In the end, David vs. David wasn’t David vs. Goliath exactly.
But by the time it was over, it must have seemed as if 17-year-old David Archuleta — aka “Archie,” or “Gaspy” to his detractors at Votefortheworst.com — had just slain the twin dragons of nerves and an older, more experienced opponent in David “Raspy” Cook, the 25-year-old rocker with the pipes to match and the laid-back attitude of an old pro.
By the time, the two Idol contenders worked their way through three songs apiece, it was, in the words of that noted sage Simon Cowell, “a knockout.” For Archuleta.
American Idol’s final performance show of the talent competition’s seventh season may also have been one of the worst produced hours of television of the 2007-’08 season — and that’s saying something — but why dwell on the negatives? This was David A. and David C.’s night to shine, and shine they did — to the best of their abilities, in any event.
There’s nothing left now but David A.’s official coronation in Wednesday’s results program. That’s if — and it may be a big “if” — everyone didn’t make up their minds before the performance program began. For whatever reason, David A.  was in the zone, his mind focused like a laser on winning and his strategy set on staying within his limits: an Elton John ballad here, a slow-dancing number there and John Lennon’s Imagine — yes, Imagine again — to close out the show.
David C., on the other hand, chose to stretch his instrument, and his guitar, but came up a bit short. His raspy, old-soul take on U2’s I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For — one of my favourite songs, like, ever — was my favourite performance of the evening, but David C.’s no Bono.

communities.canada.com

[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.]
Quick Take for Tuesday, May 6, 2008 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)
Marking its Most Competitive Finish on the Evening Since the ReturnOf “Idol” in January, ABC Tallies its Top Tuesday Numbers in 6 Weeks
“DWTS Results” is the Most-Watched Show in its 9pm Slot for the 6th StraightWeek and Stands as Tuesday’s No. 2 Program to “Idol” for the 7th Week Running
ABC’s “DWTS Results” Hits Season Highs with Viewers and Young Adults,Producing ABC’s Top Numbers in the Time Period in More Than 5 Months
Moving Up to Second in its New Time Slot in Viewers and Young Adults,”Women’s Murder Club” Grows from its Week-Earlier Premiere in the Hour
Tuesday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)
Posting its most competitive finish on the night since the return of “American Idol” in January, ABC took a strong second place to Fox on Tuesday evening in Total Viewers (12.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.0/8). ABC topped third-place CBS on the evening by 1.8 million viewers and by 30% in Adults 18-49 (CBS = 10.6 million and 2.3/6).
In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, ABC turned in its highest Tuesday numbers in 6 weeks since 3/25/08. In addition, the Network was up from the same night last year by 1.9 million viewers and by 7% in Adults 18-49 (10.5 million and 2.8/8 on 5/8/07).
“DWTS: Judges’ All-Time Favorite Dances” (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
Up against “American Idol,” the ABC special “DWTS: Judges’ All-Time Favorite Dances” generated the Net’s best non-sports numbers in the time period since November among Total Viewers (10.5 million-tie), and since December among Adults 18-49 (2.4/7) since 11/27/07 and 12/18/07, respectively.

thefutoncritic.com

Pope was right in call for peace
In a March 17 article, the North County Times quotes a Pope Benedict XVI message as denouncing the five-year-long war in Iraq, saying it had provoked the complete breakup of Iraq civilian life ("Pope calls for peace, denounces Iraq war"). We congratulate the NCT for covering something that is bound to irritate many subscribers in a market with a huge military presence and not especially receptive to press attention to calls for peace.
We of Campaign Against Censorship are asking our church to use the occasion of this report to inform the parish of our pope’s advice by distributing a reproduction of this article in our parish bulletin. Unfortunately, our parish leadership favors censorship of pleas for peace, and this is an effort to overcome that hurdle.
Dave Van Hoomissen
Campaign Against Censorship
Mobile homes still affected by fire soot
On Oct. 22, 2007, I lost my mobile home to the Rice Fire at Valley Oaks Mobile Home Park. I was given all the help I needed to start again. My concern, which no one seems to be aware of nor addressed, is that all of those who lived and still live in Valley Oaks became victims, also. Those who still live at Valley Oaks are living in a very toxic place. Their mobiles, inside and out, are contaminated with all the polluted, dirty soil that filled the air on Oct. 22 and hangs to this day inside that park, and those who live there are beginning to suffer from that toxin toxic mess. Those who remain in that park need help to clean their mobiles inside and out, to give a bunch of nice folks a safe place to live.
I see by this morning’s paper, the North County Times, that the owner of Valley Oaks has requested that the Rainbow water district give her park a water break ("Sewer discounts on the way for Fallbrook fire victims," March 12). It would be a very nice thing if she took the money that Rainbow saves her and financed the cost of cleaning up those mobiles that are still homes to many. Those in Valley Oaks whose homes still stand are indeed fire victims also, and need help.

nctimes.com