A really neat vid from National Geographic online

If you hit 'more videos' in the upper righthand corner of the video you'll find an amazing selection opens in a new window.

Still Got The Blues Gary Moore

Thanks, James Shepard, for turning me onto this great musician and performance. Wow!

Overdosing on Poetry

Growing up, we had a couple of poetry anthologies in our home and one other poetry book. The town library was a room about the size of our den and had a scant selection of books, none of them poetry. My parents enjoyed poetry, so I became a fan, too, returning to the anthologies to read and reread my favorites. I memorized The Highwayman so I could recite it to myself when I was away from the book. I was 14. Poems were rare and became jewels to be cherished. More and more I've realized that as the internet brings me poem after poem on a daily basis I don't cherish them as much. To be honest, I prefer going to youtube right now and finding a good piece of music. Yes, I do stumble across poems and poets I love and yes, I still do read some poetry every day. I admit I've lost the thrill of it, though (except when a winner of a poem comes down the pike). I no longer fondle the pages of a poem, sigh, come back to read and reread...there's no time. It's on to the next. I still love writing poetry, but I suspect my own poetry gets a cursory glance from the reader as a mound of poetry links to move on to after mine.

With a novel, we stick with a story until the book is finished. We immerse ourselves in it, become part of the characters and settings. We're not trying to read part of ten books at the same time so the author can have feedback..instantly.

Well, that's my confession. I want poems to be diamonds again. I want space and time to enjoy when I'm ready.

nodding off
another poem slides
through my hands

You've got to love Eric Clapton playing a reggae version of You Look Wonderful Tonight!

I've always loved his straight version of this song, yet can't get this version out of my mind.

Pris

Dr Robert Keller, R.I.P.

I received an email yesterday that Dr Robert Keller, the first doctor to finally help me with CFIDS and my doctor for 8 years before he first dropped Medicare, then closed his practice, died on Friday of a long illness. I knew that he left for health reasons but privacy is a huge thing so I didn't know it was terminal. This has been a huge shock. He was a brilliant doctor, knowledgeable, and very good with his patients.

A small part of an online resume for Dr Keller includes:

* a triple board certified physician

* Named as one of the 2000 Outstanding Scientists of the Century

* Elected to the Board of Governors of the American Academy of HIV Medicine of the State of Florida

* Serves on the National Practice Committee

* The Consumer's Research Council of America has named him as one of the Top Physicians in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 in the fields of Internal Medicine, Immunology and Hematology; he is featured in the: “Guide to America’s Top Physicians”

* In 1995 he founded Immune Balance Technologies. IBT develops technologies to modulate the human immune system, to treat disease, preserve wellness & reverse the aging process

* Over the last twenty years Dr. Keller has been involved in scientific research in both Immunology and Hematology

* Dr. Keller also treats patients with immune dysfunction through his medical practice The KBK Institute, a state of the art medical clinic for the cutting edge treatment of patients afflicted with chronic illnesses including: HIV, Hemophilia, Hepatitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Autoimmune diseases, pre and post Cancer care, chronic neurogenerative diseases and aging – which we view as a disease.


God speed, Dr Keller. Know that you made a difference!

EDIT: One of the comments indicated that the cause of death for Dr. Keller was Amyloidosis, a progressive, incurable, metabolic disease characterized by abnormal deposits of protein in one or more organs or body systems. I googled this and the cause is unknown except genetic factors seem to play a role.

Numerous people have visited, and still visit, my blog based on a search for Dr Keller and his cause of death. If you have a google account and can post, please do so. He touched so many lives, including mine.

Product comments have been deleted.

***********NOTE: See my blog of March 11, 2010. DR KELLER NOW HAS A PAGE ON FACEBOOK, STARTED THE DAY BEFORE BY HIS DAUGHTER. MY MARCH 11 POST GIVES A LINK TO THE PAGE.

Sprained ankle

I jammed my ankle between two hard things on Wed. Can't walk on it and need to keep in elevated until the orange on one side goes down. No way to elevate at this computer, so I'm again slow to respond and brief. I went to doc, but since I could still walk on it at that point...it had just happened, they didn't x-ray it, but that may yet need to be done since they said it should be 'deflated' in 2-3 days. Not happening. I won't be reading blogs until I can stay on longer but thank all of you who visit in the meantime.

Pris

Blue Fifth Collaborative Issue is out!!

It's a wonderful issue, thanks to editor, Sam Rasnake. You can see it HERE.

Scott Owens and I have collaborations in the journal along with other poets I really enjoy.

Pris