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Am I The Only One?

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Electrics Cars

Sure, we all like the idea of a hybrid car. Higher gas milage, less emissions, a nice little whirring sound when pulling away from a stoplight. But before you buy, are you ready to have the "hybrid" conversation with your mechanic?

"Hi, I have a Toyota Highlander and I need to replace the do-whizzit."
"Yeah, hang on... that'll be $160, and I can get you in tomorrow."
"Really? Only $160?"
"$160."
"It's a hybrid..."
"$425."
"Eeeesh, I was afraid of that."
"Yeah, and bring it in a week from Tuesday, I'll have to order the part."

Friday, August 18, 2006

Quick Change: Piers is Clueless

OK, first of all I need to stress that I *DO NOT* watch "America's Got Talent" on NBC. I have a general loathing for Idol-style reality shows where the very format favors the 98 Degree-es of the world over genuine artistry. I am, however, a fan of good illusionists -- and the husband-wife duo "Quick Change" is absolute tops.

For those blissfully unaware, America's Got Talent puts a variety of acts in front of a judging panel consisting of David Hasselhoff, Brandy, and British bad-boy Morgan Piers. After their second performance, Piers asked them to make some changes before returning, and Quick Change obliged with a modified version of their knockout performance. Watch Piers get ugly afterwards:



What Piers doesn't understand is that changing the outfit *IS* a major change for an act centered around the illusion of changing outfits. As finals coach Steven Valentine (from Crossing Jordan) put it: "You don't applaud the world's greatest lion-tamer, then ask him to bring monkeys next week. I'm the English guy that gets it." Changing into a full-length union jack dress purely for Piers' benefit might very well be a monumental change, but Piers doesn't grasp that because he still has no idea how it's done.

Well, did we ever see some changes for the finals!



With live singers, confetti, quick changing Brandy, and tons of costume modifications, the act was a huge overhaul; but Piers apparently want them to change *everything*, right down to the concept of changing clothes. He's trapped in a mental non-sequitur, where a yodeller yodelling a slightly different country song is thumbs up, but a quick change artist that still performs a quick change is just a tired retread.

Piers has decided that he just doesn't like these guys. Maybe it's because David has the guts to challenge Piers ridiculous expectations -- something I do not recommend to anyone trying to win over any kind of judge.

In any case, I don't think Quick Change had what it takes to win these kinds of contests... namely, an 11-year old singing voice.