Brian

Could consciousness last forever?

June 15, 2025

Is consciousness fundamental? And if it does exist separate from our minds and bodies, would we actually want that?

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Words matter: How we speak about cancer can hinder healing

June 5, 2025

The biggest issue I have when it comes to speaking to someone with cancer is the personification of the interlocution. It’s so narcissistic.

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The full Monty

May 16, 2025

When both my Maltese dog and I developed cancerous and deadly tumors, the parallels proved to be unnerving.

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To pee or not to pee

May 3, 2025

My worst medical nightmare was averted but in its place I now have a nephrostomy: a bag on my back to collect my urine.

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A couch potato’s TV dreams

April 26, 2025

I once had the strangest fantasy: When I retired, I would spend most of my time engaging in one of my favorite pastimes: watching TV. 

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Flying through hospitalization

April 6, 2025

Throughout my cancer journey, one of my biggest fears has been needing to be hospitalized. That day finally arrived recently.

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How not to save a kidney

March 23, 2025

He introduced himself as “Yuval the smiley guy,” which was not far off for a doctor who works in the hospital department dealing with genitalia.

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My first fentanyl

March 9, 2025

I don’t remember when I fell asleep or when I woke up, but I was in another room. That’s what a little fentanyl will do for you.

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Horrors and heroes

February 21, 2025

There is a principle in the tractate Brachot of the Mishna that suggests something seemingly outrageous: One is obligated to praise God for both the good and the bad. Not just to perfunctorily recite a blessing, but to make it wholeheartedly. This is not a new concept. When someone dies, Jews traditionally recite the line, […]

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Podcasts to make sense of a war

February 8, 2025

Over the course of Israel’s multi-front war with Hamas, Hezbollah the Houthis and beyond, I’ve received much of my news from podcasts. If, before Oct. 7, I was hooked on pop culture, history and science-minded audio programming such as Fresh Air, RadioLab and This American Life, my AirPods have lately been tuned to a more Israel-focused digital frequency.  Here […]

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