America Gets It Wrong

After weeks of being wowed by Melinda Doolittle in one of the most talented group of idol contestants yet, 60 million American "voters" (or 3 voting 20 million times each) went for the younger, hipper but ultimately less talented Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks for the final.

It's not the first time American voters have turned this into a popularity contest rather than a singing contest. Melinda was head and shoulders above everyone - in the end her age, her wholesome naivity and her more classic voice probably counted against her with the cell-phone generation.

Shame on you.

'Course last years third place getter Elliot Yamin is the only one of the top three to make a significant splash in 07 in the "real world" so watch for Melinda to succeed. That said, the other two both have star quality and while the final will be a fizzer with Jordin sure to cruise in on vocal ability, it wouldn't surprise me to see all three make it...

Britney Slip-Lynch

I mean "lip-sync" - here's a shocker hot off the wires! Surely its a cruel joke? M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E...

This is me, OK - this blog is for real...

A World Cup Prediction

Alright...so if games go to form, here's a possible World Cup Scenario:

Pool A
South Africa
England

Pool B
Australia
Wales

Pool C
NZ
Scotland

Pool D
France
Ireland

Quarterfinals

QF 1: Australia v England - the 2 underperformers in World Rugby last year - toss a coin
QF 2: NZ v Ireland - have never beaten us
QF 3: South Africa v Wales - should go the Japie's way
QF 4: France v Scotland - on form the French should win

Assuming all the home unions get dealt to as you'd expect and have their normal quarter final exit...

Semi finals

SF 1: Australia v NZ
SF 2: South Africa v France

Final

NZ v either South Africa or France...

So the Tri Nations is perhaps more important than one might think this year - NZ's likely semi final and final opposition could be Aussie and SA! NZ has never lost a final to Aussie...but we have lost 2 semi finals to Aussie in 1991 and 2003. We have also lost a final to South Africa. Lets hope its the French in the final: we have beat them in a final and I think there's still a need to decisively purge the nation of the 1999 semi final loss to the eye gouging, crotch obssessed Frogs.

Just one man's opinion.

AB's Squad Announced

Here 'tis:

Daniel Carter, Jerry Collins, Nick Evans, Troy Flavell, Carl Hayman, Andrew Hoare, Doug Howlett, Chris Jack, Byron Kelleher, Brendon Leonard, Luke McAlister, Richie McCaw, Leon Macdonald, Chris Masoe, Aaron Major, Kevin Mealamu, Mailili Muliaina, Anton Oliver, Keith Robinson, Joe Rokocoko, John Schwalger, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith, Rodney Soialo, Reuben Thorne, Neemia Tialata, Isaia Toeava, Piri Weepu, Ali Williams ,Tony Woodcock

Instant reactions?

Mild surprises? Leonard jumps the queue, Anton stays
Major Surprises? Schwalger in, Masoe/Thorne preferred to Lauaki, Rico beaten to a spot by the non playing Rokocoko

Reuben Thorne remains the luckiest man in New Zealand...

Once More Into the Ghetto

I'm sure Mr Copeland has his reasons for resigning from United Future...but none of them have to do with integrity in this voter's opinion. When you're elected as a list MP, you're elected on a party platform beyond your personal profile/appeal. You make a commitment to that party and you honour it. Mr Copeland should resign as an MP immediately, establish his party and seek re election in 2008. THAT is the proper course for a Christian who feels in good conscience he cannot continue with a particular political party.

I do not personally share Mr Copeland's sense of outrage at the anti-smacking legislation - it wouldn't be my choice to reisgn over such an issue. But I respect his right to have his own conscience. What I do not respect is his decision to remain in Parliament. He had the right along with every other MP to exercise a conscience vote on the smacking bill - that was the proper outlet for his views.

"He said he would vote case by case on legislation outside Labour's existing confidence and supply agreement with United Future."

Reported comments as above smack of a misplaced mandate to bring his personal picking and choosing to Parliament's decision-making process - suddenly he is a somebody who should have remained a nobody.

It's a decision made harder to respect when you read comments from Peter Dunne to the effect that Copeland just a week ago denied he was thinking of shifting allegience.

"Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'"

What's the Difference?

"He [God] wants us to live our lives happy.
He wants us not to endure them,
but to enjoy them." more

"I believe that the purpose of life is to be happy. From the moment of birth, every human being wants happiness and does not want suffering." more

You can get tickets for the Dalai Lama teachings in NZ on ticketmaster...yup, only $60 pp for The Four Noble Truths - that's a bargain at $15 per truth...but Joel Osteen is a better bet at US$21.99 even taking P&P into account...

Either way you'll be very happy...

"Blessed are those that mourn..." Jesus

My Italian Name

I think this is the best one of the things I've ever done!

Your Italian Name Is...

Lothario Mancini

What's" Your Italian Name?

I've saved certain people the trouble of working out their own Italian names:

Frank Ritchie is Vincentio Mancini
Rhett Snell is Sansone De Luca
Jonathan Read is Giraldo Costa
Steve Deur is Rodrigo De Luca (you guys related?)
Ken de Peal is Massimo Marino

I don't think its for real though - when I entered Leonardo Da Vinci it came up as Cristiano Rossi - surely Leo's Italian name would be his actual name?

{Hat tip to Hope on this one}

Freedom

New Song

So we're in the middle of this worship series right now and the challenge has gone out for new songs to be contributed by the congregation. So I pulled a few strings (I'm sleeping with last Sunday's worship leader) and contributed this to the worship.

2 questions you might be interested in trying to answer:

1. I'm in desperate need of the right chord name for the second chord in the intro - I'm playing the following notes on keyboard E (bass) then C E F# A - any one actually know music out there?

2. I confess I slightly plagiarised the chords on the chorus from a secular song I like (you can't guess this if I told you). Of course verses, melody and lyrics are completely original - as original as they get I suppose - but chords are a bit harder to be truly original with - there are a limited number of combinations (as Chris Tomlin will tell you...) Any guesses?

Immerse Me

Intro E D2 7/E (repeat)

Verse 1

E D2 7/E E D2 7/E
I stand before You, Wounded and weary
E D2 7/E E D2 7/E
My heart laid bare before You Naked completely
C#m7 A2 C#m7 A2
In need of Your mercy Searching for Your face
C#m7 A2 D A2 E
Hungry, tired and thirsty Immerse me in Your grace

Chorus
B C#m7
Shape me and mould me Comfort and enfold me
A2 E
Temper and refine me Sculpt me and define me
B/D# C#m7
Direct me and lead me Nurture, grow and feed me
A2 E
Correct me and conform me Recreate, transform me
D A/C# B/D#
Make me in your image I pray
E
Immerse me in your grace

Verse 2

E D2 7/E E D2 7/E
I kneel before You, Dejected and defeated
E D2 7/E E D2 7/E
My life laid bare before You Fear I failed completely
C#m7 A2 C#m7 A2
In need of Your mercy Searching for Your face
C#m7 A2 D A2 E
Hungry, tired and thirsty Immerse me in Your grace