So I almost always agree with what Simon says on AI. Is it because, much like him, I am a total misanthrope? Perhaps. But he really gets it right with the Kelly Clarkson / Clive Davis brouhaha. See below from ew. Though it sounds like the new album is more Alanis than “Since U Been Gone” — as evidenced by her Riot Grrrl performance at the AI finale – which is really a shame. Dancing to that song accounts for at least 47% of my monthly exercise.
Simon Defends Kelly
SIMON COWELL: ”Kelly is not a puppet; she does not like to be told what to do. She could have gone the easy route, which is, you go with ['Since U Been Gone' producer] Max Martin — it’s a guaranteed success. She made it absolutely clear that she wanted to steer the musical direction on this record. You just gotta say, ‘You know what? This girl has given us millions and millions of sales.’ You’ve got to give her that opportunity. If it works out, fantastic. If she then decides she wants to do a pop album, every good writer and producer wants to work with her. Because Kelly will be here for 30 years. She has one of the best pop voices in the world right now. What she sold in the U.K., Europe, Asia had nothing to do with American Idol. It had everything to do with the fact that she made a great record and she’s got an incredible voice. She’s not a girl who got lucky in a talent competition; we got lucky to find her.”
Production of agave, from the lily family, soared in recent years as farmers cashed in on record prices brought about by a shortage of the plant at the start of the decade.
(via 
Loyal IAYM reader Wendy was bemoaning the fact of lack of awesome women on the TV now. First, Buffy and Willow. And now we say good bye to Veronica and Lorelei. With those girls we always knew how to run our own lives. WWBD? Kick some vampire ass and have an existential crisis. WWWD? Make out with a girl. WWVD? Solve a crime and be emotionally unavailable. WWLD? Eat junk food, drink a lot of coffee, and talk until the problem goes away.
We certainly can’t look to the ladies of Heroes or Lost for guidance. I mean, with 
Heroes we have a hotsy-totsy 17-year-old with daddy issues and a schizophrenic murderer. With Lost, we can get it all in one — a murderous hotsy-totsy thirty something with daddy issues (and she sees imaginary horses). What is a girl to do? 
How can we find our way?
At least that will have to tide me over until Joss Whedon decides to make another show.
