http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8WwgYBul5I&feature=player_embedded

Thalia's CHS Cappella 2006 Christmas concert Feb 2007 performing "Angels We Have Heard On High (Gloria in Excelsis Deo)". 

(SBO version is available on iTunes)

 

John Hatton on bass was an amazing visual and listening delight. Tony Pia on drums was great too.

 

Sadly, Ray and I only brought our iPhones and no Nikons to the concert. We confirmed that his 3Gs iPhone has better photo capability than my 3G.

 

 

Download this gallery (ZIP, undefined KB)

View from the 5th row as far as an iPhone can see

 

 

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Ray (RamonKauai on SingularCity) "backstage"

It was hard to believe that Brian Setzer had been briefly hospitalized just a few days prior after collapsing during a concert in Albuquerque, NM due to a combination of dehydration, high altitude, and vertigo. (Here's a tip from a helpful fan left on Brian Setzer's Facebook fan page on how to avoid altitude sickness in the future).

Cross posted at my Linda Sherman Posterous blog.

Jane Fonda is proudly single. I like that. Jane also sets a good example for plunging into social media these days, according to James Andrews in this Sept 3rd Fast Company article.

As indicated by the flood of "adults" onto Facebook in the last year and of course the appeal of our own SingularCity.com, there is no age barrier to enjoying social networks and on-line activity.

Many of us have learned that combining on-line and off-line relationships is ideal. That is why SingularCity members form groups for hiking, bicycling, golfing etc and gather at our events like Thursday Happy Hour.

Like the author of the Jane Fonda article, I help clients establish their on-line personal brand and master social media tools. It is a very emotionally rewarding field of endeavor.

Congratulations to our SingularCity Members for being active and overcoming the natural hesitation to put yourself out there.

Time magazine’s cover story “The Myth About Exercise” made me mad. It looked like an irresponsible marketing ploy to sell newsstand copies. The Time article sends absolutely the wrong message to Americans who should take responsibility to do as much as they can to create and maintain good health. In this case, the magazine’s actions are detrimental both to individuals and our costly American health care system.

I was grateful for the LA Times response and accompanying comments from readers. GrandpaG’s was one of my favorites:

"I just finished reading the Time article and was incensed at both the premise and the failure to recognize that any endeavor, weight loss, finances, relationships or career, requires at least a modicum of self control. Time has for years published articles absolving fat people of responsibility for their condition. Time has variously attributed obesity to genetics, brain cells, food processors and now exercise? Weight loss is a simple mathematical formula, regardless of how it may be more difficult for some to achieve than others. Calories in vs. calories out"

August 22, 2009

A major point of the Time Magazine article is that the benefits of exercise are undone by people rewarding themselves with high calorie treats. If this is true for a significant number of people, it is a sad state of affairs.

I do some kind of exercise every day. There is no reason to be starving before you exercise. I have never found exercise itself to make me hungry. I enjoy exercising because it makes me feel good. I’m sure there is some tipping point to getting started in this direction but I am confident it is worth it.

I frequently get asked how I stay fit. My regime is fairly simple, and I do not feel in the least bit deprived. I am never hungry, I am rarely sick and I generally feel great.

1. Lots of omega 3 rich mackerel, salmon, black cod and tuna (not from a can) - fabulous for your skin!
2. Secondarily tofu and turkey
3. Lots of vegetables (moderate legumes and corn), baked yams are OK
4. Brown rice
5. Lots of water
6. Nothing white: bread, rice, potatoes, mayonnaise
7. To the extent possible, no refined sugar, no bread (watch out for Chinese dishes cooked with sugar)
8. Limit alcohol to 1 - 2 times a week
9. Use olive oil, forget butter; nothing fried
10. Daily exercise

During a diet phase: NO carbs at night works like a miracle.

During maintenance (not diet) phase it is OK to go off these guidelines once a week.
I eat sugar-free high fiber cereal with fruit for breakfast. I fresh grind 2 tablespoons of flax seeds and add to the cereal. This is easier than it sounds: buy a cheap coffee bean grinder and dedicate it to this use. I use light Silk or skim milk.

I do not believe in “no carbs.” I do trust in the glycemic index - and with much regret have therefore given up beer and fruit juice.

I also take some high quality vitamin supplements.

Last year, I wrote about how to order well when you dine out.

I believe that we have a great deal of power in our lives. The first step in taking charge of that power is realizing just how much we can create ourselves. This applies not just to fitness, but to relationships and many other important areas of our lives.

Cross Posted at It's Different For Girls

Slate Magazine just came out with a great article explainig why you should create safer passwords for accounts that you are particularly concerned about being hacked into and how to do it.

It is worth taking a moment to read it.

Have a great weekend!

@LindaSherman

We were talking about online personal branding last night. The beautiful fireworks display had just ended. Everyone had enjoyed the food and drink we brought to share.

Fireworks view from Julie Spira’s rooftop terrace in Marina Del Rey

Julie Spira and I were explaining the value of a Google Profile to a few of the party guests. Someone asked, ‘Why would I want to be more visible on the internet?’ The answer is: because you are already there - whether you like it or not. A profile you create yourself offers a free and easy way to represent yourself more accurately. (For more information about Google Profiles you may like to read this article from Time Magazine.)

We threw this party specifically for Los Angeles based SingularCity.com community members. Julie and I started talking about doing the party just four days earlier but that’s the advantage of an Online Social Community, you can move very quickly. (OK …. Girls Who Get Things Done is a factor here).

Coming back to our discussion about the internet in our lives, Julie smartly pointed out to the internet wary participants in the dialogue, ‘it was the internet that got you to this gathering wasn’t it? If you weren’t a member of an online community (SingularCity) you wouldn’t even know about this party!’

I like to write about the value of the intersection of online and offline relationships and last night’s 4th of July SingularCity gathering would be a great example.

Having spent 20 of my July 4th’s in Japan, which needless-to-say does not celebrate the American birthday, I very much appreciated a close-up view of the fireworks shared with a lovely group of people.

Cross posted at: http://itsdifferent4girls.com/blog/2009/07/05/online-community-leads-to-offline-fireworks/