There IS still hope for this world

[BigBearJohn]

[caroldansen]

1. Yes because the democrats are here. And hopefully all the children grow up to be democrats.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Marvelous!!!!

Thank you for an upbeat note for this morning.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. She has a mature-sounding voice for her age,

but - and I don't mean to be a party-pooper - a 13-year-old just shouldn't be singing opera. Her vocal mechanism isn't developed enough; it's like Little Leaguers trying to pitch fastballs. The physical structure just isn't there. This singer's high notes are very shrill because she doesn't have enough breath support, and that's because she's only 13. The Little League fastball pitcher will probably ruin his arm, and this girl will probably ruin her voice if she keeps singing heavy-duty opera. A really reputable voice coach wouldn't even let her sing that stuff at all, let alone in one of these lame-ass contests, but that's the kind of material that wins. (Picking one further nit, Nessun Dorma is a tenor aria that wasn't written for, and isn't really suitable for, the soprano voice.)

This kid has a good voice and I hope she doesn't ruin it by pushing it too hard too soon.