Tidbits 3/9

• US military holds Idol style competition in Tikrit, Iraq. Idol has spawned the likes of Kelly, Clay, etc... Blackanthem Military News
• Article about the Sony BMG Class Action Lawsuit about Sony BMG's spyware- CDs. (MCWL is an affected CD): ARS Technica
• Pat Boone -- Clay Aiken's Granddad? TV article from the Toronto Sun.
• AI article... Albany Times Union
• The truth about tabloids -- an expose from MSN Slate (doesn't mention Clay directly, but you probably know what we're talking about!)
• New artist James Blunt matches Clay's Billboard Hot 100 record -- Billboard ChartBeat ("Claymate" Fred Bronson) Update: The Clay part seems to have been edited off for some reason. However, it did say this a few hours ago:
  

  IT'S A 'BEAUTIFUL' DAY: He's been No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs, Adult Top 40 and the Pop 100 charts, but this week James Blunt takes the big prize as his debut single, "You're Beautiful" (Custard/Atlantic), advances to No. 1 on the Hot 100. It's the first song by a U.K. artist to top this chart in eight years and two months, since Elton John had a 14-week reign with "Candle in the Wind 1997" / "Something About the Way You Look Tonight."
  
  Blunt is one of only four solo male artists to achieve pole position on the Hot 100 since that Elton John hit without also appearing on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs tally. The other three are Ricky Martin ("Livin' La Vida Loca" in 1999), Enrique Iglesias ("Bailamos" in 1999 and "Be With You" in 2000) and Clay Aiken ("This Is the Night" in 2003).

• Continuing the tradition set by Clay, Fantasia: AI5 top 12 could be 1/4 NC: Raleigh News & Observer
• Kevin Covais did a better job with Vincent than Clay (FYI: AI screwed up Clay's background track, no wonder he 'screwed up'): Steel Kaleidoscope blog.
• Kid Rock makes fun of Clay Aiken at concert: Daily News
• Houston may be America's fattest city, but they're still #1 in music-- small mention from the Houston Press