Best American Idol Blogs

American Idol is a cultural phenomenon that shows no signs of fading. People talk about the show on TV, the radio, around water coolers and increasingly, in the Internet blogoshphere. The blogs range from funny to informative to serious, and there are hundreds of them. Here are a few of the best:

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Best Concealers for Rosacea

If you suffer from rosacea, you know to avoid alcohol, excessive sun, spicy foods and cold sharp winds, but no matter how careful you are, there are times when you rosacea will flare. Many makeup companies have special redness-reducing green concealers that claim to minimize the appearance of rosacea and acne, but which ones are most effective?

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Old fashioned candy

Nothing can bring back childhood memories like old-fashioned candy, but the favorites that we enjoyed as kids can be increasingly difficult to find. If you have a craving for a taste of the good old days, the Internet can be a great source for hard to find sweets.

Nostalgic Candy (www.nostalgiccandy.com) features all of your favorite novelty candies from your childhood. From wax lips and candy cigarettes to Necco Wafers and candy lipsticks, Nostalgic Candy will bring back fond memories of the corner candy store. They also sell bulk candy, a wide assortment of Peeps candy, Willie Wonka’s Candy Factory and candy with holiday themes.

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Buying a Refurbished Digital Camera

Pocket-sized point and shoot digital cameras are everywhere, and with the constant introduction of new technology, prices have dropped dramatically. These simple cameras come with a wide variety of features that are suitable for many users, but if you are looking for more options and more control over exposure times, white balance and focus, a prosumer or an SLR camera may be more appropriate. These cameras offer a level of customization that you can’t find in a pocket sized camera, but their prices can put them out of the reach of many amateur photographers. If you find yourself in need of more camera than you can afford, a refurbished camera might be for you. Refurbished cameras are used cameras that have been cleaned and repaired and are offered at up to half the price of a new camera. These cameras often come with a shorter warranty and may not have accessories that were part of the original package, but they do give those on a budget the opportunity to own a high end camera. There are many places on the Internet that sell refurbished and many are not legitimate businesses. They may offer too good to be true prices on cameras and use high pressure techniques to sell overpriced accessories. However, there are many reliable merchants that sell refurbished cameras.

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American Idol May Raise Age Limit

When American Idol first appeared on the pop culture radar in 2002, the age limit was 25. Many of the contestants were far younger than that, with the eventual winner being just 20 years old. After the second season’s top three finishers were all 25, American Idol producers raised the age limit to 28. The increased age limit gave us Bo Bice, Constantine Maroulis, Chris Daughtry and Taylor Hicks. Now Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe has said that the show may raise the age limit to 30, which begs the question, why have an age limit at all? Is there a shelf life on talent?

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Ugly Shoes=Big Sales

You’ve seen Crocs everywhere. The ugly, awkward shoes in day glow colors have taken the country by storm, even if they aren’t the most stylish of shoe. They have never been the subject of a mass marketing campaign, and celebrities aren’t spotted wearing them around town. How did such an ugly shoe become such a staple?

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Ashley Tisdale is “Headstrong”

If you have a preteen girl in your home, chances are you’ve heard of Ashley Tisdale. With a starring turn in “High School Musical” and a recurring role on “The Suite Life of Zach and Cody,” she’s the Cameron Diaz of the elementary school set. With the success of the “HSM” soundtrack and Vanessa Hudgen’s single on the pop charts, it was inevitable that Disney would eventually shuffle her into the studio for the requisite disposable pop album. What’s surprising is how good it is.

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Something Brewing Coffee Shop

While the Starbucks trend has introduced millions of Americans to the joys of daily lattes, their cookie cutter shops can leave many coffee drinkers cold. That’s where the friendly neighborhood coffee house comes in. In Conway, that niche is filled by Something Brewing at Mill and Front Streets downtown.

Located in an old house, no one will every mistake Something Brewing for a trendy national chain. Customers ranges from college students from nearby Hendrix College to downtown business people and retirees. When you walk in the front door, you are greeted by a barista and a large menu board full of coffee, tea and food selections. There is the usual assortment of lattes and cappuccinos, along with local specialties like the Almond Joy (espresso flavored with chocolate and coconut syrups, steamed milk and whipped cream) and the Granny Snicker Doodle (espresso, hazelnut and cinnamon syrups, steamed milk and whipped cream). There are also hot and cold teas, milk shakes and ice cream sundaes in addition to the extensive coffee selections.

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Branson for Kids

Branson is the leading family vacation spot in middle America, but “family” doesn’t always mean kid-centric. Between the country music shows and the shopping,kids can sometime feel lost in the shuffle, but Branson has some great attractions just for kids.

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Yes

A friend emailed me and asked if it was my TOM after seeing those last two articles. Why yes, yes it is. Thanks for asking.