What better things are there to do on these snowy, wet, cold, slushy, and otherwise crappy days? My favorite thing is to just go to my bookshelf and randomly pick a book to read and to look for interesting information. Since it is the holiday season I thought why not talk about death. Unfortunately, or fortunately the book that I picked at random this morning contains quite of lot of information on death and dying. So, in the spirit of the season I’m going to supply you with a list of actual ways people on this planet decide to be buried. Some of these ways are a little strange but who am I to judge.

• Create a certified, high-quality diamond from the cremated ashes of your loved one.

• Send a symbolic portion of your loved ones cremated remains into Earth orbit, onto the lunar surface, or into deep space.

• Have your cremated remains placed in a “reef ball” to help seed this planet’s coral reefs.

• Have your remains frozen in liquid nitrogen, with the intent of restoring your body (in good health, of course) when technology becomes available to do so.

• Have your remains frozen and transformed into organic compost and buried with in a potato-starch coffin that promotes plant and tree growth.

• Have your remains incorporated into fireworks, so you can have a custom fireworks display for your friends and loved ones.

• Create a custom portrait of your loved one incorporating their cremation ashes.

• Have your body mummified the old-school Egyptian way.

• Donate your body to be “plastinated” or embalmed for public display for educational and instructional purposes.

Now that I’ve succeeded in depressing you let me take it one step further.

• It has been estimated by scientists that since human beings became a distinct species, more than 100 billion, give or take a few million, have died.

• It is estimated that more than 135,000 people will die on your next birthday. Just give a kind thought to the 135,000 people who are estimated to pass away on the same day.

• You have a higher chance of being killed by a donkey than of dying in a plane crash.

• You’re slightly more likely to die from a cave-in than from contact with hot tap water.

• Death from being struck on the head by a coconut occurs for about 150 people each year worldwide.

• Mike Edwards, cellist for the 1970’s band, The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), was killed by hay bale that rolled down a hill and smashed into his moving van.

😵😵😵

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