Pretty much that and the general notoriety she had in Great Britain, where she was a favorite tabloid subject. She kind of burned out on the whole music scene. And it’s not as if there’s a dearth of actual opera singers out there - the universities and music schools are still churning them out.

THIS ^^^^^

I have always heard that the original quote was, “Those that can, do. Those that understand, teach.”

Oh I am so going to watch this with my good headphones when I get home, thank you!

I get it. He has a great voice but for opera it has to project.

How far down the list are you when you’re calling the teen runner up to X Factor?

Sort of off topic but my husband (who is a talented amateur musician/singer) sent me this blog post ages ago and it has stuck with me. A classically trained singing teacher listens to metal signers like Bruce Dickenson and analyzes them according to her standards. I found it fascinating.

This is my great dream. How do we make this super concert happen?

Completely agree. Of course Groban and Buble are subject to criticism, but my teacher basically spoke of them as if they were shooting baskets of kittens out of a cannon. He was a real piece of work. Can’t tell you the joy of being in choir as an impressionable young gay man with a homophobic teacher.

It’s good and really fascinating, I think. I find it especially interesting learning about Mike Rinder. He’s probably the most high-up person to ever defect and his story is very eye opening into what goes on in the church.

Yes. It’s part of the increasingly popular “I’m a persecuted white man” syndrome.

I hope you enjoy it. It’s been a while since I’ve read it so I’m not sure how well it holds up since it was written in the 70s. But the author, Marilyn French is a great writer. I’ve enjoyed everything she’s written.

Well, the sentencing guidelines were, what, six to fourteen years for sexual assault? What possible reason could he have for giving only six months? I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that Persky was also a Stanford athlete, and that may have influenced him to be more lenient to Turner. And apparently…

This is the part that just KILLS me: “Throughout the trial, Turner and his legal team portrayed him as a good kid who took a wrong turn” Emphasis mine

This is totally off topic and I apologize. Between my job and Christmas I will not be able to post much until well in to the new year.

As if this day can’t get any worse. Although (as a former competitive swimmer), USA Swimming gave Brock “rapist” Turner the greatest punishment — banned from swimming for life. No Olympics. No college team. No fucking old age masters swimmers (I include myself here). I hope he can only swim in his backyard pool in the…

Because of course he has. Fuck you, 2016!

Usually I love this stuff, and thanks for putting it together, Jezebel and Hannah, but tonight I just can’t get into the spirit.

Seeing Melissa Rose “boxing” is what’s going to carry me through this freezing cold morning. Thank you for that gif!

I love the amount of dark skinned talent I see here. ANTM has always been good about that.