Comments on: Obama and his cigarettes http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/3811 Feel Smart Again Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:46:21 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: myra casey http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/3811/comment-page-1#comment-18956 myra casey Sun, 29 Jul 2007 01:59:03 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/3811#comment-18956 Almost four years ago I was sitting at my computer, had bronchitis, took a drag of a cigarette and it hurt. I saw my reflection in the monitor, hit myself in the head and said "you dummy" I threw my cigarettes away as well as the ash trays. I have not touched a cigarette since, and truthfully, have NEVER had a craving. I think it was something more powerful than willpower. I think it was "god power". I couldn't sing while I was smoking. Today I tried out for a singing part and did very well. Here's good luck to all who have yet to quit. Almost four years ago I was sitting at my computer, had bronchitis, took a drag of a cigarette and it hurt. I saw my reflection in the monitor, hit myself in the head and said “you dummy”
I threw my cigarettes away as well as the ash trays. I have not touched a cigarette since, and truthfully, have NEVER had a craving. I think it was something more powerful than willpower. I think it was “god power”. I couldn’t sing while I was smoking. Today I tried out for a singing part and did very well. Here’s good luck to all who have yet to quit.

]]> By: Sandy http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/3811/comment-page-1#comment-6931 Sandy Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:46:31 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/3811#comment-6931 Interesting. I know that a few pop/rock singers have talked about that sort of thing. I saw an interview with Tim Curry recently, for one, who was talking about performing in "Spamalot" on Broadway a couple years back. He remarked how much his singing (and speaking) voice had changed since he quit smoking. And it's not always smoking. Bonnie Tyler's raspy "Total Eclipse of the Heart" voice is due to an accident during surgery. She had nodules on her vocal cords, and they became damaged during the healing process. That's what still gives her that trademark raspy sound. Freddie Mercury also suffered from nodules on his vocal cords, but opted for rest instead of surgery. His big fear was his protrudent teeth. He wanted to have them corrected, but was afraid that the procedure would damage his singing ability. Interesting. I know that a few pop/rock singers have talked about that sort of thing. I saw an interview with Tim Curry recently, for one, who was talking about performing in “Spamalot” on Broadway a couple years back. He remarked how much his singing (and speaking) voice had changed since he quit smoking.

And it’s not always smoking. Bonnie Tyler’s raspy “Total Eclipse of the Heart” voice is due to an accident during surgery. She had nodules on her vocal cords, and they became damaged during the healing process. That’s what still gives her that trademark raspy sound.

Freddie Mercury also suffered from nodules on his vocal cords, but opted for rest instead of surgery. His big fear was his protrudent teeth. He wanted to have them corrected, but was afraid that the procedure would damage his singing ability.

]]>