In Repose Blog

Its Been Proven...

...that thoughts can influence machines. If that is the case, where exactly, IS the human mind?

The Afterlife

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Yes, I am easily amused.

On Spirituality vs. Religion

Spirituality =Questions that may never be answered;

Religion =Answers that may never be questioned.

ADC?

It is estimated that 60-120 million Americans - 20-40% of the population of the United States - have had one or more After Death Communication (ADC) experiences.

Are you one of them?

Death Tax Factoid number 3.

What is the history of estate, gift and generation-skipping taxes?

        The Death Tax was initiated in 1916 to fund World War I. It was maintained in the tax code through the 20’s and 30’s to help prevent the concentration of wealth. Since that time, anti-trust laws have eliminated those concerns, but to date the Death Tax remains intact.

Death Tax Factoid number 1.

What country has the highest rate of Death Tax?

Japan has an inheritance tax of 70%, but after credits and exemption it  is an effective tax rate of 30.3%. The United States has the highest rate of estate tax in the world at the rate of 55% and an effective rate of  44%.

Cremation Factoid

31% of Americans who died in 2005 were cremated.

In 2005, the highest rate of cremation was in Nevada (65%) with the lowest rate being in Mississippi (9.6%).

Introducing Guest Blogger: Jamie Sue

Wow!  Look!  It's a guest post by Jamie Sue!

Since this is my first post... I am going to play it safe and deposit some trivia knowledge onto the blog. Discover magazine has a great list of  "20 Things you Didn't Know About Death." Discover is an awesome magazine.  I've been reading it since I was a teenager and have collected an outstanding number of useless facts while doing so.  This makes me very good at Jepordy, Trivial Pursuit, and You Don't Know Jack.  However, it makes me very bad at social mixers, group outings, and community functions.  I like to think that there is a tiny geek living in each and every one of us that loves to be fed a bit of trivia now and again.

My favorite fact has to be number two on the list: "There are at least 200 euphemisms for death, including "to be in Abraham's bosom," "just add maggots," and "sleep with the Tribbles" (a Star Trek favorite)."

But the most disturbing bit of knowledge I gained debunked one of my previously loved trivia facts. The body does not lose 21 grams at the moment of death. Which has taken away from me endless hours of enjoyment pondering those 21 grams.  I was even hoping to have the debate worked into my own eulogy, but I suppose that's no longer an option.  I guess I'll just have to be more conventional in my final arrangments than I originally intended.

I can see it now...   At my Star Trek funeral they will say...

"Alas, our Jamie Sue...  we loved her sense of humor and her nerdy ways.  But, she has gone to a better place now...  to that great Federation in the sky... to sleep with the Tribbles..."

Moscow Opens First Pet Cemetery

Photo of Baba and Raven coutesey ccgart.com

The  new complex also includes a pet hotel, veterinary clinic, a visitor's center and crematory. The cemetery has space for 30,000 pets and prices start at 20 dollars.

Israel's Lone Crematorium Destroyed by Arsonists

Wednesday Alei Shalehet, the only Israeli mortuary to offer cremation, was set ablaze, presumably by religious zealots opposed to the alternative to burial.