So does anyone else find this really creepy?

[Jason Dunn]

<a href="http://www.lifegem.com/secondary/whatisLG.htm">http://www.lifegem.com/secondary/whatisLG.htm</a><br /><br />This has to be one of the strangest things I've ever seen. LifeGem will take cremated body remains and turn them into a real diamond. "Hey, nice ring!" "Thanks, it was my husband". <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif" /> What's even freakier is that they encourage you to <a href="http://www.lifegem.com/secondary/LG_Prices.htm#whenyoureready">"plan ahead"</a>. How exactly does one plan ahead for this? "Honey, I'm dying, and I can think of nowhere I'd rather be than on your finger."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.lifegem.com/images/whatis_pic1.jpg" /><br /><br />"A LifeGem is a certified, high quality diamond created from the carbon of your loved one as a memorial to their unique and wonderful life. The LifeGem diamond is more than a memorial to visit on the weekends or place on a shelf… it is a way to embrace your loved one's memory day by day. The LifeGem is the most unique and timeless memorial available for creating a testimony to their unique life. We hope and believe that your LifeGem memorial will offer comfort and support when and where you need it, and provide a lasting memory that endures just as a diamond does. Forever." Source: <a href="http://www.phentermine-diet-pills.com/">Oilman</a>

[Rob Alexander]

Well no more creepy, I suppose, than draining the blood from your loved one, replacing it with formaldehyde, applying make-up to hide the funny color, sticking the result in a lead-lined box and burying it in the ground. At least you get a nice piece of jewelry from this option. And just think what an ice-breaker it would be at parties! :wink:

[splintercell]

Creepie, no.
Creepy, maybe. :wink:

[DavidHorn]

So, the next time you see someone wondering around with lots of diamond rings, ear rings, and a necklace, they're a serial killer, right?

[Ed Hansberry]

So, the next time you see someone wondering around with lots of diamond rings, ear rings, and a necklace, they're a serial killer, right?
Now that is a movie! Hannible Lecter's grandmother. Can you imagine the field day on ebay with these things? Celebrity Lifegems.

Hey Jason - you forgot to do an affiliate link. :lol: http://www.lifegem.com/secondary/buydirect.htm

[innersky]

:shocked!:

[mgd]

A whole new sub-genre of horror movies: souls trapped in jewellery.

[helios]

I'm with Rob on this. This is really no more or less creepy than any of the multitude of ways that various cultures and religions around the world handle the remains of the deceased. Its mostly a matter of whatever tradition you're used to, and anything different from that will seem odd or weird at first.

I also don't think the "planning ahead" part is any weirder than the rest of it, considering that many people also plan ahead regular funerals as well, deciding whether or be buried or cremated, choosing a casket, arranging financing so that surviving family members aren't stuck with not being able to pay the bill, etc.

[Ed Hansberry]

A whole new sub-genre of horror movies: souls trapped in jewellery.
I think I saw that episode of Star Trek. Or was it Babylon 5? 0X :robot:

[mookie123]

This is bogus.

I want to know if all the carbon in that stone is somebody's remain, not a left over combustion or the wood from casket. It's more like a compacted leftover junk to me albeit colorful.

What's more human remain contain more than enough non carbon elements to ruin crystaline structure of perfect diamond. The result could range from color diamond (seen in the picture), to crack in the stone. (do you get rebate on that too?)

The result could be a worst quality diamond than a penny/carat industrial diamond.

note: I am not the least bit sentimental about body. This is just a pathetic way to remember somebody.

[Busdriver]

And while awaiting your conversion to a rock you can use your PocketPC and "Pocket Death Clock" which is for sale on Handango!

[st63z]

Now that is a movie! Hannible Lecter's grandmother. Can you imagine the field day on ebay with these things? Celebrity Lifegems.

Hey Jason - you forgot to do an affiliate link. :lol: http://www.lifegem.com/secondary/buydirect.htm

Oh man, and here I've been silently praying, "Please don't let me see Jason post an affiliate link to this. I just know it would be one of the 7 signs of the coming apocalypse."

So which freaky reader among us submitted this to Jason for front-page news?? On a Sunday morning, too, heathen! ;)

P.S. Please, no more Hannibal mentions, that last movie really made me sick after Ray Liotta opened his brain.

[orion]

As having background in the funeral industry, I do find this creepy.

With the baby boomers entering the retirement phase, the public is bound to see more alternatives to the death care industry.

In recent years, we have witnessed such common practices as cremation jewellery..bracelets and necklaces. This is nothing "new".

We also have seen a variety of caskets, from varying different cultures (jewish for example) to many different kinds that claim to last "longer" underground such as metal. Texas, for example, offers a casket made of "jean" material.

The body decomposes in approx 433 days regardless of the casket.

Please remember that one poster here had an excellent point.
North America is the number one consumer of formaldehyde, used in an embalming procedure. Essentially churning out the remains of the inside of the corpse and replenishing the blood with this chemical..in order to preserve the loved one for visual viewing.

The act of "embalming" is a billion dollar industry. So is the high cost of caskets and funeral services in order to measure the "worth" of your loved ones.

My apologies upfront to those who find my post offensive, it is truly meant to be educational.

Please in the future think twice about embalming. My preference is to just be buried quick..au naturel...with a plain casket and a beautiful memorial a few days later for the loved ones in my life.
Remember to shop around, and yes visit your local casket discount retailer.

To Jason, thanks for giving me the opportunity to post my opinion, and although I am not a pocket pc tecchie, I am glad to have contributed something... I truly enjoy lurking on your site..and this will probably the only post I make due to my little experience in this field. :D

[Paul P]

Hmmm.....can they take remains of a dead iPaq and turn them into a diamond?

[ThomasC22]

I don't know, I actually think this is kind of cool. Lets face facts, as orion said, your dust (or atleast bones) in 433 days anyway why the heck not be pressed into a gem. Maybe have a tomb stone with the Gem pressed into it so people can pass by and say "I wonder what that diamond in the tombstone is for" and someone can responsd "oh that, thats his corpse" :)

Seriously, I think you'll find that ANY dealings with a corpse is going to be creepy so you might as well be creative about it.

Tom

P.S. I do find the picture on their home page a little creepy though "Hey Grandpa, guess where I'm getting the diamond for my wedding ring?"

[mookie123]

Pointless rant on,.......

To be burried I think will be pretty impractical in the near future, specially in area where real estate cost is astronomical. Plus, what the hey? you are dead and you are still taking up space? isn't this go against the entire point of mother nature's idea? Recycle the molecular bit, reconstitue and make space for new one. Being burried means the plot you use and put a slab of ugly concrete will last forever, not to mention "non-productive" (except for 'death care" industry that is) If ya want to be remembered, go write a book or something

Cremation: Now this is another dubious modern invention. The entire idea of burying the death is so it can decompose naturally without using up too much energy, while the organic material can be immediately recycled into the biological food chain. And now we put a Gas burner just to turn dead meat into carbon. What a brilliant idea. Do we ever ask where we got those oil and gas plus where the damned polution goes? It's not a perfect combustion you know. We go to war for oil and gas, and we are wasting them for this? All in the name of convinient.

I'd say be energy efficient, freeze dry the body by dipping them in liquid nitrogen, crunch, and burry the remain. The energy of liquifying nitrogen is cheap, and the plot of land where the reaim is scattered and be reused.

voila...... eco friendly system.

the cultural aspect? It's all gimmick, hire an antropologist and a marketing guy to make it all sappy and 'oh so' grand in the old tradition. (for real now, do you think in time of Jesus there is snough energy to cremate every dead sucker? there arent' enough tree in the entire middle east to do that. We haven't discover oil and butcher whack each other because of it either)

[Dave Beauvais]

Orion's post about having been in the funeral industry reminded of a book I read a couple years ago. The American Way of Death Revisited (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0679771867/jasondunn-20) (affiliate link for Thoughts -- Jason edit that if I got it wrong) is a good read, if slightly morbid. When clicking that link, you'll also get a list of other recommended books on the subject if you're so inclined. 8O Unfortunately, it's not available as an e-book that I've been able to find.

--Dave

[ThomasC22]

Orion's post about having been in the funeral industry reminded of a book I read a couple years ago. The American Way of Death Revisited (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0679771867/jasondunn-20) (affiliate link for Thoughts -- Jason edit that if I got it wrong) is a good read, if slightly morbid. When clicking that link, you'll also get a list of other recommended books on the subject if you're so inclined. 8O Unfortunately, it's not available as an e-book that I've been able to find.

--Dave

The author died while finishing the book?!??!? Now THAT is kindof creepy.

[Doug Raeburn]

Soylent Green is.... PEOPLE!!!! :lol:

[danmanmayer]

I don't find it creepy. I mean if you truely loved someone nad thought you had lost your sole mate i could see this as a nice way to feel you have kept them as close as possible. It is interesting to me. A little strange at first cause it is so different. But it is no wierder than a huge waste of land buy bury someoen in the dirt and letting them decay there over time.

[icatar]

Preparatory Carbon Collection: $1800
Cremation: $3000
Flowers: $500
.50 Carat Diamond: $10,000

Wearing your loved one wearever you go: Priceless

[orion]

:D

A lot of good discussion with varying ranges of opinions on this matter...

Should this change to a death forum?? LOL..kidding of course.

I was just reading an article and thought I would pass it along.

'Green burial' gives birth to new ritual in Britain
Unembalmed bodies and cardboard coffins lend themselves to environmentally friendly tributes - and future forests.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/front/3934173.htm

With perhaps one exeption..science...again it is my personal opinion to have no chemicals or gas or just "tempering" to my body after death.

To point out another "secret" in the funeral industry is it's common for funeral directors to misinform people that embalming is required by law, but in fact no state requires it for the first 24-72 hours after death, and even after that, every state but Minnesota allows the alternative of refrigeration.

[Wes Salmon]

Sounds similar to the fate of the remains of the guy who invented the Frisbee. His ashes are being embedded into limited edition discs and given to family and friends. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/2193093.stm

Now *that* is creepy.

[Jason Dunn]

Creepie, no.
Creepy, maybe. :wink:

Ok, ok, you caught me. :wink: Fixed.

[Jason Dunn]

I knew this would generate some interesting discussions. I tend to think that this is a direct result of the North American inability to accept death, and that's what I found most strange about it - rather than just accept that death comes to us all, and live with the memories of the person you loved, this service appeals to people who can't let go of a loved one, and instead prefer to turn them into a piece of jeweler - it just strikes me as odd. I also don't know how psychologically healthy it would be to wear your deceased loved one on your finger - that would seem to screw up the natural mourning and healing period all people go through. I just don't think this is a good thing, that's all. :?

To each his own, but this isn't something for me... :shocked!:

[Jonathan1]

How about pets? See this blue one is Fluffy the family cat. This green one was Paulie. The white one over here was Mel the family gerbil. 8O

[Malacandra]

You can change that 60s song:

"This diamond ring doesn't cook for me anymore; and this diamond ring doesn't clean for me anymore;..."

:D

[Jonathan1]

I knew this would generate some interesting discussions. I tend to think that this is a direct result of the North American inability to accept death, and that's what I found most strange about it - rather than just accept that death comes to us all, and live with the memories of the person you loved, this service appeals to people who can't let go of a loved one, and instead prefer to turn them into a piece of jeweler - it just strikes me as add. I also don't know how psychologically healthy it would be to wear your deceased loved one on your finger - that would seem to screw up the natural mourning and healing period all people go through. I just don't think this is a good thing, that's all. :?

To each his own, but this isn't something for me... :shocked!:

Um Jason please don't lump everyone into this category. It was most likely unintentional on your part but still. That’s how it came off sounding. I myself am perfectly comfortable with death. I’m not planning on having my loved ones or myself frozen, turned into a gem, or any other freaky process. Also just because some freaky company offers this service doesn't mean people are going to use it. Get back to them in a couple of years and see if they are still in business.

PS- :idea: Has everyone here though about being an organ donor? Since the vast majority of you seem to agree that there is no reason to get hung up on your physical body after death. Just a thought.

[kevdawg2003]

::shudders::

[st63z]

At least everyone's talking about ashes and cremated remains. And not some company offering to sand down the deceased's bones into jewelry and trinkets (all buffed and polished)...

Or, a liberal dose of flavoring mixed with the ashes to make, you guessed it, cookie sprinkles (yum)...

Uh oh, going to far? :grinning devil:

[takotchi]

I think this is a VERY creative idea. I myself wouldn't mind being made into a diamond, but I have many more years to go (I'm only 16).

The only concern *I* have is having my parents made into a necklace or something, and losing it or getting it stolen. It's a lot easier to lose than an urn. Most of my relatives want to be cremated, so I hope they are still around when I get stuck with the resposibility of buring somebody (grim as that may be). However, I hope nobody tries to SELL the diamonds that result from this, that would be sick.

By the way, it says on the site that they *DO* make pets into diamonds.

[Jason Dunn]

Um Jason please don't lump everyone into this category. It was most likely unintentional on your part but still...Has everyone here though about being an organ donor?

You're right, I should have said "some" North Americans - because I live here too. ;-)

I signed my organ donor card for just that reason - when I'm dead, my body is of no use to me. If my organs can help another person, I'm all for it!

[ECOslin]

'Son, the family isn't doing well financially. I had to sell Grandpa on Ebay.'

Or imagine a hundred years from now when someone takes one of these to be appraised, and they didn't know.

(This Ring has been in the family for generations)
(This family has been in the Ring for generations)
(This generation has been in the family for Rings)


Edward

[Rob Alexander]

Oh man, and here I've been silently praying, "Please don't let me see Jason post an affiliate link to this. I just know it would be one of the 7 signs of the coming apocalypse."

Preparatory Carbon Collection: $1800
Cremation: $3000
Flowers: $500
.50 Carat Diamond: $10,000

Wearing your loved one wearever you go: Priceless

Very good, guys!
:smilecolros: :rofl: :smilecolros:

[Brad Adrian]

Frankly, I don't care what my family does with my remains when the time comes. I'd prefer something economical and environmentally friendly, but people do strange things when mourning.

I guess my apathy comes from my strong belief that my body is merely a vessle, and that my true essense, that part of me that is *me*, will at that time be reunited with my Creator. At that time, the disposal of my old shell will be the absolutely least important cosmic issue.

[Rob Alexander]

I tend to think that this is a direct result of the North American inability to accept death, and that's what I found most strange about it - rather than just accept that death comes to us all, and live with the memories of the person you loved, this service appeals to people who can't let go of a loved one, and instead prefer to turn them into a piece of jeweler - it just strikes me as add. I also don't know how psychologically healthy it would be to wear your deceased loved one on your finger - that would seem to screw up the natural mourning and healing period all people go through. I just don't think this is a good thing, that's all. :?

To each his own, but this isn't something for me... :shocked!:

It doesn't strike me that way at all. This is just a way to memorialize someone that you cared about. I don't see how its any different than many things we do already: fancy headstones, plaques at charitable institutions, grandma in an urn on the mantle. If this makes someone feel that they are a little closer to the person they lost, then what's the harm? It's not like getting the person stuffed and sitting them in the living room, where you might really wonder if they're having a problem 'letting go'. This is just saying you want to keep a little piece of that person close to you. If that's how someone chooses to deal with their loss, it sounds plenty healthy to me. What's unhealthy is not dealing with your loss at all.

As for me, when I go I want my wife to have me turned into a set of beer mugs to go to my mates. :beer:

Oh, and yes I carry an organ donor card too. If any or all of my body could help someone who's still alive, then they're more than welcome to my various pieces-parts (once I'm through with them, of course).

[daninnj]

Snopes is not sure if it is true or false. (http://www.snopes.com/science/diamonds.htm)

DanInNJ

[Malacandra]

What about that control freak matriarch in the family?

She'd be turned into the ONE RING TO RULE THEM ALL!

[Malacandra]

Also, you'd have to change to:

"These diamonds WERE the girls best friend!"

:D

[takotchi]

It is true. On some TV show, they were interviewing a few customers (the ones being made into diamonds, as well as their family) and the person who started the whole thing (head of LifeGem, I suppose).

I think they even showed a couple. It is definitely legit. from what I can tell, unless that show was fooled as well.

[Anthony Caruana]

On her finger, under her thumb...what's the difference :D

[Anthony Caruana]

There's a comapny in Melbourne, Australia, that will sprinkle your loved one's ashes onto your new kitchen's benchtop and have them laminated so that they become a permanent part of your kitchen

[Jason Dunn]

Gosh, there sure are a lot of one-liner jokes in here. :lol:

[Jason Dunn]

I don't see how its any different than many things we do already: fancy headstones, plaques at charitable institutions, grandma in an urn on the mantle.

There's one big difference: the ring stays with you all the time. :D

[cpoole]

I heard an interview with the owner of the company on CBC radio the other day. It turns out that the body needs to be cremated at a LifeGem certified "dealer" to get the best results... and not all the remains become a gem... only a small percentage. As someone mentioned earlier, the diamond would likely be colored and they did state in the interview that they are currently producing blue diamonds because they are "more valuable" than clear ones.

If this provides comfort for the family and they can afford it, what the heck, spend the money. Probably the value of the diamond will never return the money invested but people spend money on lots of strange stuff.

I also heard an interview last week regarding the death of the inventor of the Frisbee. They are taking his ashes and using them to make a special batch of commemorative Frisbees that will fund a Frisbee museum.

[harry]

I just don't get it. I know people do strange things when a loved one dies, but to wear them around is just too weird for me. All I want is to be put in a box and covered up with dirt and rocks... :crazyeyes:

[marlof]

The Police said it all: I'll be wrapped around your finger.

[st63z]

What about that control freak matriarch in the family?

She'd be turned into the ONE RING TO RULE THEM ALL!

* GROAN * :) :D

Everytime you need to do something extraordinary, you'd kiss the ring and whisper, "Grandma, grant me the strength!" Then it's go time...

[Scott R]

This is fine for the ladies, but what about when the wife dies? A more appropriate thing for the men would be to turn them into a power tool or geek toy (laptop, PDA, etc.).

Scott

[ThomasC22]

This is fine for the ladies, but what about when the wife dies? A more appropriate thing for the men would be to turn them into a power tool or geek toy (laptop, PDA, etc.).


I can see it now "OH that, no that dust is supposed to be under my screen, its the remains of my dead wife"

[davidbaldauff]

This brings new meaning to the phrase "it cost him an arm and a leg...". Now it actually does. How many men talk about their wives diamonds as costing an arm and a leg?

[JF in Detroit]

Choice is good. 8O

[paqman_lover]

This is fine for the ladies, but what about when the wife dies? A more appropriate thing for the men would be to turn them into a power tool or geek toy (laptop, PDA, etc.).


I can see it now "OH that, no that dust is supposed to be under my screen, its the remains of my dead wife"


That's the funniest thing i've read in a long time.
:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Kre]

'Son, the family isn't doing well financially. I had to sell Grandpa on Ebay.'

Or imagine a hundred years from now when someone takes one of these to be appraised, and they didn't know.

(This Ring has been in the family for generations)
(This family has been in the Ring for generations)
(This generation has been in the family for Rings)


Edward

Yu-hu-huuuuuuck! :lol:

They've got to brand those things so people know what they're buying if they're ever sold. Ben Bridge will have to have a section labeled "Normal Gems" and one labeled "Deep Fried Gems".


Everytime you need to do something extraordinary, you'd kiss the ring and whisper, "Grandma, grant me the strength!" Then it's go time...

That is just wrong... :lol:


This is fine for the ladies, but what about when the wife dies? A more appropriate thing for the men would be to turn them into a power tool or geek toy (laptop, PDA, etc.).

Scott

Remote control. Think of the irony! :way to go: :lol:

[RLBorg]

Well I read in one culture they chop up the dead for the birds to carry away! :o

[Jonathon Watkins]

Gosh, there sure are a lot of one-liner jokes in here. :lol:
It’s another way of dealing with death. It’s better than ignoring it and it helps people cope.

It’s an interesting thread – I initially didn’t like the idea but I’m coming round to it. Not that I’d ever want to have my wife wrapped around my finger....... Every element in your body heavier than Helium has been through a star of supernova at least once anyway. It’s just recycling your component atoms into a different form – a diamond rather than an oak tree say. It’s very true that the body is merely the vessel – the ‘jar of clay’. The treasure lies within and after we die we will be accountable for what we did in life.

Death is the ultimate statistic – 1 out of 1 people dies.