US Space-Funeral Company Plans To Launch Lunar Cemetery
MIAMI (AFP) - - A US funeral business that specializes in launching cremated human remains into Earth's orbit has begun taking reservations for landing small capsules of ashes on the moon, announced the company's founder.
"Celestis' first general public lunar mission could occur as early as 2010 and reservations are now being taken," said Charles M. Chafer, Celestis founder and president, in an email to AFP.
"We can send up to 5000 individual capsules to the lunar surface," he said.
The company hopes to install a cemetery on the lunar surface to hold cremated remains of the dead, or a smaller symbolic portion of them, which one day could be visited by relatives of the deceased, said Chafer.
For transportation, Celestis has made deals with two other US private space companies, Odyssey Moon and Astrobotic Technology, which are currently working on making commercial flights to the moon.
For sending a tiny, one gram portion of cremated remains to the moon, the company charges 9,995 dollars, according to Celestis' website.
Other funeral services besides the full lunar trip include sending ash into Earth's orbit -- the cheapest option, starting at 700 dollars -- and all the way up to launching remains far, far away into deep space, for which the company charges more than 37,000 dollars.
The latter option is expected to be available from 2011, after the development of a special capsule to hold the remains, the company said.
Ten years ago NASA paid tribute to top US astronomer Eugene Shoemaker by carrying into space a portion of his cremated remains.
After a year in lunar orbit Shoemaker's remains were intentionally planted on the moon's south pole, the first time human remains have been landed on the lunar surface -- but maybe not the last time.
Finally gonna start work tml after rotting for so long. Training for a month thereafter the shop will be open in Dec. Will be travelling to Orchard every day le. Training commence at 9am sharp, so early! Thus today I'm not going anywhere since I have to sleep early tonight. Slept at 6 plus this morning only cuz came back at only 5 plus. Cass & I even had an early breakfast (4plus in the morning!!) at MAC before she fetched me back.
We window-shopped & had our dinner at Orchard till 11 plus. Initially we made plan after that thus did not meet Lenon after all when he called. But after a long long thought, (Yeah, we are that indecisive cuz kept choosing among Zouk, Lunar, The Supper Club & St James, hehe) we decided to change our plan and headed to THE SUPPER CLUB located at Odeon Towers. Cass saw that the club was recommended by HER WORLD thus we decided to check out the place. Cover charge super expensive, $30 each inclusive of 2 drinks.
Though I did bring my camera with me but I did not snap any pic at all. The crowd was mainly angmoh and more mature, music playing was club remix. We simply felt out of place. Cass was driving thus she couldn't drink any alcohol at all. I ordered vodka orange and was stunned when the bartender filled half (the glass was quite big) the glass with vodka. So generous of him! I ain't a good drinker thus my face turned red after that.
Shortly, Cass suggested to walk to her car to place our bags there so that we can dance. As we made our way out, we started to have second thoughts of going back there again since it's not fun at all. And we made our way to St James PowerHouse instead!
Cover at St James was only $15 inclusive of one drink. PowerHouse was playing R&B and it was damn crowded inside. We squeezed our way and danced right next to and below the platform. Few gals were dancing above and a few wore really damn short skirts that we could pratically see them zao-geng. Kaozzz.
While later, an uncle next to Cass asked if she wanted a drink and she rejected him. Then in their same group, another man (Cass said he's Malay but can speak Chinese) said Cass looked familiar and asked whether she stays at TPY. Cass said she is not the one and he's mistaken her for someone else.
Then there's this young and good-looking chap dancing and behaving intimately with his gf (I think) behind me. That gal, also wearing short skirt, then climbed up the platform with her gfs and danced above. Cass & I were wondering how come this guy dun mind the fact the tiko men below would see his gf zao-geng. Cass said maybe she's his fling lah, wahaha.
Then the gf duno disappeared to where and I was shocked when the guy started to flirt with me! He offered me a drink but I turned him down. He pleaded for a sip and the liquor kept splashing on my hands cuz he was dancing & holding the glass. I did drink a lil' so as to stop his pestering. Then he kept talking to me and grabbing my arm as he tried to strike conversations with me. He even asked me to go up the platform to dance. Duhzz! Anyway he knew that I'm not keen to talk to him lah. I mean like, HELLO!! You were just hugging and kissing your gal in front of us, I'm not blind leh. Cass said his everything resembled my ex. Duhzzz.
Another group managed to squeeze in beside us and started to dance madly. A small size male (initially I thought he was Malay but I think he's Chinese after a closer look) was so engrossed dancing with the females in his group that his body hit and touched mine hard. I stopped and stared at him but he was oblivious of my rage. I couldn't take it and pushed him away hard on his shoulder. He jerked back a few steps, stunned of the sudden force I applied on him and looked at me. I stared back daggers and he realised he must have offended me and apologised. Then he dun dare to dance beside me le. Haha. Stupid idiot. Cannot dance properly ah?? Cannot see the space so limited le still danced with big actions.
We were thirsty and moved to Movida to get our drinks after dancing for a while. Rested at an empty table and a man from the next table came to chat us up. Initially we thought he's from CHINA but he turned out to be a Malaysian. He was drunk lah and his words were slurring. His friends at the next table (a big group of males & females) kept apologizing & smiling at us. Then this drunk man took 2 drinks for us and sat down at our table to chat with us. Again Cass did not drink, I took a few sips. I felt really sian lah cuz dun feel like talking to him at all. He's spurting nonsense anyway. We finally made an excuse to the washroom and escaped back to PowerHouse.
This time, we shifted to a different spot and was approached by another man (again, sian). He talked to me and asked me if his guy friend was fat. I took a look and replied NO COMMENT. Then I ignored him and continued dancing. While later, he popped another question. He pointed to 2 friends and said one was thin, another fat, which one I prefer? Haha, I replied NO COMMENT again.
I became really thirsty and then eyed the ice bucket of the man who tried to chat with me. I finally signalled to him whether I can take an ice from him. Of cuz he allowed and then another friend of his shook my hand and offered me a drink. I took a sip and returned him the glass. This guy then danced behind me and... tried putting his hand on my waist. Cass saw it too. I waited a while to see what this guy was up to. The irritating man blew wind on my neck (trying to make me horny ah, siao) then placed his hand and gripped me by the waist harder and closer to him this time. I was pissed off, grabbed his hand and shrugged it off. He realised I'm not those EASY type and walked away... Horny bastard.
The guy in the group who first chatted with me offered me a glass of water before he left the dancefloor. He knew I'm thirsty, haha. But he's nicer and more of a gentleman compared to his friend who tried to eat my tofu. I smelt the drink and had a sip. Then he shouted to me that it's Cranberry juice and it's sweet. Free drink for us, hehe.
We finally left at 4am to catch an early breakfast.....
Since MOS has closed down, I dun mind shifting to PowerHouse cuz I prefer R&B. Some retro will be nice too.
Let me end this entry with a pic of a cute Xmas tree taken at Taka.
It's cute cuz it's made up of.....
TEDDY BEARS!!!!!
P/s. Any Xmas pressie for me this year??
Labels: This N' That
Written @
3:34 PM
