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A Geek Funeral
We've recently talked about a geek wedding, and now reader Sam_In_The_Hills writes in with news of his brother's geek funeral. "I've not seen this topic covered here before even though it's one that will concern us all at some time: what to do with our corporeal remains after we've left for that great data bank in the sky. For my recently departed brother (long illness, don't smoke!), I thought this nice SPARCstation would be a cool place to spend eternity. Yes, he's really in there (after cremation). I kept the floppy drive cover but for space reasons removed the floppy drive, hard drive, and most of the power supply. I left behind the motherboard and power switch and plugs to keep all openings covered. The case worked quite well at his memorial party. His friends and family were able to leave their final good-byes on post-notes. Anyone who wanted to keep their words private could just slip their note into the case through the floppy slot. All notes will be sealed in plastic and placed within the case. There has been one complication. His daughters like the look of it so much they aren't now sure if they want to bury him. One more thing: the words on the plaque really do capture one of the last things he ever said. Of course as kids we watched the show in its first run."
But I'm worried that cremation has destroyed his chance to be resurrected in body at the Rapture.
He looks like a great family man. Two kids, a wife, a family who obviously loved him. We should all hope to have as much.
But seriously, have the mods gotten more stupid lately?
Quack, quack.
Well, by that logic, homosexuality doesn't impact (heh) ONLY homosexuals, either. It definitely affects other people, particularly people who don't like homosexuals. Whether you think that's something we should care about is a different matter.
What I think you meant was: smoking doesn't kill only the smoker.
Next conservative rallying cry: "homosexuality kills!"
Gee, I just don't understand why they would be mean to you. Usually, "Excuse me, you inconsiderate prick,..." is such a good way to start conversations.
I agree with you completely. The government shouldn't provide health care. That's especially true for smokers - they know the consequences of the choices they make, and they chose to do it anyway. Fuck 'em.
Maybe not
I could be wrong, but it seems obvious that he meant George "monkey boy" Bush, not Obama, and was referencing stupidity with the "lower primate" comment, not race.
Would be fitting, but unfortunately the math doesn't add up: 1968 + 40 = 2008, not 2000... :-(
Could people please not use this list to announce information of no particular interest to the people on the list? Hundreds of thousands of people die every day. While the whole phenomenon is menacing, one of them by itself is not newsworthy. Nor is it a difficult achievement--even some fish can do it. (Now, if you were a coral reef, it would be more interesting, since you would be kind of immortal.)
Following your example, I might send the list an announcement whenever a new GNU program is written. That happens less often than people die, it does the world a lot more good, it reflects more conscious creativity and hard work, and some of the readers might actually find the information useful. Even so, I think most of the readers would consider this outside the scope and purpose of the list. Clearly that goes double for cadavers.
Of course, we have another place for announcements of new GNU programs. If some people like to read death announcements, perhaps you should set up a suitable list or newsgroup. Perhaps rec.deaths?
These death announcements also spread the myth that dying is something to be proud of, which fuels fatalist pressure, which leads to pollution, extinction of wildlife, poverty, and ultimately proprietary software.
Perhaps the people who have decided not to die should start making proud announcements, so as to set a better example. I could start. I'm sure everyone on this list will be glad to know I plan to live forever.
RMS
Obama became President in January 2009, though - in 2008 the pres was still Bush.
Though it does say "we'd elect", and he was elected in 2008. You could be right, unfortunately.