HOLLYWOOD – One week after the surprising elimination of Carly Smithson, America voted off Brooke White.

The show started with the final five singing a Neil Diamond melody.  The girls were vocally weak compared to the guys.

Next was a 2 minute recap of last nights performances, Neil Diamon said there were a couple of prodigies in the bunch.

Ryan took a moment to say the rumors about Paula were untrue (as they are each year). He then brought out Jason, and was told that he was safe (why America, WHY?). David Archuleta was brought out next, and was told that he was safe as well.

After the preview of “So You Think You Can Dance,” Ryan brought David Cook out. David was safe for another week.  Both Syesha and Brooke were brought out together. You know Ryan had to torture a little cause they were only half way through the show.

Natasha Bedingfield came out with her song “A Pocket Full of Sunshine”, and then she kissed Ryan on the cheeks. Ryan jokingly went to Simon to judge her.  They then had the viewer call in filler break. Simon’s first kiss called in, and HE REMEMBERED HER. Tara was his first crush.

Neil Diamond came out to sing “Pretty Amazing Grace.” I’m showing my age, but its odd seeing him with short hair.  Neil’s mother was in the audience, and Neil explained the reason he doesn’t retire is “it’s a fun gig…and don’t listen to Simon,” to the contestants.

Finally the results was revealed, and Brooke was sent home.

HOLLYWOOD – A night with Def Leppard, and Shannon Elizabeth goes home. Cristian needs surgery, but stays in the competition.

Cristian was on the set as they started the review of the night. Of course they had to milk out Cristian’s injury past the first break. When they came back, Jason was asked to dance again, but still no word about Cristian. However, Cristian was on the floor for the elimination.  Kristi was told that she was safe.

Dance Center was next.  As always, it was hilarious. Def Leppard was next, and they started with the classic “Sugar Me.” The pro dancers came out in black leather. Thank god I got it on TIVO so I can watch the girls again later. I just wish Def Leppard performed it live. Yea you can tell it was the recorded version of the song.  Well the pro’s can’t choreography live music after all.

After another hilarious round of Dance Center, it was revealed that Mario and Karina were safe. Def Leppard came out to perform a new song “Nine Lives”. This episode of DWTS is presented by Samantha Harris’s hair.  It was wildly rocking.

Next was a filler about what the star’s do between the shows. Afterwhich, the last four on stage was told that one of them would go home after the break.

Cristian and Cheryl was called off the stage to explain what happened.  He explained that he needs surgery with the busted tendon but his doctor can put it off for the competition. Come to find out they were safe. Marissa and Tony were the first of the bottom two, Shannon and Derek were next and the ones to leave. 

Well Cristian is not getting a Christmas card from her.

E! Online – Karina Smirnoff and Mario Lopez aren’t ready to end their pas de deux just yet.

Despite recent reports claiming the couple had called their relationship quits
—and that she was moving out of his L.A. home—the Dancing With the Stars finalist tells E! News correspondent and DWTS cohost Samantha Harris, “Mario and I are fine. Everything’s good.”

That sentiment was echoed by a follow-up email from Lopez , who’s in New York for his role in Broadway’s Chorus Line: “It’s all good.”

The camera-friendly couple has been linked ever since meeting as partners during the third season of ABC’s reality series.

On a side note, its still not known about Cristian’s condition, but Cheryl Burke said she heard something snap…that’s never a good sign.

“I really truly believe it’s more than just a muscle cramp, because he’s a tough man and he would keep going,” Burke told E! News after the show. “Whether it got dislocated and got popped back in, he had no control over his arm…It was just flimsy.”- Proxima

read more

Are smaller, ingenious car companies, like the mammals after the asteroid hit, going to replace the big dinosaurs? Perhaps they should.

Remember the 1970’s and the oil embargo? I was about 10 years old and people were panicking about gas prices and shortages. US cars (not MiniVans or SUVs) were huge, gas guzzling behemoths. Chrysler had to have the government bail them out. Japanese cars finally moved into the market, and cut into the market share of the Big 3 (well 4 but AMC merged with Chrysler).

In 1975, the goverment passed C.A.F.E. (Corporate Average Fuel Economy), which made the automakers increase fuel economy by a regulated amount or face financial penalty. It was a good idea, it force the auto companies to be innovative.  Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way. The CAFE rating was 18 mpg (1978), 19 mpg (1979), and 20 mpg (1980). At that rate, the lowest passenger car fuel rating should be at least 48 mpg today.

Well it didn’t work that way.

The government gave them two loopholes: (1) Technically Feasible, and (2) Economically Practical. After 1980, the dinosaurs (excuse me the Big Automakers Domestic/Foreign) complained that they could not meet the higher levels technically or economically. So the rating went up and down till it settled at 27.1 mpg where it stayed ever since. Why? Times were good, and no one really thought about it except ecologists. The Dinosaurs even cheated by creating a demand for MiniVans and SUVs, which had an even lower CAFE rating.

Then the asteroid hit.

9/11, Katrina, and the War all drove gasoline prices to over three times the amount before 9/11. The Dinosaurs were caught with a surplus of vehicles that nobody wanted.  The economy slumped, people became unemployed, so now they couldn’t afford them if they wanted them.

Did they respond with innovation. Depends on your point of view.  They now are putting out hybrids (a technology available 10 years), or mult-fuel (E-85) vechicles (technology available many more years, and charging you $10,000 for a 3 dollar part that should be in every vehicle). So if you think that innovation, well your one of the Dinosaurs.  Where are the vehicles that can do 75 or more mpg? Where’s the electric vehicles?

Look out: the Mammals are coming.

Recently, I mentioned an article about a company called Green Vehicles. They are releasing the Triac, an electric car that can go 75 mph/120 miles per charge. It will list for $19,950. Even the Chevy Volt Vapor Car (vapor as in all talk…no show) will be more expensive then that. But Green Vehicles is not the only mammal out there.

Aptera is another electric car that also announced a hybrid that would get 300 mpg. That’s not a typo, three HUNDRED mpg.  Last summer, the Dinosaurs said it wasn’t technologically or economically feasible for them to reach 35 mpg regulation ratings. 300 mpg!!! No its not for families, but think about commutes to work.

Not all mammals are small.

Tata Motors in 2010 will be bringing to the US a vehicle that does not run on gasoline, or electric batteries. No its not hydrogen vehicle…in fact the only “fuel” it uses is compressed air.

That’s right…AIR!  The engine was developed in France, runs up to 90 mph and 200 miles on a “fill up”. No emissions! No toxic batteries. Just AIR.  If your not familiar with Tata Motors, you will be in the near future. They are an India based company that is world-wide.

So is this the fall of the Dinosaurs? Well let’s say this. If Ford had plans for a compressed air car, it would take 5 years to make the concept, then maybe put out one in 10 after that….yea its the fall of the Dinosaurs and good riddance.

Here’s a few vids to ponder:

From Popular Mechanics:

HOLLYWOOD – After Marlee Matlin left, and after hints of a romance starting, the stars hit the floor for week 7 with two dances. Its a night of surprises, disappointments, and injury.

Marissa and Tony
Dance 1 – Tango
Score  27

I think see did very well, and I think Tony did too.  Len thought it was her best dance. Bruno thought it was a great job. Carrie Ann thought it was fantastic.

Dance 2 – Rumba
Score  25
Total  52

I got to hand it to Tony, that dance worked because of him. Bruno thought they could have pushed more “sex”. Carrie Ann thought it was great. Len thought it was too careful and not enough hip.

Cristian and Cheryl
Dance 1 – Viennese Waltz
Score  25

Cheryl of course was wonderful, and Cristian did well but as Len would point out it was missing parts of the Viennese Waltz.  Bruno thought he was Clark Gable, Carrie Ann thought there wasn’t enough energy, and Len would have liked to seen more content.

Dance 2 – Samba
Score  21
Total  46

To me he was a bit too cautious, and stiff. Then he grabbed his arm in pain, and couldn’t finish the dance.  He said it was a pulled muscle…it looked like the reaction of someone having a coronary.  But the EMT did say was severe strained muscle.  Later in the evening, he was sent to the hospital.

Kristi and Mark
Dance 1 – Viennese Waltz
Score  26 – (Len gave her an 8 )

Umbrella? Ok, but I felt the rest was pretty amazing.  Carrie Ann thought the turns were off. Len thought parts were too long. Bruno loved it, but did point out the turns again. Were they being too hard to make it easier for the other contestants?

Dance 2 – Cha Cha Cha
Score  28  – (Len gave another 8 )
Total  54

Hot, but some of her moves were a bit mechanical.  Standing O by judges and audience.  Len thought there was alot of time wasting. Bruno thougth it was fantastic. Carrie Ann said, “Three snaps up.” Oh brother.

Mario and Karina
Dance 1 – Foxtrot
Score  24

It was good but a little forced for Mario. Len thought it lacked elegance. Bruno thought it was a pleasure to watch, but lacked control. Carrie Ann thought he had to be a little stiffer.

Dance 2 – Mambo
Score  27
Total  51

Much better for these two. Bruno thought this was his comfort zone. Carrie Ann thought one part they got out of synch. Len thought it was wonderful

Shannon and Derek
Dance 1 – Tango
Score  27

“Your very irriatating today, ” Shannon said during the practice session. “…not when you go home alone tonight…” Whoops, ok that was as good as an admission.  Footwork to me seemed a bit off on the dance, and she screwed up by not taking his hat off. Bruno thought it was fascinating.  Carrie Ann thought it was her best dance yet.  Len thought they did terrific.

Dance 2 – Mambo
Score  24
Total  51

If I were these two, I would have overdone the hip action. They didn’t.  Carrie Ann thought her lines still needed work. Len thought she had more hip action. Bruno thought she was a bit dangley. Is that a word?

Jason and Edyta
Dance 1 – Quickstep
Score  29

Wow on the jump out there Jason, footwork at the begining was a little off but he really pulled it off.  Carrie thought it was FANTASTIC.  Len said with performances like that your in the finals. Bruno thought it was “quick lightening!”

Dance 2 – Paso Doble
Score  26
Total  55

Oh Brother, football music. Nevertheless it was good, and he did look powerful out there.  Len thought it was a bit posing.  Bruno thought it was a winner. Carrie Ann thought he sold it, but Edyta lifted her foot.

Predictions, whoa this is hard but it may be Marissa, but I think Cristian will bow out.  It really didn’t look like a pulled muscle.