The ICI Experience:

BlogHer presents the second annual BlogHer in Second Life. Register here . Fees: There is no fee to attend BlogHer in Second Life. What is BlogHer '08 in Second Life? About BlogHer : BlogHer has developed one of the most influential communities by, for, about and of women who blog. BlogHer's mission is to create opportunities for women bloggers to pursue education, exposure, community and economic empowerment through our online platforms and conferences. What IS Second Life? Leave Your Disability Behind inthe Virtual Reality of Second Life When is Blogher '08? Friday & Saturday, July 18-19, 2008 The Blogher '08 Second Life Agenda (All times Pacific Daylight Time): DAY ONE, Friday July 18th 9:00-9:15 AM (live from San Francisco, CA) Welcome to BlogHer '08 from the Westin St. Francis Ballroom in San Francisco 9:15-10:15 AM "Speed Dating" for BlogHers in Second Life 10:30-11:45 AM Second Life Break-Out Session #1: The Intersection of Blogging and Second...

Since I seem to be called more and more to post political items, I went ahead and did it. I made myself a political blog to post politics to my heart's content. It's called The Truth Shall Make You Free. The address is http://thetruthaccordingtosherril.blogspot.com/. I'm participating in Nablopomo for July and the theme is Food. I don't want to write about food much, but pictures are something else! Good Food item pictures courtesy of Bee Green Organic Market, Deli and Juice Bar in Albany, GA This is a Raw Taco Tray made with local Georgia pecans and collards. Yum!

I'm going to try posting every day in July. November didn't work so well for me (holidays etc.), and now they have NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) EVERY month. Each month has a theme. For June the theme was Home. For July it's Food. I don't know how I'm going to relate each post to food; maybe just a picture of something good to eat. Like this lovely edible flower salad. Would someone make me one, please?

The politics part is my funny for the day: I, Lieutenant Worf, Endorse Barack Obama For President in Your Year 2008 Be sure to read the comments. Hilarious and sometimes true. The war part is not so funny. Once again, this subject relates to the topic of this blog because war causes stress for those of us at home, too, and it's especially stressful for those of us with already compromised immune systems and conditions that are aggravated by stress. That said, I've been reading the Military Religious Freedom Foundation website and newsletter for a couple of months now. There seems to be some crossover between church and state going on in our military. Which is against the law, but hey, that hasn't stopped this administration on several other fronts so nobody seems to expect this to matter to them now. The image on the right kind of summarizes the whole issue for me. I call it "Rifles and Bibles" . I thought it was those nut job Taliban guys that did stuff like...

Here are the important parts of the notification email I received: June 25, 2008 Dear “International Leaders Against Pain” Applicant, Congratulations! You have been chosen to receive the NFA 2008 Leaders’ Scholarship to attend NFA’s 4th Annual International Leaders Against Pain Media and Advocacy Training Seminar at the Airlie Conference Center in Warrenton Virginia Sunday, August 10 to Thursday, August 14, 2008. The National Fibromyalgia Association is pleased to invite you to spend 5 days and 4 nights with support group leaders and patient advocates from around the world to learn how to promote and create awareness on behalf of those living with fibromyalgia and other chronic illnesses. Your NFA 2008 National LAP Scholarship includes: 4 Nights accommodations Sunday, August 10 through Wednesday August 13, 2008 at Airlie Center Dinner on Sunday, August 10, 2008 Breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday, August 11 through Wednesday, August 13, 20...

So, I'm trying to get more personal in my writing. I like how my friend Aviva on SickMomma keeps an updated record on her doctor's appointments, etc. on her blog. But this post is even more personal; it's about a crying meltdown I had recently. From Fibro Viv, on Being Credible: If my own family does not support me, what am I to do? During my recent vacation, I was reminded of the lack of support for my current plight (cannot work, waiting for SS disability hearing) I get from some of my family members. I've accepted my father's view that I should just keep on keepin' on. I/we don't discuss the subject of my health at all, except in the most cursory of terms. But when I learned of another family member's (by marriage) feeling that it's not right for me (or anyone else, apparently) to be receiving assistance (which I do, from whoever will give it to me), or applying for public housing (which I'm currently in the process of - I've been li...

Vacations are nice, even working ones. I've been on a working vacation but I'm back now and will be posting again soon. Out my window - Cephallonia, Greece vacation , originally uploaded by mnadi .

My father and the dad-next-door once dressed up like Zombies and followed us on our trick or treating route on Halloween. When we were as far away from home as we could get, they made their presence known. AAAGGGHHH!!! I just sent this card to my Dad: Don't send a lame Father's Day eCard . Try JibJab Sendables ! I like JibJab. So appropriate for my family's warped sense of humor.

Did you know that Medical Astrology was used by physicians hundreds of years ago? Me neither, until I found this site about the star signs and managing illness. I think sometimes I might be better off with an astrologist treating me than some of the well meaning medical professionals on my treatment team... This is me being sick, according to Kingsley: Aquarius If there was ever a Star sign-social worker Aquarians fits that job description perfectly. Aquarians have unique but traditional approaches to managing symptoms. Their reformist approach may include herbal or alternative healing modalities. Aquarians are social and intellectual creatures with dependable (stoic) temperaments resistant to change. They are indeed rebellious of authority and most doctors. Denial of their illness is no excuse to keep drinking heavily though. Managing illness will present challenges for Aquarians who tend to burn out when stressed. Aquarians detach from their painful symptoms by reading, partying o...

Click here for a printed copy of the story. To ask Oprah to have Tom on her show, send her his name and address: Tom Varillas 1015 Dover Ct Oldsmar, FL 34677-2528

Pic ture courtesy of the Oxford Illustrated Science Encyclopedia As specified in my About The ICIE page , in the Email republication policy section, the policy across The ICI Experience sites and blog is to reproduce any critical emails sent to any email address associated with me or this site, and also to reproduce any critical discussion of me or my activities which I see or become aware of on any outlets in any form of media. The following email doesn't come across directly as all that critical of me, but it does insinuate that I have not bothered to research Dr. Barrett's reputation before throwing my lot in with him. And it quite blatantly suggests that Dr. Barrett is himself a quack. The following is a copy of the email, and my answer. On Mon, Jun 2, 2008 at 10:38 PM, Janis & Fred janis_at cox dot net > wrote: Hello Sherrill, I was reading your blog. I wanted to know where the chiropractor Whitcomb is located as his name rings a bell from my support group a...

I posted this review to Amazon today, 5/15/08. I guess it's dated 4/5 because that was the estimated date I should have received the order. I've posted ratings before but they don't seem to get published. I'm going to start keeping track of this publicly, here on my blog. Why does my review keep disappearing? , April 5, 2008 By Sherril L. Johnson "SherrilLynn" (SW Georgia) - See all my reviews I bought this book (at the full and inflated price of $14.99) from Amazon and I deserve to have my review counted. What use is this whole review system if Amazon is going to let the authors pick and choose which reviews get printed and counted in the rating??? These days anybody can write a book and publish it themselves. That is how this book came to be. Dr. Whitcomb published it himself. The only review of this book included on or in the book is on the back cover, by "New York Times ...

I've put together a summary of blog posts that I've been doing on Whitcomb and on what to do about him. If you have any questions I'll be glad to try to answer them, but Dr. Barrett, of Quackwatch, is the expert. He seemed really nice when I talked to him on the phone about Whitcomb. If you just send him an email with your question I'm sure he will answer you asap. This is Dr. Barrett's excellent advice on how to file a complaint against a chiropractor: Prepare three copies. Send one to the agency that licenses chiropractors in the state the chiropractor practices in. California BOARD OF CHIROPRACTIC EXAMINERS 2525 Natomas Park Drive, Suite 260 Sacramento, CA 95833 Attn: Enforcement Unit Indicate that a copy has been sent to the state attorney general so that the board knows that an outside agency is aware of the complaint. Send the second copy to the state attorney general, but don't indicate that a copy has been sent to the licensing board. ...

Some of the more recent history of human rights - From Wikipedia on Human Rights: The history of human rights covers thousands of years and draws upon religious, cultural, philosophical and legal developments throughout recorded history. We hold these truths to be self-evident , that all men are created equal , that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights , that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness . United States Declaration of Independence ~Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, as authorized by the Continental Congress, July 2, 1776 with minor revisions and released publicly on July 4, 1776. “ ...recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world ” —Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 The term inalienable rights refers to a theoretical set of individual human ...

I spoke to Dr. Stephen Barrett of Quackwatch.com on 5/1/08. He said it does look like there is something wrong going on with the Whitcomb website. He suggested that if people are not comfortable filing a complaint using these instructions , they can send their firsthand experiences with Paul Whitcomb and The Fibromyalgia Relief Centers to Quackwatch. When there are enough of the right kind of testimonials submitted, he can coordinate legal action. The instructions on how to report a fraud to Quackwatch are here . If it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck and it swims like a duck... There's a nice background piece on Dr. Barrett at medhunters.com. Quoting them: "The internet," Barrett says, "permits the promoters of unsubstantiated ideas to reach a very wide audience inexpensively. However, it also enables people like me to put up information." This range of easily available information is making it possible for health care consumer...

From Dominie's 5/6/08 newsletter 5. FIBROMYALGIA IS A DISEASE - NOT A SYNDROME From North Texas Fibromyalgia Support and Meetup Group - http://fibromyalgia.meetup.com/285 -- "We had Dr. Kenneth Kippels speak, and he said that there are evidences that prove that Fibromyalgia changes multiple systems within the body and therefore is definitely a disease. They can prove by certain changes within the blood, changes within the brain tissue and destruction of or changes to the adrenal glands, thyroid and pituitary that yes, Fibromyalgia is not a Syndrome, it is definitely, a disease!"

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: April Alameda AAlameda@chiro.ca.gov > Date: Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 4:55 PM Subject: Dr. Paul E. Whitcomb, D.C., license number DC 11681 Dear Ms. Johnson, This is in response to your correspondence dated April 11, 2008, which was received by the Board of Chiropractic Examiners on April 15, 2008. You have requested copies of complaints and/or Decisions related to Dr. Paul E. Whitcomb, D.C. Please be advised that complaints are exempt from disclosure pursuant to Government Code section 6254, subdivision (f). Therefore, the Board is unable to respond to your request. With regards to Accusations, our records indicate that an Accusation has not been served at this time. If you have further questions or concerns regarding this matter, please contact me via email or at the telephone number listed below. Sincerely, April Alameda, Program Analyst Board of Chiropractic Examiners (916) 263-5329 ...

Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), "How to file a complaint against a chiropractor" ... Although chiropractic boards occasionally discipline practitioners, they almost never interfere with quack practices. Pro-Quackery Legislation by Stephen M. Barrett, M.D. California BOARD OF CHIROPRACTIC EXAMINERS 2525 Natomas Park Drive, Suite 260 Sacramento, CA 95833 Attn: Enforcement Unit Suggestions from Quackwatch.com: Prepare three copies. Send one to the agency that licenses chiropractors in your state (in the state where the chiropractor is licensed - see above). Indicate that a copy has been sent to the state attorney general (see below for CA) so that the board knows that an outside agency is aware of the complaint. Send the second copy to the state attorney general, but don't indicate that a copy has been sent to the licensing board. (If you do, the attorney general's office might ignore it.) Send the third copy to Quackwatch, P.O. Box 1747, Allentown, PA 18105 an...