The Best Medicine

MADISONSAFERILLUSTRATION: A little warmup sketch.

Two Films about Stephen Hawking for You to Watch Online

Click here if you can't see the video below.

I watched it several days ago and loved it. At first I thought it would be too painful to watch and I clicked it off the first time. Then I decided to try again and I'm so glad I did. 

This is his own personal story told in his own words. The thing I liked best was the personal photos and movies from the time he was born. It covered his life at Cambridge and his marriage and family life with Jane Wilde and their children.

Watch it full screen on your computer or mobile device. This movie is 1 hour 28 minutes long. Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with ALS when he was 20 years old and he's been living with the threat of an imminent death for the past 52 years. His will to live is unbelievable as you will soon see if you decide to watch. This is real life. No actors. This is his story and this movie is very current, filmed in 2013 when he was 71 years old. He still goes to work every day as a Professor at Cambridge in a position once held by Isaac Newton.

The movie that is either out now or about to be released The Theory of Everything starring Eddie Redmayne is based on a book that was written by Stephen Hawking's first wife. It was published in 2008 and is out of print. This is a hardcover book to look for at garage sales, book sales, and estate sales. Hardcover first editions are selling for around $1,000.00 -- see listing on Amazon. It's also available as an e-book.

The BBC made a movie about Stephen in 2004 starring Benedict Cumberbatch. I watched it too AFTER watching the one above. I suggest you watch them in that order too. The BBC film fills in all the gaps about his education at Cambridge preceding his marriage to Jane. It's fabulous as you can well imagine. Benedict Cumberbatch never disappoints!

This film is offered on YouTube in 6 parts. As each episode ends, you will be prompted to start the next one. It was very seamless. I know you can do it.

Let me know if you watch either or both movies. You know I wouldn't recommend anything I didn't enjoy myself.

H A P P Y   N E W   Y E A R !
xo

Phrenology Head with Sense of Humor

I bought this in England years ago. It's a reproduction of the famous Fowler's Phrenology Head but all the sections of the brain have been renamed for modern times. It makes me smile every time I look at it.

I have it a shelf in front of my bathroom mirror.

X-ray lamp

Isn't this a great way to use your old x-rays after the break has healed, the cast is off, and you're not on crutches anymore? X-ray lamp




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Advertising Phrenology Head | Boehm Porcelain

Porcelain Phrenology Head by Edward Boehm

This beautiful Phrenology Head was made by noted sculptor Edward Marshall Boehm in the 1950s for the Schering Pharmaceutical Company to advertise their new drug called ETRAFON. The uncommon medical collectible is 5" tall with highly detail head analysis areas shown and the "Etrafon" drug advertisement stamped on back. On the bottom is sculptor's incised mark "Boehm". Etrafon is an antipsychotic drug of intermediate potency used in the treatment of disorganized and psychotic thinking and sometimes used to help treat false perceptions, hallucinations and delusions. Thus, the infamous phrenology diagnosis head that L.N. Fowler made famous in the 1800s was used to advertise the new drug. Only a few of these unique items were produced and given to doctors to help promote the drug. This rare and seldom found 50+ year old piece is in excellent condition and will highlight any collection of antique medical memorabilia. From my personal collection.

SOLD




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Bionic Dog | Great Story

A beloved pet bulldog has been fitted with a £10,000 bionic leg, which will help advance prosthetic techniques used to help bombing victims.

Coal, an eight-and-a-half year old dog had his left paw amputated because of cancer last year. He faced being put down because his other legs would be too weak to carry him.

But his determined owner Reg Walker, shelled out thousands of pounds to fit him with a sophisticated bionic leg, which was designed to be compatible with Coal's own tissue. Full article here. This dog now has privileges. He's the only dog who has ever been backstage at Royal Albert Hall. Didn't I tell you this was a wonderful story? I love this owner's devotion to this dog. Misty eyed me.




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