Slightly morbid?

But who cares if it is?  I've always been very interested in the culture of death.  That being cemeteries, funerals, headstones, last words, etc.

So I was intrigued when Anna sent me a link to this article about "green" and biodegradable coffins.  The Uono Coffin supposedly degrades within 10-15 years, which seems to make good sense.  I mean, I'm not really "using" it anymore by that point.  They're also suitable for cremation.  Plus, they look wicked Star Trek cool.

This wild shaped coffin is shaped like a chrysalis and looks like it's made out of paper mache.  The idea of a cocoon for your last journey is intriguing.  I wonder what the symbolism behind that is... in my next life I will be a butterfly.

Last, but not least, this Spirit Tree Urn is the one that most caught my attention.  I've preferred cremation to burial, for myself, for quite a long while now.  This is a biodegradable urn in which your ashes are interred.  A tree, or any plant you choose, is housed with your ashes and other goodies that will help it grow.  You plant the whole shebang and then poof - there's a tree where you used to be.

I think that is really beautiful and poetic.

How do you want to be "taken care of?"

Passing of a good man

I am moved to share something about a man I very barely knew. Duke Sir Morguhn Sheridan died yesterday from injuries sustained in a fall. He was a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism. He was well known and well respected in the Society and now I know why.

This is part of a written memorial of him:
"He taught me more about doing what needs to be done, because it needs to be done, than anyone else I know. You do not just sit back and think “oh someone else will get up and go wash dishes. Someone will set up the list field. Someone will think to do that.” Because, you know what… you are someone. He taught me the hardest lesson of all… if you can’t be noticed and acknowledged for your actions in your own right, what makes you think a bit of regalia will make their notice valid? It will be a false honor. Strength comes from perseverance and continuing to do what you do and what you know needs to be done. Fighting your own fights does not make you weak. But at the same time, there is no shame in calling on resources when you have them.

I learned from him that you do what needs to be done, and if you believe that what you did is right, do not be ashamed of it, but be prepared for any consequences that come and give fair warning so those that may have to handle the fall out are adequately prepared." - Baroness Ekaterina Volkova, OP

I am humbled and inspired by these words. Of course he had honors and awards that I could never aspire to, but these words... They remind me that we should all be doing something. Why wait for someone else to do it for us?

I don't get it

I'm about 25 minutes into the first episode of "Gormenghast" (thanks Lisa!). While visually neat, I have to say, I don't get it. If anyone has any insight, please share so I can feel better about myself.

It seems like the type of show that I would like. I want to like it.

Help.

You're my hero

Heroes is back, bitches!  

This is me, excited.  Heroes is one show I really enjoyed the first season and was really disappointed in for the shortened second season.  Season 3 premiering tonight is a good reason, to me, to throw a party!

So I'm heading to Lisa and Ted's tonight for a Heroes Party featuring heroes with all the fixings.  Color me happy because they know how to throw a fun bash.  I'm looking forward to goofing around, eating some fattening food and then sprawling on their leather sofas for some good old fashioned T.V. 

Look out friends, here I come!  Or is that...here I come to save the day!  (You know I can't think of those words without singing them in my head.  Ha.)

Burn Before Watching

Seriously. "Burn After Reading" was such a weirdly rancid movie, I can't even describe. You may think that watching John Malkovich pop Brad Pitt in the nose would be worth it. I certainly thought that. I was laughing out loud at the trailer and commercials. The movie? Yeah, not so much.

The theatre was about empty (it was an early show). And the few times Anna and I laughed, it seemed we were the only ones.

So in case you were wondering, a stellar cast acting in a film by award winning writers and directors - not good enough!

I can't describe what it was that was lacking, other than a point to the whole damn thing.

Food for thought

I didn't write this. I wish I had. But it's some food for thought. And if you are, like me, on the left leaning side of politics, it will be a nourishing meal indeed.

************************
Black teen pregnancies? A 'crisis' in black America.
White teen pregnancies? A 'blessed event.'

If you grow up in Hawaii you're 'exotic.'
Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, you're the quintessential 'American story.'

Similarly, if you name your kid Barack you're 'unpatriotic.'
Name your kids Trig and Track, you're 'colorful.'

If you're a Democrat and you make a VP pick without fully vetting the individual you're 'reckless.'
A Republican who doesn't fully vet is a 'maverick.'

If you spend 3 years as a community organizer growing your organization from a staff of 1 to 13 and your budget from $70,000 to $400,000, then become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review,create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new African Amerian voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor,then spend nearly 8 more years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, becoming chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, then spend nearly 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of nearly 13 million people, sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you are woefully inexperienced.
If you spend 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, then spend 20 months as the governor of a state with 650,000 people, you've got the most executive experience of anyone on either ticket, are the Commander in Chief of the Alaska military and are well qualified to lead the nation should you be called upon to do so because your state is the closest state to Russia.

If you are a Democratic male candidate who is popular with millions of people you are an 'arrogant celebrity'.
If you are a popular Republican female candidate you are 'energizing the base'.

If you are a younger male candidate who thinks for himself and makes his own decisions you are 'presumptuous'.
If you are an older male candidate who makes last minute decisions you refuse to explain, you are a 'shoot from the hip' maverick.

If you are a candidate with a Harvard law degree you are 'an elitist 'out of touch' with the real America.
If you are a legacy (dad and granddad were admirals) graduate of Annapolis, with multiple disciplinary infractions you are a hero.

If you manage a multi-million dollar nationwide campaign, you are an 'empty suit'.
If you are a part time mayor of a town of 7000 people, you are an 'experienced executive'.

If you go to a south side Chicago church, your beliefs are 'extremist'.
If you believe in creationism and don't believe global warming is man made, you are 'strongly principled'.

If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.
If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years with whom you are raising two beautiful daughters you're 'risky'.

If you're a black single mother of 4 who waits for 22 hours after her water breaks to seek medical attention, you're an irresponsible parent, endangering the life of your unborn child.
But if you're a white married mother who waits 22 hours, you're spunky.

If you're a 13-year-old Chelsea Clinton, the right-wing press calls you 'First dog.'
If you're a 17-year old pregnant unwed daughter of a Republican, the right-wing press calls you 'beautiful' and 'courageous.'

If you teach abstinence only in sex education, you get teen parents.
If you teach responsible age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

FFS

You've been here less than an hour!  How can you possibly need a smoke break!