Reality TV: X-Factor vs America's Got Talent

I'm watching the finale of America's Got Talent. Passing on X-Factor for tonight. Interesting there are two shows so similar...with a few differences.

It's as if everyone has forgotten that if you want to be a star you have to work for it. Many people try out for these two shows and if they don't make it they think their lives are over. There is more than one way to make it in the entertainment businesses. Most of the people from these shows disappear, not many have long lasting careers. American Idol seems to be the exception.

Judges

X-Factor

Simon Cowell, Britney Spears, LA Reece, and Demi Lovato. I didn't know what to expect with Britney Spears but she seems to be doing an okay job so far. I have only watched one episode. It really looks like she has come through the other side relatively sane. I still love Simon. I like his honesty. He seems nicer on here than he did on American Idol.

America's Got Talent

Howard Stern, Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne. I was pleasantly surprise by Howard Stern and find him quite entertaining. I have loved Howie Mandel for ages and I really like Mrs O.

Contestants

There were some great singers on yesterday's X-Factor. They had an interesting piece about showing one woman contestant and her sister making snide comments about other singers. Of course, the contestant was awful and didn't even get past the first audition. The woman they were laughing about having a run in her stocking was amazing and all the judges loved her. I should have known that is the way it would end.

America's Got Talent has a variety of acts in the finals. A comedian, a dance troupe, a singer, an artist, a dog act and I'm not sure what else. Like last year's winner, I don't expect to see the winner again. I'm rooting for either the dog act or the comedian.

Watching these shows is a nice pastime and you sometimes get to witness some amazing talent. They are both somehow more entertaining than American Idol, which takes itself so seriously these days. I am not impressed with the new judges chosen for this year's show and may not be watching. I had gotten to the point where I was just watching the auditions and losing interest after that.

Goodbye summer

Margerit

Summer is fading away, on its last legs. Not a cloud in the sky and as hot as a day in August. The Ex is over for another year. I haven't been in years but it was always part of my summer as a teenager. You know when the Ex was over that school beckoned. It was not a happy time for me. But the Ex was fun and that was all that mattered. I saw the best concerts of my life at the Ex: David Cassidy, The Beach Boys, The Police; and Bruce Springsteen.

The very first time I went to the Ex was in 1969. It was our first summer in Toronto. I won a huge pink furry cat. I held onto that thing for years. In later years, I went with my friend Lyn and then Anne.

September was always a stressful time for me. School was not a great time. I am thankful that high school is far behind me. College was much better, I hit my stride there. I discovered then that I had some talent for writing. Although, I did write poems throughout my teens. I still have the grey notebook I wrote them in. I'll have to go find them again.

Doctor Who in 9 hours

I am so looking forward to the start of the new Doctor Who season which starts tonight. I am such a geek. I love that show so much. I am a Doctor Who viewer from way back in the very first season. In fact, it's the first television show that I remember. We were living in Scotland at the time and I was 5 when the show began. It has been a part of my life ever since.

As a child, I played with a toy Dalek. I was never one for girly toys, I also had a Batmobile. I did have dolls but preferred to play with cars and my Lego.

Doctor Who got me into science fiction. I remember watching all of the sci-fi shows in the 60s. During the 70s and early 80s, Doctor Who was only available on PBS in the US. It was a highlight of my week to watch it. I am sure Doctor Who is the reason I became such a Trekkie in the 80s.


I am so happy that Doctor Who is now broadcast around the world without a delay of months or even years, as it seemed in the 80s. I have been watching videos all week about Doctor Who and the actors involved. I joined a page on Facebook that has the best stuff.  Doctor Who and The Tardis is definitely the place to get the latest news.

In the meantime, I am passing time watching the new Star Trek movie; I hadn't seen it before and I am enjoying it so far.

Aftermath:

I managed to find a live stream and watched the show on the BBC. This was a great season opener. Of course, I watched it again on SPACE at 9 PM.  Next week's looks good "Dinosaurs on a space ship!"

Election weary

I don't even live in the United States but I am tired of the presidential election already...and there is still three months to go. The name calling has gotten ridiculous. No one can ever disagree with anyone else without being called an idiot or worse. The opposition are all evil and all un-American.

Thank goodness our elections in Canada don't get to this level. But, if you read comments on Facebook you will see the same name calling is growing in this country too. Whatever happened to intelligent, civilized debate?

I know the Internet is not real life and most people would not speak that way if they were face to face with another person. However, it really is depressing sometimes. So many people seem to be losing the ability to feel empathy for another person, to put themselves in another's shoes.

We really have to be kinder to each other and to act like a proper society or this world will only get worse and more violent in deeds and words.

Time Flies

I really try to be dedicated to posting on this blog but real life always seems to get in the way. I really need to pick it up. I write so much for other people that I need a place where I can let my mind go free.

Working on a couple of ebooks, a novel and getting more work from Scripted :) Definitely not going back to working in an office if I can help it. Going to take a couple of professional courses to give me more credentials.

The Future

Thinking today about what the future holds. I still haven`t found an office job after a year of searching. I do have my writing, but it doesn`t pay the bills yet. If I don`t get anything in the next month...when my EI runs out...I will be withdrawing some funds from my RRSP. It will be enough to last me a year and in that time I hope to become a full-time freelancer; I was amazed how little I got by on last year so I can definitely make this money last a year. My new business cards came today for my writing. I was thinking if I submit anything to local newspapers or to magazines that I include one with my query.

The more I am out of an office environment, the less I want to go back to that life. I am tired of always having to work for someone else where I am not appreciated.

I would like to start writing e-books, but coming up with topics is proving difficult. I do have a couple of ideas; I was bullied as a child and possibly an e-book about my personal experiences might go over well. Same as writing a book genealogy and what I have learned researching my own family. I also have an idea for a novel loosely based on my last job. I have gotten as far as writing down some character sketches.

It`s just a matter of writing. I am ghost writing a business blog which pays half my expenses for the month; I could definitely handle more gigs like that. Hopefully, PureSource will make good on the promise of writing a daily blog; haven`t heard anything since last week but it may be because they are trying to match writers to gigs.

I like the freedom of the work-at-home lifestyle. I like choosing my own hours, wearing whatever I want, working outside on the balcony, and of course, I love the writing. I have wanted to be a writer for years and I actually feel like I am one now. Maybe this is how it was meant to be for me; starting over at 55.

Sunnyside Home and Walk and Roll

I had planned to take part in a walkathon today at the Sunnywide Home in Kitchener. I work out at their Wellness Centre three times a week and I like the atmosphere of the place. There were two parts to the walkathon; one 3.4KM walk and one 1.5KM walk and roll. Only the longer walk happened due to continuing rain.

It started raining last night when I was reading in bed, around 10 PM. When I woke up in the morning around 6 AM it was pouring. The walk was to take place at 11 AM so I hoped it would dry up by then. But, at 11 AM it was still raining and it was too wet to take wheel chairs outside. I have a slight mobility problem so I was taking part in that. I had brought my cane just in case.

We did get to see the warm up for the walkers taking part in the longer walk. The guy who let this group was just a bundle of energy; I was tired just watching him.

So, in lieu of the walk, we were entertained by a jazz band made up of some residents and friends. I have to say, they were very good. A hot dog lunch was provided for all of those who registered to take part in the walk. I sat with a couple of women I have seen around the Home frequently.

I managed to get a hand massage while I was there. She said I had tension in my hands and lower arms; must be all the time I spend on the computer. It felt incredibly good. I could have had a free massage too but I passed, it was busy every time I walk by that area.  There were also raffles and door prizes; I won nothing.

The walkathon raised over $40,000 for Sunnyside. This will pay for ceiling lifts and physiotherapy equipment.

So, I did not get to walk but I did get a nifty pink t-shirt that will now be my workout t-shirt.

The rain is gone now, it is sunny and warm and humid. Tomorrow should be a very nice day.