The Gentrification of Death

July 16, 2018

Listen: Being Alive by Frankie Cosmos

“Being alive/Matters quite a bit/Even when you/Feel like shit,” is a real, good, straightforward sentiment that you might not expect to open a song about love. This song rides the crazy ride of feelings, and its pace is as blunt as its lyrics. When the words fall into the throes of attraction, the tempo is breathless-fast. And in more reflective moments, it’s a back to a slow legato, light on the percussion. Cute, Frankie. Hope you’re in love again (cause ex-boyf Porches is now dating Okay Kaya oooooof). And to the rest of you, do watch the video; it’s sweet.

The Gentrification of Death

Killer headline right? (ha.) Turns out it’s not just your apartment that’s expensive: soon, people won’t be able to afford to get buried in New York City any more. (Echo sentiment for any other large American city.) And, duh: there’s finite space and an increasing number of people who will eventually die, and the space for the living is already unpalatably expensive. Already the starting price for a plot at Green-Wood Cemetary in Brooklyn is $19,000. So what to do going forward? Maybe, living-style, we can subdivide old rich people’s mausoleums into packed afterlife apartments. Or maybe our treatment of the dead will change; as burial space starts to take up more resources we don’t have, maybe burial becomes less appealing? You tell me.

Momentary Rest Just As Spendy As Eternal

On the lighter side but still appalling, Casper has opened a nap center in Greenwich Village charging $25 per 45-minute nap. Called The Dreamery, it self-describes as “a magical place in NYC where you can rest and recharge whenever you want.”

Ah yes, that razor-sharp definition of ‘you.’ “I DO need a nap!” Says mid-level media executive who won’t look homeless person in the eye. Dreamy, Casper. Just Dreamy.

 

For rest or activity $

Gents in need of underwear: Stance, the sock company, wants you to know that their men’s underwear is very comfortable, soft and supportive, and comes in a bunch of fun prints. Given that James Harden appears to wear them, I’d say they’re especially good for the ‘activity’ side of the spectrum. Learn more here.

Sweet dreams,

Margot

$ = sponsored