I was utterly shocked to read of Chrichton’s death today, and I couldn’t help but wonder what his own feelings on the matter might have been.
Regardless of whether or not you have enjoyed his books, it is clear his life exploration has always been at the limits of science and imagination through his writing.

What would he ask in this case?
If I were him I’d ask: What progress has medical science made in the fight against cancer?
I can’t help but sound ignorant and pessimistic here, (and I encourage you to comment), …

How much would you be willing to pay to instantly quit smoking? Think about it carefully, the maximum sum of money, to walk away from cigarettes for good.
I was at the birthday party of a colleague of mine, who proclaimed that his “birthday resolution” was to quit smoking. All of us within earshot of this statement, instantly rolled our eyes. Countless times have we witnessed our friend’s quitting attempts, and countless times have we heard the excuses for his eventual relapse.

Almost daring him to quit, I blurted out my challenge: …