The Lighter Side

Have you ever wondered if inanimate objects could somehow develop souls? The velveteen rabbit eventually became real – but this is only a fairytale, right? I think, if there is any possibility of this sort of magic happening in our world, the artist Theo Jansen may know the secret -

(Ted Talks)

A playground in the middle of a cemetery. At first glance it would seem out of sorts, morbid and creepy, right? But if you think about it, the idea of having a playground in a cemetery is a celebration of life – a connection between life and death that is so often missing in our culture.

Enjoy this thoughtful piece by Uwe Hook:

The constant battle to think outside of accepted norms

I went to the Yanaka Cemetery this morning to explore the resting place of the last shogun. The cemetery is in the middle of a lovely neighborhood, almost untouched by World War II. While wandering around I discovered this.

A playground in the middle of a cemetery. I had look twice to believe my eyes: Indeed, a playground smack-dab in the middle of a cemetery. I don’t know the Japanese culture well enough to understand the reason behind this placement but it hit me immediately: What a great idea. What a brilliant way to connect life and death. What an easy way to make your pilgrimage to visit your dead loved ones an enjoyable experience for your kids. What an innovative way to make grieving part of our human experience, not something we want to box up nicely and put away…

For the complete piece please click here.

Ever thought about writing your own supernatural thriller? If so, you may want to refer to the list of SUPERNATURAL COLLECTIVE NOUNS. It will certainly come in handy when you want to describe that “opulence of succubi” that is terrorizing your protagonist!

SUPERNATURAL COLLECTIVE NOUNS (brought to you by Wondermark/David Malki – check out his incredible comics and art here.) To view the image in more readable detail click here.

Thank you to Jeff Cohen, author of A NIGHT AT THE OPERATION: A Double Feature Mystery, for answering this week’s Q&A!

What is your most marked characteristic that you believe could be a hold over from a past life?

A sense of humor much more in line with Groucho and Harpo Marx than with Judd Apatow and Adam Sandler. In terms of comedy, I’m clearly more comfortable in 1933 than 2010.

What is your principle defect that you believe may be inherited from a previous incarnation?

Heartburn. Given my height and temperament, I believe that in a previous lifetime, I was probably Napoleon Bonaparte (especially since his brother Joey lived in New Jersey, so maybe I was Joey Bonaparte). And I think that hand in the jacket thing was due to acid reflux.

Which of your favorite heroes do you think you could have been and why?

I could have been Harpo Marx. Except I like to talk too much.

What three people from history would you like to have over to dinner for a discussion about reincarnation?

John Adams, because he’d make any discussion more interesting. Groucho Marx, because he’d make any discussion more enjoyable. And Abraham Lincoln, just because.

What do you think happens when we die?

People come over and bring cake.

When you come back next time, who (or what!) would you like to be?

I’ve often told my wife that if I come back, I want to be one of her pets. They get treated better than we humans.

Cohen’s links & titles:

A NIGHT AT THE OPERATION: A Double Feature Mystery
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEED by E.J. Copperman coming June 1, 2010!
http://jeffcohenbooks.com
Blog: http://heydeadguy.typepad.com/heydeadguy/
http://www.ejcopperman.com

And now for something different… play The Reincarnationist game – it’s fun

We want to remind our readers what a fantastic job the Bitten By Books blog is doing promoting great paranormal fiction (“A paranormal review site with bite”).

They even posted an interview with M.J. last year – here it is again, enjoy!

What do I want in my stocking this year? How about an entire universe, customized exactly how I want it?…

Sound ridiculous? Yes! But listen up…seems that alternate universes are scientifically possible, which, if you think about it, really does make a case for Heaven, Hell, the Bardo, Nirvana, Valhalla and all the other countless afterlife “universes” we’ve taken on faith all these years. I’ve noticed that the more advanced scientific thought becomes (see: String Theory), the more in tune with the most far-out religious and spiritual concepts it gets. Perhaps one day soon the worlds of science and faith will converge in a wonderfully bizarre theory of Everything?

Now, back to the matter at hand, buying a universe! -

Quantum physics dictates that reality is created by observation. There are an infinite number of possible realities, which can be actualised only through observation – an unlimited variety of parallel universes exist in what is known as quantum flux.

In some of these universes the deeds purchased from Buy Your Own Universe will be recognised as legally binding, meaning that you really are the rightful owner of your Universe!

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A CUSTOMIZED PARALLEL UNIVERSE

The concept of reviving long lost species keeps coming up in conversation lately. I suppose it’s true that we are capable of cloning using captured DNA, even really old DNA, and so this is not just a fantasy anymore, but does humanity have the moral maturity to play god in this way? Doesn’t anyone remember the premise for Jurassic Park? I’d say that humans are still smack dab in the middle of their most extreme materialistic age – and that suggests that the reasons for bringing back extinct beasts may be more greed oriented than compassion oriented. Let’s let the reincarnations remain in the hands of the unknown powers that be, ok?

That said, here is a story about my most favorite long gone creatures – the glorious mammoths – I admit that I would extremely happy to see one alive…

Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross is perhaps the world’s foremost authority on death and dying. She is also a reincarnationist.

“Conversation with Elisabeth Kubler-Ross” –

By John Harricharan

Far away in Switzerland in the mid-nineteen twenties, triplets were born to a family that expected only one child. Weighing in at about two pounds, Elisabeth Kubler was not expected to live. But the love and care of her parents coupled with the indomitable spirit of Elisabeth herself gave the world one of its noblest daughters.

Best selling author (she has written over sixteen books), lecturer, teacher, physician and philosopher, Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross is perhaps the world’s foremost authority on death and dying — yet there is nothing somber about Elisabeth

John: You have been close to death many times. Did you not have any fear of it?

Elisabeth: Death never frightened me. It is as much a part of living as anything else. I have faced it so many times it is no longer an enemy.

John: Do you believe in the continuation of life after death?

Elisabeth: I not only believe it, I know it. I have always seemed to know it. I also know that life is forever.

Click to read the complete interview.

Here’s a little surrealism for you – in the form of a website that simply MUST be a scam. Right?

Welcome to THE REINCARNATION BANK:

If you leave nothing purposely behind when you die, then what is there here for you when you return?
Begin by believing and just do it. The great end of life is not just knowledge but action so act now and save for your reincarnation.

(Notice how there is only a “Deposit” link on the website?!)