title: The Self Does Not Die: Verified Paranormal Phenomena from Near-Death Experiences
author:  Titus Rivas 
description: <b>Titus Rivas</b> (born 1964) wears many hats: theoretical psychologist, philosopher, parapsychological researcher, and writer of books and articles, in both Dutch and English. Published subjects include parapsychological research, reincarnation, life after death, spirits with and without bodies, and near-death experiences. Co-founder of Athanasia Foundation, a nonprofit to investigate survival after death, reincarnation and spiritual evolution, Rivas continues to pursue his interests in parapsychology and philosophy also by instructing home-study courses for the National Business Academy in Panningen, Netherlands. <b>Anny Dirven</b> (19352016), who was paranormally gifted, was active for years as a general assistant and researcher affiliated with the Athanasia Foundation, often working together with Titus Rivas. Dirven came to know Rivas by way of the parapsychology course he teaches for the National Business Academy. Together, Dirven and Rivas produced many parapsychological and philosophical articles and books, some of which she coauthored. They were particularly proud of two books in Dutch, <i>Vincent, Karim and Danny</i> and <i>From and to the Light</i>. Dirven was a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She spent most of her life in Budel, Netherlands. <b>Rudolf H. Smit</b> (born 1942) is the author of books and articles in both English and Dutch on subjects ranging from photography to near-death experiences to computer programming. Former editor of the Dutch photographic monthly <i>Foto</i> and the British Astrological Associations scientific journal <i>Correlation</i>, Smit is the current editor of the Dutch quarterly <i>Terugkeer</i> (Return), published by the Network for Near-Death Experiences (Netwerk NDE), the Dutch affiliate of the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS). Interested in promoting critical research in the field of astrology, Smit also runs the internationally acclaimed Astrology and Science website. When not writing, he enjoys retired life with his wife, Miny, in the Netherlands.
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  Out of Their Minds
  
  
  Clifford D. Simak
  
  
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  1
  
  
  I kept remembering that old friend of mine and what he’d said to me that last
  time I had seen him. It had been only two days before he had been killed—on an
  open highway which, at the time of the accident, had not been as heavily
  traveled as it was at other times, his car a twisted block of wreckage and the
  tire marks showing how it all had happened, how his car had struck another
  which suddenly had swerved out of its lane into his path. Except that there
  had been no sign of that other car.
  
  
  I tried to put it out of my mind and think of something else, but as the hours
  went by and the long ribbon of concrete kept unrolling ahead of me and the
  springtime countryside went flashing past, I found myself time and time again
  going back to that last evening I had seen him.
  
  
  He had sat like a shrunken gnome in the great lounge chair which threatened 