Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Gifted, but still a teenager, alas

The January 16, 2006 New Yorker has an excellent, sad article by Eric Konigsberg about Brandenn Bremmer, a gifted 14-year-old from western Nebraska who committed suicide in March 2005. The strange twist is that his friends and sister were comforted by emails Brandenn wrote that suggested it was the usual adolescent issues that led him to kill himself. Brandenn's parents took solace that the donation of Branden's organs helped many people. A psychologist who worked with Brandenn, on the other hand, tends more to the Indigo Child interpretation of his life. The psychologist's husband says after Brandenn's death:

"I'm talking to him right now," he said. "He's become a teacher. He says right now he's actually being taught how to help those people who experience suicide for much messier reasons. Before Brandenn was born, this was planned. And he did it the way he did so that others would have use for his body. Everything worked out in the end."


To me, this is just creepy.

The New Yorker doesn't have the article on their web site, as usual, but there is discussion of the article there.

Other blogs on Branden Bremmer's suicide (Technorati)

The coal is running out? No problem!

Things I learned on NPR this week, part 2:

The MASH surgeon who made Trinidad, Colorado the 'sex change capital of the world' died yesterday. His practice helped keep the local hospital open during the lean times of the 1970s and 1980s.

Brings a new meaning to 'Bethnal Green and Bow'

Things I learned on NPR this week, Part 1:

Our future Member of Parliament in London is a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother.

George Galloway plumbed new depths when he pretended to be a cat as part of a task set for him during his appearance ...

The Repect Party MP, who last year lambasted the United States Senate over the war in Iraq, crouched on all fours, purring and licking imaginary milk from the hands of the actress Rula Lenska.

He further angered conservative Muslims, who make up the bulk of his support, when he told his housemates, including glamour models, entertainers and minor pop stars, that his favourite pursuits were sex and sunbathing.


Scientists in bunny suits make rabbit ears