Quite the just-like-old-times performance for the Sharks in their 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. The Sharks roster finally looked like it should be with a couple exceptions. And with the added aspect of facing former Sharks, Christian Ehrhoff and Steve Bernier, it was a reunion of sorts.

Got to mention the injuries, returns and transactions. Devin Setoguchi and Rob Blake returned to the lineup tonight; Benn Ferriero and Jason Demers were sent down to Worcester because of that. Of course this was Torrey Mitchell’s second game back so he’s still getting used to NHL-level speed.

Jody Shelley and Brad Staubitz are still out with injuries, so Frazer McLaren played on the fourth line. Derek Joslin retained his spot on the defense upon Demers’ reassignment.

OK so the game — a slow back-and-forth game. One team would control for 10 minutes, then things would switch. Vancouver got on the board early in the first and controlled the play. McLaren scored his first NHL goal to tie things up before the first ended. He took a big hit behind the goal-line but stayed on his feet and kept his stick on the ice. Joe Pavelski found him and it was an easy tip-in. Glad to see Frazer add his name to the list of first-time scorers this season; Ferriero, McLaren, Demers, Logan Couture and Ryan Vesce all have scored their first NHL goal so far this season.

The Sharks dominated the second period, outshooting Vancouver 15-4; however, they only managed one goal, which came from Dan Boyle on the power play. It was a cool goal to watch on the replay because you saw how much Boyle moves on the man-advantage. One second he would be up high at the point, five seconds later he was down low. Always keeps his skates moving in a very fluid motion.

Captain Rob Blake made his return against Vancouver (From SJSHARKS.com)

San Jose backed off during the last frame but withstood a fierce Canucks forecheck. The Sharks capitalized on a counterattack, as Manny Malhotra deked — yes deked — goalie Roberto Luongo fairly easily. Thirteen seconds later Jamie McGinn notched his fourth goal of the season after Jed Ortmeyer battled beyond the goal line and sent the puck to the crease.

Let’s go back to the decision to send Demers down to Worcester. Coach Todd McClellan cited bad play in the defensive zone as the reason for the reassignment. Demers and Joslin were battling for the final defenseman spot with Rob Blake returning and T-Mac said Joslin played better over the last 10 games. Demers has definitely not played up to par lately. I think back to last game where Demers attempted a stretch pass only to have it intercepted and turned into an Edmonton goal.

T-Mac said before he likes how Demers takes risks, and now he’s going back on that? I don’t get it. Demers is clearly learning from Boyle how to be an offensive threat and doing a pretty good job at it. He has one goal and 12 assists in 27 games. He’s been one of the league’s most surprising rookies and you choose Joslin over Demers? I’m sorry, but this is a dumb move by T-Mac. Joslin is a joke of a player and isn’t going to amount to anything.

Perhaps it will help Demers not to play with Kent Huskins and actually someone good down in Worcester. Huskins was on the power play tonight again. Stop doing that T-Mac. Just stop. Demers needs to be on the power play and Huskins needs to be sent down. No one will claim him off waivers.

Other Notes

Hit-O-Meter: SJ 16  VAN 14; Jamie McGinn (4) and Devin Setoguchi (3) led the team.

The Sharks wrap up November with a 9-2-3 record and are the first team to reach 40 points.

All eyes will be on San Jose on Tuesday when the Sharks battle the Ottawa Senators. Dany Heatley versus his ex-girlfriend. Should be good.

–Ray

Aos leitores mais tradicionais, peço desculpas pelo título em inglês. Mas não encontrei, literalmente, palavras para expressar a experiência que estou tendo neste exato momento. Estou ouvindo o CD da Susan Boyle, recém lançado.

Ah, você não sabe quem é Susan Boyle? Dica: www.youtube.com (coloque o nome dela na pesquisa). Caso não tenha tempo, nem encontre os primeiros filmes, colaboro. A mulher é um talento revelado pelo programa Britain´s Got Talent (o equivalente ao que o SBT chama de Qual é o seu talento?). A expressão dos jurados… Olha, vale a pena ver a apresentação da escocesa, retirada, por obra divina, da área rural do Reino Unido.

Depois dessa apresentação, a mulher literalmente surtou com o sucesso. Estou, repito, sem palavras para dizer… Não interprete este post como propaganda gratuita. Afinal, o CD vai de clássicos, como “Les Misérables”, a Madonna, Monkees (ah, você lembra, sim, quem foram), Rolling Stones…

Fugi muito da temática do blog. Acredito que a Susan Boyle sirva, neste momento, para renovar os olhos e os ouvidos. Ficamos viciados. Recicle. Aproveite a dica.

Até breve.

The success of Susan Boyle provides an interesting metaphor for the decline of manufacturing in the information stage of late capitalism.

Since her appearance on Britain’s Got Talent in April, she has become a sort of global cultural meme, parodied by chat-show hosts, namechecked in The Simpsons and South Park, and triggering an ongoing internet tsunami of curiosity – without actually doing, well… anything, really. With just one talent-show show-tune under her belt, she seems to have run the entire showbiz career course, from overnight sensation to rehab burnout, all before actually releasing a record.

It’s the classic example of pop values in the Cowell era, a flimsy construct of mediocrity inflated by back-story, in which success is measured in tabloid headlines, and few sustain any longevity of career. Perhaps this is why it’s taken seven months for Syco’s team to deliver the product that would usually appear within weeks of the TV promotional blitz: an understanding that deferred gratification is more rewarding than premature disappointment.

Because it’s impossible to regard I Dreamed a Dream as other than a disappointment, with its routine, impassive versions of “Amazing Grace” and “Silent Night” supported by a slew of songs with supposed biographical resonance, such as “Proud”, “Who I Was Born to Be” and Madonna’s vengeful anthem of solitude “You’ll See”. But it’s the other cover versions which reveal the limitations of her interpretive abilities. The Stones’ “Wild Horses” is treated with a preciosity which scours away its careworn charm, while “Daydream Believer”, so joyously ebullient in both its Monkees and football-crowd renditions, is similarly shoehorned into a slow piano ballad that completely crushes its jollity.

This desire to smooth away any excessively emotional aspects also kills Boyle’s take on “The End of the World”, politely delivered in a manner lacking the desolation of Skeeter Davis’s version – but then, the singer’s own annotation (“Don’t be silly! It’s only the beginning!”) suggests she was always unsuited to a song which depends on despair. There’s a fundamental difference between this kind of karaoke imposture, and inhabiting a song so intensely it comes alive; here, she sounds less like she’s at the end of the world than at the end of the check-out line.

But karaoke is the key to Boyle’s approach, which is why the best performances here remain the title-track and “Cry Me a River”. You can instantly tell she’s been singing both for years, reaching the position where practised technique compensates for the kind of emotional revelation which, one suspects, would be anathema to a nice lady like her – but which is a vital part of bringing songs to life.

Thanks to Andy Gill from Independent.co.uk

Quite the come on Sharks performance in their 5-4 shootout win over the Edmonton Oilers. After the 7-2 debacle last game against Chicago, I expected a bit more effort tonight, but alas, this is San Jose. Effort is harder to come by than a 2012 convention at your local church.

Patrick Marleau scored a hat trick with Joe Thornton as the set-up man on all 3. And every goal of Patty’s looked similar. All involved Joe being at or behind the goal line and throwing the puck to Patty in front of the net. Easy pickings for Marleau, who also tallied an assist later for a four-point night.

Ryane Clowe was the other goal scorer. He and Joe Pavelski camped out in front of the net, and Clowe pocketed the rebound.

Not many Sharks showed up tonight, unfortunately. And since all my angry emotions are drained from the Chicago game, I won’t be going off on them as much.

Please tell me why you wouldn’t play as hard as you could after a crappy performance. Your manhood was tested and you come back tonight with another ball-less act. You’re making a joke of yourselves. This should have been a blowout. Edmonton is destined for the NHL cellar and you guys needed a shootout to beat them? Really now?

I’ve avoided the Todd McClellan criticism, but this goes on him. I still don’t know what he’s like in the locker room, but if he doesn’t yell, that needs to change. This was inexcusable.

Joe Pavelski fights for position (From SJSHARKS.com)

OK, I’m really tired of talking about defensive letdowns but tonight it was as blatant as ever. One Edmonton goal came when Dan Boyle tried to bring the puck into the Oilers’ zone and was pickpocketed. A breakaway later, the Oilers were on the board. Another time, Jason Demers attempted a stretch pass, which was promptly intercepted. An offensive breakout later, another Oiler goal.

I guess I should just accept these kinds of things because that’s what Boyle and Demers do — try to create offense — but it’s just so annoying seeing it EVERY SINGLE GAME.

Tell Me Why

Kent Huskins and Derek Joslin were on the ice in overtime for a 3 on 3 situation. For the love of all that is holy, give me one good reason why those two have any business being out there.

Other Notes

Hit-O-Meter: SJ 16  EDM 22; Douglas Murray and Ryane Clowe led with 3 each.

Torrey Mitchell returned to the lineup for the first time this millenium; however, we didn’t get to see much from him. He accumulated 6:25 of ice time with one shot.

The Sharks play Vancouver on Sunday.

–Ray

By Cara Sulieman

SUSAN Boyle shrugged off claims that she had a break down during her visit to America earlier this week as she signed autographs for fans outside her home in Blackburn.

The star has been pictured in tears as she was surrounded by fans in New York’s Rockefeller Centre, where she was doing a live performance for NBC’s Today show.

But she said that her trip had been “absolutely brilliant” as she proudly posed with her debut album.

Casually dressed in a cream jumper and sporting a black beret adorned with jewels to keep away the cold, the 48-year-old waved to passers-by on the narrow street where she lives.

Bridget Boyle

Looking happy, she said that she hoped people would like her album.

I Dreamed a Dream is set to be number one in the album charts this weekend, after setting the highest first-day sales of the year with a whopping 130,000 copies flying off shelves.

And it is on track to beat the highest first-week sales of 375,872 for a debut album, which was set by Leona Lewis two years ago.

The CD is dedicated to the singer’s mother – Bridget Boyle who died in 2007 – and each song was chosen by SuBo because it had a special meaning.

Her management strongly denied that the Britain’s Got Talent performer had a breakdown whilst in the States, saying that she was overcome by emotion after receiving a quilt from fans.

A spokesman for Susan said: “She was just overjoyed and extremely touched with the reception she has had from everyone in America.”

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

DISCLAIMER: Minor language. Proceed with caution.

Quite the piss poor, I-feel-like-disowning-you “performance” by the Sharks in their 7-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. The Sharks should have just stayed home in their cribs and choked on their pacifiers rather than “play” tonight.

Joe Thornton: Hey guys, let’s step on the ice.

*SILENCE*

Team: …and do what Jumbo? Are you going to finish that thought?

Thornton: Ya know, step on the ice and succeed with good ol’ fashioned California chillin’.

Team: OMFG, you iz brilliant Jumbo! Why didnt us think of that?! LOLZ.

Give me a damn break. This was disgusting. Absolutely putrid. Um, helllllooooo? Um, hi? You little children play professional hockey. Sounds kinda cool when you think about it. How about you actually play the game. And try. Just try.

What the hell happened during this long layoff to make the Sharks play like a beer league team? They allowed three, THREE shorthanded goals. Two of them were on the same power play!

Nobody wanted to play, everyone played with jocks on their heads. Turnover after turnover, fail after fail. If there was any doubt left about our defense, those were put to rest. From now on, if anyone tells you the Sharks defense is good, go ahead and tell them to remove their secret Ducks jersey or to go watch the NBA.

What a joke. Jason Demers played his worst game of his career. Dan Boyle felt like playing with an injured foot because this was a big game. He did end up scoring very late in the game, but it’s refreshing to know he waited 56 minutes to do something with his life. He finished with a -4 rating.

Also joining Pimple — I mean Boyle — with a -4 rating were Thornton and Dany Heatley. For all the great stuff they’ve done recently, this game shat all over it. Good gracious, it was atrocious. They must be stunned to know you have to play defense too. What a concept!

Manny Malhotra does his best pylon impression (From NHL.com)

With five minutes left to go in the second period, the shots were 26-7 Chicago. What in the blue hell is that about? Seven shots after 35 minutes? I could get eight shots on net by doing cartwheels the whole time.

At that time it was 4-0 and after the fourth, Ryane Clowe took it upon his messed-up-nose self to take a penalty. Brilliant. What a smart hockey player. Take a penalty and you show those bad guys you can beat them even with a man down. Ryane Clown. Blow me up a balloon while you make a joke of yourself.

Let’s go ahead and give credit to Chicago. They came in with an exceptional gameplan and their coach Joel Quenneville and perfected it. Sharks coach Todd McClellan was lost in the Tao of Joel’s stache.

This is the Blackhawks’ eighth win in a row and they’re no signs of slowing down.

LOL WUT?

Frazer McLaren managed a +1 for the Sharks. Ha ha ha ha.

AHL

Five AHL players were in the lineup: Jamie McGinn, Benn Ferriero, McLaren, Steven Zalewski and Derek Joslin. Certainly looked like Worcester was playing.

Kent friggin’ Huskins…

…was on the power play. Yes. On the power play and caused the turnover that led to a Chicago goal. Don’t EVER put that guy on the PP again.

Optimism Corner

Hit-O-Meter: SJ 26  CHI 17

Faceoff Percentage: SJ 56%  CHI 44%

The game ended.

Other Dreadful Notes

The Sharks’ injuries are plaguing them so badly now. Rob Blake, Devin Setoguchi, Jody Shelley, Brad Staubitz, Torrey Mitchell need to come back.

Per NHL rules, the Sharks are required to play again. They play Edmonton in Edmonton, Friday.

–Ray

By Cara Sulieman

A WINDSWEPT Susan Boyle breezed back into Scotland yesterday (Wed) after making a flying visit to America to launch her debut album.

And with her first disc ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ already going down a storm in the charts, SuBo said the outlook had never looked sunnier.

Sheltering from rain and gales with her trademark hair protected by a hood, she wandered around her locals shops almost unnoticed at first back in her West Lothian hometown of Blackburn.

Sporting a bright red scarf – complete with a badge of her pet cat Pebbles – she was eventually stopped by overjoyed friends and school children keen to welcome the star back home.

“Brilliant”

But she admitted her new jet-set lifestyle had left her a little bleary eyed.

Smiling Susan, 48, said: “I got back from America this morning and am a little jet lagged. New York was absolutely brilliant.”

Asked how promoting the new album was going, she grinned broadly, and said: “I hope everyone likes it.”

The Britain’s Got Talent performer protected herself from the elements with a light cream waterproof jacket.

But there was no hiding her new found celebrity when she was spotted by school kids eager to take her picture on their phones.

Breaking records

Despite looking tired, the star still took her time to talk to the kids, before walking home in the rain.

SuBo sold more than 130,000 copies of her album in the first day when it was released on Monday.

The Britain’s Got Talent Star is also widely rumoured to be outstripping the rest of the week’s top five albums combined.

If she sells more than 363,735 copies by Sunday – she will go down in history as having the fastest selling debut album in UK history.

The record was previously set by the Arctic Monkeys’ when they released ‘Whatever People Say I Am’ in January 2006.

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

Susan Boyle’s debut album has achieved the highest first-day sales of the year, the Official Charts Company says…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: bargain shopping. The blog is also related to: shopping centers.

By Cara Sulieman

SUSAN Boyle has dedicated her record-breaking debut album to her mum – saying she promised her she would “do something” with her life.

I Dreamed a Dream hit the shops today, but had already broken the sales record for pre-orders on website Amazon.

With bookies refusing to take bets on the CD reaching the top spot in the album charts this week, the debut was a success before it even hit the shelves.

And SuBo makes several references to her mum on the cover sleeve, dedicating her most famous song I Dreamed a Dream to Bridget Boyle, who died in 2007 aged 91.

“This is for you”

She writes: “It (I Dreamed a Dream) is about a mother living in hard times.

“Very similar to my dream on a more personal level of my ‘life gone by’ with mum who died at the age of 91 and who’s ‘dream’ it was that I should ‘do something’ with my life.

“Mum this is for you.”

And elsewhere in the sleeve notes there is a picture of Susan with Bridget, along with the dedication.

It reads: “I would like to dedicate this album to my beloved mother, to whom I made a promise to ‘be someone’.”

Diversity

The 48-year-old has said before that every song featured on the album means something to her, and the lyrics are accompanied by an explanation.

These comments provide an insight into the singer, who has struggled to cope with her meteoric rise to fame since she appeared on Britain’s Got Talent in April.

After losing the final of the talent show to dance troupe Diversity, the singer was checked into the Priory suffering from exhaustion.

But the note about the hymn ‘Amazing Grace’ suggests that she had now come to terms with her new-found fame.

It reads: “About finding your way. Everything was new to me. I was scared, hope its better.

“I know it can be with your continued support which I find both touching and humbling.”

And she goes on to promise more than just a one-hit wonder as she writes about ‘The End of the World’: “Don’t be silly! It’s only the beginning!

“I want you to enjoy some more!”

With millions of copies of the album already sold in pre-orders, and millions more expected to fly off the shelves this week, it is anticipated that the star will still be in the number one spot at Christmas.

Bookies William Hill have put her as favourite for the festive top spot as some bookies refuse to accept bets.

And Margaret Mitchell, 69, from Edinburgh was one of the first fans to grab herself a copy in Edinburgh today (Mon).

“Just brilliant”

Out Christmas shopping with a friend, she had made the music shop her first stop to buy the CD.

She said: “I saw her on Sunday night on the X Factor and she was just brilliant.

“I’m a big fan and have been following her since she was on Britain’s Got Talent.

“She’s just so unusual and not what we were expecting. She’s just so good. I’m looking forward to hearing the album.”

Music store HMV have braced themselves for the rush to grab the singer’s album this week, expecting more than 300,000 copies to fly off the shelves.

“Biggest release of the year”

A spokeman for the company said: “Susan Boyle’s I Dreamed A Dream is set to become the biggest week-one album release of the year.

“Our online store, hmv.com, has received one of its largest-ever customer pre-orders for any album, whilst our high street stores around the country have been receiving numerous enquiries from fans for weeks now, especially those in her native Scotland.

“Based on this huge level of expected demand, which can only be boosted by SuBo’s much-anticipated X-Factor appearance this weekend, HMV predicts that the début album from the Britain’s Got Talent finalist will shift more than 300,000 copies in just six days – making it the biggest and fastest-selling week-one release of 2009.”

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

So last we had Mariah Carey and Susan Boyle both on X-Factor. Check out there performances.  Oh and I’m happy to say if you missed it last night that Jedward are finally gone! As funny as they are it was too much after a while.

MG

By Cara Sulieman

SUSAN Boyle has spoken about her meteoric rise to fame on the day that her album is released worldwide.

I Dreamed a Dream – the debut album from the 48-year-old – hits shops today (Mon) having already sold more pre-order copies than any other album on internet shopping website Amazon.

It is just another achievement for the spinster from Blackburn, West Lothian, who shot to fame after her appearance on Britain’s Got Talent in April.

And she has spoken for the first time about how it feels to get so much attention, and insists she is still “a wee wifey from Blackburn”.

“Beautiful”

Whilst staying at the five-star Peninsula Hotel in LA – where SuBo performed on Dancing with the Stars – it hit home how much life has changed for the star.

She said: “What a beautiful place it is. My pillow had the initial B embroidered on the pillow – little things like that made me realise how much my life has changed.”

And she went on to say that not winning the final of Britain’s Got Talent was a “relief”.

She said: “When it was revealed Diversity had won, there was actually a sense of relief.

“It was like an immense weight on my shoulders had suddenly been lifted. I was glad they won. They are a good bunch of lads and I wish them all the best.”

“Keep going”

It seems that although fame is a welcome surprise for the international star, she will always remain grounded.

Susan said: “Who would have thought the wee wifey from Blackburn would have achieved so much in just 11 months?

“It’s taught not to give up and to keep going no matter what your difficulties are.”

The star showed that she is still down to earth when she jumped on a bus to go shopping in her favourite shop M&Co in Bathgate last week.

Smiling and posing for pictures with fans, she popped in to buy a longline cardigan and two pairs of trousers from the budget shop.

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

Quite the methodical win for the Sharks as they defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-2. The Sharks are two-for-two against Anaheim this season, and while this game wasn’t as dominating as the first, the result was the same: a win. Also remember this is the second time San Jose beat Anaheim at Anaheim.

It was KISS night in Anaheim. I can’t think of a stupider promotion. I was forcefed two makeup artists during the Ducks broadcast. I will say the makeup was more fun to look at than listening to the commentators.

There wasn’t anything flashy about this game; it was all hard work and determination. Both teams made mistakes — of course a few Sharks giveaways in their own zone stick out to me. But I’ve come to expect that, unfortunately, from the Sharks.

Douglas Murray was bad tonight. Don’t let the +1 rating fool you. He had so many giveaways and positioning errors — one of them led directly to a goal ten seconds later. He also took a penalty late in the second period, and the Ducks converted 11 seconds later. Dan Boyle was just a step behind tonight and couldn’t cover for Murray’s mistakes.

Frazer McLaren and George Parros get busy. (From SJSHARKS.com)

Things were frisky early with a quick fight out of the gates: Frazer McLaren vs. George Parros. Frazer won the first half of the fight, and Parros won the second half. Draw. Good to see Frazer making an impact with such a minute amount of ice time.

It looked to be another boring, close game after a scoreless first period. But the red lights were tiring out from four goals in the second. Ryane Clowe got on the board with a shot from the point. It’s his second straight goal from the point. Not the place you usually see him scoring from, but hey, whatever works.

Dany Heatley scored to keep his title of goal-scoring leader (18). It came off a Joe Thornton shot and rebound. I don’t think Anaheim was expecting Joe to shoot after his passes last game. That’s probably why the play worked.

But Anaheim hung in there, leaving the second period tied at 2-2.

The third period resembled the first, and I started getting deja vu; the game looked a lot like the playoff series between these two from last year. The difference? The Sharks were the ones who willed a goal out of themselves. Heater played passer and found Thornton coming up the side. Jumbo pocketed the puck perfectly to the far side to put the Sharks up for good.

People questioned coach Todd McClellan’s move to keep Evgeni Nabokov in goal for back-to-back games. He didn’t look as sharp as he usually does, but he was competent enough to earn the W. He’ll get a long rest because the Sharks won’t play again until Wednesday.

Other Notes

Hit-O-Meter: SJ 20  ANA 19; Scott Nichol (4) and Joe Thornton (3) led the team.

Every Sharks player who was on the ice for an Anaheim goal redeemed themselves; No Shark had a negative +/-.

The Sharks battle the Blackhawks, Wednesday at HP Pavilion.

–Ray

Beautiful Supermachines > Shut Up

Birdman > Pricele$

Susan Boyle > I Dreamed a Dream

Lady GaGa > Fame Monster

Adam Lambert > For Your Entertainment

Memphis Bleek > The Process E2

Ike Reilly > Hard Luck Stories

Rihanna > Rated R

Shakira > She Wolf

Timbaland > Shock Wave 2

Tom Waits > Glitter and Doom (Live)

By Andrea McCallum

SINGING sensation Susan Boyle today (fri) prepared for the launch of what is expected to be her multi-million selling debut album launch on Monday – by going shopping in Bathgate.

And showing the celebrity status hasn’t gone to her head she even travelled the short distance from Blackburn by bus, stopping off at her favourite store to buy a new outfit before her appearance on this weekend’s X-Factor.

Casually dressed in a rain coat and black trousers, and sporting her signature Burberry scarf and a splash of red lipstick, SuBo showed no sign of nerves as she wandered along the West Lothian town.

The star walked confidently from her house past the local primary school before being called over by a friend outside the newsagents.

The blonde bespeckled woman, in her 50s, shouted across the street to SuBo before walking over to have a chat.

Laughing and smiling, the pair talked for a couple of minutes before Susan said goodbye and continued on her way to the village’s Mill Centre.

Walking confidently, she said she was “busy” and couldn’t stop for a chat.

But she had time to mention her upcoming trip to London and the States, suggesting that as famous as she is, she still gets excited about her new lifestyle.

Moving on to Blackburn’s main strip, the singer popped into the Mill Centre.

Home to just a few small shops and the local library, Susan found a way to pass the time as she wiled away an hour inside.

On her way out, she was approached by an elderly woman who gave her a big hug.

Ruffling the star’s hair, the OAP looked as though she was teasing the singer before she rushed across the road to catch the bus.

She flagged down the 11.49am number 557 bus to Bathgate outside the Mill Centre.

Mobbed

Squeezing into the busy small single decker vehicle run by local company E&M Horsburgh, she made her way into town for her shopping spree.

Alighting in the town centre, the international celebrity sauntered around the streets, stopping at the bank on her way to her favourite shop.

Those stopping her in Bathgate were more fans than friends, and she graciously smiled and said hello.

During the hour she spent in local department store M&Co, more fans gathered outside, taking snaps of the singer on their mobiles as they waited for her to come out.

Eventually, the star emerged from the shop clutching a bulging bag of purchases.

According to staff, she had bought a longline cardigan and a couple of pairs of trousers.

The bus Susan jumped on

Janice Hendry, the shop manager, said: “She’s been a customer with us for years so it was no surprise to see her coming in. She was quite funny when she was in, laughing and joking with the staff.

“A few people were asking her for autographs and she was great with them, posing for photos and everything.

“Other than that she is treated as a normal customer.

“I said to her today ‘why are you still shopping in M&Co now you’re famous?’ and she said to me ‘nothing wrong with that’.

“We wish her well with everything in the future; her album is already a hit. It’s quite phenomenal.”

Smiling to those waiting, she started to walk down the street when the two most determined admirers called out to her.

Susan ambled back to the builders in fluorescent vests and posed with them as they took photos on their mobiles.

After a five minute chat, she wandered off smiling at passers by.

I Dreamed a Dream

She had been splashing the cash ahead of her album’s debut on Monday, but with sales from the expected sales of the CD, she will soon be able to visit any designer emporium she wants.

Amazon reported earlier this week that the album had already sold more copies than any other pre-order.

And bookies and so certain that she will top the album chart next week that they are refusing to take bets.

With an appearance on the X Factor on Sunday and a raft of publicity events lined up in the States next week, todays (Fri) shopping trip was a relaxing break for the singer.

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

Susan Boyle’s new album becomes the biggest global CD pre-order in the history of online retailer Amazon…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: shopping results. The blog is also related to: shopping guides.

Deserved success, Susan does.

Full article – Susan Boyle a Hit on Amazon.com

I Dreamed A Dream is the debut album from Scottish singer and Britain’s Got Talent runner up Susan Boyle.

It is breathtaking, and I found myself getting the “Susan Boyle” goosebumps and tears while listening.

::Download::

By Cara Sulieman

SUSAN Boyle was all smiles during a flying visit back home to Blackburn today (Thurs) as bookies announced they were refusing to take any bets on her album reaching number one next week.

Bookmakers William Hill said they were “one hundred per cent certain” that the 48-year-old’s debut would top the charts after canvassing retailers the length and breadth of the UK.

And they have also tipped her as a favourite for the Christmas number one in the album charts – expecting her to beat Leona Lewis and even the Pope to the top spot.

Asked if she was excited about the prospect of bagging her first number one album, SuBo grinned broadly and gave the thumbs up, before waving goodbye.

“100 per cent certain she will be”

With odds of 6/4 on the Britain’s Got Talent star having a very merry festive season, she is streets ahead of another reality TV favourite Leona Lewis – who lags behind at 13/8.

But Rupert Adams, Susan Boyle expert at the bookies, said that there was outside chance she could be piped to the post by her spiritual leader who has been given odds of 16/1.

Mr Adams said: “We are refusing to give any odds or take bets on SuBo being number one in next week’s album chart because we are 100 per cent certain that she will be.

“I spoke to HMV yesterday and they are expecting the album to fly off the shelves.”

Shops are bracing themselves for a rush of customers as the debut album hits the shops next week.

Biggest selling

The nearest stockist to her hometown has already had locals asking when the record will be in stock.

And HMV stores in the capital are expecting boxes of CDs to arrive at the weekend to fill their stockrooms in time for Monday’s release date.

Entitled ‘I Dreamed a Dream’, the album topped the Amazon bestseller chart in September – three months before its release.

And it was announced just yesterday (Weds) that it is the biggest selling pre-order record in Amazon’s history.

The 48-year-old spinster captured hearts around the world when she belted out ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ from Les Miserables on Britain’s Got Talent in April.

She became an overnight sensation, racking up millions of views on YouTube and staring on TV shows around the world, including Oprah.

Her world-wide fame was cemented when news of her debut album came out and fans rushed to pre-order their copy.

And the hysteria has led the manager of WH Smith’s in Bathgate – the nearest shop to Boyle’s house that will be selling the album – to expect a “rush” on Monday.

She said that customers had already been asking when the CD would be out and if they would be stocking it.

She added: “I’m definitely expecting a few people in on Monday. I’ve already had people asking about when they can get it.”

And the Assistant Manager at HMV in Ocean Terminal in Edinburgh said that the CDs were expected in over the weekend.

Martin said: “We’ll be getting them in a couple of days before hand to make sure we’ve got enough for Monday. I’m not sure if there will be a rush, but we’ve already had people enquiring about the album.

“We’ll have to wait and see what Monday brings.”

“Touch people”

Amazon announced Susan’s pre-order achievement earlier this week, saying that it was “testament” to her talents.

Julian Monaghan, head of music buying at Amazon.co.uk, said: “Just eight months ago, no one was aware of the talents of Susan Boyle. Now, she has generated more Amazon pre-order CD sales globally than any other artist.

“That is an incredible achievement and is testament to the fact that she has captured the hearts of people all over Britain, America and the rest of the world.”

And her record label, Columbia Records, said that Susan had an ability to “touch” people.

Steve Barnett, chairman of Columbia Records, said: “One of the things that is so unique about Susan Boyle is her ability to touch people around the world.

“We’re excited that ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ holds the new record for global pre-orders and that Amazon’s customers have supported her album in this way.”

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

Ich werde mich bemühen, jeden Tag hier etwas zu schreiben, was ich als gut erlebt habe.

Also: hatte gestern fast alle überfälligen Aufgaben erledigt und konnte beruhigt ein Buch lesen. Bin nach 10 Minuten eingeschlafen und sehr früh zu Bett.

Das Buch ist die ‘Wassermusik’ von T.C. Boyle – ein genialer Roman über einen Weltenentdecker vor langer Zeit in Afrika, der mit seiner kindlich-naiven Forscherlust von einem Abenteuer zum nächsten tappt. Köstlich, schräg und nachdenklich. Ein Meister der Schreibkunst, so wie ich sie mag.

Quite the what-comes-around game for the Sharks in their 4-3 loss against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Sharks stole a few games from Nashville and St. Louis lately (what goes around), and in this game, they were in position to win, but couldn’t hang on. The lack of defense is starting to rear it’s ugly shark head.

While Sharks defensemen are good offensively, they are mediocre defensively; that goes for defensive defensemen Douglas Murray and Kent Huskins. They are competent, no question, but they are now shut-down quality. It hurts having Rob Blake out, but the Sharks have always lacked a star shut-down defenseman.

I don’t think it’s pertinent to acquire one, but perhaps some of the current players should attend a few hockey camps and learn some defensive fundamentals — specifically not to leave your man! Their eyes are always on the puck looking for a breakout. As much a fan of the couterattack as I am, if  you don’t stay with your man, they’re going to score on you.

They also need to learn how to clear the puck better. The d-men were terrible in the beginning of the season at it, they got better but the problem is starting to come back. There must be some secret way of clearing that can help them. I’m tired of seeing them exert so much effort for no reason.

The Chicago game was back and forth. Very entertaining to watch. Once again the Sharks scored two goals right after another. It took 45 seconds this time, compared with 16 seconds yesterday, to put up two goals. Tonight those two scorers were Jason Demers and Patrick Marleau.

It was Jason’s first career goal and it’s about time. He’s played so well dishing out assists, and he deserves this goal.

The Sharks got on the bad side of a controversial goal call. Joe Thornton batted a puck off the back of Cristobal Huet. He raised his hands him to signal goal, but upon further review, it looked as though the puck dropped and stuck on the goal line. That allowed the Hawks to come back and tie it.

Jason Demers (#60) celebrates his first NHL goal with Dan Boyle (From SJSHARKS.com)

Goalie Evgeni Nabokov’s rebounds haunted him tonight. The Hawks knew he comes out to challenge players a lot, and their game plan of getting shots and burying rebounds work. Hopefully no other team was watching because it worked marvelously. Rebounds left Nabby flailing like Hasek, and of course d-men were not in position to clear out the garbage.

The game ended up going to overtime, but Brent Seabrook ended things very quickly — 41 seconds into the extra session. Seabrook found open ice and received the puck cross-ice. He buried it past Nabby. Nabby tried to do his patented double-pad stack, but it failed miserably. If he would have stayed up and just pushed off his right skate more, it could have been an easy stop because Seabrook’s shot was kind of weak.

The third-period woes continue. The Sharks are not finishing teams; they’re letting them hang around in the third. They once again played well in the second, but I got deja vu seeing this same team get tired in the last period. I won’t put too much emphasis on that from this game because it was the back-end of a back-to-back.

Other Notes

Hit-O-Meter: SJ 17  CHI 21; Patty led the team with three.

Dan Boyle was the goat tonight as he had the worst plus/minus rating (-2). Demers’ +1 was the only positive marker on the team.He added an assist along with his goal.

The Sharks point-streak remains in-tact. It stands out 12 games.

The Sharks travel to Nashville for a rematch with the Predators on Tuesday, just one week after defeating the Preds 4-3 at HP Pavillion.

–Ray

right now i’m just kinda thinking oh my god, what am I gonna do… it’s kinda like, a minature mental breakdown, all down to one creature. Susan Boyle.

AHHHHHH! I finally stop having nightmares about the thing and shes BACK! next week. xfactor. nooooooo!

somewhere deep inside of it  theirs a very disturbed and perverted man behind that demonic facade she calls a body.

its not fairrrrrr. urgh.

joy. now im being told not to be so judgemental. shhh. i’ll be judgemental all i like. its my right as a stephen being. dont tell me what to do or i hits you!

anywhoser.

wow just realised the whole text styles changed… sorrryyyy!

ill probably sort it out now and then you’ll be like what the hell was he on about… thats normally the case. don’t worry, its cool.

so now im sat in the dark completely lost to what i was blogging about… oh yeah, xfactor.

URGH! Jamie went. sad times. Lloyd sucks my foot nipple… not quite sure what a foot nipple is though…  wowy at Jedawrd. they get better and better. and Joe… i love Joe. Hes got a fantasmic voice AND hes pretty good looking. and hes around my height.

i likes the charity singlemajiggle. it was good. and for a worth cause… the kids story actually made me cry. i wanted to give him a hug!

college tomorrow, and i cant finish my work, once AGAIN cuz of my stupid fucker of a printer.

GRRRR!

another voyage with the Kev! fun fun fun campers.

So… G’Day mates.

Xx

Quite the underachieving performance by the Sharks, even though they won 4-3 over the Nashville Predators. The Sharks didn’t play like the hot team that they are. They played down to their competition, yet still came out on top.

Devin Setoguchi and Ryan Vesce returned to the lineup tonight after being injured. Vesce only received eight minutes of ice time, so I couldn’t gauge how good he looked. Seto scored a goal in the third period, after looking one step behind all night. That’s two games in a row where players returning from injuries scored.

Joe Pavelski, who did that last game, scored the first goal of the night. Patrick Marleau sped around the net and backhanded it to Pavs, who easily slotted it past goalie Dan Ellis.

But like I said before, the Sharks played down to their competition. Patty, Pavs, Seto and Scott Nichol were the only ones who looked like they wanted to play tonight. The others were content with playing at Nashville’s level. My best guess is they’re coming off two games against Stanley Cup Finals teams (Detroit and Pittsburgh) and just didn’t get pumped up to play the Predators. While I understand that mindset, you can’t come out with it. Not in the National Hockey League.

Joe Pavelski scores a goal (From SJSHARKS.com)

Again, the Sharks didn’t impose their will and their style of play on Nashville. They allowed the Preds to play a slower pace game with controlled breakouts. Nichol tried a bunch of times to spark the team with his speed, but that only seemed to spark Nichol himself to keep doing it.

No team led by more than one goal. The Sharks were trying to be too fancy with their passes and dekes instead of just shooting at the net and getting rebounds. There were a few three-on-twos where the extra passed doomed any chance of scoring. Someone besides Heatley needs to be a little selfish.

Speaking of Heatley, he and Joe Thornton were invisible tonight. Couldn’t find them. Thornton’s mind was elsewhere. I don’t know if it was the communication or him, but he was passing to empty space consistently.

I think San Jose finally woke up when Nashville took the lead 3-2 in the third. Then things started to speed up, checks were finished and more shots were taken.

Seto became selfish and blasted a slapshot past Ellis to tie the game.

Leave it up to ol’ Danny Boyle to finish things off with his patent full-ice skating. A little give ‘n’ go and Boyle took a shot that went through the five-hole of Ellis, with one minute left.

The Sharks survive and are now on a nine-game point streak.

Nashville Commentators

How do these guys have a job? It’s pretty unanimous that these are the worst in hockey. They are so boring to listen to and do not research anything.

If there’s anything that irks me, it’s when a commentator says a guy’s name wrong. Boy, did that happen tonight. Play-by-play guy Pete Weber kept saying VEESEE when it’s pronounced VEH-SEE, and both commentators said Nabokov’s name with emphasis on the first syllable. Wrong. It’s not NAH-ba-kov. It’s Na-BAH-kov. Your whole job is to say people’s names and if you can’t do simple research to see if you’re saying it right, get out of the business.

Also, another research tidbit. Weber said Jason Demers was up with the Sharks only because of Rob Blake’s injury. Are you joking me? He’s been up the whole season! Check a stat sheet and you’ll see he’s been in every game. Sheesh. Do Nashville a favor and quit.

They also compared Seto to Jordin Tootoo. Best non-intentional joke ever.

Other Notes

Hit-O-Meter: SJ 16  NSH 19

It was Thomas Greiss’ second NHL start and he looked decent. He made some awesome saves, but was out of position at times. It’s a learning process. “Jesus Greiss” will continue to get better.

The Sharks battle division rival Dallas on Thursday.

–Ray

This pretty much summed up the entire night: Billy Guerin couldn’t get anything past Nabokov.

Guerin had like 48 SOG. If he doesn’t score in the next game, so help me.

This game was a whole bunch of crap. By the end, we only had 4 defensemen. Goligoski was a game-time decision and played sick the entire game. McKee got thrown out for instigating, fighting, and a game misconduct. Letang was injured (shoulder) during the first period on an intense shift with Sid and Guerin.

Along with McKee, Rupp and Godard dropped the gloves. Staal got away with elbowing some idiot in the head who literally looked like a hammerhead shark.

At one point, Orpik blocked a shot with his wrist and we thought we’d be down 3 defensemen.

Once we realized the game was over, we just wanted the Pens to score to ruin Nabokov’s shutout because Niggles has him on their fantasy team. Gay.

Other Crap Even Though This Entire Post Is Crap:

- Orpik loves having that “A”

- Thornton and Heatley…crazy.

- Hey DJPo, we don’t care about Danny Boyle.

- Hey FSN, stop zooming in on every player. We can’t see the game.

- Hey Malkin, ASAP.

Quite the amazing performance by the Sharks in their dominant 5-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. My hatred for the Penguins may only be matched by my hatred for the Detroit Red Wings, and to see the Penguins demolished was beyond gratifying.

Where to start?

I was definitely wrong about Evgeni Nabokov. I don’t know what conditioning regiment this guy is on, but put the entire team on it. Three games in four nights and he comes out with a shutout. He stopped all 27 shots he faced. Wow. Can’t give him enough credit.

San Jose battled for every puck and came out with it most of the time. No one relaxed much — even after gaining a 4-0 advantage going into the third period.

Jamie McGinn scored the first goal from a bank-in off Marc-Andre Fleury’s left pad. You could feel something good was going to happen the whole night.

Joe Pavelski, yes, Joe Pavelski, finally came back to the lineup tonight after being out since the second game of the year. He didn’t disappoint. He put up two points (one goal, one assist) and didn’t have much rust. His assist really should have been a goal; the puck was headed in, but Dany Heatley slammed it home when the puck was about one inch from the goal line. Gotta love Heater!

Dan Boyle owned the ice tonight. It was his. No disputing that. He continuously carried the puck from the defensive zone all the way to the net for scoring chances. It looks like that broken thumb is fully healed, and he’s on a mission to contribute. One of those times coming down the ice, he deked a few Pens and snapped a shot past Fleury.  That was the end of Fleury, who was pulled right after. He allowed three goals on 14 shots.

Pittsburgh mailed it in during the third with some late hits and a few scrums. They became frustrated and tried taking it out on Sharks tough guys. Yea, not a good idea. Jay McKee made a run at Jody Shelley, who wasn’t really looking. The two dropped the gloves and Shelley ended up taking McKee down. Well, you think that would be the end for Shelley. He did his job, and can resume his role in the fourth line. Oh, contraire.

Eric Godard tried his hand at Shelley and Mr. Shelley handed Godard’s derriere to him on a bloodied, silver platter. Jersey jabs and right hooks galore from Shelley. Thank you! Come again!

After Joe Pavelski's original shot, Dany Heatley slams the puck home (From SJSHARKS.com)

Jordan Staal, much to Sharks fans’ amazement, took a few runs and delivered an elbow to Douglas Murray. Staal better watch himself in the parking lot. I may not be a big fan of Murray’s, but to deny his skills in fighting and toughness would be ignorant. Come on now Staal. You can’t bring your peach fuzz to a swedish meatball fight.

I got a little worried when the Sharks weren’t putting more goals in. They seemed to be a bit complacent for a stretch in the third, but it was those scrums that fired them back up. So, that would be the only criticism of the night.

I also saw Logan Couture on the penalty kill unit. Can’t say I’ve seen him on it before, but I like he’s getting more ice time. I read that he did move up a couple lines last game to play with Patrick Marleau and Manny Malhotra. Good to hear. (Malhotra, by the way, scored the fifth goal tonight on a shot through a bunch of traffic.)

Home Power Play

The Sharks ranked last in power play efficiency at home, somewhere around five percent. They netted two goals on the man advantage tonight. The entries and forecheck looked better tonight. Passes were sloppy, however, leading to Penguins clears and breakouts.

Injury Bug

NHL GameCenter Live used Pittsburgh’s feed and all the commentators would talk about is how injuries caused their recent play. Give me a break. Take a look at the Sharks who’ve been playing with five key players missing from their lineup, and they still managed to win six in a row. The Penguins just didn’t show effort tonight and looked awful. It won’t kill you to say that.

Other Notes

Hit-O-Meter: SJ 19  PIT 25; Scott Nichol and Murray both led with three hits a piece.

Sidney Crosby now has just one point in four games against the Sharks. Isn’t that great? San Jose has his number, and the Penguins’ number for that matter.

San Jose lost the faceoff battle. They lead the league in faceoff percentage with 56.8, and for them to lose to 19th-ranked Pittsburgh is surprising.

The Sharks get two days off before facing Nashville on Tuesday. The Sharks will look to extend their point-streak to nine games.

–Ray