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Coffin Couches Are To Die For

When we first heard that someone was recycling coffins to make couches, we were a little worried. How can they recycle something that in buried 6 feet under with a dead body in it? Well, apparently these are coffins that were used for display purposes in funeral homes, but were not used for burial due to “slight cosmetic inconsistencies.” Since law prohibits the reselling of coffins to the public, the good folks at Coffin Couches put them to good use.

Okay, so we felt pretty good about the recycling thing after hearing that, but then the Coffin Couches homepage hits us with this nugget:

“If you notice (although it may be too small) the six cast iron heavy duty legs are embossed with the universal biohazard insignia. The reason we utilized this sign was because safety was our utmost concern. If you are not aware, once a human body is placed in a coffin it is considered biohazard tissue. The legs have the embossed insignia for precautionary reasons in the event body fluids are exchanged on these coffins.”

Wow. So if you don’t mind a little residual bodily fluid on your furniture, these $4,500 couches are definitely unique. Our favorite is the “Dodger Blue” (pictured above), but check out the rest of the Coffin Couches after the jump.

Popularity: 89% [?]

Hollywood Bear From Semi-Pro Kills His Trainer

It’s not uncommon for Hollywood luminaries to turn on the people who made them. Tom Cruise famously fired his agents a couple of years back, and Orson Welles was long rumored to dredge his leading ladies in buttermilk and breadcrumbs, then deep-fry them for a tasty snack. But it’s been a long time since someone let fame get to their head like Rocky, the grizzly bear from Semi-Pro, who killed his trainer yesterday in California with a bite to the neck.

Rocky, who another trainer had recently dubbed “the best working bear in the business” (not counting Kevin Smith, we’re sure), was subdued with pepper spray and contained. His fate now rests in the hands of the San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control Program. After the jump, you can see poor bloodthirsty Rocky in happier times, wrestling Will Ferrell and plotting his ursine revolt in a training video.

Popularity: 91% [?]

Go Green After Death With The Ecopod Coffin

Earth Day is all about preserving life, but that doesn’t mean being environmentally responsible stops when you kick the bucket. In fact, almost 90% of coffins used in burials are made of chipboard covered with a laminate, which leaks formaldehyde and glue into the groundwater and omits poisonous gases into the air. That means there’s a whole gang of well-meaning hippies who spend their whole lives recycling, driving electric cars and caressing endangered species, only to give Mother Earth a big posthumous middle finger.

The Ecopod is an excellent alternative, since it’s made out of 100% recycled paper and is completely biodegradable. It comes in four colors with a variety of designs (see a gallery below) and they cost about $1500 to $1900, depending on which you order. It does look a bit like an alien cocoon, but that’s a plus if you ask us.

Popularity: 89% [?]