Stone!

March 29, 1973 - Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show made it on this day as Rolling Stone Magazine put them on it's cover, hot on the heels of their hit record. Well, at least they showed up in caricature... and the title read "What's-Their-Names Make the Cover". Their irreverent treatment by the magazine was probably because the song is a parody on success in show business as in you haven't made it big until your picture is on the cover. It was writen by Shel Silverstein, and went to number six on Billboard's hot 100 in 1972. It was the follow-up to the band's first hit, Sylvia's Mother. Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show still performs today, and interestingly you'll occasionally find two versions of the band on tour, each with one of the band's two original lead singers.

Survivor Update - 3/24/2011

For once on Survivor the big story was what happened on Redemption Island. Krista and Matt bonded, finding common ground in their religious beliefs (see picture). CBS and Jeff Probst went to great lengths to preview the show as the night that Matt may be eliminated but his duel with Krista really wasn't that close and he was victorious again... fourth win in a row for Matt. Then Krista gave Matt her bible as she left and that may be the armor Matt needs to make his way back to the regular game and win the remaining duels.
Meanwhile back at the ranch... Ometepe beats Zapatera in the immunity challenge, and despite lobbying from lawyer Dave and a feeble attempt to smooth things over with her tribe, Stephanie was voted off.
Some notable occurences- Phillip erupted and chewed out Natalie and Ashley for their lack of work at camp, Andrea realized that Matt (her former cuddle bunny) was actually becoming dangerous and might not have the bond with her that she thought was there, Phillip started acting like Coach used to and showed off his animal tattoos while bragging about his control of the game (he actually has zero), Rob and Mike hid an immunity idol clue from Phillip but he spotted it and called them on it, Ralph and Julie decided that team-mate Sarita has outlived her usefulness to the tribe, Sarita decided she had a cavity so she tuck a stick in her mouth and got an infection (amazingly dumb move) and finally Natalie and Ashley had a spa day that included a healthy dose of underarm hair plucking... ewwwwwwww!
Now, if I had to predict anything for next week I'd bet Matt has his hands full in his duel on redemption island with Stephanie. She's feisty and he's becoming a bit too laid back. We'll see!

Elizabeth Taylor passes away at 79

Elizabeth Taylor has passed away. Surrounded by her children Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton she went quietly at Cedars-Sinai hospital in California. Notorious for her seven marriages, she had recently suffered a number of health issues including congestive heart failure and has been hospitalized for the past six weeks.
Also famous for a long list of memorable movies and roles, one of the most popular and iconic actresses during Hollywood's Golden Age she gave us Butterfield 8, Cleopatra, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Raintree County, Suddenly Last Summer and her first movie; National Velvet.
Those close to her disclosed that her health issues the last several years have been a major concern and that she may have had as many as 40 surgeries during that time.

ROCK STAR ABDUCTED BY ALIENS!

Sammy Hagar revealed the news in his new book, "Red. My uncensored life in rock." Admitting he may sound crazy, the former Van Halen frontman says aliens somehow tapped into his mind through a wireless connection. He thinks they uploaded something into his brain in an experiment. Sammy, at least it ought to sell a few more books!

Are you flying this weekend?

I couldn't resist posting this picture of my childhood favorite, Wile E. Coyote. In these weird times we live in I think this is perfect!

Survivor Update - 3/17/2011

Another crazy night... Ometepe came out on top of Zapatera in the immunity challenge, only the second trip to tribal council for Zapatera. Russell's old alliance of Stephanie and Krista did their best to shake things up, but to no avail as Krista was sent to redemption island. It looks like Stephanie will be next if Zapatera loses again. Again there was a lot of attention paid to Phillip, I'm starting to think he's been sponsored by an underwear company with all the time he spends on camera in his peach colored briefs, not a pretty sight. It's also interesting to watch him act like he's controlling the game when he really doesn't have any alliances to speak of. Very strange.
I guess my favorite part of the show was at the beginning when Matt (see picture) won his third consecutive duel on redemption island, sending Kristina home for good. Matt is looking like he could become a force after all...

Winners to Elton John!!

Congrats to our winners! Over 400 people entered, and here are the winners of a pair of tickets to Elton John at the LaCrosse Center on April 19th!
Pat Steele, Onalaska
Diane Jorstad, Holmen
Vicki Thornton, Holmen
George Keane, Onalaska
Congratulations to our winners!!

Survivor Update - 3/10/11

Well it finally happened. Russell is done, defeated by Matt in a great battle on Redemption Island. Yup, gone... out of there... cannot return. And when he'd lost he cried like a baby, proving to me and the rest of the world that he's just a loser after all. No thank you's to Jeff, just harsh words for his teammates and anyone else he happened to think of. And all the while he kept calling different people idiots, what an ass.
Meanwhile the battle intensified as Boston Rob's tribe lost the next immunity challenge. In one of the least surprising votes ever, Kristina (see photo) was voted off, sent to Redemption Island to battle Matt next week. As usual, I can't believe the Ometepe tribe let Phillip stay in the game... the majority of his tribe is sick to death of this guy and truth be told watching him parade around in peach-colored tidy whities every week is my least favorite thing about Survivor.
Finally, hinting at some major power plays next week by Russell's former Zapatera alliance, Krista and Stephanie, we got to see some previews that led us to believe we're going to see some shocking moves. But after seeing Russell go away, I won't be shocked by anything for a while...

And the next day...

It's one of those vivid memories... and it happened the day after the DC5 was on Ed Sullivan back in '64. As many kids in my high school did, I walked the five blocks to downtown for lunch and saw several magazines that looked just like this picture on the rack in the Ben Franklin store. Every single teen magazine had this theme "Who is better... The Beatles or the Dave Clark Five?"
That may have been my first exposure to aggressive marketing. "How ridiculous, why can't these people just enjoy both band's music for what it is - great rock and roll?" I thought.
And as I walked back to school I remember thinking to myself "and of course the Beatles are better".

March 8, 1964 - The DC5 on Ed Sullivan

The second British Invasion band to invade the USA was the Dave Clark Five. Hot on the heels of knocking the Beatles out of #1 in England when "Glad All Over" replaced "I Want to Hold Your Hand" at the top of the British charts, the DC5 brought us the Tottenham Sound (the Beatles of course had given us the Mersey Sound).
With Mike Smith on lead vocals and Dave Clark on drums they went on to appear a record 18 times on Ed Sullivan and had a string of hits lasting through 1967. Refusing to adapt to the psychedelic music gaining popularity in '67, they faded from the U.S. charts... but not our hearts!

Elton John at the LaCrosse Center!

Yes! Elton John and his Band, Tuesday April 19th, 8:00 PM at the LaCrosse Center! This is called the "Greatest Hits Live" concert featuring number one chart hits and classic album tracks from throughout Elton's career! Tickets will go on sale Monday, March 14th at 11:00 AM. Tickets at ticketmaster.com and all ticketmaster outlets, the LaCrosse Center Box Office and charge by phone at 800-745-3000.

Survivor Update - Episode 3, 3/2/11

I'm still in shock today! Finally, Russell Hantz (see picture) got voted off! And he was blindsided by the type of treachery he's known for. Hilarious! His reaction actually made me laugh out loud! It was cool to watch Russell send his little minion Stephanie to enlist Julie to their alliance, and then believe that Julie fell for it. Russell - they did the same thing to you that you've done many times to others... live with it! So next week we'll see Russell square off against Matt on Redemption Island. And I'll be rooting for Matt all the way, hopefully we'll be rid of Russell Hantz on Survivor for good!
Editorial note - I think it's time Jeff Probst and the Survivor brain trust quit bringing players back from previous seasons. First it's not fair to the new players. Second, why can't we see the new players evolve without the onus of these has-beens? Sure Russell is an idiot and he's doomed to fail by virtue of his game, but right now Boston Rob is completely controlling the other tribe and I doubt they'd be playing the same game without him. By constantly plopping these guys back in the game, Survivor develops a sameness from season to season that I don't think is healthy for the show.

We interrupt 1964 to bring you Blue Cheer!

On March 2, 1968 a song was released that slightly changed and definitely expanded my musical tastes in the 60's. Summertime Blues by Blue Cheer roared up the charts and introduced us to metal rock and roll! Yep, before Steppenwolf, Cream, Led Zeppelin, these rock monsters from California billed themselves as the loudest band on the planet and destroyed eardrums with distortion, fuzz and unbelievaby thunderous drums. At times a trio, and at times a quartet, these rockers looked around at the hippies, love and peace of the day and kicked butt! Even though they only charted the one single, a series of great albums erupted from the band and paved the way for acid rock and heavy metal. I saw them live in 1969 and to this day remember it as one of the best concerts I'd ever seen! Cheers to Blue Cheer... they were one of a kind!

Holy Cow it's an invasion!

The Beatles not only "entered the house" by crossing the Atlantic and being successful in the United States... they left the door wide open. The third British album I purchased in 1964 was the first record by two lads named Peter and Gordon. They had a hit song moving up the charts in England "A World Without Love". As a matter of fact, in February it went to number one. And lo and behold, it started getting airplay in the U.S. in March before it was even released here, and talk about crazy - it was written by Lennon-McCartney!!
I remember thinking, "Hmmmm, what is going on in our rock and roll world!?!" Little did I know, my favorite radio era of all time had begun!