I’m in los angeles city hall.

The line to talk about tax and taxes is long. So long that the guy who says 40 has to say 41? 42? Because people just can’t wait all day and they leave and kill themselves. The trees around city hall should be palm trees to prevent the suicide hangings.

I have to prove that the busblog is not a business. Shouldn’t be hard cuz I haven’t had any good amount of ads here in a long time and even then it wasn’t like I was rolling in it.

Anyway this waiting room is a good reason against socialized Medicine. The people arent friendly they make you feel like you’re supposed to know all the rules. They don’t seem to care about all the people waiting. 43 my number is 56. I don’t blame the workers bc they have up incentive to make this faster nicer funner. There’s no music here on any level no song in peoples voices no nothing. Its like the DMV but slower and sadder. 43. I think I want a nap

Update: disregard all of my whines. I was treated so kindly. The woman who helped me was do smart. This city rules and now I look forward to socialized meds if this I’d what it can be like. Seriously.

my favorite part of american idol last night?

carrie underwood trying to flash america

btw richard rushfield was behind the scenes all week at idol, first time any journalist was given so much access, and he writes about it wonderfully. A peek:

“Really girls,” cries choreographer Mandy Moore. “I have only an hour and 15 minutes left with you and you have 75 hours until the show.”

Chastened, but still effervescent with mirth, the room falls silent. “Okay,” Mandy said, “we’re going to go on a field trip.” She led them through the studio’s hallway to a cold, dark, fire escape-like stairwell, making them line up on either side and practice walking down while singing the chorus of “She Works Hard for the Money.”

“The reality is, on stage, we’re a lot wider. We just need to see you walk down the stairs into the screen,” Mandy tells them, demonstrating how to fan out across the tiny landing when they reach the bottom.

“I know you’re tired, but ladies, when you walk down stairs you need to turn your body and step. It’s not a profile thing. Now let’s try it again.

“OK, blondes, no chewing gum this time!” shouts gravelly-voiced rocker contestant Amanda Overmyer.
Back in the studio, the ladies spent the next hour remorselessly drilling, dissecting and perfecting every step of the two group numbers they will perform.

Given that the group members are not trained dancers but singers, Moore says she attempts to keep the steps fairly simple. “I try to push the envelope on what I can give them. I don’t want them to look silly on stage, but I want them to do more then step, toe, step, and I know they can handle more.”

Despite the simplicity of the basic steps, a mind-numbing amount of tweaks and adjustments are integrated. Just watching, one reels attempting to keep track of all that is occurring in the number, and wonders how the performers manage to learn all this, on top of learning the vocals, worrying about costumes, interviews and everything else that fills the life of an Idol contestant.

Breaking into two groups, they rehearse filing past each other to the music. “Pass into each other and remember, girls, you’re going to be in heels, so when you move, make it like this,” she demonstrates a broader step. “1-2-3-4. Four steps will get you there.”

The whole thing is pretty interesting, read it here.

And yes I also liked when the USC marching band and song girls showed up during one of the comedy bits.