There is a fine line between a "conspiracy" and people with like ideas around the world, all following those ideas and defending them to their end.
We see that here in the US, with the seemingly coordinated "we need to spend more" or "Obama's policies prevented us from an even worse recession or depression".
These are simply the intellectual refusals of many supposedly smart people from giving up on the economic policies of John Maynard Keynes.
You've probably heard the term "Keynesian" economics thrown around recently. Keynes died in 1946 and the irony is that his theories were written in response to the Great Depression AROUND THE WORLD, NOT here in the US.
He basically said that the government needs to "prime the pump" when the private sector slows down. That spending is spending no matter where it comes from, even if it's imaginary money, printed by the government to inflate it's way out of trouble.
However, Keynes had no idea that his ideas would be taken to such absurd lengths - although he did claim, to some extent, that the war spending of WWII proved his theories.
By the time of his death, just after the war, he was already warning about the ridiculous lengths that his disciples were taking his theories.
The most well known of his disciples right now is Paul Krugman of the New York Times.
But most US Presidents of the 20th century have followed a basically Keynesian model.
The ultimate example of the Progressive media's being in the bag for Keynes, came just recently in Israel.
Yuval Steinitz, Israel's Finance Minister, and the overseer of the latest phase of Israel's "Economic miracle" (Israel is one of the few economies in the world that has fought the worldwide slump and whose economy continues to grow and expand robustly, largely due to incredible innovation) was getting ready for an interview with Israel's Channel 2 news Anchor Yonit Levy.
This is actually how the interview started. Oozing professional probity, Levy said, "I assume you came here armed with wonderful data about the drop in unemployment and rising economic growth, but I want to ask you, Mr. Steinitz if for all your data you've forgotten the people, you've forgotten an entire class of working people who can't live?"
"So, despite all facts to the opposite, I'm telling you things are not good." That is the essence of what she said.
You see it here now every day, and will see it even more in the coming days.
With the downgrade of the US credit rating by Standard and Poor's, you will hear the media say it really doesn't matter.
Of course, it matters. But worse, perhaps than the downgrade, which is epic, huge, an historical earthquake of biblical proportions, is that ALL the ratings agencies still have the US on negative watch, which means a 75% chance of further downgrade.
You have also seen this recently with the coordinated calling of the Tea Party "Terrorists".
There should be riots on the streets over this obscenity. Those that murder and blow up, mutilate, massacre, innocents in the streets are "miltiants" or "freedom fighters", but those that want less US debt are "terrorists"???????!!!!!!!!!!
Showing posts with label Pop Culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pop Culture. Show all posts
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
What we can all learn from Thomas Voeckler
Some background, and yes, this post will serve a larger message.
For the few of you left who have been reading me for a while, you know that, despite my baseball background, the Tour de France is my favorite sporting event in the world.
I first fell in love with it the year that Greg LeMond burst on the scene. Not the first American to ride the Tour (Jonathon Boyer was, LeMond, really the second) he was the first to ride on a powerhouse French team, La Vie Claire, and of course the first to win.
In his first great year, the first American team rode (7 Eleven), and on that team was Eric Heiden (now Dr. Eric Heiden) who had shattered every speed skating record in the world, and won every speed skating medal in the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. If you don't know him, it is hard to describe just how much of a sporting giant Heiden was. His victories are the equivalent of the man who wins the 100 meters, also winning the Olympic marathon.
Well, the first year Heiden raced, LeMond won, and Heiden couldn't even finish. This giant couldn't make it up the mountains and said, at the time, that nothing he had ever done could compare to the Tour. That was enough to reel me in.
Flash forward to this year. It was generally regarded that the Tour would be between Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, who was second the last two years, and Alberto Contador, the 3 time defending champion.
Also given some consideration was Cadel Evans, an Aussie who had also been the runner up twice in the past but who made the Tour his entire focus this year.
Others mentioned were Ivan Basso, the 2 time winner of the Giro d'Italia, the Italian equivalent of the tour, and perhaps an even harder race; Frank Schleck, Andy's older brother; Samuel Sanchez, the Olympic Road racing champion; Chris Horner, an American on the powerful Radio Shack team who had just won the Tour of California; Bradley Wiggins another multiple Olympic track champion on his best all time form; Jurgen Van den Broeck, a Belgian, and a few others.
In the tour, the winner has the best combined time over 21 stages, 3 weeks of racing an average of about 125-150 miles a day including all sorts of climbing, sprints, individual time trials, etc.
Generally, the best climbers start their careers as climbing specialists and develop their time trialing skills to become overall winners.
The lesser riders will go all out, sacrificing their bodies for one day, to try and win ONE stage of the race (each stage is considered a separate race by the international cycling organizations).
French cycling has suffered greatly since LeMond's mentor turned foe, Bernard Hinault, last won the tour in 1985.
Early in the race, Thomas Voeckler of the French Europcar team, went on a breakaway, and took the "yellow jersey", the maillot jeune, the race lead.
It's not unusual for a lesser rider to lead the race early on as the favorites actually don't WANT to lead, because of the greater responsibility it places on them.
Voeckler has been a journeyman pro for 10 years or so. His most famous moments came as a young cyclist, when, in a similar situation he held the yellow jersey over Lance Armstrong. In that year, 2000, however, there were no imaginings of victory and he held the jersey during stages that were flat, when everyone finishes together. On the one mountain stage, the famed "Plateau de Beille" in the Pyrenees, he lost more than 5 minutes to Armstrong (more than a miles ride on flat ground).
This year, a similar thing happened. Voeckler went on a breakaway in the 9th stage of the Tour. That was the stage in which the most horrific crash took place, with a TV car hitting two of the other breakaway cyclists.
From the beginning of his days in the yellow, Voeckler said he had no chance to win the race. More than that, he said that, with the upcoming Pyrenees, he would hold the yellow only a day or two.
And then a funny thing happened. He tried. There is an old saying in the Tour, the yellow jersey makes you ride like two men.
Well, Voekler not only stayed with the storied climbers over the iconic Col de Tourmalet, the Col d'aubisque but this time he was right there on the Plateau de Beille, where he had lost 5 minutes to Armstrong.
Every day, he assured the now crazed French that he could not win the race, but that he would honor the Yellow Jersey.
And he continued to fight.
They had said he could not do it in the Pyrenees. In fact, to the commentators, it was almost a joke. There were new reasons every day why he still wore the yellow. And every day, Thomas Voekler got on his bike and pushed himself to do things he didn't think he could.
And every day, he did.
They said that, of course, he made it through the steeper, but shorter climbs of the Pyrenees, but that the monsters of the Alps would destroy him. The leading commentator, Phil Liggett, who I love, actually said "When the Tour is over, you'll need binoculars to see Voeckler"
Yesterday's stage was called the queen of stages. The hardest stage in the history of this more than 100 year old race. 3 "Hor's Category Climbs" meaning so long and steep as to not be able to be classified by the international standards.
Starting with the absurd Col D'ignol, and ending with the iconic Col de Galibier.
And yet, there was Thomas, to the cries of "Allez Thomas" (Go Thomas) from the French crowds, literally grinding his way up, evening dropping the 3 time champion, Alberto Contador, on the last climb up the Galibier.
When the stage ended, he had maintained a 15 second lead and his face was wracked with pain.
Finally, today, on the final stage in the Alps, back over the Galibier and the even more famous Alpe D'Huez (where LeMond had made his name) bad luck came his way. I won't get into the racing strategy but he lost the lead and is now in fourth place.
The last time a French rider was as high as fourth in the Tour, was 1996, 15 year ago.
Voeckler, like the little engine that could, won over the hearts of the entire nation of France, and the entire cycling community. Even as one of his teammates and a fellow Frenchman, won the stage, Voeckler received the loudest cheers. It was said by the French, in their highest compliment, that he had defended the jersey with panache.
But more importantly, he won himself over. Every day he seemed as amazed as everyone else that he was able to match up with all of the prerace favorites.
There will be no trophy for Thomas Voeckler, at the end of the Tour de France, but there will be something more important.
In this day and age, we give trophies for everything. You finished 22d in the spelling bee in school? Here's your ribbon and certificate of achievement. Your little league team finished 9th? Take that trophy young man!
But Voeckler showed us all that it is the effort to achieve, the journey to success that is it's own reward. No trophy is necessary when you find that you can exceed even your own limitations simply by making the effort. When you aim for the best, and make your best efforts, you are always rewarded. It is the effort that matters. Eventually, the victories in life come.
ALLEZ THOMAS!
For the few of you left who have been reading me for a while, you know that, despite my baseball background, the Tour de France is my favorite sporting event in the world.
I first fell in love with it the year that Greg LeMond burst on the scene. Not the first American to ride the Tour (Jonathon Boyer was, LeMond, really the second) he was the first to ride on a powerhouse French team, La Vie Claire, and of course the first to win.
In his first great year, the first American team rode (7 Eleven), and on that team was Eric Heiden (now Dr. Eric Heiden) who had shattered every speed skating record in the world, and won every speed skating medal in the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. If you don't know him, it is hard to describe just how much of a sporting giant Heiden was. His victories are the equivalent of the man who wins the 100 meters, also winning the Olympic marathon.
Well, the first year Heiden raced, LeMond won, and Heiden couldn't even finish. This giant couldn't make it up the mountains and said, at the time, that nothing he had ever done could compare to the Tour. That was enough to reel me in.
Flash forward to this year. It was generally regarded that the Tour would be between Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, who was second the last two years, and Alberto Contador, the 3 time defending champion.
Also given some consideration was Cadel Evans, an Aussie who had also been the runner up twice in the past but who made the Tour his entire focus this year.
Others mentioned were Ivan Basso, the 2 time winner of the Giro d'Italia, the Italian equivalent of the tour, and perhaps an even harder race; Frank Schleck, Andy's older brother; Samuel Sanchez, the Olympic Road racing champion; Chris Horner, an American on the powerful Radio Shack team who had just won the Tour of California; Bradley Wiggins another multiple Olympic track champion on his best all time form; Jurgen Van den Broeck, a Belgian, and a few others.
In the tour, the winner has the best combined time over 21 stages, 3 weeks of racing an average of about 125-150 miles a day including all sorts of climbing, sprints, individual time trials, etc.
Generally, the best climbers start their careers as climbing specialists and develop their time trialing skills to become overall winners.
The lesser riders will go all out, sacrificing their bodies for one day, to try and win ONE stage of the race (each stage is considered a separate race by the international cycling organizations).
French cycling has suffered greatly since LeMond's mentor turned foe, Bernard Hinault, last won the tour in 1985.
Early in the race, Thomas Voeckler of the French Europcar team, went on a breakaway, and took the "yellow jersey", the maillot jeune, the race lead.
It's not unusual for a lesser rider to lead the race early on as the favorites actually don't WANT to lead, because of the greater responsibility it places on them.
Voeckler has been a journeyman pro for 10 years or so. His most famous moments came as a young cyclist, when, in a similar situation he held the yellow jersey over Lance Armstrong. In that year, 2000, however, there were no imaginings of victory and he held the jersey during stages that were flat, when everyone finishes together. On the one mountain stage, the famed "Plateau de Beille" in the Pyrenees, he lost more than 5 minutes to Armstrong (more than a miles ride on flat ground).
This year, a similar thing happened. Voeckler went on a breakaway in the 9th stage of the Tour. That was the stage in which the most horrific crash took place, with a TV car hitting two of the other breakaway cyclists.
From the beginning of his days in the yellow, Voeckler said he had no chance to win the race. More than that, he said that, with the upcoming Pyrenees, he would hold the yellow only a day or two.
And then a funny thing happened. He tried. There is an old saying in the Tour, the yellow jersey makes you ride like two men.
Well, Voekler not only stayed with the storied climbers over the iconic Col de Tourmalet, the Col d'aubisque but this time he was right there on the Plateau de Beille, where he had lost 5 minutes to Armstrong.
Every day, he assured the now crazed French that he could not win the race, but that he would honor the Yellow Jersey.
And he continued to fight.
They had said he could not do it in the Pyrenees. In fact, to the commentators, it was almost a joke. There were new reasons every day why he still wore the yellow. And every day, Thomas Voekler got on his bike and pushed himself to do things he didn't think he could.
And every day, he did.
They said that, of course, he made it through the steeper, but shorter climbs of the Pyrenees, but that the monsters of the Alps would destroy him. The leading commentator, Phil Liggett, who I love, actually said "When the Tour is over, you'll need binoculars to see Voeckler"
Yesterday's stage was called the queen of stages. The hardest stage in the history of this more than 100 year old race. 3 "Hor's Category Climbs" meaning so long and steep as to not be able to be classified by the international standards.
Starting with the absurd Col D'ignol, and ending with the iconic Col de Galibier.
And yet, there was Thomas, to the cries of "Allez Thomas" (Go Thomas) from the French crowds, literally grinding his way up, evening dropping the 3 time champion, Alberto Contador, on the last climb up the Galibier.
When the stage ended, he had maintained a 15 second lead and his face was wracked with pain.
Finally, today, on the final stage in the Alps, back over the Galibier and the even more famous Alpe D'Huez (where LeMond had made his name) bad luck came his way. I won't get into the racing strategy but he lost the lead and is now in fourth place.
The last time a French rider was as high as fourth in the Tour, was 1996, 15 year ago.
Voeckler, like the little engine that could, won over the hearts of the entire nation of France, and the entire cycling community. Even as one of his teammates and a fellow Frenchman, won the stage, Voeckler received the loudest cheers. It was said by the French, in their highest compliment, that he had defended the jersey with panache.
But more importantly, he won himself over. Every day he seemed as amazed as everyone else that he was able to match up with all of the prerace favorites.
There will be no trophy for Thomas Voeckler, at the end of the Tour de France, but there will be something more important.
In this day and age, we give trophies for everything. You finished 22d in the spelling bee in school? Here's your ribbon and certificate of achievement. Your little league team finished 9th? Take that trophy young man!
But Voeckler showed us all that it is the effort to achieve, the journey to success that is it's own reward. No trophy is necessary when you find that you can exceed even your own limitations simply by making the effort. When you aim for the best, and make your best efforts, you are always rewarded. It is the effort that matters. Eventually, the victories in life come.
ALLEZ THOMAS!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Does Glenn Beck know something we don't?
Nope, this isn't going to be what you think it is.
Here in NY we have some experience with a media personality leaving the conventional "system".
Actually 2 of them. The first was, famously, Howard Stern.
His show was syndicated all over but he broadcast from WXRK here in NY. Stern was a regular in the gossip columns, regularly appeared on Letterman and other NY shows.
Next was Chris Russo of WFAN, the sports talk station. Russo spent 15 years as the co-host of the "Mike and the Mad Dog" show. He and co-host Mike Francessa are credited with being really the popularizers of the sports talk format.
Both left commercial radio and signed highly publicized deals with Sirrus satellite radio.
After much publicity on their moves, they have both largely disappeared from public consciousness. When was the last time you saw either of them on a talk show, or with a book on the best seller list.
So, I was fascinated when Beck decided to leave Fox (or mutually decided - despite reports, I doubt, with his ratings, that he was fired.).
But he may have hit the mother lode. Why or how you ask?
Simple. He is starting his own internet broadcast.
That in and of itself, is something no one else has really done.
But more than that, he is charging only $4.95/month for his show.
That amount is low enough as to be no "barrier to entry" for the overwhelming majority of people. And barriers to entry are the first thing people look at when trying to decide the viability of a business.
It's such a low price that I can see people saying 'what the heck' I'll give it a try. And like so many automatic credit card charges, people tend to get lazy and let them keep going, particularly when it's that cheap.
So, why is he right? I honestly think he has hit a home run here.
If you think about the numbers, he averaged about 1.4 million viewers a day. If he merely holds on to 5% of that, the numbers are this, 70,000 viewers at $5/mo. (If they sign up for his higher level program of $9.99 you can double some the #'s) adds up to $350,000 a month. 4.2 million a year.
If he holds onto 10% of this audience, than he's REALLY doing well.
I think he may really be at the forefront of a new media. Even a pioneer.
Here in NY we have some experience with a media personality leaving the conventional "system".
Actually 2 of them. The first was, famously, Howard Stern.
His show was syndicated all over but he broadcast from WXRK here in NY. Stern was a regular in the gossip columns, regularly appeared on Letterman and other NY shows.
Next was Chris Russo of WFAN, the sports talk station. Russo spent 15 years as the co-host of the "Mike and the Mad Dog" show. He and co-host Mike Francessa are credited with being really the popularizers of the sports talk format.
Both left commercial radio and signed highly publicized deals with Sirrus satellite radio.
After much publicity on their moves, they have both largely disappeared from public consciousness. When was the last time you saw either of them on a talk show, or with a book on the best seller list.
So, I was fascinated when Beck decided to leave Fox (or mutually decided - despite reports, I doubt, with his ratings, that he was fired.).
But he may have hit the mother lode. Why or how you ask?
Simple. He is starting his own internet broadcast.
That in and of itself, is something no one else has really done.
But more than that, he is charging only $4.95/month for his show.
That amount is low enough as to be no "barrier to entry" for the overwhelming majority of people. And barriers to entry are the first thing people look at when trying to decide the viability of a business.
It's such a low price that I can see people saying 'what the heck' I'll give it a try. And like so many automatic credit card charges, people tend to get lazy and let them keep going, particularly when it's that cheap.
So, why is he right? I honestly think he has hit a home run here.
If you think about the numbers, he averaged about 1.4 million viewers a day. If he merely holds on to 5% of that, the numbers are this, 70,000 viewers at $5/mo. (If they sign up for his higher level program of $9.99 you can double some the #'s) adds up to $350,000 a month. 4.2 million a year.
If he holds onto 10% of this audience, than he's REALLY doing well.
I think he may really be at the forefront of a new media. Even a pioneer.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Something you'll never see anywhere else...
in the Arab world, but certainly do every year in Israel. Now, why is Code Pink protesting Israel?
'It's worth being gay'
By YONI COHEN
10/06/2011
From street parades to beach parties, there's something for everyone at the all-accepting Tel Aviv Gay Pride 2011.
The slogan for this year's Tel Aviv Gay Pride events is “It’s worth being gay!” And indeed, it looks like it'll be worth attending as the 2011 Pride Parade, the central event of the celebrations, is set to be as big and impressive as ever.
The huge street parade set to take place on Friday, is expected to be attended by thousands of locals and tourists, and will culminate with a beach party. The parade will begin in Gan Meir at around 1:30 p.m., pass through Bograshov and Ben Yehuda Streets and end at Gordon beach.
Though the parade is the main event, the weekend's festivities will kick off on Thursday night with "Sunset Beach Cocktail" party located on the southern part of the Tel Aviv beach close to the David Intercontinental hotel in Clara, a trendy open air mega bar. The leading DJs in town will come together to host the official opening of Pride Weekend.
On Friday morning from 10:00 a.m to 12:00 p.m. there will be a two-hour Gay City Tour, which will explore the heart of Tel Aviv, telling the story of the LGBT community. Pre-booking is necessary: telavivgayvibe..com, Starting point: Meir Tower Herzl corner of Ahad Ha’am.
For those in search of something a little more upbeat, MTV will be putting on a crazy drag celebration hosted by TLV’s most favored drag queens, performing the hottest MTV hits. Gan Meir. 10:00 a.m. till 1:30 p.m.
Some of the best DJs in town and international guests will keep the beach party going until 6:30 p.m. Performers include Lovegang (Hamburg), Erez B.I., Samuel Blacher, Israel Aharoni, Ziona Patriot, Offir Malol, Shimai (Barcelona), Oscar Loya (Berlin) and many more.
A number of parties will pump on well into the early hours of Saturday morning. Evita, popular with tourists and locals alike, will be hosting its very own Parade Party, bringing the trash back to the dance floor. Evita bar, 31 Yavne St.
For those that still have energy left on Saturday, the 6th Tel Aviv LGBT International Film Festival will be opened with a party named "We Will Rock You!" Three Israeli divas - Talula Bonet, Oshree, Betty Licious - will be rocking one stage. The music will be provided by DJs Mikey Hefez, Mikka Shmikka & Adi Dgani, and straight from Berlin DJ Metzgerei. ZIZI, 7 Karlibach St. 10:30 p.m. .
The pride weekend events, which cost a total of some 300,000, are mainly being organized by Tel Aviv's municipality as well as volunteers from the community.
Over 5,000 tourists were expected to arrive from overseas just to join in the celebrations, said Shai Doitsh, "Tel Aviv Gay Vibe" Brand Manager and national board member of the LGBT Aguda.
Doitsh also explained that the municipality and all other bodies are fully supportive of the events and he believes that support will only increase from year to year.
In fact, many of Tel Aviv's residents support the pride celebrations, as well as the city's mayor, Ron Huldai. He recently said that "the gay community serves as a true example of tolerance and openness, and even lights the way for other groups in Israel."
'It's worth being gay'
By YONI COHEN
10/06/2011
From street parades to beach parties, there's something for everyone at the all-accepting Tel Aviv Gay Pride 2011.
The slogan for this year's Tel Aviv Gay Pride events is “It’s worth being gay!” And indeed, it looks like it'll be worth attending as the 2011 Pride Parade, the central event of the celebrations, is set to be as big and impressive as ever.
The huge street parade set to take place on Friday, is expected to be attended by thousands of locals and tourists, and will culminate with a beach party. The parade will begin in Gan Meir at around 1:30 p.m., pass through Bograshov and Ben Yehuda Streets and end at Gordon beach.
Though the parade is the main event, the weekend's festivities will kick off on Thursday night with "Sunset Beach Cocktail" party located on the southern part of the Tel Aviv beach close to the David Intercontinental hotel in Clara, a trendy open air mega bar. The leading DJs in town will come together to host the official opening of Pride Weekend.
On Friday morning from 10:00 a.m to 12:00 p.m. there will be a two-hour Gay City Tour, which will explore the heart of Tel Aviv, telling the story of the LGBT community. Pre-booking is necessary: telavivgayvibe..com, Starting point: Meir Tower Herzl corner of Ahad Ha’am.
For those in search of something a little more upbeat, MTV will be putting on a crazy drag celebration hosted by TLV’s most favored drag queens, performing the hottest MTV hits. Gan Meir. 10:00 a.m. till 1:30 p.m.
Some of the best DJs in town and international guests will keep the beach party going until 6:30 p.m. Performers include Lovegang (Hamburg), Erez B.I., Samuel Blacher, Israel Aharoni, Ziona Patriot, Offir Malol, Shimai (Barcelona), Oscar Loya (Berlin) and many more.
A number of parties will pump on well into the early hours of Saturday morning. Evita, popular with tourists and locals alike, will be hosting its very own Parade Party, bringing the trash back to the dance floor. Evita bar, 31 Yavne St.
For those that still have energy left on Saturday, the 6th Tel Aviv LGBT International Film Festival will be opened with a party named "We Will Rock You!" Three Israeli divas - Talula Bonet, Oshree, Betty Licious - will be rocking one stage. The music will be provided by DJs Mikey Hefez, Mikka Shmikka & Adi Dgani, and straight from Berlin DJ Metzgerei. ZIZI, 7 Karlibach St. 10:30 p.m. .
The pride weekend events, which cost a total of some 300,000, are mainly being organized by Tel Aviv's municipality as well as volunteers from the community.
Over 5,000 tourists were expected to arrive from overseas just to join in the celebrations, said Shai Doitsh, "Tel Aviv Gay Vibe" Brand Manager and national board member of the LGBT Aguda.
Doitsh also explained that the municipality and all other bodies are fully supportive of the events and he believes that support will only increase from year to year.
In fact, many of Tel Aviv's residents support the pride celebrations, as well as the city's mayor, Ron Huldai. He recently said that "the gay community serves as a true example of tolerance and openness, and even lights the way for other groups in Israel."
Friday, April 17, 2009
When reality is better than fantasy...
Nope, not what you think.
I may be the last person in the world to watch the now famous Susan Boyle on youtube and "Britain's Got Talent".
If you have not, you MUST do so immediately.
The first time I watched, I was stunned.
The second time, I smiled to myself watching as she fooled everyone.
But the third time, I cried.
We hear people all the time saying "I've been working all my life for this...".
When you hear someone like little 16 year old Allison Iraheta on American Idol say that, you smile to yourself. She seems like a good kid, but you think, c'mon, your WHOLE life?
But when think about this woman, unemployed, literally a "cat lady" who, for whatever strange, unexplained reason, has never been found before.
Whose almost mythic talent has been undiscovered until now. You can't help but imagine her, ignored, underestimated, because of the way she looks, her entire life. Dreaming of this moment.
And then it all comes together. The moment. The talent. The song. I have never been a huge fan of any particular piece from Les Mis (although I absolutely loved the show as a whole) but in this case, with this woman, it was perfect. And to say that this was the voice of an angel, would be to not do her justice.
When she says I've been dreaming all my life for this. It means something.
Really, there is no way to describe this if you don't see it. Watch it. And then watch it again. You will be glad you did...
I may be the last person in the world to watch the now famous Susan Boyle on youtube and "Britain's Got Talent".
If you have not, you MUST do so immediately.
The first time I watched, I was stunned.
The second time, I smiled to myself watching as she fooled everyone.
But the third time, I cried.
We hear people all the time saying "I've been working all my life for this...".
When you hear someone like little 16 year old Allison Iraheta on American Idol say that, you smile to yourself. She seems like a good kid, but you think, c'mon, your WHOLE life?
But when think about this woman, unemployed, literally a "cat lady" who, for whatever strange, unexplained reason, has never been found before.
Whose almost mythic talent has been undiscovered until now. You can't help but imagine her, ignored, underestimated, because of the way she looks, her entire life. Dreaming of this moment.
And then it all comes together. The moment. The talent. The song. I have never been a huge fan of any particular piece from Les Mis (although I absolutely loved the show as a whole) but in this case, with this woman, it was perfect. And to say that this was the voice of an angel, would be to not do her justice.
When she says I've been dreaming all my life for this. It means something.
Really, there is no way to describe this if you don't see it. Watch it. And then watch it again. You will be glad you did...
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