i am part of the IDF. and i saw these articles. to all AI watchers, read this.

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Professor casts an analytical eye on 'Idol' results

Mike Suchcicki
News Journal Online Editor
Suchcicki looks at pop culture, technology and other stuff in his Technicalities column, which runs Fridays.
Phone: 850-435-8530; fax: 435-8633

Had an interesting phone conversation with my friend Dave the other night. The topic of discussion was "American Idol," which, for two guys of our age, was sad or cute, depending on how you see things.

What was fascinating about the talk was Dave's perspective on the mega-popular competition, which airs Tuesday and Wednesday nights on Fox.

You see, when he isn't in his secret identity as "my friend Dave," he's David S. Bunch, professor of management at the University of California, Davis.

According to Dave - excuse me, Professor Bunch - "Idol" proceedings can be analyzed using marketing concepts. It's tempting to think of the audience-participation process of "Idol" using an election analogy. After all, viewers place toll-free calls to vote for their favorite singer.

In an election, however, each person is allowed to vote only once, whereas viewers can place as many "Idol" vote calls as they want. In this regard, "Idol" is more like a market.

"When viewers cast votes, they are making `purchases'," Bunch says. "The `price' they are paying is in the form of the time and effort they are making to cast the votes (because calls are free)."

In any given week, Bunch says, "we can regard the current selection of ("Idol") competitors as a set of competing `products.' Each week, the product with the lowest `sales' is forced to `go out of business'."

With this in mind, it's possible to examine the products and attempt to predict which one might disappear in any given week, especially if you have an understanding of the concept of market segmentation.

"A market segment is a group of buyers who exhibit very similar preferences and behavior," Bunch says. "The key questions are: How many market segments are there, how many people are in each segment, and what are the preferences and behaviors of each segment." It's also important to note not only which product the segment likes best, but how often they are willing to vote, and if they are motivated to vote for multiple candidates.

With many products, such as the "Idol" finalists, there can be situations where similar products can act as "substitutes," dividing votes across those products.

For instance, the two Hawaiian competitors, Jasmine Trias and Camile Velasco, found themselves in the bottom three one week, having split their market segment. Velasco was voted off. The following week, with her market segment reunited, Trias was not in the bottom three, but the two products of the Goofy White Kid segment, Jon Peter Lewis and John Stevens, were. Lewis got the boot.

This past Wednesday, Stevens was safe, while the three products of the Diva segment, Jennifer Hudson, La Toya London and Fantasia Barrino, were in the bottom three. Hudson was voted off. According to host Ryan Seacrest, the margin between Hudson and Barrino was the slimmest yet.

So, the Professor's market theories are holding up. Next week, if the trend continues, divas Barrino and London should again find their market segment split and themselves in the bottom three.

Bunch warns, however, that as the competition continues, and there are fewer "perfect" substitutes, it will be harder to predict who might drop out next. But he has a feeling that George Huff, who has no obvious substitute, will make it almost all the way to the end.

I'm not sure I understood all the market stuff Dave was telling me, but we did agree on one thing: We were both bummed that Amy Adams was voted off so soon.

Apparently he and I are in the drooling-middle-aged-man market segment.

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much to my surprise, shii ann was not voted out from survivor. thank you to the ever reliable immunity. she worked her way and got the very much needed necklace. she would've been the next one but she wasn't. so, goodbye alicia. you didn't see it coming...

pumunta akong trinity college ngayon dahil talagang mag nunursing na ako. may mga bagay na sinabi sa akin si gerry na medyo nagstruck sa akin. basta may impact. tapos kumuha rin ako ng college app form sa delos santos med center-sti. wala lang. ang cheap noh? imagine, mascian tapos ang bagsak sa sti. sheesh. so much for being a mascian. umm... kagabi, may shocking na nangyari sa akin. may letter akong na receive galing naman sa ama. sabi dun sa letter pumasa daw ako sa test nila at ang daming priveleges kaya magenroll na daw ako. wala lang. tumawag nga ako sa aking mga friends para tanungin kung may natanggap din silang letter. nakatanggap si gladys, nabong, jenna, dee, jecca. funny thing, hindi naman kami nagtest dun pero pumasa kami. haha. except for nabong. si nabong nagtest dun pero april 16 siya nagtest tapos yung letter na nagsasabi na pumasa siya is dated april 13. o di ba? barbero. hehe. sana nagsulat din ng ganun ang ust sa akin... huhu... :( waah... tapos kong pumunta trinity dumaan akong quiapo. nagdasal. tapos nakipag 'x-deal' a.k.a. 'covenant' ako kay LORD. sabi ko pagpumasa ako maglalakad ako ng paluhod sa aisle. IM VERY WILLING TO DO THAT. whew... grabe...

hmmph... binisita ko ang mga blog ng aking friendships... buti naman at may bago ng entry itong si leo glenn... mishu na leo... binisita ko rin ang blog ni vincent... hmmph... oi gusto ko rin ng star circle quest... hehe... hmmph... si miguel pala ay binago ang kanyang addy... wala lang...

hmmph... third season lang pala ang napapanood namin ngayon sa amazing race... dati kasi ay hindi ko alam itong amazing race na ito... alam kong nag-eexist siya pero hindi ako nahook parang survivor... hmmph...

THE AMAZING RACE SEASON 3
Sheesh... naaasar ako kasi nalaman ko na 3rd season pala itong pinanonood namin... pero just the same... exciting pa rin siya... naaasar din ako kasi nalaman ko na si flo at si zach ang nanalo sa race... grr... napaka-bitchy ni flo... as in... whattawhore! hehe... i was rooting for everyone except zach and flo... actually, ayaw ko lang kay flo... sheesh... kaasar... buti naman at secon place sina teri and ian... waah... salamat sa mga spoilers... hehe...

SURVIVOR ALL STARS
kagaya ni flo, naasar din ako kay amber at kay rob... oo na... magaling na player si rob (yun ang sabi ni gerry sa kin) pero syempre... ang hirap talaga at ang sama ng ginawa nilang pang-bbtray kay lex... tinanggal na nila si lex, tapos si kathy... next si shii ann... hmmph... dati ay hindi rin ako nahook dito... ngayong bakasyon lang...

ALIAS SEASON 3
umm... ganda talaga... watch kaio mamayang gabi... ALIAS SEASON 3 @ STUDIO 23 @ 2100

AMERICAN IDOL
hmmph... sana wag munang matanggal si Jasmine...

STARCIRCLE QUEST
oo na... fine... sabihin na nating ginaya ng dos ang siyete... eh, as if i care... basta natutuwa ako... hehe... ang gwapo kasi ni hero at ni joross eh... sobra... tapos ang ppretty ni roxanne, sandara, michelle at neri...

MY BIG FAT OBNOXIOUS FIANCE
last week lang to nag premiere... wala lang... panibagong reality tv show...

LIFESTYLE CHANNEL
ang ganda nito... lalo na yung mga fashion at house chu chu nila... kaaliw...

waah... ang daming pwedeng panoorin... ano ba ang mga watchable na channels para sa akin... hmm...

Sky Cable
Ch.08 ABSCBN
Ch.10 ABC5
Ch.18 Nick
Ch.19 MYX
Ch.22 Cinema One
Ch.23 Studio 23
Ch.24 AXN
Ch.25 Star World
Ch.30 Lifestyle Network
Ch.31 HBO
Ch.32 StarMovies
Ch.36 Disney Channel
Ch.37 Cinemax
Ch.41 MTV

hehe...

GOD Bless

naaalala ko pa nung ang meteor garden ay nasa channel 2 pa at ang f4 ay sikat pa, sabi ni dao ming si kay shan cai, “mga bobo lang ang nagkakasakit tuwing summer.” siguro nga ay bobo ako.

Nung Monday afternoon ako nagkasakit. Ewan ko ba? Ang dami kasing problems eh. Sobrang dami talaga. Kaasar! Grr… Umm… nung Monday pumunta akong madocs para magsubmit ng application form ko para sa nursing kaya lang hindi ako pwede kasi may weight requirement. Grr… kawawa naman ako… Kailangan ko ng magseek ng professional help. Calling calling Dra. Belo or Dr. Calayan… Wala lang… sa trinity college hindi rin ako pwede kasi dapat nasa upper 40% ako… kaya lang ako ay nasa upper 50%. pang 99.5 ako sa ranking. wala lang. siguro ay pinag-u-UP talaga ako ni GOD... ewan ko ba?!?!?!nakakaasar talaga ako. hindi ko ginalingan ngayong 4th year. masyado akong kampante. tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk… ano pa ba ang magagawa ko? wala na naman… hay buhay…

tapos… hmm… hindi ako sumama sa lakad ng roentgen… well, bukod sa kailangan kong magtipid ay kailangan ko ring magpahinga dahil sa ako ay maysakit. hanggang ngayon ay di pa rin ako okay… sheesh…

umm… kahapon pumunta dito si mavie… kinuha niya ang kanyang mga gamit… ayun… wala lang… nagkwento na naman ng problema niya sa kanyang lab lyf… hehe… tapos pupunta silang boracay… yipee… swerte… syempre may pasalubong ako!!! Har har… ayun… ano bang ginawa nun dito? Hmm… habang ako ay naghihilik siya naman ay bising-bisi sa pagtatawag ng mga friendships niya dahil sila ay walang telepono… joplonx talaga… wala lang… ayun… matapos niyang magtelebabad… ako naman ang nagtelebabad… nagusap kami ni gerry… grabe… tawa ako ng tawa… wala lang.. kwentuhan lang kami… tapos ayun…

napanood kong muli ang american idol sa abc 5 tapos… 3rd cut na kasi… (yung 2nd individual singing…) wala lang… di ba 3 rooms yun… tapos yung 1st and 3rd room ay ‘in’ tapos yung 2nd room ay ‘out’. nakita ko si george huff sa 2nd room… so dapat ay eliminated na siya…. pero bakit siya umabot sa 12 finalists…. wala lang… hmm… mas tumagal pa siya kay camille…

speaking of american idol, grabe… adik na adik na talaga ako sa american idol… ju-moin ako sa idol forums (message board solely dedicated to american idol)… wala lang… sumali din ako sa jasmile coalition (parang jasmine plus camile)… wala lang…

siya nga pala, mamaya… ALIAS… STUDIO 23… 2100…

waahh… ang dami kong sakit… may lagnat ako… tapos may sugat pa ako sa left na paa ko… tapos masakit yung ears ko…. tapos nahihirapan akong lumunok…. ang hirap kumain…. hehe… waaaaaahhhhhhh

waahh....

bakit ba ganun, para maging masaya kailangan may magsacrifice? and why does it have to be my dream? alam ko, iniisip nila ang kapakanan ko, pero...hindi ba dapat mas alam ko ang mas makakabuti para sa akin? syempre mahal ko sila... ayaw ko silang masaktan... kung pwede lang lahat ng kailangan nila ay ibigay ko na sa kanila... pero bakit parang ang hinihingi nila ay napaka-hirap... oo, alam ko, marami na silang sinacrifice para sa akin -- para sa amin... pero bakit ganun? hindi ba pwedeng pareho kaming maging masaya?

GOD BLESS....

ALIAS: The Two (3.1)
from www.sd-6.com


[Conversation between Vaughn and Sydney]

Vaughn: "I came by to see how you were."

Sydney: "Are you kidding me."

"No I just wanted to make sure that you...."

"You didn't come here to see how I am.... You came here to see how you are. Because you know in your heart what you did, you want to make sure you're okay."

"I buried you..... Consider that for one sec..."

"Don't use rational thought as a defense with me. Not after all you and I have seen....Vaughn you and I live and breathe madness everyday on the job there is no rational thought. .....I can't even pretend to have a conversation about anything else with you, what it comes down to is faith. What I was hoping you would say is Sydney I gave up, I gave up on us I lost faith. But what you came here for is closure. And there is not a chance you are getting that from me. ...... I am not going to say I understand, I am not going to sympathize with you, and tell you how hard it must be for you....you want to know how I am, I am horrible. Vaughn I am ripped apart. and not because I lost you, but because ...if it had been me .....I would have waited, .....I would have found the truth, I wouldn't have given up on you....and now I realize..... what an absolute waste that would have been."

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I really love this scene. She was really angry with him. And I can't blame her. She love him that much.

LET US RECALL

Season 3 of ALIAS
Talk about starting the season right. The first episode of Alias (Season 3) was W.O.W. Exciting. Mind-boggling storyline. Meatier scenes. More astigin fight scenes. More Sydney Bristow. More Michael Vaughn. And of course, more of Arvin Sloane. You wouldnt want to sleep your Wednesday nights away without catching the new episodes of Alias.
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We Will ROCK You
Have you seen the new PEPSI commercial? Yeah, the one with the Voice, the Attitude, and the Face -- Beyonce, Pink, Britney. And oh, Enrique Iglesias is also there. I really didnt get the Grecian concept of the ad. Well, it even reminded me of... of... The Gladiator. Hehe. By the way, Britney Spears' voice sucks big time.
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7th HEAVEN Marathon
Studio 23 ran the 7th Heaven Marathon during these sacred days -- Good Friday and Black Saturday. Watching the show was as always, a very nice experience. The show teaches you a lot of things witout being preachy. Imparting its message in a subtle manner. I am really a fan of the show. David Gallagher and Adam LaVorgna -- they make me drool.
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American Idol on ABC-5
ABC-5 has bought the rights of American Idol and they are now showing the latest season of American Idol daily.
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William HUNG Bangs
Have you seen Williams MTV? Whoa. You don't need to win the American Idol just to be famous. Talk about being yourself. She bangs, she bangs...
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That NURSING Problem
I really NEED to be a NURSE. Everyone in my family is pressuring me to take Nursing. I hope I pass the tests in Trinity College or MaDocs. Farewell to my being a future architect. Farewell UP, Ateneo, LA Salle, UST. Farewell.
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Thought: Bakit mahirap papunta pero napakadali pabalik?

Happy Easter!

Waah... Wala lang. Hindi ako nakapag-reflect ngayong semana santa. Ako ay natulog, kumain, nanood ng tv, natulog, kumain, nanood ng tv... Ang tamad ko talaga. Kaasar! Sheesh...

Wala lang.

Happy Easter ulit!

tv news!

the new season of alias (studio 23) will kick off next next week! yipee!

camille velasco is the fourth idol to be eliminated (check out the american idol site). im quite depressed. i was really hoping that she would stay a little longer. i think that the three idols that would be left standing are: la toya, fantasia, and george. but i hope that jasmine would give a good fight. pinoi!!!

ei dont forget the 7th heaven marathon tomorrow and the day after next.

I want to have a very fruitful summer vacation. I want to make the most of my last summer as a childish-teenish-adultish person (what the f*ck?). Really! So, here are my goals which I really I want to accomplish:

1. to read the following books: Da Vincis Code (recommended by everybody), The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks, Les Miserables (i didn't finish this book but i got a pretty satisfactory grade in the les miserables test), Once Upon A... series (im a sucker for romance books)

2. to collect magazines such as Candy, Seventeen, Readers Digest (magazine ba 'to?)

3. to finalize my college plans - im still confused.

4. to arrange my things - throw the things which i don't need, arrange the things which are left, etc.

5. to budget the household money wisely - i was tasked by my parents to budget the household money. as u all know, my parents are not here. both of them are working abroad. actually, they were not here on my graduation (poor me!). anyway, they entrusted their atms and bank accounts to me. imagine!!! i am so elated. they trust me -- with money! im up for the challenge. and i hope that i won't destroy that trust. GOD help!

6. to do computer matters such as updating my blog, writing testimonials, etc.

7. to finish writing my letters to everybody

8. to finish my hs memorabilia

9. to eat less

10. to reflect

so help me GOD....

i cannot think of another word that would describe the grad ball other than -- UNFORGETTABLE. who could forget the very last night of batch 2004 together? who could forget the slideshow that showcased our highschool memories? who could forget the grand ballroom with a carpet-sized dance floor (i'm exaggerating here)? who could forget the call cards and internet cards that were being raffled? who could forget the "dance showdown" of mr. bangayan and maam carlos? who could forget miguel's inspiring speech? who could forget the light thingy that gave me the eye pain? who could forget THE DANCE (the dance may vary from one person to another)? who could forget the crying, the farewells? who could forget the very last dance -- the BATCH DANCE? tell me, who?

although the whole batch population was not present, it didn't really matter (well, for some it did). all of us were enjoying the evening (at least, i did). i really had a wonderful time. A VERY WONDERFUL TIME. i just wish that i taped every single moment of that night. it was so, so -- perfect. sigh.

rock on batch 2004!

hay... grabe! kahapon pumunta ako tsaka si yaya sa quiapo para pick-up-in yung damit ko for the grad ball... kaya lang hindi pa tapos. actually, bukas ko pa nga makukuha eh. kaasar! tapos kahapon din sa quiapo napanood ko yung taping ng telenovela ni piolo. too bad di ko sya nakita! ayaw kong makipagsiksikan para lang makita si piolo... buti sana kung si bernard (hehe) umm... tapos nagdasal ako ng sandali sa church. pumunta kami sm manila. ang daming tao! naghahanap kasi ako ng bracelet nung katulad kay ak. eh... wala akong mahanap...

grabe! bukas na pala talaga ang last day.... as in last day! nakakalungkot :( iyakan talaga 'to bukas! bago ko makalimutan... wala akong means of transpo pauwi bukas... makiki-hitch na lang siguro ako... kanino kaya? hmm...

tinatamad na akong gumawa ng mga letters...

wah ngayon na lang ulit ako nagkaroon ng internet card... ang dami ng nangyari... GRADUATE na kami!!!!