Check out Noelle as she rocks Christina Aguilera’s “Hurt.” This is a talented young girl. What bothers me… is looking at the YouTube comments. Some people are just plain mean, complaining about her “pitchiness,” her being “fame hungry,” and that every parent seems to be pushing their kids toward stardom. Here’s the rub: if I had that voice at nine, I would have sung it to the world. I’d love to hear the naysayers sing a verse or two. Heck, I’d like to see them try to memorize a verse or two.
Talented kids – 9 year old Noelle
Gossip! – Glee Does Rocky Horror
American Pets – IKEA 100 Cats
American Fun – Vintage Halloween Costumes
Dinner Party Talk – Rent Is Too Damn High Party
Only in New York could we have a gubernatorial candidate as heinous as Carl Paladino, as notorious as former Madam Kristin Davis, and as spectacular as Jimmy McMillan. Last night, Andrew Cuomo, the man who should be governor, held his own against 6 opponents, but it was Jimmy, representing the “Rent is Too Damn High Party” who commanded headlines. On the deficit: “It’s like a cancer. It will heal itself.” On gay marriage he: “feels if you want to marry a shoe, I’ll marry you.” And on negative campaigning: “As a karate expert, I will not talk about anyone up here.” Gawker has his outrageous opening 30 seconds. And, by the way, my rent is too damn high.
Talented kids – Willow Smith
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith must be thrilled with their kids talents. First, son Jaden shines as an actor in the Pursuit of Happyness, and now daughter Willow is rockin’ the music scene. Take a looksie at Willow’s music video for Whip My Hair. I did, which has thus far resulted in me whipping my hair back and forth all morning. Though I haven’t come up with any Jackson Pollack-style paintings, I do feel kinda happy. And if that doesn’t work for you, try the Willow vs. Sesame Street Fraggle Roc Nation remix.
Travel – iPhone in Space
If you’ve never personally been to outer space, this video is definitely worth a watch. Luke Geissbuhler and his 7-year-old son Max successfully sent an iPhone into space attached to a weather balloon. They launched from Newburgh, NY (a stone’s throw from my farm) and their craft captured the upper stratosphere, recording the curvature of the earth and the blackness of space. The coolest part is that when the balloon burst the camera parachuted back to earth 30 miles northwest of launch (spitting distance from my backyard!) and they retrieved it using the iPhone’s GPS tracking. That’s much cooler than the science fair project my dad and I built. The aquarium I designed for the Space Shuttle didn’t get picked, making the top shelf of my closet was the farthest it ever got off the ground.
Life 101 – Part of Your World
In my continuing efforts to bring a huge happy smile to your face, here’s “Part of Your World” shot underwater (and brilliantly lip synched) by a real life Mermaid playing Ariel! Created by brother and sister team Or and Shir Parag, the video took 6 months of planning and 2 days of shooting to make magic. The song by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman for the film Little Mermaid is, of course, performed by the enchantingly voiced Jodi Benson.