1/16: Ghost Lantern
 

http://cellar.org/2002/ghostlantern.jpg

One of those eerie ones. The caption: "Volunteers move a burning lantern out into the sea as far as they can at Patoutze fish harbor in Keelung, Taiwan, during 'Ghost Month' activities on Sept. 2. Local people believe the lanterns can comfort ghosts and bring good luck if they join the annual activities."

Yeah, just what we all need: comfortable ghosts. Wouldn't want the undead to be unhappy with their surroundings. Perhaps a nice easy chair would be better than a simple light? But where would we be without colorful, local traditions and stories.

Tony's just jealous 'cause he didn't get hypothermia taking a stupid lantern out into the water. :P

seriously, i was wondering why they don't just take it on a boat or something. how far out do those things have to go?

"bring good luck"

if they dont drown, or get sick, they are lucky...
if they do, its obviously just some damn pissed off ghosts.

religion and superstition are so strange. :)

speaking of...

http://www.religioustolerance.org is supposed to be cool.

Everyone needs a little ritual, a little special. And I like the whole house-a-fire-water thing. Looks like the ghosts/ancestors get some incense and maybe a bit of food lovingly presented as well.

Fire is cool. I confess, I can understand pyromania.

it is one of the few sites that can keep my interest for hours.

and a plant. what better way to keep the undead happy then with foliage. :)

Probably a "go back to life free" card :)

Waitaminute....I thought the "undead" were zombies. Ghosts had to be actually dead, last I heard.

Well that's probably true, as my concept of "undead" is roughly based on what category it fell into in nethack.

thats an interesting point. i guess i consider the dead as being conscious of nothing. ones that once were living and now very clearly are not. the living as...well...you and i... and ghosts and spooks and whatnot, if you believe in such things as being a third category. conscious beings, but not quite alive like you and i. "undead" just seemed like a simple way to categorize them.

this is, of course, if you believe in life after death. which i dont, so i guess im really just kind of goofing around.

i dont know though. ive never been dead. :)