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The Trouble with HOAs According to the X-Files
I just recently saw an old rerun of the X-Files episode, Arcadia. The Wikipedia spoiler link is here, but I’m going to talk about it anyway. Arcadia in Greek mythology was the home of the gods, Hermes and Pan. In the X-Files episode, though, it’s more like one of the deepest circles of Hell in…
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COVID-19 in the Rearview Mirror?
One way to think about the Covid-19 pandemic can be that it’s in our rearview mirror, which is one way of saying it’s behind us now. On the other hand, another way to think about it is that COVID-19 is in our rearview mirror because it’s tailing us. So, we can’t keep staring in the…
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A Short Review of Dixie Paper Coffee Cups
Sena bought some Dixie coffee cups the other day. They don’t contain polystyrene foam, which is what Styrofoam cups are made of. Dixie cups are made from paper with a polyethylene coating and contain 80% cellulose fiber by weight, according to the Dixie company website. On the other hand, many recycling centers won’t take paper…
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Phenylephrine Spelled Backwards is Enirhpelynbehp
News headlines are screaming about class action lawsuits being filed against drug companies selling the oral form of a nasal decongestant that the FDA says doesn’t work. It’s called phenylephrine. Phenylephrine has been around since the early 1970s and it’s a common ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) cold remedies found in grocery stores in the medicine…
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The Cat is Literally Littering the Litterbox with Her Litter
Is it OK to say that using the word “literally” for emphasis bugs me—a little? I don’t get enraged and break furniture when I hear it, but it does sound wrong. I get over it in a couple of days, literally without taking any hard drugs. The problem is that some dictionaries say we can…
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Striking a Blow for Science with the Coffee Temperature Experiment!
We got our new thermometer the other day and did a coffee cup temperature test. It’s certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), but we’re not sure where it was manufactured. The instruction sheet looks like it was translated into English. First, we measured the temperature of coffee in different cups. We measured the temperature…
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Stop Me If You Heard This One Before
I saw one of my favorite X-Files episodes the other night. It’s titled “Monday.” Mulder goes through the day repetitively doing the same things, including fumbling his chance to thwart a bank robber who blows up the bank and everyone in it, including Mulder. See the Wikipedia for a full spoiler alert but I’m going…
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How to Find Covid-19 Vaccine Availability By County
I’m finding out that maybe the best way to learn what the local public health issues are concerning Covid-19 infections as well as vaccine availability are through the county public health agency in my area. According to the Johnson County Public Health department, hospital admission rates in Johnson County currently low. I can search the…
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This is National Suicide Prevention Week
Thanks to Dr. H. Steven Moffic for his Psychiatric Times article, “A Psychological Autopsy on My Only Patient Who Died by Suicide.” In it he describes his own experience with a patient who committed suicide. He also reminded us that this is National Suicide Prevention Week. It’s also National Suicide Prevention Month. The quote I’m…
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CDC Recommends Updated COVID-19 Vaccine This Fall-Winter Season
The CDC has posted a press release announcing that it has recommended the updated COVID-19 vaccine for the fall/winter virus season.
Go Retire Psychiatrist 