From Human to Ashes to Beads

The intense grief that Kim II-nam has felt every day since his father died 27 years ago led to a startling decision: He dug up the grave, cremated his father’s bones and paid $870 to have the ashes transformed into gem-like beads.

Kim is not alone in his desire to keep a loved one close — even in death. Changes in traditional South Korean beliefs about cherishing ancestors and a huge increase in cremation have led to a handful of niche businesses that cater to those who see honoring an urn filled with ashes as an imperfect way of mourning.

And it appears the government is really pushing for cremation:

The government cremation campaign included press statements, pamphlets and radio broadcasts. A law passed in 2000 requires anyone burying their dead after 2000 to remove the grave 60 years after burial.

The results have been dramatic: The cremation rate last year was so high that only 3 in 10 were buried.

If the U.S. government tried that campaign here, you’d hear all sorts of things about how government is getting into our personal lives.

Full Article

As I’ve said before, my preference is to be cremated. From dust to dust, I’d rather just accelerate the process rather than let me rot away in a box in a grave no one will visit 50 years after my death.

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Bag of Randomness

  • What do you do if you are a special needs student in New Jersey and the teacher abuses you in class yet know one takes you seriously?  You secretly record him with your cell phone.
  • President of the College Republicans at UT Austin  tweeted “Y’all as tempting as it may be, don’t shoot Obama. We need him to go down in history as the WORST president we’ve EVER had! #2012.”  The news got a hold of the tweet and she didn’t really back down, but later changed her mind.
  • Today is the anniversary of my mother’s death.  I try not to remember these dates, but sometimes they just sneak up on you.  I’m not sure how many years it’s been, maybe five or six years now.  She would have been a phenomenal grandmother, too bad I couldn’t have given that gift to her.
  • Joe Paterno recently sold his house to his wife for $1.
  • One dollar . . . I can’t help but think of The Price is Right.
  • I wonder how Bob Barker is doing these days, he’ll turn 88 next month.
  • What ever happened to Lauryn Hill?
  • Google is giving away a lot of free music.
  • A late night for me back in the day involved watching Carson, an episode of Love Connection, and then Letterman.
  • Back in the day TBS would always through me off because all their programs started five minutes after the hour or half hour.
  • Steve Jobs was known for never having a license plate on his car, and if you live in Texas, you too might have that opportunity.
  • If you need a time killer, like a trip to the mountains and a river set to the haunting song of Hallelujah, then this is the link for you.   Just be sure you click and drag in all directions to get the whole experience, oh, and give it just a second to load.
  • Palm Beach Atlantic University students are reading the Bible out loud, in public, in four days.
  • Great Toilet Wall of China
  • Special needs student secretly video tapes TEACHER bullying him
  • ChristWire.org presents 51 Christian friendly words for penis, vagina, and sexual intercourse.
  • For those that enjoy banjos and money.

 

Posted in Personal | 2 Comments