Who Will Save YOUR Souls?

I thought I could give it a chance. There's only so much advertising I can take before I relent to the pop culture icon that whores itself into American television with flashing lights and the promise of stardom, but it's as honest as Don King. Creating dreams doesn't get viewers. Crushing them does. I watched Jewel's biggest fan do a rendition of "You Were Meant for Me" before Jewel herself, only to be rejected quickly by all the judges. The girl burst into tears and collapsed to the ground, her dream crushed by one of the people she'd most want to sing for.

Fuck you, American Idol.

24!

OK, so I made it. 24 years. I celebrated the occasion by bringing the people I care most about into Manhattan for a festival in my honor-- complete with savory Italian food, drinks and karaoke until well into the next morning. The night was not without its share of, well, hindrances. But the important thing is that everything ended up falling into place and it ended well and good. So good that nobody was really into New Year's Eve festivities the next day, which was fine by me.