A Couple of Singers

I don't watch television, I don't even have one in my bedroom. I did; but, I never plugged it in for a couple of years. Because I don't watch television I miss out on somethings. A few days ago I was listening to some YouTube videos from the talent shows and came across two little ladies who I did not even know existed.

My mother listened to all kinds of music, even marching bands. I grew up listening to opera, jazz (my personal favorite), rock of all types and just about anything else you can imagine. While I really appreciate that talent it takes to sing opera, it is not favorite type of music. I did have a favorite, a very wonderful singer and actress named Deanna Durbin. Most of my readers have probably never heard of her, she was a star in her teens and left Hollywood to live a life of privacy outside of Paris, she was married to the same man for 48 years until he died.

YouTube - Deanna Durbin - Amapola. I believe she was 17 when she made this.

Well, I have just found out about another amazing young opera singer, Jackie Evancho. Wow, at 10 she apparently took over the world and is now in a movie with Robert Redford. The movie is called "The Company You Keep".

Back to Miss Evancho, I cannot seem to get enough of her voice and am glad to see that she may be treated better by the industry than Miss Durbin was. While watching videos of her singing I have come to believe she is in good hands, her family seems very tight and her mentor is the same person that discovered Celine Dion and knows the business back and forth. I don't think he would ever let this business mess her up, I pray I am right. Here is one of my new favorite songs, well, it has always been one of my favorites but I love her version.

YouTube - A Time For Us - Jackie Evancho. My dear readers, I will never monetize this site and refuse to have any advertisements or make commercial endorcements and this girl sure doesn't need any help from me; but, I strongly suggest you listen to her and I am going to go out and buy every one of her CDs. When I get my tax returns, I pay off debts and always try and get something for me, usually art. I have already put down a deposit on a painting and these CDs will be my other treat.

The second young lady I have just heard is a little different, she sings the type of music that I love, soulful. Miss Carly Rose Sonenclar. Now I know many know about these two from television, so I am a bit behind; but, I will catch up. Miss Sonenclar is a different type of young lady, I can see it in her eyes, this young girl is dangerous. I worked the stage for decades and when I retire I am seriously considering volunteering as a stage hand at local theaters. Miss Sonenclar is part of the reason. She is a true stage creature and knows exactly what she is doing, everything is planned and done to perfection. I am going to play two songs by her, the first is just to enjoy and the second is to explain.

YouTube - Meet Carly Rose Sonenclar - THE X FACTOR USA 2012

Many watched her and she will go far. Miss Sonenclar owned the judges on the X-Factor at her audition; but, it is important to remember that she had already been on Broadway, I am sure she has done more auditions than we could count and she knows how to win them. The second video is of her singing side by side with another young lady so that the judges could decide which kids moved forward in the talent show.

YouTube - Boot Camp 2: Carly Rose Sonenclar vs. Beatrice Miller - THE X FACTOR USA 2012

The video begins with Miss Beatrice Miller, a very sweet and talented young lady. As Miss Miller sings, watch Carly, she is calculating how to eviscerate the young girl. At 33 seconds into the video, watch Miss Sonenclar size up her competition and she start planning how to upstage her. As Miss Miller finishes her turn, Miss Sonenclar starts using some old stage tricks. Firstly, she jumps the song, doesn't leave a gap and switches the rhythm. It is a subtle move, the purpose is to get the judges to forget everything they just heard and focus on her. It is a good move and I am familiar with it. After that she proceeds to use more of the stage than her competition did and go for notes that the other could not.

Both Miss Sonenclar and Miss Evancho are going to be around for a long time. Miss Evancho has already put out four albums and has traveled the world, she could be the opera singer of our lifetime and it is completely natural for her, she was born that way. Miss Sonenclar could be one of our best Broadway stars and I am less worried about someone taking advantage of her, she is too crafty for that; but, I hope she gets the best people around her to make sure.

I am going to leave you with one last person, she was on Canada's Got Talent and was very young, she is maturing in amazing manner.

YouTube - Ave Maria - Faryl Smith

One last story, I actually plan to post again tonight about somethings going on in the world; but, I wanted to post this first. Anyways, when I was in college, I knew a young lady that was going to the New England Conservatory of Music and we were on the bus one day riding home in the rain and she serenaded me with some opera. It was an amazing moment and she went on to perform in the opera. If you have never seen the opera in person, do it. Everyone should hear those voices at least once in person.

UPDATE - One more thing, just in case you think I only young female singers, you would be wrong. Here is woman that you probably have never heard of, she was on "Britain's Got Talent" at 80. Okay, I also really like English Variety musicians, so did Paul McCartney so there. Each style of music has it's style and she exemplifies that style. I like it and most Americans would probably not. Enjoy. YouTube - Janey Cutler - Britain's Got Talent 2010 - Auditions Week 4

UPDATE 2 - It occurred to me that some of my readers may watch more television than me and may have missed some incredible talent from around the world. Here is two more singers from Britain's Got Talent that I really love, and, it is more opera.

YouTube - Jonathan & Charlotte - The Prayer IN FULL (Britain's Got Talent Final 2012).

For something that is not opera, here is a guy from Australia that plays bluegrass and insults the judges of Australia's Got Talent. YouTube - Owen Campbell - Angry Busker - Australia's Got Talent 2012 audition 3 [FULL]. Just so you know, he got a second chance and is big seller down under.

LAST UPDATE - Of all these singers and the others that I listen to, I have to say the song I am listening to the most is Miss Carly Rose Sonenclar, this is the song. YouTube - Carly Rose Sonenclar - Rolling In The Deep - X Factor USA (Top 8). I will buy her album the second it comes out. While Miss Evancho is probably one of the most naturally gifted singers I will ever hear in my life, Miss Sonenclar is soulful and theatrical and that is where my love has always been, put on the show and do whatever it takes. Here is the heart of the difference between the two, when singing, Miss Evancho is only thinking about how she sounds, she is making sure she is singing perfectly. Miss Sonenclar is focused on the audience response and adjusting as she goes. One is seeking the perfect note and the other is seeking the perfect response.

Happy Valentine's Day

Well, tomorrow is Valentine's Day, not really an issue in my life. LOL. For those of you who do have a partner, take the time to let them know you still care. I know Valentine's Day was just a chance to sell cards and flowers; but, as holidays go, at least it celebrates something nice. It celebrates love and I think that deserves a day of it's own.

On a side note, I saw my ex-wife's sister's ex-husband. He was in town near my office and wondered if I might like to get a cup of coffee with him and we did. Well, actually, I got green tea and lemonade. After 40 years or so of drinking coffee, I just sort of stopped about a year ago. I have no idea why, it just sort of happened. He didn't have a lot of time; but, he did show me a picture of his wedding. After his wife left him, he found a new lady in his life. She was very pretty and sounds like a terrific person. I was glad for him.

We didn't really talk much about our ex-wives, it was the first chance we have had to see other since it all began. While I have known him for 28 years or so, we haven't seen each other in probably 5 years or so. It was nice to know that he was doing better and to see pictures of my niece and nephew, they grow so very quickly. While I am on good terms with my ex-wife's family (I just saw her brother two weeks ago and will always love my mother in law), I am not on good terms with her sister. We don't communicate; but, I really have less to say to her than I do to my ex-wife. Heck, I have talked to my ex more than her sister in the last 5 years and I would define my relationship with my ex as cordial.

Not all love works out; but, there is always hope. I post a song of hope and wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day.

YouTube - Miracles - Jefferson Starship

Mentoring and Success

I just found out that someone I mentored was accepted into advanced classes at Harvard. Obviously, I love to teach and mentor others, I am so proud of this person that I cannot possibly express myself fully. Teaching is about getting people to think bigger, to consider new approaches, the one's they choose are theirs, their expression of them and their intent. I can never take credit for what this person learned, I can only take credit for what I taught and there is a difference. This person will learn from people other than me and I will teach people other than them.

On a side note, I remember what brought me joy, it was the theater. Those reading my words may assume that I was always just an analyst; but, I was not, I was a stage manager, stage lighter and sound man. I even designed and built stages, I loved the arts. I have written stories (no surprise there), music, sang, drew pictures and have no fear of public speaking, my favorite thing. I have acted and absolutely hate it. A ham; but, not a ham on the bone. LOL. In less than two years, I can retire and have wondered what I should do. Many think I should go into consulting, some think I should go into teaching; but, I am thinking I need joy in my life and that always came from stage and theater. Maybe it is time to put me first, maybe I have given what I had and can now freely enjoy my passion, the theater.

I am old and it has been many years; but, I can still build a set, I can still light a stage, I can still listen to a stage manager. Hey, I don't need to make any money, just do what I love. It will not happen that way, there is still work for me to do and I think I would rather be of use than just be taking. Lets start the new games. I love games. ROFL.

David Petraeus, Maybe I Was Right

Some of you may remember a post I wrote about how Petraeus must have been taken out by the CIA. Well, the Mail Online has just published a story about a book that is coming out which says the exact same thing. The book was written by a couple of ex-black ops fellows.

EXCLUSIVE: David Petraeus was brought down after betrayal by vengeful CIA agents and his own bodyguards who made sure his affair was exposed, claims new book

Elliott Broidy, Pension Fraud and Los Angeles

If you select the post tag which says "Pension Fraud", you will find many posts which reference Mr. Broidy. To make the story short, Mr. Broidy sat on public pension boards and later would act as a "placement agent" and he was also the Chairman of Markstone Capital (and one of the co-founders). Mr. Broidy pled guilty to bribing government officials to get investments in his company and others. Mr. Broidy escaped a lengthy sentence because he cooperated with prosecution. Fair enough, he got whatever sentence he got; but, I just saw a website, here is a link. Broidy Capital Management. Apparently, he is back in Los Angeles and back in business.

We now have this, it is from Bloomberg BusinessWeek - Elliott Broidy CPA. They gave glowing information regarding Mr. Broidy; but, failed to mention his pleading guilty. How can this man still be a CPA? How can this man be allowed to invest other people's money? Write a bogus check and get caught, guess what, you cannot get bonded to handle money again.

I hope you read his "profile" from Bloomberg. If you read it, you will understand why he is not in jail and allowed to still do investments? Now, here is this from Daily Politics - Investor Elliott Broidy Given Wrist Slap For Role In Pension Fund Scandal. I love these two quotes from the article, "The high-powered Israeli investor who pleaded guilty to giving $1 million in bribes to four top state pension fund officials — including disgraced ex-controller Alan Hevesi — got off with a slap on the wrist." and "In exchange for cooperation that helped land Hevesi behind bars, Broidy this week was able to withdraw his felony plea and instead admit to a misdemeanor." He personally had to pay $18 million back.

Now here is what is really disturbing, I have been looking to see what this man's sentence was a could not find any in the mainstream media. If you think public pensions are too generous, consider the fact of how much of the money is flat out stolen from the funds. In New York, $170 million dollars was paid in fines by over a dozen companies. Theft of public pensions is why they are in trouble, that and the failure of government to make timely contributions.

I have an even better example. In the City of Bell, in California, a number of councilpersons and the City Administrator have all been charged with stealing. The City Administrator was going to receive, and may yet, one of the biggest pension payouts in state history. Currently, they are attempting to limit his pension payout. The guy is probably going to jail. He did not steal $170 million dollars. I have no respect for the man; but, should you get off easier because you stole more?

Donald Trump once said something that was very true, he said if you owed someone a thousand dollars it was your problem; but, if you owed them $100 million it was there problem, at least it was something very close to that. Here is my biggest problem with all of this, Mr. Broidy made a lot of money; but, his investments were in Israeli companies. Bribing government officials in the United States in order to make investments in foreign countries sounds like treason to me. It certainly does not sound like a misdemeanor deserving of no prison time.

I want to know why the story of Mr. Broidy has had so little coverage in the local media. I want to know why the media doesn't care to talk about how much is being stolen from public pensions. How about this, why didn't CalPers and the Los Angeles pension funds do a full and complete investigation into Mr. Broidy's activities with them? We are told to follow the money, why didn't the Los Angeles Times provide a listing of where all the public pension investments went under Mr. Broidy? I would think that tax payers might want to know that. Here is another question, why haven't these same organizations told us what the total return was on investments made to CIM Group? I have lots more questions. Why didn't anyone in the mainstream media ask these questions?

Have a great night and wonderful weekengs.

A Tough One - Headache Relief

This is a really tough post for me to make. Growing up I suffered from cluster headaches, I followed the pattern, started at 5 and stopped at about 30. They call cluster headaches, "suicide headaches" for a reason. I learned a lot about pain and self control from them. I also how to concentrate really hard. Whatever you think you understand about headaches, you don't unless you have lived with these. Migraines are bad; but, they don't call them suicide headaches.

How bad are they? Well, it took five years without experiencing before I stopped fearing they would come back and I don't scare easy. I have never given birth and don't know what it feels like. I have had a herniated intestine, I woke doubled over with my face covered in tears, it hurt a lot. I had tooth go bad on a trip and couldn't get a root canal for over a day, that hurt really bad. I have had frostbite and it is no fun. These headaches are different for three very important reasons, first their severity is extreme, second, they last a very long time. The worst reason is the third, you know you are going to have them again in a month or so. Imagine every month someone torturing you for a week and then saying, "See you next month". I lived in a house with five women, the pain is quite different.

Here is the dilemma. I no longer have cluster headaches, I get allergy headaches, stress headaches and just headaches; but, it is night and day. They have created a device that could have healed those headaches. Couldn't do anything for them when I was growing up, aspirin was a joke. The only thing that ever helped was self hypnosis and that only worked for so long. The device that can supposedly end them is a implant, a transhumanistic device and I don't believe in transhumanism or the melding of people with machines. I didn't have to make that choice because they didn't have anything for the headaches when I was growing up, so I can only talk about what I learned and why I would advise against getting the implant.

I thank my mother for helping me, by pushing me, to get over the unsocial tendencies of being autistic. Thanks mom. I thank my brother and sister for not making fun of my tics or stuttering, that helped me to conquer them, I never felt embarrassed by them. I thank my father for supporting me and teaching me the game. He was a brilliant and decent man. I have a great family. I thank my kids for teaching me forgiveness, I could never hate my kids. The headaches helped me to grow also. I absolutely would not be who I am if I had not lived through those years of crippling pain. If we can rise to a challenge, we can learn a lot. If we fail at a challenge, we can also learn about what our limits truly are and grow again.

I generally don't try and forget my past, I actually try and get the story straight in my head. I chose to forget the headaches. It is one of two pains that I wish to never remember. The other is a secret, shhhhhh. We are quickly coming to a place where we can stop all pain. It is a dangerous place, it a place where we stop growing, where we stop learning to overcome and where we rely on others for how we cope with the world. What does the song say? "The pain you left behind, has become, has become part of me". If someone asked me, I would advise against taking the implant and teach them self-hypnosis. Here is the article.

Yahoo News - A remote-controlled device to stop severe headache pain. By the way, if they were seriously considering suicide, I would tell them to take the implant, there is never a good enough reason to kill yourself and I lived with these headaches too.

Something to Make You Smile

I thought I might post some fun stuff.

YouTube - Isaac's Live Lip-Dub Proposal. I think this is just as charming as can be and the lady in red is very attractive. Still, the best part is the ladies reaction to what is going on in front of her.

YouTube - frank sinatra the way you look tonight

YouTube - Whose Line: Scenes From A Hat (Special Edition)

YouTube - Impersonations by Kevin Spacey (Full Video)

YouTube - Britain's Got Talent - Madonna Decena - Audition.

YouTube - Homeless Boy Steals The Talent Show