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Van Gogh Saw the Promise of Christmas in his “At Eternity’s Gate”
Even in darkness the troubled artist found lightAn old man slumped in a chair holding his head in his hands appears in a number of Vincent Van Gogh’s lithographs and paintings. At first, the figure, dressed in work clothes and worn leather shoes, seems bent in total despair. But the despair is put into a new light when the title of VanGogh’s 1890 oil…
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A Generous Neighbor Leaves 14 Years of Christmas Gifts for a Little Girl
Ken Watson collected 14 Christmas gifts for his friend’s two-year-old daughter before he diedA touching Christmas story emerged from the seaside resort of Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, on Wednesday that has people all over the world smiling through their tears. A dying elderly man, Ken Watson, apparently spent the days before his death shopping for Christmas gifts for his neighbor’s 2-year old daughter, Cadi. In all, he…
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“The Sum Total of Our Memory: Facing Alzheimer’s Together” by Barbara Klutinis
A film that shows how Alzheimer’s affects the patient and their spouse, particularly when the spouse is the primary caregiver“The Sum Total of Our Memory: Facing Alzheimer’s Together” is a 2014 documentary directed by Barbara Klutinis. It tells the stories of three couples and their journeys navigating the tough road of Alzheimer’s disease. The film focuses on the nuances of the disease through both personal and medical professional lenses. Interviews with neurological experts…
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Chinese Funeral Traditions Observed in Shanghai
A peek into the Chinese funeral customs of fire, joss paper and xi bo (as seen in Shanghai)Our founder, Suzette, recently visited China and was able to bear witness to a Chinese funeral in Shanghai. China is known for their visually expressive rituals (especially with their Chinese New Year festivities) and their funerals are no different. Below are some photographs of the funeral traditions and rituals that took place in Shanghai, along…
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Why Do Some People Suffer From the “Holiday Blues”?
Experts agree that the holidays can spark feelings of sadness and isolation, but why?Although it may be hard to believe, the Holiday Season is upon us again. The shopping malls are bustling with activity, the streets are glowing with holiday lights, and celebrations and family gatherings abound. For many of us, this is a joyous time — an opportunity to express our love and appreciation for friends and…
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What Is The Advance Directive For Dementia? (Interview)
An interview with Dr. Barak Gaster, a University of Washington professor of medicine and primary care physicianDr. Barak Gaster is a primary care physician and a professor of medicine at the University of Washington who has developed an advance care directive for dementia. Through his work, he realized that dementia is one of the most difficult issues facing primary care physicians today. Dr. Gaster has gained a national reputation for looking at…
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MAD Magazine Gets Serious as it Advocates for Stricter Gun Laws
Can its dark humor help achieve what the movement for sensible gun reform has not?Ever since the Sandy Hook School shooting — which took the lives of 20 six and seven-year olds and six adult staff members six years ago today — more and more Americans have been advocating for stricter gun laws. Still, little has changed due to the powerful NRA’s opposing any call to limit guns, arguing instead that schools should increase the number of…
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“Poems of Mourning”
A collection of poems about grief and lossPoems of Mourning is a volume from the Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets Series, which, in turn, is part and parcel of Everyman’s Library, a reprint series that publishes new and beautiful editions of literary classics, mostly from from the western canon. Founded in the United Kingdom in 1906 by Joseph Dent, a master bookbinder turned…
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