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“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”
BOC examines the death of a loved oneBlue Oyster Cult, often known as BOC, released “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” in 1976. The members had formed the band in 1967, but their most successful years were between 1975 and 1981. “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” enjoyed great popularity upon its release and is number 405 on the Rolling Stone 500 List. Dharma, Blue Oyster…
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The Benefits of a Dementia Specific Advance Directive
Tell your loved one about the care you want if you develop dementiaDr. Barak Gaster, who works as an internist at the University Of Washington School of Medicine, was concerned about his patients with dementia. Yes, many of them had advance directives, but mostly advance directives are written with a sudden catastrophic condition like a heart attack, stroke or car accident in mind. He wanted to create…
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“A Woman Is Talking to Death”
A woman addresses death, and a whole lot moreJudy Grahn’s ambitious, arresting work, “A Woman Is Talking to Death” is her most celebrated poem, a piece about meaning and futility, callousness and tenderness, queer love and, of course, death. The poem is a factual account of a fatal motorcycle accident on the Bay Bridge — the bridge that connects San Francisco to Oakland —…
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“Pharmacy” Asks Us To Consider Medicine and The Fragility of Life
Damien Hirst reminds us that medicine serves only a short-term purposeDamien Hirst has always been a provocateur of sorts, and is one of contemporary art’s more controversial and well-respected figures. Much of his work explores death and the fragility of life, and his 1992 room-sized installation “Pharmacy” falls neatly into his personal canon. While installed, “Pharmacy” at first glance appeared to be just that: a…
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How Can We Work Towards Suicide Prevention in Our Communities? (Interview)
An interview with suicide prevention expert and author John Bateson, Part TwoToday SevenPonds has the pleasure of speaking with John Bateson, the former executive director of a nationally-certified crisis intervention and suicide prevention center in the San Francisco Bay Area. John is a recognized expert in suicide prevention, and has written several critically acclaimed books on the subject, including “The Last and Greatest Battle: Finding the Will, Commitment…
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Death with Dignity: Lack of Access Biggest Issue
Refusal to participate leaves patients without access to end-of-life optionsTwenty years ago, the state of Oregon implemented the nation’s first Death with Dignity Act. This state legislation provided a physician-prescribed, end of life option for terminally ill individuals. In the 20 years following, five other states and the District of Columbia passed their own voter-approved aid in dying legislation. The names of each state’s medical…
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“David Bowie: The Last Five Years”
A fascinating documentary about the final years of a mysterious rock iconThe chameleon-like David Bowie constantly battled against modern convention and predictability. The rock legend seemed to transform into a new character every few years, from his clean-cut mod phase of the 1960s to his outlandish platform boots and neon orange mullet of the early 1970s. But who was the real David Bowie? Director Francis Whately skirts…
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Cremation Tattoos: A Modern Approach to Honoring Our Dead
In the West, a growing number of people are adding cremation ashes to memorial tattoosCremation is rapidly becoming the most popular form of final disposition in many developed countries. According to the latest data from the Cremation Society of North America, the cremation rate in the United States in 2016 exceeded 50 percent for the first time in history. And it was just over 70 percent for our neighbors…
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“David Bowie: The Last Five Years” Directed By Francis Whately
The chameleon-like David Bowie constantly battled against modern convention and predictability — the rock legend seemed to transform into a new character every few years, from his clean-cut mod phase of the late 1960s to the outlandish platform boots and neon orange mullet of the early 1970s. But who was the real David Bowie? Director Francis Whately skirts…
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