Category: Memoriam

Ashes to Asteroids, Dust to Dusk.

“It broadens the market, which is important to us because our whole business plan is about getting more people access to space…Space needs to be affordable for all in some way.” For a small fee, a number of fledgling private space companies will soon send your remains (or personal mementos) into the cosmos, including Space Services, Inc., Beyond-Earth Enterprises, and ZeroG Aerospace. Families paid $995 to $5,300 to have their loved ones’ ashes aboard SS, Inc’s maiden flight next month, which sounds eminently reasonable to me given the usual financial costs of bereavement.

NOW for the Future.

“If I am right, the problem that has no name stirring in the minds of so many American women today is not a matter of loss of femininity or too much education, or the demands of domesticity. It is far more important than anyone recognizes…It may well be the key to our future as a nation and a culture.” Betty Friedan, 1921-2006.

Nice Guys Finish Last.

“So, Mr. Orange, you’re tellin’ me this very good friend of mine, who did four years for my father, who in four years never made a deal, no matter what they dangled in front of him, you’re telling me that now, that now this man is free, and we’re making good on our commitment to him, he’s just gonna decide, out of the f**king blue, to rip us off? Why don’t you tell me what really happened?” R.I.P. Chris Penn 1965-2006. (Salon reposted an appreciation of Penn by Cintra Wilson here.)

Milwaukee Maverick.

“My opponent doesn’t know what it is to lose. I do. And I’ll welcome the support of voters who do, too. I’ll take the losers. I’ll take the debtors. I’ll take those who’ve lost in love, or baseball, or in business. I’ll take the Milwaukee Braves.” R.I.P. Sen. William Proxmire 1915-2005.