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Raccoon in the Mulberry Tree
I was not sure what exactly I saw this between 6:30 and 7:00 this morning shaking the mulberry tree branches in our backyard. It seemed too big to be a squirrel and I dismissed the thought, telling myself that it was most likely the usual squirrel getting its mulberry breakfast. Just prior to this incident,…
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What Do the Personal Brain Specialists Recommend?
Dr. George Dawson’s post “The Freak Show” reminded me of how coarse and cruel we can be to each other, even when we’re not aware of it. Maybe I should say especially when we’re not aware of it. Dr. Dawson emphasizes the importance of the empathic approach. In the same way, Dr. Moffic in the…
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Thoughts on the Passing of Dr. Russell Noyes Jr.
I recently found the obituary of my mentor, Dr. Russell Noyes, Jr. MD. He died on June 21, 2023. This is the first time I’ve ever said that he was my mentor. I probably just didn’t realize it until I found out he passed. Dr. Noyes was my teacher during the time I was learning…
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Why Is It So Hard to Be A Human?
I wish I could have made the title of this post “Why It’s So Hard to Be a Human.” But that would mean I know why it’s so hard to be a human. The reason this comes up is because of a song I heard last Friday night on the Big Mo Blues Show on…
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Costa Rica Tarrazu Coffee Notes
Sena bought a bag of ground Costa Rica Tarrazu coffee the other day. It brings back memories. We savored it along with some piano music from George Winston, may he rest in peace. You can gas about coffees a lot. You can call Tarrazu a thing which has a certain complexity of notes, a balanced…
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My Two Cents on the Involuntary Treatment of Tuberculosis and Psychiatric Illness
By now many of us have seen the news headline about the person in Washington state who was arrested and sent to jail for noncompliance with a court order for treatment of tuberculosis. This led to my searching the literature about the connection between court-ordered treatment for psychiatric illness and court-ordered treatment for tuberculosis in…
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Most Birds Forget They Ever Met
Some birds pair for life, like swans and bald eagles. Most backyard birds pair up for a season. Mourning doves sometimes mate for life, but their name doesn’t relate to grief when they lose a mate. Their instinct is to procreate and ensure the survival of the species. They forget each other after every season.…
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Thoughts on Gaming Disorder
I just read an interesting article in the latest print issue of Clinical Psychiatry News, Vol. 51, No. 5, May 2023: “Gaming Disorder: New insights into a growing problem.” This is news to me. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual lists it as an addiction associated with the internet primarily. It can cause social and occupational…
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Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week!
Teacher Appreciation Week this year started on May 8, 2023. I found my old report cards from Lincoln Elementary School in Mason City, Iowa. Lincoln was torn down many years ago to make room for expanding the Post Office. But I have my memories. I rediscovered reasons to celebrate the dedication of teachers. I don’t…
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Racial Affinity Group Caucusing Separate But Not Equal to Segregation
I read the New England Journal of Medicine perspective article “Racial Affinity Group Caucusing in Medical Education—A Key Supplement to Antiracism Curricula.” I did not see the word “segregation” anywhere in the paper, although the Daily Mail news item used it frequently in a manner that I suspect was intended to incite indignation over separating…
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