Having a Voice

I’ve mentioned that my favorite of the international versions of The Voice which have clips online is Australia, and this video is a good example why.  Which is all the more notable because the singer doesn’t get any chairs to turn around.

The singer performs a song that was written and sung by one of the coaches, Delta Goodrem.  And she does a very good job, but not enough to get anyone to turn – in part because it’s late in the selection process when coaches only have a few picks left and get choosy.  But the comments from the coaches (one of whom is Boy George) are so kind and thoughtful.  And then Delta asks the young women if she can come on stage to sing the number together, stunning her.  And not only do they perform together – but while singing, Delta is giving coaching tips to her.  (While also directing the band.)  And the duet is tremendous.  And blows away the other judges, who are enthusing in their comments during the number and after it’s over.  In fact, Boy George -- who may be the most impressed of all -- thinks the performance is so wonderful that he keeps suggesting they must have rehearsed it.  (It's clear from the young woman's shocked reaction that it wasn't rehearsed at all.  Beside which, why rehearse a song to later show how much better it could have been if you don't know beforehand that it won't get a chair to turn around.)  So, even though I’m sure the 21-year-old contestant was disappointed at not being selected, she probably had the thrill of a lifetime.  And for all I know, as Delta walks offstage with her after, hand-in-hand, they might have even stayed in touch, with real-world assistance.  This all, as I said, is in part why I really like the Australian version of The Voice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RREuEuUUjkE

It All Comes Down to the Test

I wanted to write about this last week, but too many other more notable stories cropped up, and so this got pushed back.  But I can’t let it fall through the cracks because it stands out manifestly on its own.  And also, because it gives new meaning to the expression “taking the test.”

If anything defines “Secretary of Defense” Pete Hegseth’s pseudo-macho cry for help, it was when he announced that the Defense Department would begin testing members of the military for testosterone.  And this will include testing women.  If you were The Onion, you couldn’t come up with a more satiric article.  If you were a psychiatrist, you couldn’t come up with a more ideal case study.

By the way, I have a theory why Hegseth wants to test women for their testosterone.  It’s because the level is so extremely low that he can swagger around after the results are reported and show how much more manly men are than the womenfolk.  Sashaying around, while posturing, “In your face, girls!”  Crowing, “See, this is why we should only have manly men in combat!”  And preening, “We’re Number One!  We’re Number One!”

What I can’t figure out is why he wants to test the testosterone of anybody.

I’m not going to get into the science of this idiocy because that only serves to distract from the lunacy of doing this test.  Of doing this test??  No, of simply thinking about wanting to do this test.

Perhaps Pete Hegseth thought that if members of the military had even more testosterone – ladies included – we might finally have found an exit strategy from Trump’s Iran War.

What would be great is finding out if Mr. Hegseth was sober when this idea occurred to him.  And I’m sure it was his idea, because it’s too difficult even imagining a lower staffer ever daring to bring such a loopy suggestion to a superior officer.  (Though it’s great fun to imagine the scene.  “Sir!  I have an idea for improving the military!”)  Besides which, testing men (and the gals) for testosterone screams out Pete Hegseth’s ongoing needy insecurity, drowned out only by excessive alcohol.

But through all the discussion of this, there’s been one question I’ve had that I’ve yet to hear anyone ask.  And it’s one that I think demands Hegseth being asked.

If all members of the military – men and women -- are going to be tested for their level of testosterone, and since Trump is the commander-in-chief, shouldn’t he be tested, as well?

Woman.  Man.  Person.  Camera.  TV.

Sorry, sir, identifying a giraffe isn’t the right answer...

The Daily Stewart This Week

If you didn't see Jon Stewart's Monday hosting of The Daily Show, he of course opened the show (and of course had to...) on Trump wandering around the with winning Spanish World Cup team.  But the Main Story was about Trump and MAGOPs' disdain for DEI hires and promising "meritocracy" instead -- and ending up with incompetence.  This is Jon Stewart at his "going nuclear" furious and and hilarious best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYoETtrk0Hw