Deb’s House Concerts

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I told my friend about my last entry, “Weird Medical News - Powerful Tomatoes Leave More Than 20 Dead” and we fell into our usual banter.

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she - “There should be tomato warnings.”

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me - “There should be weekly tomato drills.”

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Then, she told me that she almost told someone last week that she had to get off the computer because of tomato warnings. I said, “You said TOMATO warnings?” and she said yes.

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That was funny, interesting. We both thought TOMATO when thinking about TORNADOS. She had used it as a joke before the tornados hit. I thought it as a misread of headlines after they hit.

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It puts a totally different spin on the news if you use the wrong word.

“Tomatoes touch down in several NC Piedmont communities”

“Tomatoes push three 18-wheelers off I-40″

“Tomatoes snap trees in half and tip airplanes on their wing at GSO airport.”

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Does this sort of thing happen to other people? Do you switch words when you read or exchange words when talking? We do it all the time in the normal music of conversation (playing riffs on similar words).

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I’m talking to that friend now. She just pointed out that we’re using malapropisms.

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A malapropism is the incorrect use of a word by substituting a similar-sounding word with different meaning, usually with comic effect.

I just read this post to the friend mentioned in it, and she laughed and said, “It’s a malapriapism.” You’ll have to look up the definition to that one. (hint: It’s a made up word, but priapism is a word.)

[UPDATE 0045 May 12, 2008 I just talked with a family member and read her this post. She pointed out that malapropism usually refers to people mixing up words without meaning to. Our word exchanges are intentional, playing on the similar sound yet different meaning.]

Deb’s House Concerts

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Weird Brain Stuff

I glanced at this headline:

Powerful Tornadoes Leave More Than 20 Dead

And, read it as:

Powerful Tomatoes Leave More Than 20 Dead

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A woman who can’t forget anything:

Jill Price’s book details what it’s like to carry around

decades of highly detailed memories about her daily life.

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Health Risks by Profession

Jobs at Risk For Disease

Professional firefighters have higher-than-average risk of contracting colon and brain cancer, a study by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health found. Evidence also indicated that firefighers may be more susceptible to bladder and kidney cancers, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

A separate Australian study recently revealed that health and community workers — including doctors, nurses and social workers — were twice as likely to suffer from cardiovascular conditions such as heart disease and stroke. The study was based on data tracking 4,000 people between the ages of 45 and 65.

Restaurant workers were twice as likely than the average worker to get bronchitis as well as musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and endocrine conditions such as diabetes, the Australian study found.

Retail workers faced higher rates of musculoskeletal conditions, such as shoulder or ankle injuries.

The Australian study also found that office workers were less likely to suffer from cancer. Workers in other industries including education, transportation, construction and agriculture did not show significantly higher rates of chronic illness. Sources: theage.com.au, Reuters

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Suicidal Doctors

Know-How Raises Suicide Risk for Doctors
By LINDSEY TANNER,
AP
Posted: 2008-05-10 00:09:45
Filed Under: Health News
CHICAGO (May - There’s a grim, rarely talked-about twist to all that medical know-how doctors learn to save lives: It makes them especially good at ending their own. An estimated 300 to 400 U.S. doctors kill themselves each year - a suicide rate thought to be higher than in the general population, although exact figures are hard to come by.

Some doctors believe the stigma of mental illness is magnified in a profession that prides itself on stoicism and bravado. Many fear admitting psychiatric problems could be fatal to their careers, so they suffer in silence.

Deb’s House Concerts

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10 posts in the last 23 days.

Remember “Lean In For A Kiss” is still available free on eFolkMusic.

Click here to get the music

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Check out Nathan Pacheco!

He’s going to be a worldwide sensation.

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Rock On, Robin Roberts April 22, 2008

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The Country Bunny Crossed the River Jordan and Came Back With Essential Salts From the Dead Sea April 22, 2008

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Talent, Violin, Juilliard, Paranoia, Rage, Trumpet, Untreated Mental Illness … the story was on NPR’s Fresh Air today April 22, 2008

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Day of Silence April 25, 2008 - Watch Larry King’s Public Service Announcement April 24, 2008

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Top Three Today - Posts, Searches, Most Active April 24, 2008

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Gay PDA on 20/20 … compares public reactions to pda by straights and gays (man-woman, man-man, woman-woman) April 28, 2008

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More Must-See Videos: Stroke/Jill Bolte Taylor, Civil Rights/Dare Not Walk Alone, Self Portraits/Elephant Artisans, Documentary/Story of Stuff, Ellen/”This is personal to me.” May 3, 2008

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And to think I thought that when I moved to North Carolina I would miss the constant wind in Oklahoma. May 9, 2008

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Nathan Pacheco: The Man With the Beautiful Voice Writes and Performs With Yanni May 9, 2008

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Minstrel Boy’s Great Blue Heron May 11, 2008

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Last night I turned on the computer, hoping for a quick read of email and web pages, and I could not get a good connection. “Server could Not Be Found” was all I could find. I wondered if the problem was somehow related to an overhead fan, imagining some electrical distubance might be interrupting the internet access.

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After turning off the fan, I turned my attention to the electrical and rain storm outside, and I wondered if that could be interrupting the service. The sounds of thunder, flashes of light, and beating of rain on my roof and awnings were compelling. It was the kind of storm that’s great for watching and sleeping. But, I just wanted to check my mail first. It didn’t happen.

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About 1030pm, the lights went out. Within moments, they were back on again. Then, off and on again. Then, off. Not having prepared for a power outage, I was pretty much out of luck in the light department (other than the light from my cell phone and non-internetted battery-fueled computer). I closed them both, and opened the curtains in order to enjoy the rest of the storm.

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I had thought I was wide awake, and would just lie there for hours in the dark. But, I was wrong. After a few moments of watching the flashing sky and listening to the falling rain, I was asleep. When the power returned and the lights came on about 230am, I woke up briefly. At 430am, I awoke again, closed the curtains and tried the internet again. And, here I am. (Yes, I have a little insomnia problem tonight.)

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In the process of logging into email, I saw this news story title:

“Tornado blows vehicles off highway in N. Carolina, kills 1- By JAY REEVES, Associated Press Writer“

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I read the story and was quickly reminded that I don’t have to miss all that wind in Oklahoma. We have plenty of it right here.

A tornado touched down late Thursday on the outskirts of Greensboro, N.C., blowing three tractor-trailers off Interstate 40, authorities said. One person was killed and two were injured in the freeway accidents, and a third was hurt when a wall collapsed.

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Two businesses and one house were damaged in Guilford County, said state Department of Crime Control and Public Safety spokeswoman Patty McQuillan. Two houses collapsed in Clemmons, probably because of high winds, and more than 32,000 were without power, officials said.

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[UPDATE: More on this story, posted 9:30am May 9, 2008
Tornado knocks vehicles around in N. Carolina, kills 1]

[UPDATE: 00:45 May 12, 2008 A family member told me that trees beside I-40 were snapped in half for a distance of about 1/2 mile near the GSO airport. The local newspapers showed photos of damage, including an airplane that was blown onto its side, with one wing tip touching the tarmac.]

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Tubing … okay, okay, YouTube-ing … April 5, 2008

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What Sort of Life Will This Child Have? April 8, 2008

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The Day of Silence Will Soon Be Here - April 25, 2008 April 11, 2008

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Day of Silence - April 25, 2008 April 11, 2008

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For the Procrastinators in the Room … April 15th is Right Around the Corner April 12, 2008

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Hate Crimes and “Special Rights” April 13, 2008

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A Heartfelt Letter, Beautiful Flowers and A Song April 16, 2008

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My Friend Will Be Walking in the AIDS Walk in Charlotte, N.C. Saturday, May 3, 2008 Please Visit His Page and Donate April 17, 2008

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So Sorry Sally Sullied $$$ Opportunities for Oklahoma City Oklahoma April 17, 2008

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Good As You’s Take on Sally Kern’s Meeting With PFLAG and PFLAG’s Press Release March 27, 2008

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Weary of The Sally March 29, 2008

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Earth Hour March 29, 2008

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There Is Yet Much Work To Do March 30, 2008

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Bullying: The Root of Fatal Violence in Our Public Schools March 31, 2008

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John McCain’s chart-topping single “Bomb Iran” March 31, 2008

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“Silly Sally sullies PFLAG’s account” - another Good-As-You take on current events March 31, 2008

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“Help Stop Sally Kern’s Right-Wing Machine!” - a request from Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) and the Cimarron Alliance Foundation (CAF) March 31, 2008

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“The Bush administration says new ethics guidelines written by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists may violate federal “conscience” laws.” - NPR.org April 1, 2008

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Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell on NPR Today … and other OKEQ Events This Week April 3, 2008

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Oklahoma is not the only place where people make their unfriendly-towards-gay-people views known. This sign was described as being in a rural part of North Carolina. I spent recent years of my life in Oklahoma. I now live in North Carolina, my home state. These attitudes sadden me no matter where they are expressed. I hope that hearts and minds will continue to change for the better, and some day there will be a place where all are people are valued and all are welcomed.

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Thanks to Craig at NC Gay Activist for this photo.

Visit Towleroad for the original post and comments.

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[UPDATE: Sunday March 30, 2008 - I will list links to support and advocacy groups at the end of this post as I learn of them. I will list links to sites that monitor Kern's hate-speech (and, those groups who promote and support her hate-speech) in a comment to this post.]

It seems that Sally Kern’s misinformed attacks on gay people will not end any time soon. I will be surprised if they ever end. Before the YouTube video that made her famous, I had not heard of her. Now, her legally-protected hate speech is covered at every turn.

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Sally Kern shows no signs of stopping her public attacks on gay people or changing her views. If anything, she has dug in her heels, and she is going to great lengths to repeat her ignorant and hate-tinged views as often as possible in print (letter to OK newspaper) and at her public meetings.

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I must say Sally Kern’s behavior does not surprise me. I know someone who is like her in making ignorant and narrow-minded statements and holding ignorant and narrow-minded views. I was subjected to that person’s anti-everyone attitudes for most of my life. Only in recent years did someone point out to me that she talks that way to everyone, and I just let her negativity affect me more than most. I still feel sorry for the young people who have to listen to her hate-speech.

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I have been fortunate never to have lived with the person I know who feels the need to verbally attack every group she thinks is ‘bad’ (based on her personal beliefs). That person has never changed for as long as I’ve known her. I believe she means well and probably has not the slightest idea of the damage she did to me over the years. Because of the misguided preacher of hate in my own life, someone who I want to believe is actually a good and loving person who means well (at least in her own personal circle), I want to believe the same of Sally Kern.

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I want to believe Sally Kern means well, in her own misguided way. I want to believe she has no idea how much harm she causes people with her attitudes, actions and words. I feel especially sorry for any young people who trust her and look up to her, people over whom she has influence. If she was as outspoken about her views during her 20 years in education as the person I know, believing she was doing the right thing by talking about how bad other people are for their very existence, then she very well may have caused harm to many people. This is my personal opinion based on my experience with negative and judgmental people. I think it’s a shame for adults to be so hostile and negative towards kids. It’s hard enough to grow up. Sally Kern’s views are no friend to any young person who is gay or lesbian.

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I think the reason I’ve posted so much about The Sally is that she’s like the anti-everyone person in my life. That person caused me harm over the years with her negativity and hate speech, and she was someone I rarely saw. Words matter. Words can be used to heal or to harm. I have always believed if I were ever in a position to speak up about these things, I should, for the sake of other kids who are harmed by such ignorant and hateful attitudes, especially when those things are spoken by people who say they are only saying what God says. Incredible damage is often done by people who say they speak in the name of God (but do so, most certainly, without the blessing of God).

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In my own life, I internalized the anti-everyone speech I heard from the person I knew. I don’t know why I let her get to me. Other people were able to just tune her out. But, I was always (in my own mind) the champion of the underdog. So, she’d say anti-this-group or anti-that-group things to me, and I’d always take the bait and end up in an argument with her. But, she was older and very negative. It was not good for me. I was told many times by someone who knew her that she was really a good and loving person. I even saw good (thoughtful) behavior by her at times. But, for most of my life, the major influence she had on me was of pouring out negativity and judgment on just about everyone. Being confronted with her negativity and voiced judgmental attitudes was like being in a toxic waste swamp. I didn’t drown, but I did not escape without injury.

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I think it’s all about being misguided. The attitudes and beliefs vocalized by Sally Kern, and so many like her, are a watered down version of what the Westboro ‘church’ (a tax-exempt hate group) does. They spread hate, intolerance and rejection of others in the name of religion. It’s really sad that some of the people who have influence (certain religious leaders, educators and politicians) use their influence to create an environment of intolerance and rejection of others rather than one of inclusion and acceptance. (The person I know once named all the ‘bad’ people, and they were everyone. It was really pretty amazing. Any individual or group that was not just like her politically or religiously was in the ‘bad’ category.)

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I hope the young people in Sally Kern’s life, and those within earshot of her unloving words, will close their minds and hearts to the lack of love she spreads. She speaks as if she believes she is spreading God’s word. That’s what the person I know has always done. I don’t see it that way. What I see is the incredible harm she is (potentially) causing.

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I hope for a world where we all accept ourselves and each other. I hope for a world where people can co-exist with different religions, different languages, different loves, different colors of skin, different abilities, different interests. It saddens me to see how so much energy is spent (time, human life, money, emotion) to destroy others who are different. I can’t see that there is anything good in Sally Kern’s repeated public forums where she spreads her anti-gay message. She is quickly becoming too much like the anti-gay ‘church’ that pickets funerals and carries signs thanking God for deaths.

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I have become weary of The Sally.

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If you, too, are tired of The Sally, and you want to escape the negativity of her words and words of those like her, look instead to people and places that offer support and encouragement. PFLAG. Soulfource. Heartstrong. If you’re in Oklahoma, OKEQ. If anyone wants to list support and advocacy groups in the comments, you are welcome to do so. There are also many church groups who are ‘open and affirming’. I welcome links to those groups, too.

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In the long term, if you are tired of hate-speech and anti-equality legislation, be sure you are registered to vote … and vote. These issues are not ‘gay’ issues, they are human issues and equality issues. Americans need to speak up against intolerance and hate. We need to vote proponents of inequality and hate out of office.

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I just remembered another list of equal rights advocacy groups. It’s listed on an anti-gay site (to identify the enemy). I won’t name the anti-gay-for-pay website, but thanks for the link to equal rights organizations:

• Human Rights Campaign
• National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
• Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
• Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
• Lambda Legal
• ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project
• Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
• Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
• National Center for Lesbian Rights
• National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association
• GenderPac
• Soulforce
• Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders

More support and advocacy groups:

Cimarron Alliance - for A Fair and Just Oklahoma

Equality NC - Equality North Carolina is a statewide advocacy organization that works to secure equal rights and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender North Carolinians

Youth Services of Tulsa - Nonprofit community agency devoted to advocacy for youth

Herland Sister Resources - Herland is a nonprofit organization operated entirely by volunteers. We provide resources for the women’s community to strengthen, enrich, and support women, and to promote a world free of prejudice, oppression and exploitation.

Deb’s House Concerts …………

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http://dhconcerts.wordpress.com/feed

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Sally, Sally, Sally. You said it’s your right to say anti-gay things. What happened to, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”? March 16, 2008

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Calling People Terrorists March 17, 2008

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Oklahoma Families to Rally at State Capitol and Call for Meeting with Representative Sally Kern * Solidarity Vigil in Tulsa March 18, 2008

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Sally Kern, by your definition, you are not a thinker. March 20, 2008

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Happy 1st Day of Spring 2008 March 20, 2008

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What Sally Has Wrought March 20, 2008

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Chocolate Easter Bunny Chat March 22, 2008

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15,000 Visits March 22, 2008

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“Lean In For A Kiss” by Deborah L. Hord (FREE mp3 - on the eFolkMusic digital sampler) March 24, 2008

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“Socially Acceptable” by Deborah L. Hord March 24, 2008

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Sally Kern and Scott Jones (openly gay pastor) on KFOR TV on Easter Sunday March 25, 2008

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Just Another Silly Joke - Dolly Parton and Queen Elizabeth … March 25, 2008

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Jeremiah Wright - Barack Obama … Anthropologist Critiques Focus on the Family’s Report on Marriage … Labor of Love (TransMan Pregnant) … Leno - “Give Me Your Gayest Look” March 25, 2008

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OkEq eNews: OkEq in the Advocate March 26, 2008

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[UPDATE March 27, 2008: You know, I don't even know why I posted this. This is not the kind of joke that makes me laugh. What makes me laugh are jokes like the government warning about swallowing chewing gum and the talking chocolate Easter bunnies. Those jokes got a laugh from me. I received this joke in an email from a friend, a girly girl (think sweet voice, sweet fragrance and diamonds) who has an edge and won't back down from a bully. But why did I post a joke I wouldn't even tell? I don't know. Maybe it's because it says the names and posts the photos of two women who have led extraordinary lives, women I'd be pleased to spend a genuine moment with. (I saw the Queen once, from a distance, when I visited London many years ago. I have never seen Dolly Parton in person.) It really is a silly joke, maybe worthy of junior high school. But, I can imagine Dolly laughing. I'm not sure what the Queen would do.]

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Dolly Parton and Queen Elizabeth

Dolly Parton

and Queen Elizabeth

die on the same day and they both go before an Angel to find out if they’ll be admitted to Heaven.

(more…)

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You know how it’s fun when you happen to glance at the odometer at just the right moment, and you see the 14,999.9 turn to 15,000.0? Well, it’s fun for me whenever those 9’s are lined up and about to roll as a group, too.

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The ‘moment’ just now was when I glanced at the blog stats number at the bottom of the sidebar. it said,

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• Blog Stats

  • 15,000 hits

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I realize some web sites get 15,000 hits a day. Maybe some even get that many in an hour. This one has been around for almost two years. But, I still got a kick out of seeing the 15,000 number show up.

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Thank you for stopping by!

Feel free to comment on what you read here.

I hope you’ll visit again.

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I saw this several years ago before Easter,

and it immediately entered my mental file of jokes that make me laugh.

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For some reason, I thought the 1st day of Spring was supposed to be on March 21st. Hmmm. But, I just ‘Googled’ something, and found this “First Day of Spring” image. So, Happy 1st Day of Spring!

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I enjoy the internet. I enjoy using WordPress for Deb’s House Concerts. But, I’m still behind the times with all the other internet tools like RSS and De.li.cio.us and … I don’t even know what all the options are. I’ve not been motivated enough to learn how to use these tools or why I should want to.

One that has almost stuck with me, though, is ‘feed’. I finally get it that it is possible to get a list of links to recent posts. This post is for those who are as clueless as I am about finding shortcuts around web pages.

Here’s what Yahoo says about feeds:

Feed the World

Would you like a free and easy way to help your site reach new readers? Or let current readers know when your site’s been updated? Sounds like it’s feeding time. A “feed” is what everyone from bloggers to big-league website publishers use to syndicate a summary of their latest content. Syndicated content comes in many shapes and sizes: headlines, photos, video, podcasts, sports scores, stock prices, weather — almost anything that gets updated regularly. Users subscribe to feeds via news aggregators such as My Yahoo!, which gather the user-selected feeds and display all the content in one convenient location. Subscribers can even access feeds via their mobile devices or email.

For this site, type: http://dhconcerts.wordpress.com/feed
and, you’ll see something like this:

Deb’s House Concerts …………

• Spring is on the way. NC is beautiful in April. Here’s my story and Dr. Mao’s suggestions for prophylactics and remedies for pollen allergies. - 03/16/08
• How I’ve Spent My Day Off … Shoveling, Studying, Snoozing and Surfing. - 03/16/08
• Do You Need A Break From Stories About Sally Kern? Take A Look At “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by George Harrison, “The Hut Sut Song”, “Horton Hatches the Egg” by Dr. Seuss and “Flight of the Bumblebee” by Rimsky-Korsakov - 03/16/08
• Advocacy Alert: Oklahomans for Equality hosts press conference regarding Rep. Sally Kern - 03/16/08
• My Apology to Sally Kern (formerly referred to as Sally Kearn) - 03/16/08
• Absolutely beautiful letter, thoughtful and well written, from an Oklahoma high school senior who lost his mother in the Oklahoma City bombing terrorist attack (to OK Rep. Sally Kearn who said gay people are worse than terrorists) - 03/16/08

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I’ve had allergies to one thing or another for most of my life. But, it was not until I was an adult that I finally realized that it was not normal not to be able to breathe well at all times. I finally made the connection between allergies and colds and sore throats. That was quite a realization.

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Since my great awakening to the possibility of being allergy-free and cold-free, at least to a large degree, I have tried to be aware of my diet and environment in order to stay well. And, I’ve made use of various antihistimes and decongestants over the years, as needed.

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When I moved to Oklahoma a few years ago, people talked all the time about how humid it was. They talked about taking a shower and then being wet again from the humidity almost immediately. I thought they were surely mistaken because I thought North Carolina was more humid, so Oklahoma did not feel humid to me at all. I was delighted with the lower humidity, because my allergies seemed to disappear. When there were humid warm summer days, I loved the humidity, because with that Oklahoma wind, I could imagine I was walking on a beach in North Carolina.

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I tried each year to return home to NC in April, a beautiful month when flowers and trees are in full bloom. It was not possible every year, but a few times I was able to return to NC during the full bloom of spring. It was beautiful enough to bring tears to my eyes just thinking of it.

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Unfortunately, one year when I returned to NC in April, the beauty was all around, but the pollen was in the air. I could stay inside the house and look out the window. But, every time I tried to step outside to enjoy the sight and fragrance of the blooms, I suddenly could not breathe through my nose. Even OTC medications were of no use.

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If you’re one of those people who are extremely grateful for the existence of antihistamines and decongestants, you know what I’m talking about. Yesterday, I read one of those ‘natural healing’ articles about keeping one’s sinuses clear and staying well. Now that I am approaching my first spring after returning to North Carolina, I am especially interested in keeping the lower allergic response I had during the years I lived in Oklahoma. I’m always on the lookout for ideas for natural ways to stay healthy. Here’s the link to Dr. Mao’s Allergy Alert: Breathe Easy, Naturally that I read yesterday. And, here’s the entire post (below):

Dr. Mao’s Secrets of Longevity

Allergy Alert: Breathe Easy, Naturally

Itchy, watery eyes, running nose, an aching head, and sinus congestion. Sound familiar? You may be among the 37 million people in the United States who suffer from allergic rhinitis or sinusitis. Consider combating your springtime woes naturally with these time-tested self-healing techniques.

Allergens in the Air
When your sinuses, the air-filled hollow cavities around your nose and nasal passages, become inflamed, fluid can accumulate and interfere with normal drainage of mucus in the sinuses. This condition is known as acute sinusitis. The result? You may have trouble breathing through your nose and feel your eyes and facial tissue swell up.

Your symptoms may include a headache, fever, a nagging cough, post-nasal drip, thick green or yellow discharge, and a feeling of facial “fullness” that gets worse when you lean forward; during a severe sinus infection, some people even experience a toothache.

This uncomfortable condition has many possible causes, including bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, allergies, or a deviated septum. Synonymous with spring, allergic rhinitis, commonly called hay fever, is the inflammatory result of your immune system’s overreaction to allergens in the air.

Pollen is one famous offender. Other allergens include dirt, pollution, animal hair, food particles cloth fibers, and mold.

Surprising Secrets for Sinus Health
Here are some all-natural ways to gain freedom from sinus suffering.

• Clear your sinuses and your mind with a steamy stovetop spa. Add a few drops of wintergreen oil to a pot of boiling water and inhale the steam. Take care not to be burned by the vapor.

• Herbs and spices like ginger, scallion, basil, garlic, oregano, cayenne peppers, white pepper, horseradish and turmeric will have your sinus passageways unblocked in no time!

• The supplement bromelain - a papaya and pineapple-based enzyme - helps reduce histamine release, the body’s natural allergic response.

• Clear your nasal passageway daily for healthy, happy sinuses. Add 1 tsp of sea salt, 1 drop of oregano oil, and 1 drop of wintergreen to a cup of warm water. Fill a small-spouted squeeze bottle with this warm solution. Squirt into one nostril at a time and blow out through the nose. Alternate nostrils.

• Press one clove of garlic, mix with 1 tsp of olive oil and soak a clean cotton ball with the oil mixture and place in nostrils after having washed the nostril with warm salt water. Leave in for 20 minutes and repeat three times a day until the symptoms clear up.

• These two simple self-massage practices that follow are incredibly effective for relieving sinus congestion. For both, sit at the tip of a sturdy chair with your back erect, spine stretched, and your head tilted slightly forward.

1. Inhale and gently press your forehead just inside the temples with your palms. Exhale and release. Repeat three times.

2. Cross your middle and index fingers by placing the tips of your middle fingers on top of the fingernails on your index fingers. Rub the sides of your nose 36 times in a circular motion, warming your fingers first if they’re cold.

What you eat affects your sinus health
Avoid the foods that produce mucous and dampness: dairy products, cold and raw foods, corn (including corn syrup), and simple sugars. Choose whole grains like quinoa, amaranth and brown rice instead of wheat, rye and barley, which are typically high allergy grains. Opt for papaya, cranberries, pear, pineapple, cherries, mango, and citrus fruits. Eat more green vegetables such as artichoke, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and spinach.

Both alcohol and smoking should be avoided during a sinus flare-up as they irritate the respiratory tract and worsen nasal inflammation. Also, sinus congestion is often worse with lack of quality rest so be sure to get plenty of sleep and keep your stress level low.

I hope that you find the ways to keep your sinuses clear and freely flowing. I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

-Dr. Mao