I’m not big on the Idol. Started in winter, when it was cold and I didn’t have the DVD player back then. In between surfing the net and reading a book, (yes, I admit) I kept an eye on the show. I loved David Cook since I heard his “Hello” version. Check his version on Billie Jean, too -although Chris Cornell had some influence here.

I also have to admit I never have enough patience to watch the show from beginning to end. YouTube was invented for people like me (also TiVo and other cool stuff). I usually go online after the show and check finalists’ performances of the night. It is kind of funny how the songs reach YouTube before the official website.

The show is now at the final four and I am still a big David Cook supporter. My guess - the winner will be decided between him and the other David (Archuleta), and I am curios how America will vote: innovation, good rock, star attitude vs a very good voice.

Besides my crush for Mr. Cook here, the Idol is just another American marketing product (and a popularity contest). You know the drill! I bet this year the winner will make it into the PRO TV main news journal, just like in the past.

I’ve been told Madison has 2 seasons: winter (6+ months) and construction season (the rest).

When I got here, back in July, East Wash, one of the major avenues in town was under construction. I don’t know if they finished working by the time the first snow hit the town. In April, when snow was almost gone and sun was trying to shine and install spring here, I detected a bunch of workers around. Also, every construction site in town is in fever, day and night. I am glad I don’t live by Memorial Union anymore, as some people were loudly working on a new downtown apartment building last summer - as some living in the area told me, they keep on working there, still loud. The construction company is covered by a public advertisement.

Johnny Depp by the Capitol. My guess is they’re shooting Public Enemies. This is not Mr. Depp first visit in Wisconsin since I am around. A while ago the crew spent some days shooting in Columbus and courtesy of my co-worker Angela I got a portrait picture of Johnny.

And since I was talking about famous people … a while ago I missed the chance to see my name on the Wisconsin State Journal. I ran Crazylegs and I lost the chip that was supposed to counter my time. Whitout the chip, there is not an official proof I was in the race (except of some very expensive photos). And I am subject to a $30 fine for losing that chip.

I went to see Le scaphandre et le papillon, a 2007 French movie - the story of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby.  Bauby suffers a stroke and all his body is paralyzed, the only part of the body he can use is the left eye. He passes from “I want to die” to “I decided to stop pitying myself. Other than my eye, two things aren’t paralyzed, my imagination and my memory.” With a blink of the left eye and some help, he writes a book.

The film made me think of all my lazy and lack-of-motivation moments. This guy had nothing left than a blink of an eye, and still managed to do something great. It’s a true inspirational story, the kind that makes you consider what one have and can do.

Check this conversation between Bruni and his mom - the post called “What begins in fear usually ends in folly”, published on 02/22/08 (I don’t get why I cannot just put the link to the post directly …). The conversation bellow is copy/paste from his blog.

Me - Mom, I’m going to Venezuela for 10 days for an AIESEC conference.
Mom - You can’t go to Venezuela. I heard it’s very dangerous there and with the war and everything, you really shouldn’t be traveling outside the US.
Me - Mom, it’s not near Iraq.
Mom - Are you sure?
Me - Yes, Mom. Venezuela is not near Iraq. AIESEC wouldn’t host a conference in a place that is not safe.
Mom - Well, ok then. But be careful.
The day before I leave: NEWS BULLETIN: Riots in the downtown streets of Caracas(the capital of Venezuela) after Chavez declared himself the winner of an election in which 99% of the people voted for him. The CIA issues a strong warning against traveling to Venezuela in the immediate future.
Mom - Have fun and be sure to take a lot of pictures!
Me - Will do. (And then I hopped on the plane and created many a story; none involving riots)

And check Katy’s comment, too. “You can’t go to Venezuela. I heard it’s very dangerous there and with the war and everything, you really shouldn’t be traveling outside the US.” - one of the first things I’ve been told in the very first day in Madison was not to walk alone on the street at night. Last summer a girl was killed and some were reported missing. Happens everywhere. But just hearing “you really shouldn’t be traveling outside the US” made me laugh. Since when this is the safest place in the world?

To be continued.