April 2009

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Tracking Gov. Bobby Jindal

How Louisiana Gov. Jindal handles the current health scare, public fear of Swine Flu or whatever name health officials are calling the illness now, may end up as one of his "lessons learned" in his new book. Jindal signed a book deal earlier this month with Regnery Publishing, a politically conservative publishing house. ... Continue reading at New Orleans Literature Examiner.

Louisiana currently has no confirmed cases of H1N1/Swine Flu, and it's clear from comments at the daily paper people are tiring of the overkill on the story.

New Orleans Snark about Swine Flu

Oooh, the locals are turning on Swine Flu media coverage down here in New Orleans. Below are only some of the comments posted to a story at The Times Picayune, NOLA.com, about suspected but not confirmed cases of Swine Flu. Wondered how many of these comments are from the same person changing personalities/screen names.

Posted by wuzzup67 on 04/30/09 at 12:41PM

Damn!, They just wasted a good crisis. Oh well I'm sure they'll have another chance to panic the populace.

Posted by skepticism on 04/30/09 at 12:50PM

Does that mean we can't participate in the national hysteria. There are a group of people who so want to be apart of the buzz, Monday through Friday though.

I always find it interesting that folks don't worry about the national hysteria when the Saints or LSU are playing or when they want to go shopping for a new outfit.

Is the TP going to be running articles non-stop over the weekend. Are people going to be checking the TP for articles non-stop over the weekend. Probably not. They are going to be doing things they want to do as compared to being at work and doing things they would rather not be doing. The hype just let's them rationalize their lack of attentiveness to work.

And Mr. O can't let a good crisis keep from distracting his health plan and economic agenda. Please pay attention to his new ideas that the deficit won't be that bad because he will contain health care costs by rationing health care. THERE IT IS FOLKS, JUST LIKE JOE THE PLUMBER, AND NO ONE CARED BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO INTERESTED IN ALL OF THEIR QUALITY TELEVISION PROGRAMMING.

Unbelievable.

Posted by skepticism on 04/30/09 at 12:58PM

Oh and by the way, Mr. O is sooo concerned, but he won't close the borders.

There's that logic, Mr. O. What an intellect.

Posted by KSchmill on 04/30/09 at 1:00PM

Is this the same boy that the TP reported yesterday was from Mexico, that the tv stations said he was around a group that just returned from Mexico? The same one, who the doctor said he thought it was swine flu? As if the doctor would know for sure without test confirmation.

Posted by mospeada on 04/30/09 at 1:11PM

Everyone make sure you stay tuned in to the news networks 24/7, soaking up those commercials! That is, when you're not out buying medicine and surgical masks...

Posted by KSchmill on 04/30/09 at 1:13PM

Skepticism

I am curious about closing the borders. I hear it is too late to close them because it is already here. Trueit is here, but wouldn't closing the borders contain what we have and prevent more cases from coming in? I hear other countries are stopping flights.

If anyone out there is in the medical field, I would be interested in your views.

They said on the radio that the family in Houston where the little boy died, had taken the sick child out to the Galleria while he was sick and now many have possibly been exposed.

Do officals really believe people will stay at home if they are sick?

Posted by imo123 on 04/30/09 at 1:22PM

Just like I said yesterday - media getting everyone worked up for nothing. It just amazes me how many people are so guliable and stupid.

Posted by nanunanu on 04/30/09 at 1:22PM

one more example of being terrorized by the media. in reality, the media is becoming comic book like. Think about it. how much of what is reported about everything would fit right into a comic book? deadly disease! its the freaking flu!!!!
at some point, the populace should wake up and realize that the "news" has NOTHING to do with reality. It is all about creating a fantasy that insures viewership.

Posted by nanunanu on 04/30/09 at 1:24PM

KSchmill,
relax. it's the flu!!

Posted by smallwos on 04/30/09 at 1:30PM

Yeah, I'm not going to succumb to the hysteria! My regular handwashing and avoidance of peoples' uncontained coughing will have to suffice. Relax folks!

Posted by secdef on 04/30/09 at 1:33PM

Skepticism: Are you that much of a retard? It's now a pandemic so that means this little virus has spread beyond the Mexican borders which means that those people in California, New York, Texas, and abroad so closing the borders won't prevent the further exposure. I know you idiots want so desparately for Obama to fail but you'll have to wait for something else..

Posted by capnkrunch on 04/30/09 at 1:35PM

OMG! I ate bacon two days ago and now I have a runny nose!!!!!!!WHAT SHOULD I DO? MR. OBAMA PLEASE GIVE ME SOME GUIDANCE.

Posted by capnkrunch on 04/30/09 at 1:37PM

Yeah, secdef everything is still Goerge Bush's fault for at least the next 4 years.

Posted by nanunanu on 04/30/09 at 1:41PM

capnkrunch,
biden is handling this one. according to him we should all go stand alone out in a field.

Posted by KSchmill on 04/30/09 at 1:42PM

nanunanu,

I am relaxed as I can be with this sinsus infection.

I am tired of the gloom and doom of the media. If its that damn bad (which I do not blieve), close the friggin borders.

We have flus every year. But we have the WHO screaming gloom and doom, just like with the bird flu.

Posted by MrLouis on 04/30/09 at 1:45PM

Swine flu = A politician with a cold.

(Read story that prompted the comments here.)

Also gathered that lots of conservatives frequent NOLA.com.

Other links:

Selective Hearing in Our Churches and Dead Children, Sacrifices to Our Homophobia

Most likely, somebody will be angry after reading this post. Late Tuesday night at BlogHer.com I posted on the suicides of Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover and Jaheem Herrera, two 11-year-old boys who endured repeated bullying at their schools with taunts of "you're gay."

So far the comments have been thoughtful in response, but one in particular drew my focus. Southerngirl who writes at MommyCan commented on the trouble she has getting "church folk" to see that words have power. To me that says some "church folk," if she means people in the Christian church, are not reading their Bibles because verses such as these, James 3:1-12, clearly tell us to watch what we say because words indeed have power.

3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly. 3:2 For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well. 3:3 And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. 3:4 Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs. 3:5 So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. 3:6 And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence – and is set on fire by hell.

3:7 For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. 3:8 But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 3:9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people18 made in God’s image. 3:10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. 3:11 A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? 3:12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water. (verses from NetBible, New English Translation)

As in all of life, humans have selective hearing. In churches that declare they live by the Word of God, it is no different. Some people, for instance, don't pay attention to the verses above because James begins the passage mentioning teachers. Therefore, they conclude that the verses only apply to them if they want to be ministers or pastors. They are wrong.

Believer or nonbeliever, there's a human tendency to not look inward but outward and compare ourselves to others, see what's wrong with them instead of ourselves. We find ways to build ourselves up and look for loopholes whenever possible to avoid accountability of own actions.

I've observed that we tend to single out the the sins of others when reading about sin in the Bible and readily ignore the sins that most of us commit daily. We think of our sins as the "ordinary, excusable" sins. These are the faults we find harder to vanquish in our own lives, the ones we'd prefer to think of as little sins--little white lies, a little bit of pride, a little envy and coveting of our neighbor's lives. Those other people over there, we think, have the big sins. We watch and point out who we think is more sinful than we are, who's actually sleeping with her neighbor's husband, who got busted for theft, who's a drunk, who's a hooker, who's a homosexual aka "sodomite" for you old school church goers.

Personally I think this is one of the main reasons plenty of us, me included, will be shocked at the Judgment Seat to find God didn't think we were any better than those "other" people after all.

If you don't believe in God from a Christian perspective or were not raised going to a Christian protestant church or even that you reap what you sow, you may be clueless about now regarding this post. If you don't believe in a higher power period, then this is probably not the post for you, and that's okay. I have other posts on this blog and you're welcome you to read them, especially if talks about the religious beliefs make you uncomfortable.

Furthermore, this post is not a post to debate whether to be gay is a sin or not. This is a post saying that the Bible is full of so many sins that each of us commit with regularity (and that can all be traced back to stubbornness and pride) that all of us risk salvation when we wag the finger at others or at least show we may not love Jesus like we think we love Jesus.

And how do we point our fingers most often? With our words.

Neither is this a post to debate doctrine such as irrevocable salvation or once you've accepted Jesus you've been saved forever because there's plenty of scripture to suggest that while you may say you've accepted Jesus and even attend church each Sunday, treating others badly is a life that does not reflect that acceptance and your faith may be a sham. Yes, we have an Advocate and may seek forgiveness, but it's clear that we shouldn't fool ourselves and "play with God."

What's clear is that the only lives we may judge are our own, and even that judgment is suspect for those who believe the Bible is the Word of God because Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" The answer to that question is not we humans.

And then there's that sticky verse, 1 Peter 4:15 that lumps people who meddle into the affairs of others with murderers and criminals. The concept that gossipers, tattlers, and busybodies are as horrible as other criminals is repeated in more than one New Testament verse.

Why don't people who spend time teaching their children that homosexuals are going to hell also spend time teaching those same children that bullies and people who name call, humiliate, and condemn people will be damned likewise? Could it be because if they do teach the whole story their children will know those parents fail the holiness test also?

I've spent time focused on Christians, but I know Christians aren't the only group with members who encourage homophobia or to treat people who are gay or who appear to be gay with contempt. I addressed Christians because I know more people who claim to be Christians. I grew up in the Church, and I think that we dishonor the Word of God when we deny that word have power or promote any idea that ridiculing and bullying others is acceptable in God's sight.

Words have power. It's not coincidence that God is likened to a Word.

Link: "Two Children Bullied to Death--Sacrifices to Our Homophobia"

NOLA Kid Not a Likely Swine Flu Case

Yesterday local media reported that a doctor at one of Tulane's medical clinics thought a New Orleans child had Swine Flu. State Health Officials disagree after preliminary test results. They think it's unlikely the child has H1N1/Swine Flu because he's tested negative for strains A and B influenza. To date Louisiana, which includes the city of New Orleans, has no confirmed cases of Swine Flu/Mexican Flu/North American Flu/H1N1 virus.

Links

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Flu Closes School in Lafayette, Louisiana, New Orleans May Have Flu Case

Updated 6:00 PM: The Times Picayune reports that a doctor from Tulane University's uptown clinic thinks a New Orleans boy may have Swine Flu. It's only the doctor's hunch and a culture has been sent to the state lab for testing. See links at end of post after map graphic.

Just in from WWL-TV alerts, a school in Lafayette, La., has closed since five students tested positive for flu, a strain-A influenza. This strain has not been confirmed as Swine Flu.

"Governor) Jindal said that one of the five students had recently been in Mexico during a cruise trip," per WWL.

NOLA.com says that the school with the flu cases is a private school. The school has been identified by WWL TV as Cathedral-Carmel, a Catholic school.

Lafayette is two hours and 15 minutes from New Orleans, 137 miles.

View Larger Map

Links:

From Swine Flu to Mother Nature with Rabbits to Monk Reflecting our Inner Germaphobe

Swine Flu Update (or should that be H1N1 Virus Update or Mexican Flu or North American Flu Update?): The first United States death from Swine Flu/H1N1 Virus is in the news today. A child, a Mexican citizen visiting Houston, Tex., reports CNN, has died.

Based on hits to this blog on the short Tamiflu and Relenza piece I posted yesterday, I think the death has rattled people. Tamiflu and Relenza are the two drugs that W.H.O. (World Health Organization) says can treat Swine Flu, a disease for which there is no vaccination.

However, with all this focus on Swine Flu, it's important to remember that the regular flu we see each year is probably more dangerous. CNN reports that more than 13,000 people have died in the United States from complications related to having the "regular flu" since January.

Meanwhile, some people in Mexico are offended that the new strain of Swine Flu is being associated with Mexico. The name and association is a legitimate concern because bigots will use anything to club another ethnic groups. I've heard talk that some people want to call it the "Mexican Flu" and use it to beat the anti-immigration drum while playing on American fears.

In addition, pork producers are crying foul, saying the name Swine Flu is damaging their business. It appears President Barck Obama and the government may have dropped the name Swine Flu in favor of the not-so-catchy "H1N1 Virus" label.

Saner minds suggest the Swine Flu be called the "North American Flu."

Finally, regarding Swine Flu, the Mother Nature Network, per the New York Times and other news sources, reports patient zero of this Swine Flu outbreak may have been identified. The NYT says he's 5-year-old Édgar Hernández of La Gloria, Mexico (pictured), and it's possible he may have been the first person to contract this new strain of influenza. He is doing well. (Times story at this link, from which comes the child's photo.)

But It's Natural:

Having mentioned Mother Nature via the Mother Nature Network, I'm posting one of my favorite commercials at the moment. All this talk of illness, including the superbug MRSA that Oprah and Dr. Oz. talked about on her show yesterday, which is worse than the Swine Flu, btw, reminds me that we love to idealize nature as though "natural" is harmless. Well, these bugs--Swine Flu and regular flu in the news lately plus MRSA and the flesh eating bacteria on Oprah's show--are all natural as well.

When I posted the first black Mother Nature commercial on Earth Day, the one above was not online yet. It's another Vitamin Water commercial that has Mother Nature (an African-American woman in a power suit) as CEO of Water, Inc. In this one she's canceling vacations and getting on a rabbit's case for needing more time off to see to his pregnant wife.

I like this one better than the first one I posted. I even like it better than the old Chiffon Margarine "it's Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature" commercial (Attack of the Wiccans: Mother Nature Phobia).

And more on Nature:

Do you watch the TV show Monk on USA starring Tony Shaloub? It's about the detective who's afraid of germs, all germs. If he were real, after the last week of health scares, he'd be locked in his house right now, taping up his windows and caulking all holes.

My favorite line from the show is in a scene where Monk is in the woods and puts his hand on something he'd rather not have on him (can't recall exactly) and he whines, "Ohhhh. I've got nature on me!"

Here's his theme song, "It's a Jungle Out There" by Randy Newman, posted in honor of all the people who've been scared to emotional death by the Swine/Mexican/North American/H1N1 Virus Flu stories. Let's calm ourselves and laugh at our inner germaphobe.

It's A Jungle Out There
Lyrics by Randy Newman

It's a jungle out there
Disorder and confusion everywhere
No one seems to care
Well I do
Hey, who's in charge here?
It's a jungle out there
Poison in the very air we breathe
Do you know what's in the water that you drink?
Well I do, and it's amazing
People think I'm crazy, 'cause I worry all the time
If you paid attention, you'd be worried too
You better pay attention
Or this world we love so much might just kill you
I could be wrong now, but I don't think so!
'Cause there's a jungle out there.
It's a jungle out there.

American Idol Top 5 Made Me Do Something I've Never Done Before

Never in the history of my watching American Idol--and I've watched at least part of each season since the show began--have I ever ordered through iTunes any of the show's songs. I've never bought any of the Idol albums or singles when they've been released on CD either. But after seeing the Top 5 perform "Rat Pack Standards Last Night," that's all changed.

Today I pre-ordered Danny Gokey's "Come Rain or Come Shine," Adam Lambert's "Feeling Good," and Allison Iraheta's "Someone to Watch Over Me" for my MP3 player. Danny's rendition of Come Rain or Come Shine was what made me say, I'm going to order. I decided to get Adam and Allison's MP3s later. WOW! That was some note Adam hit at the end of "Feeling Good," and I don't care what Simon says, Allison was great.

Kris Allen and Matt Giraud were o.k., but I liked Adam, Allison, and Danny more. However, as suggested, Simon thinks Allison is in trouble. He also thinks Matt was stellar singing "My Funny Valentine." It's one of my favorite songs, but I'm with Randy on Matt. The dude was a little pitchy. I enjoyed Kris singing "The Way You Look Tonight" but think I like him more on video than on my music player. He probably has young girls swooning all over America with his dreamy eyes.

This year's group has been better overall than those from previous years, but somewhere around the top 9 or so, I stopped doing recaps. Still, here is the link too all my posts on AI. For recaps I favor Elisa Camahort's posts, but I don't think she's done her Top 5 recap yet.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Tamiflu, Relenza, and face masks demands go up plus sharing Swine Flu info on Twitter

A local pharmacist told a television news station that orders for two Swine Flu treatments have increased here in New Orleans. That's odd, considering that there have been no cases of Swine Flu reported in Louisiana yet and the two drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza, require a doctor's prescription. I suspect doctors are writing prescriptions for their own families and friends or persistent or wealthy patients.

With the Swine Flu scare on full blast, it's not surprising that the New York Times reports that investors are clamoring for Tamiflu and Relenza stock, the two drugs said to be effective at treating the illness.

The W.H.O. said Tamiflu and GlaxoSmithKline’s Relenza could be effective against the disease, while the virus was resistant to an older class of drugs, which includes amantadine and rimantadine. (NYT)

Retailers are also seeing requests for face masks increase, and there's a race to develop a vaccine for the current strain that's alarmed the world. Yes, there's no vaccine for this strain of Swine Flu. Common sense prevention--mostly washing your hands with soap and hot water for at least 15 seconds, covering your mouth when you cough, avoiding crowds, and being kind enough to stay home if you feel ill--is the wise course.

I understand the concern and rush for Tamiful and Relenza, but I hope people don't panic. Mass hysteria only complicates matters.

For those of us who just want to keep our family's safe and stress levels low, knowledge makes wonderful armor. Here's New Orleans's favorite doctor, Corey Hebert, answering questions on Swine Flu, including whose at risk. In addition, my post yesterday included the CDC's list of what to do if you or your child gets ill and which symptoms indicate you or your child may require emergency treatment.

Please remember that Swine Flu and other forms of influenza are respiratory illnesses.

The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions. (CDC)

Diarrhea and vomiting are not the most common symptoms and may be more of an indication that you have a stomach virus than the flu. (Also, please remember that eating pork does not cause swine flu. Once the pig is dead so is the virus in it.)

In this family we'll be looking for fever and achy joints as potential symptoms because frequently we have the other common signs like stuffy head, cough, and sore throat regularly due to allergies. On a positive note, Dr. Brobson Lutz of Orleans Medical Society told WDSU this weekend that flu doesn't spread as well in warmer weather and that swine flu is "in general a weak actor." So, while it's a bad time for allergies, it's a good time to keep down the flu.

At The Examiner yesterday, I posted Books on Flu and Epidemics, Nonfiction and Fiction, a good resource for anyone interested in reading more than a web page on the topic of flu, swine, flu, and epidemics. Or maybe you'd prefer to scare yourself to death with the five fiction books I've listed below the 10 nonfiction books.

We're being flooded with scary information from news sources and sometimes friends and family. It's important to remain calm. Please get your information from reliable sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or your state's health agency when you want to know what to do about a potential health crisis. Those are the sources I use for symptoms when posting on this blog.

Major network news sources such as CNN and your local news stations and newspaper websites can be trusted as well as the citizen journalists (bloggers) who research topics through reliable sources first and provide links back to those sources.

Here is CNN video on Swine Flu information sharing on Twitter and a brief discussion on the importance of raisin awareness without spreading misinformation and panic.

Links:

Monday, April 27, 2009

Morphed by Mucha: Face of the Future at St. Andrews

A few years back, my friend William F. DeVault, tipped me on the facial transformation machine at St Andrews University in the United Kingdom. I elected to get morphed by painter Alfons Mucha because his transformation made me look the best. ;-)

But the Face of the Future program at St. Andrews can take any face-forward picture you upload and morph it for you. You can see how you'd look as a baby, as a teen, as the opposite gender, as an older person, an anime character, and if you were painted by a few famous artists such as Mucha. I morphed the same picture to a senior citizen and saw a picture that looked eerily like my own mother looking back at me.

The program is free! Click here and have fun. I checked and the site is still up and running. Try morphing your mate to a 70-year-old and see your future. O.K., maybe not the best use of your time.

I hadn't used my Mucha transformation in awhile, but I decided to dig it up and let it help promote my New Orleans Literature Examiner site because it's artsy with an ethereal look.

Obama vs. Lie to Me: Has Fox News Politics Infected Fox Network Programming?

Update: E Online has results of the ratings war between Fox and Obama. Click here.

News sources report that the Fox Network will not air President Barack Obama's 100 days press conference Wednesday night at 7:00 central time. It's the first time a major network has chosen not to honor an Obama request for air time, according to CNN.

Fox will air its hit show Lie to Me instead, which regularly runs on that night. Network officials say they can't sacrifice ratings to the POTUS as it enters May Sweeps. I'm a fan of Lie to Me, but the network's decision not to run a presidential speech in favor of winning a time slot seems strange to me. I don't recall ever seeing Bush on every major network but one when he was giving a speech, but I could be wrong.

Yes, it smells fishy, but Fox News, the part of Rupert Murdoch's empire that hammers Obama and progressives consistently, clearly favoring conservative ideology, will run the press conference.

Still, there is a school of thought -- or used to be anyway -- that says since Fox Broadcasting has government licenses to operate its television stations, it should not be so stingy when the nation's leader wants a little time to speak, even if the press conference will be available on at least 10 other outlets. Although the press conference will be on Fox News, it will still give the left ammunition that Fox parent Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. is against the current administration. (The LA Times)

It wouldn't take much to make people think Murdoch News Corp. would like to sabotage Obama whenever possible. In fact, I know from people hitting my post about the Lie to Me episode that featured the clip of Obama's emblematic slip, subconsciously giving Sen. John McCain the finger while mentioning him in a speech, that some people online already wonder if the Fox network has been using the Lie to Me drama to slap Obama around. Surfers have used search strings like "lie to me show against Obama" or something like that, to get to this blog and read about the "Love Always -- The Finger" episode.

While I wouldn't vouch for Rupert Murdoch News Corp., I don't think writers and producers of Lie to Me are using the show to go after Obama. I think the show is using clips of famous people in general because the clips attract viewers, and we know that both the POTUS and the FLOTUS, Michelle Obama, attract people.

Nevertheless, Wednesday night will be Lie To Me vs. The President of the United States. We've sort of seen this drama before with Obama vs. Pushing Daisies before Obama won the election. Remember that?

Pushing Daisies is an ABC show that has since been canceled, but it was already in trouble before Obama wanted its time slot.

So far, the Obama administration has had no comment on the Fox Network decision. If his communications staff is smart, they'll remain mum and avoid raising right-winger paranoia that Obama wants to own the airwaves, not to mention misinformation about the Fairness Doctrine.

Swine Flu, Epidemics, Pandemics Books List

Seeking to stem panic over Swine Flu worries, President Barack Obama, governors and other public officials across the nation have been publicizing updates on precautionary measures they've taken to protect citizens. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal sent out his press release this weekend and stressed that the state hasn't had any cases of the deadly virus, but in Mexico, considered to be the epicenter of the outbreak, the government has put an emergency ban of all public gatherings into effect.

If you check out books on Swine Flu, you'll find ... Continue reading at this link for list of books on swine flu, flu in general, epidemics and pandemics in both fiction and nonfiction. [LINK]

Bobby Jindal on La. Swine Flu Precautions

La. Governor Bobby Jindal joins a host of other elected officials seeking to assure constituents that they've taken prudent precautions to protect citizens from swine flu. WWL TV New Orleans and other local stations report the following:

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal issued a press conference on Sunday, outlining his plan to protect the state from the flu in the event of an outbreak.
“We are working very hard to get ahead of this virus, as we know we’ve seen it spread in a number of states already. We need to be prepared for our state,” Jindal said.

Jindal said that the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals were notified last week about the flu. The homeland security office has established an action team, and a surveillance team of doctors are spread outside the state to try and identify those who may have the flu.

There are currently 30,000 collection kits around the state given to hospitals to get samples of folks who may have the flu.
Jindal stressed that there are no reported cases in Louisiana. (WWL)

The station's story also chronicles outbreaks beginning in Mexico, considered to be the epicenter of the disease.

Click this link for a Louisiana Fact Sheet with symptoms and check for updates at the Louisiana community health website

In addition, the federal Centers for Disease Control has swine flu facts and information. The site has a podcast by Dr. Joe Bresee telling more about swine flu, including some history, and here's an excerpt from its Swine Flu and You section:

How long can viruses live outside the body?
We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent handwashing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.
What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water. or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. we recommend that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.
If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.
In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting

Read more at the CDC.

Eating pork is not the cause of Swine Flu as some people think. If it is contracted by humans, it usually starts with people who've come in contact with pigs.

The following videos are from CNN regarding a potential swine flu epidemic or pandemic. The disease is reportedly more difficult to control than Bird Flu.

Hampton University: Gunman wounds two people and self

No one was murdered Sunday at Hampton University in Hampton, Va., but I still felt chills when I saw that one of my alma maters had a shooting. I read more of the story at CNN and felt worse:

The former student entered Harkness Hall shortly before 1 a.m. by following a pizza deliveryman, said the university's president, Dr. William Harvey, at an afternoon news conference. (per CNN)

I remember Harkness Hall but I remember it being a women's dorm in the 70s and early 80s that was fairly easy to get into. Of course, that was more than 20 years ago.

When I see it in the photo up top with Dubois Hall in the background, which used to be a co-ed dorm, I still think that Harkness is the dorm I recall as being an all-women's dorm, but things change, and I also see evidence that the school had extensive work done are Harkness based on an engineering firm bidding to do the work. Anyway, when I attended it was still known as Hampton Institute, but President Harvey had taken over and had big plans which it seems he's brought to fruition.

The Daily Press reports that it's an all-male dorm now and has more details than CNN.

... a former student walked onto campus and shot the 62-year-old night monitor of Harkness Hall and a 43-year-old pizza delivery driver.

The former student, an 18-year-old who voluntarily withdrew from HU in November, then turned a gun on himself, according to police. It was one of three loaded guns he was carrying, said HU President William R. Harvey.

According the same Daily Press story, President Harvey and other HU officials say the campus is safe and the school was put on lockdown after the shootings, but not until two hours later.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

NOLA Jazz and Heritage Festival Five Books List

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival started this weekend at the New Orleans Fairgrounds, and will continue through May 3. The following is a list of five books recommended to give you not only history of Jazzfest but also intriguing facts about the city and its music. ... Read list and more at New Orleans Literature Examiner

Saturday, April 25, 2009

The true story of Nathaniel Ayers and Steve Lopez, the men behind The Soloist

Watch CBS Videos Online

I have a lot more to say on this topic of Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.'s new movie, but only enough time to post this 60 Minutes story on Nathaniel Anthony Ayers and Steve Lopez, the street musician an Los Angeles Time reporter on which the new movie The Soloist is based. The movie opened this week and may be an opportunity to discuss the crisis of untreated mental illness in this country and its relationship to homelessness.

One sad point of this story is that people at Julliard didn't at first realize Ayers was mentally ill. It sounds as though they thought he was just one more angry black man.

Steve Lopez, the reporter, has been accused of exploiting Ayers. I don't think that's the case. If a writer does a story on someone and the result is the person's life is improved, then it's icing on the cake. The fact that the writer earns money is fair. He or she is getting paid for writing and researching a topic about which people want to know. If the writer reports fairly without lying about the person and the circumstance, then he/she's done a fine job.

Ayers's family seems to think Lopez's involvement in Ayers's life is a good thing. Why can't others do the same? And if they can't, then they should shut up and put up some money and time to help Ayers themselves.

Here's the link to the LA Times page that keeps us updated on Nathaniel Ayers.

Friday, April 24, 2009

I'm off to New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival this Weekend

I plucked the following text and video from my December post on this years New Orleans Jazz Heritage Festival, which is where I'll be spending my weekend. Glad to learn it's not expected to rain this year. I wanted to go to French Quarter Fest last weekend, but decided to rest up for this weekend instead.

Below, per NOLA.com, is a video of "an all-star jazz band featuring trumpeter Nicholas Payton, clarinetist Michael White, trombonist Troy Andrews, bassist Roland Guerin, drummer Shannon Powell and George Wein, Jazz Fest's founder, on keyboards performed 'Struttin' With Some Barbecue.'" Beautiful music that really puts you in the mood for Jazz Fest.

Jazzfest veteran George Wein performs during announcement

Interview with Nordette Adams on Love Talk Radio

I was recently a guest on Love Talk Radio with LoveBabz and it was a pleasure. She also has one of my poems, Light and Only Light, posted at her blog. Hope you enjoy both.

OSF: What Were You Thinking Making that Song

The theme for this week's Old School Friday is songs that should never have been made. I know everybody likes to branch out and I'm not hating on anyone for trying because sometimes the person has more talent in his or her pinkie than the rest of us have in our whole body like Jamie Foxx, for instance. He began in comedy, has proven he's also an exceptional dramatic actor with Ray and now The Soloist. Furthermore, we could see that he could sing "fo' real" even when he was acting a fool like he did in his song to Serena, "I Wanna Be Your Tennis Ball."

And I love when comedians spoof songs, as did Mo'Nique doing Beyonce's "Crazy in Love" at the BET Awards. O.K., she's not actually singing but dancing. Still it's a riot. Watch Here.

I also get that there's something called being able to sell a song, meaning you don't have to be a great singer but you do have to connect with the audience. And that's well and good. I'm all for folks going for the gusto, even folks auditioning badly for American Idol, but please, don't try to hoodwink me and break into a singing career mostly because you've got stardom, money, and a name.

I'm talking about Eddie Murphy, an exceptionally talented man who technically can sing and is a genius performer as we saw in Dream Girls, but you remember when Eddie seriously with all his heart wanted to become a triple threat? He was already in comedy and movies, but he wanted to be a singing star too.

Yeah, I've selected "Party All the Time" by Eddie. It's not the worst song in the world, but I don't think the song would have ever been made with Eddie Murphy if he hadn't been a big star in another field first. He's got musical skills, yes, but this was just out and out connections-will-get-you-there music.

I remember the interviews and hype about his singing. However, as he recorded more, he slowly drifted toward doing comic renditions like his Saturday Night Live alum The Blues Brothers and Joe Piscopo who did parodies, which was an indication that the general public was not accepting him as a music star. But I know some people liked it, and Rick James produced it, so there you have it.

Murphy is a big Michael Jackson fan, and I think you can see that here. Speaking of comedians who sing, does anyone remember Bill Cosby's Silver Throat album?

Next, this song is about a comedian just getting plain old ugly. It was done in 2007 so technically it is not old school as defined by OSF rules, but it uses an old melody, "Puff the Magic Dragon," which was a poem first, written by Lenny Lipton in 1959, and then recorded by Peter, Paul, & Mary in 1963.

In 2007, along comes this conservative's political satirist to rape the song and replace its words with "Barack the Magic Negro" lyrics. This political statement rendition was based on an article by David Ehrenstein at The LA Times; however, while the article "Obama the Magic Negro" talks about a literary theory applied to the real world and has some objectionable lines of thought, the song "Barack the Magic Negro" by satirist Paul Shanklin is racist garbage set up to be "cute."

Rush Limbaugh popularized it on his show, and then the song was given out as Christmas gifts from RNC chair candidate Chip Saltzman to his fellow Republicans. The singer is presented as Al Sharpton singing about his envy of Barack Obama and how he won't have any work if Obama is elected.

Sorry, but this was the first song that came to mind when I saw the theme for this week.

To avoid leaving everyone in a bummed-out mood, I'm closing with Milli Vanilli. You remember them. The producers put good looking guys, Rob and Fab, on the covers of their albums and in videos and on stage, but chubby, ordinary black guys were the actual people singing. The guys with locks that made hearts go pitter patter were lip synching.

There's nothing wrong with song itself, it's the fraud that was wrong. People realized the group was fake when their song "Girl You Know It's True" started to skip at a concert. I think somebody made that song skip. Oh, the irony of the fakery put on blast with a song about knowing the truth. ;-)

The creators of the Old School Friday meme are Mrs. Grapevine and Marvalus at OBW and has these rules, if you want to join this theme party.

Check out other participants at this link, or in the scroll box below.

I try to participate in Old School Friday each week because it's good for the soul. Click this link for all my OSF posts.

Other participants: ...

Create your own vinyl record at Says-it.com

If you're not on the list, please let me know by leaving a comment on my OSF Participants post.

Finally, any visits to my NOLA Lit Examiner site will be greatly appreciated: LINK.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Beyonce on Letterman talks Twitter plus Dueling Trailers, Obsessed vs. Fatal Attraction

Beyoncé Knowles's new movie Obsessed with Ali Larter of Heroes and Idris Elba, who I remember most from The Reaping, has only been in my peripheral vision. I lived through the hoopla over Fatal Attraction in the 1980s starring Glen Close. It's the movie that men used to watch and say it convinced them not to cheat on their wives for awhile.

However, I did see Beyoncé's interview with David Letterman last night in which she discussed why she doesn't tweet or hang out at Twitter. She also talked about her relationship with her sister and how she's not domestic as in doesn't cook or clean.

I have YouTube clips below, but please keep in mind CBS may make YouTube take the clips down for copyright violations. In case that happens, here's a link to a shorter clip of the interview at Letterman's site.

The first video is about Solange, of whom Beyonce says she's protective and how in Beyonce's opinion her sister tweets too much (Solange's Twitter page). Beyonce prefers the phone but says Solange is trying to recruit her to Twitter, which is quickly becoming a promotional tool for celebrities.

This part has Letterman flirting, kept saying Beyonce had two beautiful earrings when he was looking at her breast, and also Beyonce talking about her upcoming tour.

Regarding the movie Obsessed, the singer, who's been in at least three movies now says the fight scenes with Larter helped her release some rage. Rotten Tomatoes has a story/early review. Part of the analsis:

... this blandly-titled film is centered around a love triangle but the casting allows for a new twist with a white woman invading the sanctity of a black couple's marriage. Sony should see a strong turnout from females and from African American moviegoers, but male appeal is solid too so the date crowd will be key here. (Rotten Tomatoes)

The first time I saw the trailer in a movie theater, I thought the producers went with the black man chased by the white woman angle because they want the biggest box office take they can get, but probably all producers want that.

Obsession is also reminiscent of Spike Lee's film Jungle Fever, 1991, which was about what Lee described as an unhealthy attraction between two people of different races. However, in Jungle Fever the white female who was attracted to the married African-American male in her office, played by Wesley Snipes, was not insane, and in that movie the injured wife thought the husband was obsessed with light skin. I don't know if Obsessed will address the topic of some black men acting like fools over white women or just focus on Larter's character being the obsessed party.

The LA Times has this slide show called "The Crazy Ladies Guide To Love" related to the movie, which opens tomorrow, April 24. Here is a link to its official site.

Obsession 2009 vs. Fatal Attraction 1987

Just for fun, here's the trailer for the older movie Fatal Attraction, that had a white cast is followed by the trailer for Obsession.

Fatal Attraction - Trailer | Movies & TV | SPIKE.com

Obsessed trailer.

In Honor of The Bard and Talk Like Shakespeare Day

On Tuesday, I concluded a small treatise in three parts on that rapper Lil Wayne and Hip Hop as Art at the website thou knowst as Examiner.com

Shouldst thou grace mine work with thine presence, I beseech thee to make thine mark in the compartment for visitor commentary.

Today is Talk Like Skakespeare Day. :-) You may read a selection of Shakespeare's sonnets at Eserver.org.

And Nelle at Blogher's done a terrible thing. She told me and others about the Shakespeare Insult Machine.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Calling all trained musicians. Answer this question, please.

Over on some of the Prince fan sites, they've worn this topic out, going back and forth saying Alicia Keys is always stealing from Prince as though that means she's not talented all by herself. In particular they debate (I've only lurked and not joined a forum) that Keys's song "Like You'll Never See Me Again" sounds like a Prince song. Many of them say they're not sure which one. Could be "Purple Rain," or "Diamonds & Pearls" or "Adore," they say.

The first time I heard "Like You'll Never See Me Again" last year, I immediately thought of "Adore" by Prince. If you are trained in music theory and come across this post, please tell me what's going on between the two songs. I think there's a musical term for it, and so I've cut samples from each song for your evaluation.

I'm not a musician, but are these songs in the same key, and if so, what's Alicia doing, playing the inverse of Adore in sections. I don't know at all, and that's why I want a musician to solve this mystery for me.

See clips below. Just press play and listen to each of the samples, please. And if you don't know the answer, but know someone who may be able to answer, please pass on the link.

Listen here

Earth Day, Mother Nature, Joni Mitchell and James Taylor's Gaia

I know everybody who's concerned about the planet will be talking about how to save it today because today is Earth Day, which you'll get immediately if you use Google as your search engine. The art work you see here is its Earth Day acknowledgment. And if you know any socially-conscious moms with little children, they're clamoring to get them off to see Disney's new movie, Earth, which opens in theaters today.

But I'm not in the mood to speak seriously today about saving the planet, except to recall the conversation David Letterman had with Anderson Cooper about CNN's earth special, Planet in Peril, back in December. Letterman thinks it's too late to save Earth.

It's not that I don't want to save the planet or that I didn't believe Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, but more like I'm burned out on the topic temporarily. But before you lecture me, look, I'm generally down with Earth, our home, and up with environmental issues. I used to work in PR for an environmental restoration program. Maybe that's why I'm burned out. Who knows.

So, for the lighter side, just a little over a month ago I posted on the old Chiffon Margarine commercial that featured Mother Nature after reading that some woman was concerned that her child's pre-school teacher uttered "Mother Nature" during a class. She saw it as the teacher indoctrinating children into paganism, which prompted me to write, Attack of the Wiccans and Mother Nature Phobia.

If you're old enough, you recall that Mother Nature, a middle-aged white woman in a flowing gown. However, today a Vitamin Water by Glaceau commercial features Mother Nature as a black woman in a power suit, running Water Inc. See video below of the first commercial, but the new one with the rabbits and Mother Nature demanding all the animals work overtime because pure water is losing ground to Vitamin Water is funnier.

And since I love mash-ups lately, I think I'll mash up Earth Day with National Poetry Month and fudge on the poem part by posting song lyrics (close enough). When I think of Earth Day, I also think of James Taylor's song, "Gaia," and then I chuckle because my old English professor said when he heard it, "Nice song, but I'm not a Gaia kind of guya."

Here are the lyrics, and over at the site where I found them someone had a note that this song is the "tree huggers' anthem."

GAIA
Lyrics by James Taylor

The sky was light and the land all dark
The sun rose up over Central Park
I was walking home from work
GAIA
The petal sky and the rosy dawn
The world turning on the burning sun
Sacred wet green one we live on
GAIA
Run run run run said the automobile and we ran
Run for your life take to your heels
Foolish school of fish on wheels
GAIA
Turn away from your animal kind
Try to leave your body just to live in your mind
Leave your cold cruel mother earth behind
GAIA
As if you were your own creation
As if you were the chosen nation
And the world around you just a rude and
Dangerous invasion
GAIA

Someone`s got to stop us now
Save us from us Gaia
No one`s gonna stop us now

We thought we ought to walk awhile
So we left that town in a single file
Up and up and up mile after mile after mile

We reached the tree line and I dropped my pack
Sat down on my haunches and I looked back down
Over the mountain
Helpless and speechless and breathless

GAIA

Pray for the forest pray to the tree
Pray for the fish in the deep blue sea
Pray for yourself and for God`s sake
Say one for me
Poor wretched unbeliever

Someone`s got to stop us now
Save us from us Gaia
No one`s gonna stop us now

If you're unfamiliar with the song, you may listen to it at Yahoo Music. It's off JT's Hourglass CD, and it's pretty. BTW, James is no Jimmy-come-lately to the issue. If you listen to his "Traffic Jam" song below, one of his old songs that always amuses me, you'll hear he make a statement at the end about fossil fuels.

And I can't forget Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi," that says "Don't it always see to go that you don't miss what you've got 'til it's gone. They pave Paradise, put up a parking lot." Yes, I'm showing my age.

Time for that Vibrator Talk with Your Teen Daughter

Stephany who blogs at Crooked House is not having an easy time of it. She's a couch potato by her own description, tired and dragging through her days, and ready to give Oprah expert Dr. Laura Berman the thumbs up for telling moms to tell their daughters about masturbation, maybe even given them vibrators for Christmas. It's understandable. Stephany is pregnant and says tongue in cheek, "If only I'd had a vibrator seven months ago, I wouldn't be stuck on this couch right now."

Ahh, but there's a disclaimer:

I'm kidding. (I mean it, Mom, I'm really kidding! I never heard about vibrators until yesterday! Honest!) But I'm not kidding about how informative this particular Oprah show was on a difficult parenting issue. (Crooked House)

She's funny, but her words strike truth: Most parents don't want to think about their little darlings knowing anything more about sex than the male penis is like your car cigarette lighter and a woman's vagina is like the hole into which the lighter goes.

I've never used that analogy with a child, but that is what my ex-husband told our son when the boy was about 10. The ex, who was not yet the ex, was reluctant to tell him that much. I had to lobby him to speak to our son, but I had already given the child a book that explained sex in plain English, including masturbation, for boys in his age-range. My work was done!

If my mother were still living, I may have had to tell her what Stephany said to hers at the end of her blog, and this after I've birthed two children in marriage, am nearing 50, and am single again. If you're a mother and think it would be easy to talk to your daughter about how to use a vibrator, then I'll bet you're a highly unique mommy.

My daughter's 28, and while I can mention vibrators in passing, I cannot see myself sitting down and telling her about the pleasures of masturbation, not now and probably not when she was 14. I've been patting myself on the back for being brave enough to find the juiciest condom I could and then telling her how to put it on an erect penis.

Nevertheless, I think there's value in Dr. Berman's advice, and mothers across the web are talking. Dr. Berman's advises teaching your daughter about the joy of masturbation so she will feel in charge of her own body and not have sex with the first boy that makes her hips gyrate and legs turn to Jello while giving her a hickey.

So, did you see the show? Have you talked it over with friends, read blog posts, um, approached your teen to have "the talk"? Watch selected video and read summaries at Oprah.com. It's too much to cover here. The talk-show host did two episodes on "How to talk to your children about sex." The first one went from toddler to tween. The second focused on teens.

I thought when I looked for bloggers talking about these shows that I'd find only outrage because Oprah's audience looked like they all needed Valium when Dr. Berman suggested they give their daughters vibrators and talk to them about clitoral stimulation. Oprah's BFF Gayle, as Stephany says in her post, looked like "she needed smelling salts." That was during the first show. During the next show when Dr. Berman talked to a 14-year-old girlfriend and boyfriend, Courtney and Pierce, who wanted to have sex, I thought Gayle would have a stroke.

Gayle seemed to believe that too much would be interpreted as approval of teens having sex just because they think they're in love. Interestingly, however, after Dr. Berman finished talking to the teen couple, the girl's eyes opened. Courtney realized that she thought she and her boyfriend would be together forever or at least a few years because to her that's what long-term relationship means. Pierce, however, figured six-months to a year tops should do. After their talk with the doctor, Courtney wasn't quite so hot to go for it, but they've already done everything but have intercourse.

Do Pierce and Courtney understand sexually transmitted diseases? Courtney says they've had presentations in school about them. "Quite a few times, from sixth grade till now," Pierce says.

Dr. Berman says that's good news. "For the past eight years at least, most schools—if they do have sex education—it's abstinence-only education," she says. "They teach you about sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy, but they don't necessarily teach you about prevention." (Oprah.com)

Jen will not go the abstinence-only right with her child, I concluded after reading Serenity Now! According to Jen, her daughter is about "2-3 years" away from needing the first "talk," probably the one about the mechanics of sex. But of vibrators, she's not buying it, "... for the part where the Dr. suggests that as a parent, you offer your 15 year old daughter the possibility of a vibrator. Um, sorry no- prudesaywhat?" she writes.

But she's not as uptight as that sounds:

At any rate, I've always tried to create an environment where my kids are not ashamed of their bodies. We call their "stuff" by its real name and when my kids are um, "exploring" I usually turn a blind eye.

The other day, Jack was in the bathtub and Megan and I were in the bathroom with him talking about other things, not really paying attention to him. I could hear him chattering away to himself but I didn't pay much attention until he called out something that sounded like, "penis control".

Megan started to giggle and I looked over at Jack who was sprawled out on his back in the tub and clearly had a handle on his, uh...appendage. (Serenity Now!)

I remember those days.

Another aspect of talking to our children about sex is to talk about emotions, how being in love or thinking we're in love feels, and according to a join-study by Oprah Magazine and Seventeen Magazine, parents fail to do that. We're focused on making sure nobody pops up pregnant. Find more about that study here.

Other bloggers discussing Oprah's show on talking to children about sex:

Big Update! Resources from the Show

The focus of this Blogher post is teens and the suggestion that mothers should talk over masturbation, including vibrators, but I'm adding information for the mothers of younger children and the parents of teens who may be starting this discussion later than Dr. Berman suggests as a resource for the interested.

At Oprah.com, you may watch video here of a mother talking to her 10-year-old daughter about sex with Dr. Berman's help.

Also, you may download Dr. Berman's handbook, The SexEd Guide For Parents also at Oprah.com as well as additional visual aids.

Nordette Adams is a BlogHer CE and the New Orleans Literature Examiner for Examiner.com. She has two personal blogs, WSATA and UMBOP. This post is cross-posted at BlogHer.

Lessons for a Profligate Nation

Pinch pennies.

Bide your time because timing is everything.

The only job more thankless than the presidency is motherhood. Nobody sees you were right until decades later. -- Nordette Adams

Time is fleeting, and through its misuse we build our own prisons. -- Vérité Parlant aka Nordette Adams

Life is a winding road of lessons and opportunities. Wear good shoes. -- Vérité Parlant aka Nordette Adams

If happiness is within, why don't we bump into it more often? -- Vérité Parlant aka Nordette Adams

People love us as their capacity allows. -- Nordette Adams aka Vérité Parlant

Insincere prayers are spam in heaven. -- Nordette Adams

Study finds left-wing brain, right-wing brain.

New Orleans Literature Examiner

Blogger Burnout: How Honest Are You? (my first post at WSATA)

Whose shoes are these anyway?