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Do you trust your partner to cut your hair? It’s the ultimate relationship test. My husband’s hair was getting a bit long and unruly so he asked me to cut it. For those of you who know me well, you know that doing anything hair related is at the far, farther, farthest boundary of my…

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Shrimp Tacos, Refried Beans and Rice: A Pantry Meal Today is Memorial Day, a day when we honor our veterans and those who lost their lives while in the service of our country. I think about my oldest grandson who is serving in the Navy. I also think of all the people that were lynched,…

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Legendary jazz tap dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson was born on May 25, 1878, in Richmond, Virginia. His given name was Luther, but he despised it and appropriated that of his younger brother, William. An extraordinary performer and synthesizer of the tap tradition, Robinson is also credited with one major innovation in this American art form: transforming its…

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When I cook too much rice (my husband doesn’t like brown rice so it is usually long-grain plain or long-grain jasmine) or have leftover rice from ordering Chinese, I usually make rice pudding the easy way. I put the rice in a pot, cover it with milk – I use cow milk but you can…

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Introducing Esperanza Spalding Portland, Oregon-born jazz singer, bassist, and cellist Esperanza Spalding displayed prodigious talents from an early age playing violin with the Chamber Music Society of Oregon. She burst onto America’s jazz music scene with the release of her debut album Junjo in 2006, receiving favorable reviews from the likes of the New York Times’ critic Ben Ratliff. Since then,…

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Getting to Know Aaron Diehl Pianist Aaron Diehl is a jazz musician with a mission; he seeks to traverse the generational boundaries of the genre, and with compliments such as the New York Times lauding him as “a smart young pianist with a fastidious grasp of jazz traditions,” he is certainly proving his worth. A graduate of…

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exercise drink enough water avoid alcohol and other empty calories (hello, soda!) manage stress get enough sleep ( 6-8 hours every night) eat smaller portions lose weight avoid eating my favorite deserts Read more here and here.

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Want to improve your vocabulary painlessly? Subscribe to Word of the Day or Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day. Or get the Word of the Day app at the Google Play Store or the Apple app store.

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I love Mexican food. Not “spanish” food. Not Tex-Mex food. Mexican food. As in food like people eat in their homes in Mexico. One of my favorite memories comes from when I lived in California and had the opportunity to eat some real Mexican food, particularly food from Sonora. Carne asada tacos, arroz con pollo,…

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Are Bats Really to Blame for the COVID-19 Pandemic? Around the world, bats are blamed for disease. Bat scientist and conservationist Merlin Tuttle counters these fears and explains why these mammals are so important. Bats have been identified by some experts, and in the media, as the culprits behind the costliest pandemic in modern history, even though the source…

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Over the past few weeks (and months) a number of retailers – including some of my favorites – have filed for bankruptcy. I suspect that some who closed because of coronavirus may fail to reopen or may go out of business within the next 12 months. Here is a list of retailers (and restaurants) I…

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World Fair Trade Day May 9 is World Fair Trade Day. Support businesses that sell Fair Trade goods. Peace on Fifth is one such store and belongs to my daughter London. She sells on line and has a variety of items including international chocolates. Check out Peace on Fifth.

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 Do You Know Gregory Porter? Hailed by NPR Music as “the next great male jazz singer,” California-born singer and songwriter Gregory Porter’s music career began over 20 years ago, though it wasn’t until he moved to New York City and performed regularly at Harlem’s legendary St. Nick’s Pub that his career really took off. Porter released his debut album, Water, produced by…

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Presenting Cécile McLorin Salvant Born to a French mother and a Haitian father in Miami, Florida, Cécile McLorin Salvant was singing and playing classical piano before she reached the age of 10. A move to France in 2007 saw her study improvisation and vocal repertoire under respected reedist Jean-François Bonnel. Success followed the recording of her debut…

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