Coffins Are Dying for Disruption | Dems' Small-Ball Debate

www.ozy.com [OZY.COM]( [VIEW ONLINE]( 10 MUST READS TODAY [Daily Dose]( Thursday Jun 27, 2019 1 [Fast Forward]( [Fast Forward]( [Why the Coffin Industry Is Dying for Disruption]( The funeral business is in churn, but the big players aren’t hurting — they’re consolidating their monopoly. In the Amish community, you — or someone you know — will build your coffin. It’s simple and plain, as you might expect from the Amish. Even if you’re not Amish, you can order one of their caskets online. Or a DIY kit that turns into a coffin, a woven willow box, one made of seagrass, or one painted with your favorite Monet landscape. You probably won’t order one online though, because most Americans don’t. America’s funeral industry is in churn, with cremations now emerging as more popular than traditional burials. In 1980, less than 10 percent of the deceased in the U.S. were cremated. By 2018, 53 percent were being cremated, and the National Funeral Directors Association has estimated that by 2035 that number will be closer to 80 percent. But unlike many other industries, the disruption isn’t throwing up new challenges for the traditional biggies of the coffin industry. [READ MORE]( 2 [Opinion]( [Opinion]( [The Democrats' Small-Ball Debate Is a Recipe for Losing to Trump]( The first Democratic presidential debate was a parade of microtargeted messages. They won’t win without thinking big. Night One of the Democratic debate is done, with one night to go … followed by 11 more clashes. And Lord help us if this is going to be the whole primary. Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke looked a little unsure. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker was very concerned about Beto’s Spanish. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren was just OK. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar looked like she was going to throw her hands up at any point and ask why she was there. And Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan was scared Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard was going to kill him. [READ MORE]( 3 [Flashback]( [Flashback]( [Listen: Her Rejection Led to a Sex Discrimination Ban]( Bunny Sandler’s employment woes led to a landmark law that resonates today. Title IX, the law that banned sex discrimination in U.S. education, was signed by President Richard Nixon on June 23, 1972. It was a truly historic piece of legislation, but nobody really noticed. The New York Times covered the passage of the broader education bill, one that also dealt with hot-button issues like busing and financial aid, but it devoted just a single bullet point to the provision outlawing sex discrimination. A single sentence. Although few people took note at the time, thanks to Title IX, a new era in America had begun. And today, nearly half a century later, it is impossible not to notice the impact of Title IX, and of its proponents like Bernice “Bunny” Sandler. Sandler, who died earlier this year, became known as “the godmother of Title IX.” And for good reason. Getting a bill banning sex discrimination through a nearly all-male Congress — one that did not think sex discrimination was really a problem — was a remarkable feat. [READ MORE]( [Sponsored by Bright Cellars]( [How to Pick the Right Wine (According to Science)]( Bright Cellars takes the mystery out of discovering new wines thanks to an algorithm developed by two MIT grads. Answer a few simple questions and get wines paired specifically for your palate delivered straight to your doorstep. It’s freakishly accurate — find out for yourself with 50% off your first order. [TAKE QUIZ]( 4 [Good Sh*t]( [Don't Screw With This Feminist Beer From Spain]( This small-batch brew with a provocative name has an unmissable message. 5 [Need to Know]( [OZY Fest Is Back! Get Your Tickets Now]( Welcome to New York’s most eclectic festival of music, comedy and ideas. 6 [True Story]( [She Was the Mom of Two Inmates and Now Performs Prison Weddings]( Jo Anne Hall turned her own life around as a wedding officiant in an unlikely place. 7 [The Huddle]( [This Bow and Arrow-Wielding Rookie Is Breaking Through With His Bat]( Soft-spoken Austin Riley makes a loud noise with his hitting — as the young Atlanta Braves arrive among baseball’s elite. 8 [Immodest proposal]( [How Confucianism Could Put Fears About Artificial Intelligence to Bed]( The West is struggling to make its tech ethical. It’s time to look to the East for help. 9 [Fast Forward]( [The Growing Global Pushback Against Sketchy Antiquities]( A King Tut auction at Christie’s resurfaced long-held grievances from countries of origin — and more are speaking up. 10 [Rising Stars]( [How This Trans Politico Is Changing Indonesia From the Inside]( Kety Haji Jalla is an educator and political activist in an unusually tolerant part of Indonesia. You Should Know This [This Hulking Lawyer Leads the Courtroom Charge Against Apple]( , This email was sent to {EMAIL} [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Read Online](