andrea's spare time

As far as showing the best of the country, I think every country is guilty of that when they host the Olympics. Who wants to see the Olympics and then reports of the bad things about that nation. It kind of detracts from the moment for the athletes; we hear about so much bad every day. For just these few weeks every four years, let's keep it happy and focus on good stories as much as possible. On the other side, though, I don't think the US would ever have someone else singing the anthem. They would get the best person for the job, regardless of who they were or what they looked like.

Ashley Simpson falls in that catagory too. Funny, the first thing to pop in my head was Milli Vanilli too.

Andrea asked:"Do you think anyone in the U.S. would do what the Chinese did?"

Can you say Milli Vanilli?

That kind of thing is actually common course in the U.S., but we like to pretend it isn't. Remember when Whitney Houston just absolutely nailed the National Anthem in the Super Bowl in 91? She pre-recorded it and lip synched in front of the audience.

In the mid 80's, I was on the speech team at my college. I was the best speaker on the team (2nd in Nationals). Every year, the college held a very distinguished public speaking contest. The winner got a full ride Ivy League scholarship. Slam dunk that I would win it, right?

The scholarship would go to the speaker with the most student votes (the contest was in front of a student audience). I was the most unpopular student because I was a high achiever, socially isolated, and difficult on status quo types (you know, the sit in the back of the class, 'don't raise your hand types').

Of course, I wasn't allowed to compete. Someone else got the scholarship.

As Pbmom said we are having a time of trying to get along. We are the same way. Beautiful people are hired at times because they are a reflection of the company. Movie stars get this soft blurry look on camera when they might get some wrinkles. Looks is a vanity that is shared by all walks of life. The young girl will remember what she did get, not what the other girl got. Some of our favorite people in our lives are the ones not that easy to look at. They have more character usually to draw away from thier imperfections in looks. She I am sure will blossom into a beautiful Young lady. If it is her teeth that caused her not to sing in person most dentist can fix that.