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Death

Should I Have a Will?
Money

Do You Have a Will?

Although it may sound morbid to draw up a will when you're young and healthy, it is a wise move, especially for those who are married or who own a lot of assets.
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Although it may sound morbid to draw up a will when you're young and healthy, it is a wise move, especially for those who are married or who own a lot of assets. Writing a will doesn't mean you are about to die — all it means is that you're being organized about your finances and well prepared for any scenario. A December 2010 survey from FindLaw.com found that 55 percent of Americans don't have wills, which means they will have no say in what happens to their property or money when they pass away. Tell me, do you have a will?

Kids Books Explaining Death and Illness
Music and Books For Kids

Tough Conversations: Books That Help Explain Illness and Death

There are conversations that no parent wants to have with their lil one — conversations about hard to explain topics like illness and death.
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Kids Books Explaining Death and Illness

There are conversations that no parent wants to have with their lil one — conversations about hard to explain topics like illness and death. Whether it's the death of a grandparent, an ill parent or child, or the passing of a classmate, there are books to help guide the discussion in an age-appropriate way.

When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death ($8) I Miss You: A First Look at Death ($7) Where Are You? A Child's Book About Loss ($14) Let My Colors Out ($8) Little Tree: A Story For Children With Serious Medical Problems ($10)
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Shutting Down Social Networks After Death
digital life

What Do You Do With Social Network Accounts After Death?

A new study shows that over 400,000 US Facebook users and 1.78 million international members will die in 2011.
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A new study shows that over 400,000 US Facebook users and 1.78 million international members will die in 2011. Of course, in comparison to Facebook's growing numbers, this is a small amount. But what happens to your social networks after death? Can you appoint someone to shut them down or transfer ownership to a living relative? The good news is you can create a social network will so the loved ones you leave behind know what to do with your online personality, but what about those of us who don't take that extra step before kicking the bucket?

Find out what happens to our social networks after death, and how to handle them after someone you love passes after the break.

Facts About Pediatric Organ Donation
News

The Facts About Pediatric Organ Donation

Christina Taylor Green died in the Tucson shootings, but her organs live on in another child.
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Christina Taylor Green died in the Tucson shootings, but her organs live on in another child. Though the family's loss is unmeasured, they find some solace in the gift that their daughter has given another family. Many parents choose to become organ donors, but never entertain the idea for their offspring. Do you know the facts about pediatric organ donation?

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Dying People Writing Letters to Living Loved Ones
Poll

Letters From the Grave — Creepy or Sweet?

Dying is a tricky business.
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Dying is a tricky business. Die young, and you never grow old or experience loss, but live long and you'll have to watch friends and family suffer. In many ways, being left behind is the worst, especially when the departed sends letters from the grave.

One dying mother in England left not notes but a wish list for her sons and husband. Eat together, be on time, make up after a fight, treat girlfriends with respect, and never smoke, ride a motorbike, or join the armed forces. It seems sweet, but potentially troubling.

I once heard (I think on This American Life) about a dying mother who wrote letters to her daughter that were to be delivered every birthday until her 30th. The letters became a source of annual upset that often weren't read until b-day celebrations died down. She wasn't sorry she had them, but she was relieved when they stopped.

I can understand a dying person would want to tell loved ones how to carry on, but is it more disturbing to the living than it's worth?

Segway Owner Dies on Segway
News

Segway Inc. Owner Dies Driving Off Cliff on Segway

What a horrible, horrible tragedy.
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What a horrible, horrible tragedy. Millionaire James Heselden, 62, died yesterday when he drove off the cliff on a Segway and fell more than 30 feet into the River Wharfe in West Yorkshire. Heselden's family said in an emailed statement “there is absolutely nothing to suggest it was anything other than a tragic accident.”

The battery-powered two-wheeled vehicle faced negative press in the past when 23,500 Segways had to be recalled four years ago because of some reversal problems. In 2003, former President George Bush was also seen jumping off a Segway after losing control of it.

I'm a huge fan of company executives using their own products, but a scenario like this makes me a bit hesitant about riding Segways. What about you — has this bit of news turned you off the scooters?

How to Help a Friend After Her Mom Died
community

Group Therapy: Comforting a Friend After a Loss

This question comes from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community.
by Tres Community

This question comes from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

My best friend's mom died last week. We've been friends since we were young children, so I knew her mom well. We both live in different states at this point in our lives, so our friendship is long distance. I want to be there for her in any way that I can, but I don't know what to say.

Do I constantly call to check up? Or does that get annoying and overwhelming? What sort of things can I say to my friend without sounding cliche or generic?


Have a dilemma of your own? Post it, anonymously, to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

How To Close Online Accounts After Death
Geek Tip

How to Deal With Social Network Accounts After Death

Dealing with death can be an extremely traumatic experience.
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Dealing with death can be an extremely traumatic experience. There is so much to think about, process, and details to shore up that we may forget about the digital life our friends and relatives have left behind as well. We don't know when we're going to travel into the great hereafter (and personally, I like it that way), so if a close friend or relative of yours passes away, here are some tips to closing and/or preserving their online accounts so they can rest in peace.

  • Twitter — Twitter just rolled out a new death policy, allowing a close friend or relative to back up, or close the account of the deceased with a link to a public obituary, and your contact information.
  • Facebook — You can request that a Facebook profile be deleted or memorialized. Memorializing the page will allow sensitive info to be wiped clean, while the wall remains in tact for friends and family to leave comments.
  • Gmail — The next of kin can gain access to the deceased's Gmail account by faxing or mailing confirmation of your identity and proof of death to Gmail user support.

See the rest of the list after the jump.

Tips For Cosleeping Safety
News

Do You Take Precautions to Make Cosleeping Safer?

Can parents and baby get a good night's sleep in a family bed?
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Can parents and baby get a good night's sleep in a family bed? A recent report weighed the pros and cons of cosleeping and talked about how some couples take safety precautions before hitting the hay. It said:

The Berkans turned their king size bed sideways to allow for more width, and stripped the bed of framing, placing the mattress and box spring on the floor. They use blankets without sheets, one small pillow each.

Fifty-two percent of LilSugar readers said they cosleep. Do you make adjustments to ensure safety?

Does Birth Make It Easier to Cope With Death?
Poll

Circle of Life: Does Birth Make It Easier to Cope With Death?

It's a simple truth — everybody is born and everyone dies.
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It's a simple truth — everybody is born and everyone dies. But does the birth of a baby help ease the pain of losing a loved one? My son was born the morning my great aunt passed away. I have a friend who lost his father just weeks before his wife birthed their daughter. The child helped him cope with the loss, see the future, and move forward with his memories. Does new life help ease the pain for grieving people?