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Counselor Judith Schwarz says that for terminally ill patients who are suffering, prolonging death can seem like a worse fate than death itself. Schwarz is a patient supporter with the nonprofit organization Compassion & Choices.

Crowdfunding is a simple way for anyone to ask for money online from friends, family and even strangers. One woman raised $10,000 to help her neighbors affected by Hurricane Sandy. She's been hand-delivering checks to owners of damaged businesses and people who just need the extra lift.

The National Book Awards, announced Wednesday night, honored both longtime writers and new authors, from Louise Erdrich for her novel The Round House, to Katherine Boo for her debut nonfiction work, Behind the Beautiful Forevers.

President Obama is in Myanmar — the first visit by a U.S. president to the country also known as Burma. The president's plan to stop there is controversial because of the continued ethnic violence in North West Myanmar. Critics say Burma's transition to democracy is far from complete.

Host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Allison Aubrey about the move by McDonald's to begin listing calorie information on restaurant and drive-through menus nationwide. In what may come as a surprise to some, the highest-calorie item at McDonald's isn't a burger.

For the past year and a half, every Friday in Syria has been given a name. That's because every Friday, people protest against the government, and those protests get a title. This week's title? "Syrian sons and daughters of the Prophet Mohammed are being slaughtered." In other words: "To all you Muslims who are angry about the denigration of the Prophet Mohammed in some YouTube film? Don't forget about us."

The author's new memoir, Winter Journal, is a history of his body — scars, panic attacks and near-death experiences. He tells Fresh Air how he got a reputation as a dirty fighter, why he doesn't drive and how hard it was to see his mother's dead body.

Pakistan's Second Floor cafe is listed in a local Karachi social blog as one of the coolest cafes in town. Since it opened its doors five years ago, it has become a haven in a city more known for its violence than its civil discourse.

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was charged with murder on Wednesday — in the killing of 27-year-old semi-pro football player, Odin Llyod. The Patriots cut Hernandez shortly after he was arrest this morning.

Saturday, police who are investigating gunman Adam Lanza in a deadly shooting in a Connecticut school announced they expected to piece together a picture the gunman's actions as well as his motives. Host Guy Raz speaks with NPR's Shankar Vedantam about how Lanza fits the profile of the mass shooter, and whether the recent tragedy can tell us how to avoid the next one.