75 Big Questions to Ask Your Parents Before They Die
Of course you have questions for a dying parent, but maybe you're unsure where to start. Use these suggestions to get this meaningful conversation rolling.
By Gabrielle Applebury, LMFT
MoMo Productions/ DigitalVision via Getty Images
Questions to Ask Your Parents Before They Die
Asking your parent or parents questions before they pass away can help you better understand their life, their choices, as well as how they'd like to be remembered after they've passed. You may consider recording their answers in some way to have as a keepsake. You can do so by writing the answers in a notebook, video recording their responses, or audio recording your conversation with them.
Family Questions
Family questions you may consider asking:
What were your nicknames growing up?
Can you tell me a little about your siblings?
Who were you closest to in your immediate family?
What were your parent(s) or caregiver(s) like when you were growing up?
What lessons were stressed in your household?
How was family conflict resolved?
How was love expressed?
Who was the funniest member in the family?
Who was the most competitive?
Did you have any family pets?
Where did you live?
Did you share a room with anyone?
What memory exemplifies your family's values?
What was a difficult situation that your family overcame together?
What did your parent(s) or caregiver(s) do for work?
So THAT'S Why Some People Get Food Poisoning And Others Don't
Yes, even when you have the exact same meal.
By Sydney Wingfield
Have you ever experienced food poisoning when none of your dining mates got sick from the same meal? It’ll make you question whether you really have food poisoning at all. But as it turns out, it’s entirely possible that several people can eat the same food and only one person can contract food poisoning.
“People always come into the emergency room stating, ‘I know I don’t have food poisoning because I’m the only one who got sick,’” said board-certified emergency physician Dr. Justin Mazur. “Patient education here is critical, as it is more common that not everyone gets sick from your garden variety food poisoning.”
If you’re not familiar with what food poisoning is, it refers to a plethora of gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever.
“The symptoms are generally attributed to food that is contaminated with a virus, bacteria or, less commonly, a parasite,” Mazur said.
Why do some people get food poisoning and others don’t after eating the same thing?
To put it simply, your body may not be able to fight off food poisoning. Every single person is completely different in a multitude of ways, including their immune system and gut microbiome, the home of trillions of microorganisms that can influence your digestive system and overall health.
When it comes to food poisoning, it completely disrupts your gut microbiome, which is why you feel so sick. If you and your friend eat the same undercooked hamburger and you have an unhealthy microbiome while they have a healthier one, you may experience a bit of an upset stomach afterward.
BLACK NASA EMPLOYEES GO VIRAL AFTER SHARING OFFICIAL HEADSHOTS
By BOTWC
There’s nothing we love more than to see Black people unabashedly share their accomplishments and encourage one another. Especially when locs, natural hair and braids are involved!
Thanks to Tyrone Jacobs, and his recent viral post to X, Black employees at NASA have started sharing their official government headshots and we can’t get enough.
These 3 Students Have Made HBCU History After Winning Astronaut Scholarships To Pursue STEM Careers
By Samantha Dorisca
Three Black women are making history at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, NC.
According to WXII-12 in Winston-Salem, NC, students Kristi Barnes, Maya Odom, and Breyana Robinson have been selected as recipients of the 2023 Astronaut Scholarship. The scholarship is offered by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF), which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established in 1984 by a group including the six surviving members of the “Mercury 7,” the U.S.’s first astronauts, per its website. The organization provides over 60 scholarships yearly.
Additionally, this scholarship is “among the largest merit-based monetary scholarships” distributed to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) undergraduate juniors and seniors.” Those who are recipients are supported with $15,000 and will receive mentorship and guidance from astronauts, top-tier executives, and industry leaders.
“I was thankful to get the scholarship,” Odom, an aspiring computer engineer, told WXII-12.
Robinson, an animal science major, commented, “To be able to win this award, it was surreal. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh’… It definitely helps me towards my goals because I want to go to vet school. I want to go to grad school.”
Winning the scholarship is a notable achievement in itself. It also marks the first time a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) has had more than one student honored with the Astronaut Scholarship simultaneously, WXII-12 noted.
8 BLACK-OWNED RESTAURANTS TO VISIT IN DALLAS, TEXAS
Black restaurant owners are proving that Dallas deserves a seat at the table when it comes to the best culinary cities in the country.
By Mitti Hicks
Dallas will surprise foodies. While its southern sister, Houston, gets all the love for its flavorful food scene, Dallas is not lacking despite its nickname as the “City of Hate.” In fact, there’s a lot to love about Dallas’s food scene thanks to the Black restaurant owners providing some of the most flavorful and creative dishes throughout the metro.
Between fine dining, take-out, and gourmet fast food, Black restaurant owners are proving that Dallas deserves a seat at the table when it comes to the best culinary cities in the country. Get your appetites ready because the meals and flavors are big inside Black-owned restaurants in Dallas.
Retired Hall of Fame National Basketball Association star Shaquille O’Neal is the brains behind the national chain Big Chicken. While people know the center for his impressive stats as a professional basketball player, he’s giving people a taste of his childhood. The menu reflects flavors and favorites from his childhood.
Big Chicken is known for its finger-licking chicken sandwiches. Guests can pair the sandwiches with the brand’s signature dish: Lucille’s Mac ‘n’ Cheese, just like his mom made it.
Location: Fort Worth
Owner: Shaquille O’Neal
Type of Cuisine: American
Menu Spotlight: The Ultimate Chicken Sandwich features its signature mac ‘n’ cheese, crispy fried onions, roasted garlic, and barbecue aioli sauce. A simpler option is available for people who don’t want the dressings. The Original Big Chicken Sandwich has pickles and the secret “Shaq sauce.”
Before you go: The Fort Worth location officially opens in late 2024.
Chef Airric Heidelberg is the brains behind Invasion, a trendy and modern restaurant open for lunch, dinner, and late-night hours. He created a unique menu filled with what he calls “gourmet fast food.” His burgers and chicken sandwiches are a specialty packed with so much flavor that the restaurant is known as one of the best chicken sandwiches in the city.
Location: East Dallas
Owner: Chef Airric Heidelber
Type of Cuisine: American, “Gourmet Fast Food”
Menu Spotlight: The Kardi B is one of the most popular sandwiches on the menu. It comprises buttermilk-fried chicken breast, spicy mayo, and a pickled coleslaw jalapeno blend on a buttery toasted bun. Pair the Kardi B with Invasion Potatoes, country-style potatoes tossed in house-made invasion sauce and a sour cream ranch.
Before you go: The restaurant is not open on Mondays. You can order before you go.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin Stops On Way To Concert To Pick Up 64-Yr-Old Fan Struggling To Walk
By Kelsey Bjork
At 64 years old, Saundra Glenn says she doesn’t really go to music festivals anymore. That said, when she learned that Coldplay was making a rare visit to her UK city, Luton, she couldn’t resist. The popular band was set to perform during Radio 1’s Big Weekend. Everything was going smoothly at first, but on the way there Saundra began to struggle with what she calls her “dodgy right hip.”
As a result, Saundra took a moment to rest just as she was walking toward the accessibility box office. For a moment, she even considered going home to watch the performance. But the thought of never seeing Coldplay in her hometown again made her stay. Then, just in time, a black Mercedes parked next to her. A woman from inside offered to pick the struggling fan up — little did Saundra know, however, that Coldplay front-man, Chris Martin, was inside!
“The door opens and I said, ‘Oh that’s Chris Martin, I can’t get in with him’ and they said ‘yes you can,'” Saundra recalls.
As you can imagine, the ride to their destination is one that Saundra will never forget! In fact, the two of them became fast friends, joking around like “two old women,” as Saundra describes them.
The definitive best adverts of all time list, as chosen by experts
By Tom May
Ranging from the 1930s to the 2020s, we select the best ads of all time, and explain why they work.
(Image credit: Guinness, Old Spice, Always, US Government, Coca-Cola, Hovis, Malboro, Dove, Budweiser, Apple)
These stellar ads from across the ages have a lot to teach creatives today. That's why over the last few months we've been pulling together guides to the finest commercials of previous decades, from the 1930s to the 2020s.
From whimsical illustrations to blockbuster TV ads to groundbreaking social media campaigns, these adverts have not only captivated audiences but also shaped the very fabric of our society. Now, in this article, we're reaching into our repository of the best adverts by decade to bring you a carefully curated selection of the best ads overall.
So join us as we delve into iconic campaigns spanning almost a century, each a testament to the power of storytelling, imagery and the human experience. These adverts go beyond just selling products to become cultural touchstones, reminding us of the profound impact that advertising can have on our perceptions, beliefs, and aspirations – and some already appear in our best print ads list, of course.
Is this the sexiest ad of all time? Created by Levi's advertising agency BBH, it featured model Nick Kamen stripping down to his boxers in a 1950s-style laundromat to the sound of Marvin Gaye's 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine'.
This combination of classic Motown, a heartthrob model, and the nostalgic all-American setting captured the rebellious spirit of jeans in their prime era. It was an instant cultural phenomenon.
“With young potential buyers romanticising the ‘50 and ’60s and the stars of that era, setting this commercial in that time was the perfect move to grab their attention," explains director Caroline Hajny. “This ad played a huge role in reviving Levi’s as a brand, cementing it as a desirable staple piece in every young person’s wardrobe. Sales were up by 800% as a result, so if that doesn’t speak for itself, I don’t know what will.”
The advertising industry offered many poignant responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. But this Emmy-winning ad, crafted by Wieden + Kennedy is our favourite. It brilliantly interwove various sporting moments and diverse participants together through a split-screen format. And this was accompanied by a stirring narration that acknowledged the widespread cancellation of events while instilling optimism about the enduring spirit of sports.
"This ad wasn’t just a beacon of hope in the midst of a pandemic," says Shelley Adamson, creative director at UNIT9. "It was also a work of visual mastery, at a time before Gen AI was widely available to help. A message of togetherness is reinforced by the seamless joining of contextually different frames, while perseverance is embodied in the knowledge someone probably spent hundreds of hours scouring through footage to find just the right moments."
