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“Great Gig in the Sky”
Pink Floyd’s meditation on death and dyingAccording to Roger Waters, when vocalist Clare Torry walked into the studio to record the ethereal wailing on the epic instrumental track “Great Gig In the Sky,” she was told, “There’s no lyrics. It’s about dying – have a bit of a sing on that, girl.” She nailed it in two takes, cementing her place in the…
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Congress Attacks D.C. Death with Dignity Law
The House Appropriations Committee has approved a measure repealing the billAfter failing to block the enactment of a Washington, D.C. law that legalized medical aid in dying earlier this year, the House Appropriations Committee recently succeeded in attaching a measure to repeal the law to a 2018 spending bill. The amendment was introduced by Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, a Republican, who justified the measure…
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Monday Hearts for Madalene
Page Hodel creates beautiful hearts as a tribute to enduring loveIt’s an honor for SevenPonds to share with our readers the story of the Monday Hearts for Madalene project, a true account of the power of enduring love.The project began in 2005, when Page Hodel first met Madalene Rodriguez and fell “instantly, dizzyingly in love with her.” Soon afterwards, Page began leaving handmade hearts on…
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“The Charge of the Light Brigade”
When is following orders without question valiant?When people seek poems about soldiers valiantly facing death, they often turn to “The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. It’s little wonder. The poet was so moved when he received news of the battle that inspired his work, he wrote the poem in a single day. The British journal, “The Examiner,”…
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Brian Eno’s “The Quiet Room” Meshes Art with Wellness
Eno uses visual art and music to make hospital stays more relaxing for patientsThe sterile setting of a hospital might be the last place you’d imagine seeing an immersive, experimental work of art by Brian Eno. But this is exactly where he wanted his music and visual art to reside. Brian Eno’s “The Quiet Room” is an art installation designed to calm patients and help them heal. Located at…
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How Can Creating a Collage Help Heal the Loss of a Loved One? (Interview)
An interview with clinical professional art therapist and author Sharon Strouse, Part TwoToday is the second part of a two-part interview with Sharon Strouse, a Maryland-based board-certified registered art therapist and licensed clinical professional art therapist. Sharon lost her daughter Kristin to suicide in 2001, and has since worked as a bereavement specialist and presenter, telling her story at various suicide-related workshops throughout the United States. She is…
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HIV: The Epidemic We Haven’t Stopped
HIV and AIDS are still infecting men who sleep with men at an astonishing rateIt has been over 35 years since the medical community first became aware of a strange and deadly disease that mainly affected gay men. The news first broke in June 1981, when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report describing an unexplained outbreak of a rare form of pneumonia, pneumocystis carinii,…
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“I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman”
Leave it to Nora Ephron to bring humor to aging and death in this essay collectionLast week I worked remotely at Sea Ranch, a breathtaking community on the ocean cliffs, north of San Francisco. The first thing I do when I enter a newly rented house is to check out the book shelves. Spotting a copy of Nora Ephron’s “I Feel Bad About my Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a…
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Funeral and Burial Practices in Liberia
Even during the Ebola outbreak, Liberians insisted on proper burials for their loved onesHonoring loved ones who have died is very important for the Liberian people. Though there are many regions in Liberia that have differing customs, there are certain beliefs and practices that are employed by many Liberians across the West African country. Liberia is a predominantly Christian nation with over 4.6 million people. Even though most…
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