I spent some time working at a mortuary and also selling “pre-need” burial plans. And while I don’t’ sell them anymore, is still a good idea. Anyway, I disagree with Pablo a lot. Cremation is the better option in just about every way.

A few things. Possibly the worst time to make these sorts of decisions is when wracked with grief over the very recent loss of a loved one. Funeral directors know this. And while I’m not saying they are greedy, they are a business. They try and maximize their profit.

When you speak with the director, he is going to show you all sorts of nice caskets, that will look beautiful and make your loved one seem very at peace. Burnished woods, shiny coppers, deep and distinguished mahogany. Something for everyone, no matter their station in life.

But after he shows you all these nice (and expensive) options, you stick to your guns. You want a cremation. The director gives you a disappointed look, then takes you to a basement. And shows you a 6 foot tall cardboard box. With a price tag of $50 stapled to it. Do you know how many people change their minds about cremation at this point? Green be damned when picturing a grandpa being burned. And if you think a six foot box is awful, check out a three foot box for children. Not a lot of parents choose cremation.

All that in mind, I can tell you that cremation is much better for the environment than burial, but you can see why it is still rare.

Burial is bad for the environment in so many ways. The cost in both money and materials for the casket (wood, metals, etc). The cement vault that is over the casket to prevent cave-in (a scam, this doesn’t happen and only serves to take more money from you).

And other environmental issues too. A casket is sealed. That’s actually one of its selling points. But a sealed body is attacked by anaerobic bacteria only. When you picture a bloated, disgusting corpse, it is due to anaerobic bacteria. Left in the open, bodies spend a few days in the disgusting stage, then really don’t get so bad.

Also the fact that embalming fluid is amazingly toxic and long lasting. It’s a good thing those caskets are sealed, because you wouldn’t want that stuff leaking out into the ground.

The best way to go would be something I thought of years ago, but not allowed by (American) laws and regulations. A casket made of woven reeds. Nice, study, yet biodegradable. Place into the ground, plant a tree with it, and let nature compost you. Years later, your family has a beautiful tree to commemorate you. Sure beats a headstone.

I still think it is a great idea, but it’s not very profitable. The kiss of death in America.

So, if your choice is burial or cremation, cremation hands down. Better for the pocketbook, better for the environment. But given the emotions at the time, not surprising we see so little of it.

These are also big in the transvestite community. They think a surprised look makes them more feminine.

If they care more about politics, she'll win. If they care more about talent, she won't. My bet is those on the show will be progressive enough to let her into the top three, but not win it.

I find this offensive. What else would you have us do to satisfy our sexual needs? We have no girlfriend, patronizing prostitutes makes us losers, and now we can’t wank to porn? What’s left?

Seriously though, this is the reason so many men hate feminists. They simply cannot relate to the sexual starvation that most men have to deal with. Then to add to that, we are told that we can’t even look at women. Even the women that want to be looked at!

Sickening. While I agree that a doctor should not for instance, deny emergency care to a patient due to their religion, that is not the case here.

The patient was seeking voluntary treatment, not of medical necessity. In that instance, a doctor should have the right to refuse service to anybody. Isn’t that better than the government forcing him to work against his will? Would you want to see a doctor that was being forced to work against his will?

The solution to this problem was mentioned in the story. “Benitez, by the way, took her business elsewhere long ago.” Sounds like a good solution. The doctor didn’t want her and she didn’t want the doctor. They both got what they wanted. Why must the court force them together?

I can’t imagine broadsheet missing the point more if they tried. This is an immeasurably good thing for stem cell research. One simple word: familiarity.

When the vast majority of people hear stem cells they think “made from aborted babies”. With the advent of using stem cells to enlarge breasts, stem cells go from horrible to no big deal (no pun intended).

This is exactly the brilliant strategy used by the gay community. Get people used to it in small steps. Small, inoffensive steps that can lead to more.

Some day, people, even religious people, will have stem cell treatment available to them. Available to cure diseases, to regenerate tissues, to save and improve lives.

And we will have breast augmentation to thank for that.

Stay away from broadsheet girls when this happens. Their heads might explode.

Oh yeah and she’ll probably do a good job too.

But let’s not lose sight of the real issue here. Sure she may be qualified and all, but she’s a woman! And a lesbian! Woo hoo!