Mushrooms

Did anyone just see that???

Erin mentioned a TED talk last week in class and posted online. Did anyone catch it?? If not here it is.

 

Thoughts???

I'm sure yours, like mine, went a little something like this, that is so cooooooool. I had never thought that this would have been an option. This is an extremely scientific approach yet it considers culture in a new aspect. Could a new culture be created from this?? This practice is something that could be everlasting and unique to us.

While I wouldn’t consider myself an extreme environmentalist I try and do my part by recycling and turning off the lights when I’m not using them. Some wouldn’t think that’s much, but I try my best to be conscious. This idea gave me a completely new look at our funerary practices. Rather then the average cremation or inhumation we could give back to the environment and bury our dead. Currently our funerary practices consume an extreme amount of energy and resources, from the pollution caused by cremation to the process of making the coffins, it all has a very large affect on our environment. Many people, I know do not think about the amount of energy it takes to produce a standard body to ready it for burial or for a funeral. This mushroom approach is a good mix that accounts for the environmental impact the our current funerary practices have. A change like this one to our funerary practices can have a lasting effect on our planet. A few weeks ago we were to look at the non-standard funerary practices that are out there. This would certainly qualify as one of them.

Who knew that a mushroom known as the infinity mushroom could wind you up in a ninja esk mushroom death suit, talk about non-standard burial practices. I really got into this TED talk, as I normally do because I love them. TED talks normally spark my interest and makes me think deeper and differently about the subject, good thing, I'm pretty sure that’s what they are for. Have a break?? need a good movie?? TED talks it is. 

The end of the talk was what really got to me. The part where she says…

The Mushroom Death Suit Itself

“We came from dust and we will return to dust. Survival of our species depends on the survival of the planet. This is the beginning of a true environmental responsibility” - Jae Rhim Lee

 

Something so pure and true, that makes you think. All of this other stuff like decreasing driving to cut pollution, or saving energy by turning the lights off matters but where we can make another difference is a place where people don’t talk about. Funerary practices. Can’t blame people that don’t like to talk about death let alone their funeral, but there comes a point where we all think about it. Whether it be from personal experience with death or just something that sparked the thought, we all ponder it at some point. This is an area, as in environmental funerary practices, that I would think many people don't know about and probably should. No one can deny that the last ten years has been a flurry of environmental movements hitting different industries at different times. It was only time for it to hit our funerary practices. It seems like a very smart way for new generations to think about when it’s their time to go. It is a lasting effect on the planet we call home, for future generations its a place to live longer and happier lives.  

It is more and more convincing these days when you say that the survival of our species depends on the survival of our planet. These words could not be further from the truth and make you wonder how do you want to be buried and do you want to have a lasting effect on the planet you are leaving…  

 Could this be you???

For more information on this project go to...

http://infinityburialproject.com/burial-suit

What would I want in my grave…

What would I want in my grave…

Strange thing to ask but is more than intriguing. It got me thinking what would I actually want my burial to look like and want would I want to be in my grave. I probably have given this more thought then I should but I kind have always thought about it. I have always wondered what my funeral would like and who would be there. After going to my two grandmas funerals in less then 4 months apart… eerie I know and seeing who came to their funerals I wonder who would come and how would my life be celebrated when its my time. They were both two extremely different ceremonies held for two pretty similar ladies. 

If I died tomorrow… knock on wood that I don’t. I would have one biggggggg celebration of life, and I mean BIG. While I would like to think that everyone would be sad that I was gone I would want people to remember me for my zest for life. Cheesy??? Not at all. Just one massive celebration for me, while I don’t really like to be the center of attention this would be the time for me. I am the type of person who loves to celebrate things for other people, watch them open gifts and celebrate them, when it comes to me I am more then shy, if that is at all possible. What I am getting at is that it would be HUGE because I would not be there in person embarrassed by the attention. I would want the good times to be flowing. 

As for directly in my coffin, I have a very specific few things that I would like in my grave. Here’s a short list for those of you who are interested.

 -    Vinyl records (Phoenix, Kings of Leon, Michael Buble) CLICK THE PICS!!

-    My favorite rings, specifically the one my mom and dad gave to me as a kid
-    My favorite little tea mug
-    A pair of figure skates
-    A softball/glove
-    Something of my dog’s
-    Something from my African experiences

All of these things make up who I am today. A life so far filled with and created around athleticism, the arts, education and a strong passion to help others. Nuff said. That is exactly what I would want archaeologists to know about my identity if they were to find me. I would only like to send a message to my family and friends, do not forget me or the love I had for you, short and sweet. Although if I had an extremely important secret to a world changing problem I would obviously leave a memory stick with it on it. Isn’t that how they do it in the movies… Just kidding, or am I. I would totally leave a memory stick.

Now for the question of what someone else would choose for you.

Funny enough I threw a quick email off to my sister, didn’t want to freak my mom and dad out so I figured she was the best one. Although half way through the day I get a text telling me I send her the weirdest things. As if asking someone what they would put in my grave was strange…

Either way she said pretty much the exact same thing that I would put in plus a few things that shows my love for food. Her exact response, no joke, copied and pasted from the email she sent back was…

-    Skates/skating dress
-    Something from one of your African adventures
-    Baseball glove & ball
-    A block of cheese?/raclette or fondue maker?
-    A little airplane or collection of plane tickets
-    Something of our dog’s
-    A record or two of your favorite bands

It is nice to know that my sister of all people would put this in my grave. It’s a good thing she knows me quite well, and if I were to die tomorrow she would know what I want in my grave.

That sums it up. Archaeologists would get that I am a music loving, athletic, food lover who loves to travel. Seems pretty accurate.  

Ever wanted to go to SPACE???

Did you ever want to go to space but just didn't have the funds to get yourself there?? 

Well good news for you, you still can. In my research to find different and strange burial practices I came across none other then a space burial. How you wonder this can be done. Read on...

First you should know that you will not be the first nor the hundredth person to be sent way up there in the earths orbit as your dying wish. So far 150 have been buried out in the orbit of our own planet and on the moon. If you in vision yourself floating in space in a shiny black case you are going to be disappointed. In actuality your remains will be shoved into a small lipstick sized tube and put alongside the other passengers in a cargo tube and launched into space ("Celestis Inc. " March 28, 2012). I've laid it out for you. 

Your remains

+ 

A tube of your finest rouge
=

You, in space

Get the jist of it. Celestis, is the sole provider of space burials. Sending a few trips up a year for those that would like to be buried in space. They invite families to gather at the liftoff site and witness their loved ones shoot into space ("Celestis Inc. " March 28, 2012). Before the launch, the company offers tours of the local facilities and conducts a memorial service that families can take part in. Celestis records the service on a keepsake DVD for family and friends to keep ("Celestis Inc. " March 28, 2012). It only takes a quick 90 seconds to launch up into the heavens, where you can mingle with the starts and perhaps the International Space Station ("Celestis Inc. " March 28, 2012).  Little do people really know that only a gram, if they are lucky, of their remains will be put in the tube and sent up. Not only that but you are not alone. You will be amongst the others who are paying for a gram of their remains to be put into orbit. Not to mention that you do not stay up there in orbit forever, Some only for a few orbits, while others stay longer. 

If you ask me it would not be my preferred way to go. It seems like an impersonal way to say goodbye to the people you love and for them to say goodbye to you. Then again if you love space that much or intrigues you to that degree then go for it.   

Now you may be wondering, how much is this going to cost. Not as much as you would think. Celestis offers four different ways to get up there depending how long you wanna spend up there and whether you are willing to come back to earth or not. It ranges from $955.00 - $12,500.00 ("Celestis Inc. " March 28, 2012). Not nearly as much as a tourist flight to space while you are alive. Here's the link to check out the prices and flight paths more in depth. http://www.celestis.com/

If you wanna be like this guy... 

 

Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek who was one of the first to have a space burial check out the Celestis website for more information. 

Are you willing to be launched into the heavens... or space

Who isn't???

Space Services Inc. , "Celestis Inc. ." Last modified March 28, 2012. Accessed March 28, 2012. http://www.celestis.com/

death and all his friends.

Hey Everyone in Anth 392,

My name is Annelise, I am a currently in my third year of Anthropology at UVic. While I tend to be more interested in the physical Anth classes such as osteology and the study of the human body this class looked interesting and fit in my timetable for my second semester. So far Anth 392 seems like it is going to be a very interesting class. While I haven't thought about death much I know this class is going to open my eyes to it and while I shouldn't seem excited about it I just might be. 

As for the title of my blog, it just happens to be a title of song by a British alternative rock band... who you might ask, none other then Coldplay. Thought it would be fitting for my class blog as we are talking about death beyond the grave. What a better way then to celebrate it with friends 6 ft under. Check it out. Not a Coldplay fan skip the link below...  


10-Death and All His Friends