While the death of a young sperm whale off the Pinellas County coast on New Year's Day was a bummer of a way to start 2008, The Juice* reminds you that there are worse ways of dealing with dying marine mammals.

While this whale was buried at Fort De Soto Park, Juice*heads no doubt remember hearing about an incident just south of Florence, Ore., way back in November 1970. A dead, 8-ton sperm whale had washed ashore and was rotting, so the task of disposing of the carcass fell to the Oregon Highway Division. Their solution? Blow it up with a half-ton of dynamite, of course.

The result shows a proper burial is indeed the way to go:

Thanks for reminding us, Ken.