Seeing doppel
The toiling wretches at GFG Central were arrested in their labours the other day by the discovery of a doppelganger in New Zealand — Good Funeral Guide NZ. They uttered a heartwarming if parched cheer as the overseers, puzzled by the commotion, moved in with their whips. GFG NZ is the brainchild of Tamara Linnhof, […]
Buried along with their names
When the media reports events around death and funerals it customarily seeks to jerk tears or generate fury with stories fuelled by ignorance. Research is boring and in any case truth is far too dull. Take this piece here from WalesOnline. It begins HUNDREDS of people are being laid to rest in empty funeral parlours […]
Last post
Very much going viral at the moment is the last post of pioneer blogger, musician and technical writer Derek K Miller’s. He died aof cancer last Tuesday. Here’s a snatch: Here it is. I’m dead, and this is my last post to my blog. In advance, I asked that once my body finally shut down […]
Death Day at Winchester – Sat May 14
The Dismal Conference season gets under way on Saturday week with Death Day at the University of Winchester — fifty quid incl lunch. If you’re interested, the web link is here. And this is the programme: 08.45-09.30 Registration (with refreshments) 09.30-09.45 Opening Welcome 09.45-10.45 Keynote 1 Morris (ICCM) 10.45-11.15 Morning Coffee & Biscuits 11.15-12.45 Session […]
Much I do…
Happy Royal Wedding, everyone! The Board of the GFG is fleeing from it to a developing country (not enough gun carriages drawn by sailors to keep us here). Even the interns have been given little flags to wag and the weekend off, bless their little trustafarian hearts. We shall be back after the consummation.
The foetus and the corpse: where does identity begin and end?
There’s an interesting review in the London Review of Books (14 April) of After We Die: The Life and Times of the Human Cadaver by Norman Cantor. Here are just a few snapshots from the review by Steven Shapin. It’s not available online unless you hand over a wad at the subscription roadblock. In the […]
The Euthanasia Coaster
I don’t know if you ever visit the Exit euthansia blog, or Exit’s website. Highly recommended. Exit is not Dignity in Dying, which used to be called Exit. Exit is the breakaway, ‘fiercely independent’ Scottish-based group which advocates euthanasia in the UK, has members worldwide, and has just published an updated edition of its guide […]
Tell them fully and tell them clearly
Regular readers of this blog will know of Teresa Evans and her campaigning work. If you don’t know Teresa, have a look at her website. I’ve always admired Teresa. She is an ordinary person possessed of extraordinary singlemindedness, tenacity and passion. She is also very nice. Teresa campaigns for better, fuller, clearer information for the […]
Some of last week’s stories
“Do you swear on a stack of bibles that this dongle will definitely receive a strong, clear, unwavering signal on the Isle of Portland?” You wait for that look that young persons give us folk of uncertain age and temper, a blend of impatience, indulgence and pity. Then he says “Yes, oh yes, definitely” and nods very […]
Meeting his Macca
Following the story of the tea-drinking, cake-eating undertakers which caused such ire a few days ago (read it here), here’s a US undertaker up to much of the same , if in a far more downmarket way. Story here.
