American Idol Is Back

This week is the third week for American Idol 2009. And as I checked the schedule, they would be airing from 8PM eastern time from Tuesday to Thursday.

For me, that is good because I really like American Idol. It just makes me excited to wait for the show and watch it. It's a singing contest but it embodies many things America and many things universal.

American Idol is about dreams and working one's way through achieving her/his dreams. It is a personal story of a struggling single mom, a loving son whose mother is battling cancer, and a teenager going through financial crisis. It is about family and friends supporting each other. It is about the weird side of America with all the kinds of people auditioning with or without singing abilities.

Guess what, I strated this blog because of American Idol itself. I watch American Idol because it is about American culture and universal culture. I know it gets criticisms (which are very grounded) and questions about its selection process but I still watch it. I like the show and I know most people do.

Nothing Short of Divine

If you have watcehd the Divide Design by Candice Olson on HGTV, then you would agree with me that Candice Olson's design is nothing short of divine.

Yes, because her designs are on the high-end. It is not one of those programs that has to work on a budget. It is a design that go-as-you-please kind of thing and the sky is the limit. I watch programs like Designed to Sell, Spice Up My Kitchen, Design on a Dime, among other HGTV shows and the budget always comes forth before anything else. Budget is not discussed in Divine Design (not on my program, baby).

But budget aside, I'm really amazed at the transformation of the place after Olson tackles it. A small dark basement turned into an oasis and a dingy kitchen turned into a housewife's dream. I'm trying to design my living room space and I'm trying to think what would Candice Olson do if she has to do it? Yes, I want to think like her because she really is good at what she does. And if I can make my place look heavenly or divine, the money will be well worth it.

Australian Open: Who's the next champion?

Today marks the second week of Australian Open and each day, the excitement is growing. Who would be this year's Australian Open champions?

I don't have a favorite on the men's side but on the women's side, my favorite is Dinara Safina. On this tournament, Safina has changed the way her last name is pronounced, stressing on the sa rather than the fi.

I watched the round of 16 between Safina and Cornet. Safina saved two match points in the third set and worked her way from 3-5 to 7-5 to win the match. Now that's what I call a class act. That's what makes Safina above her counterparts, her abiity to even out a game from a losing perspective and finally win it.

Looking at the roster of the quarterfinal winners, I also like Marion Bartoli and Elena Dementiva. But as I said, I will be going for Dinara Safina. I think this competition is Safina's break, her chance at a grand slam.

Bizarre Food in China

Andrew Zimmerman's Bizarre Food episode on China made my mouth water. I know some of the food he featured were gross like insects and animal's penises but there are food that are really yummy, especially the street food in Beijing. Makes me want to pack my bags and go to China.

I always watch Zimmerman's show on the Travel Channel. Actually it is the only show I regularly watch over the Travel Channel. It is very interesting, it is very educational. The show introduces cuisine of different nations (and even some parts of the United States) to America. Food is very much a part of culture and it plays the most significant part of who we are.

Actually, basic Anthropology would say that nothing is bizarre when it comes to culture. Civilization is defined by each civilization and the gauge people use to measure what is civilized or not and what is barbaric or not is dependent on their culture. That being said, no culture is on top of the other.

Bizarre or not, Bizarre Food by Andrew Zimmerman gives a special twist to what is yummy or delicious. It takes a strong stomach to eat what you don't grew up on. And it takes a very broad mind to appreciate it.

Bravo TV Shows

Ever since we subscribed to high definition channels January of 2008, I had missed watching my favorite shows on Bravo and that's because it was not on HD. I just like watching the sharper pictures on HD and the non-HD channels turn me off.

Anyway, a couple of months ago, Bravo went HD so this last few days I have been watching marathons of Bravo shows that I really like, namely Top Chef, Project Runway, and Real Housewives of Orange County.

Speaking of Real Housewives, I don't watch the housewives of New York and Atlanta. I guess I don't have the enthusiasm to know these women. Too many of them to know. But maybe some day I would.

There are other shows on Bravo that I like, like Flipping Out. I wonder if there would be new episodes or a new season though.

Giants Lost: playoff ends for me

Last Sunday, I did not wish nor pray for anything but only one thing: that the New York Giants win.

I know that sounds silly but I was thinking that the Giants, which is my NFL favorite team, needed all the luck they could get as the first two division champions -- the Titans and the Panthers -- lost in their own home fields. So I thought my humble prayer can help them a bit.

But who knows, maybe even more people prayed for the Philadephia Eagles. Or the force was really with them. They won, my team lost, and I had a disappointing Sunday.

I was griping out loud and my husband, whose team, Chicago Bears did not make it to the playoff told me, "It's just a game, get over it." As I looked at him, I remembered how I did not care about football before and I thought how ridiculous people would put such importance and interest to a ball game. I thought of those commentators in coats and ties looking so honorable just talking about a game but are making insane amount of money doing so. I thought about my husband who introduced me to the world of professional football and that two years ago, if the Giants lost, I would have not cared less.

So I told my husband, "I will get over it tomorrow, but today I will be sad."

Painful Loss for the Panthers

Saturday night I watched the Carolina Pantehers and the Arizona Cardinals play for the division playoff. It was painful to watch.

The homefield advantage didn't work for the Panthers. About six minutes left on the fourth quarter, the stadium was 90 per cent empty. Fans had left, maybe brokenhearted, but what was left to watch, anyway?

In the beginning of the season, I watched the Panthers played twice. Both times, they lost. Each time, I could see the sadness in Delhomme's eyes, who is the quarterback for the Panthers. I really felt sorry for him so I pledged to myself that next time I watch the Panthers, I will cheer for them.

I did not get to see the Panthers play again throughout the season but I was happy that they did well after those losses as they made it as the NFC South Division champions. Good for them.

Then last Saturday, it was the worst game they ever played. And to think it was Delhomme's birthday. Maybe it was me -- I should have not watched it. Maybe they had done better. It was as if someone put a curse on the game.