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New Dancers Struggling on Dancing with the Stars?

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Does it seem like the newer dancing professionals on Dancing with the Stars are struggling a bit, especially choreographing the new dances? Already on Season 9 of DWTS, many dancing veterans have been eliminated (Edyta, Cheryl, Maks, Anna, Tony, and Jonathan) and fan favorite Julianne Hough wasn’t in this year’s lineup . Veterans who continue on are Karina, Kym, Derek, Louie, Mark, and Alec along with “newcomers,” Anna Demidova, Chelsie Hightower, Lacey Schwimmer, and Dmitry Chaplin.

Anna Demidova is on the brink of elimination with Michael Irvin, and while Michael’s dancing skills aren’t on par with his receiving skills, Anna hasn’t been able to choreograph for him. Chelsie Hightower, in her second year, had a troublesome Country Two-Step with Louie Vito. She did most of the dancing to compensate. Lacey Schwimmer in her third year is having more success with Mark Dacascos, and while Dmitry and Mya have gotten 10’s in the past two weeks, good old Len Goodman is calling out the pair with his down-to-earth scores of 7 and 8.

It’s these newer pros who can’t seem to bring out the best with their dancers. As a comparison, look at Derek Hough and Joanna Krupa. There’s no question Derek’s choreography was great, even doing a new dance of the week, the Lambada.

Mark Ballas too shone in Week 4 with his Charleston with Melissa Joan Hart. Karina will break Aaron Carter and get him in line. Kym is getting Donny Osmond there. Louie is working on Kelly’s confidence, and Alec is turning a swimmer into a dancer.

As the weeks go by, will the veterans have the edge or will the newbies pull through?

This week three-time DWTS dancer, Anna Trebunskaya, and partner Chuck Liddell was eliminated from the competition.

Uninspired by International Delight Coffee House Inspirations

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So I caved in and opened my International Delight White Chocolate Mocha coffee creamer early. Touted as a coffee house inspiration, I was sadly left uninspired. I couldn’t taste a thing in my coffee. Maybe this creamer is geared towards sophisticated palettes that can detect subtle nuances whereas my tastes tend towards bold and simple.

Like with Western Digital hard drives, I continue to get burned with the visual appeal of International Delight. When will I learn? Oh wait, I forgot that I have a weak mind.

PowerPoint Rangers Need Only Apply

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PowerPoint Karaoke gives a whole new meaning to PowerPoint Ranger! I thought there was skill in mastering the nuances of Microsoft’s bane aka PowerPoint, but PPTk changes all of that.

PPTk ain’t about the PPT itself but presenting the PPT that you’ve seen for the first time. Yup, PowerPoint Karaoke participants are given a random set of PowerPoint slides and must present them. That’s tough!

You think you’re up to the challenge? Try your presentation skills at Hawaii’s first PowerPoint Karaoke coming up on October 17. Sounds like a delicious disaster waiting to happen, and oh, don’t forget to recite your PowerPoint Ranger Creed before your presentation:

This is my PowerPoint. There are many like it but mine is 97.

My PowerPoint is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I master my life.

My PowerPoint without me is useless. Without my PowerPoint, I am useless.

I must format my slides true. I must brief them better than the other staff sections who are trying to out brief me.

I must brief the impact on the CINC before he asks me. I will.

My PowerPoint and myself know that what counts in this war is not the number of slides, the colors of the highlights, nor the format of the bullets. We know that it is the new information that counts. We will brief only new information.

My PowerPoint is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its fonts, its accessories, its formats, and its colors.

I will keep my PowerPoint slides current and ready to brief. We will become part of each other. We will…

Before God I swear this creed. My PowerPoint and myself are defenders of my country. We are the masters of our subject. We are the saviors of my career.

So be it, until victory is America’s and there is no enemy, but peace (and the next exercise!)

Meet the KIA Soul

Have you seen the new KIA Soul, a new way to roll? Looks like another mini crossover following the Scion xB and Nissan Cube.

KIA Soul

Um, nah, I’ll pass on a new way to roll. But the Soul’s web site is eclectic with sheep and swimming fish.

Wiped Out by Google Wave

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Reading about Google Wave makes it sound really, really cool. Actually using this new product is another thing. So far it’s confusing, but then again, you have to rethink how you traditionally do things in a variety of contexts to understand where Wave is going.

Here’s a video explaining the basics of Google Wave.

The best way to learn Wave is to ride it and wipe out occasionally!

Top iPhone Apps While Visiting Four Seasons Lanai

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Staying at the Four Seasons Lanai at Manele Bay or Koele is a dreamy, getaway vacation. But for the iPhone-toting fanatics, here’s my list of absolute apps you need while visiting the Four Seasons Lanai.

four-seasons-appFour Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Even before arriving at your vacation getaway, you can take a virtual tour of what you’re about to experience. With this recently released app, you can check out room availability, spa services, and even get a video tour of any Four Seasons.

pano-appPano. Taking mobile pics is conveniently cool, but the very best way to capture the gorgeous scenery of Lanai is to take panoramics. There’s so much visuals to choose from, starting with the beaches and oceanfront of Manele Bay to the gardens and Lodge of Koele.

tweetie-appTweetie. With superb AT&T coverage in the area, you’re always online. Why not make others jealous as you’re living the life on Lanai by tweeting tidbits here and there? And of course, you need to converse with the excellent tweeters of the resort! Be sure to follow @fslanai, @KatieonLanai, and @tomroelens, and who knows what surprises will come.

wordpress-appTumblr, PicPosterous, WordPress. If you also happen to be a blogger (and can’t contain your voice), be sure to have the mobile versions of Tumblr, Posterous, or WordPress handy. How else are you going to share your wonderful experiences as they happen? But then again, if you were a blogger, you’d already have these apps. 😉

postman-appPostman. With this app, you can make your own virtual postcards using the fantastic pictures you’ve taken. Jot down a short message then share your creation on Facebook, Twitter, or email.

weather-appThe Weather Channel. Huh? With Hawaii’s typical tropical weather, why would you need an app forecasting the weather? You really don’t. What you do need is the ability to share the sunny conditions of 96763 with the unlucky ones not in 96763.

And there you have it, my list of top iPhone apps you need while visiting Four Seasons Lanai.

Congratulations Says Tiger Woods

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After a short run, I hear Tiger Woods through my earbuds congratulating me on my fastest mile. I forgot about these little encouraging cameos from Nike+.

Okay, so it wasn’t really my fastest mile ever, but after resetting my iPod, all my previous accomplishments got zapped so I get to hear these surprises once again. 🙂

WDC Fail Yet Again?!

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So it seems that every Western Digital drive I have owned is failing. We’re talking internal and external. I think this might be number 4, maybe 5, but I’ve lost count.

I thought it might be due to vog or HFMD or maybe it’s just the Windward air? I don’t know, but with every WDC drive failure, I get to try different brands of hard drives. Maxtor’s been good to me recently. Hmm, Toshiba drives on sale this week.

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