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Exploring Folk Music Traditions Around the World
Trivia: What is the currency of Japan?
RetireHub
February 11, 2026
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 | By: Tara J. Stone Family secrets and broken relationships have made Evie a pro at building walls around her heart. But the discovery of a sister she's never met and new feelings for an old friend just might cause those walls to crumble. Winner of multiple awards, 680 Miles Away hits the sweet spot where warm and fuzzy meet! |
Dear Joanne
Your questions, her wisdom — Joanne’s here with thoughtful advice, warm humor, and a listening ear for whatever’s on your mind.
This week, we have all heard or read about the very sad situation about Nancy Guthrie and the Guthrie family. When stories like these surface which include seniors being targeted, misled, or harmed, it immediately shakes us to the cores.
We all should think about what we could do to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.
Below I have some tips to keep in mind as we all try to remain safe in our surroundings:
1. Trust your instincts – They could be one of your greatest assets!
Women have always been credited with having great intuition. We’ve all lived long enough to know when something feels “off.” If a situation, person, or request makes you uneasy, trust that instinct. Step back. Ask questions. Seek a second opinion from someone you trust, like a grown child, spouse or sibling – someone who would have your best interest in mind. People who want to do harm mostly rely on high pressure tactics and confusion. If you listen to your instincts, that could slow the situation enough to see things more clearly.
2. Keep your close circle informed of your whereabouts.
We have all learned that when people want to harm us, they try to isolate us from our loved ones. You don’t need to share every detail of your life with everyone you know, but keeping select people in the loop, like family and close friends. Some examples of what you should share:
Tell someone if you’re meeting a new person. You can never go wrong with who, what, when, where and how.
Let others know about unusual phone calls or messages. Or, if someone comes up to your door or stops you for conversations that seem unusual or uncomfortable.
3. Watch your technology!
Technology is a blessing in some instances, but it is an open door for scammers. A few simple habits go a long way:
Never click links in unexpected emails or texts.
Don’t give personal information over the phone unless you initiated the call to a company that you trust.
Use strong, unique passwords and change them often.
Again, trust your instincts. If something looks official but feels or looks suspicious, it probably not valid. Delete it at once.
4. Know where to call if you need help.
Every community has support systems designed to protect seniors:
Senior centers
Local police non-emergency lines
Adult protective services
Community watch groups
Faith-based support networks
These aren’t just for emergencies! They are for prevention, guidance, and reassurance when you need them. Keep their contact numbers by your home phone or in your cell phone. Have one or two numbers on speed dial so at the push of a button you can call for help.
5. Keep your surroundings safe!
For a very small fee, you can have your Ring Camera or other device record all movements, and they will keep those recordings on file for you for up to 180 days. Ring.com has many subscriptions, one as low as $4.99 per month. That is a good investment for some security, in my opinion.
6. “NO” is a powerful word.
This is the hardest one for many seniors, especially those raised to be polite, accommodating, or trusting. But “NO” is a safety tool.
“No, I’m not comfortable with that.”
“No, I don’t give out that information.”
“No, I need to check with someone first.”
Do you have any other tips you would like to share, or stories about how some of these tips have helped you in the past? Email me at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you!
Take care and stay warm!! (It is minus seven degrees as I write this.)
Joanne
What did you think of this column? |
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On this day in 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years, marking a historic turning point in the fight to end apartheid in South Africa. His freedom became a powerful symbol of hope, resilience, and the global movement for justice and equality.
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Exploring Folk Music Traditions Around the World
Folk music is often called the “voice of the people,” and for good reason. Long before streaming playlists and radio hits, communities around the world shared stories, history, and emotion through songs passed down from generation to generation. Folk music traditions remain a powerful way to connect with culture, memory, and everyday life.
At its heart, folk music reflects the experiences of ordinary people — love, hardship, celebration, work, family, and faith. Each region has developed its own unique sound, shaped by language, landscape, and local instruments.
In Ireland and Scotland, lively fiddles and haunting ballads have been sung for centuries in pubs and homes. These songs often tell tales of longing, migration, and national pride. Meanwhile, in the American Appalachian Mountains, folk music blends European roots with African influences, creating the foundation for bluegrass and country music.
Across West Africa, folk traditions rely heavily on rhythm and oral storytelling. Instruments like the kora (a harp-like string instrument) accompany songs that preserve history and honor ancestors. In India, folk music varies widely by region, from energetic harvest songs to devotional melodies performed during festivals.
In Latin America, folk music often carries deep emotion and strong cultural identity. Styles like Mexican rancheras, Argentine folk guitar music, and Andean panpipe melodies celebrate both joy and resilience. In Eastern Europe, traditional dances and vocal harmonies remain central to weddings, holidays, and village gatherings.
Folk music is also deeply tied to community. Many traditions are meant to be performed together — sung in groups, danced to, or shared during rituals and celebrations. Even today, folk festivals and cultural events keep these musical legacies alive, while modern artists continue blending traditional sounds with contemporary styles.
Exploring folk music from around the world can be like traveling without leaving home. A single song can offer a glimpse into another way of life, reminding us that while cultures may differ, human emotions are universal.
Whether you enjoy gentle acoustic melodies, energetic dance rhythms, or soulful storytelling, folk music invites us all to listen more closely — not just to the music, but to the people behind it.
Which folk music tradition interests you most? |
Yesterday’s Poll Results: What’s your backup style?
These results show that automatic cloud backup is the clear favorite, with nearly half of voters saying they rely on services like iCloud or Google Drive for peace of mind. At the same time, a significant portion of readers are still in the “I know I should, but I haven’t started yet” category, highlighting how easy it is to put backups off until something goes wrong. It’s also notable that many people aren’t sure how backups work, suggesting there’s a real opportunity for simple, beginner-friendly guidance to help more people protect their photos, files, and memories.
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4 Tax Moves You Can Still Make Before the April 15 Deadline
Even though many people think tax planning must be finished by December 31, there are still important steps you can take before filing your return (typically by April 15) to potentially lower your tax bill or strengthen your financial picture. For example, if you or your spouse have earned income, you may still be eligible to make Traditional IRA or Spousal IRA contributions for the previous tax year, which could reduce taxable income. You may also be able to add money to a Health Savings Account (HSA) if you’re eligible, taking advantage of its triple tax benefits of deductible contributions, tax-deferred growth, and tax-free medical withdrawals. Another option for those with self-employment income is contributing to a SEP-IRA, possibly allowing larger tax-advantaged retirement savings. Finally, before you file, it’s wise to review your estimated payments or withholdings to prevent surprises — and adjust future withholding if needed to avoid penalties.
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Slang Phrase of the Day
Phrase: Smooth operator
Meaning: Someone who handles situations in a calm, confident, and skillful way — often with charm and ease.
In a sentence: “George was a real smooth operator at the community meeting, helping everyone feel comfortable and keeping things running smoothly.”
Good News of the Day
Innovative “Frog Spas” and “Saunas” Help Endangered Australian Frogs Return to the Wild
Conservationists in Australia are using creative habitat techniques—known as “frog spas” and “frog saunas”—to help the green and golden bell frog, a species once nearly wiped out by a deadly fungal disease, survive and thrive again in wetlands around Canberra. By digging special wetland pockets and installing heated “sauna” refuges that create warmer, disease-unfriendly conditions, researchers give the frogs a head start at fighting off the chytrid fungus and boosting their chances of reproduction and survival. This innovative approach has enabled scientists to release these previously wiped-out frogs back into the wild, offering a promising model for amphibian conservation in the face of global biodiversity threats.
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