A no-brainer for protecting your brain
One simple vaccination may dramatically reduce the risk of dementia

It refers to a large observational study that showed people who received the old shingles shot had a 20% less chance of developing dementia than those who didn’t get vaccinated. The Economist says

Most of the evidence of its anti-dementia effect relates to an earlier version of the vaccine, which used a weakened form of the live virus. It has since been largely replaced by a new one, Shingrix, which contains just a sprinkling of proteins from the virus and is seen as safer because it cannot cause an infection. Some studies suggest the new jab may be at least as powerful against dementia as the old one. Even so, it would make sense to run randomised trials to learn which is better, the optimal age for getting it and whether boosters are needed.

In the meantime, health authorities should not wait. A full two-dose course of Shingrix costs Britain’s health service £320 ($430) and federal immunisation programmes in America around $270: a bargain, given the potential savings in long-term care costs. As for individuals, even the retail cost (around £460 in Britain) is a small price to reduce by one-fifth the chances of having the world recede in every direction.

The trouble is, of course, that correlation doesn’t mean causation. People who get vaccinated may differ from those who do not in ways that also affect dementia risk.

So the findings are consistent enough to indicate the shingles vaccination may have broader health benefits beyond preventing shingles itself. Andy and I are convinced the shots are worth it even if it wouldn’t help ward off dementia. The complications from shingles (from Perplexity) are:

The main complication from shingles is postherpetic neuralgia: long-lasting nerve pain in the area where the rash appeared. Other possible complications include eye problems and vision loss, bacterial skin infection, hearing problems, muscle weakness, and, rarely, pneumonia or brain inflammation.

We have a friend who is still suffering from nerve pain from shingles, and I had shingles in my left eye even after I had the old vaccine. I didn’t have long-term damage, and I’m convinced the danger to my vision would have been a lot greater if I hadn’t had the shot.

As I remember we had two shots of the new vaccine, about six months apart. I reacted to the first one with a sore, swollen arm and feeling under the weather for a day or so, but it was well worth it. I don’t remember reacting the the second one. What about you? Did you have the shots? If so, did you have a reaction?

July 15, 2026

Ziggy

I definitely have less zip in the summer than I do in the fall, but I’m really enjoying my afternoon naps. That counts too.

July 14, 2026

I have to hand it to you; I can’t even draw a stick man. And you have represented joy with just a few strokes!

The truth is I spent months thinking about how to draw this one.

I searched for countless pictures of people weeding and tried to simplify the ones I liked best. I kept playing with it off and on and it gradually evolved.

They say anyone can learn to draw — it just takes patience, practice, and the willingness to keep looking closely. It’s like the old joke,

How many therapists does it take to change a light bulb?
Only one, but the light bulb has to really want to change.

I’ve gone through the Klutz book Drawing for the Artistically Undiscovered twice, and I believe in its advice:

…you will find yourself frequently unsatisfied with your efforts. Our recommendation? So what. Take a fearless experimental approach. Wield your pen or pencil with spirit and take bold chances. Your successes will shine all the brighter and the rest—nothing but necessary steps to greatness….

Around here we honor mistakes and botched details. Please make many.

The second time I went through the book was in 2022, and I just looked at it again. One of my favorite assignments was to fill in the Chomp-Chomp tree:

This is what I ended up with:

It was inspired by Zoe, of course,

I had forgotten all about it, but it still makes me laugh.

July 13, 2026

I’m like Tom, a visual thinker, so both of these remind me that

The quality of our lives depends on how we focus our energy and our attention.

The doodle on the left represents life as a garden and me as an active gardener.

Pulling the weeds, nurturing the flowers, delighting in watching things grow.

That means savoring the little joys in life and minimizing the distressing things — dealing with problems when come up and doing our best to not let them ruin our lives. Very much like James Clear’s advice yesterday,

This is one of the arts of living. It’s the art of enjoying the imperfect days. It’s the art of making all the moments count.
—James Clear

The sun and stairs in the doodle on the right represents an empowering question:

What is little step can I take right now to make myself happier?

Both doodles represent patience and persistence and the power of little actions in creating a well-lived life.

July 12, 2026

This is one of the arts of living. It’s the art of enjoying the imperfect days. It’s the art of making all the moments count.
—James Clear

That’s definitely worth working on! Especially as we get older and older.

July 11, 2026

The Other Coast

What motivates you?

July 10. 2026

I saved that quote years ago and came across it a couple of days ago. The idea is instead of just training ourselves to notice and be grateful for the little things in life that touch us — the morning light coming through the window, the sound of birds, the feeling of a gentle breeze brushing your cheek — treat them as precious gifts someone made just for us. Can you picture yourself saying that? If so, what do you think your reaction would be?

When I use that sentence I feel loved, cherished, and cared about. So I would be a fool not to use it more. But I know we’re all built differently and some tools work for some people and not for others. For instance, affirmations are powerful for me, and a lot of people say affirmations make them feel worse — instead of empowering them, affirmations make them feel inadequate.

So what about you? Would “Do you like it? I made it just for you.” work for you too?

July 9, 2026

B. C.

July 8, 2026

Friday evening we received a package from Amazon containing three thermometers. We checked to be sure we hadn’t ordered them, but no. Eventually Andy remembered that one of the pups had chomped on one of our thermometers up on the land and destroyed it, so he figured they must have been sent by Torben and Kaitlin.

Sure enough, Torben had ordered them. Why three? Because, he said,

I figure Tempi will eat them eventually.

It pays to be realistic and plan ahead.

I’m afraid Tempi is much more sedate now. Kaitlin and Torben got her in 2016, so she’s over ten years old. She mostly prefers the couch to getting into mischief.

July 7, 2026

I love it because

1. Auld Lang Syne is one of my favorite songs, and
2. I love St. Andrews. Kaitlin did her junior year there so I spent a long weekend there that November when I had a business trip in Germany, and Andy I went there for a week during her spring break. We have some wonderful memories.

Since the videos show the students celebrating Robert Burns Night, I looked up some of his writings. I was already aware of

Oh would some power the gift give us,
to see ourselves as others see us!

and

The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men,
Gang aft a-gley,

But this one surprised and impressed me:

While Europe’s eye is fix’d on mighty things,
The fate of empires and the fall of kings;
While quacks of State must each produce his plan,
And even children lisp the Rights of Man;
Amid this mighty fuss just let me mention,
The Rights of Woman merit some attention.

Burns lived from January 25, 1759 – July 21, 1796. So he wrote it about the time Abigail Adams was telling John to “remember the ladies” when they were creating a new government here in America. (Not that John listened.)

So yesterday was a deeply happy day, rich with connections. Thanks to the internet and my iPad and computer — my windows to the world.

July 6, 2026