Author: James Amos

  • Red tailed Hawk Pair Trade Places on the Nest

    Red tailed Hawk Pair Trade Places on the Nest

    Early this morning, we saw the Red-tailed hawks trade places in the nest. This gives the mate a chance to grab a bite to eat while the other incubates the eggs we hope are in there. Little birds tend to chase the hawks away from their territories. Even though the hawks are 3 times bigger…

  • Sena’s Out in the Garden on Earth Day!

    Sena’s Out in the Garden on Earth Day!

    Today is Earth Day and Sena is out in the garden working. She’s doing it not just because it’s Earth Day. She’s doing it because she cares a lot about the garden and not just that. She’s often way out in the outlot beyond our back yard. We got a message in our mailbox from…

  • The Question of Ethical Principles Regarding the Ivermectin Portion of Governor Reynolds MAHA Bill HF 2676

    The Question of Ethical Principles Regarding the Ivermectin Portion of Governor Reynolds MAHA Bill HF 2676

    I think the Iowa legislature bill HF 2676 (Governor Reynolds’ MAHA bill) has just been sent back to the Senate, maybe based on fiscal issues, according to the most recent information I could find on the web. The ivermectin piece probably isn’t in a section that bears heavily on fiscal matters, so if the Senate…

  • How are the Red-tailed Hawks Doing?

    How are the Red-tailed Hawks Doing?

    How about them Hawks! I’m not talking about the Iowa Hawkeye football team. Today, I got another video of the Red-tailed hawk pair in their nest that might make you seasick. It’s windy. Sena tried to get a video but often gives me the camera. According the internet they mate around March or April and…

  • Who is Stupider in Cribbage: AI or You?

    Who is Stupider in Cribbage: AI or You?

    I read this article today about how more and more students are using ChatGPT or some kind of AI to write term papers. The title gives you a clue what the author’s opinion of it: “AI Chatbots could be making you stupider.” For about the last 3 years I’ve been writing about how AI is…

  • What’s Up with the Ivermectin Bill in Iowa?

    What’s Up with the Ivermectin Bill in Iowa?

    I’m trying to find out what’s happening with Governor Reynolds’ MAHA bill (HF 2676) which includes allowing Iowa pharmacists to provide ivermectin without a prescription to those who prefer taking it, most likely for something else other than what’s indicated for, which is treating parasitic infections. The risk is that persons will try to use…

  • Sven Squad Movie: “Parents”

    Sven Squad Movie: “Parents”

    Svengoolie Intro: “Calling all stations! Clear the air lanes! Clear all air lanes for the big broadcast!” OK, so this movie, “Parents” is hosted by the Sven Squad, who did a pretty good job of covering this dark 1989 film directed by Bob Balaban, set in the 1950s California suburbia. The main cast included Randy…

  • AI Chatbots and Psychiatry: Embrace or Dislodge?

    AI Chatbots and Psychiatry: Embrace or Dislodge?

    I’ve just finished reading a couple of online articles about Chatbot use by patients who then present either to psychiatrists or psychotherapists (not that they can’t be one and the same!) and I’m a little puzzled. The title of my blog post came partly from what my wife, Sena, always says about Artificial Intelligence—which is…

  • Earth Day 2026!

    Earth Day 2026!

    Hey, Earth Day 2026 is on April 22, 2026! If any of you are like me (and who isn’t?), you might have trouble figuring out just what you can do that would be meaningful on Earth Day. Well, here’s a link to Earth Day Tips which gives you 50 easy ways to participate. You could…

  • How About Some Good News?

    How About Some Good News?

    How about some good news for a change? See the Daily Iowan report on research being done at The University of Iowa examining how transcranial magnetic stimulation can help clinical neuropsychiatric conditions such as depression and Alzheimer’s disease. There’s also a link to the open access study which gives more detail about the process. Reference:…