STOP SCOFFING AND VOTE >>>

All right, Tacoma. I know cynicism can too often get the best of us, and the impulse when confronted with a network television singing competition-like NBC's The Voice-is to scoff until one's lungs cave in. But tonight is important. As I have been reminding you (like here, or here or here), Tacoma's own fiery songbird, Vicci Martinez, is in the running to win said singing competition. Having breezed through the audition round to win Cee-Lo Green as a mentor, and the perverse "battle" round, wherein Martrinez defeated another competitor in hand-to-hand duet, she has finally reached the stage where the voting public gets to decide whether or not she advances. Tonight's episode of The Voice airs at 9 p.m. locally, and 8 p.m. in the Central Time Zone.

Having watched every stinking episode of this show, I can tell you Martinez has a very decent chance of getting far in this competition. What matters now is that we support her as much as our brittle, rain-soaked bones can muster. Waiting for her at the end of the road will be a cash prize, as well as a recording contract with a high-profile record company. Tonight is where she sinks or swims-and we can directly affect this outcome.