It must have been fate. We’ve been talking about death and cremations (whether in a Dyson vacuum cleaner or a smoothie!) and here comes along a story that ties in nicely with today’s Fourth of July holiday and our morbid themes.

So anklebiters, this one is for you.

Hope everyone has a fun and safe holiday! Did you decide to do the picnic thing or hit the malls for the sales?

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Cremated remains part of fireworks show
Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — One of the fireworks bursting above the city this year will contain a bit of cremated remains — a fitting tribute, organizers say, to the man who ran the annual event for 40 years.

Meredith Smith died in February at age 74. About a half-teaspoon of his ashes will be in a fireworks shell that will create a white burst in the sky for the finale of the show, which was set for last night.

“I can’t think of a better way,” said family friend Kevin Moss.

He also will be memorialized through hundreds of T-shirts referring to the tribute as “the last shot.”

Smith, a school maintenance worker, was a trained pyrotechnician. His widow, Charlotte, said they started the fireworks shows as a community service and sometimes paid for them themselves.

“Meredith felt like the people in this area didn’t get the opportunities that other people got, and so he wanted to give them the opportunity,” she said.

The release of the ashes shouldn’t harm public health, said John Althardt of the Health and Hospital Corp. of Marion County.

“I think that whatever a family can do to remember their loved one … is great,” he said.

The fireworks will be shot over the White River.

According to Indiana law, cremated remains may be disposed of on the property of a consenting owner, uninhabited public land or in a waterway.

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So where would you like your ashes scattered? From an airplane, out to sea or maybe left in a vase on a family bookshelf? I think I would be against having it scattered because it seems like it’s just being tossed away in the wind. One minute it’s there, the next it’s gone. I still prefer using it to make some kind of family jewel that can be passed on for generations. It could be the start of a jewel collection that the eldest child passes on… I guess mine would be a ruby cause it’s my birthstone.

And on a lighter note, this next story drives home the point of why us copy editors are so important. Double checking dates, phone numbers, etc. can prevent a lot of confusion and possibly some angry customer complaints…

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Wrong number! Job hotline was sex line
Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Looking for work in all the wrong places?

That’s what happened to job seekers who dialed a phone number listed on the state’s Family Health Administration’s Web site — which actually was a phone number for women looking for sex.

The number for the Maryland Job Service Hotline was listed incorrectly on the state Web site, as well as in the Verizon Yellow Pages and other Web sites.

State officials say they are aware of the problem and are working to correct it.

The correct number to call for Maryland Job Services is 410-767-2148.

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Hmm, I wonder if anyone would be successful in suing over emotional distress…

Speaking of phone numbers, I think it’s clever when companies use numbers that incorporate their business name or the product they sell to make it easy to remember. Seen any good ones lately?