And a few drops from my stream of consciousness...

The song I'm into right now is "Tear Her Apart" by She Wants Revenge. When I first heard it I thought it was an Interpol remix. I'll have to learn a little more about this group.

One song I'm not into is that Nickelback song. No, not that one, the other one. You know, come to think of it both the tunes on the radio right now don't really move me. I guess I like their earlier stuff. "The State" was a good album.

And did we really need "More Than Words" by Extreme dug up? Frankie J has decided to cover that one. Why?

If you get a chance and are so inclined, download the Michael Stipe charity EP on iTunes. He covers the beautiful Joseph Arthur song "In The Sun" with the help of Coldplay and others.

It's not as good as the original, which was featured in the movie "Saved," but it's good and for a good cause.

Currently enjoying "Kicking Television" by Wilco. I always like live albums for some reason. Very few do a decent job of capturing the show, but this one does. Maybe it's Jeff Tweedy's banter with the crowd.

Here's some of what I've had playing in my head recently (aside from the usual voices that is).

"Country House" by Blur
"Coast To Coast" by Elliott Smith
"You Could Have It So Much Better" by Franz Ferdinand
"Oh My God" by Kaiser Chiefs
"Criminal Piece" by Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
"Columbia" by Oasis
"Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" by Green Day

Knock me down, I'll get
right back up again,
come back stronger than
a powered-up Pac-Man
--Kaiser Chiefs

Well, I guess that's why they call them predictions.

Sometimes you're right and sometimes U2 defies expectations. I think I'm happier being wrong.

I had thought the Grammys might have belonged to Mariah Carey. I'm happy to say they did not.

They really belonged to U2.

Carey picked up a few early awards, as did Kanye West. Both had good nights overall.

West won in the Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song categories and Best Rap Solo Performance. Carey won R&B Song, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Contemporary R&B Album.

But it was U2 who ruled the evening, winning five Grammys. The ever-present Irishmen took home awards for Album of the Year, Best Rock Album, Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal, Song Of The Year and Rock Song.

Good job guys. I even wore my U2 concert t-shirt to work today.

The thing about making predictions is that they're just guesses. Who knows how it's going to work out? It's not like anyone there isn't talented.

I can take my medicine as well as anyone, so let's look at how I did. My prediction ran in the paper-based version of the Montgomery Advertiser.

Album Of The Year: I thought West would walk home with this one. U2 took the prize. "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb" was my favorite out of the nominees, but I was trying to get inside the Grammy brain and was wrong. Sorry I ever doubted you Bono.

Record Of The Year: I picked Carey's "We Belong Together." Green Day's "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" won. I have to say I'm glad I was wrong on this one too. Maybe the Grammys have better taste than I thought.

Song Of The Year: Carey's "We Belong Together" was my pick. U2 won with "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own." Chalk up another one to the Grammys for good sense.

Best Alternative Music Album: Hey, here's one I got right. "Get Behind Me Satan" by The White Stripes gets the prize. Rightly so.

Best New Artist: I got this one too. Though I was indecisive. John Legend wins and likely won't be one of those we never hear from again. Sorry Keane. I was pulling for you.

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: Kelly Clarkson was my pick and Kelly Clarkson won. "Since U Been Gone" is a catchy enough tune. Not my cup of tea, but she deserves it. I hope the other "Idols" are paying attention.

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: I picked Rob Thomas. I don't know why I picked Rob Thomas. I don't particularly enjoy his music. I just thought he'd win. Congrats to Stevie Wonder.

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal: This is bull. Maroon 5 beats The Killers? "Mr. Brightside" is one of the catchiest tunes of the year. Boooooo.

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal: U2's "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" beats out my pick of Foo Fighters' "Best Of You." I have to say I didn't think Dave Grohl would go home empty handed.

Best Electronic/Dance Album: It figures one of my biggest problems would be in one of the smaller categories. LCD Soundsystem should have beat out The Chemical Brothers. They just didn't.

Best Hard Rock Performance: System Of A Down wins for "B.Y.O.B." Just like I said they would.

Best Rock Album: U2 deserved every award they got. This is one I knew they'd win. There was just no other way.

Best R&B Song: Leave it to Mariah Carey to win in a category I thought she wouldn't. "We Belong Together" takes this one, but it should have been John Legend's "Ordinary People."

Best Rap Song: I thought Kanye West would win for "Diamonds Of Sierra Leone." He did and deserved to.

Best Rap Album: West's "Late Registration" wins. Another one for my plus column.

OK, for the record I went seven out of 15. Thus proving that you don't know what's going to happen until it does. I'm no smarter about this stuff than the next guy. I just have a media outlet at my disposal.

I'll close with congratulations to Montgomery's own Mark Hall and Casting Crowns. The group won for Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. I wasn't familiar with his ties to the city until someone pointed it out and I had it checked. Good job. It's always great when the hometown can cheer one of its own.

Just a few hours until the Grammys. I'll be posting after the show on how things went. Or should have gone.

Just caught Prince's set on SNL. Wow. Sometimes it's easy to forget what an amazing guitar player he is.

Check out www.frenz.com to see something that has me happy. I won't get a chance to see it, but it's still good news.