Happy Hump Day, Friends.
Did you know the origin of hump day dates back to the 1950s in the United States? Actually, if Henry Ford had not standardized the five-day, 40-hour workweek in 1926, the metaphor would not make sense. California newspapers began using the phrase in the late 1950s.
Hump day rose to particular prominence in September, 2013 thanks to a popular commercial by the insurance company GEICO. In the commercial, a talking camel named Caleb walks through generic office cubicles asking his coworkers if they know what day it is. They roll their eyes, giving the impression that the camel does this every week. One of the office workers reluctantly answers him, to his delight: “It’s hump day.” Two men with guitars then explain that people who switch to GEICO insurance are “happier than a camel on Wednesday.” This commercial was the seventh most viewed on YouTube in 2013. The gag, of course, relies on a pun on the word hump, which Wednesdays metaphorically share with camel physiology.
Moving on to more important topics, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded Wake Forest University School of Medicine $22.5 million to continue the work of its Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center for another five years. The award, through the NIH’s National Institute on Aging, marks the center’s second renewal as it celebrates a decade of advancing Alzheimer’s research. The University of Kansas, the Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, and the Cleveland ADRC also recently received NIH funding. There are 36 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) at major medical institutions across the United States. The centers are a national resource for Alzheimer’s and other dementia research.
On the financial front, the United States Social Security Administration announced a 3.6 percent annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) effective January 1, 2027. While a helpful adjustment, it is partially offset by a projected $6.60 USD increase in Medicare Part B premiums. These premiums are deducted from Social Security benefits. Consequently, the actual net increase in Social Security benefits will likely be closer to 3 percent. Furthermore, the Consumer Price Index rose 3.7 percent in September from a year earlier, accelerating faster than the previous month. If inflation continues to rise, this 2027 benefit increase will still struggle to keep pace with daily necessities.
Update on my Alzheimer’s Journey:
My memory continues to worsen - although at a slow rate. I am experiencing an increase in overall confusion and a decrease in the clarity of my thoughts. Often, poor memory and confusion combine to frustrate me deeply.
Depression continues to be a demon in my life. I hope reducing financial stress will eventually help reduce this weight. On a brighter note, I still try to walk at least one mile every day, and some days I manage two.
Last night, I dreamed I was a cat. Being an indoor cat would be a good life, assuming you have loving and caring human parents. On that note, I think it is time for a nap.
Thank you for your continued support. I am going to continue placing the donation buttons for the foreseeable future. Thank you to those of you who donated this week. Linda and I are incredibly grateful.