Author Archives: ddxdx

I got a call from a friend a few months back asking for a recommendation for a counsellor in our community. Their child was depressed. Suicidal thoughts were mentioned. I offered a name and my concern. I asked about guns. … Continue reading →

I got my height in 8th grade. I was tall then, but the late bloomers towered over me by my sophomore year. Why in the hell did I move from ground-based sports to one that expected me to be tall? … Continue reading →

The way the law is written in our state I am guilty of criminal abortion. I await the handcuffs. First, we need to define abortion. The definition of abortion in Idaho statute says “the use of any means to intentionally … Continue reading →

Hand wringing and regrets fall short of substantive change. Sure, mistakes and tragedies call for a response. But bemoaning repeated mistakes or tragedies without effort to prevent or change their cause signifies acceptance of our powerlessness. We should not be … Continue reading →

When I read my last post to my wife over breakfast last week, I got an ear full. She’s the only one whom I’m sure hears my stuff because I make her listen to my impassioned rendition over the egg … Continue reading →

North Idaho is different. The vast majority of my years in Idaho have been spent in the state’s Pacific time zone. Why do we operate an hour different? Obviously, because we are north of the earlier Mountain Time folks down … Continue reading →

I took a break from posting this last two weeks. I thank my employer for the time off, I thank the editor for the respite, and I thank my wife for the adventurous time we shared. By the time you … Continue reading →

I got a new cap to an old tooth last week. As the dentist was grinding down my old weak molar the assistant produced the new gold cap and offered it to the dentist. “Wow, that’s heavy!” he commented before … Continue reading →

Have you ever wondered about the bill you get from the doctor’s office? Why did that visit just cost $135.75? And why is my insurance only paying $89.45? But the bill says the fee is “contractually reduced” to $110.91, so … Continue reading →

This article inspired this post. The paywall might block your reading of it, but I paste the text below the post. I saw similar problems in the 15 years I worked as the “jail doctor” in Latah County, so the … Continue reading →