Welcome “Endeavour”: A New "Inspector Morse" Spinoff

After years of reruns, "Inspector Morse" is one of the most popular PBS Masterpiece Mysteries. A new series, "Endeavour", introduces a young, 20 something Morse to his devoted fans. Endeavour deals with the conflicts of the past and carves out the well-known identity of the future "Inspector Morse", whom fans know and love. During the series, his love of opera, horror at the sight of blood, and love for his Jaguar Mark 2 are presented to viewers. In addition, series writer Colin Dexter can be seen in cameo appearances in each episode.

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Never Say Die: Dying With Dignity

 

 

Most of the time, we focus on the values outlined in the Declaration of Independence-life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is the main stay of political discourse, raising its head most often when an election is close at hand. The greatest freedom may be to live, and die, according to one's own desires and beliefs. What we fail to deal with is life’s most inevitable fact-that life will end. From advance directives to physician-assisted dying, "Death with Dignity" is a movement to provide options for the dying to control their own end-of-life care.

 

Two recent news stories have put the issue of “dying”in the forefront.

In mid-September, Ezekiel Emanuel caused a stir by writing in The Atlantic that he wanted to die at age 75, before his faculties dimmed too much, before his life became a litany of medical concerns. "Dying at 75 will not be a tragedy," he wrote. "Death is a loss...But here is a simple truth that many of us seem to resist: living too long is also a loss."

Emanuel, 57, said he wasn't planning to end his life at 75, only that he would not pursue health care strategies designed to prolong it past that point. But as the director of the Clinical Bioethics Department at the NIH and one of the engineers of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare, aka death-panel central) his piece was a magnet for criticism.

One of the most scathing attacks came from Damon Linker, a writer for The Week. Emanuel's article "clearly amounts to a defense of eugenics," Linker wrote, because it suggests that only lives in top condition are worth living.
Linker's concluding remark appears to reveal the real foundation of his objection: "No one should hope to die—at 75, 80, 90, or ever."

As tempting as it is to get into the Emanuel-Linker debate, let's go to the other recent story on the subject of "Dying with Dignity". The second story, much more visceral than Emanuel's, went viral last week. Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old woman with terminal brain cancer and less than six months to live, says she is planning to end her life with an overdose of medication instead of allowing the cancer to take its ravaging course. "I do not want to die," she wrote in a piece for CNN. "But I am dying. And I want to die on my own terms."

 

Maynard has become a poster-child for the right-to-die movement, and she is an ideal spokesperson: attractive, eloquent, with a tragic story (diagnosed on New Year's Day, a year after her wedding) and all the right bonafides of medical courage (two surgeries, including a partial craniotomy). Despite that—or because of it—she has also become a lightning rod for critics of the movement, and they all seem to rest their case on the simple assertion that life has value.

My purpose in writing this post is to encourage my family, friends and readers to give the subject of dying some thought as painful as it may be. We need to be clear on what choices our loved ones have made and put the mechanisms in place to address those choices when the time comes. Recognize the value of preparing a will and an advance directive as a guide for our end-of-life journey. No one ever wants to discuss these issues, but having a clear view of the wishes of the individual family member will lessen the stress of making these decisions during extremely difficult times. It is also helpful to find out any existing laws that might impact your decisions. Be prayful and walk by faith.

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Show Me the Money: NBA Richest Players of All Time

"Show me the Money!" Cuba Gooding, Jr. will long be remembered for that line and his academy award winning performance in the movie Jerry McGuire. Much is made of the cash made in the entertainment world and in sports. I've taken a look at Rappers, Football players, and athletes in general. Why not concentrate on the cash cows of the NBA.NBA players are well paid and receive their share of fame and glory. In addition to their healthy salaries generated in multiple year contracts, many players enjoy opportunities for lucrative endorsements that feather their nests and launch their careers as wealthy businessmen.

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What I Expect from a Republican Controlled Senate

You hear it on all the news programs and on commentary from political pundits. It seems to be the conventional wisdom that Republicans, who won control of the House of Representative in the last mid-term elections, will take control of the Senate in the November 2014 midterm election.

I agree that the fight for the Senate is real and the coming elections pose significant consequences for country. Personally, I shudder to think about Republicans having the final say on major issues that will affect me and my family during the coming decade.

 

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Political Thrillers Matching Today's Headlines

If you’ve follow my reviews of Netflix offerings, you’ve met some diverse, but hopefully interesting characters, i.e. Doctor Martin Ellingham (Doc Martin) , Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Foyle  (Foyle’s War), and Aldrich Ames (The Assets). Now, let's delve into the world of political dramas. Each starts with a major diplomatic incident, followed by a web of tangled relationships and conflicting interest, and asks the question “who can you trust”.

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"The Assets": Circle of Treason Thriller

My romance with Netflix (new logo and all) continues to supply my need for new dramas that offer deliciously interesting characters caught in webs of mystery and intrigue. What kind of chum would I be if I didn’t share with my friends? Being loyal and true blue compels me to let you in on my recently discovered treasure trove of hidden gems. Join me on my journey, and open doors to new adventures compliments of Netflix and your television set.

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Trick or Treat: October Weight Management

 October is Family Health Month. It’s a great time to plan for healthier choices and set goals for what you want to achieve this month.  Get a new bag of tricks to ensure your success and figure out how to manage “Halloween”. Image your “future” self, the healthier, lighter, happier person you want to be and start today becoming that person.

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