As I type this from my bed at a Holiday Inn, I find myself thinking wildly profound thoughts about hotel rooms.

For instance: why are there no overhead lights in hotel rooms? Turning on eight different lamps to achieve decent visibility is a major bummer.

Also: I'd like toothpaste in the bathroom. Please charge me an extra $2.50 and hook this up, Holiday Inn management, so I don't have to travel with toothpaste.

There are other profound thoughts too, I swear. I just don't have time to share them.

As always, please forward IQNEWS to a friend if you're a fan!

Scientists at North Carolina State have created a powder that, when inhaled, coats the airways with a protective gel that prevents respiratory infections in mice and monkeys.

We are not mice. We also are not monkeys. But, let's say these findings are replicated in humans (the FDA is evaluating this prospect now). This innovation could provide us with a game-changing tool to combat COVID and a host of other airborne viruses.

So what's actually in this product?!

The powder that Ke Cheng and his NC-State team created is comprised of polymer and gelatin microparticles. When inhaled, it enters the mucus lining of the nasal passage and lungs, and swells to form a gel layer that blocks virus penetration.

When tested in mice and monkeys, these protective particles remained in the animals' airways for roughly eight hours, providing extensive protection against heavy exposure to COVID, flu, and pneumonia-causing particles throughout that period.

And, miraculously, the gel coating never appeared to impede breathing and never yielded any perceivable side effects.

If the powder's approved for human use, an asthma-inhaler-like device can be easily developed as a delivery mechanism. And the use cases are incredibly vast. Flying somewhere? Attending a crowded concert? Take a few puffs and you're covered.

Again, much remains unknown, but this could be big.

Disclaimer: this is a touchy-feely hack.

Someone recently suggested I make my password an affirmation I like, so I'd be forced to repeat it every day.

I'm not much of an "affirmation guy" but I picked one regardless.

It's actually been pretty powerful!

Random hypothetical example (which is definitely not based on me)...

Let's say you're someone who never stops to smell the proverbial roses in life. Create a password that begins with "YouveComeFar" and you'll have no choice but to reflect on your progress for at least a few seconds each day.

If you feel this is too corny, just remind yourself that your phone background photo is also corny and do it anyway.

Oh...and don't forget those special characters at the end! $#>@

1. We're extremely privileged to hear rain and thunderstorms and be soothed by it.
2. Due to pregnancy, the average number of skeletons inside humans is always >1.
3. Somebody at Google said: "Yea, just have someone drive down every road on earth."
4. It makes sense the target audience for fidget spinners lost interest in them so quickly.
5. Security at every level of an airport is absurd. Until you get to baggage claim - then it’s just take whatever bag you want!

Roger Staubach: "There is no traffic jam along the extra mile."

Today I learned that domestic dogs have developed muscles in there brow to "mimic" humans. (more here)

nomophobia [ noh-muh-foh-bee-uh ] - noun
anxiety caused by being without access to a functioning mobile phone
The teenager's nomophobia led him to purchase a backup phone.

Q: Which three states share a border with California?
A: (see below next section)