Big Pipes

Music
Happened to turn on the Today show today and heard Renee Olstead belting out "Summertime". What a great set of pipes on this 14 year old prodigy. Boggles the mind how some folks can be so accomplished at such a young age (Charlotte Church, LeAnn Rimes, etc). You can hear her debut album and this incredible voice at her web site. You can buy her album for a good price here. Some of you may know her from her role on the CBS sitcom "Still Standing" (I don't watch sitcom trash, but if you do.... you may know her from there - suspect you will be surprised at her real talent here). Performing with Bill Cosby's All-Star Band at the 2003 Playboy Jazz Festival, she literally stole the show. At the age of four, Renee was approached by an agent at a tap dance recital. Since then, she has featured in many commercials, TV shows, and movies throughout America, of which "End of days" with Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Space Cowboys" and this year, "13 Going on 30" were a few.

Teenagers
Then, on the other hand, your teenager may represent some of the teenagers outlined in this NY Times article in this Sunday's lead article in the Magazine section. If so, my sympathies are with you!

Movies
Watched Runaway Jury yesterday with Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, John Cusak. Rachel Weisz - good flick of a John Grisham novel. Lots of interesting twists. Interesting that these two consumate actors had never acted together before, despite knowing each other since 1956 and having roomed together in a tiny NYC apt in their early days. The "extras" on the DVD are worth watching to learn more about the two of them and to watch them rehearsing and shooting some of their key scenes. Rent it.

Cheese rolling,anyone?


Bored - looking for something a bit more exciting? What? Did someone say "Cheese Rolling" ? Yep, those merry ol' Brits are up to it again. Now this little activity is sheer lunacy - watched it on CNN today - if you happen to get CNN, you might catch it on a rerun of the News, but if not, head to the Coopers Hill Cheese Rolling and Wake site . This little bit of inspiration takes place yearly in Gloucestershire. Have a look at some of the pics!