Author Archives: Jim deMaine

Not the most effective protest

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Meet the rural WA town privy to outhouse races

From Crosscut: CONCONULLY, Okanogan County —The rural town of Lind has its Combine Demolition Derby, Omak its Stampede and Suicide Race and at one time, Elma cheered on its slug races. In Conconully, a small town in Okanogan, the four-decades-old winter tradition is outhouse racing. “Conconully … Continue reading

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Hospitals Stopped Readmitting So Many Medicare Patients. Did That Cost Lives?

Ed note: These days you have to be pretty darn sick in order to be admitted to a hospital. Then they are anxious to make your stay as short as possible because they are now paid based on your diagnosis. … Continue reading

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Happiness is …….

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Katelyn Ohashi’s perfect 10 reminded America life could be fun again

From The Guardian: ‘The gymnast’s unbridled exuberance and joy set off a floor routine that captivated millions around the world as a message of hope to all in the face of adversity There’s a reasonably good chance you’ve already seen … Continue reading

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A Mariner’s hat wouldn’t work any better

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Neo-imperialist ventures abroad, followed by the rolling calamity of Brexit at home

Today’s NYT has a biting critique of Britain’s chummy elite. There have been decades of misguided and mismanaged decisions by elite but incompetent imperialists. Events now appear to be heading to England’s final chapter -the fiasco called Brexit. Forster blamed … Continue reading

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Laughter therapy

Remember laughter therapy promoted by Norman Cousins? I think these days we may have to remind ourselves, that it is indeed good for us to enjoy simple pleasures like Johnny Carson trying not to laugh!

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The information age

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The adventures of Mark Twain in Seattle

Knute Berger talks about Mark Twain’s visit to Seattle: “It was a trying time for Seattleites in the summer of 1895. The city was still reeling from the Panic of 1893, which threw the national economy into a tailspin, and … Continue reading

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What if philosophers went on strike?

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Senate Democrats introduce bill to deny tax loophole for Big Pharma ads

Ed note: Thanks to Dick D for sending this along. I’ve been puzzled when watching TV that so many commercials are for very expensive drugs for conditions that aren’t all that common. The hype benefits then discuss side effects (even … Continue reading

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Notice of Annual Meeting of WACCRA – 2/15 at Mirabella

Ed note: If you haven’t already, please consider joining WACCRA! It is our way of having a vital voice in laws affecting CCRCs.

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Take a taxi with no wheels

Ed Note: I’ve often enjoyed driving visitors out to Seacrest Park at Alki where the parking is easy – then taking the passenger ferry to downtown having lunch somewhere. With the traffic now, it may be best to walk or … Continue reading

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Restoring vital life forces

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UC San Diego opens new senior-focused emergency unit

Ed Note: Focusing on urgent or emergent senior care is finally starting to happen. Only three level one senior emergency rooms exist in the USA, the only one on the west coast featured here. Wouldn’t it be nice if we … Continue reading

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Good luck, Mr. Gorsky!

Funny!! Thanks to Tom G for sending this along.   If you are under 55, you simply won’t understand.     This one is still around  IN CASE YOU DIDN’T ALREADY KNOW THIS LITTLE TIDBIT OF WONDERFUL TRIVIA……………ON JULY 20, 1969, AS COMMANDER OF THE APOLLO … Continue reading

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Inferno Observatory

During a fellowship at the Mineral Sciences Laboratory at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, the UK filmmakers Ruth Jarman and Joe Gerhardt stumbled upon a collection of 16mm films shot by volcanologists in the field. … Continue reading

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How is your SAD?

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Is Jay Inslee’s presidential campaign for real?

From Crosscut: “The last politician to run a serious race for president from this state was the legendary Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson in 1976.  His credentials were impeccable. Widely regarded as smart, effective and informed, Jackson, a Democrat, was respected in … Continue reading

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Bodyguard – a Netflix thriller

Ed note: This six episode of this mini-series nearly brought England to a standstill as 17 million persons there tuned in to find out what happened. David Budd (Richard Madden), a military veteran who fought in the Middle East, prevents … Continue reading

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The modern shoot out

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Nature vs Nurture – our beliefs may be more important than our genes in this study

Ed note: The age old argument about nature vs. nurture will likely continue on for ages. In the field of epigenetics it’s been discovered that we can actually turn our genes off/on with some life experiences. At times our beliefs … Continue reading

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My kind of cat

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For Seattle, Viadoom gridlock is history repeated

From Crosscut: On Jan. 11, Seattle enters a period the city has dubbed the “Period of Maximum Constraint.” It sounds a bit like bondage, but without the fun bits. It kicks off with the closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, resulting … Continue reading

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