S Koreans fake their funerals for better lives
Seoul: More than 25,000 people have participated in mass ‘living funeral’ services at Hyowon Healing Center since it opened in 2012, hoping to improve their lives by simulating their deaths.
‘Once you become conscious of death, and experience it, you undertake a new approach to life,’ said 75-year-old Cho Jae-hee, who participated in a recent living funeral as part of a ‘dying well’ programme offered by her senior welfare center.
Dozens took part in the event, from teenagers to retirees, donning shrouds, taking funeral portraits, penning their last testaments, and lying in a closed coffin for around 10 minutes.
University student Choi Jin-kyu said his time in the coffin helped him realize that too often, he viewed others as competitors.
‘When I was in the coffin, I wondered what use that is,’ said the 28-year-old, adding that he plans to start his own business after graduation rather than attempting to enter a highly-competitive job market. (IANS)
Lost pup turns out to be a rare purebred dingo
Sydney: He’s furry, playful, and has puppy eyes. It’s little wonder Wandi was mistaken for a dog when he was found in an Australian backyard — but DNA testing has confirmed he’s a rare 100 per cent dingo.
The pup was discovered whimpering and alone in a country town in Victoria in August with talon marks on his back, leading to speculation it could have been dropped by a large bird of prey. Rescuers at first thought Wandi was either a dog or a fox, but months later DNA samples have revealed that he is in fact a purebred dingo. Most of the creatures seen in the wild are usually, to some degree, dingo-dog hybrids. Australian Dingo Foundation director Lyn Watson said that when Wandi ‘fell out of the sky’ it was an ‘answer to a prayer’ — he can now join 40 other dingoes in a breeding programme at the charity’s sanctuary. (AFP)
Melania visits cuddle event for babies born on drugs
Boston: Melania Trump is visiting a Boston hospital’s cuddling program that aims to help infants born dependent on drugs or alcohol.
The first lady’s stop Wednesday at Boston Medical Center is part of her “Be Best” initiative. The hospital developed the program to nurture babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome.
The hospital also works with expectant mothers who misuse drugs or alcohol. Proponents say cuddling helps lower stress in infants born to addicted women.
The White House says that after being briefed on the programs, Mrs. Trump is scheduled to tour the hospital’s pediatric unit and meet with children who have been successfully treated. (AP)