Last night’s Dancing with the Stars was filled with flips and fun and of course some flops! The judges awarded several tens to the stars and a perfect score of 30 went to Gilles Maririe for his sexy Tango. He didn’t look like an amateur dancing last night, he looked like the real deal. It will be very difficult to beat him if he continues this way.

The Lindy Hop was a fun dance with lots of flipping and jumping and tons of energy. I really thought that both Shawn Johnson and Ty Murray did a great job – they both got 25 for their dances. David Allan Grier is finally coming into his own and did a good job with his Lindy Hop. He seems to be relaxing more and having fun with the competition.

The Argentine Tango is a very tough dance and the judges seemed to score this dance much higher. Lil’ Kim received a 27 with Bruno giving her a 10 for her performance. I must say her lines were good and she did a really good job.

Then there was Steve Wozniak. I know he’s trying to do his best, but his best just isn’t good enough. I really don’t think that the judges needed to be that mean and harsh to Steve last night. He’s trying to do his best. Look at Steve O – he’s just as worthless as a dancer as Steve Wozniak. But the judges seem to give him a pass all the time. Personnally I would rather see Steve O leave first than Steve Wozniak. At least Steve Wozniak is trying to dance but Steve O is really jacked up and just looses it when he dances – does he have short term memory loss or just all those hard drugs catching up to him??

So here is my prediction for the bottom three for tonite – Holly Madison – pretty woman but can’t dance at all – Steve O – please let him go – and Steve Wozniak – please give him one more chance!

Until later,

Linda

This season’s Dancing with the Stars is turning out to be different from previous seasons. While I like the idea of the dance off between the bottom two couples, predicting who is going is tough. Who would think that the two Steves would still be around. That’s right, “pathetic” Steve O and “can’t dance” Steve Wozniak is still in the competition. I guess the viewers are masochistic and enjoy watching these guys!

As I mentioned in my blog yesterday, Holly Madison and Denise Richards were also the two stars that aren’t the brightest bulb of the stars. But the viewers voted and Denise Richards was the next to go. She said that her daughters liked her dancing - how sweet! But she was too stiff, no musicality and it looked painful when she danced.

Next week the stars will be performing the “Lindy” and the Argentina Tango. Should be interesting how the Steves will handle these dances.

Until later,

Linda 

This week’s Dancing with the Stars performances is showing who are the top dancers and who are in the bottom four. But before I talk about that, I just want to say that this season, Len has become a more kinder and gentler judge than the previous seasons. He is more instructive and gives praise to the stars and not too judgemental. Len’s role this season, so far, is good guy judge and Bruno is the bad guy judge. We’ll see in the coming weeks how this turns out.

For the four bottom stars, they need to pick it up and get serious or they will be out of the competition sooner than later. The most obvious one is Steve Wozniak. This poor fellow just doesn’t have a musical bone in his body. He has no rhythm but he does have performance skills. While it is a treat to to watch him perform on stage, it’s time for him to go. But I must say even with his sprained hamstring and foot problem, he does give it his all.

Now the next star, Steve O is nothing but a pathetic figure who cries, I’m trying my hardest but my injuries are getting in the way. Oh, boo hoo! Suck it up. Besides Steve O you are not a dancer. I’m not even entertained by you. I know he has fans out there so he’ll probably stay another week to cry and limp his way through another dance.

Then there is Holly Madison. Nice to look at but no musicality to her dancing. I don’t think she gets it. Neither does Denise Richards. She is too flat in her dancing and doesn’t impress me at all.

So there you have it the bottom four – Steve O, Steve Wozniak, Holly Madison and Denise Richards. Any one of these people could be the next one to leave Dancing with the Stars. I say lets take them out one at a time and in a couple of week we can watch some really great dancing with the remainding stars.

I’m totally impressed with Shawn Johnson, Gilles Maririe, Melissa Rycroft – as one door closes another one opens – and Lil’ Kim.  So Lawrence Taylor, Chuck Wicks -loved his Fox Trot last night – David Allan Grier and Ty Murray – he’s so cute – will all have to step it up so they can knock the top four out of contention.

Until later,

Linda

The first results show on Dancing with the Stars was last night and Belinda Carlisle from the “go gos” is now “gone gone!” Sorry had to say it, just couldn’t resist it. As I reported, her last two dances she seemed pretty slow and not too impressive. Sorry to see her go but that’s how it goes with Dancing with the Stars.

Did you find it ironic that the judges gave the same exact dance off score to Belinda Carlisle and Steve Wozniak? I wonder if that wasn’t planned. The judges didn’t want to make the decision of who had the lowest score so their score cancelled out whatever the total was from the viewers. Smart!

The two “Steves” are still dancing, what a shock! We’ll see how they do next week.

 Until later,

Linda

This week’s Dancing with the Stars showed improvement in their second set of dances. Some performed the Quick Step and others danced the Salsa.

The most improved stars were Denise Richards and Lawrence Taylor. Their performance was much better than last week’s. Of course Gilles Quick Step was awesome and with Cheryl as his teacher I still believe this couple is a real contender for winning.

Shawn Johnson’s Salsa was cute and I agree she has to loosen up more but she did good for a 17 year old. Belinda Carlisle disappointed me in her Salsa – it was too slow.

Holly Madison’s Quick Step was not very good. Her knees are too stiff and there was not musicality to her dancing. While David Allan Grier really suprised me with his Salsa. It was entertaining and looked like he had a lot of fun.

As for Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough, I still believe they make a great couple and it looked as though their Salsa got pretty steamy. But the judges didn’t like it very much. There will be more room for improvement for them.

Unfortunately, the bottom two Steve Wozniak and Steve O – how ironic the two Steves! – performances were not very good. Grant it Steve Wozniak is having fun but has no musicality in his body but does give a nice performance. He hurt his left foot and I think he is just trying the best he can. As for Steve O, he hurt his back and I think he may not be back. We’ll find out tonite. Once again his partner Lacey comes up with some pretty bizzare dance routines to common dances such as the Salsa. I think this time Lacey and her partner Steve O must go tonite. Maybe then Lacey will get the idea being unconventional just doesn’t cut in this competition.

If all goes well, tonite the bottom two – which are the Steves – should have a dance off. But if Steve O is injured, the dance off won’t take place.

I’ll be watching – will you?

Until later,

Linda

Season 8 Dancing with the Stars show began with a couple of hiccups. Two stars, Jewel and Nancy O’Dell, who were supposed to perform, were out because of injury. Holly Madison an ex-Play Boy cover girl and reality show star and Melissa Rycroft, the spurned bachelorette from the Bachelor show, replaced them.

For only 48 hours of training, Melissa Rycroft did an exceptional job that won her 23 points from the judges. Truth be known, she did have ballet training and with the great song “Moon River” to dance her Waltz to, brought out her dancing skills.

But the one star that will be a contender this year is Gilles Marine. His Cha Cha Cha with Cheryl was awesome. He claims he has no dancing experience. He had some nice technique as well as being a great performer.

Lil’ Kim really surprised me. She has a lot of nice moves for the Cha Cha Cha and if she keeps it up, she will be the hit of all of her prison gals!

I loved Shawn Johnson. This petite gymnast is the youngest star with a beautiful smile. Her elegant Waltz showed us what a dynamic performer she really is.

Denise Richards is a former Bond girl and is a weeper. She cries at a drop of a hat and really looked too stiff during her Cha Cha Cha dance. I think the judges were kind to give her 18 points.

I think Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough make a great couple. His Waltz was filled with graceful moves and I’m sure Julianne will whip him in shape.

What can I say about Ty Murray – he’s a cowboy. Cowboys don’t Cha Cha Cha very well, but he is so darn cute who cares how he dances. I think he will be in trouble if he doesn’t get the cowboy hitch out of his backside and loosen up more.

Then there were some disappointing dances. I know the judges said that this is what Dancing with the Stars is all about. Someone who hasn’t danced before taking on a challenge to expand their horizons, yaddy, yaddy, yaddie! But if you can’t move your hips or stay on your toes or even get the technical part down, it will be a short Dancing with the Stars season for you. Take for example Holly Madison. She was too stiff and careful. I was afraid if she fell she would break something. Lawrence Taylor has the moves but is also too stiff. Steve O from Jackass just seemed to jump around the dance floor with no rhyme or reason. Steve Wozniak is a computer nerd and has no rhythm at all. Sure he may bring some fun to the dance but Steve work on loosening up and get some technique. Belinda Carlisle was so so, not impressed by her Waltz last nite. David Alan Grier, the comedian, is pretty graceful but there seems to be a darker side of him; he spooked me out!

Next Monday some of the stars will be doing the Quick Step. We’ll see how all the stars do by picking up the pace.

Until later,

Linda

I’ve been a freelance writer for many, many years and of course I’ve seen my share of ups and downs in my business. People ask me what I do and what is eBusinessPartnersonline.com? 

eBusinessPartnersonline.com is my freelance writing and consulting business. As a freelance writer I write just about anything you can think of – web blogs, articles, content for web sites, content for brochures. But my “bread and butter” is what I have been doing for over twenty years – writing responses to government proposals. Request for Information (RFI), Request for Proposal (RFP) and Request for Quote (RFQ) are just some of the writing responses that I do. I have found a niche and stuck with it for all of these years and have made money for my clients as well as myself. It doesn’t matter what type of business my clients have, I have written responses for movers, recruiters, human resources services, translation services, construction companies, IT companies to security services and many more. All of these businesses have one thing in common – they have developed a business model that has been successful for them for many years and stuck with it.

Not only do I write proposals and other content for my clients but also offer business consulting. Take for example, one of my clients that provided CNA services. His company has been in this market for many years and was successful at it. However, he wanted to branch out and provide clerical and admin support. I told him quite frankly, that he was moving into foreign territory and should stick with what he did best. He had the hiring, placement and management of this end of his business down to a fine art. To start a new business model would take him years to develop and he may lose money.

So what does this mean to your business especially during these hard economic times? Simply put, do what you do best.

If your business model prior to the downturn has been successful, stick with it. Why? Your clients will come back to you knowing your good reputation and excellent customer service and will count on you to provide them with the best products or services. Now may not be the time to diversify or restructure your business model.

Don’t forget to keep in touch with your previous clients. As the old saying goes, it’s financially wiser and easier to keep a client than to get a new one.

Until later,

Linda

Just the other day, I was updating my web site eBusinessPartnersonline with some promotional ideas from the Internet Marketing Center about its new BeBiz Internet web site builder. This sounds like a real winner for 2009 for anyone who wants to start a new business online this year. It’s simple and has a proven track record you should check it out at BeBiz.

I also have great resources on my home page about site and business promotion tips. One of the article link on my site is “10 Things you must do this year to stay in business.” Yvette Adams of Big Ben to the Big Pineapple wrote this article. Yvette is a freelance writer, speaker, author, PR/marketing consultant, online and offline editor, events manager and more.

One of her tips that struck me as a great idea is to set up a Google Alert so you are the first to know when your company, web site, product or service is mentioned online. What a great way to get free PR.  Also when you sign up on Google Alerts you can also keep an eye on your competitors and other tools online to see what they are doing and how they are weathering this economic storm.
Another tip is to write web blogs and participant on the online community like FaceBook, Twitter, and other social networking sites. Just about everyone is surfing the Internet today so keeping your business in front of them is really important. 
2009 is going to be tough for all business people whether online or offline. However, the Internet has given us many possibilities to stay informed on how to stay afloat and make some money this year.

Until later,

Linda