August 4th, 2008
Update 1 p.m. Monday: Regarding the “botting” issue. See below. Our online editor tells me we can only prevent “botting” on our system by allowing only one vote a day. So, it’s unlikely on this type of poll that we’d do that in the future.
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Update 2:45 p.m. Monday: Stephanie Bennett is giving her pass to meet “Weird Al” to her competitor, Rachel Manis. Bennett didn’t want to leave the friend she’s taking to the show alone while she met Al.
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Jacob Olson and his dad Rob of Machesney Park will meet “Weird Al” Yankovic at the MetroCentre Sunday because Jacob’s submission garnered 22,255 votes (96 percent) cast in the What (and Who) Is Weirder than Weird Al in the Rock River Valley contest.
But wait. There’s more.
Rachel Manis (aka Avid Lebon), who received 797 votes (3 percent), and Stephanie Bennett, who got 30 votes, also will get to meet Yankovic.
Yankovic’s people came through with two more meet-and-greet passes, one for Manis and one for Bennett, in addition to the two passes that Jacob Olson as winner gets.
Voting ended at 9 a.m. this morning.
Rob said he started listening to Yankovic in the fifth or sixth grade and that Yankovic’s musical parodies offer a “break from reality.” Rob’s been singing parodies about his own family for years. His son, Jacob, 14, said his dad is amusing and funny. “Once you hear him singing, everything stops, and all the attention goes to him.”
Read more about all three submissions in the “Poll will be up soon … ” post below. Olson, Manis and Bennett also get two tickets each to get into the “Weird Al” show at the MetroCentre courtesy of NiteLite Promotions.
Oh, and regarding the flurry of comments in the “Vote for who gets to meet Weird Al” posting I read this morning after having been on vacation since Thursday, here’s where I stand:
Even if “botting” was a factor — the Olsons say they knew of no one doing that on their behalf and felt bad about the accusation — I didn’t specifically preclude that in my call to everyone to “vote as often as you like.” However, I have asked our online staff to check into a way to prevent “botting’ on future polls.
Thanks to all who voted.
July 30th, 2008
Updated 8:30 a.m. Thursday, July 31
IT’S ALMOST TIME TO VOTE ON WHO GETS TO MEET ‘WEIRD AL’
I’ll be putting the poll at the top of this post this morning, assuming you’ve been following this contest. Choose one of these three winners of two tickets to see “Weird Al” Yankovic Aug. 10 at the Rockford MetroCentre. The one who receives the most votes by 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 4, gets two passes to meet Yankovic.
****Rachel Manis, aka Avid Lebon, of Rockford, who makes a smiley face with her tongue
****Jacob Olson of Machesney Park, whose dad, Rob, makes parodies that rival Al’s
****Stephanie Bennett of Rockford, whose brother named his cat ‘Bruce,’ only to find out later it was a girl, but the name stuck
Read on to learn more about the winners and the contest.
I’ve picked some weirdos — er, I mean I’ve chosen some people who put their weirdness (or that of a relative) on display on my blog — to win tickets to see “Weird Al” Yankovic Aug. 10 at the MetroCentre in Rockford.
The winners of two tickets each to see Yankovic as a result of winning the What (and Who) is Weirder than Weird Al in the Rock River Valley contest. Tickets are courtesy of NiteLite Promotions.
Vote as often as you like.
By the way, others around these parts are strange, too. Check ’em out at my blog under the “Weird Al” category.
You’ll learn more about the three winners right after voting ends and in GO Aug. 7.
Rachel Manis, aka Avid Lebon
“Who’s weirder than Weird Al? Why Avid Lebon of course! Whether it be strange body tricks (including her unnatural flexibility, ability to twist her wrist a full 360°, or make a smiley face with her tongue), her eccentric attire (as she is often clad in cat ears and a tail), odd hobbies (including animating silly cartoons and talking to the dead via EVP), or her spontaneous fun-loving personality, Avid is definably one-of-a-kind. And it’s no wonder, considering she grew up with ‘Weird Al’ as her role model. He’s always been a positive influence. While other celebrities were teaching kids to wear makeup, starve themselves, or other detrimental habits to be liked, Weird Al showed them that it’s all about being original and yourself that matters. I really admire that.
Avid always has been different, and in the early part of her life thought it to be a flaw, but after finding out how Al used his uniqueness to his advantage, took that as inspiration. When I was younger, I use to try so hard to fit in. When I stopped trying to be like everyone else, I finally discovered myself. I’m not worried about what other people think anymore.”
A girl cat named ‘Bruce’ is Stephanie Bennett’s submission
“When my brother graduated from Auburn, his girlfriend brought him a new kitten as a present. Our mother was very against getting another cat after our last one died, but this time we had no choice. We couldn’t bring this kitten to a shelter! So we kept it. After a few days, I began bothering my brother about a name for it. ‘Jon!,’ I would say. ‘What are you going to name your cat?’ Finally, after days of me annoying the daylights out of him, he responded ‘Bruce.’ It was just fate when we brought Bruce to the vet and they said, ‘Well, you’re going to have to change Bruce’s name, because Bruce is a girl.’ We probably should have changed her name, but for the rest of her life, her name was Bruce.”
Dad of Jacob Olson takes on Johnny Cash
“My dad is weirder than Al. He makes parodies also. They’re usually about kids in the family being annoying. One is Johnny Cash’s ‘Folsom Prison Blues.’ He calls it ‘Olson Prison Blues.’ Here are some lyrics:
I hear the kids a comin’
They’re rollin’ round the bend
And I ain’t had no peace and quiet since
I don’t know when
I’m stuck at Olson Prison
And the kids keep ramblin’ on
Sometimes I wish I had
Some time alone.
My dad does many crazy and funny things, but I can’t squeeze it into 100 words or less.”
July 18th, 2008
Does your Aunt Nellie of Roscoe burp to the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb”?
Do you have a sock monkey that’s dressed like Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick?
Does your basement in Rockford look like a Japanese tea garden?
We’re looking for your brief stories/pictures/videos of strange things in the Rockford area for a Register Star contest: “What (and Who) Is Weirder than Weird Al in the Rock River Valley?”
Three winners will each get two tickets (value of $35.50 a ticket) to see Weird Al Yankovic, known for performing humorous parodies of popular songs. Yankovic will be at the Rockford MetroCentre Aug. 10.
One of the three winners also will get two passes to meet Yankovic at the show. Tickets are courtesy of NiteLite Promotions.
Here’s how to enter:
Write in this blog in the “add comment” space in 100 words or less about your weirder-than-Al person, place or thing in the Rock River Valley. You can identify yourself by name in your blog post, but you don’t have to. We will need to publish your name if you’re chosen a winner. (I get your e-mail address when you post, but it’s not part of the post that readers see.)
You may e-mail a photo that shows something weirder-than-Al to gbraun@rrstar.com. Tell in less than 100 words why the photo represents something weirder-than-Al. Photos need to be in jpg format.
Or you can e-mail me a video in mov format that’s less than a minute. You also could drop off a video on a disc at the Register Star, 99 E. State St. Put my name on it.
Submit your story/photo/video as soon as possible but before noon Monday, July 28.
I will choose the three submissions I like best and will post them here, where readers will vote for their favorite. The top vote-getter and guest get to meet Yankovic. Along with blog posts, stories about the three winners will run in GO July 31. And readers will learn a bit more about the winners (including the grand-prize winner) in GO Aug. 7.
For more information, go to metrocentre.com or weirdal.com.
THIS PHOTO WAS SUBMITTED BY ‘AVID LEBON’ a.k.a. Rachel Manis, of her making a smiley face with her tongue. See the post in the comments section about her submission.
