Crystal Bowersox - An American Idol for the ages

How did a blonde haired, dreadlocked cross between Jewel and Allison Kraus sneak into the American Idol competition?

I mean, how did a talent like hers go unsigned to a major record label before her audition on the show?

Granted, there are other talented performers on the show like Lee DeWise, Tim Urban and "Big Mike" Lynch, but Crystal Bowersox is in a class all her own.

I'm not a music producer, manager or critic, but I will tell you what my own ears hear. This girl is something special.

And though she may be among the best in the nation, I will tell you there are countless local and regional bands that will knock your socks off with more talent, charisma, live performance ability and chutzpah than 95% of the signed, recorded and played artists out there.

Crystal Bowersox is American music. She is soulful, genuine, edgy, herself, bluesey and even bluegrassy. She is that rare talent that makes your hair stand on end and your eyes go moist when you hear her voice.

Is the Tea Party Destined to Inspire That Which it Most Fears: A more European American Political System?

A few days ago, I read the April 16, 2010, USA Today article covering the Tea Party's 2010 Tax Day protests in DC (http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-04-15-tea-party_N.htm), and I cannot comprehend the fervor based on factless misinformation propagated by this group.

I personally received the largest tax return I've ever gotten this year, as I'm sure many Tea Partiers also did, and I'm told 98% of Americans actually paid less taxes this year than last. Also, there are more tax credits and deductions for small business, middle-class citizens, and home and car buyers than I can remember.

I am all for the reemergence of the eroding Middle Class, reforming an antiquated Federal Income Tax first established in the 19th Century to support the war cause and since expanded with nearly every conflict, and SEVERELY lessening the power and influence of corporate lobbyists in DC.

However, the Tea Party seems, to me, to be a hoodwinked digital militia based on vitriol and coded language fueled by FOXy sound bite propaganda and fear-mongering rhetoric with a baseless agenda.

Do the TPs have a plan? Have they proposed a bill or a solution? Do they have a firm grasp on the Constitution which is also, quite possibly, a bit outdated? Do they care that Ronald Reagan is rolling over in his grave? And where were they from 2001-2008?

All that said, I'm not sure the Tea Partiers come without some benefit to American politics. The greatest contribution to the American politcal system I envision coming from the sanguinary voice of the TP's/Tea Baggers, is the inevitable emergence of other non-Dem/non-GOP/non-centrist groups, and hopefully parties, to extend the political discussion beyond the dominant two-party system traditionally, but now less so, battling from just over either side of middle.

Then, the Tea Partiers may find they have sparked the creation of that which they fear the most: a more European style of American governance.

Lefty

I just wanted to espouse on Lefty, aka, Phil Mickelson's triumphant victory at Augusta on Sunday. It was amazing...not really espousing, but just wanted to put it on the record. What an amazing victory, and Phil becomes our generation's Arnie.