Author Archives: Jim deMaine

Planning for the future

 

Posted in Humor | Comments Off on Planning for the future

Breakthrough for a 12 year old

“We challenge you to make it through this video of 12-year-old Grace VanderWaal with her ukulele without feeling an overwhelming urge to cry.”

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Breakthrough for a 12 year old

Needed – a few good men

Tomas Friedman writes that he is looking for a few good men to step forward from Trump’s appointees. He’s looking for strength and sanity. But asking them to sit down and talk sense into our President may be too much … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | Comments Off on Needed – a few good men

And your insurance policy covers ….

Posted in Health, Humor | Comments Off on And your insurance policy covers ….

“Is Death in Trouble” – from the Hastings Center

Daniel Callahan wonders if death is in trouble. Have we pushed death back so far with the advances in medicine that we no longer die of old age? It’s an interesting thought. Death may be intellectually inevitable but it’s always … Continue reading

Posted in end of life, Health | Comments Off on “Is Death in Trouble” – from the Hastings Center

Twilight zone after anesthesia

 

Posted in Humor | 1 Comment

Why go downtown?

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Why go downtown?

Anxiety in Eastern Washington Orchards

From Crosscut: “In the Yakima Valley, nestled east of the Cascades, the fruit trees are waking up. Signs along State Highway 24 advertise openings for “piscadores,” or harvesters. At the Doornink Fruit Ranch in Wapato, expert hands prune hundreds of acres … Continue reading

Posted in environment, Finance, Food, Nature | Comments Off on Anxiety in Eastern Washington Orchards

Suggestions for becoming a positive deviant

Harvard surgeon and author Atul Gawande has written several books and New Yorker articles about medicine, aging, mortality, quality improvement, and philosophical musings. In many ways he reminds me of Lewis Thomas. Gawande is probably doing more than any other … Continue reading

Posted in Health | Comments Off on Suggestions for becoming a positive deviant

Choosing

Posted in Humor | Comments Off on Choosing

The Millionaire Turned Shoeshine Man

From The Atlantic: “Larry Woods goes by the name “Mr. Sunshine,” and he shines shoes for a living. It wasn’t always this way, though. “Back in the 80s, I was made,” he reminisces on his previous wealth. “My head was … Continue reading

Posted in Essays | Comments Off on The Millionaire Turned Shoeshine Man

“Hillbilly Elegy”

It’s on my Kindle and can’t wait to dig in. What can a 31 year old growing up in Appalachia tell us about the political climate in our country? Well, after “escaping” a rust belt childhood and subsequently attaining a … Continue reading

Posted in literature, Politics | Comments Off on “Hillbilly Elegy”

Look or snap – which is real?

Posted in Humor | Comments Off on Look or snap – which is real?

Public art and the freeway

            The First Hill Improvement Association is proud to announce that “Sunrise Over First Hill”  is the winning concept for the Interstate 5 Columns project. Designed by local artist and Seattle University student Nathan Watkins, this … Continue reading

Posted in Art, In the Neighborhood | Comments Off on Public art and the freeway

And for your dining pleasure

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on And for your dining pleasure

Advocate of Seattle Tree Canopy

From Barb W: Neighborhood Flyways Symposium: Partners for Seattle’s Tree Canopy Thursday, April 6, 2017, 2PM-7PM  Town Hall Seattle Seattle Audubon has developed a 4-year Neighborhood Flyways campaign to restore and connect the tree canopy across Seattle. Please join us as we discuss: … Continue reading

Posted in In the Neighborhood, Nature | Comments Off on Advocate of Seattle Tree Canopy

The Immigration Ban And The Physician Workforce

From the Health Affairs Blog: “The Executive Order restricting visas for citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen has many legal, political, and moral implications. But here we will focus on the medical implications of the executive order, … Continue reading

Posted in Health | Comments Off on The Immigration Ban And The Physician Workforce

AARP’s letter to Congress concerning “The American Health Care Act”

One reason (of many) the opponents of Obamacare don’t like the law, is that taxes are attached to support the program. There are a number of them and include (from Forbes): 2.3% Tax on Medical Device Manufacturers (this doesn’t hit … Continue reading

Posted in Health, Politics | Comments Off on AARP’s letter to Congress concerning “The American Health Care Act”

The first seen Earthrise

From PT: “I’m sure you’ve seen the world’s most famous photograph, “Earthrise”. It’s been on the cover of TIME and on stamps. But did you know it almost didn’t happen. It was Christmas Eve, 1968.”

Posted in Nature, Science and Technology | Comments Off on The first seen Earthrise

A Family Adventure in Medical Tourism

At the moment, I’m living about 15 minutes north of Tijuana. The wall at the border is impressive restraining movement in both directions, yet the car and foot traffic are brisk and commonly backed up – and medical care is one … Continue reading

Posted in Health | Comments Off on A Family Adventure in Medical Tourism

Do we try too hard?

Posted in Humor | Comments Off on Do we try too hard?

Brady Walkinshaw leaves politics for … journalism?

From Crosscut: “Brady Piñero Walkinshaw, who lost to Pramila Jayapal in last year’s race to represent Washington’s 7th Congressional District, says he’s done with politics and is tackling a new career path — journalism. He has been named the CEO of the … Continue reading

Posted in In the Neighborhood, Politics | Comments Off on Brady Walkinshaw leaves politics for … journalism?

New paint job coming for pillars under I-5 in Seattle

From BT: Click here to see the ideas for a makeover of the dull pillars under the freeway.  http://www.king5.com/news/local/new-paint-job-coming-for-pillars-under-i-5-in-seattle-1/420508751  

Posted in In the Neighborhood | Comments Off on New paint job coming for pillars under I-5 in Seattle

The Booby love dance

From the national wildlife federation: “The birds are seabirds called blue-footed boobies. No surprise how they got the first part of their name! They got the “booby” part from long-ago Spanish explorers, who called them bobos, which means “dummies.” The … Continue reading

Posted in Nature | Comments Off on The Booby love dance

From your barista

Posted in Humor | Comments Off on From your barista