Vatican officials said Saturday they were disappointed by President Barack Obama's decision to end a ban on federal funding for international groups that perform abortions or provide information on them. ...more

January 25, 2009

Last week's "water landing" of the US Airways jet is a tribute to professionalism, experience, skill and teamwork. The pilot-in-command showed that with his calm under fire and his years of training as an Air Force, airline and glider pilot, that he had the requisite background to successfully execute such a difficult maneuver. As Barack Obama rides the train to his position as pilot-in-command of our country, let us hope that he learns from this pilot hero that one's split-second decision can mean the difference between the life and death of many people; that experience, skill and teamwork are important; that there is reward in "just doing one's job"; and in a command position, it is essential to conduct oneself with the character and humility of this US Airways pilot. ...more

January 20, 2009

Gus Van Sant has spent the past few years making dreamy, amorphous meditations on life and death that seemingly were intended for his hardcore fans, himself, and no one else. ...more

December 12, 2008

When the world falls apart some things stay in place/Levi Stubbs' tears run down her face. ...more

October 24, 2008

It's 8:30 a.m. in Steve Haberlin's class and the students are learning about life and death. ...more

October 9, 2008

Today, the most routine medical procedure requires your initials and signature in various places to document you are aware of all the possible death scenarios. After you sign off on these possible tragedies to decrease medical liability, you are presented with "living will" documents to fill out. ...more

September 26, 2008

Today, the most routine medical procedure requires your initials and signature. ...more

September 26, 2008

"The Reapers: A Thriller," by John Connolly (Atria, $26) ...more

June 1, 2008

I was supposed to meet Charlie at Canterbury Tower for lunch. He wanted to talk about Dudley Clendinen's new book, "A Place Called Canterbury," coming out this month. ...more

May 4, 2008

It's a ritual. Every day I skim the obituaries, reading most, especially the memorials. Some I see every year, with the face of the loved one frozen in time. The family's sentiments touch my heart. This expensive little piece of black and white real estate is one more way of holding onto a face and voice that will never mature beyond that horrible day when that loved one slipped out of his or her immortal body and infused his or her soul and spirit into the very air the family breathes, into the tears that still pour from their eyes at a chance memory. ...more

February 9, 2008