A caregiver explains why losing your doctor under Obamacare can be a death sentence

I have been providing longterm and end-of-life care to my loved ones for most of the last 29 years, since my late life partner moved in with me in September 1984. (She died of complications of multiple sclerosis in December 2004.) I took care of my mother when she was dying in 2006 and shortly …

Why NOM would be fighting Obamacare instead of gays if it’s true purpose were to protect marriage

Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com Today Fox News ran the story in the video above about how Obamacare will destroy marriage for the middle class because its means-testing requirements will force millions of couples to choose between marriage and health insurance. That’s because married couples who file joint federal tax returns will be means-tested …

Obesity and sleep

Dear Attila is musing tonight on why people become overweight and proposes two explanations. I agree with her, but want to add a third — sleep deprivation. Luckily, the Los Angeles Times published a story this week explaining, “Lack of sleep contributing to obesity” (boldfacing mine): “You’re fighting against the tide to lose weight when …

Neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor on the brain and pure bliss consciousness

This video is neuroanatomist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor‘s talk at the TED conference on Feb. 27, 2008, on her experience of a hemorrhagic stroke in 1996. You may relate better to some posts I’m planning if you have listened to this speech first. I plan to refer to it when I write about my own …

When clutter is a symptom

Note: Another version of this piece is posted at RightNetwork. My agreement with them is that I can cross-post the pieces I write for them here after four or five days. However, it was so significantly re-written that I am posting my original piece tonight. It is NOT about de-cluttering — it is about exactly …

Marie Claire editor asks anorexic blogger who hates television to write about a new TV romantic comedy about a fat couple

What could go wrong? The link goes to a reaction piece by my dear friend, Jenny Lawson, at Ask The Bloggess, who links the post at the fashion magazine Marie Claire by Maura Kelly about the new TV show Mike and Molly. I encourage you to read both. Jenny points out that Ms. Kelly is …

Final vigil for Maggie

Maggie’s sister called me around 6:30 am to tell me that she and Maggie’s brother had been called and told that Maggie does not have much longer to live. They had gone to their respective homes for the weekend on Friday afternoon to get chores done, based on assurances from the doctors that Maggie seemed …

‘Love is watching someone die’

Click for a profound and touching video correlating the lyrics of “What Sarah Said” by the indie rock group, Death Cab for Cutie, with the experience of a person at the very end of life made by a palliative care doctor. It will make you a better, stronger and more courageous person. Love is the …