Category: History

  • Random Connections

    Random Connections

    Today, I read Dr. George Dawson’s blog post, “How I ended up in a high-risk pancreatic cancer risk screening clinic.” As usual I was impressed with his erudition, scientific literacy, and rigorous objectivity, even as it pertained to a deadly disease which runs in his family genetic history. I couldn’t help admiring his courage. And,…

  • Iowa State University African American Science Graduates

    Iowa State University African American Science Graduates

    I was thinking about what to write for the first day of Black History Month, which starts today on February 1, 2023. As usual, I started to reminisce about my time at Iowa State University (ISU) in Ames, Iowa. I usually don’t talk about my undergraduate days. In fact, I had a little trouble finding…

  • Exercise or Weaponize My Privilege?

    Exercise or Weaponize My Privilege?

    Back in November 2022, while on our way to the Stanley Museum of Art, we saw the two murals on the East Burlington Street Parking Ramp. It was the first time we saw them in person although photos were available last fall. The Little Village article published an article about them on September 30, 2021.…

  • National Day of Racial Healing Today

    National Day of Racial Healing Today

    I just found out about the National Day of Racial Healing, which is today. It follows the National MLK Day, which this year was yesterday. The annual National Day of Racial Healing was started in 2017. The website tells what the event is about: “The National Day of Racial Healing is a time to contemplate…

  • My Two Cents on The Embrace Sculpture Honoring MLK Jr and Coretta Scott King

    My Two Cents on The Embrace Sculpture Honoring MLK Jr and Coretta Scott King

    I first saw a photo of the sculpture honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Coretta Scott King, called “The Embrace” a couple of days ago. I remember my first impression being that it would have been nice to see a full sculpture of the couple rather than disembodied arms. Sena mentioned it today because…

  • Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

    Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

    Here’s another vintage post from around a decade ago after my former Psychiatry Dept chairperson, Dr. Robert G. Robinson and I published our book, Psychosomatic Medicine: An Introduction to Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry” in 2010. Blog: Who Gets The Credit? When I think about peak moments, I remember this guy back in junior high school who decided…

  • Blast from the Past Blog

    Blast from the Past Blog

    I thought I’d re-post something from my previous blog, The Practical Psychosomaticist, which I cancelled several years ago. The title is “Face Time versus Facebook.” I sound really old in it although it appeared in 2011. I’m a little more comfortable with the concept of social media nowadays and, despite how ignorant I was back…

  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration of Human Rights Week 2023

    Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration of Human Rights Week 2023

    The Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration of Human Rights Week 2023 begins January 16, 2023. See the University of Iowa Healthcare list of events, which will be updated.

  • Sasquatch Playing Cards Arrive!

    Sasquatch Playing Cards Arrive!

    We got our Sasquatch playing card deck! The images of Bigfoot are strikingly similar to the carved image on our new Sasquatch cribbage board. And they both resemble the image of Patty, the female Bigfoot supposedly captured on 16mm film back in 1967 by Bob Gimlin. That’s the legendary Patterson-Gimlin video of Bigfoot. There are…

  • I’m Running on a Tight Schedule

    I’m Running on a Tight Schedule

    Because I’m running on a tight schedule today, I’ll have to write this holiday flower-oriented post with lightning speed. There could be minor mistakes and you’ll just have to live with them. First, we need to talk about the meaning of the usual Christmas holiday flowers. One of them is the Amaryllis, about which I’ve…