Honoring Your Father – Get the Tissues Ready
This appeared in my inbox and I just had to read the whole thing. It was sent by a listener of mine, Samantha Smith Schleben, and it’s letter/story about her family and her father… the hardship they’ve been through and how much he means to her. Get out the tissues. You’re going to need them! Thank you so much for sharing Samantha. Your father sounds like an amazing dad!
My name is Samantha Smith Schleben. I couldn’t figure out how to put this on your website, so I thought I would e-mail it instead. Let me first start off by saying my dad is truley my HERO!! All of my friends loved him growing up, and stil do. Guess I need to start from the beginning. When my dad was 19 years old he married my mother who was pregnant at the time with my brother. They had all four of us 2 years apart from each other. My dad had a great union job, but got into a motorcycle wreck, and wasn’t the same ever since. He had to become a painter because his mind just really didn’t work right. He has alway’s had a crappy vehcile’s they’re always breaking down. Well his boss bought him a brand new f150 for a bonus. Boy was my dad thrilled he neve had anything that was NEW!!! His boss also said that he was retiring and going to give my dad the company. I guess he changed his mind because he gave it to someone else or he said he was giving it to someone else. My dad went into depressed mode for bout 2 months. He finally snapped back into reality. He went to his boss to put his 2 week notice in and would’nt you know it his boss took the truck back that he gave my dad. It only had 1 payment left, but since he was leaving he said nope you caan’t have it. So he had to start over and get another piece of crap car. He tried to open up a painting company his slef but like most small business it just didn’t work out. Struggling all the time never knew how or when the bills would get paid. But I gotta tell ya he always had a smile on his face. He always said its ok Sammie I believe in God and this to shall pass. Well he finally got a job at Home Depot on pines Rd. in the elctrical department. Finally a steady not great, but steady paycheck coming in. He found out not to long after he started that he had a rare gum diease and he needed all of his teeth pulled out and need dentures. So every 2 weeks he was having a tooth pulled. It was horrible having to see my dad in so much pain all the time. And he is already 110lbs soaking wet he really can’t afford to lose any weight but he did. Finally got the dentures put in but they don’t fit and he does’nt have the money to get them resized again. So he’s still in pain from his dentures. Well a little while after that he called me complaing of his stomach hurting and he need to go to the hospital. by the way my dad NEVER complains about anything. Hes sick he still works!! Well he went and they found out that his intestined was blocking all blood flow, they inmeditedly had to have surgery which was bout a 50/50 chance. And if he did make it he would be out of work for 6 months!! I’m glad to say that he made it and he could’nt do 6 months so he went back after 2 months. And his stomach still hurts but he wasn’t able to let it rest. He had 27 staples in his belly. He has a very long scar, and he lost more weight on top of losing denture weight. He went down to about 70lbs. So sad and scary, here is my dad my hero my angel lying in the hospital in so much pain. And you know what he kept saying im sorry to us his kids he said i’m sorry yall had to see that to feel that pain or to think that i was a gonner!! I couldn’t believe my dad is saying he’s sorry that we saw him like that. I can’t tell you enough how much I LOVE MY DAD AND HOW MUCH OF A GREAT PERSON HE IS!!! Well almost 2 years after that he gets a phone call from my mom screaming that Shanna ” my sister his daughter” is dead. He calls me me at 9:30am at work telling me this and that he’s on the way home. I immediately leave work, calling my husband to get over there. We live right down the street from my dad. So I call my other sister because I am freaking out so bad while I was driving!! My husband calls me back and he said ” you need to come here now”!! At that moment I knew she was gone and I just lost it. I ran a red light and hit a box truck spun around and hit a log truck spun around and flew out of my passenger window and I was the driver. The doctor told my husband I should’vediedn that wreck of how bad it was. I had a blood clot on my brain and had to be outta work for 1 month. My dad still doesn’t like to talk about that day!! My sister left behind 2 small kids. My mom moved into mydads to help raise the kids. They have been divorced for a while now so it was nothing but a struggle and agurements all the time!!! My nephew which is 8 now moved in with his dad in 08-2012 and my little niece which is 3 still lives with my dad. My mom moved out but my dad is 52 years old so he asked me if i wanted to raise her. I took her for 3 months straight and thats just not where she wanted to be. She missed my dad she cried all the time for him. I mean his house is all shes known. So he wakes up everyday gets her up takes her to daycare and he goes to work everyday. He has his ggod and bad days just like everybody else. But I wanted to honor my dad my hero the greatest man I’ve ever known. Really hope this gets read!! My dads name is Christopher Smith. He always does anything anybody ask him to do regardless if he has to change his plans. He does it with a smile on his face. He always has a smile and say’s it’s ok just PRAY to the good lord and he will hear and help you… This Saturday will be 2 years that my sister Shanna Marie Smith has passed away. He doesn’t even want to think about but he can’t help to. That’s all he think about!! Her kids look just like her. Gabrielle is the girl version and Parker is the boy version!!! Please help me honor my dad and know how much he is loved and appreciated!! Thanks for reading my story!
Love,
Samantha Smith Schleben
Centaur Parade Set to Roll Saturday!
The Krewe of Centaur parade is set to roll and the weather looks fantastic! Here’s a few guidelines from Bill Goodin and the Shreveport Police Department.
The Krewe of Centaur’s Mardi Gras Parade is all set to roll out at 4:30 p.m. this Saturday and the Shreveport Police Department would like to take this opportunity to pass on a friendly reminder to parade-goers regarding some ground rules that are in place to ensure everyone has a fun, safe Mardi Gras experience.
Police will close Clyde Fant Parkway from Lake Street to Shreveport-Barksdale Highway beginning at 7:00 p.m. Friday night before the parade. Clyde Fant Parkway will then re-open to traffic at 7:00 a.m. on parade day so people can set up early Saturday.
The public will not be allowed to set up any kind of tent or recreational vehicle or save parking spaces on Clyde Fant Parkway or on the service road between Stoner Avenue and Shreveport Barksdale Highway before 7:00 a.m. on parade day. Stakes, flagging tape, furniture, tents, and other such items left as space markers before 7:00 a.m. Saturday will be removed by police and discarded. Violators could be ticketed, towed, or asked to leave.
Revelers planning to park in the Broadmoor area towards the end of the parade route should heed all traffic and parking signs and remember not to block residential driveways. Officers will be posted at major intersections around the parade area. It is imperative that emergency vehicles be able to drive down residential streets, so parking ordinances will be enforced. Violators could be towed at their own expense.
The parade will begin on Clyde Fant Parkway at Lake Street and run along the same route as it has in previous years, with the exception of 2012: south on Clyde Fant Parkway to Shreveport-Barksdale Highway, west down Shreveport-Barksdale Highway to East Kings Highway, south on East Kings Highway to the end of the parade route on East Preston Avenue.
The parade route does include an alcohol-free family area that will be located on Clyde Fant Parkway between the railroad trestle just north of Veteran’s Memorial Park and Stoner Avenue. The no alcohol rule will be enforced in the family area. Absolutely NO GLASS containers or glass bottles will be allowed anywhere along route.
Here are some other helpful tips for those attending the Mardi Gras parades:
Parking:
* Parking on East Kings Highway is reserved parking for permit holders only.
* No parking is allowed before 7:00 a.m. on parade day.
* On Shreveport-Barksdale Highway and Clyde Fant Parkway, parking is allowed behind the white lines only. Citizens cannot park where areas are clearly roped off and marked.
* No parking is allowed on Captain Shreve Drive.
* Restricted parking is allowed on the residential streets from Albany Avenue to Patton Avenue. Some streets allow parking only on one side; other streets forbid parking. Look for parking signs and remember: the streets must remain clear for emergency vehicles. Violators could be towed.
*Handicapped parking is available at the East Kings Highway Park, also known as the Duck Pond, and at the Veterans Memorial Park on Clyde Fant Parkway. A handicap parking tag or plate will be necessary to gain access.
Parade day street closures:
At 8:30 a.m., Crockett Street from Market Street to Clyde Fant Parkway.
At 8:30 a.m., Clyde Fant Parkway from Lake Street to Milam Street
Residents can gain access to Sci-Port until 4:00 p.m. using Lake Street.
At 3:30 p.m. the following streets will close:
East Kings Highway at Preston Avenue
East Kings Highway at Youree Drive
Shreveport-Barksdale Highway (including the Shreveport-Barksdale Bridge)
Clyde Fant Parkway from Milam Street to Shreveport-Barksdale Highway
East Preston Avenue will be closed to through traffic at East Kings Highway,
Captain Shreve Drive, Knight Street, and Clyde Fant Parkway once the
Parade turns onto East Kings Highway.
Clyde Fant Parkway between East 70th Street and Shreveport-Barksdale Highway will remain open.
Knight Street will remain open from East Preston Avenue to Shreveport Barksdale Highway.
Emergency Assistance:
* Over 200 law enforcement officers from the Shreveport Police Department will be working the parade. Officers will be in patrol cars, on foot, on horses and on motorcycles.
* Police will utilize several mounted cameras to monitor the parade route.
* Police will have command buses on Stoner Avenue near Clyde Fant Parkway, in Shreve City and on East Kings Highway.
* The Shreveport Fire Department will have EMS crews stationed throughout the parade route.
No Throw Areas:
* In the staging area on Clyde Fant Parkway north of Lake Street.
* The railroad tracks over Clyde Fant Parkway just north of Veteran’s Memorial Park.
* Stoner Avenue bridge over Clyde Fant Parkway.
* The exit from Clyde Fant Parkway. to Shreveport-Barksdale Highway.
* Past the ending banner on East Kings Highway and any points thereafter.
Parade Rules:
* No alcohol will be allowed on Clyde Fant Parkway from the railroad trestle just north of Veteran’s Memorial Park to Stoner Avenue This area has been designated the alcohol-free family zone. Violators will be subject to arrest.
* No glass bottles or containers will be allowed on the parade route.
* No one may cross parade barricades during the parade.
* No animals are allowed within 200 yards of the parade route, except animals that are in secured yards of residents living along the parade route and service animals.
* No dangerous objects or silly string.
* No one may throw anything at a parade float.
* Large flags or banners are not allowed within 50 feet of the parade route.
* No underage possession of alcohol. Violators will be subject to arrest.
* No public nudity will be tolerated. Violators will be subject to arrest.
Safety Tips:
* Don’t leave children unattended! Make plans to meet up at a particular location in case children become separated from guardians during the parade.
* Do not fight or struggle over beads.
* Keep a safe distance from the floats.
* Keep valuables at home, and make sure cars are securely locked.
* Don’t take purses or wallets to parades. Keep money and I.D. in pants pockets.
* Extinguish hot coals after cooking. Do not dump hot coals on the grass.
* Obey all traffic signs and directions from officers.
* Use common sense and treat others like you would want to be treated!!!!!
5 Awesome Mardi Gras Floats
We’re sure you’ll be at one of the big Mardi Gras Parades in Shreveport such as the Krewe of Centaur Parade that starts at 4:30 pm tomorrow. While you wait for parade time check out these 5 awesome Mardi Gras floats from some of the parades in New Orleans.
Skip Bolen/Getty Images 1 Mardi Gras Float One
A Mardi Gras float in the 2012 Krewe of Proteus Parade on February 20, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Skip Bolen/Getty Images 2 Mardi Gras Float TwoA Krewe of Bacchus Mardi Gras float in the 2012 Krewe of Bacchus Parade on February 19, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Cheryl Gerber/Getty Images 3 Mardi Gras Float ThreeA rider atop a Zulu parade float greets a large crowd on Mardi Gras March 8, 2011 in News Orleans, Louisiana. Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday is the final day of Carnival.
Cheryl Gerber/Getty Images 4 Mardi Gras Float FourLarge crowds reach up for beads as the Jester float in the traditional Rex parade rolls down Canal Street on Mardi Gras March 8, 2011 in News Orleans, Louisiana.
Pat Semansky/Getty Images 5 Mardi Gras Float FiveMembers of Rex toss beads from a float to revelers during Mardi Gras day on February 16, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Fitness Tip: How to Eat Healthy During Mardi Gras & Super Bowl
Busy weekend ahead! Krewe of Centaur Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday and then the Super Bowl on Sunday means a weekend full of partying and fuller bellies! But if you’re committed to fitness, what should you do?
I spoke to local fitness instructor Heather Binyon, who provided some healthy advice for a normally unhealthy weekend.
“A good thing to always do is think ahead,” says Binyon. “Before you go to a party like that you want to eat a little something so that you’re not just starving when you get there and want to pig out.”
“Another good way is to bring something healthy,” she adds.
Binyon also shared some healthier options for those looking to get their drink on, such as low-calorie beers. Now she’s talking our language! However, she warned us away from daiquiris since they are high in carbs.
Thankfully, wings aren’t completely off the table (pun intended) — Binyon says you just need to order them naked. That means with less flour, you pervs!
Click below to listen to my full interview with Heather Binyon for more advice on eating healthy during Mardi Gras and Super Bowl weekend!
Watch This Pygmy Jerboa Clean Himself — Daily Distraction
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Never heard of a pygmy jerboa? It’s kind of like a kangaroo. A very, very, very, very small kangaroo.
It may not carry its young in a pouch, but its long hind legs, short front legs, long tails and method of transportation (hopping) all match up well with the more well-known jumping Australian marsupial. But forget all that for a second, and just watch this thing—it looks like a furry head propped up on two sticks. And in this hard world, a fella’s gotta stay clean.
The Daily Distraction is your Internet break from reality. Whether you’re eating lunch at your desk or avoiding high school exes on Facebook, you might just laugh, say “aaahhh” or not believe what you just watched.
Source: TheFWBad Lip Reading: Beyonce's 'La Fway" (VIDEO)
Because you asked for it, here’s the full-length version of Beyonce’s performance at President Obama’s inauguration.
Beyonce Shuts Down Critics By Singing Live [VIDEO]
Beyonce addressed the media during a Super Bowl press conference Thursday and started the show her way: by singing. Live.
“Any questions?” she asked afterwards.
When asked about lip-synching during the Presidential inauguration, she said, ”I am a perfectionist,” adding that she chose to use “a backing track” due to no sound check and knowing that all eyes would be on her that morning. “I’m very proud of my performance,” Beyonce said.
As for her performance at Super Bowl 47, she replied, ”I will absolutely be singing live. I am well-rehearsed. This is what I was born to do.”
As for whether a Destiny’s Child reunion will take place Sunday, she simply said, ”I can’t give you any details.”
Watch Beyonce’s press conference
Super Big Game Commercial — Hilarious Because It's Real
When we give away prizes or talk about Big Bowl football games this time of the year. We have to dance around saying what the prize we’re giving away is all about and for. It’s Super. Check this video of Paul Rudd and Seth Rogan dancing around the subject for Samsung.
Student Shot at Atlanta Middle School
A 14-year-old student at Price Middle School in Atlanta was shot in the head or neck on Thursday afternoon. The student was taken to the hospital; his condition has not been officially released, but reports say that he is alert, conscious and breathing.
A teacher was also injured, though not by a gun; she may have been trampled in the ensuing chaos following the gunshots. The teacher was also taken to the hospital, and apparently her condition is not serious.
Police have apprehended the suspected shooter, who police spokesman Carlos Campos said was also a student. Price and other nearby schools have been placed on lockdown.
Kidd Kraddick Pranks 'Dallas' Star Josh Henderson
Josh Henderson, from TNT’s “Dallas,” texted Kellie to correct a mistake Big Al made. Too bad Josh fell for one of our favorite pranks to play on our listeners! We love Josh, the celebrity corrector.
[via KiddNation]
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North Webster High School Track Meet
northwebsterhigh.org
It’s coming! North Webster High School‘s 1st Annual Track Meet and sponsors are needed!
The track team is looking for sponsors for the track meet. Any business interested would pay $50. A sign with sponsors will be placed on the field in front of the stands. Also sponsors will be announced every 30 minutes during the meet. The meet will last about 3 hours.
If you are interested in sponsoring the 1st Annual NWHS Track Meet please call 318-539-2563 and speak to Coach Casey Caraway, x210 or Coach Jeffrey Brown, x312 and they will be glad to schedule a time to come and discuss your sponsorship further.
Bossier Sheriff's Office Releases 2012 Crime Stats
If you live in Bossier Parish, this is well worth the read! Sheriff Julian Whittington has released the 2012 crime stats from the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office.Jan. 31, 2013
BOSSIER SHERIFF’S OFFICE RELEASES 2012 CRIME STATS
Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington releases 2012 crime statistics which reflect a decrease in violent crimes and an increase in property crimes, while total calls for service with the Bossier Sheriff’s Office slightly decreased last year.
Bossier Sheriff’s Office worked no homicides, two rapes and two robberies in 2012, along with 346 assault and battery crimes. Major violent crimes against people fell from 371 in 2011 to 350 in 2012, a decrease of 5.7%.
Major property crimes rose from 469 in 2011 to 565 in 2012, an increase of 20.5%, primarily due to an increase in theft.
“Ways to help decrease property crimes is to make your residence, business or vehicle harder targets for criminals,” said Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington. “Lock your doors, secure your windows and keep valuables out of plain site. Theft is often a crime of opportunity, and taking a few simple precautions can help keep you being a victim in the first place.”
Total calls for service for the Bossier Sheriff’s Office dipped slightly by 72 with 22,755 in calls 2011 to 22,683 in 2012, a reduction of 0.3%. All crimes worked by the Bossier Sheriff’s Office totaled 2,872 for 2012, an increase of 8.1% from 2011.
MAJOR CRIMES 2011 2012 # CHANGE % CHANGE
PERSON CRIMES
HOMICIDE 1 0 -1 -100.0%
RAPE 0 2 2 200.0%
ROBBERY 4 2 -2 -50.0%
BATTERY 300 277 -23 -7.7%
ASSAULT 66 69 3 4.5%
PERSON CRIMES TOTAL 371 350 -21 -5.7%
PROPERTY CRIMES
BURGLARY RESIDENCE 45 59 14 31.1%
BURGLARY BUSINESS 5 11 6 120.0%
BURGLARY VEHICLE 53 64 11 20.8%
THEFT 357 420 63 17.6%
MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT 8 10 2 25.0%
ARSON 1 1 0 0.0%
PROPERTY CRIMES TOTAL 469 565 96 20.5%
TOTAL MAJOR CRIMES 840 915 75 8.9%
TOTAL PARISH CRIMES 2,657 2,872 215 8.1%
TOTAL CALLS FOR SERVICE 22,755 22,683 -72 -0.3%
“These crime statistics show Bossier Parish continues to be a safe place to live, work and raise a family,” said Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington. “Crime rates have been low in Bossier Parish for years, a testament to our professional deputies, Posse members and the residents of Bossier Parish. Our partnerships with police departments in Bossier City, Benton, Haughton, and Plain Dealing, as well as the Bossier Marshal’s Office, Louisiana State Police and neighboring law enforcement agencies epitomize our commitment to public safety,” Whittington continued.
“Neighborhood Watch programs and National Night Out are also ways to keep crime low in any community,” Whittington said. “When neighbors get to know each other and work together, it helps keep criminals at bay in our neighborhoods and subdivisions.”
Contact the Bossier Sheriff’s Office at 318-965-2203 to find out more about starting a Neighborhood Watch program in your area.
Bride's Father Passes Away Night Before Wedding, So Her Brother Makes It Special
What’s more special to a girl than her wedding day. They say every woman dreams about her wedding day from the day she’s born. Tragedy struck this family and bride as her father passed away the day before the wedding. Her brother did something to make it special ahead of time.
Sweet and sadness will abound in this video. Grab a hanky for the “Father” and Bride dance.
Watch These Dogs Carrying Really Big Sticks — Daily Distraction
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Dogs have loved sticks since the beginning of time. That’s just a scientific fact.
And the bigger the stick, the better. Sometimes, though, a dog will find big stick (SWEET!), pick it up and bring it back, but run into a problem: the doorway is too narrow. This problem has baffled canines for ages, and we have some video evidence here. If you have any ideas on how to solve this quandary, please call this guy right away.
The Daily Distraction is your Internet break from reality. Whether you’re eating lunch at your desk or avoiding high school exes on Facebook, you might just laugh, say “aaahhh” or not believe what you just watched.
Source: TheFWChris Brown Deletes Instagram Account Following Frank Ocean Brawl
First, Chris Brown defiantly deleted his Twitter account last fall after fighting with a writer. Then he expressed that he felt persecuted like Jesus Christ by painting a picture of himself after the epic brawl with Frank Ocean – which erupted not over a song or a beat or even a girl, like Rihanna, since Ocean likely isn’t into her after coming out, but a PARKING SPACE OF ALL THINGS.
Now, Breezy has further likened himself to Jesus Christ in the social media space by “detaching himself from that world” and deleting his Instagram.
Oh Breezus Christ.
We’re going to have to keep our eyes fixed on his girlfriend’s Instagram now to see pictures of their renewed relationship. And pictures of her topless, of course.
Brown is attempting to sign off and log off so that he doesn’t get sucked into the negativity that is part and parcel of social media.
He made his Instagram account private, despite have 2 million followers. So he’s disconnected for now.
“Social media takes away the essence of why we are even special or icons,” Brown posted as a graphic. “So with that, I’m detaching myself from that world.”
Now we can’t see any more of his Christ paintings. We’re bummed.
PopCrushers and Team Breezy, what’s your take on the oft-troubled R&B star closing off access on Instagram? Good riddance or please, please, please come back?
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InstagramWatch the Chris Brown ‘Turn Up the Music’ Video
Source: PopCrushBad Lip Reading of Inauguration 2013 [VIDEO]
Was Beyonce really the only one lip-synching at the 2013 inauguration? According to popular YouTube channel Bad Lip Reading, the answer is “no.” Watch the group’s hilarious take on President Obama’s inauguration ceremony.
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'American Idol' Recap: Judges Head to San Antonio + Long Beach
On last night’s (Jan. 30) episode of ‘American Idol,’ auditions were held in San Antonio, Texas and Long Beach, Calif. Will the next ‘Idol’ be discovered in Sunset Station or aboard the Queen Mary? Read on to find out what judges Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Randy Jackson thought of the most recent round of performances.
Vincent Powell: Read about his audition here.
Derek and David Bacerott: This duo of brothers started off on a bad note (pun intended) and ended on an even worse one. “Definitely not – no no no no no,” stated Jackson. The Bacerott boys weren’t willing to take “no” for an answer, which resulted in an exhausting back-and-forth with the judges. “Your part of the audition is done, so let’s take it down a notch and realize that we are trying to help you,” rationalized Minaj. “If you guys are gonna make it, you really need to readjust your attitudes,” cautioned Jackson. Needless to say, they didn’t get the green light for Hollywood.
Savannah Votion: “I’m your next American Idol,” declared the San Antonio native with confidence. She has a 5-year-old daughter and struggles to balance being a parent with pursing her passion for singing. She sang ‘At Last’ by Etta James and instantly blew away the four panelists with her powerful vocals. “You have life in your voice,” remarked Urban. “I can hear a lot of life going on, like lots of struggles and highs and lows and triumphs. I could hear all of it and it’s a lot of empowerment that I loved.” On the count of three, they declared a unanimous “yes!”
Cristabel Clack: Read about her audition here.
Ann Difani: This former Miss University of Arkansas received her ‘Idol’ audition as a surprise from her loving husband. She sang Faith Hill’s ‘Stronger’ and effectively proved that she has more than just good looks. “I liked you when I saw you and I still like you,” commented Jackson after Difani’s husband joined them in the room. “This is like a great American love story.”
Victoria Acosta: She started singing mariachi when she was only six years old, but she strayed from that genre to perform Fergie’s ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ at her audition. Perhaps she should have stuck to her roots. “I kept waiting for one more thing and I can’t quite put my finger on what that was … I felt a little bit disconnected,” admitted Urban. Finally – but only after Jackson prompted her to sing some mariachi for them – Acosta let her true talent shine and earned a golden ticket to Hollywood
Papa Peachez: “I’m really just a big black woman trapped in a little boy’s body,” proclaimed the hilariously outlandish 19-year-old. He went on to confess, “My music is different – I don’t like doing covers.” And different it certainly was. “Peachez, I think that you are a superstar,” praised Minaj. “Loved the song. Loved that you wrote it. Loved that it was something that only Papa Peachez could sing.” Not all of the judges agreed with her, but interestingly enough, it was Carey who backed her up. “I’m gonna say yes … it’s a small yes,” she said. In the end, Jackson caved and tipped the scales so that Peachez could move on to the next phase of the show.
Sanni M’Mairura: He’s a 16-year-old whose dream is “to become not only a performer, but a great role model.” He wowed the panelists with his own take on Michael Jackson’s ‘Who’s Loving You.’ “Your runs were pretty and your riffs ended right and I wasn’t expecting it. You really had a great, well-orchestrated audition,” said Minaj. Urban added, “I love your balance of confidence of confidence and humility.” This one was a no-brainer – they were all about sending him to Hollywood.
Adam Sanders: Read about his audition here.
Shubha Vedula: The men were the only judges present for her audition, and she won them over instantly with her performance of Christina Aguilera’s ‘Something’s Got a Hold on Me,’ earning a well-deserved golden ticket.
Brian Martinez: He was singing in the restroom one day when a self-proclaimed “producer” came up to him and encouraged him to audition for ‘Idol’ – but maybe he should have just stayed in the bathroom. His rendition of ‘You’ll Be in My Heart’ by Phil Collins was “Not good, dude,” to borrow Jackson’s accurate opinion.
Matt Farmer: A moving story accompanied his delivery of Sam Cooke’s ‘A Change is Gonna Come.’ He served overseas on a mission in Iraq and was seriously injured by an explosion. “I just remember waking up in a hospital in Kuwait,” he said. He suffered brain trauma and was supposed to be sterile as a result of the medication he was given – but then he appeared at his audition with his adorable daughter in tow. “We’re so excited for this next step in our life,” stated Farmer after impressing the judges with his voice and strong spirit.
Stephanie Sanson: This wild, purple-haired contestant seemed more interested in making a statement than being the next ‘American Idol.’ She wasted no time in diving right into Adele’s ‘Set Fire to the Rain,’ but you could hardly make out what song it was beneath all the horrendous screaming. She bolted from the room before the judges even had a chance to share their thoughts – which was probably for the best, as they had nothing positive to say. “That’s the first time I’ve heard a screamo rendition of Adele,” remarked a baffled Urban.
Jesaiah Baer: Clad in nautical attire, her audition was off to a great start when it was suddenly interrupted by a fire alarm. Thankfully, once everyone was allowed back onboard the Queen Mary, she was given the chance to finish her performance of Kimbra’s ‘Settle Down.’ “You’re really, really talented for 16. That’s a tough song to sing,” said Jackson. Minaj was similarly impressed: “Your voice was really defined … it was very shocking for me. Kudos!” The judges all agreed that she deserved to move on to Hollywood.
Micah Johnson: Read about his audition here.
Rachel Hale: This 21-year-old lit up the room with her winning smile and positivity. She also won the judges over with her spin on ‘People Get Ready.’ Urban compared her to Wynonna Judd and his fellow panelists were quick to agree. “You have a such a good energy around you and I love your voice,” praised Minaj. “She has to be the happiest contestant I think I’ve ever met,” agreed Jackson.
Briana Oakley: 16-year-old Oakley was featured on ‘Maury’s Most Talented Kids’ back in 2009, but with that fame came a slew of unwanted negative attention. She couldn’t even eat lunch in the school cafeteria because she didn’t feel safe there. Urban stated that her version of ‘Up to the Mountain’ by Patty Griffin showcased her voice, range and cool hair. “You are poised and ready for this moment … this, today, is your moment,” spoke Minaj. “This could be the start of something huge for you,” Jackson said.
Matheus Fernandes: Another victim of heartless ridicule, he admitted that he didn’t think he had much of a shot at making it due to how different he was. “Everyone else would grow taller, and I’d stay in the same place,” he said. Yet he chose to look beyond those who doubted him because of his height (or lack thereof) and prove that great things can indeed come in small packages. “You’ve got a great voice,” Urban said, following Fernandes’ heartfelt delivery of ‘A Change is Gonna Come.’ Jackson offered him the following parting words, along with a ticket to Hollywood: “I know society can be crazy and harsh … but hey, this is a talent show, it’s about everybody. We’re all people. So to me, you’re ten feet tall right now.”
Be sure to tune in tonight (Jan. 31) for another round of ‘American Idol’ auditions!
Source: PopCrush'How I Met Your Mother' Gets Final Season…And We'll Finally Meet The Mom
CBS and Twentieth Century Fox Television announced Wednesday that “How I Met Your Mother” has been picked up for a ninth and final season, and we’ll all finally find out who’s the mommy!
The network announced that the entire cast, including Josh Radnor, Alyson Hannigan, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders and Neil Patrick Harris, along with series creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas.
CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler said in a statement, “Through eight years, ‘How I Met Your Mother’ has mastered the art of leading-edge comedy, emotional water-cooler moments and pop culture catch phrases. We are excited for Carter, Craig, Pam Fryman and this amazing cast to tell the final chapter and reveal television’s most mysterious mother to some of TV’s most passionate fans.”
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