James Amos

Whirlpool Care Counts Laundry Program Cleans Up!

Sena and I just recently saw the TV commercial about the Whirlpool Care Counts^TM Laundry Program, which has been providing washers and dryers for schools. It was launched to address school absenteeism, one cause of which is bullying of kids who don’t have clean clothes. They are also more likely to drop out of school.

It turns out this program has been going on since 2015. And there’s an Iowa connection. In 2017, Morris Elementary in Des Moines got a new washer and dryer (Des Moines Register, “Iowa teacher meets New Yorker on Instagram, and needy school gets a big lift” by Laura Rowley, published Oct 7, 2019, accessed 12/13/2023).

According to the Whirlpool’s website about it, there are over 150 programs in schools across 40 states.

The website even lists research studies demonstrating the link between a lack of clean clothes and school attendance rates.

We reminisced about what we did about this issue when we were in grade school. We don’t remember skipping school because of dirty clothes. We managed by washing them by hand, or in my family, using an old hand wringer as well. We hung clothes out to dry on the line in the back yard. Sena did that and also used a fan.

I was sometimes bullied, but it was related to being black rather than having old clothes. I didn’t change my outfit every day because I didn’t have enough clothes for that.

When I got old enough, I delivered the Des Moines Register. Talk about nickel and diming. The rates were pretty low compared to today, but I still had some customers who complained about the price. I walked my route to collect subscription fees. I was not a great salesman but I was a steady worker, delivering papers in any weather, even dragging them in a wagon through knee deep snow.

You could buy things with your money through the paper’s main office. The first thing I bought was an alarm clock with a glass face through which the clockwork was visible. I didn’t really need an alarm clock to get me out of bed to deliver papers. I was a light sleeper even then. I just thought the clock was cool.

I saved enough money (mostly in quarters) to buy my first bicycle. It cost about $20 at Ralph’s Bicycle & Hobby Shop in Mason City. It was used and I think it was a 24 inch. I did not do wheelies.

I don’t remember buying clothes.

I remember collecting from a young couple who were obviously newlyweds. They would often both come to the door wrapped in nothing but big bath towels. I wondered if they even had any clothes. Maybe they didn’t have any laundry facilities.

Anyway, I think the Whirlpool program is a great idea.

Rearranging My Books

The other day, I finally rearranged my bookshelf. I’ve put it off for a long time. While I was doing it, I remembered where I spend the most time in my thoughts. I don’t have a very broad library, which probably illustrates where my mind wanders. It has changed very little over the years. Retirement affected it some, but not a great deal. After I rearranged the books, it was not just better organized. It made me think about the past, the present, and the future.

I have a lot of books by Malcolm Gladwell for some reason. The Tipping Point was published around the time when all of my immediate family members died for one reason for another. They died within a few years of each other. It was a difficult time. I remember hoping I would just get through it. I did.

I’m still a fan of Stephen Covey. The 7 Habits Manual for the Signature Program marks a time when I was contemplating leaving my position at The University for a position in private practice. It didn’t work out, and it’s just as well.

Of course, there are many books about consultation psychiatry, including the one I wrote with my former Dept. of Psychiatry Chair, Robert Robinson. Every once in a while, I search the web to find out what former colleagues and trainees are doing now. I can’t find a few, which makes me wonder. A couple have died. I’m a little less eager to look around each time I find out about those. Finding obituaries is a sad thing—and it makes me a little nervous about my own mortality. One or two have apparently simply dropped off the face of the earth.

I read some books for fun. I’m a fan of humorists, which is no surprise. The most recent is The Little Prince. That book and others like it inspire me.

I like books that make me laugh and give me hope. It’s difficult to sustain hope in humanity, if you read much of the news, which I tend to avoid.

I feel better when we go out for walks. Recently we did that about a week ago when there were a couple of warm days. On one day, we saw a couple of bald eagles and northern shovelers (the latter of which we’ve never seen before), at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area.

On another warm day we saw a couple Harvest Preserve staff members preparing to hang a big Christmas wreath on the side of a barn on the property that faces Scott Boulevard. They’d got some evergreen branches from an “overgrown Christmas tree farm.” It had a big red bow. They were going to decorate it further and hang it. We hoped it would be finished by the time we returned that day, but it wasn’t done.

When we returned a day later, it was very cold but the wreath was on the barn wall and it was festooned with gorgeous decorative balls. It was worth waiting for.

Video music credit:

Canon and Variation by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

Partners in Juggling Crime Breaking the Internet Again!

We are breaking the internet again as partners in juggling crime. It turns out the 2-person 6 ball juggling pattern has 3 variations:

The 1, 2 Pass: Both partners make two right hand throws, then pass to the partner on the third throw. Always throw from the right side to your partner’s left.

The 1 Pass: You pass after every other throw.

Pass: You pass on every right-hand throw. You could call it pass, pass, fast!

The Pass variation is really difficult, although some jugglers make it look easy. We mainly look funny, but we’re just getting started!

We include a slow-motion clip for each variation.

CDC Weekly Update on Viral Respiratory Illness

As of December 8, 2023, the CDC reports:

“National test positivity, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations for influenza continue to increase. Influenza A(H1N1) is the predominant influenza virus circulating although influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B viruses are also being reported.
RSV-associated hospitalization rates remain elevated among young children and are increasing among older adults; of note, only 15.9% of adults 60+ report having received an RSV vaccine.
National vaccination coverage for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV vaccines increased slightly for children and adults compared to the previous week and remains low for both groups.”

However, the overall respiratory illness rates have gone from “moderate” to “low” in Iowa.

Still Practicing the Shower Juggle!

I’m still practicing the shower juggle pattern. I’m comparing how I did in April with how I’m doing now. No doubt, my form is wonky and I still can do only 3-5 throws.

But I think juggling with the big plastic balls is easier when it comes to the shower. I can’t figure why, unless it’s the more uniform spherical shape and evenly distributed weight.

It’s definitely not my form.

Spoonbills and Bald Eagles at Sand Lake!

The other day it was about 60 degrees and the sun shone brilliantly—not a day to stay indoors! We went out to Terry Trueblood Recreation Area and did some bird-watching.

Out on a sand bar on Sand Lake, we caught sight of two bald eagles. They seemed to be a mated pair. They actually courted by vocalizing and billing. I know about their spectacular cartwheel flying ritual, but I didn’t capture that on camera as they took flight. They mate for life.

We also saw a flock of migrating Northern Shovelers, dabbling in the lake. We’ve been going out to that park for years and this was the first time we’ve ever seen them. They’re also known as spoonbills or spoonies because of their large bills, which they use to sieve the water for food.

We put on about two and a half miles on my step counter, and we worked up an appetite. Climbing up and down the banks of Sand Lake is a lot of work. So, we got the two for one price on the Culver’s butter burger and topped it off with a Wendy’s peppermint frosty.

What’s Up with Intranasal Covid-19 Vaccines?

I saw the JAMA article on intranasal vaccines research for Covid-19. It starts off pretty supportive of the principle. However, at the bottom of the article, the outlook looks pretty stable for injectable vaccines for at least a good long while.

It’s an interesting read. Skip to the Many Questions section:

How these experimental mucosal vaccines stack up against mRNA vaccines, considered the standard of care, remains to be seen, Beigel noted. The NIAID intends to conduct phase 2 trials that would compare mucosal and mRNA vaccines head-to-head, “so you’d know for certain what you’re trading off,” he said.

Ideally, a mucosal vaccine would generate as good a systemic immune response as an mRNA vaccine as well as a robust mucosal immune response. But an excellent mucosal immune response might make up for a bit of a decline in the systemic immune response, Beigel explained. Perhaps a vaccine inhaled through the mouth and into the lungs could provide the best of both worlds—strong mucosal and systemic immunity—but there are no data yet to support that theory, he said.

“Everyone knows we need a better vaccine and would really like it if we could get something that interrupts transmission and stops even mild disease,” Beigel said. “Whether that’s attainable or not, we don’t know.”

I’m not knocking the concept by suggesting you read the Conflict of Interest Disclosures.

Reference:

Rubin R. Up the Nose and Down the Windpipe May Be the Path to New and Improved COVID-19 Vaccines. JAMA. Published online December 06, 2023. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.0644

The Santa Hat Juggling Duo Breaks the Internet!

Are we having any fun? You bet! We donned our Santa hats and did the 2-person 6 ball juggling until we fell over.

This is a fun pattern because, even when you mess up, it’s hilarious. When we count out loud, it sort of helps keep us in sync—but not always.

The last part of the video, we did the count sort of sotto voce as we moved from the toss and pass phase to finish with a cascade. This is in stark contrast to what we usually do, which is to keep tossing and passing until the inevitable drops happen.

As always, after the second right hand toss in the cascade, we pass from our right hand to the left hand of the partner. The count is “One, Two, Pass!”

As least that’s the plan. Often, we get line drives to the head, chest or the wrong hand. This is why safety goggles are handy. Ball collisions are frequent, which crack us up.

You know, juggling is often a one-person hobby or show. When you get two persons in the act, it’s ordinary juggling for two, which is a blast.

Then you’re having fun!

This is National Influenza Vaccination Week!

This is National Influenza Vaccination Week (Dec. 4-8, 2023) and the CDC word is:

“National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is a critical opportunity to remind everyone 6 months and older that there’s still time to protect themselves and their loved ones from flu this flu season by getting their annual flu vaccine if they have not already. CDC data shows that flu vaccination coverage was lower last season, especially among certain higher risk groups, such as pregnant people and children. When you get a flu vaccine, you reduce your risk of illness, and flu-related hospitalization if you do get sick. This week is meant to remind people that there is still time to benefit from the first and most important action in preventing flu illness and potentially serious flu complications: get a flu vaccine today. Check out CDC’s NIVW toolkit for more shareable resources and content.”

It’s also big news that a recent CDC co-authored study showed strong evidence for flu vaccine effectiveness. Among the university medical centers participating in the study was the University of Iowa Hospitals.

Watch for Jim and Sena Juggling in Santa Hats!

Announcing the upcoming not-to-be-missed, one of a kind, holiday extravaganza never before witnessed holiday extravaganza—Jim and Sena juggling in Santa Hats!

We’ve been rehearsing for this (or at least trying to) and one of the greatest challenges was laughing so hard we could barely stand up, let alone juggle.

There’s something hilarious about juggling balls colliding with each other.