Ever since my favorite to win, Colton Dixon, went home, I have predicted the winner to be Phillip Phillips.  I think going into last night, he was probably seen as the long shot, but coming out of last night, he had the best performance of the night in my opinion.  He took the stage last to sing “We Got Tonight” by Bob Seger.

Amazing!  I agreed with Randy when he said this was Phillip’s best to date!  That being said, I’m sticking with my prediction:

Safe:

Joshua – The praise the judges have given him has been, to quote Steven Tyler “Over the top.”  Most of it has been warranted, but I think they’ve convinced us that he’s better than he actually is.  Either way, Joshua is in the finals FOR SURE!

Phillip – Not sure about his choice of “Disease” from Matchbix 20, but for the two songs chosen for him, he showed he does indeed have diversity and he can and WILL win this season.  Again, I say listen to the screams in the audience.  That’s a good measuring stick of America’s votes.

Going Home:

Jessica – On a night where she really needed to bring out her biggest guns, she failed on every song.  Her choice of “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing” was bad, her performance of Mariah’s “My All” was too low key, and “I’ll Be There” was just cheesy.  She is gone for the second time and the boys will have their spotlight next week.

Champion – Jasmine Seibers “Southern Gentlemen”

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It’s a long way from Japan and South Korea to Carmi, Illinois, but that’s the route that this Georgia-born youngster took, before kicking off her singing career.  At the ripe-old age of 17, Jasmine Seibers is on her way, and this native Tri-State teen has her first country single out, called “Southern Gentlemen.”

Challenger – The Mavericks “Born To Be Blue”

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With their traditional country sound, mixed with a little retro-pop, and some Cuban flavoring, The Mavericks made a name for themselves with songs like “What A Cryin’ Shame” and “Here Comes The Rain.”  They took home country’s highest honor for a group on more than one occasion from 1994-1996.  While they’ve been quiet for sometime, The Mavericks, have returned with the Vallory Music Co. with a new EP and a new single called “Born To Be Blue.”

Visit the Country Whuppin’ Hall Of Fame!

Vote below for your favorite and be sure to share with other fans to see that your favorite advances!

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The LoCash Cowboys will be headed to Stoney’s Evansville on Friday, May 25th.  This will be an 18 and over show with tickets available now at StoneysEvansville.com. You have a once in a lifetime chance to hang with Chris and Preston along with me in the WKDQ studio and backstage at the show with this special blind auction for St. Jude.

We will take bids from now until Wednesday, May23rd at 5pm.  The highest bidder in the blind auction will win the chance to head to the WKDQ studio during Eric Cornish’s afternoon show and hang out as the LoCash Cowboys co-host the show and play some tunes.  We’ll also feed you with burgers from the Outlaw Burger Company inside of Stoney’s, and then you’ll get tickets to the show with a special backstage experience.

This is the ultimate party for a LoCash fan, and all the money bid, goes to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help fund life-saving research in curing childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Bid your highest now, as this is a blind auction and the highest bidder by Wednesday at 5pm wins this opportunity.

Heidi told me about some big things in the future when I spoke to her last December, and she’s about to make a big comeback in country music and hopes that the following song will help her do just that.  The odd couple of veteran country writer, Jeffery Steele and a member of the rock band, Lit came together for an emotional ballad that was shopped around to major artists, before Heidi was lucky enough to get to record it, and I think you’ll agree it fits her voice (and her own personal story) very well.

Jon Prell / Townsquare Media

The Evansville Icemen announced today in the first off-season press conference that the Icemen will be moving up to the ECHL (East Coast Hockey league) for the 2012-2013 season that begins in October. The annoucement was made with Icemen owner Ron Geary and ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna. This is a big step up for the Icemen both in terms of exposure and level of play. Icemen head coach Rich Kromm said this is the best opportunity so far for the Icemen to be affiliated with the AHL and the NHL. Currently, many NHL players and coaches have come from the ECHL.

Team owner Ron geary said he feels so blessed to have this opportunity after just four short years in Evansville. Geary said the level of play will change dramtically which in turn will be really good for Icemen fans. Geary is very proud to be one of 23 teams in the ECHL and he said the number of home games will increase from 33 to 36. Geary credits the fans and the Evansville City leadership for this opportunity and can’t wait to get started.

Coach Kromm said training camp will begin in late September and their will be some exihition games, but whether or not any will be played at the Ford Center is still yet to be determined. All regular season home games of course will be played at the Ford Center so, order your tickets now because it’s gonna be fun!

Are you ever too old for ‘Hello Kitty’ shoes?????

Well, should I buy them????

What are some other situations  in which you have to ask the question…”Am I too old for this?”

Though we can’t confirm what set her off (CHEATER was scrolled across the man’s vehicle), our affiliate station – MIX 108′s Tony Hart was on the scene taking photos and had this to say, ” The police arrived on the scene shortly before 4pm and were seen looking at the debris, including a pile of ash were an apparent fire had been lit, the door to the house opened and the officer was seen talking to someone through the screen door.”

Though I have edited the offensive language displayed on the Tahoe, it was unfortunate that several neighborhood children witnessed the display. As for the pile of husband items labeled as FREE for the general public – I sincerely hope that this act of passive aggression has satisfied the obvious anger this woman felt towards her husband and I also hope there are no future episodes of Snapped centered around Superior, WI.

Photos by Tony Hart

photo by dullhunk/flickr

One of the simpliest most useful items in your kitchen junk drawer was invented today….the Rubber Band!!

The Rubber Band was invented by Stephen Perry a 19th century British inventor and businessman. His corporation, Messers Perry and Co, Rubber Manufacturers of London, made products from rubber. On March 17, 1845, in England, he received a patent for the rubber band. (wikipedia.com)

SO….Let’s have a little fun with the beloved and sometimes frightening RUBBER BAND!!!!

My Top 3 Things To Do With A Rubber Band:

1. Scare your little brother!! Just pull back and aim!!! (insert evil laugh here)

2. Straighten your teeth! – THANK YOU SO MUCH Dr Reynolds for doing the impossible. My ‘Bucky Beaver’ smile was HIDIOUS!!! My life would be completeley different without the Rubber Band!

3. Keep you deck of cards together - I grew up playing cards with my grandparents. When I ask my card shark grandmother, Grandma Baxter, why she kept old newspaper rubber bands in her kitchen drawer, she said to me, ” You always want to bring your own cards to the table to make sure the deck isn’t stacked against you.” At the time, I had NO idea what she really meant. Was she talking about the cards we used to play Crazy 8′s or Kings in the Corner? Maybe, but as I get ready to turn 46, I realize just how wise she was!!  

Check out Carrie Loves for CREATIVE ways to use Rubber Bands!!! I love these, you will too!!!!!

Even Phineas and Ferb celebrate Rubber Bands!!!

Gotta love Rubberband Man!!!!

This guy LOVES Rubber Bands and Honey Buns!!

AND, if you have ever wanted to make a Rubber Band Ball, here is how to do it!!

evansvilleotters.com

The Evansville Otters are back in action at legendary Bosse Field.  A new season of Otter baseball gets underway this Friday night when they take on the Washington Wild Things.

The first home stand for the Otters includes six games total.

5/18 6:35pm vs. Washington

5/19 6:35pm vs. Washington

5/20 6:05pm vs. Washington

5/21 6:35pm vs. Southern Illinois

5/22 10:35am vs. Southern Illinois

5/23 10:35am vs. Southern Illinois

Remember, the Otters is the best value in family entertainment in the Tri-State with tickets as low as $5.00.

We now have a chance for you to win your Otters tickets with the WKDQ Country Club, and it won’t even cost you any points.  Enter Now.

melvin schlubman, flickr

A growing trend for couples is called, commuter marriage.  It’s a result of a sluggish economy and poor job market. But what is it?

It’s basically a long distance relationship simply for financial gain of the married couple. In the typical commuter marriage, one spouse will rent an apartment in the city where they work, while the other runs things at home. Then, in order to maintain a connected marriage the commuting spouse flies back and forth while the non-commuting spouse makes special trips to visit.

My husband and I are part of this trend. Quenton is a ‘Hail Chaser’ who travels to repair dents wherever hail storms hit. I, on the other hand, work in ONE place.  He lives part time in hotels and I hold down the fort at home. It’s hard, but we make it work. We have to.

eveningontheriver.com

You are invited to a night of food, music, and a stroll on the Evansville river front with Evening On The River, Friday night, June 1st!

Enjoy stage and street performances, a silent auction, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a movable feast from area restaurants and caterers.  This charity event benefits local causes, The Evansville Park Foundation and Keep Evansville Beautiful.  Tickets for this classy event are just $50 and can be purchased at EveningOnTheRiver.com or by calling 435-6141.  The festivities will take place on Riverside Drive spanning the area between the Casino Aztar Events Plaza to The Four Freedoms Monument.  Don’t miss a great night in downtown Evansville with Evening On The River, June 1st!

The Live: All About Tonight concert footage had, up to this point, only been seen on GAC. But, NOW you can buy the DVD starting TODAYexclusively at Wal-mart and walmart.com!! WOOOOHOOOO!!!

I don’t know about you but I can’t wait to freeze each frame to see if I see myself!!!!!!

blakeshelton.com

YouTube

It was not that long ago that Evansville was named as the most obese city in the country and even though we have showed up in different positions on that list in subsequent follow-up surveys, this is something the city took seriously. In fact, Mayor Winnecke made it a priority to get Evansville more fit and thanks to the help of some health and fitness professionals and concerned citizens, they came up with the ‘Energize Evansville’ initiative dedicated to getting Evansville more active. This Saturday, Energize Evansville will launch a ‘Fitness in the Park’ event at 9am on the State Hospital grounds at Lincoln and Vann. This event will kick-off the the national Pushups for Charity Challenge to benefit The Boot Campaign, a Texas-based non-profit that donates proceeds to a group of partner charities that work with soldiers healing from physical and emotional combat wounds.

There will also be yoga, zumba, piloxing and boot camp style classes following the push-up challenge.

 Tony Maslan, owner of Custom Fit and the chairman of the Energize Evansville committee says, “We want to show our support for our veterans who have sacrificed so much for our freedom and security…and we want to engage our local community in a fun way to get get fit and enjoy one of our many beautiful city parks.”

See a short video about the push-up challenge below and go to PushupsForCharityEvansville.com to register for the event or donate.

historicnewburgh.org

This weekend is the Newburgh Wine, Art & Jazz Festival in Historic Newburgh at the Old Lock and Dam Park. Even if you are not into wine, this is a must do if you are looking for a couples thing to do this weekend without the kids. Indiana has so many great wineries that produce some of the state’s best wine and many of them will be featured this weekend with plenty to eat as well. Friday night at 7pm is the ‘Grapes on the Grass Soiree’ where you will have the opportunity to try some of Indiana’s different wines. You will also be able to  judge your favorites and you do not have to be wine lover to participate in the People’s Choice Awards. There will be live entertainment and food as well both Friday and Saturday.

Saturday the hours are 12n-9pm and some of the restaurants participating include Edgewater Grille, Tin Fish, Taste of Perfection, Biaggis, Acropolis and many more including Victoria National Golf Club on Friday plus,for thr first time Turonis will offer the opportunity to sample some of their great craft beers in a separate beer garden. Turonis will offer tastes on Friday and Saturday you can taste and purchase by the glass.

As you can see, there will be something for every palate and all the money from the event stays in Newburgh and this truly is adult fun at it’s very finest. Click here to purchase tickets and my wife, Lisa and I will see you there on Saturday!

Champion – Jasmine Seibers “Southern Gentlemen”

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It’s a long way from Japan and South Korea to Carmi, Illinois, but that’s the route that this Georgia-born youngster took, before kicking off her singing career.  At the ripe-old age of 17, Jasmine Seibers is on her way, and this native Tri-State teen has her first country single out, called “Southern Gentlemen.”

Challenger – Randy Travis Featuring Don Henley “More Life”

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Randy Travis has been the voice of traditional country music since the mid 1980′s.  He doesn’t stray when it comes to the music he loves.  His current single is no exception.  Randy uses his unmistakeable voice to tell a moving story with “More Life” featuring guest vocals from another music legend and Eagles member, Don Henley.

Visit the Country Whuppin’ Hall Of Fame!

Vote below for your favorite and be sure to share with other fans to see that your favorite advances!

• The 2012 CMA Music Festival rocks downtown Nashville June 7^th through 10^th.
• Tickets on-sale NOW through Ticketmaster.com and 1-800-CMA-FEST. Tickets are selling FAST, following two consecutive sellout years!
• 2 ticket options:
  • Pick your favorite nights with the single ticket option: $40/night for general admission.
  • Enjoy the full Festival experience with a Four-Day Event Ticket, priced from $125, that’s only $31.25 per day.

• · Check out the CMA Music Festival nightly concert lineups at LP Field! Pick your favorite night and enjoy the show!

Thursday, June 7 – Jason Aldean, Glen Campbell, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Zac Brown Band and more TBA
Friday, June 8 – The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert, Ronnie Milsap, Jake Owen, Blake Shelton and Carrie Underwood
Saturday, June 9 – Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Hunter Hayes, Faith Hill, Kenny Rogers and more TBA
Sunday, June 10 – Alan Jackson, The Mavericks, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery and Rascal Flatts

• More than 40 years of bringing fans and stars together.
  • Full Details are at CMAFEST.com.
  • Star-packed concert lineups, celebrity events, autograph sessions, and more
  • Four-day ticket includes:

Four Days of Live Music (Thursday-Sunday)

• 4 nights of hot, all-star shows at LP Field
• 4 days of jam-packed daily concerts at Chevrolet™ Riverfront Stage (Riverfront is Free to the public, however four-day ticketholders get early access – see below)

Encounters & Autograph Signings

• Fan Fair® Hall admittance, featuring autograph sessions and pictures with the stars, plus interactive displays, lifestyle exhibits and Acoustic Corner

Special Access

• Stage-front access to the Fan Photo Lines at LP Field and Chevrolet™ Riverfront Stage
  • Get directly in front of the stage, no matter where your seat is located!
  • Early admittance to the daily concerts at Chevrolet™ Riverfront Stage
  • Shuttle service between official venue stops

Tons More

• Wednesday Experience with the Parade and Music Block Party
• Themed outdoor exhibits and entertainment

• Be there for the Ultimate Country Music Experience!

Then Complete Nutrition heard about the trouble I’ve been having gaining weight. They told me they could definitely help me. So I went to Complete Nutrition in Eastland Mall this past weekend and they guys there were ecstatic to get started on me.

They put me on the scale. I weighed in at 142 lbs at 6’3.

They said that wasn’t a problem as they went for the basics on the shelves. I was given 6 different supplements Titan, Fortify, Buzzerk, NX6, and Rezzerect. I take a scoop of Titan and Fortify in the morning and right before I go to bed. Buzzerk and NX6 are to be taken 15 minutes before my workout. Rezzerect is to help rebuild muscle tissue post workout. This is the basic setup for beginners. After a months time they will reevaluate my needs and switch up my supplements.

My workout schedule is as follows.

Monday- Chest and Triceps

Tuesday- Back and Biceps

Wednesday- Shoulders and Traps

Thursday- Legs

Friday- Off day

Saturday- Starts over

I’ll be working 6 to 8 exercises for big muscle groups and 3 to 4 exercises for little muscle groups. My workout will be about an hour everyday.

I’ll keep you posted every month on my process. Until then, I need to hit the gym (can’t believe I just said that)

Photo by bellmor/flickr

If the only thing holding you back from drinking a Slurpie at 7-Eleven is the many calories it contains. Well, your wait is over!!!!

Starting this week, a new diet Slurpie, called Slurpie-Lite, will be available at 7-Elevens nationswide. Each Slurpie, made with Splenda, will be just 20 calories.

NYMag.com