Idol Clarification

Canadian Idol started yesterday, subjecting Canadians to another season of bad music and soon-to-be-forgotten singers.

I would like to clarify something though. Many Canadians think that Canadian Idol is a ripoff of American Idol. This is not true. Both shows are part of the 'Pop Idol' franchise that begain in the U.K. There is an Australian Idol, South African Idol, Polish Idol and Norwegian Idol (among others). Each show follows the same format.

Ding-Dong Spice

Geri Halliwell Names Baby Bluebell Madonna
The Associated PressTuesday, 23 May 2006 4.42 PM

LONDON -- Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has named her baby Bluebell Madonna. The singer also known as Ginger Spice, 33, told Hello! magazine she'd been inspired by seeing the spring flowers during her pregnancy.
"But what really clinched it for me was my mother telling me that the bluebell is increasingly rare ; a precious flower, which seems just right for my daughter," Halliwell was quoted as saying.

Halliwell said she had chosen the middle name in honour of one of her heroines.
"As she came out of my tummy, Bluebell had both arms flung wide in the air as if announcing to the world, `Hi! I'm here!'" the magazine quoted Halliwell as saying.
"She was screaming her head off, as though she was shouting, `Hello, Wembley!' No one else has that name, apart from the Virgin Madonna and the singer, whom I love."

New addition to the Spice Rack

Geri 'Ginger Spice' Halliwell has given birth to a girl - her first child.

No name as of yet. She is the third Spice Girl to give birth. Victoria 'Posh Spice' Beckham has three sons and Melanie 'Scary Spice' Brown has one daughter.

This is Geri Halliwell in case you've forgotten:

This is the father of the child:

It's raining mingers!

Rumour has it she may name it Stella.
'I met a rank, mingin' fella.

Nine months later along came Stella'.

Congrats, Geri. You crazy nut. x

Downloading in Canada

No downloading lawsuits, say Canadian musicians
01 May 2006. 08.13 PM
ANGELA PACIENZA
CANADIAN PRESS
Don't even think about suing music fans.
That's the message a group of musicians — from veterans Blue Rodeo to international superstars Barenaked Ladies and newcomers Broken Social Scene — sent Monday to federal politicians who wield the power to toughen copyright legislation.
Some of the proposals being floated could make it illegal to share music online, leading to lawsuits which the musicians called "destructive and hypocritical".
"For a very long time we, as artists, have allowed industry groups to speak on our behalf. We want that time to stop," Steven Page of the Barenaked Ladies said at a news conference Monday, flanked by members of the Canadian Music Creators Coalition.

Damn right. It's about time musicians think out of the box with this issue. Downloading is not going away no matter how much they whine.
Full article.