The Business of Death and Dying

www.ozy.com [OZY]( OZY A Modern Media Company Share This Sh*t October 14, 2022 Share This Sh*t [The drop]( THE BUSINESS OF DEATH AND DYING Death comes to us all, and while there may be little we can do to avoid our mortality, we can still think about our own deaths, and how we might prefer to die. In this OZY Classics newsletter, we look at some of the more entertaining, eco-conscious and straight-up bizarre choices available when it comes to dealing with death — and some of the businesses, entrepreneurs and thinkers behind the options. Sponsored by [Cariuma]( The Latest Trends in Dying Tattoos as Family Heirlooms You thought Victorians keeping locks of hair from their beloved dead ones was creepy? Brace yourself because you ain’t seen nothing yet. A recent trend in family heirlooms is framed tattoos. Yes, that requires slicing off your newly-deceased loved one’s inked skin and treating it with liquid silicone. This way you can preserve a sight of the person you cherished for eternity. Or as long as your roommates can bear it. [Read More on OZY]( Dead and Gone, and Green Living a sustainable life is commendable, but now you can die sustainably too. The increasingly popular industry of “green burials” is offering eco-friendly funeral options like nontoxic embalming and biodegradable caskets. Your remains can even be turned into compost. Perfect for earth-loving folks who are dying not to leave an ecological footprint behind. [Read More on OZY]( A Shiny Way to Immortalize the Dead Why stay in an urn on the shelf when you can be transformed into something more sparkly and more … wearable? Eterneva turns cremains into diamonds that can be set in necklaces, rings or earrings. Creepy? Maybe to some. But turning your loved one into a conversation piece might also help to change the conversation around death. [Read More on OZY]( Dead, but Not Going Away No one wants to leave the party before the party is over, but that’s exactly what has to happen. People left before you got there, and people will be there after you leave. But now there are apps that keep you chatting with friends and family or posting on social media well past your expiration date. Which is either genius or evil genius. [Read More on OZY]( ADVERTISEMENT [With 20,000 5-Star Reviews…They Get Our Seal of Approval]( Did you know that 82% of Americans read online reviews before buying something new?! If you’re thinking ‘duh…same,’ meet [Cariuma’s]( best-selling and incredibly stylish Canvas and Suede sneakers. With over a dozen various color options, these are the perfect kicks to transition into the cooler months (and are some of OZY’s faves). Plus, they’ve been featured on fan-favorite websites like People, InStyle, Good Morning America, GQ, and more, and they’re going to go fast…again. Now, we can’t promise they’ll be there when you’re ready to check them out, so hurry on over and use your personal, exclusive code, [OZYOCT](to snag you 15% off at checkout. Pssst…this offer won’t last forever. [Shop Here]( Good Ways to Die The Best Places to Die People all over the world have contemplated scripting their ends rather than leaving them to chance. Not all of us get to choose where we depart this mortal coil, but if you can, there are four spots where dying is done better than most: The U.K., Belgium, Australia and Taiwan have figured out smart ways to take better care of the dying, or at least make the process more pleasant. [Read More on OZY]( Designing a Better Hospital Death Is there a connection between architecture and death? You better believe there is. And Alison Killing is exploring how to better design spaces where we spend our final moments. From small things like bright paint jobs and quiet places for palliative care, to larger changes like big windows and better ambient light, Killing is rethinking it all. But she has to convince hospitals it’s worth the money. [Read More on OZY]( The Roller Coaster of Death If Disneyland has been touted as the happiest place on earth, is there an amusement park corollary that involves, if not unhappiness, at least certain death? There sure is. At least theoretically. Behold the blueprint for a roller-coaster ride with a survival rate of zero, thanks to a plunge so steep and fast that it would kill you by denying oxygen to your brain, though not before you get a hit of euphoria. [Read More on OZY]( Going Out on a High Is there anything inherently wrong with dying while high? As long as you’re not driving while both high and dying, how much harm would you cause by dropping some LSD before the end? We imagine it would change the nature of those deathbed conversations, and possibly for the better. [Read More on OZY]( [Your opinion matters. Take our poll.]( ADVERTISEMENT [GET ‘EM BEFORE THEY’RE GONE]( From walking the dog around the block to playing outside with the kids and jumping into leaf piles, we have never received so many compliments on our stylish kicks. You might be thinking “those are just sneakers” – but no! [Cariuma’s]( Canvas and Suede low-top shoes offer a broken-in fit, a perfect variety of colors, and a beachside vibe that you can rock all year long, even when the cooler temperatures roll in. Handcrafted with natural, organic, and recycled materials, they’re sure to have people stop you on the street 👀 With over 20,000 five-star reviews, it’s no surprise these kicks flew off the shelves. But now, after clearing a 77,000-person waitlist, they’re back in stock. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to give these sneaks a shot…before they’re gone. Enter code [OZYOCT]( at checkout and receive 15% off! [TAKE ME SHOPPING]( [Riley Keough on The Carlos Watson Show with American Family]( Mortal Philosophy Who Owns Your Death? Parents create life, and tend to control the start of it. But who fundamentally controls the end? With suicide being against many secular and moral codes, and physician-assisted suicide only making recent inroads into the dying equation, we consider: Who owns your death? [Read More on OZY]( A Mortician for the YouTube Generation We’re not supposed to laugh about death. It’s a serious matter. Yet Caitlin Doughty thinks humor is the key to making our own mortality more palatable. Meet the young mortician and YouTube sensation who’s on a mission to make us face our impending doom with a unique combination of expertise and wackiness. Through her YouTube channel, “Ask a Mortician,” Doughty manages the unimaginable: making millions smile at the fact that one day everything they love will perish. [Read More on OZY]( Funeral Selfies: A 21st-Century Way to Grieve What’s the worst thing you can do at a funeral? Dress inappropriately? Bring a snack or a date? Forget to silence your phone? OK, how about snapping a selfie and posting it online? If you are unfamiliar with the concept of the #funeralselfie, this may come as a shock. But it’s becoming a common practice among the younger generation, and some death professionals view it as putting a 21st-century face on grief. [Read More on OZY]( The Good Side of Death Believe it or not, the bubonic plague, which killed some 25 million across Europe during the 14th century, had an upside. Such an extreme case of natural selection might have actually been good for human evolution. Also, the resulting severe worker shortages shifted power to the labor pool, thereby helping undermine the feudal system. And this ghastly period might still provide lessons about genetics and fighting disease. [Read More on OZY]( [Your opinion matters. 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