Today is May 16, 2021

Published 7:00 am Sunday, May 16, 2021

‘Two birds with one stone’

If 12-year-old Mike Wimmer was like most kids his age you’d find him in grammar school in the sixth or seventh grade, says the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. But Mike is not like most kids his age when it comes to the academic side of his life.  The Salisbury, NC “tween” is an achiever who is graduating with a 5.45 Grade Point Average from high school at the end of this semester.  He’s is also getting his associate degree from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College with a 4.0 GPA. The boy says he’s got the Covid pandemic to thank for his scholarly achievement. It gave him the time he needed to take extra classes. In fact, he had enough spare time to also create a technology start-up company called Reflect Social. But don’t think for a minute that Mike is boring. As he put it, “A lot of people think I’ve given up my childhood or somehow lost it and I say to them that I’m having the time of my life.”

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They weren’t joshing!

Hundreds of folks named Josh, armed with foamy flotation devices better known as “pool noodles,” gathered for a raucous contest recently in a park in Lincoln, NE, just for the fun of it, reports the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].  It was the brainchild of Josh Swain who, like many of us, was suffering from the loneliness of the Covid lockdown. So, Swain collected a list of people named Josh and contacted them via social media, inviting them to a gathering of Joshes. A few Joshes quickly turned into a lot of Joshes who came from all over the country. It started out as a joke, a way to pass the time online, and it ended with upwards of one thousand people, hundreds of whom had the first name Josh. The event allowed the Joshes to collect hundreds of pounds of food for the needy and some $12,000 for the Children’s Hospital and Medical Center Foundation in Omaha.

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They dug down to the bone

The Perkins family of Las Vegas, NV were having a pool put in their backyard recently and joked about the excavators finding a dinosaur, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. But the diggers weren’t laughing when they stopped digging after finding unidentified skeletal remains just four or five feet underground. The police were called and they quickly determined the bones were not human but that they were mighty old, indeed. So, Matt Perkins contacted the Nevada Science Center and paleontologist Joshua Bonde was sent to investigate. He reported that it wasn’t a dinosaur but that the bones did belong to a large animal — perhaps a horse — that met its demise as much as 14,000 years ago.

Piercings remain popular style statements. Piercings continue to evolve, as do the locations on the face and body where they can be found. Therefore, how people care for them naturally has changed as well.

Body jewelry can be beautiful and make a statement, but piercings require aftercare and a certain level of responsibility. Those preparing to get new piercings can work with their doctors to develop the best aftercare plan.

Research your piercing place

There are no federal regulations governing body piercing. In some areas, only certification is required. Customers want to ensure they’re getting their piercings from reputable piercing professionals by getting recommendations and investigating complaints, if any.

Bacteria is the enemy

Bacteria can be introduced into the piercing location and infect it. As a result, it’s important to avoid getting a piercing if there is a skin infection on the body, especially if it is in the area where the piercing will occur. Similarly, one should avoid touching piercing repeatedly after the hole has been created. Bacteria and other germs on hands can infect the fresh wound.

Ask for a needle

According to professional piercing artist J. Colby Smith, who has worked on many models and celebrities, piercing guns may not be the best piercing tools. It is hard to manage the sterilization of a tool with plastic parts, and guns also force earrings through with pressure that can cause unnecessary damage to tissue. Needles make very small incisions and afford the piercer greater control.

Clean daily

Many piercings need to be cleaned once daily during the healing period. This can be anywhere from two to 10 months, depending on the piercing location. Ear cartilage takes longer to heal than ear lobes.

Professionals vary in their advice on which materials to use for cleaning. The company Piercology recommends a product called PurSan. Some say soap and water is effective, while others recommend diluted saline solutions. Do not “overclean,” or it can compromise healing.

Dermatologist Dr. Kenneth Howe says to avoid harsh cleaning solutions, such as rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, because they can kill new epithelial cells moving into the wound and slow healing. Such solutions also may dry out surrounding skin.

To turn or not to turn

Again, advice varies on turning the piercing. Some professionals say to leave it alone, while others advise turning the earring when cleaning it – and only when it is wet. The idea is not to disturb the scabbing and avoid irritating the wound as much as possible.

Let it be

With the excitement of a new piercing, one may be tempted to switch jewelry prematurely. Leave well enough alone and do not change the stud or loop until advised by the piercing professional. Try to use high-quality jewelry for as long as possible afterward to reduce irritation.

Piercings require considerable aftercare to avoid infection or other problems