Weekly news roundup: Saying goodbye to David Bowie
On Monday, January 10th we said goodbye to music icon David Bowie. His death meant differing things to those familiar with his artistry, but for all of us it marked the end of an era. As word of his death spread, many of us took a moment to revisit his music and learn more about his life. We were reminded of his talent, his impact on the music industry, and his ability to remain a nice guy in a business where that is not always easy. Rest in peace, David Bowie. You will be missed.
Read the full New York Times obituary here: David Bowie Dies at 69; Star Transcended Music, Art and Fashion
>>Related:David Bowie knew he was dying for a year, final album a ‘parting gift’ to the world
>>Related: David Bowie died from liver cancer he kept secret from all but a handful of people, friend says
New on the blog:
Are Futurists Just Scared of Death?
Perhaps it’s the turning of the seasons, but something strange is in the air. A growing number of prominent academics appear to be convinced that human beings shall soon be immortal. And yet as I’ve watched this trend develop I’ve often wondered: Are these people just scared of death…. Read the full story
Update: Last week we reported on a story surrounding regulations barring WASPS from being interred at Arlington National Cemetery. Since then, legislation has been introduced which would reopen the cemetery for these brave female soldiers. Read more here: Legislation introduced to allow the burial of WASPs at Arlington Cemetery
6 Things You Didn’t Know About The Industry Of Death
1/10/2016–huffingtonpost.com: Nothing is certain in life but death and taxes. What isn’t certain, though, is how much that death is going to cost you. The Huffington Post took a dive into the industry that provides nearly everyone’s final rite of passage and came up with some interesting facts… Read the full story
Terry Skovronek, a death midwife who assists in home funerals, digs a grave in Lancaster for a family whose loved one wanted to be buried in a shroud and handmade coffin. Photo via philly.com.
Death-midwife helps handle dying
1/10/2016–philly.com: Terry Skovronek is a “death midwife,” offering green burials and nontraditional home funerals. On Jan. 21, she’ll host her regular Death Café, open to the public, where people can talk freely about their fears and hopes surrounding death and dying, burials and rituals – all over tea and cake, from 7 to 8:45 p.m. at the Bucks County Free Library, 150 S. Pine St., Doylestown… Read the full story
Cancer Deaths Continue To Decline, But Remain Leading Cause Of Death In 21 States
1/7/2016–medicaldaily.com: Between 1991 and 2012 in the U.S., the cancer death rate dropped 23 percent — more than 1.7 million cancer deaths were averted, the American Cancer Society (ACS) reports in its recent report, Cancer Statistics. But even so, the ACS finds cancer is now the leading cause of death in 21 states… Read the full story
Animals get struck by lightning, too
1/7/2016–sciencenews.org: Lightning strikes about 100 times every second of the day, mainly in warmer regions of the world. About 240,000 people are injured by lightning every year, and 24,000 die after being struck. But humans aren’t the only victims of lightning — animals are, too, though reports of such deaths are far rarer than the deaths themselves… Read the full story
Timothy Leary (center) was “buried” in space. Photo via priceonomics.com.
The Business of Space Funerals
1/6/2016–priceonomics.com: …While the thought of firing a loved one’s remains into space may seem excessive, the idea isn’t without precedent. Cultures throughout history tend to “see off” their dead in one way or another, whether through days of prayer or pushing corpse-filled burning boats to sea like the vikings. Space has always been hallowed ground, akin to heaven, where humans imagined lost souls, the dead, heroes or gods, out there wandering among the cosmos… Read the full story
