Ding, ding, ding - Round One!

Okay everyone.. the brackets are done. It took a while to get all the emails and messages sorted through, there were a LOT of nominations.

Here's how to works - Round one voting will last until Saturday night at 11:59 pm.

Two guys and two girls got first round byes -- Brotha Fred, Morgan Fogarty, Tim Caputo and Molly Grantham. They got byes because they got the most number of nominations.

When you vote, please vote for each pairing on the bracket. That way, the votes are easier to tally. You can vote via comment, Facebook or e-mail (da_blogger@rocketmail.com).

All votes will be tallied on Sunday and the results posted on Monday. That's when Round 2 voting will begin.

KEEP IN MIND: The brackets are a little different -- this is a "versus" thing. Each pairing is competing against one another... the one with the most votes moves on to the next round! So you aren't predicting a winner, you are helping the person GET to the finals!

The number of votes determines who moves on to the next round! It's important that you vote for your favorite in EACH pairing!

Without further ado... the brackets (click on them to make them full sized):

Men's Bracket: Round One

Women's Bracket: Round One

Again, voting for Round One ends at 11:59 pm on Saturday.

Good luck everyone!

Past Posts:
- And the nominees are...
- Are you ready to RUUUUUMBLE?
- Charlotte's Bracket Beauties

Making the Brackets

Good thing the cut-off was 8 am this morning... we've had a TON of emails to go through.

We think we're done and got everyone's nominations -- 57 names! This should be fun... we're making the brackets now.

They will be posted when we get done -- keep your eyes out for them!

And the nominees are...

The nomination process isn't over yet, but there has been an incredible amount of response, so I'm posting a preview.

During the nomination process, I saw a good many names that I expected, and some I wasn't really expecting to see. Not that these people aren't hot, they just surprised me.

Over the past 24 hours, I've gotten a chance to talk with some of the nominee (or chat, I guess) via Facebook. It's been very interesting to see their responses to the fact they were nominated.

So... without further ado, here are some of your nominees.

Tom Roussey - WBTV

Tom was nominated multiple times. He works as a reporter for WBTV and is often seen on the 10pm and 11pm news. Tom plays Media League softball and according to one nomination, is a pretty good slugger!

When asked what he thought about being considered one of Charlotte's hottest, he said "tell them I single-handedly bring down the quality of the nominees! :)"

Modest.

Morgan Fogarty - Fox Charlotte


Morgan has been a staple at Fox Charlotte for a while now, and she was definitely a top nominee. I promised I would keep it a secret, and I will not say who, but one or two of the people who were nominated for the bracket -- nominated Morgan!

In addition to getting nominations from her peers, Morgan is also in another "media bracket" and as made it all the way to the finals. This is a NATIONAL competition. She's up against the reigning champ, so if you like her -- go vote for her in that bracket too.

Chad Rock - KISS 95.1

Chad Rock is one of Charlotte's premiere party guys. In addition to being on the radio (KISS 95.1) in the afternoons, you can normally catch Chad at the bars/clubs and is often heard broadcasting live from the best party spots.

Chad was the first one I talked to about being nominated for the Hottest in Charlotte, and I still think he is the most pumped! He was definitely psyched about the bracket and I think he plans to pimp himself out for votes on the radio!

Arden McLaughlin - Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg Co.

This is one of those nominations that caught me off guard. Arden isn't your typical media personality, mainly because she doesn't have a steady media job. She works with the Library.

But... Arden made the list, because she is on a regular segment on WBTV News at Noon called "Need to Read." According to one nomination, "If everyone at the library looked like Arden, you'd start seeing lines to check out the books!" Well hell - that's quite seal of approval!

Ben Thompson - WSOC


Another tv man making the list, Ben is an anchor/reporter on WSOC. You can catch him a couple days a week, and anchoring on the weekends. I talked with Ben, and he seemed very surprised by the nomination, and much like Tom was humble about it.

But Ben definitely has his opinions (about the bracket and about life), but I promised I wouldn't quote him! He's already making predictions about who he thinks will/should win. One of the nominations for Ben said "He's a calm voice in a sea of bad news, I turn to him when I need to find out whats going on in the world, and its an added bonus that he's H-O-T

----
So there are a couple of your nominees. Voting will continue until Wednesday morning at 8 am, and after that -- its up to you who stays and who goes home!

Feel free to nomination via comment, or Facebook, or E-mail me your suggestions (da_blogger@rocketmail.com). Thanks!

Past Posts:
- Are you ready to RUUUUUMBLE?
- Charlotte's Bracket Beauties

Are you ready to RUUUUUMBLE?

We're getting near the end here. The nomination period is almost over.

You have until tomorrow morning at 8 am (yes, early after St. Patty's day) to get me the name of the hottest person(s) in local media.

This can be a guy and/or girl (we have a bracket for each) in any form of the media: television, newspaper, radio, etc. We've already got a lot of names, but make sure you get in YOUR favorite!

The brackets will be posted tomorrow and that's when voting begins!

So the question is... are you ready to Ruuuuuumble?!?!?

Past Posts:
- Charlotte's Bracket Beauties

From Dora the Explora to Dora de Whore-a??

Are you kidding me?

Little dumpy Dora the Explorer is causing a scandal? That is muy malo!

Mattel and Nickelodeon apparently feel like they lose kids after age five, so they are trying to get kids a little older to keep with the brand. So enter... new and older Dora!

So what do parents think?

• Dora the streetwalker.
• A sexed-up version of a children's icon.
• A poor example for kids.

No lie... those are direct quotes!

They say the new Dora appeared to have long flowing hair, and was wearing what seemed a scanty skirt, emphasizing her long, shapely legs. The Huffington Post even asks "Did Mattel turn Dora the Explorer into a Tramp?"

Am I the only one that thinks parents are being too weird about this? Good Lord, even if you think the dress is too short - the sketch shows her wearing tights!

As long as Swiper ain't trying to swipe anything inappropriate - Get a life!

Charlotte's Bracket Beauties

Hey all... because we are in March Madness, everyone is thinking brackets.

I thought I'd do one a little different - a HOT bracket.

The most obvious choice seems to be on-air personalities. I thought we should make it local, so...

I'm looking for your help. Who do you think from the local media (girls AND guys) should be in our "Bracket Beauties"? This can be tv, radio or newspaper.

I'll take suggestions for the next couple days and get a bracket ready.

E-mail me your suggestions (da_blogger@rocketmail.com). Thanks!

Only in North Carolina...

...can you apply for and get a semi-racist license plate.



Thanks to Joseph Gonzalez for entertaining me with this picture.

UPDATE: From Joseph: "The joke is based on how ignorant people are around here when they call anyone Mexican. There is a difference between being 'semi' racist and pointing out ignorance."

He makes a good point, I wasn't calling him a racist -- just saying it could be taken that way.

Happy Friday the 13th!

For the second month in a row, Friday the 13th is upon us.


Hope you have a creepy fun time.

Facebook Freakout!

Everywhere I looked today, Facebook was there.


There was the couple hours I spent on Facebook (add me), there was all the bitching about the new Facebook layout, and there were stories on the news about the "dangers" of social networking.


Not dangers in the traditional sense, but I'll get to that in a sec.



First the new layout. If you have Facebook, you know about the coming changes. For the rest of you, you don't really care.


If you do care - here's a screenshot of the plan:

And the dangers of Facebook: your parents and your boss.

Fox Charlotte did a story: Help, My Mom's on Facebook

WBTV did a story: Should you "friend" your boss?

I hope my mom never joins Facebook, and my boss wouldn't know its me anyways, so sure - let them add me!

Diver "Fights Off" Shark

I saw this on the news and was DISGUSTED!

A diver in the Gulf of Mexico was "attacked" by a 12-foot Tiger shark and survived to tell the story, and show the video.



Now, don't get me wrong, if this was a real attack - I'd pull for the guy. But it doesn't sound completely legit.

The guy SAYS the shark started acting aggressive. That sounds okay, but then he fought the shark for two hours in "hand to fin" combat. Says he shot the shark six times with a spear gun and then had to stab the shark and eventually drown it.

The whole time, someone else was rolling the camera. And there was bait out. Guy says he fought the shark to keep himself and the other divers safe.

My thoughts... they baited the shark, got it around and filmed him killing it - claiming it was self defense. If there was such danger, why didn't the other people swim away while you fought the shark? Why didn't you try swimming away? You were right there by the boat.

Something just doesn't add up.

March Madness in full swing!

Basketball action on Thursday was CRAAAAAZY.

In the ACC:

• Unranked Georgia Tech (worst team in the ACC) upset Number 18 Clemson
• Virginia Tech knocked off Miami
• Maryland defeated NC State
• Boston College knocked out Virginia

One of the biggest stories, if not THE biggest story - the Syracuse/UCONN game.

Syracuse survived the longest game in Big East history with the epic win over UConn. The game was the second-longest Division I game ever played!

We're talking about SIX overtimes people. Six!

In the end... Syracuse got the 127-117 victory over the Huskies.

Earlier West Virginia beat No. 2 Pittsburgh which means Syracuse will take on the Mountaineers.

Formulating the plan...

So many things to blog about tonight, I had to text myself a list.

Yes, it's true.

In fact, I had four things to talk about, but rather than typing them out for you now, I guess I can just show you the text.



I guess I was going to blog four things. This list, now makes five blogs.

:-D

The Twitter Song

Just too funny...

If you Twitter -- add Chris (the artist).

Oh... and add me too! My Twitter

Police: What Chris Brown did to Rihanna

I know its been out a week, but I think it's worth a second read.

If you somehow haven't read it yet, this is the police affidavit from the Chris Brown / Rihanna incident. PS... Robyn F. = Rihanna

"Brown was driving a vehicle with Robyn F. as the front passenger on an unknown street in Los Angeles. Robyn F. picked up Brown's cellular phone and observed a three-page text message from a woman who Brown had a previous sexual relationship with.

"A verbal argument ensued and Brown pulled the vehicle over on an unknown street, reached over Robyn F. with his right hand, opened the car door and attempted to force her out. Brown was unable to force Robyn F. out of the vehicle because she was wearing a seat belt. When he could not force her to exit, he took his right hand and shoved her head against he passenger window of the vehicle, causing an approximate one-inch raised circular contusion.

"Robyn F. turned to face Brown and he punched her in the left eye with his right hand. He then drove away in the vehicle and continued to punch her in the face with his right hand while steering the vehicle with his left hand. The assault caused Robyn F.'s mouth to fill with blood and blood to splatter all over her clothing and the interior of the vehicle.

"Brown looked at Robyn F. and stated, 'I'm going to beat the s--t out of you when we get home! You wait and see!'"

The detective said she then used her cell phone to call her personal assistant, Jennifer Rosales, who did not answer.

"Robyn F. pretended to talk to her and stated, 'I'm on my way home. Make sure the police are there when I get there.'

"After Robyn F. faked the call, Brown looked at her and stated, 'You just did the stupidest thing ever! Now I'm really going to kill you!'

"Brown resumed punching Robyn F. and she interlocked her fingers behind her head and brought her elbows forward to protect her face. She then bent over at the waist, placing her elbows and face near her lap in [an] attempt to protect her face and head from the barrage of punches being levied upon her by Brown.

"Brown continued to punch Robyn F. on her left arm and hand, causing her to suffer a contusion on her left triceps that was approximately two inches in diameter and numerous contusions on her left hand.

"Robyn F. then attempted to send a text message to her other personal assistant, Melissa Ford. Brown snatched the cellular telephone out of her hand and threw it out of the window onto an unknown street.

"Brown continued driving and Robyn F. observed his cellular telephone sitting in his lap. She picked up the cellular telephone with her left hand and before she could make a call he placed her in a head lock with his right hand and continued to drive the vehicle with his left hand.

"Brown pulled Robyn F. close to him and bit her on her left ear. She was able to feel the vehicle swerving from right to left as Brown sped away. He stopped the vehicle in front of 333 North June Street and Robyn F. turned off the car, removed the key from the ignition and sat on it.

"Brown did not know what she did with the key and began punching her in the face and arms. He then placed her in a head lock positioning the front of her throat between his bicep and forearm. Brown began applying pressure to Robyn F.'s left and right carotid arteries, causing her to be unable to breathe and she began to lose consciousness.

"She reached up with her left hand and began attempting to gouge his eyes in an attempt to free herself. Brown bit her left ring and middle fingers and then released her. While Brown continued to punch her, she turned around and placed her back against the passenger door. She brought her knees to her chest, placed her feet against Brown's body and began pushing him away. Brown continued to punch her on the legs and feet, causing several contusions.

"Robyn F. began screaming for help and Brown exited the vehicle and walked away. A resident in the neighborhood heard Robyn F.'s plea for help and called 911, causing a police response. An investigation was conducted and Robyn F. was issued a Domestic Violence Emergency Protective Order."

Headline News!!

Ah. Sorry y'all. It's almost been a week since my last post.

No one is reading this to care, but I still feel bad.

So here are a couple things that happened in the past week:

UNC beats Duke; Takes Number One in ACC
- Duh. We all kinda new this was going to happen. Sorry Dookies, it was just obvious that this was going to happen. The ACC Tourney starts tomorrow!

Octomom 911 call released
- I don't want to hate on the Octomom, but this call was craaazy! She didn't know where her kid was, even though he was with the nanny. I know this happens, where the kid disappears and you freak out - but she was threatening to kill herself on the 911 call! What about your five other (at the time) kids?? Cuckcoo!

Brit's who-ha makes news
- The audio of Britney Spears talking about her "waldrobe malfunction" was released. She was talking about that you could see it. Ummm... this isn't the first time your who-ha has made the news. Who HASN'T seen that?

Football Players Lost at Sea
- So the one survivor is the only survivor. That's just sad. A fishing trip gone wrong and it's just so hard to think about the families. It's one thing to die on land, at least then there is a CHANCE to get the body back and mourn. But bodies lost at sea rarely ever turn up, especially how far out they were. R.I.P.

Stabbed in Head
- How crazy was this? Tampa Bay Bucs linebacker Geno Hayes was stabbed in the head and neck by his crazy girlfriend! Hayes was taken to a hospital by a friend Saturday. I bet he wishes he'd stayed at Florida State a little longer and never met that crazy woman. Speaking of domestic violence...

Chris Brown vs. Rihanna: Round 57
- I say versus, but its really not. They got back together. Why, I'll never know. Its like she doesn't realize he beat the shit out of her. He went to court a week ago, and the details of the police report was released. The reports been out about a week, but I'm still gonna post it later. It's a good read, in a bad way. Her people don't want pictures of the two of them together to get out, his people do. Go figure!

Hmmm... what else. I'm sure is tons more that I would have/should have written about, but I can't find my list right now.

Sorry for the delay peeps!