… the souls of the dead are traditionally remembered in November. The Mexican artist Nicolas de Jesus has an exhibition at the Neuberger Museum of Art. “The commuters in “En el Tren (In the Subway)” are an urban mix of skeletons. All are fully clothed, some sporting hats and glasses, others with dreadlocks reaching down […]
dia de los muertos … Read More »
… an excellent on-line communication skills resource.
communication skills resource … oncotalk … Read More »
… John Waters’ describes an “extraordinary moment” between Michael Douglas and David Letterman. “You don’t sound like you have throat cancer,” Letterman said. “Because,” replied Douglas, “I’m on stage.” But at the end of the interview there occurred an extraordinary moment. Letterman asked Douglas if there was anything, he, Letterman, could do. It did not
vulnerability & presence on letterman … Read More »
Fiammetta Cappellini writes from the scene in Haiti. “The thing that concerns us most personally is the hotbed of the epidemic at Warf Jeremie, a neighborhood of Cité Soleil in the capital Port-au-Prince, where we help with the activities of Sister Marcella. We are all shocked by the escalation of the infection. From one suspect
cholera in haiti … Read More »
… Jean Vanier recently addressed the Canadian Parliament’s Committee on Palliative Care. ” … we are all vulnerable people. Each one of us is important, especially the weakest among us. In our vulnerability we are easily hurt¸ and we have elaborate systems of self protection which keep us from being open with each other. We
jean vanier on the care of vulnerable people … Read More »
… the Atlantic Monthly on Dr. John Ioannidis’ research on the quality of medical research – “Lies, Damned Lies, and Medical Science“. Ioannidis shows that over 3/4 of non-randomized and as many as 1/4 of randomized studies are wrong. “The studies were biased,” he says. “Sometimes they were overtly biased. Sometimes it was difficult to
medical research itself under the microscope … Read More »
… “Giuseppe Verdi spent his life scrutinizing the human heart; in his works he shed light on the drama of the human condition with the music, the stories told and the various figures. His theatre is peopled by the unhappy, the persecuted and victims. This tragic vision of human destiny echoes throughout so many passages
… Loprinzi and colleagues review a series of articles from the Journal of Clinical Oncology which addresses how to have difficult conversations (giving bad news, making life decisions). A recurrent theme highlights the importance of the physician working through his/her own needs and issues … eg “The article presents data from behavioral research that documents
compassionate honesty … Read More »
… a group of prominent British medical and legal experts has authored a report summarizing the Oregon experience with physician assisted suicide (PAS). A significant concern noted is that although early in the Oregon experience one-third of those who committed suicide received psych assessment and treatment for depression and other conditions, most recently none of
oregon’s experience with physician assisted suicide … Read More »
… Dies iræ, dies illa, Solvet sæclum in favilla: Teste David cum Sibyllâ. That day of wrath, that dreadful day, shall heaven and earth in ashes lay, as David and the Sybil say. The Wichita Symphony Orchestra is highlighting 3 pieces this weekend that all feature the 13th century Dies Irae hymn – Liszt’s Totentanz,
