For some of us, the rising deaths from drug overdose are just numbers on a page. But for many others, it is too real: a close friend or family member is found unresponsive and suddenly the emergency crew and the flashing lights are reflecting on our own walls. There are fewer and fewer among us who have not […]
When Hurricane Maria flattened Puerto Rico in September, the damage and loss was catastrophic. But unless we had family ties to the island, the disaster seemed distant, barely touching our lives in the mainland … but we were wrong. The ripple effect from Maria has surged far past the island itself and into the hospitals […]
“Why would I want a mini-me?” she asks, annoyed at the suggestion that someday she might want to have kids. “No way do I want offspring. Isn’t one of me enough?” She swears she will not change her mind. “Hell no, I won’t come to regret this decision.” How can she convince her doctor that […]
Most Rhode Islanders are familiar with the large, gray stone building surrounded by a barbed wire fence that sits atop Pontiac Avenue at the former Howard complex in Cranston, now recognized as the Pastore Government Center. It is a part of the state prison system known as the Adult Correctional Facility [ACI]. Within its walls […]
Feeling virtuous, you order a spring greens salad at the new vegan restaurant. After some sparkling mineral water and fruit sorbet, you’re off for a mile-long stroll in the fresh air. What could be healthier? But within hours, you are doubled over with cramps and go racing for the bathroom. Oops! You have just become […]
Important: Remember that items made with cannabis may be illegal in your jurisdiction unless you have proper medical certification, and must always be kept strictly away from children and pets. Cannabis has been known since ancient times, and some claim that the mysterious קַנַּבּוֹס (“kaneh-bosim,” singular “kaneh-bos”) listed as an ingredient of the holy anointing […]
It happens. You overdid it the night before and now you feel like you’ve been kicked repeatedly in the back of the head by a donkey. Welcome to the wonderful world of hangovers. First, let’s talk about why you’ve got this plague from hell. One of the main culprits is dehydration, which can happen with […]
Life expectancy is a measurement that summarizes almost everything about quality of life in a society, and therefore even tiny increases or decreases are indications of profound changes with deep consequences. In a somewhat shocking discovery, life expectancy declined overall in the United States by 0.1 year from 2014 to 2015, according to the Centers […]
Zika virus infection poses a significant risk in pregnancy as it “is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an agency of the federal government responsible for monitoring and assessing threats to public health. “Microcephaly is a medical condition in which the […]
Taking Charge: Collected Stories on Aging Boldly by Herb Weiss, available in paperback and for Amazon Kindle https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692688706/ After 36 years in journalism Herb Weiss, known for his regular newspaper columns in The Pawtucket Times and The Woonsocket Call, has collected in book form what he regards as some of his best work. An eclectic […]