By definition, the word thankful means a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgement of a benefit that one received or will receive. From now until the end of the year, many of us will be celebrating all that we have to be thankful for. This is the time of year when families gather together and hold each other a little closer. However, for some, holding their loved one is not an option.
This year, several SingSnap members will set one less plate around the family table and one whispered prayer will fall from their lips "Keep them safe, bring them home - let them know that I love them." That will be the Thanksgiving prayer at those homes whose walls shelter the family of a soldier.
In July, 2008 there were close to 150,000 soldiers serving in Iraq, with the biggest number of troops hailing from the United States (144,000), the UK (4,100), and Australia (300), according to Wikipedia. In addition, there are 47,000 troops currently in Afghanistan with those troops being comprised of United States (20,600), UK (8,330), German (3,310) and Canadian (2,500). There are also other forces from NATO, according to The International Security Assistance Force's website dated October 6, 2008.
SingSnap, being a world wide community, is honored to count among its members; wives, husbands, mothers and fathers of these brave men and women. Monkeysmama21 is one such member. When asked about facing the holidays without her husband, she said "You just have to keep reminding yourself, that it is a small sacrifice to make for such a bigger picture." Monkeys’ husband was home in August for 20 days and she described the feeling of having him home to be, "like you are suddenly put back together again and can breathe, like you have been holding your breath for 7 months." She, her husband and their family will be reunited once again in January.
As one family's service ends, another’s begins. DebMorgan's son just graduated from basic training from Ft. Jackson, SC. Deb says "The day he got on the plane for Boot Camp, I stood there watching his plane until it disappeared into the clouds and then I broke down and sobbed. I prayed that he'd find what he was looking for. He entered the Army like a lost boy with a huge attitude and 10 weeks later, he's a totally different person. To say I'm proud of him is putting it mildly.”
For a parent, the thought of their child in danger is difficult to bear. However, Deb recognizes that, for her son, it’s something he has to do. “He has finally found his purpose in life. He absolutely loves the Army and is thriving!! We don't know where he'll be stationed at and to be honest, I'm not sure I'm ready to hear it just yet. I pray that he doesn't have to go to Iraq. I know that if he does have to go, he'll go over there and defend his country with everything he has! I miss him like crazy and fear for his safety, but I know this is what's best for him."
As for the families and their opinions of the holidays without their soldiers, Luvynmysoldier says "To me, the holidays are always special...even before my husband re-entered the military. It means appreciating what you have and being thankful for what you receive. I've also learned to not take for granted the little things, not just when the holidays roll around, but every single day. Unfortunately, sometimes, being the family of a soldier, that means spending the holidays without them. The little bit of time that we have him home will have to get us through the holidays that he will be missing with us."
SingSnap has always been a community of people who like to help. One lady who has stepped up to reach out to the soldier's families is Monique. When asked why it was important to her to reach out, she offered that as someone who was a military spouse for 20 years, she knows what it is like "to spend birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries without your spouse and worrying that they are in harm's way." Monique went on to say that it was such a huge deal to her when another military wife reached out to her, and she feels that many of these ladies use SingSnap for a lifeline to the outside world, where they can connect with someone who may just understand what they are going through.
So this Thanksgiving, as you say your blessings and read your list of what you are thankful for; add a couple more. Please do not forget those soldiers far away from their home and family, doing what their country asks - without question. Remember the mothers, fathers, sons and daughters of those brave men and women who face each day with one overriding thought… "Keep them safe, bring them home - let them know that I love them."
Please enjoy this moving rendition of John Michael Montgomery’s Letters From Home sung for our men and women serving their country by borncountry.
It's like music for your eyes.
What's Snappenin' by Jacqui
News SingSnap's new addition of the Mixer and Stereo has definitely created an unprecedented buzz in the community. These long awaited features have been met with a plethora of responses, but for the most part, Snappers have been exploring and discovering a sound that far exceeds what existed before. "I am so loving the new stereo mixer!! My very basic computer had crap for a sound card and would not let me use "stereo mix" and I had to record the music AND voice on my mic! I must say my mic is really great-but the sound was never that good! I've never sounded better!" - SingingRose
Piggybacking this feature, Singsnap has implemented a brand new help desk - the Live Support Chat Room, to provide its members with technical expertise. The Tech-Support team are volunteers who guide us in tweaking and tuning our systems for optimum recording and playback quality! Also, swing on by the newly updated and information packed Frequently Asked Questions section!
Now, picture this: A "Gold Rush" is coming to Snap! Every single member gets enjoy every single gold feature for an entire day. A 24 hours free test drive with all the bells and whistles! Stereo, Inner Circle, Pitch Changer, Subscribe-only songs, etc., Sing as many as you want for 24hrs……Rumor? Let's wait and see!
If you've have been holding back from subscribing to Gold membership because of security concerns with Paypal, SingSnap has just offered the opportunity to pay by phone (for annual subscriptions). As reported by Steven-Kaplan, "The convenience of phone payment directly to somebody from the site, is why I am Gold for a year. It's the option I was waiting for". If this works better for you, just click on the "Contact us" link found at the bottom of every page to send SingSnap a note. They will get back to you and get you subscribed!
Weather
There are some folders that bob along on calm seas, never a ripple they make….so, let's storm Forum Games and Puzzles and join in the effort to count to One Million? It's the hottest way to pass the time while we listen to our faves!
Contests and Challenges continue to provide fantastic opportunities to shore up your fan base. Compete, sing, share, have fun and make new friends, while discovering hot new talent. The Profile and Thread Design folder also offers tranquility, while being a hotspot for cool ideas.
As the barometric pressure continues to fluctuate in the Politics folder, many have retreated to safety, only to be swept in again with a new wave of smears. The events associated with the upcoming perfect storm will continue to hold our attention, even as we lurk in those threads without fear of getting rained upon.
Sports
The horse race to create new threads continue. As they stumble out the starting gate, some race to the finish line, and others falter along the way. History has shown that the horses with the most substance enjoy the greatest longevity. In a new game, Singsnap staffer Tony continues his trick plays, by insisting that "It's Friday somewhere" with his weekly song releases on Thursdays instead of Fridays. New songs are always a reason for an end zone celebration.
Gossip
Over in Karaokeland, Drama ensued, when You and I Got a Little Crazy in the Muddy Water with Trace Adkins. Tim McGraw said to Let it Go, and Hollies said to Let Love Pass, as the Jonas Brothers kept Pushing Me Away.
Well, it must have been Some Kind of a Summer, as the Cowboys (and Angels) have started Falling Again. According to Romo, I Started Something I Couldn't Finish, although I was Ready, Willing and Able.
Meanwhile, Traffic asks the question "Do You Know What the Night Can Do"? Obviously, they're referring to when Shoplifters of the World Unite. Who Knows?
We will definitely get to the bottom of these, as word on the street say they are all heading to Singsnap.
And that, my friends, is What's Snappenin'!
Get Into The Groove - SingSnap Events by FleaCDP
SingSnap brings together people from all over the world for online karaoke - but it has also prompted many SingSnappers to meet in person for special events and karaoke parties.
"Hosting a SingSnap party was awesome," said Princess931, who invited SingSnappers to a party in Tennessee in August. "The greatest thing about hosting or even being part of a SingSnap party is getting the chance to meet the people that you enjoy being around on 'Snap' in person."
Fifteen people attended the party which was hosted in Princess's home. Many of the attendees were friends who had met in the SingSnap Chat Room. They sang karaoke and even broadcasted the event live via webcam to the chat room community.
Another SingSnap party was held in Salem, Oregon in June and was hosted by Oregonwax. He arranged to host his party at a hotel which paid for the KJ at the hotel's lounge, with SingSnappers providing two nights of entertainment. The hotel also gave the SingSnappers a discounted rate for their rooms.
"I spoke with hotel staff a few days later and they said that the lounge was at near capacity and all of us SingSnappers were welcome to come back anytime." Oregon said.
The weekend wasn't just about singing. "A bunch of us car-pooled over to the Oregon coast for a day at the beach, where I believe some life-long friendships bonded and formed," Oregon shared.
The SingSnap message board has an Events Folder where gatherings are being planned around the world. Princess931 recommends that anyone planning an event be organized and have good communications with those planning to attend.
A few obstacles may arise in your event planning, "The biggest challenge for me was where I going to put everyone to sleep since it was in my home. However, when it was all said and done some people never went to sleep and other's found themselves a nice cozy spot," said Princess931.
Oregonwax concedes that hosting these events are well worth the effort. "If you have a chance to attend one of these parties - just do it!" These events are just another example of how SingSnap is much more than just an internet hobby. Real friendships are formed everyday, so take advantage of the Events Folder and see what's happening in your area and get into the groove!
SS Poll - Most Attractive Staff Member
What do you find more attractive? A keen intellect? A gorgeous smile? A desperate plea for acceptance? Vote NOW for who you think is the most attractive SingSnap Staff! Results will be announced in our next issue! (Participation was optional for Staff and bios are placed in alphabetical order.)
Who is the Most Attractive SingSnap Staff?
Jason
Jason, the romantic of the group, splits his time between pounding out love songs on his keyboard and ripping through the dust on his dirt bike in the ‘back 40’. He’s a bit of a closet geek who enjoys dabbling with science and electronics. Jason has been with the Snap crew since the very beginning and is the original creator behind the concept of SingSnap. In fact, he came up with the idea in the same fashion he's come up with the rest - standing in the shower! Good things happen in Jason’s shower.
Mark
Mark grew up in a single parent household. His father ran off when he was three years old and didn’t leave much for Mark and his mother just an old guitar and an empty bottle of booze. But Mark made a vow to the moon and stars that he would search the honky tonks and bars to find that man that left him at that tender age. After years of roaming from town to town he found his father in Gatlinburg in mid July at an old saloon on a dirt road. To this day Mark feels his singing career was inspired by his rough upbringing.
Per
Trevor has just decided he will fire the least attractive staff member! You have to vote for me!!! Please? If I win – I vow to heavily consider unleashing my vocal talent onto this website. That’s right – I might just sing a song to rejoice! SingSnap – the power is in your hands!
Ryan
Ryan - a self-proclaimed ladies man who hasn’t had a date since his air-pump broke back in ’99. He drives a Miata, which he says is a chick magnet! (…and he knows all the chicks dig it because he always sees women driving them…) Ryan thinks the SingSnap nation should vote for him because he looks great in hot-pink tights and has the hottest ‘Bend & Snap’ around!
Tony
“I vote for Per.”
Trevor
Trevor is an accomplished author, poet, actor, musician, athlete and businessman. He speaks seven languages and plays seventeen instruments including several South American Woodwinds. You may recognize him as the man behind the smile in those commercials for Colgate Whitening Toothpaste. Trevor is universally feared by men and adored by woman. In short, he is a regular renaissance man.
Snapper Spotlight by Sweetnote
Paul Elliott ('rollingtone') - an Irishman, singer, and a comedian who has portrayed a ghost at Warwick Castle and is a self-proclaimed hermit! SingSnap is home to all kinds of people, and we are pleased to introduce this incredible individual to the community.
When asked where all his adventures began, Paul responded: "In my mother's womb actually…" At this point it became apparent that the questions would have to be more specific!
Paul shares his passion with his brother Patrick and they have performed together all over the place. Paul proudly advises that his brother is the true singer, although a visit to his song-page will certainly show that Paul's voice is an equally amazing instrument that he has honed over the years!
Paul and his wife Glen live in Warwick, UK and met while he was working a gig as a DJ at a wedding: "Now I know I got married and had two children, but it's all a bit sketchy from there on." Together, Paul and Glen formed a wonderful music duo that has gone on to write and record several Irish songs.
From here we move on to 'the darker side' of Paul Elliott - his life as 'Bonzo', of The Great Bonzo and Doris and their 'life defying stunts'! 'Bonzo', a character created by Paul, is a curmudgeon who picks on audience members and entertains them with wit, sarcasm and tremendous everyday objects that serve as props for their assorted tricks and hugely popular amusement.
Paul says: "The audience either loves us or hates us, but they are always entertained!"
In 1990, Paul and his lovely Glen portrayed their alter egos on the "Pot of Gold" Des O'Connor Show. They were an overnight sensation and played before an estimated TV audience of 11 million people.
Now for the even darker side of Paul, we move to Warwick Castle, UK, where he became employed in 2007 as a resident ghost owner of the castle. His duties included scaring them with chilling tales and ghostly encounters!
Paul moved on to become a Hermit who writes his own scripts and performs them for use exclusively at Warwick Castle.
Finding SingSnap has been one of his greatest joys, and Paul has even been interviewed on TV about his online singing fascination. Paul is a man who has been a bin-man (garbage collector), DJ, comedian, wool-seller, ghost, author, singer, smelter-worker, paperboy and hermit. However, he now adds another title to that long list of roles. Paul proudly considers himself a "Snapper". SingSnap is honored to have a true entertainer as part of our online family!
Freeze Frame by Daria
Submit the funniest caption for our crazy photos and win a month's Gold membership!
November's Freeze Frame
This Month's Winner: "Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?"
"The same thing we do every night, Pinky - try to take over the world."
Send in your caption for this month's photo to the News_Team! Thank you so much Blondie21 your participation! We look forward to reading your funny captions!
Deadline: 11:59 PM EST, November 24th, 2008
Please make your entries funny and keep them to 15 words or less and appropriate for publication!
Vocal Tips - by Charli Vocal chords need humidity and emollients to perform well. In the last issue, potato chips and standing over a steaming pan of water were discussed. Also, a few bites of bread and margarine will work. A few tiny sips of beer. (Too much though and the alcohol will dry your vocal chords, producing the opposite effect.) Water is always best to drink, however, it can bring about mucous, as can drinking sodas. Anything citrus should be avoided when singing.
There is no substitute for practice. With practice and time, anything is possible. You don't have to sing for long periods of time either. In fact, it isn't advisable until you have worked into it. Consistency is the key. Sing scales daily, regardless of whether you sing anything else. By singing every day, you condition your voice much like an athlete conditions his body by working out.
The voice is a fine and precious instrument and should be cared for as such. Don't stress it, don't push it. Use it, yes, but don't abuse it by making unusual demands that it's not ready for. If you take care of this fine instrument; it will make you proud. Make sure that you are getting enough sleep, and that you are giving your vocal chords enough rest to recover, especially when singing anything strenuous.
Isn't it fulfilling when you can sing a more difficult song that never seemed within reach? It seems to make all the difference and keeps us hungry to do more. Pssst...if you want to be able to sing anything, prepare your voice. Get it in shape to perform and the sky will be the limit, in time. If you concentrate on your precious instrument, it will be there time and again, like a faithful pal...ready to go where and when you want. Yes, practice can be boring...however, the rewards are worth all the effort...IF you are serious about singing well.
Tech Tips - by LoveUAlways
For some here on SingSnap, recording a song is more than just an audio experience - it’s also a visual one. Clicking on one of these recordings give the viewer an experience for the senses. Beautiful backgrounds, or powerful images provide excitement and an added layer of enjoyment.
Following these simple steps will help you create stunning backdrops to your audio creations. (And for those of us who can’t sing so well, maybe it will help serve as a distraction to our not-so-perfect notes.)
If you have an image on your computer that you would like to use, you will need to upload it to the internet to a photo hosting site such as PhotoBucket. Once you have the image uploaded, simply copy the url and insert it into the following codes. Be sure that you copy the full address including the http:// and any suffix such as .jpg.
Open your recording in Edit Mode. Place the entire code including your url into the “Your Comments” section. Click update, and you’re done. When you view your song, you should see your image in the background.
Visit the Profile & Thread Design forum for more tips and help with designing song pages as well as personalizing your personal profile page. There you can find people who have the skills and knowledge to help you with any questions you have. You can also practice some of your new found talent. Have fun, and be creative.
Surf N' Turf by Chanda1003
Pizza Soup In the time it takes you to get a reply on the message board you can have this on the stove.
Ingredients
1 box of beef broth
1 can of plum tomatoes with juice
1 Spanish onion, sliced
1 stick of pepperoni
2 green peppers sliced and then halved
2 cups of mushrooms (optional)
A handful dried herbs ie: basil, oregano, thyme
Mozzarella cheese
Directions:
1. Sauté onion and green peppers in 2 tbsp of olive oil in a 3 qt pot. When they are soft, add herbs, pepperoni, and mushrooms and continue to fry for 3 min.
2. Add canned tomatoes and stir around to break down tomatoes. Add beef stock and simmer for a couple hours.
3. Sprinkle Mozzarella cheese on top of the bowls as you serve!
Feel free to add any other of your favourite pizza toppings that you think would be good. I don't recommend pineapple though!
Poetry Pad by Auroral
This month our theme is: 'Family - Loss and Change'. If we are fortunate, family is the place we get a firm foothold on life; where we establish our identity and sense of belonging, do our moaning and groaning and take things for granted. Growing up, we believe family is a given - solid, stable, dependable - and, of course, most times it is. But it is when the kids 'flee the nest', or a parent or spouse is no longer there that we realize what really matters. In accepting, adjusting and forgiving we become more truly ourselves. Here are three poems - written by members of our own 'SingSnap Family' - that address different, but overlapping, aspects of the living, loving, changing thing that is 'the family'.
The Man Inside The Child - by spennington
When you were small, and in public, would still hold my hand
I used to say to you, my darling son, what a good little man.
And searching your precious face, at times I could see
the man inside the child, that you were destined to be.
As you got older and stronger and hit double digits in age
and the fingers of time, the thief, continued to turn the page
I would look into your eyes, and sadly, I could feel
the man you were becoming, starting to become real.
And when I sit now and look at pictures of your wonderful face
I see the man staring back at me, taking the child's place.
And the pain I feel is tempered by my pride in you;
seeing your heart, happy, loving, strong and true.
And to hear you speak of love and loss, takes my breath away;
and I feel my child slipping further and further away.
And even though you make my heart sing with your gifts of love and light,
it breaks my heart to know, the man is winning and the child is losing the fight.
And though you grow older and I miss my baby,
I know I will love the man you grow to be.
And I hope that when you are grown, I can look at you and see
the child inside the man, staring back at me.
Houdini - by auroral
It was only after you slipped away
that we realized how determined you'd been
to dodge the lens -
how your skills at not being captured
always somehow wriggled you free
from the obligatory family line-ups.
Quick enough to commandeer the thing,
you fussed and fiddled with camera settings,
though the business of picture-taking
was never your speciality.
By the time it was your turn to be exposed
the light was deemed unfavourable,
or - you said - the weather was about break -
anything remotely plausible
to put an end to all this snapping.
But, even so, you are still here
nestling between the pages
of this faded photograph album -
an occasional series of not-quite-absences
stuck in with the rest of us.
You are the one who made us giggle
with all those corny jokes and puns
corpsing us in our composure -
poking fun from in the shadows,
lurking mischievous at the margins -
tantalizingly out of shot.
With the changing of the seasons comes an opportunity to box up those summer clothes and reflect on months gone by. It's a popular North American tradition for individuals to reminisce and give thanks for the things and people, whom they hold close to their heart. For some people - friendships formed on SingSnap are at the top of the list.
Toots33 began her journey on Snap over a year ago and spends the majority of her time in the Contest Folder. She shares that contests have been the best medium for her to form friendships. "I have found contests to be the very best way to meet people whether you can sing or not. Sure, when you sing people comment, but you can't really form friendships the way you can if you get involved with a good contest."
These friendships differ from those in her real life because she knows someone will always be around to spend time with. "It's nice to know that whatever time of day it is, someone - somewhere - will be on and in the threads." She adds, "It is also where I get some great adult conversations. As you parents know, conversations with a 3 yr old can only take you so far."
These relationships have developed far beyond online acquaintances. The people Toots has befriended have proven to be reliable, dependable and supportive in her times of need. "My husband lost his job in July and if it weren't for Baybeestar, Janierenel, Peterose - who I have NEVER met in person, I don't really know where we would be. They offered us support, gave us money and have always been there no matter what - no questions asked. They have given so much of themselves for me and my family."
The generosity doesn't stop there. "In April, I had to go on an emergency trip back home to Connecticut because my dad had 3 heart attacks in 3 days and had to go in for quadruple bypass surgery. The three of them were an AMAZING support for me. I will FOREVER hold them in a very special place in my heart! Without SingSnap I never would have met them."
Life can present some pretty heavy burdens. There are days when some Snappers have difficulty just getting out of bed. The idea of facing the day and all its obstacles seems overwhelming. But, for some reason, people within the SingSnap community discover comfort in their online friends. A comfort they can't find anywhere else -
a comfort, which they are truly thankful for.
Toots wanted to continue to express her gratitude: "I would also like to mention an amazing woman who bought me a 1 year Gold Membership and a new microphone. To her I would love to say THANK YOU!!! You have no idea how big a thing it is you did for me! There have been countless others who have done things for me as well, but if I were to list them all this would never end."
Whether or not you celebrate Thanksgiving or Harvest Festival - take a moment to give thanks to those people who have made your days a little brighter and hearts a little lighter. It's an amazing thing that Toots and other Snappers have in their lives; a website that connects us all - from the inside out.
Toots concludes her 'Shout-Out" with her sentiments about SingSnap and its community: "I would just like to say, no matter what it ever cost; I will NEVER leave SingSnap... This is home, and after all… "Home is where the heart is" and my heart is absolutely here!!"
Country & City Mouse
Dear Country & City Mouse,
I am a 46 year old professional female. My problem is this: I still look and sound a great deal younger than I am. This seems to result in people not taking me seriously. What can I do to get people to take me seriously? Do you think if I stopped mushing on and on about the huge crush I have on Johnny Depp that it would help?
Signed, Lookin' Too Young
Dear Looking,
I do not feel that stopping being mushy about your crush on Johnny Depp would help. Now if you were to start stalking Johnny Depp this would result in your being taken more seriously, unfortunately it will be law enforcement officials that are taking you more
seriously. My advice is be thankful that you look and sound younger than you are, and remember life is too serious to be taken seriously.
Dear Youngin',
You wanna look older, have kids! Them lil buggers can age you more than anything else I know. Just kidding, here's what you do: go out to the store and buy you some BenGay and some of those readin' specs they sell at Wally World. Then you buy you a skirt that comes to your ankles and a button up sweater that is two sizes too big. Make sure you get some "sensible shoes" and your new crush is Sean Connery -- Sexy man, lots of grey!
Add all of this together and you will be acting like the ripe old age of 30 in no time!
Dear City & Country Mouse,
I am exhausted. Between family, church & friend responsibilities, my SS time has been non-existent. So, my question is: How can I get more hours into the day? I refuse to make tough decisions or sacrifices - I really just want it all. I do believe that it should be possible to add extra time at will - wormhole, magic wand, time machine, wishful thinking, etc. - help?
Dear Exhausted,
We all seem to be wanting more time in our day; really we just need to manage our time better. Start by inviting your family and church to Singsnap then gather in the Beliefs folder and go to the Gospel song section, this will cover your family and church responsibilities. As to your friends; if they are not already Singsnap members then I would have to question if they are really your friends. Have they given you WTG'S or told you how **AWESOME** you are? These are true signs of friendship!
As to adding extra time at will - wormhole, magic wand, time machine, wishful thinking...These are possibly songs that the staff may add in the future .
Dear Exhausted,
Ok, first you already have the beginnin's of what you need with your first statement. You are tired......and feverish, and broken out with spots (red lipliner works well there), sounds like to me you got the measels, which as everyone knows is extremely contagious. Therefore, for the next week you need to stay in your room and have your family wait on you hand and foot by placing everything outside your room door. Of course you will need to have your computer set up in your room. When friends call, you’re too sick to talk. The church folk will pray for you, and not think bad of you for being unavailable for a few days. This won't buy you more time in a day, but it will get you a week of SingSnap!! At the end of the week, declare yourself cured and tell your family that since they proved that they can do it without you, they can help out more. This might buy you an extra hour a day for SingSnap!
Priorities - Before & Afterby PinkVictoria18
It's obvious how you got here; your love of music, but what makes you stay? This question was posed by Attezo on a thread called
"Your Priority At SingSnap: Before and After". For some people, it's the wide variety of music that SingSnap has to offer and for others, it's the gold membership perks. But, for some, it's the SingSnap community.
Whether you are singing in the Chat Room, competing in a contest, or posting your thoughts on the message board, you cannot deny the overwhelming gratification of sharing a little bit of yourself with others.
Attezo, a 23-year-old graduate from the University of Malta, shares his story of how his priorities changed after joining SingSnap. "When I first joined SingSnap in January 2007, my priority was to sing. As time passed my priority changed and that was because of the community. I love all SingSnap's features but I believe, for me, the site wouldn't be interesting if it did not have the message boards or contests. But if I had to choose, to be honest, what makes me come here day after day is the message boards."
Like many who frequent the message boards, Attezo enjoys a good discussion. A few of his favorite topics to discuss are science, religion, ufology, supernatural and mysteries but he also has a light-hearted side. "I like to read and post about anything and everything - from beliefs to games and quizzes." One thread that he happened to stumble across caught his eye. "I started to visit the message boards because I like a good discussion. After looking around, I happened to stumble across the Crush thread. I met people in that thread who were so amazing and genuinely caring and kind that I couldn't help but have a fantastic time every time I went there."
Each individual has their own personal preference of what topics they enjoy but they all have one thing in common - they're here to stay. Attezo's thread has been flooded with various responses of others telling their SingSnap story:
"When I first started here, I'd sing a song, then go listen to some random folks, hoping they might comment on my song. Yeah, that's pretty pathetic, but it's true. Haha. Over time, I collected some fans and favorites and started making friends. Then I found the message boards and made some more friends. I still like singing, but friends making me smile is better." - Sum_Southern_Sugar
"After I discovered SingSnap, I was hooked. I enjoy entering the contests , not because I believe I'll win one, but to meet people, interact, and hear a variety of songs. That is also what led me to assist in judging contests." - Michelle123
"I used to say I love SingSnap, but it isn't SingSnap that I love. It's the people, the friends, the community. Yes, I enjoy the music, the songs, the library. But I LOVE my friends. My priority on SingSnap, you ask... YOU are my priority... WE are my priority!'" - angimac
"When I first came here it was mostly just to sing, now it's about the boards. The only board I post on very often is the Politics board, even though it usually gets fairly nasty, but that probably just shows how twisted I am. I enjoy a good verbal scrap." - Tomac626
At first glance SingSnap is simply a karaoke website - a medium in which one can sing their songs and share them with the world. However, as these testimonies suggest, it goes far beyond that. This website has assisted in forging friendships from all over the globe. It has brought together people who have become 'virtual families' to one another. Whether they need to let loose and laugh, let off some steam or have a shoulder to cry on - the relationships developed, are clearly, the heartbeat of this website.
Attezo concludes it beautifully by saying, "These are some of the most intensely satisfying friendships that I have ever made. The people are supportive of me no matter what, their kindness is without limit and they have made me laugh like I have never laughed before in my life."
So, if you're new to the site or simply haven't wandered around, head on over to the message boards for some great fun. You might be surprised at the friendships you'll make!
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By definition, the word thankful means a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgement of a benefit that one received or will receive. From now until the end of the year, many of us will be celebrating all that we have to be thankful for. This is the time of year when families gather together and hold each other a little closer. However, for some, holding their loved one is not an option.
SingSnap's new addition of the Mixer and Stereo has definitely created an unprecedented buzz in the community. These long awaited features have been met with a plethora of responses, but for the most part, Snappers have been exploring and discovering a sound that far exceeds what existed before. "I am so loving the new stereo mixer!! My very basic computer had crap for a sound card and would not let me use "stereo mix" and I had to record the music AND voice on my mic! I must say my mic is really great-but the sound was never that good! I've never sounded better!" - 
"Hosting a SingSnap party was awesome," said 
A few obstacles may arise in your event planning, "The biggest challenge for me was where I going to put everyone to sleep since it was in my home. However, when it was all said and done some people never went to sleep and other's found themselves a nice cozy spot," said Princess931.
Jason
Mark
Per
Ryan
Tony
Trevor
Paul Elliott ('
From here we move on to 'the darker side' of Paul Elliott - his life as 'Bonzo', of 
Now for the even darker side of Paul, we move to Warwick Castle, UK, where he became employed in 2007 as a resident 
"Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?"
Ingredients
This month our theme is: 'Family - Loss and Change'. If we are fortunate, family is the place we get a firm foothold on life; where we establish our identity and sense of belonging, do our moaning and groaning and take things for granted. Growing up, we believe family is a given - solid, stable, dependable - and, of course, most times it is. But it is when the kids 'flee the nest', or a parent or spouse is no longer there that we realize what really matters. In accepting, adjusting and forgiving we become more truly ourselves. Here are three poems - written by members of our own 'SingSnap Family' - that address different, but overlapping, aspects of the living, loving, changing thing that is 'the family'.
The generosity doesn't stop there. "In April, I had to go on an emergency trip back home to Connecticut because my dad had 3 heart attacks in 3 days and had to go in for quadruple bypass surgery. The three of them were an AMAZING support for me. I will FOREVER hold them in a very special place in my heart! Without SingSnap I never would have met them."
Toots wanted to continue to express her gratitude: "I would also like to mention an amazing woman who bought me a 1 year Gold Membership and a new microphone. To her I would love to say THANK YOU!!! You have no idea how big a thing it is you did for me! There have been countless others who have done things for me as well, but if I were to list them all this would never end."
Dear Country & City Mouse,
It's obvious how you got here; your love of music, but what makes you stay? This question was posed by 
Attezo, a 23-year-old graduate from the University of Malta, shares his story of how his priorities changed after joining SingSnap. "When I first joined SingSnap in January 2007, my priority was to sing. As time passed my priority changed and that was because of the community. I love all SingSnap's features but I believe, for me, the site wouldn't be interesting if it did not have the message boards or contests. But if I had to choose, to be honest, what makes me come here day after day is the message boards."
"When I first started here, I'd sing a song, then go listen to some random folks, hoping they might comment on my song. Yeah, that's pretty pathetic, but it's true. Haha. Over time, I collected some fans and favorites and started making friends. Then I found the message boards and made some more friends. I still like singing, but friends making me smile is better." - 
"After I discovered SingSnap, I was hooked. I enjoy entering the contests , not because I believe I'll win one, but to meet people, interact, and hear a variety of songs. That is also what led me to assist in judging contests." - 
"I used to say I love SingSnap, but it isn't SingSnap that I love. It's the people, the friends, the community. Yes, I enjoy the music, the songs, the library. But I LOVE my friends. My priority on SingSnap, you ask... YOU are my priority... WE are my priority!'" - 
"When I first came here it was mostly just to sing, now it's about the boards. The only board I post on very often is the Politics board, even though it usually gets fairly nasty, but that probably just shows how twisted I am. I enjoy a good verbal scrap." -