Speaking of addicted

Flame-Haired Angel and I have become X-Factor addicts over the last several weeks. (Non-UK readers: X-Factor is the equivalent of American Idol and the like.) Given that we've both sung in front of live audiences -- FHA far, far, *far* more than me -- we have strong opinions about the singers and the justice (or not) of the results. We were more or less content to watch the victims go until Saturday night, when a singer named Ruth Lorenzo got booted. There are at least three other acts who can't carry Ruth's notes in a bucket, but they're all cuter. The show's up-front about being a popularity contest rather than a singing contest, but it still cut this addict up to watch Ruth go. Not only does she have a fantastic voice, it's a voice made for just the kind of shlock-rock power ballad that gets under my skin. Ah, well. Vale Ruth.