Next Theme Week: Strange Remains!
I’ve had a folder of bizarre, shall we say, “death options” for years now, so it’s time we have a theme week! If you know of any interesting modern methods of preserving, honoring, disposing of, or creatively using human/animal remains, please share (think “ashes shot into space” etc).
*Note: I’m restricting the contents of this theme week to modern death customs since I could write a whole other blog about the wealth of historical examples.
SheWalksSoftly 
March 14, 2015 at 4:08 am
The book “Stiff” by Mary Roach has some interesting options. One rarer option is to have your body used at a body farm to help forensic scientists learn about decomposition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_farm
March 15, 2015 at 4:20 pm
I’ve ready that book AND posted about the Body Farm! Great minds, John… 🙂
March 15, 2015 at 4:25 pm
Nice! If you’re looking for weird book recommendations, have you ever read Dr Tatiana’s Sex Advice to All Creation? It’s all about animal reproduction, framed as a series of advice letters to Dr Tatiana.
March 14, 2015 at 1:17 pm
I sincerely hope you’ve seen “The Loved One”, it’s my all time favorite movie, and I think it relates to this theme. Even though it’s from 1965 it does display some modern internment options.
http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/75305/Loved-One-The-Original-Trailer-.html
March 15, 2015 at 4:24 pm
This movie has been on my list for YEARS (but movies that can’t be streamed on Netflix or seen on youtube/vimeo/etc tend to get bumped back). I should definitely just spend the three bucks to rent it. 🙂
March 15, 2015 at 6:08 pm
They sometimes show it on the Turner Classic Movie station. If I see it in the listings I’ll try to remember to give you a heads up.
March 15, 2015 at 5:01 am
I heard about this biodegradable pod they can put your body in, then they plant a tree over it, and the idea is that the tree is your headstone, and your family gets to care for it. Could you imagine, though, that one day cemeteries could essentially just be giant forests, with each tree representing a person? Isn’t that wonderful? It’s certainly what i want to happen to my corpse, anyway.
March 15, 2015 at 4:25 pm
That’s on the list! I find that idea so much more beautiful than traditional graveyards.
March 15, 2015 at 10:58 pm
John, I haven’t read that, but it sounds awesome!