Monkbot Has Moved

Come over to the new place and join the fun...

Our new address is monkbot.wordpress.com.

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Nevermind...Registration Off

I don't like it. I can't stand it.

Sooooo....no more registration.

However, I think we need to all be vigilant about letting folks know they are welcome...but they need to comment with some kind of name.

Anonymous comments aren't cool!

This is your brain.

This is your brain on Anonymous comments.

Any questions?

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Better...Not Amazingly Fantastic...But Better

The boys on American Idol did manage to improve their game from last week...but I'm still feeling that the girls might have the edge this year.

Here's my quick run down from Tuesday night (real quick...as I'm pooped and want to head to bed). Believe it or not...I felt Simon was dead on for all of his critiques.

Phil Stacey -- I don't get it...he dedicates "I Ain't Missin' You at All" to his fellow military men and women? Okayyyyy. Let's face it...the guy never starts strong with his songs. He improves as he sings, but this is not exciting or unique. I've heard better male singers at my church. That's not a put down...just an illustration of how commonplace it is. That said, I think he's safe this week.

Jarod Cotter -- And for the creepiest song dedication of the night, Mr. Cotter decides to sing "Let's Get It On" to his parents. Um...gross...my Cringe-O-Meter tops out at 11 (out of 10). Plus, he stinks the song up like a pair of socks in my brothers' laundry hamper. And...oh...let me be sure to mention the little hand move down the face. All I could think of was "Alien face hugger." My Cringe-O-Meter suddenly spiked at 25. I fear widdle Jarod might be spending next week with his mommy and daddy...'cause he could go home after that one. Yikes.

AJ Tabaldo -- I hate to admit this...but I liked his performance (of some soulful song I didn't know, but that he dedicates to Ma and Pa Tabaldo). The guy cheeses me out more than y'all can understand...but I have to give him props. However...AJ, if you plan to continue to win me over...please, for the love of all that's good and right in the world...quit with the arms-over-the head dancin'. Buddy, that move is lame with a capital GOOBER. I think he saved himself this week.

Sanjaya Malakar -- When, oh, when, will the Michael Jackson fedora crap end? Sanjaya is such a cutie...he didn't need to overdo the look. His performance, "Steppin' Out," was dedicated to his late grandfather. His voice is lovely...but he sings as if he forgets to actually breathe. He is so silent and low-key that I want to check his pulse. If he would embrace his sexiness (which is hard for 17-year-old...I know) and gain some confidence, it would help so much. I fear for Shamalamadingdong this week.

Chris Sligh -- Chris took on the musical manna...Ray Lamontagne's "Trouble," dedicated to his cutie-pie wife. He does a great job and truly makes the song his own. I don't think it was his shining moment, but it was good enough to keep in the competition.

Nick Pedro -- Nick comes out singing "Fever" for his sweetie girlfriend. I gotta say, this guy has a fantastic voice...probably my favorite male voice this season. The performance is 1,000 times better than last week's, but he's still needing to gain some comfort on stage. (He gives me an Elliot Yamin vibe.) I think he's safe this week...but he's going to have to step it up...majorly.

Blake Lewis -- Blake was a little off his game this week. He tackled "Virtual Insanity" by Jamiroquai (dedicated to his parents). He does good enough to stay in the game, but not enough to be called a stand-out tonight. I still like him and am rooting for him, 'cause the guy has a lot of talent.

Brandon Rogers -- Dedicating "Time After Time" to his grandmother...Brandon walked out onto stage...and gave an utterly amazingly...boring performance. The guy really needs to head home. Sorry Branny.

Chris Richardson -- Another performance for granny...Chris sings some Jason Mraz song that I don't know...but that I really like. He has improved greatly from last week. He chose a song with lots of tongue-twisting lyrics like Blake did...but he totally kicked Blake's butt. However, I have to say my Cringe-O-Meter did register a strong 11 when I realized he was singing "I could be the one to take you home. Baby, we could rock the night alone"...to his Gram Gram. Just...yikes. (Didn't anyone think about this stuff BEFORE these kids decided to sing sexually explicit songs to their relatives?) However, Chris is safe...this kid has "STAR" written all over him.

Sundance Head He Who Shall Not Be Named -- HWSNBN sang "Mustang Sally" as a dedication to his newborn son, Levi. Okay, the stuff about his baby was sweet. And it's good for him that he chose an upbeat song. However...ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz. The only thing that kept me from totally falling asleep was sitting there in amazement that he didn't put potholes in the stage with those anvil feet of his. It's not just that the guy can't dance...he can barely walk. Please send him home.

Okay...those are my thoughts. What are y'all's?

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Entertainment Weekly's write-up. I'm usually with Michael Slezak...but I think he's a little off with his Jarrod Cotter lovin'.

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Let's Play da Fun Game dat Helps Us Learn Each Udder's Names

For those of you who haven't seen Disney's "Heavyweights"...
it's Monkbot Assignment time...
GO TO BLOCKBUSTER RIGHT NOW!
(I secretly am in love with Lars)

Wow...our little site is really growin'!

I've noticed in recent days that there has been somewhat of an increase in regular site traffic to Monkbot...this pleases me.

And all the new faces in the comment section has me thrilled. Please allow me to formally welcome...mouser, spaceytracy, SoulPatrolShari, Chaos, Hatson, Karen (or have you been around these parts before?), NoTaylorObsession, and jcitysoul.

I've also noticed quite a few Anonymous commentors...and y'all are welcome, as well.

However, because having more than one Anonymous makes things confusing...and because I like to know a little bit about the folks coming to my site to comment...I have decided that (UPDATE) ALL BOLD MONKBOTS SHOULD ENCOURAGE SHY MONKBOTS TO AT LEAST MAKE UP A NAME FOR CLARITY SAKE Monkbot needs a registration process.

Okay...before anyone panics...let me assure you that this isn't my way of censoring anyone. Rather, I think it's a good way for me to keep order on the site.

Anyone who has posted at Gray's knows you have to include an e-mail address before submitting that nerve-racking FIRST POST! This will be much the same (I think).

At least let me try it out and see how it works before y'all start throwing wet fish at my head. Okay?

And I don't want anyone to worry about encountering any difficulty in registering. I'll implement the "body system" (see Lars reference above) to help in times of crisis. The system works like this...if anyone has a problem...e-mail me at monkbottalk@gmail.com and I'll be your "body" (buddy) and try to help you through it.

If it causes too many problems for too many people...I'll remove the process.

Thanks to all for your patience...now...go register so you can comment on what a pain in the butt it is to register!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR A GOOGLE ACCOUNT.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR A BLOGGER ACCOUNT. (Which is basically the same thing as above because Google owns Blogger.)

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UPDATE: Okay...y'all let me know if this is worth the effort. I know it's easy...but I was hoping to get more information on everybody through their profile information. Since that ain't happenin'...I guess it's still good that folks are required to at least post under an actual name...instead of anonymous. I need feedback from everyone. Let me know if this is too much of a pain in the @$$, 'cause I'll remove it if so.

Thanks.

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Escape from Wackadoo Island

Let's face it...when you tell someone you're in the Soul Patrol...oftentimes you brace for the worst.

On more than one occasion, I've had people giggle or...if they are related to me...roll their eyes, point their fingers, and outright laugh at me for being a Soul Patroller.

I had someone introduce me to a group of people I had never met as "Our resident Taylor Hicks fan."

I've had more than one friend, when I've told them I like Taylor, look at me incredulously and ask, "Why?"

I had my relatives shun the "Taylor Hicks" CD I bought as a Dirty Santa gift this Christmas...they actually wanted the lava lamp and thermos set OVER the CD. (The nerve.)

And my cousin said, "When I saw your present, I said, 'I'll be sure to not pick that one...it's from Shelley and I'll bet it's a Taylor Hicks CD.'"

Yeah...there have been many occasions when I've felt I was a novelty for liking Taylor...like I was some bizarre baboon sitting inside a glass case, being studied by statisticians and pointed at by the public.

For as much fun as it is to be a fan of Taylor Hicks...America has attached to it a stigma. And that stigma seems to say...being in the Soul Patrol means you must be slightly nutty.

I can't say I like that at all...especially for how self-conscious it makes me at times.

I don't like that when I get ready to go out in public, I hesitate before reaching in my closet for my "Got Soul?" shirt.

I don't like that I turn the radio down a little when I'm jammin' to Taylor and I come to a stop light surrounded by other cars.

I just don't like folks making assumptions about my personality or behavior based on my music choice.

I guess it comes with the territory...but I wish it didn't.

Now, honestly, I don't feel this is Taylor's fault. The guy is charming and created some pretty amazing catch-phrases that are forever embedded in popular culture.

I think, sadly, the Soul-Patrol-Equals-Gooberish equation was fostered by the connection to American Idol...and that will take a long time to wear off. (Though the Taylors, Jennifer Hudsons, and Kelly Clarksons are helping this cause greatly.)

So...'fess up.

Who has found themselves banished to Wackadoo Island by friends, co-workers, family, and strangers?

Who fights the good fight to prove that being in the Soul Patrol doesn't automatically mean you end every sentence with a hand clap and a shout of "Soul Patrol! Wooo!"?

What is the worst pigeon-hole you've been placed in by admitting your Taylor fanship?

And, finally, how do you plan to Escape from Wackadoo Island?

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A Totally Egotistical, Self-Serving Post...Happy Birthday to Me

Thirty-seven years ago today, the sun began to shine a little brighter and all the birds in the trees learned a new song.

From that day on, many people found they smiled a little more, and the joyous laughter of children warmed the earth with a blanket of happiness and hope.

Yes...that day...that glorious day...was...Shelley's Birthday.

Happy Birthday to Me.

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NOLAgirl, Squeebee, Texan, DD, Monklex, Mini-DD, Quossum, and Shrewspeaks...y'all made me cry.

Thank you so much.

(And the secret iTunes gifter was Bama...thanks, chick!)

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P.S. Y'all make me feel so blessed.

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Chicken & Chocolate...A Monkbot Smorgasbord

Here it is folks...the official food post.

Come here to swap recipes...share thoughts about food...obsess about chocolate...whatever.

I know, I know...it probably should be Chicken and Waffles. But I'm here to keep it real for my peeps...and we don't give a flying flip about waffles. We're (apparently) about the chocolate here.

So...since Monkbots don't conform to other group idiosyncrasies...it's Chicken and Chocolate time!



Look for a permanent link to this page on the right-hand side of the page.

And, as always, keep it clean.

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