You may have heard the slogan, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat or gloom of night stays these couriers from the completion of their appointed rounds”. While this slogan is often associated with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), this is not its official motto. In fact, the USPS does not have a motto. This well-known slogan is a paraphrase of the 5th century BC Greek historian Herodotus’ writings about the courier service of the ancient Persian Empire, “It is said that as many days as there are in the whole journey, so many are the men and horses that stand along the road, each horse and man at the interval of a day’s journey; and these are stayed neither by snow nor rain nor heat nor darkness from accomplishing their appointed course with all speed.”
How did Herodotus’ words become associated with the USPS? Back in 1914, the architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White designed the New York General Post Office building, located at Eighth Avenue and 33d Street in Manhattan. William Mitchell, an architect at the firm and an avid reader of Greek literature supplied the phrase “Neither snow not rain …” for the inscription above the entrance door. Mitchell derived the phrase from Harvard professor, George Herbert Palmer’s translation of Herodotus’ writings on the ancient Persian Empire’s courier service. Yet, the slogan was never adopted by the USPS as its motto!
AEPC is adopting William Mitchell’s “Neither snow nor rain … ” inscription as our motto – at least for this week! The ice storm may have taken out our power and heat since Wednesday, but the remaining laptop battery has sufficed to send you this weeks healthcare news of note!
The Download begins with Hitting the Headlines, with some of the important healthcare stories making headlines. Next check out Changing Things Up with articles on emerging, innovate strategies for healthcare issues such as opioid treatment and long Covid. In Under the Influence, explore articles on how social media shapes not only consumers’ views but those of doctors and more! Finally, do not miss History to Love and my person favorite – How an All-Black Female WWII Unit Saved Morale on the Battlefield!
I hope you enjoy the following:
Hitting the Headlines
Kaiser Health News
Doctors Are Disappearing From Emergency Rooms as Hospitals Look to Cut Costs
The Washington Post
Insurer Humana lays out employer-sponsored coverage exit
University of MI Medicine
Zip code and hospital quality may both affect the risk of dying after surgery
Changing Things Up
Pew Stateline
Addiction Treatment May Be Coming to a Pharmacy Near You
STAT
Current treatments for cramps aren’t cutting it. Why aren’t there better options
STAT
The haunting brain science of long Covid
Associated Press
Panel backs moving opioid antidote Narcan over the counter
Under the Influence
Fierce Pharma
More than half of physicians admit to changing perceptions of a drug due to social media
Wall Street Journal
FTC Alleges Supplement Company ‘Hijacked’ Amazon Reviews to Boost Sales
Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy-Univ. of Minnesota
Celebrity tweets swayed US public opinion toward pandemic efforts, study suggests
Wall Street Journal
What Doctors Are Learning About Marijuana and Surgery
History to Love
The Smithsonian Magazine
The Surprisingly Scientific Roots of Monkey Bars
Atlas Obscura
The Sweet and Sour Origins of Amish Soul Food
The Smithsonian Magazine
How an All-Black Female WWII Unit Saved Morale
on the Battlefield
Enjoy the weekend!
Best,
Suzanne
Suzanne Daniels, Ph.D.
AEPC President
P.O. Box 1416
Birmingham, MI 48012
Office: (248) 792-2187
Email: [email protected]
News you can trust
