I got a 28 hand in Cribbage Pro scrimmage today against Brutal (the most difficult level). I also won the game. The odds of getting a 28 hand in cribbage is about 1 in 15,028. It’s the second highest hand score in cribbage. The highest score is a 29 hand and the odds of getting that is 1 in 216,580. There are different ways to calculate the odds which yield different results which involve crazy difficult statistics that I can’t explain, but you can find the details here.
The upcoming meeting on the MMVR and Covid-19 vaccines will include voting on the MMVR and Covid-19 vaccines. Usually, the committee posts the actual voting questions, which so far I have not seen on the meeting agenda. I’ll be looking for them in the next couple of days.
Here is the link to the Center for Infectious Disease and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota article which bears directly on the meeting topics.
I just noticed that the CDC ACIP draft agenda for upcoming meeting on September 18th and 19th has been posted. There will be votes on the MMRV, Hepatitis B, and Covid-19 vaccines.
We just found out there’s an update to the Forevergreen Monarch tag and release event on September 14, 2025; see announcement below. It still may be a good idea to call ahead and confirm all details of the event.
Sena and I got our latest updated seasonal Covid-19 and flu vaccines today. Manpower was low at Walgreens so we ended up sitting for about an hour, but otherwise this was a routine trip. We’re thankful.
We noticed there were a few people waiting—mostly our age. No word up yet on the CDC ACIP site about the Sept. 18-19 meeting as far as an agenda, speakers, or slides.
I won cribbage solitaire in six deals (meaning I got to 121) on my first try today. Lucky break. I’m beginning to think I should just film these because, at least lately, I seem to be on a winning streak. My first and most recent win was 3 days ago and I think I’ve played once or twice since then.
Rules summarized and demo video below:
Cribbage solitaire has six hands and six cribs and you peg your six hands.
Start by dealing two cards down to form part of your hand, then one down to form part of the crib. Deal two more to your hand, one more to the crib, and finally two more to your hand (which now has six cards and the crib has two.
Discard two of the six cards to form a four-card crib. Then flip the top card of the deck for the starter card.
Then peg your hand for maximum count, which would not always be the way you’d peg in a game with an opponent. Colbert’s example paraphrased: if you hold 5-10-10-jack. Play the 5 first, then a 10 for “15-2,” then the other 10 for “25, a pair for two and a go.” The remaining jack also scores a “go” for one point. Your peg is six points total.
After scoring the peg, count your hand, then your crib.
Then start the second deal by using the first-hand starter card, which becomes one of the first six cards for your hand. Again, deal the crib two cards. Repeat this process until you complete the game with the sixth deal (the deck will have four cards after six deals). (Colvert, 2015)
Colvert, D. (2015). Play Winning Cribbage 5th ed. Missoula, Montana: Starr Studios.
We have the winners of the Iowa State Fair Cribbage Tournament. A couple of them were from Missouri!
Congratulations to all!
I just found out that Leonard Tow died on August 10, 2025. In humility, I express my gratitude and respect for his creation of the Tow Foundation, a big part of that being the Humanism in Medicine Award, of which I am one of the many recipients over the years. I hope this great tradition goes on forever, a reminder to doctors, patients, and families of the great rewards and greater responsibilities in medicine.
I thank Dr. Jeanne M. Lackamp, now Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatrist in Chief for University Hospitals and Director of the University Hospital Behavioral Health Institute for nominating me and Dr. Jerold Woodhead, Professor Emeritus in Pediatrics at University of Iowa Health Care for placing the pin in my lapel. That was in 2007.
Leonard Tow established the Humanism in Medicine award to foster the development of humanistic doctors. They exemplify compassion and respect for others, humility and empathy.
That is how I will remember Leonard Tow.
Sena got another nice video, this time of butterflies on the butterfly weed in our back yard. We call this “Friendship” because at times the butterflies seem to be hanging out with each other.
Svengoolie intro: “Calling all stations, clear the air lanes, clear all air lanes for the big broadcast!”
The Svengoolie show will be airing the movie “Werewolf of London” this coming Saturday night. It was released in 1935 and features something I don’t usually associate with werewolves—a special flower.
Anyway, it’s the first full-length werewolf film. This guy is not looking for beef chow mein.
Go Retire Psychiatrist 