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Friday, January 28, 2022

Sunday Post #438


 
The Olympics are close. Do you watch the winter version?  

A big thank you to everyone who commented on last weeks. I noticed that the idea of reincarnation gets a lot of attention. So here's a question. So what if you could have a digital afterlife? Download your consciousness into a digital realty? Digital as opposed to spiritual I suppose. And where does real afterlife come in, if you are religiously inclined? Do you go digital for a while, then give it up for the "real" afterlife? What if you could design your own digital paradise? Or... if you could have cloned bodies, would you just... take a new body when it's, um, time? 
     

Song of the week


PULP COVER OF THE WEEK: 


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69 comments:

  1. Lauren StoolfireJanuary 28, 2022 at 5:53 PM

    Love that Dinotopia artwork!

    Lauren @ Always Me

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  2. Literary FelineJanuary 28, 2022 at 7:30 PM

    I keep forgetting the Olympics are coming soon. Since we gave up cable several years ago, we don't get to follow them the way we used to, sadly. My own digital paradise . . . It makes me think of the Matrix. Not that I would want to live in that world, digitally or otherwise. LOL Oh, but to be able to put myself into a digital story/life. It's an interesting idea. I was raised Christian and so much of those teachings are ingrained in me. When I talk about death with my daughter, it comes naturally to have all of our dead loved ones in Heaven. But do I really believe in Heaven? I like the idea of reincarnation better and find myself leaning more in that direction to some degree. But do I really believe in reincarnation? It really is an interesting topic.

    I hope you have a great weekend and week, Greg!

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  3. WendyW January 28, 2022 at 8:13 PM

    Wow Greg, you always make me think. I don't think much about an afterlife, but I do think about what the future people will think about us. When I got my COVID booster a couple of weeks ago, I thought that in the future, people will think, "Wow, can you believe that they actually injected medicine in their bodies with a needle! That's just barbaric."

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  4. Natalie @ The BiblioholicJanuary 28, 2022 at 11:23 PM

    I talk to my kids a lot about what comes next. And while none of us have answers, I still believe that there's something else after this. The totality of life is such an awesome and amazing thing and yet it's so short. Some experience it for close to a century, some lives are cut too short... If one day I stopped believing, I think I'd be lost. I don't follow any recognized religion (I don't believe in religion or man telling me how to think, feel, believe, act, etc.) but I am deeply spiritual and have been my whole life (once Hindu, Christian, Rastafarian, Buddhist). I've been all over the place, but my spirituality exists no matter what theology I follow. There are so many different points of view and I'm sitting here enjoying all of them :)

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  5. ellieJanuary 29, 2022 at 5:19 AM

    Love the EPIC post!

    1. The Winter Olympics means skating for me! But I love those skateboarding and bobsledding too. Heck, I'll probably even want to watch curling. Maybe not..since I have been watching one of Chinese's most viewed C-dramas as of late RESET (Only 15 episodes!) It will be interesting to see what happens in China with the Real Winter Olympic drama.

    2. Such beautiful artwork and interesting worlds. Yes, I have always wanted to live in a tree although, the time I tried to climb a tree a wasps' nest fell on me.

    3. The afterlife...which makes me think of the scene from Hot Blooded Detective where the girl who loved him took a bullet for him and is laying in the rubble dying "In the next life I want to be the one who meets you earlier. I hope you'll be kinder to me." Like Natalie said, "Keep believing". Naturally, everyday when we look in the mirror we have to wonder, is that who we really are in that reflection. Thanks for all the questions! & thanks for the soundtrack too. Hope you have an awesome weekend! Thanks for the links!

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    Replies
    1. ellieFebruary 1, 2022 at 4:24 AM

      Thanks for you comment! Thank you so much for reading too. I was wondering if you have been watching RESET (Chinese Drama). About two college kids who wake up on a bus with a bomb. They are in a loop and the show definitely gives that Big Brother Feel and you even get to see bit of poverty slip in too. (only 15 episodes)

      Delete
  6. Mary KirklandJanuary 29, 2022 at 10:54 AM

    I don't know if I'd want to be digitized and put into the internet or something. But having my consciousness downloaded into a clone would be interesting.

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  7. Samantha@WLABBJanuary 29, 2022 at 12:45 PM

    Deep post, but that book sounds really deep too. I never thought that much about what comes after. I am just trying to make it through. 😂 I will admit that this discussion brings me back to the philosophy course I had to take.

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  8. CindyJanuary 29, 2022 at 1:06 PM

    I would not want a digital afterlife...too much digital stuff in this life. Less is more. Very thought-provoking. Have a good weekend.

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  9. J.P. AlexanderJanuary 29, 2022 at 5:54 PM

    Me gustaron los videos y si mi alma o conciencia se descargara en un realidad digital quisiera ser anime o juego de video. Te mando un beso

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  10. Jenni ElyseJanuary 29, 2022 at 10:19 PM

    My cousin is on the US Olympic Team competing in the Skeleton. His name is Andrew Blaser. I’m really excited for him.

    As far as your question is concerned, I’d have to have one question answered first. Are there any consequences to this digital afterlife, meaning will it affect whether or not when I choose to die for good if I go to Heaven or Hell? If there are no consequences, then I’d participate in a fun, happy digital afterlife for a while. Once I get bored, then I’d let myself die for real.

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    1. Jenni ElyseJanuary 31, 2022 at 6:41 PM

      I see what you're saying. That's a good question. If there was actually a way to upload our conscious to a digital existence, I don't think it'd go against Christian ideals (at least mine), as long as you continue to choose to be a good person in that existence too, even if it's in Rivendell. The problem is that I don't think it's possible. I don't think anyone except God can control where our conscious resides. We may be able to clone bodies, but who puts their spirit into them? God. (Obviously, this is all from a Christian perspective as well because that's what I am too.)

      Delete
  11. BlodeueddJanuary 30, 2022 at 12:00 AM

    Digital afterlife, ok why not. Since I do believe that when we die we die. Blackness. Gone, or I have always liked the idea of reincarnation too.

    But a digital one would be interesting

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  12. Królowa KaroJanuary 30, 2022 at 12:50 AM

    I watch every Olympics. Like most women, I must watch figure skating.

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  13. Elza ReadsJanuary 30, 2022 at 2:46 AM

    Shangri-La versus Narnia? I think I'll still rather go for Narnia. The Tibetans does know how to find peace and tranquility in this life though. But do we really want that?

    I'll ponder a bit this week. Have a good one!

    Elza Reads

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  14. Beware Of The ReaderJanuary 30, 2022 at 3:59 AM

    WOW Greg you got deep this weekend! Mmm maybe I'd like to have a second body 'young of course) and begin again with the same conciousness. But then we'd have a problem because Earth would become pretty crowded if all souls came back in new bodies don't you think? Anyway, have a great week!

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  15. Nise' January 30, 2022 at 5:49 AM

    Love the Winter Olympics. I have long been a fan of curling and this year it will get a lot of attention.

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  16. Jessica @ a GREAT readJanuary 30, 2022 at 6:14 AM

    I've never been a sports person, so the Olympics are always a no-go for me. I never gave much thought to a digital afterlife. That's interesting. I was raised Catholic as a child, but I haven't been much of a practicing Catholic in recent years. I feel like it's ingrained in me to believe in heaven and hell. That after all the crap I've endured in life on earth, I feel like there's gotta be something better at the end. How one exists in the afterlife is another thought entirely. I guess a part of me also hope that I can just continue to read my TBR books if anything! Lol.


    Here's my StS

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

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  17. Louise HJanuary 30, 2022 at 6:36 AM

    I guess I'd quite like any afterlife to be not so different from my current life - just less worry about bills, less work and maybe I'd also weigh less 😂.

    I'm really looking forward to the Winter Olympics - I'm always surprised how few of the young people I teach watch the games. I was definitely a huge fan even in my teens.

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  18. StormiJanuary 30, 2022 at 6:54 AM

    I don't watch any Olympics not my thing.

    Have a great week and happy reading!
    Stormi
    Week in Review

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  19. Laurel-Rain SnowJanuary 30, 2022 at 7:09 AM

    I don't enjoy watching the Olympics or any sports on TV. LOL

    As for the Afterlife, I was thinking about something Betty White's mother told her: We don't know what will happen, but it's a secret we'll find out afterwards. So when someone passes, she says: Now they know the secret

    That does sound fascinating to me.

    But since we have no memory of who or what our "life" was like before we were born, I guess it will be the same after life. Nothing?

    Enjoy your week and your dark thoughts...LOL

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  20. Lisa MandinaJanuary 30, 2022 at 7:34 AM

    Always so much cool art! I would only want to come back if I could look different and have a little bit more outgoing personality. My current life has been pretty disappointing, so much I haven't gotten to experience, so not sure I'm interested in doing it all again. Interesting thing to think about though.
    Lisa Loves Literature

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  21. Victoria7401January 30, 2022 at 7:34 AM

    I like the Winter Olympics, maybe more than the Summer ones--because I find it amazing to see all those people fling themselves down mountains! So if it's all a simulation, well that is fine, I don't know any better so...I guess I won't die I'll just reboot? Or is this like a game, am I a playable character? Digital Afterlife? So will I know I'm dead? Does my digital recreation realize it or am I actually a digital recreation right now? Getting uploaded into a clone reminds me of Altered Carbon. In that story of course you had to have a certain level of funds to be able to afford a good skin. And there was a faction that wanted to only live once---so if you haven't read or watched Altered Carbon, it fits right in with these questions. Have a great week!

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  22. The Butterfly ReaderJanuary 30, 2022 at 7:57 AM

    Wow. I don't even know where to start with a digital reincarnation. But I wouldn't be surprised if that's the way of the future. Like we somehow upload ourselves onto a sever and we live like that... idk

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  23. sherry fundinJanuary 30, 2022 at 8:13 AM

    have you ever thought that our reality may be someone else's game? maybe we are not even here, but a toy that aliens are playing with. LOL who knows what the future holds. i try to concentrate on today...and tomorrow.
    sherry @ fundinmental

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  24. Lark January 30, 2022 at 8:52 AM

    I love watching the Winter Olympics, from curling to speed skating to freestyle aerials, and of course, ice-skating. :)

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  25. vvb32 readsJanuary 30, 2022 at 8:57 AM

    Of the Olympics, I enjoy the winter one more. Hope it goes alright.
    I imagine one can wreak havoc in a digital life.

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  26. SJJanuary 30, 2022 at 9:37 AM

    I don't bother following the Olympics, not a huge sports person. As to the digital afterlife thing I guess it would depend on if we were talking a 2nd life or online RPG type dealio or Matrix type. Would you get to pick your afterlife? Also is there an ending or our we all just recycled souls. Ok I'm getting a bit to deep. It's an interesting concept though.

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  27. Cee R @ Dora ReadsJanuary 30, 2022 at 9:55 AM

    Pre-Christian (and Quasi-Christian) Welsh mythology assumes there's de facto reincarnation. You get taken to Annwn for a bit (known to most of the world as the Isle of Avalon - think King Arthur) and/or to Caer Arianrhod (Arianrhod's Fort - the aurora borealis, amongst the stars,) to wait 'til you're ready for your next life.

    Which is why (imho) you'll see the same characters occur again and again in Welsh mythology, and why characters claim to have once been another mythological figure. Welsh mythology's very much a 'go with it and don't sweat the details' kind of mythos! Lol.

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  28. NorthwomanJanuary 30, 2022 at 11:04 AM

    Thanks for reminding me about the Olympics. I need to figure out where I can watch them. And I mean all of them. I'd watch every single minute if I could.

    Anne - Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post

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  29. KarenJanuary 30, 2022 at 11:26 AM

    I don't watch the Olympics at all although I do occasionally catch some of the less popular events like cross country skiing lol during the day while channel flipping.

    I used to be obsessed with reincarnation but I don't know what I think now. I haven't thought about a digital afterlife and admit my first visceral reaction was NOOOO but I guess I should think about it more.

    Karen @For What It's Worth

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  30. YvonneJanuary 30, 2022 at 12:01 PM

    Wow, interesting questions! I have no interesting answers. I'd have to give this some more thought.

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  31. InkvotaryJanuary 30, 2022 at 12:22 PM

    Sorry for the delete. I hate when that happens. To answer your question. I am not sure if I will watch the Olympics. Guess, most of it will happen in the middle of the night. Never thought about a digital afterlife or afterlife at all.

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  32. SnapdragonJanuary 30, 2022 at 1:21 PM

    I have read some books by Ursula K. Le Guin but, never heard of Planet of Exile.

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  33. AngelaJanuary 30, 2022 at 2:25 PM

    Ooh, I'm excited about the Olympics! I think I like the summer games more, but I'm always up for watching the winter ones, too!

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  34. Amber EliseJanuary 30, 2022 at 3:41 PM

    I haven't watched the Olympics in years. I'm not sure why, but I never got into it even though the whole world participates!

    And no digital download for me please! That Black Mirror episode made me so uncomfortable for some reason.

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  35. Emma at Words And Peace / France Book ToursJanuary 30, 2022 at 5:23 PM

    Yes, I'm planning on watching some winter Olympics!
    If yo are interested in digital survival, you really need to read Constance, which I recently reviewed: https://wordsandpeace.com/2022/01/26/book-review-constance/

    My Sunday Post is here: https://wordsandpeace.com/2022/01/30/sunday-post-51-1-30-2022/

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  36. Tracy January 30, 2022 at 6:14 PM

    I think I'd absolutely be down for a digital afterlife. Didn't that happen in Black Mirror and it was the only wholesome episode?

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  37. Jinjer-The Intrepid AngelenoJanuary 30, 2022 at 7:38 PM

    I'm not really feeling the Olympics yet, but I AM hoping they bring back the Olympics Oreos!!!! I need those for every Olympics.

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  38. paperbackprincessJanuary 30, 2022 at 7:43 PM

    My family live and breathe the winter Olympics. We've already set our tv to record it all day, and I am willing to brave the time difference to watch live the stuff that really interests me, mainly hockey, figure skating and snowboarding. I'm so excited!

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  39. Katherine PJanuary 30, 2022 at 7:44 PM

    Honestly if I could design my own afterlife I wouldn't make it that different from my actual life just without some of the worries and with some of the important people from my life healthy and here again. I'm not sure if I'm going to watch the Olympics. I used to love watching ice skating but I get so frustrated by all the jumping around they do. There was a winter Olympics when Will was a newborn so I do remember watching a lot of ice dancing at like 2 in the morning and being pleased it wasn't jumping around as much but I'm not getting up at 2am anymore! Have a wonderful week!

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  40. Kathryn TJanuary 30, 2022 at 8:21 PM

    Afterlife speculation. Hmm I don't really know! Doubt it will be digital! But you never know. Won't watch the winter olympics apart from what I might see on the news.

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  41. Gayathri LakshminarayananJanuary 30, 2022 at 8:25 PM

    Coming from a family that is too religious and ardently believes in reincarnation, I would give it a pass on digital afterlife or otherwise. When we are done, we are done, I suppose. And you are correct this is too deep for a Sunday Post. LOL

    Gayathri @ Elgee Writes

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  42. NicciJanuary 31, 2022 at 1:57 AM

    Hmm... Can I choose what age my cloned body is? I'd happily take my early twenties body with all the knowledge accumulated throughout my life, lol. Also, what does a digital afterlife entail? Are we just living our lives with the same people etc but digitally? I'm not sure if I'd want that... I always figured half the appeal of reincarnation would be to come back and live a brand new life. (Not because I don't love/like the people currently in my life, it's just... If you were effectively thwarting death, wouldn't you want to live a hundred lives rather than just continue one?)

    Anyway... Hope you have a good week! :)

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  43. Mrs. SJanuary 31, 2022 at 4:16 AM

    I've never really considered a digital afterlife. But I guess it's something to think about. Hope you have a great week.

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  44. Deb Nance at ReaderbuzzJanuary 31, 2022 at 6:02 AM

    I'm not sure I'd want to have a digital afterlife. But now you have got me thinking!

    Have a great week.

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  45. crackercrumblifeJanuary 31, 2022 at 6:02 AM

    The Winter Olympics are my favorite!! I can't wait!

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  46. shelleyrae @ book'd outJanuary 31, 2022 at 7:38 AM

    I enjoy the Winter Olympics more than the summer generally but I enjoy ice skating and freestyle ski jumping the most

    Wishing you a great reading week

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  47. HarveeJanuary 31, 2022 at 8:08 AM

    Looking forward to the Winter Olympics, especially the ice skating. Anything to break the winter monotony! Have a good reading and listening week!

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  48. Kathy MartinJanuary 31, 2022 at 9:02 AM

    I'm looking forward to the Olympics especially the figure skating. I just have to remember to turn on my TV to watch it. My TV is mostly off when it isn't baseball season. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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  49. S. J. Pajonas (spajonas)January 31, 2022 at 9:32 AM

    Great afterlife question! I honestly don't know about a digital afterlife. I do that a little in some of my books (The Hikoboshi Series) but I never thought about it for myself. It's a way of cheating death, don't you think? Not really an afterlife, but living forever. Hmmm.

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  50. Rocío G. TizónJanuary 31, 2022 at 9:39 AM

    A very good post.
    Have a nice week!

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  51. Tanya @ Girl Plus BooksJanuary 31, 2022 at 10:00 AM

    Your questions are entirely too deep for a Monday morning and now my head hurts. I think my brain is smoking. lol I'm trying to wrap my head around a digital afterlife...

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  52. Jordan @ForeverLostinLiteratureJanuary 31, 2022 at 11:14 AM

    I keep forgetting and remembering that the Olympics are coming! It feels so weird since we just had the Summer Olympics. A digital afterlife would certainly be interesting, not sure I'd want it, though, haha. Cloning is also a complex question–honestly, by the time I reach old age, I sometimes think I might be sick of this world and ready for my "time," haha. Love the Planet of Exile cover!

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  53. Breana M.January 31, 2022 at 1:43 PM

    More great mixes. The Lofi one is definitely my favorite so far. As for the Olympics, the winter games are typically my favorite.

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  54. QuinleyJanuary 31, 2022 at 3:20 PM

    For me, I'd want a spiritual (as opposed to digital) reincarnation. A digital afterlife just seems a bit off to me, and it feels like it could just have all the pains of living in the real world but digital, if it was supposed to mimic life? Or if it was a video game, if you died over and over again, you would just respawn and for all we know that could be very painful. Which would cause suffering.

    This is why I would want a spiritual reincarnation as opposed to a digital one, in a spiritual reincarnation you would die and be reborn over and over again until you got to enlightenment and were freed from the wrong doings/mistakes you made in your past lives.

    But, it would give you many chances to fix those mistakes, and you wouldn't be permanently punished for your actions and instead would get a chance to learn. Living many lives would be very hard, but, it would be much less hard than forever being stuck in a digital afterlife that may not be what you want.

    This was fun to think about,
    Quinley

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  55. Shannon @ It Starts at MidnightJanuary 31, 2022 at 6:12 PM

    Jeeeez Greg, talk about loaded questions! I mean. Look, if I KNEW there was a non-digital afterlife, obviously I'd just go for that. Otherwise I suppose perhaps curiosity would get the best of me after like, millennia of digital ennui? I honestly don't know, I am not a great risk taker! I strongly oppose the idea of reincarnation if you aren't aware. That seems... like some kind of mean trick. I don't want to not know who I am, who my loved ones were, etc. That makes it all NOT me anymore, right? Ugh too much philosophy, my head hurts! As for the winter Olympics, I probably won't watch any if I am being honest. Just don't have the time or the inclination, frankly!

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  56. Suzanne @ The Bookish LibraJanuary 31, 2022 at 6:12 PM

    Wow, it's so easy to go down a rabbit hole just thinking of all of the possibilities for an afterlife. I usually watch the Winter Olympics for the skating and the skiing.

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  57. MargFebruary 1, 2022 at 12:52 AM

    I had completely forgotten about the Winter Olympics. I am sure we will watch some of it at some point, but I imagine it won't be too much.

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  58. Lindsey @ Lindsey ReadsFebruary 1, 2022 at 10:58 AM

    Oh loving the question! I'm not sure a digital afterlife would be for me, I'd definitely prefer a spiritual afterlife. But that said, living on digitally in some sort of Kindle/online library may not be too bad :)

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  59. SilviaFebruary 2, 2022 at 1:34 AM

    I like the Olympics, but I admit that I usually tend to watch the competitions that interests me the most, same goes with the Winter ones. Still, I think they are great! As for your other question(s), I'd say that while one of the form of escapism that I like is playing with a sort of my own digital paradise, I probably wouldn't want to switch the spiritual one for that (in 'reality'). It kinda scares me to be honest, and I'd love to think that my spirit is 'alive' somewhere :)

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  60. R's RueFebruary 2, 2022 at 8:41 AM

    I can’t wait for the Olympics. The figure skating. I hope you’re well.

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  61. Kit @ Metaphors and MoonlightFebruary 2, 2022 at 1:54 PM

    I'm more of a summer Olympics person, tbh, and that's mostly for the gymnastics, but ice skating is pretty! Nice lofi music again!

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  62. Malindha ErbaFebruary 3, 2022 at 9:28 AM

    I'm not very interesting in Olympics, except in ice skating, I love to watch that sport when there are Olympics, I don't know anyone, I don't know who is who but I love to see what they do

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  63. SakurankoFebruary 3, 2022 at 1:12 PM

    Oh well so many questions
    I am not sure If I feel ok with the reincarnation stuff~

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  64. ROFebruary 3, 2022 at 4:17 PM

    🖐I'm definitely an Olympics fan in the summer and winter. It's fascinating to watch so many talented people in one place. I think I believe in the Afterlife🤔 But the digital thing is a hard no for me.😄 Hugs, and hope 🤗 you are well. RO

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  65. bread&saltFebruary 4, 2022 at 11:11 AM

    Digital after is a not good idea! I am not sure but i think i dont want a digital Afterlife. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  66. La La in the LibraryFebruary 9, 2022 at 11:14 PM

    I love that Planet of Exile cover. 🚀

    I will look for figure skating to watch after it shows up up on YouTube. That also helps with my nerves when I already know the winners. Ha ha. I might watch some snowboarding, too. 🏂

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  67. IzaBzhFebruary 10, 2022 at 4:26 AM

    The song by Eric Clapton keeps singing in my head after seeing "After midnight" ;) I can't say I'm very interested in watching sports on TV, except maybe figure skating (so graceful !). I never gave much thought to reincarnation, but am interested in the concept of metempsychosis after reading many Irish legends. I think you might like this song about this subject : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsNJuhBfbPg Enjoy ;)

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