Growing Up on Alcatraz
Key topics
A poignant article about growing up on Alcatraz sparked a fascinating discussion about the appearance of cremated remains, with one commenter sharing a personal anecdote about handling their father's ashes, described as "bone-white powder." The thread took an unexpectedly nerdy turn as commenters debated the significance of the ashes' color and texture, with some pointing out that the temperature and composition of the remains can affect their appearance. It turns out that funeral homes may be intentionally running furnaces at lower temperatures to produce a more recognizable, if not entirely incinerated, product. This morbidly fascinating conversation sheds light on the often-overlooked details of funeral practices.
Snapshot generated from the HN discussion
Discussion Activity
Light discussionFirst comment
2d
Peak period
4
45-48h
Avg / period
2.5
Key moments
- 01Story posted
Aug 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM EDT
4 months ago
Step 01 - 02First comment
Aug 31, 2025 at 5:52 PM EDT
2d after posting
Step 02 - 03Peak activity
4 comments in 45-48h
Hottest window of the conversation
Step 03 - 04Latest activity
Aug 31, 2025 at 8:18 PM EDT
4 months ago
Step 04
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'bone-white powder'
I wonder what the incinerator people actually gave him?