January 28, 2005

With Glendale’s David Hernandez being bounced from “American Idol” last week, Idol Speculation, our humble “American Idol” blog, is now focused on the remaining Valley contestant, Mesa’s Brooke White, and for the first time since passing her initial audition last summer, Brooke suffered through a rough performance.

After suffering through her roughest performance to date on season seven of “American Idol” Tuesday night, Mesa’s Brooke White has made it into the Top 10 as fans across the country deemed the singer’s rendition of The Beatles’ “Here Come the Sun” worthy enough to send her on in the competition.

“Don’t be intimidated by our menu,” the manager advises as we’re seated at Red, White & Brew. “It’s huge.” And it certainly is.

A week ago today, the Los Angeles Times published a story on the front page of its sports section noting the low number of black participants at the College World Series.

There must be some logic to building the United States’ — and the world’s — largest embassy in the world’s 44th largest nation, coming somewhere after Nepal and Uganda.

Former Washington State forward Jeff Varem lost his chance to take part in training camp with the Phoenix Suns when he was denied a European traveling visa.

Former Washington State forward Jeff Varem lost his chance to take part in training camp with the Phoenix Suns when he was denied a European traveling visa.

Summertime — and the drinking can be spritzy, or spicy, or just a little bit saucy. It’s time to toss aside those tried-and-true wines of winter — the stolid cabs, the hohum chards, the capable merlots — and experiment with something fresh, new, unknown.

Moving into a brand-new home is the American dream that drove the late, great real estate boom. But when that dream wilts under the shifting weight of a shoddily built house, we should be able to fall back on another slice of the American dream; the right to be mad as a hornet and to let everyone else know about it.

Have you ever dreamed of living is Europe? Waking up every morning to the delightful European breakfast of the fresh crusty rolls, soft boiled eggs, a variety of cheese and sausage, sounds great doesn’t it? Well, I had that experience with my husband; I was “The American in Warsaw.” We had an opportunity to live in Warsaw, Poland, for my husband’s job; this was before we had children, so we took the chance and moved. My husband had worked and lived overseas previously and was excited to join his European colleagues once again. I was thrilled with the ability to tour around Poland as well as other European countries. We experienced many things, visited many places and gained a lifetime of memories all within 1 1/2 years.

Floyd and Mary Beth Brown: Dubbed a "dark horse" weeks ago by the judges, Kris Allen -- a wholesome, smooth vocalist and singer/songwriter -- rose above expectations and won the title of "American Idol." The celebrity judges spent their time gushing and enthusing over a high-pitched gothic rocker from Hollywood named Adam Lambert. A fascinating study of opposites, the two twenty-something finalists are as different as black and white. For starters, the young men have starkly incongruent world views.

As the sun starts to set on this busy Mesa street corner, Angel Moreno sets up his hot dog stand like he does every night at this time.

As the sun starts to set on this busy Mesa street corner, Angel Moreno sets up his hot dog stand like he does every night at this time.