The United States Navy

The United States Navy owes its origin to the Continental Navy, which was established during the American Revolutionary War.  And so the US has had an active naval service since 13 October 1775, when George Washington took the fight to the British on the high seas with three captured schooners.  That is the official birth date of the US Navy.

But it wasn't until 27 March 1794 when Congress approved the construction of six frigates that the US Navy was on the way to manning its own warships, and beginning the long journey of establishing itself as a global naval power.


So today I salute the 430,400 men and women who are part of this grand service.  From the newest Seaman Apprentice to the Chief of Naval Operations, I thank them all for their dedication to service.
 

"Honor, Courage, Commitment"

"Non sibi sed patriae"

(Not self but country) 

Five Degrees of Musical Progression

So Friday I said there would be a special FoF announcement today.  And so there is.

Five Degrees of Musical Progression is back!

I'd like to try something a little different for FDoMP, Vol 3.  I know it's only the second time we've actually done this as a group, and it would seem a little early to start throwing twists.  

Humor me, 'k?  It's my birthday. 

Here's the little twist...we all begin from the same jump off track.  There are a lot of directions we can go with this song, so I think it's a good starting point.

Track 1 of your Five Degrees of Musical Progression should be...Sundown, written by Gordon Lightfoot.  



Here are some links to help get you started:

• Wiki page for the song
• Wiki page for Gordon Lightfoot
• Song lyrics 

What do my FoF regulars think?  Are you in?  

You get two weeks to put your Progressive Set together.  We'll all post on 22 April.

Have fun! 

Five Degrees of Musical Progression

So Friday I said there would be a special FoF announcement today.  And so there is.

Five Degrees of Musical Progression is back!

I'd like to try something a little different for FDoMP, Vol 3.  I know it's only the second time we've actually done this as a group, and it would seem a little early to start throwing twists.  

Humor me, 'k?  It's my birthday. 

Here's the little twist...we all begin from the same jump off track.  There are a lot of directions we can go with this song, so I think it's a good starting point.

Track 1 of your Five Degrees of Musical Progression should be...Sundown, written by Gordon Lightfoot.  



Here are some links to help get you started:

• Wiki page for the song
• Wiki page for Gordon Lightfoot
• Song lyrics 

What do my FoF regulars think?  Are you in?  

You get two weeks to put your Progressive Set together.  We'll all post on 22 April.

Have fun! 

Five on Friday Set 63

March was truly maddening.  Duke went out of the tournament early, but I had a great time watching Butler get back to the Final Four and then the final game.  But then the tournament ended unfavorably for me because I don't care for Jim Calhoun, the coach of Connecticut which beat Butler for the championship.

Dangit.

Then Stanford was upset by Texas A&M in the Final Four for the women, and that was annoying until Notre Dame upset favored Connecticut.  So YAY!  But then the Aggies were good enough offensively and outstanding defensively, and so my Irish didn't win the national championship.

Dangit.

Notre Dame made it to the Frozen Four in D1 hockey, but they were beaten yesterday by Minnesota Duluth.  So my Irish won't be college hockey champs.

Dangit.

My Lakers have lost three in a row, the last two to Utah at home and at Golden State.  The Jazz and Warriors aren't the worst teams in the NBA, but neither has a winning record and they are both out of the playoffs.

Dangit.

That's a lot of sports dangit right there.  But there are the spring championships to come and I have favorites amongst the top ranked teams in lacrosse, baseball, and softball.  And my Lakers are still one of the favorites to play for, and possibly win, the NBA championship.

So today I needed something silly lest the sports madness become insanity.  Yes, there is a difference.  Just ask the nearest sports fan you know.

Oh!  I have a special FoF announcement coming up on Monday, so tune in!  In the meantime, enjoy the silly tunes of Set 63 and have a spectacular weekend!

If you've never joined in, give it a try.  I know you've got some favorite music you'd like to share with the FoF gang.  Here's how to play along.

1. Grab the banner, make your post title Five on Friday, and be sure to link back here.

2. Go to Playlist.com to make your Set of five songs. You may choose a particular theme to share with us, or post random tunes if that's your vibe for the day. You can simply post the Set, or you can add a little summary about what you are sharing.

2a. Don't feel restricted by the tracks listed on Playlist.com. And don't be discouraged if the Embed code won't work. You're welcome to use any type of media to share your Sets.

3. Be sure to sign Mr Linky so everyone can visit your Set.

4. No tags, but feel free to invite your friends to play along if they need a post topic on a Friday.

Go forth and enjoy music!

Five on Friday Set 63

March was truly maddening.  Duke went out of the tournament early, but I had a great time watching Butler get back to the Final Four and then the final game.  But then the tournament ended unfavorably for me because I don't care for Jim Calhoun, the coach of Connecticut which beat Butler for the championship.

Dangit.

Then Stanford was upset by Texas A&M in the Final Four for the women, and that was annoying until Notre Dame upset favored Connecticut.  So YAY!  But then the Aggies were good enough offensively and outstanding defensively, and so my Irish didn't win the national championship.

Dangit.

Notre Dame made it to the Frozen Four in D1 hockey, but they were beaten yesterday by Minnesota Duluth.  So my Irish won't be college hockey champs.

Dangit.

My Lakers have lost three in a row, the last two to Utah at home and at Golden State.  The Jazz and Warriors aren't the worst teams in the NBA, but neither has a winning record and they are both out of the playoffs.

Dangit.

That's a lot of sports dangit right there.  But there are the spring championships to come and I have favorites amongst the top ranked teams in lacrosse, baseball, and softball.  And my Lakers are still one of the favorites to play for, and possibly win, the NBA championship.

So today I needed something silly lest the sports madness become insanity.  Yes, there is a difference.  Just ask the nearest sports fan you know.

Oh!  I have a special FoF announcement coming up on Monday, so tune in!  In the meantime, enjoy the silly tunes of Set 63 and have a spectacular weekend!

If you've never joined in, give it a try.  I know you've got some favorite music you'd like to share with the FoF gang.  Here's how to play along.

1. Grab the banner, make your post title Five on Friday, and be sure to link back here.

2. Go to Playlist.com to make your Set of five songs. You may choose a particular theme to share with us, or post random tunes if that's your vibe for the day. You can simply post the Set, or you can add a little summary about what you are sharing.

2a. Don't feel restricted by the tracks listed on Playlist.com. And don't be discouraged if the Embed code won't work. You're welcome to use any type of media to share your Sets.

3. Be sure to sign Mr Linky so everyone can visit your Set.

4. No tags, but feel free to invite your friends to play along if they need a post topic on a Friday.

Go forth and enjoy music!

Bataan

Reposted from 8 April 2010:

On 9 April 1942, after three months of fierce resistance, US and Philippine forces on Bataan surrendered and entered Japanese captivity.

Over 60,000 Filipino and 15,000 American troops began the Bataan Death March a day later.  Prisoners on the march from the peninsula on Bataan to POW camps were subjected to beatings, bayonet attacks, and the deliberate withholding of food and water.  If anyone fell out, they were stabbed to death or beheaded.  If anyone was caught assisting a straggler, both were put to death.  Anyone rushing a well or stream for a sip of water was shot.  Casualty estimates from the march range from a minimum of 6,000 to as many as 18,000.


Filipino civilians suffered if they tried to offer food or water, or simply a small gesture of comfort to the prisoners.


Japan was not a signatory to the Geneva Conventions until 1953, and so no mind was paid to the well being of Allied prisoners during World War II.  Japanese high command did not supervise or visit POW camps, leaving local commanders to do as they saw fit.  Many unsupervised low ranking Japanese soldiers brutalized the prisoners simply because there was no one in authority around to stop them.


The perpetrators of the deliberate, systematic, and wanton cruelty to prisoners of war were ultimately subjected to war crimes trials.  Japanese General Masaharu Homma was convicted for his art in allowing the atrocities of the march on Bataan and later in POW camps.  He was executed on 3 April 1946.


The fighting on Bataan delayed the relentless Japanese march across the Pacific long enough to allow the US to organize and prepare in the wake of the losses to the American naval fleet at Pearl Harbor.  Remaining ships were formed into task forces, and the US capably prepared to launch Colonel Doolittle's raid on Tokyo and to meet the Japanese in the Coral Sea and at Midway.  The cost was heavy for the survivors of the battles in the Philippines.


There are fewer than 70 survivors of the march left alive today.


My stepfather's father and four uncles fought in World War II in all branches of the military.  One of those men was captured on Bataan and survived the march and his years as a POW.  He testified at the war crimes trials.  I never got a chance to meet him.  According to my stepdad, his uncle never spoke of his experiences other than to declare that he would never forgive the Japanese.

Bataan

Reposted from 8 April 2010:

On 9 April 1942, after three months of fierce resistance, US and Philippine forces on Bataan surrendered and entered Japanese captivity.

Over 60,000 Filipino and 15,000 American troops began the Bataan Death March a day later.  Prisoners on the march from the peninsula on Bataan to POW camps were subjected to beatings, bayonet attacks, and the deliberate withholding of food and water.  If anyone fell out, they were stabbed to death or beheaded.  If anyone was caught assisting a straggler, both were put to death.  Anyone rushing a well or stream for a sip of water was shot.  Casualty estimates from the march range from a minimum of 6,000 to as many as 18,000.


Filipino civilians suffered if they tried to offer food or water, or simply a small gesture of comfort to the prisoners.


Japan was not a signatory to the Geneva Conventions until 1953, and so no mind was paid to the well being of Allied prisoners during World War II.  Japanese high command did not supervise or visit POW camps, leaving local commanders to do as they saw fit.  Many unsupervised low ranking Japanese soldiers brutalized the prisoners simply because there was no one in authority around to stop them.


The perpetrators of the deliberate, systematic, and wanton cruelty to prisoners of war were ultimately subjected to war crimes trials.  Japanese General Masaharu Homma was convicted for his art in allowing the atrocities of the march on Bataan and later in POW camps.  He was executed on 3 April 1946.


The fighting on Bataan delayed the relentless Japanese march across the Pacific long enough to allow the US to organize and prepare in the wake of the losses to the American naval fleet at Pearl Harbor.  Remaining ships were formed into task forces, and the US capably prepared to launch Colonel Doolittle's raid on Tokyo and to meet the Japanese in the Coral Sea and at Midway.  The cost was heavy for the survivors of the battles in the Philippines.


There are fewer than 70 survivors of the march left alive today.


My stepfather's father and four uncles fought in World War II in all branches of the military.  One of those men was captured on Bataan and survived the march and his years as a POW.  He testified at the war crimes trials.  I never got a chance to meet him.  According to my stepdad, his uncle never spoke of his experiences other than to declare that he would never forgive the Japanese.

Cue that theme music...

It's encores and results, live from Hollywood!

I can't explain why that theme music makes me smile, but it sure does. 

We liked a lot about Monday's performances.  Let's see a few.

Chelsea and Mark danced what I thought was a somewhat technically flawed Cha Cha Cha, but I enjoyed their energy.  Click here if the video doesn't play.



Chris also had some technical issues during his Rumba with Cheryl, particularly with his hip action and his feet.  But he made up for that by providing a strong base as he led Cheryl through a poignant story.  Click here if the video doesn't play.




You all know how much I love a good Waltz.  Petra and Dmitry danced a lovely one.  Click here if the video doesn't play.




Dance of the night honors go to Hines and Kym for their fantabulous Samba.  Click here if the video doesn't play.

  


Outstanding work!


Let's review our leader board after Monday's dances:


25 Hines and Kym
25 Petra and Dmitry 
23 Chelsie and Mark
23 Kendra and Louis
21 Chris and Cheryl
21 Ralph and Karina
21 Kirstie and Maks
20 Romeo and Chelsea
20 Ray and Anna 
15 Wendy and Tony 

I don't know if Wendy has the fanbase to overcome that 5 point gap, but we shall see.

The judges select the Samba from Hines and Kym as the encore.  

And first results...Hines and Kym are safe.  Ray and Anna are safe.  Romeo and Chelsie are safe.


OneRepublic is in the ballroom, accompanied by Lacey and Dmitry.  Loved the song, and the dancing was amazing.


More results...Petra and Dmitry are safe.


Teen singer Selena Gomez performs her single Who Says, accompanied by Chelsie and Mark.


The Macy's Design-A-Dance will be Jive to We Got the Beat.  That should be good!  If you want, you can go to the website and vote for the pros and the costumes.


More results...Chelsea and Mark are safe.  


OneRepublic returns to perform All the Right Moves, accompanied by our DWTS Troupe.  Excellent.


Final results...Ralph and Karina are safe.  Kirstie and Maks are safe.  Kendra and Louis are safe.  Chris and Cheryl are safe.

That means Wendy and Tony are out.

I think that's the right decision, although I do wish she had gotten a chance to Waltz.  I think every celebrity should get a chance to Waltz.


Tune in next week when our remaining pairs tackle Classical Week.  I have no idea what that could be, but you can bet I'll tell you all about it when I see it!

Congratulations to Coach Gary Blair and Texas A&M.  The Aggies defeated Notre Dame 75-70 for the NCAA Women's Championship.  A&M rode a superior defensive effort and the strength of All America Danielle Adams for the school's first national championship.


Congratulations also to Notre Dame, who upset #1 seed Connecticut to earn a spot in the championship game. 

Cue that theme music...

It's encores and results, live from Hollywood!

I can't explain why that theme music makes me smile, but it sure does. 

We liked a lot about Monday's performances.  Let's see a few.

Chelsea and Mark danced what I thought was a somewhat technically flawed Cha Cha Cha, but I enjoyed their energy.  Click here if the video doesn't play.



Chris also had some technical issues during his Rumba with Cheryl, particularly with his hip action and his feet.  But he made up for that by providing a strong base as he led Cheryl through a poignant story.  Click here if the video doesn't play.




You all know how much I love a good Waltz.  Petra and Dmitry danced a lovely one.  Click here if the video doesn't play.




Dance of the night honors go to Hines and Kym for their fantabulous Samba.  Click here if the video doesn't play.

  


Outstanding work!


Let's review our leader board after Monday's dances:


25 Hines and Kym
25 Petra and Dmitry 
23 Chelsie and Mark
23 Kendra and Louis
21 Chris and Cheryl
21 Ralph and Karina
21 Kirstie and Maks
20 Romeo and Chelsea
20 Ray and Anna 
15 Wendy and Tony 

I don't know if Wendy has the fanbase to overcome that 5 point gap, but we shall see.

The judges select the Samba from Hines and Kym as the encore.  

And first results...Hines and Kym are safe.  Ray and Anna are safe.  Romeo and Chelsie are safe.


OneRepublic is in the ballroom, accompanied by Lacey and Dmitry.  Loved the song, and the dancing was amazing.


More results...Petra and Dmitry are safe.


Teen singer Selena Gomez performs her single Who Says, accompanied by Chelsie and Mark.


The Macy's Design-A-Dance will be Jive to We Got the Beat.  That should be good!  If you want, you can go to the website and vote for the pros and the costumes.


More results...Chelsea and Mark are safe.  


OneRepublic returns to perform All the Right Moves, accompanied by our DWTS Troupe.  Excellent.


Final results...Ralph and Karina are safe.  Kirstie and Maks are safe.  Kendra and Louis are safe.  Chris and Cheryl are safe.

That means Wendy and Tony are out.

I think that's the right decision, although I do wish she had gotten a chance to Waltz.  I think every celebrity should get a chance to Waltz.


Tune in next week when our remaining pairs tackle Classical Week.  I have no idea what that could be, but you can bet I'll tell you all about it when I see it!

Congratulations to Coach Gary Blair and Texas A&M.  The Aggies defeated Notre Dame 75-70 for the NCAA Women's Championship.  A&M rode a superior defensive effort and the strength of All America Danielle Adams for the school's first national championship.


Congratulations also to Notre Dame, who upset #1 seed Connecticut to earn a spot in the championship game. 

Cue that theme music...

It's live from Hollywood!

It's Story Night for our remaining 10 pairs as they choose their own music to tell a story through dance.


Our DWTS Troupe leads off with a demonstration of the dance styles we'll see this evening...Paso Doble, Rumba, and Samba.  Well also see Foxtrot, Waltz, and Cha Cha Cha.

Wendy and Tony tell their story through Foxtrot to a song I don't know, which describes how hard she had to work and the struggles she went through to get her radio career started.   She looks like she's having fun dancing, but it's an odd choice of music for Foxtrot.  I guess that's to be expected, because it's the song she connects to and Tony has to figure out how to make it work with Foxtrot.  This dance is a bit of a mess.  I think Tony did his best to choreograph that, but the song really did not lend itself to the style of dance.  She was vibrant and expressive.  But with Foxtrot I'm expecting smooth movement and elegance.  This dance was missing that.  I don't think she did very well.  I think the problem was in the song choice.  Not that it wasn't meaningful to her.  It's just that the song just wasn't suited to ballroom dancing.  Judges say 5's across for a total of 15.  That's too bad.  I like her.  Her Quickstep was better last week than this Foxtrot.

Chelsie and Mark tell their story through Cha Cha Cha to a song called Chelsie, which her first love wrote for her, and she first heard it when he played it live with his band.  Say it with me now...awwwww, isn't that sweet?  I'd like to see her be stronger with her legs.  They are bent at the knee and soft.  She needs to extend through he toes and emphasize the movements, really snap the steps off and make them clean.  That will get her hips working properly.  She also seems to be off beat in some of the side by side dancing.  Mark seemed ahead of her.  I thought her musicality was off.  Other than that, I think the dance went well.  She had a lot of good moments and the performance was full of energy.  Oh geez...Bruno was a little creepy with his comments.  Yikes.  I did enjoy the dance, but I thought Chelsie had some technique issues that the judges over-looked in favor of the fun and flirty performance.  Judges say 7,8,8 for a total of 23.

Chris and Cheryl tell their story through Rumba to Let It Bee, for his mom who died several years ago due to complications from an accident.  This was definitely an emotional dance.  Chris was in control of the partnership, leading Cheryl through the movement.  He provided a solid base and frame for her.  He didn't have great Rumba hip action, and his toes were a little too turned in.  There were some poor technical aspects, particularly with his arms, which kept the dance from being as smooth as I think it should be.  But the poses were good and some of the lines were very nice.  He captured the essence of what Rumba is in his connection to Cheryl, and the characterization of the love in the story.  It wasn't a romantic story, but it was emotional and quite lovely.  Nicely done.  Judges say 7's across for a total of 21.

Kendra and Louis tell their story through Rumba to You and Me, with the message to follow your heart and be true to your love.  I don't like the fog effect because it was too much.  I think it would have worked if it had been more subtle.  She was very awkward coming out of it and down the stairs, probably because she couldn't see where she was putting her feet.  Now she is learning to straighten her legs.  She had some very nice extended lines during a few of the poses.  She does well with that until she has to spin and then those awful bent knees become exposed, particularly in that short dress.  She did pretty well with her hip action, but the dance didn't feel romantic.  It was on the sexy and erotic side, which may actually be the story she wanted to tell about her relationship with her husband.  And if so, then I think she did it well.  It wasn't overly raunchy...rather it was sensual.  I'd like to see her continue to work on those legs.  When she gets that down, she'll have a full performance.  Judges say 8,7,8 for a total of 23.  I think the 8's were too high, but good for her on the improvement.

Romeo and Chelsea tell their story through Rumba to I'll Be There, in tribute to the death of his two young cousins.  This is really beautiful.  He's not using his hips as he should, but he is providing a wonderful frame for Chelsea.  He's very strong as a base for the poses, and he is leading her through it.  I'm not a fan of this choreography though, because it isn't requiring him to dance much at all.  Chelsea did most of the dancing, and Romeo held her and spun her and guided her.  Actually, if that's the definition of the male role in a Rumba, then he did it very well with the exception of the lack of hip action.  And there were some problems with his footwork and his leg extensions.  Still, the story was well defined and very emotional.  He was committed to the dance and the style.   Judges say 7,6,7 for a total of 20.  I did like the performance, but he's not going to get the high scores or progress much in the Latin styles unless he lets loose of his hips.

Hines and Kym tell their story through Samba to Fantasy, as a tribute for the work his mom did to get custody of him, bring him to the US, and give him opportunities.  He does such a fine job of keeping his back so straight.  Wow.  Hey gang...this is really impressive.  He's got the perfect hip action.  And his personality is perfect for Samba.  This is his third dance with Kym and it looks like they've been dancing together for years.  That was fantastic!  There were a couple of hand placement issues toward the end when their timing got off just a little bit.  But that's picking nits.  This dance was outstanding.  The choreography was difficult and he made it look so smooth and easy.  All the movements were connected and seamless.  It had so much content.  He has such tremendous musicality.  He dances like a real gentleman.  Judges say 9,8,8 for a total of 25.  Excellent!  Well done Sir!  Romeo should pay attention because Hines shows how a man can be a man and still do hip swivels.

Petra and Dmitry tell their story through Waltz to You Raise Me Up, a song she says gave her the courage to start her foundation that rebuilds schools after disasters around the world.  I really wanted her to get a chance to Waltz before she goes home, although the way she's dancing tonight, that might not be for awhile.  Her neck extension in that first movement on the floor was wonderful.  This is a difficult song to Waltz to, but Dmitry managed some beautiful choreography.  He mentioned in rehearsal to make it like dancing in clouds, and the movement did have that kind of ethereal quality to it.  It was quite a lovely dance.  She was elegant and graceful.  She did very well with this dance.  It was slow enough that she could keep her balance and focus on her technique.  She made some beautiful lines, and her height served her well in the style.  I really loved that performance.  It was very moving.  Judges say 8,9,8 for a total of 25.  Well done my dear!

Ray and Anna tell their story through Paso Doble to My Prerogative, demonstrating determination and beating the odds.  This should be a strong style for him.  It isn't about hip action.  It's about aggression and passion.  You can get away with stomping on the floor and walking through some of the movement.  In fact, it's encouraged.  He has the attitude working.  Posture is still a problem.  He's not extending and emphasizing with his arms.  He's not leading with a strong chest.  Hmmm...evidently I was wrong that this would be a style that would favor him.  He was much too loose with his body.  The dance pleased the crowd.  I think I agree with the judges that he didn't let the dance control him, but it really wasn't a good Paso.  It was a better effort for him and he has improved over his previous performances.  Judges say 7,6,7 for a total of 20.  He deserved to have his score go up, but I think he's still in danger.

Kirstie and Maks tell their story through Rumba to Over the Rainbow, which takes her back to 1980 when she lost her mom and nearly her dad to a drunk driver, and then won the role of Saavik in Star Trek II The Wrath of Kahn to launch her career.  Oh no.  Maks injured himself during the opening of the dance.  But he managed to pull himself together and continued to dance.  The dance was very poignant.  The story was about coming back from the adversity that life throws at you.  Kirstie could have fallen apart when they fell, but she held herself together and stayed in the game until Maks got his feet back under him.  She was so strong and supportive as she waited for Maks to settle back in.  Judges say 7's across for a total of 21.  I thought it was an ankle that collapsed on him, but he said afterward that it was a muscle strain in his thigh.  From the way they finished the dance, that was going to be something very special.  You know what, strike that.  Let me say this instead...the way they finished the dance was something very special, because it emphasized the story she wanted to tell, and told the same story of strength that characterizes the relationship between the two of them.

Ralph and Karina tell their story through Rumba to Stay Gold, which is from The Outsiders, the film that started his career.  It is also his wedding song.  This week is Phyllis and Ralph's 24th anniversary.  He's a little bit stiff in this dance and he's still having a little trouble with those hands.  And there were some issues with his feet this week.  But he's still an incredibly strong partner.  I thought Karina's choreography was sweetly romantic, however I did think his dancing was a bit too crisp around the edges.  For Rumba, I want softer movements.  I thought Ralph danced with just a little too much of an edge.  But Pam squeeed and then she said "Awwww", so I guess the dance passed her eye test.  I don't know what was going on with the judges and why they thought they had to get in each others' faces.  I was a little embarrassed for them.  There was no reason for that outburst.  Judges say 7's across for a total of 21.


Here's our leader board after Story Night:

25 Hines and Kym
25 Petra and Dmitry 
23 Chelsie and Mark
23 Kendra and Louis
21 Chris and Cheryl
21 Ralph and Karina
21 Kirstie and Maks
20 Romeo and Chelsea
20 Ray and Anna 
15 Wendy and Tony


The leader board has turned over a little bit.  Kirstie and Ralph both had their struggles this week, while some other couples stepped up and had great performances.  I think Hines is the strongest celebrity dancer, and the most consistent so far.

What a great night of dancing.  Honestly gang, this is a terrific season and it's tough to decide how to vote each week.  I split between Ralph and Hines, while Pam spread her votes out this week between Ralph, Hines, Chris, and Kirstie.


I know!  But we're using two phones each so we're OK for awhile.  It's going to be tough though, because there always comes that time when we have to stop splitting and settle on one favorite.

Tune in tonight for results, and check here tomorrow for encores and a recap!

It does pain me because I don't like Jim Calhoun, but I do offer my congratulations to the University of Connecticut for winning the NCAA Championship.  The Huskies defeated Butler University 53-41 to win the title.


Congratulations also to the Bulldogs.  Although they came up short for the second straight year, they show a tenaciousness and determination that I enjoyed watching throughout the tournament.


I'm sorry for my friend Desert Songbird.  She's a Butler alum and she really thought her Dawgs were going to get it done.  So did I.

Cue that theme music...

It's live from Hollywood!

It's Story Night for our remaining 10 pairs as they choose their own music to tell a story through dance.


Our DWTS Troupe leads off with a demonstration of the dance styles we'll see this evening...Paso Doble, Rumba, and Samba.  Well also see Foxtrot, Waltz, and Cha Cha Cha.

Wendy and Tony tell their story through Foxtrot to a song I don't know, which describes how hard she had to work and the struggles she went through to get her radio career started.   She looks like she's having fun dancing, but it's an odd choice of music for Foxtrot.  I guess that's to be expected, because it's the song she connects to and Tony has to figure out how to make it work with Foxtrot.  This dance is a bit of a mess.  I think Tony did his best to choreograph that, but the song really did not lend itself to the style of dance.  She was vibrant and expressive.  But with Foxtrot I'm expecting smooth movement and elegance.  This dance was missing that.  I don't think she did very well.  I think the problem was in the song choice.  Not that it wasn't meaningful to her.  It's just that the song just wasn't suited to ballroom dancing.  Judges say 5's across for a total of 15.  That's too bad.  I like her.  Her Quickstep was better last week than this Foxtrot.

Chelsie and Mark tell their story through Cha Cha Cha to a song called Chelsie, which her first love wrote for her, and she first heard it when he played it live with his band.  Say it with me now...awwwww, isn't that sweet?  I'd like to see her be stronger with her legs.  They are bent at the knee and soft.  She needs to extend through he toes and emphasize the movements, really snap the steps off and make them clean.  That will get her hips working properly.  She also seems to be off beat in some of the side by side dancing.  Mark seemed ahead of her.  I thought her musicality was off.  Other than that, I think the dance went well.  She had a lot of good moments and the performance was full of energy.  Oh geez...Bruno was a little creepy with his comments.  Yikes.  I did enjoy the dance, but I thought Chelsie had some technique issues that the judges over-looked in favor of the fun and flirty performance.  Judges say 7,8,8 for a total of 23.

Chris and Cheryl tell their story through Rumba to Let It Bee, for his mom who died several years ago due to complications from an accident.  This was definitely an emotional dance.  Chris was in control of the partnership, leading Cheryl through the movement.  He provided a solid base and frame for her.  He didn't have great Rumba hip action, and his toes were a little too turned in.  There were some poor technical aspects, particularly with his arms, which kept the dance from being as smooth as I think it should be.  But the poses were good and some of the lines were very nice.  He captured the essence of what Rumba is in his connection to Cheryl, and the characterization of the love in the story.  It wasn't a romantic story, but it was emotional and quite lovely.  Nicely done.  Judges say 7's across for a total of 21.

Kendra and Louis tell their story through Rumba to You and Me, with the message to follow your heart and be true to your love.  I don't like the fog effect because it was too much.  I think it would have worked if it had been more subtle.  She was very awkward coming out of it and down the stairs, probably because she couldn't see where she was putting her feet.  Now she is learning to straighten her legs.  She had some very nice extended lines during a few of the poses.  She does well with that until she has to spin and then those awful bent knees become exposed, particularly in that short dress.  She did pretty well with her hip action, but the dance didn't feel romantic.  It was on the sexy and erotic side, which may actually be the story she wanted to tell about her relationship with her husband.  And if so, then I think she did it well.  It wasn't overly raunchy...rather it was sensual.  I'd like to see her continue to work on those legs.  When she gets that down, she'll have a full performance.  Judges say 8,7,8 for a total of 23.  I think the 8's were too high, but good for her on the improvement.

Romeo and Chelsea tell their story through Rumba to I'll Be There, in tribute to the death of his two young cousins.  This is really beautiful.  He's not using his hips as he should, but he is providing a wonderful frame for Chelsea.  He's very strong as a base for the poses, and he is leading her through it.  I'm not a fan of this choreography though, because it isn't requiring him to dance much at all.  Chelsea did most of the dancing, and Romeo held her and spun her and guided her.  Actually, if that's the definition of the male role in a Rumba, then he did it very well with the exception of the lack of hip action.  And there were some problems with his footwork and his leg extensions.  Still, the story was well defined and very emotional.  He was committed to the dance and the style.   Judges say 7,6,7 for a total of 20.  I did like the performance, but he's not going to get the high scores or progress much in the Latin styles unless he lets loose of his hips.

Hines and Kym tell their story through Samba to Fantasy, as a tribute for the work his mom did to get custody of him, bring him to the US, and give him opportunities.  He does such a fine job of keeping his back so straight.  Wow.  Hey gang...this is really impressive.  He's got the perfect hip action.  And his personality is perfect for Samba.  This is his third dance with Kym and it looks like they've been dancing together for years.  That was fantastic!  There were a couple of hand placement issues toward the end when their timing got off just a little bit.  But that's picking nits.  This dance was outstanding.  The choreography was difficult and he made it look so smooth and easy.  All the movements were connected and seamless.  It had so much content.  He has such tremendous musicality.  He dances like a real gentleman.  Judges say 9,8,8 for a total of 25.  Excellent!  Well done Sir!  Romeo should pay attention because Hines shows how a man can be a man and still do hip swivels.

Petra and Dmitry tell their story through Waltz to You Raise Me Up, a song she says gave her the courage to start her foundation that rebuilds schools after disasters around the world.  I really wanted her to get a chance to Waltz before she goes home, although the way she's dancing tonight, that might not be for awhile.  Her neck extension in that first movement on the floor was wonderful.  This is a difficult song to Waltz to, but Dmitry managed some beautiful choreography.  He mentioned in rehearsal to make it like dancing in clouds, and the movement did have that kind of ethereal quality to it.  It was quite a lovely dance.  She was elegant and graceful.  She did very well with this dance.  It was slow enough that she could keep her balance and focus on her technique.  She made some beautiful lines, and her height served her well in the style.  I really loved that performance.  It was very moving.  Judges say 8,9,8 for a total of 25.  Well done my dear!

Ray and Anna tell their story through Paso Doble to My Prerogative, demonstrating determination and beating the odds.  This should be a strong style for him.  It isn't about hip action.  It's about aggression and passion.  You can get away with stomping on the floor and walking through some of the movement.  In fact, it's encouraged.  He has the attitude working.  Posture is still a problem.  He's not extending and emphasizing with his arms.  He's not leading with a strong chest.  Hmmm...evidently I was wrong that this would be a style that would favor him.  He was much too loose with his body.  The dance pleased the crowd.  I think I agree with the judges that he didn't let the dance control him, but it really wasn't a good Paso.  It was a better effort for him and he has improved over his previous performances.  Judges say 7,6,7 for a total of 20.  He deserved to have his score go up, but I think he's still in danger.

Kirstie and Maks tell their story through Rumba to Over the Rainbow, which takes her back to 1980 when she lost her mom and nearly her dad to a drunk driver, and then won the role of Saavik in Star Trek II The Wrath of Kahn to launch her career.  Oh no.  Maks injured himself during the opening of the dance.  But he managed to pull himself together and continued to dance.  The dance was very poignant.  The story was about coming back from the adversity that life throws at you.  Kirstie could have fallen apart when they fell, but she held herself together and stayed in the game until Maks got his feet back under him.  She was so strong and supportive as she waited for Maks to settle back in.  Judges say 7's across for a total of 21.  I thought it was an ankle that collapsed on him, but he said afterward that it was a muscle strain in his thigh.  From the way they finished the dance, that was going to be something very special.  You know what, strike that.  Let me say this instead...the way they finished the dance was something very special, because it emphasized the story she wanted to tell, and told the same story of strength that characterizes the relationship between the two of them.

Ralph and Karina tell their story through Rumba to Stay Gold, which is from The Outsiders, the film that started his career.  It is also his wedding song.  This week is Phyllis and Ralph's 24th anniversary.  He's a little bit stiff in this dance and he's still having a little trouble with those hands.  And there were some issues with his feet this week.  But he's still an incredibly strong partner.  I thought Karina's choreography was sweetly romantic, however I did think his dancing was a bit too crisp around the edges.  For Rumba, I want softer movements.  I thought Ralph danced with just a little too much of an edge.  But Pam squeeed and then she said "Awwww", so I guess the dance passed her eye test.  I don't know what was going on with the judges and why they thought they had to get in each others' faces.  I was a little embarrassed for them.  There was no reason for that outburst.  Judges say 7's across for a total of 21.


Here's our leader board after Story Night:

25 Hines and Kym
25 Petra and Dmitry 
23 Chelsie and Mark
23 Kendra and Louis
21 Chris and Cheryl
21 Ralph and Karina
21 Kirstie and Maks
20 Romeo and Chelsea
20 Ray and Anna 
15 Wendy and Tony


The leader board has turned over a little bit.  Kirstie and Ralph both had their struggles this week, while some other couples stepped up and had great performances.  I think Hines is the strongest celebrity dancer, and the most consistent so far.

What a great night of dancing.  Honestly gang, this is a terrific season and it's tough to decide how to vote each week.  I split between Ralph and Hines, while Pam spread her votes out this week between Ralph, Hines, Chris, and Kirstie.


I know!  But we're using two phones each so we're OK for awhile.  It's going to be tough though, because there always comes that time when we have to stop splitting and settle on one favorite.

Tune in tonight for results, and check here tomorrow for encores and a recap!

It does pain me because I don't like Jim Calhoun, but I do offer my congratulations to the University of Connecticut for winning the NCAA Championship.  The Huskies defeated Butler University 53-41 to win the title.


Congratulations also to the Bulldogs.  Although they came up short for the second straight year, they show a tenaciousness and determination that I enjoyed watching throughout the tournament.


I'm sorry for my friend Desert Songbird.  She's a Butler alum and she really thought her Dawgs were going to get it done.  So did I.