Late For Your Own Funeral

When I hear someone use the expression, "You'd be late for your own funeral," I've always thought that the correct response would be either, "I hope so," or "That's the plan." However, in one place, being late for your own funeral will cost you. That place is Venice, Italy, where the left-wing municipal council has just imposed a late fee for the late lamented, so to speak.

ROME (AFP) - The city of Venice will impose fines of up to 50 euros for organisers of funerals that are running late, after complaints by gravediggers who have to work overtime, an official said Monday.

The decision by the left-wing municipal council which was voted last week provides for "penalties when reserved hours are not respected," a city official told AFP, but would not give details.

Obviously, this is a grave problem in Venice. But let's vault to the truly important issue that needs to be buried here:

How do you dig a grave in a canal?