hey, where are the male clay fans? no guts?

http://www.elitestv.com/NewsPub/2004/Jan/ETV3ff6353b701b2.html

Fans of Clay
Let’s get one thing straight before we start, this is not a belligerent dissertation on the Ruben and Clay phenomenon. I think there has already been enough of that to extinguish everyone’s interest in American Idol. What is fascinating however, is the continued and expanding popularity for a particular member of this talented duo. The year of 2003 was certainly the year of Clay, as reviewed by others. [This was the year for Aiken by Matt Ehlers at newsobserver.com].

The last year has been a huge success for both Idols. Clay’s record sales, media appearances, and charitable accomplishments have created a much larger following than anyone expected. More and more people are latching onto the measure of Clay Aiken. He is starting to show a maturity and improvement in his performances. The music industry is beginning to accept him. Kudos to them!

We have all read how the majority of Clay’s fans are female mostly residing at opposite spectrums of the age range. The younger fans who have been looking for someone to “idolize” (forgive the pun) and who’s music they can play without parental trepidation. The mature females who screamed and fantasized to the performances of pop-stars like The Beatles, The Osmonds (Donny?), early ‘80s Michael Jackson and so on. Admittedly, Clay Aiken’s style and/or his voice is not for everyone. I’m positive there are many people from both genders who dislike the middle-of-the-road (aka nice to listen to) quality of Clay’s songs. But I am also sure that we haven’t seen all that Clay has to offer yet.

It appears everyone agrees with the member-base of Clay Aiken followers. However, what about the male fan? Surprisingly, there does seem to be an ever growing male appreciation and admiration of this young man's talent, originality, and even an interest in his career path. Don’t believe it? Well, I’ve seen it, heard it, and have discovered several male friends I know were as ardent an American Idol watcher (Clay watcher) as were their female partners. Plus it has been acknowledged that they listen (sometimes clandestinely) to “Measure of a Man” on a regular basis.

In this society of brandish machismo the average man is apparently emotionless and their sole recreational pursuits appear to fall into very clear cut masculine activities. Should current trends in music, and the accompanying artists who perform enter into their list of pastime activities, then the objects of their admiration could often be categorized as either raunchy or provocative stage acts, or your typical tattoo infested mean-machine rock artist. Ok, I know there is some middle ground, but my point is that a great deal of men would not admit to having a respectful appreciation for good, clean, homely, female adorned male pop-stars. And most definitely not in the genre of one Mr. Clay Aiken. Or would they? Has our culture changed or is it in the midst of change? I think so.

There is a big difference between male based followers of other male pop-stars and those of Clay Aiken. For example (as we are in Idol mode), the Ruben fans who are of the male gender don’t have a problem with Ruben. He has “street cred”, and he possesses a typical male disposition. He doesn’t emotionalize outwardly, and his dialogue is short and to the point. He represents what’s “cool” and has a Vandross style about him that male and females both enjoy. He is talented and has a bright future ahead, and will no doubt retain a huge following from both genders. Justin Guarini is another male archetype. Not particularly a great singer, but he has the look, a style considered “hip”, and is also is seen as “cool” – I’m not going to comment on his recent deportation from record company popularity.

Clay however, goes against most of what the generic stereotypical male admires. He doesn’t appear to be street-wise, he isn’t physically representative of the “don’t mess with me” male attitude. He loves his mom openly (I don’t know why that is a problem, more men should be as demonstrative), its been said he has a slightly effeminate manner which I expect is nothing more than his willingness to be forthcoming with his emotions (men take note), and probably most of all he is openly religious, doesn’t drink, smoke, use the f-word, nor is willing to participate in sexual promiscuity. All these things do not fit the conventional pop-star male persona. Hence the dislike of him in certain circles. Regardless that he has a voice that can captivate the emotions of all who listen or that he’s proved to be entertaining on stage, he is not the kind of guy that other males admire, right? Well actually I’ve a sneaky feeling that many men are actually beginning to respect Clay Aiken. Respect – such a strange word – what is respect?

To quote a passage, “Respect is closely allied to admiration; it is more cognitive and less affective, and in general, more permanent than admiration. Respect is perhaps the most intellectualized sentiment … Respect for another implies that one has analyzed the activities of the other person and has found them satisfactory, or in harmony with his own ideals or standards.”
[Emory S. Bogardus's - “Essentials of Social Psychology”]

So then, we could find that the aspects of Clay Aiken that we respect, underpin what we as males wish we could be, but can not, due to the constraints of our peers and the lifestyles we are expected to follow.

Maybe there are other reasons that he is generating a growing male following. Perhaps he represents the ideal “mate” for our daughters. Perhaps he represents what we would hope our sons to evolve into. Perhaps he is an instrument in gaining the affections of a person from the opposite sex. Perhaps he epitomizes the new generation of the male society or the male pop-star. Whatever the reasons, there seems to have taken place, or is taking place, a change in social acceptance. There seems to be a willingness from a growing number of men not to hide behind their masculine guard. This has become evident if you look at the change in Film, TV and Drama over the last 25 years. It’s no longer weak for a male to admit he has inner emotions and sensitivity. For those men who wonder why so many female fans go crazy over anything Clay, I don’t think it is one singular attribute. I think you have to look at the whole image. The most commonly admired aspects of Clay (besides the voice) are his normality, level-headedness, compassion and openness. Yes, there’s a lesson there!

I don’t think for one minute Clay is anything more than a fine young man, with a refreshing personality and an astounding voice. But for so long it seems that society in general has been confined to stereotypes. Maybe this ex-geek from North Carolina can pave the way for others. We will always have the entertainers who will remain at the top because of style, looks, and industry promotion regardless of their musical abilities. But there is hope.

Let us not get too caught up in terms like revolution and fanatical adornment. Clay is just a unique entertainer with a gift. He has given others an optimistic view as to what can be achieved. American Idol has shown that dreams do come true. Lets hope that Clay continues on his adventure and not only makes 2004 another Year of Clay, but maintains who he is. Perhaps then, more members of the male breed will agree to acknowledge him as an admirable person and also as an artist worth following. Then just maybe, those (real) men, who actually do enjoy his talent, can at that point openly admit that it was they who had placed a Clay Aiken CD in the player. It really won’t be that bad! You might even start telling your male buddies that you’ve just purchased his latest release. If anything, I think we should at least start by taking our “hats off” to him. Yours truly has. Well done Clay!

Antony A Jones

posted by Yee 5:47 PM

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Sleeping Problems? http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/11/1671_50420

Doze Control: Eat Right and You'll Sleep Like a Baby
Eat Right, Sleep Better

By Staff Writer

Reviewed By Gary Vogin, MD

Do you toss and turn during the night instead of sleeping soundly? If so, your battle with insomnia might start at the dining table, not in the bedroom.

A cup of coffee or tea or a glass of cola are quick pick-me-ups that might undermine your sleep. Even small amounts of caffeine (like the amount in a chocolate doughnut) can affect your sleep, especially if you are sensitive to caffeine. Try eliminating all caffeine-containing beverages. If you feel and sleep better after two weeks of being caffeine-free, then avoid caffeine permanently. You can try adding back one or two cups after the two-week trial, but cut back if sleep problems reappear.

As for alcohol, a nightcap might make you sleepy at first, but in the end you'll sleep less soundly and wake up more tired. Alcohol and other depressants suppress a phase of sleeping called REM (rapid eye movement) during which most of your dreaming occurs. Less REM is associated with more night awakenings and restless sleep. One glass of wine with dinner probably won't hurt, but avoid drinking any alcohol within two hours of bedtime. And never mix alcohol with sleeping pills!

Sleep-Friendly Table Tactics

Big dinners make you temporarily drowsy but prolong digestion, which interferes with a good night's sleep. It's best to eat your biggest meal before midafternoon and have a light evening meal of 500 calories or less. Include some chicken, extra-lean meat or fish at dinner to help curb middle-of-the-night snack attacks.

Spicy foods can contribute to sleep problems: Dishes seasoned with garlic, chilies, cayenne, or other hot spices can cause nagging heartburn or indigestion. Avoid spicy foods at dinner. Gas-forming foods and hurried eating also cause abdominal discomfort, which in turn interferes with sound sleep. Limit your intake of gas-forming foods to the morning hours, and thoroughly chew food to avoid gulping air.

bedtime Snacks: a Great Alternative to Sleeping Pills

A high-carbohydrate snack, such as crackers and fruit or toast and jam, triggers the release of a brain chemical called serotonin, which aids sleep. And although the traditional glass of warm milk, a protein-rich beverage, probably doesn't affect serotonin levels, the warm liquid soothes and relaxes you and makes you feel full, which might help facilitate sleep.

A new product on the market called 5-Hydroxy-L-tryptophan, or 5-HTP, is touted as a building block for serotonin, which is a mood elevator, brain stimulant, and sleep enhancer. However, since its safety is questionable and no optimal dose has been established, you're better off raising serotonin levels naturally with high-carbohydrate snacks.

Curbing the Midnight Snack Attack

Do you awaken in the middle of the night, unable to fall back to sleep unless you eat something? These midnight snack cravings may be triggered by hunger, or they may just be habit. In either case, your best bet is to break the cycle. Try eating more during the day, and stop rewarding your stomach by feeding it every time it wakes you up. Instead, read a book, drink a glass of water, or ignore the craving. It takes up to two weeks to break a midnight snack habit.

Exercising to Relieve Stress

Stress is a common cause of insomnia. Often, relieving tensions and anxieties eliminates sleep problems. One tension reliever is exercise. In a study from Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., healthy adults with mild sleep problems who exercised twice a week for at least 40 minutes per session fell asleep faster and slept about 45 minutes longer than people who didn't exercise. Physical activity also helps you cope with daily stress and tires the body so it is ready to sleep at night. Vigorous exercise should be done no closer to bedtime than six hours; mild exercise should be done no closer to bedtime than four hours.

In short, sleeping pills are a temporary fix, but a few simple dietary and lifestyle changes could do wonders for your long-term snooze control.

Originally published November 5, 1999.


Updated and medically reviewed by Gary D. Vogin, MD, March 29, 2002.

posted by Yee 5:44 PM

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Happy New Year 2004! yes it's the countdown and i'm alone at home sitting in front of my laptop (ok i am spending it with one of my loved ones after all, precious laptop baby) and wishing myself and my blog a happy new year.
well, new year resolution: read newspapers everyday.
not bad for a new year resolution huh? the best thing is i can't even remember what was my resolution for last year, nor the year before. how come nobody makes resolutions like "remembering my new year resolution(s)"?
i've had a weary year. really. honestly. first half of the year was plagued with sars over thr country, the world too. worries and precautions reigned. i didn't go back to jkt during that extremely long 3 months holiday. instead i was slogging away here as a maid and part time tutor for the tuition kids. then when year 2 sem 1 began, it was one long nightmare. taxing hectic schedules, large number of responsibilities, bad moods and depressions, never-ending work and assignments, constantly visiting tests and assessments...
but i survived you.
and here i am, though with the worst results i've had so far. but i must still say i'm thankful and grateful for this sorta results nevertheless. cos it's already considered not bad. eh i had a horrible semester ok? i must be kind to myself...
just wished lap happy new year over sms. she sent me before i sent her! that's fast... she highlighted her hair, eew... my goodness, why on earth?
nevermind that, i'll not be highlighting my hair nor rebonding it nor dyeing nor perming it. i shall pamper my hair with natural cleanliness. i'm so stubborn, i think i should be able to stick to this decision. hmmm... =)
i'm so tired. i dunno what kind of tired this it. physical? mental? emotional (don't worry probably from getting annoyed too often that's all)? definitely no spiritual i insist. He has given me strength to live past this year. He has forgiven me for sometimes dreaming through my prayers before bed time. He has kept me healthy the whole year round. i'm strong for this. spiritually. i insist. i'm convinced. i am.
whatever the tiredness, i shall sleep it away and as the new year is here, all that weariness shall be washed away with the old one.
2003. i got to listen to clay for almost the entire year. i was a happy little girl. first half of the year i had motivation and something to look forward to every thursday. everyday seemed so close to thursday. i pratically lived for american idol2. i listened to perfect english all the time. i now feel so much more comfortable speaking in proper english. later part of the year there was the police show to keep my motivated. something to look forward to whenever the weekend (and rest time) was over. right up till the eve of my exams. for the rest of the time there was idolforums, and airplaycentral. there to save me from withdrawal symptoms. haha...
and i established a far firmeer friendship with qifen. it's great feeling you a friend in school. i dunno if this will last. but i sure will try to make it last. taking ST2131 together. taking PR1301 together. armed against a common enemy who spared no one with his words. morning calls and dependence (as well as reliability) during crucial times. it was great. it felt good. thank you. =)
and now that the year is coming to an end, the things i want to bring with me, they're coming along with me to the new year. those i don't want, you're staying behind.
and yes. i still remember my new year resolution. to read newspaper everyday.

happy new year honey.

posted by Yee 12:15 AM

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