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Author Archives: Jim deMaine
New Shingles Vaccine Available
The new Shingles vaccine called Shingrix is now available in multiple pharmacies including Bartells. It is strongly recommended for us by the CDC. If you’ve known someone with complications of the Shingles, you’ll easily be convinced that the new vaccine … Continue reading
Posted in Health
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What will Congress do about school shootings?
Another school shooting? We already know what Congress will do next. This:
Posted in Politics
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Do microbes play an important role in Alzheimer’s?
Huge sums of money are being spent on developing drugs to prevent, delay or treat Alzheimer’s. The ones so far have very little if any benefit. So could this disease be linked to an infectious source? It took a long … Continue reading
Posted in Health
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Rejection of the President’s 2019 budget proposal
Summary from AgingKingCounty: “The American Society on Aging (ASA) leadership firmly rejected President Trump’s 2019 budget proposal today, denouncing the bleak vision of the future envisioned by a budget that would mean even further erosion in standards of living for … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Aging Sites, Health, Law, Politics, Social justice
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Replacing humans
Gordon Gray sends along this fascinating video showing the production of a Mercedes car with minimal use of human hands until the finishing touches. We visited one of the factories near Stuttgart in 1982 and were impressed by the use … Continue reading
Posted in Science and Technology
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Our friend the ladybug – or preferably the ladybird
We loved it when the ladybugs arrived in the spring, feasting on aphids and helping our rose garden thrive. But where do they go in the winter? See the video below. From National Geographic: “There are about 5,000 different species … Continue reading
Posted in Nature
2 Comments
Bringing back our historic street cars
This project was highlighted by King 5 – thanks Tom! “A group in Seattle is working to bring back the historic streetcars to the city. ‘Friends of the Benson Trolleys’ is a new non-profit trying to raise funds so !they can … Continue reading
Posted in History, In the Neighborhood, Transportation
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Fall prevention when on BP medications
Recently, you may have received an important message about the risk of falls and fractures when adding new anti-hypertension medications. It importantly stresses the risk of falls and fractures in the first two weeks after adding additional anti-hypertensive therapy: see Antihypertension … Continue reading
The end of sleep?
If we live to be 90, we may well have slept for 30 years. We really don’t know why we have to sleep, but we do know that sleep deprivation can cause all kinds of problems. Coffee and amphetamines can … Continue reading
Posted in Health, Science and Technology
1 Comment
A treasure on 8th
From Alice and Joe Wesley: Here it is mid-February and here is our little scarlet oak in all its leafy glory.
Posted in environment, In the Neighborhood
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It Happened by Lincoln Center
Sent along by Ann Milam. Ed Note: This story is about one of our least favorite pastimes – the hazards of finding a parking place. From the NYT: “Dear Diary: My wife and I felt so lucky to find a … Continue reading
Doing Good Is Good for You: The Health Benefits of Volunteering
Sent in by Ann Milam from UW Medicine: Ed Note: If you are interested in volunteering at Skyline, talk to anyone on the Community Caring Committee or just join a committee of interest. Life at Skyline is vibrant because of … Continue reading
Posted in Volunteering
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Cell phone addiction
If you google cell phone addiction, you’ll find plenty of discussion – some quite serious about what the constant use may be doing to our brains and social interactions. My dentist told me some children must have their smartphone with … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Humor, Science and Technology
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Would you encourage a kid to play football? Mike Ditka wouldn’t.
The Super Bowl today was a great game, no doubt about it. But 25 years from now, we might see this violent sport remembered as interesting but sad – an historical cultural oddity. “Mike Ditka, the head coach of the … Continue reading
Do you have a favorite epitaph?
In thinking about a legacy, many notable people left interesting epitaphs. The tone varies widely with strains of lament, humor, religiosity, hope and peace. Do you have a favorite? What would you write for yourself or a loved one? Here … Continue reading
Posted in end of life, Essays
3 Comments
Conned once again
Feb Phenom – sent along by a friend’s mother! The groundhog is a bucktoothed little rodent Who sleeps away the winter in the ground. But once a year there comes his special moment, When February second comes around. It’s then … Continue reading
Why are sunsets and sunrises red, orange and yellow?
Sunset in Coronado, CA on January 31, 2018 – iPhone photo From the University of Wisconsin: “Because the sun is low on the horizon, sunlight passes through more air at sunset and sunrise than during the day, when the sun … Continue reading
Posted in Nature, Science and Technology
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