Monthly Archives: February 2026

New Medicare Changes in 2026: Prior Approval Required for These 17 Services — affecting those who have Original Medicare

Posted on February 13, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Today I received an email from a friend in another CCRC who has need of a steroid injection for a very painful bulging low back disc and a facet joint cyst. Coverage was turned down by Virtix Health, a Medicare … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Insurance | 2 Comments

Sugar, Bad Bunny and the Americas

Posted on February 10, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson Last night’s thirteen-minute Super Bowl half-time show featuring Bad Bunny had more watchers than any other halftime show in history: an estimated 135 million watched live, while millions more have streamed it since. Rapper, singer, … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, History | Leave a comment

I’m the Prime Minister of Spain. This Is Why the West Needs Migrants.

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Jim deMaine

By Pedro Sánchez in the New York Times Mr. Sánchez is the prime minister of Spain. He wrote from Madrid. Imagine you’re the leader of a nation, and you face a dilemma. Half a million or so people who are crucial … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Immigration, Justice, Law, Morality, Social justice | Leave a comment

The Globalization of Canadian Rage

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Jim deMaine

By Stephen Marche in the New York Times Mr. Marche is the author, most recently, of “The Next Civil War.” He wrote from Toronto, where he lives. The defiance against America that has consumed Canadian life for over a year now … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Government, Law, Military, Politics | Leave a comment

A once-in-a-generation moment at MOHAI

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary M. This summer, MOHAI is proud to host the Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation. This landmark exhibit from the National Archives will bring some of the rarest and most important original documents in … Continue reading →

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Who‘s Really Behind the MAHA Movement?

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Paul Offit in Substack (thanks to Ed M.) RFK Jr. rails endlessly against Big Pharm and Big Food. And, in many instances, for good reason. But there is one group that he never criticizes: Big Wellness. There’s a reason for … Continue reading →

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Pick your pain

Posted on February 8, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mike Ca.

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The hoped for Superbowl!

Posted on February 8, 2026 by Jim deMaine
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Something to think about

Posted on February 8, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to John R.

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David Brooks moves on to The Atlantic

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Jim deMaine

In his final column in the New York Times, David Brooks sums up the way he views the decline of American culture–without providing much hope going forward. Here is his new adventure in academia (according to ChatGPT) As of February … Continue reading →

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Keep Whistling!

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary M.

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Report from The Needling

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: The Needling can be accessed here. Noting that they are Seattle’s Only Real Fake News. It’s a fun site, a bit like the Onion. Hope you all had a happy Geoduck Day and are acclimating well to our … Continue reading →

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Friday, February 6 at 11:00am – Health Care Lecture: How to Sleep Better in Retirement by Dr. Branon Peters-Mathews

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Hope to see you in the MBR Friday (tomorrow). Brandon is back by popular demand for his excellent presentations on sleep disorders and how we can deal with them. In addition to the common sleep disorders like sleep … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging Sites, Health | Comments Off on Friday, February 6 at 11:00am – Health Care Lecture: How to Sleep Better in Retirement by Dr. Branon Peters-Mathews

Finding Dignity, Hope and Healing at the End

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Town Hall Seattle and Northwest Center for Creative Aging presentDr. Jim deMaine with Rebecca CrichtonFinding Dignity, Hope, and Healing at the End  Mon 3/9 at 7:30PM | $10-$35 Sliding Scale | In-Person Join Dr. Jim deMaine, a pulmonary/critical care physician, … Continue reading →

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Blue and Green

Posted on February 3, 2026 by Jim deMaine

David Horsey

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American Democracy Will Not Die in Darkness

Posted on February 3, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Paul Krugman (thanks to Diana C.) ICE in Minneapolis: Schools go remote as protests growBroad daylight, actually The Washington Post adopted the slogan “Democracy dies in darkness” in February 2017. Some found it pompous, but it reflected a widespread theory … Continue reading →

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Update from Olympia – House Bill 2384-S

Posted on February 2, 2026 by Jim deMaine

February 2, 2026 On Wednesday January 28th, the House Health Care and Wellness Committee passed on to the full House an amended bill, HB 2384-S, requiring actuarial reporting for some CCRCs to be reviewed by the Office of the Insurance … Continue reading →

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Trump Is About to Find Out What Every Bully in History Has Found Out

Posted on February 2, 2026 by Jim deMaine

The New Republic and Michael Tomasky In 2025, Donald Trump scared people. And institutions. Go back in your mind to the way he came out of the gate, gunning the accelerator on every front. Pardoning the insurrectionists. Dismantling the executive branch. Firing inspectors general and heads and … Continue reading →

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Federal Judge’s Order freeing 5 year old

Posted on February 2, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Dan S.

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If They Call Me a Domestic Terrorist

Posted on February 2, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Pam P.

Posted in Advocacy, Communication, Government, Immigration, Poetry | Comments Off on If They Call Me a Domestic Terrorist

The Boys of Terezin

Posted on February 1, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Ann M. Don’t miss this deeply moving documentaryabout courageous teenage boys and thesecret magazine they dared to create in Terezín Between 1942 and 1944, about 100 teenage boys imprisoned in the Terezín concentration camp created a secret magazine … Continue reading →

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