Clippings

Singing Therapy Helps Stroke Patients Speak Again : Shots

Debra Meyerson was hiking near Lake Tahoe 15 months ago when a stroke destroyed part of the left side of her brain, leaving her literally speechless. It happens to more than 150,000 Americans a year.

But now Meyerson is learning to talk again through an approach that trains the undamaged right side of her brain to "speak." Specifically, it's a region that controls singing.

via npr.org

Here's a fascinating story on NPR about the use of singing therapy for speech recovery after stroke. I'm interested in the technique, in the results that are possible, and in the report of using MRI in identical twins to image the changes the therapy effected. Thanks to Denise Graveline (@dontgetcaught) for digging this one out.

For another story about brain injury, see today's New York Times, When Injuries to the Brain Tear at Hearts.

Orion Weiss

I attended a recital by Orion Weiss at Kennedy Center yesterday, and I can't remember being so enthusiastic about a young performer for quite some time. Here's what I thought yesterday.

Wess maintains (sort of) a web site, and also has a presence at InstantEncore, where you can listen to clips.

Baked and Wired

I have been blown away by the baked goods at Baked and Wired. Visited today and sampled cocoa and ginger pumpkin bread. Here's a snap of the main service counter showing some of the goods that are available; I brought one of those cherry hand pies home to enjoy tonight.

Mother's Christmas Bread

This batch came out a little lopsided but it's sure to taste good. This is my favorite Christmas bread, given by Bernard Clayton. Of it he says "I traced the recipe back to the Indiana kitchen of Mrs. Maude Smith, whose father's mother first baked this loaf in her Norwegian kitchen in 1870."