On Steve Jobs:
Mat Bors is a genius.
H/t JR at the Stellarparthenon BBS.
Category: Obituaries
On Apple.com Today
Excuse Me Sir……
Peter Falk has died at age 83.
It is interesting how a man who spent most of his career playing gangsters is best known as a cop, Lieutenant Colombo.
Who Says Irony Is Dead?
The composer of the song You Light Up My Life has committed suicide after being accused of 11 counts of rape.
David Broder Has Died
He was called the “Dean” of the Washington press corps, and I have only been aware of him since the late 1990s, so I cannot not comment on his career before then, but since then he was very much the voice of the sensibilities of “The Village” as Atrios calls it.
Needless to say, my sense of his oeuvre is not positive.
White Supremacist Shot to Death In California
David Lynch, who is a veritable Forrest Gump of the American white supremacist movement, was shot dead outside of his home.
It has been said that there are some people who make a party better by leaving it.
Mr. Lynch made the world better by leaving it.
Elizabeth Edwards Has Died of Cancer
Her family was with her, including John.
Shirley, You Can’t Be Serious!
I am serious. And don’t call me “Shirley.”
We Had to Put Lavi to Sleep Today
Click for full size
Lavi, June 2003 – November 5, 2010
You will be missed
As I mentioned a month ago, we took her in for what looked like a bad tooth, and it turned out to be an aggressive malignant tumor.
She had stopped eating, is in pain, and is exhibiting difficulty moving, so we had to put her to sleep today.
In the pictures, you can notice the swelling on the side of her head, and the unequal pupils from the effect of the tumor on her right eye.
We buried her in the back yard, in the corner where the hill starts.
I found her in July of 1993.
I was driving from Orrville, OH, to Akron, and was sick and tired of the bottle of windshield washer fluid banging around in my trunk, so I pulled over to the side of the road, and grabbed the bottle, and popped the hood.
Under the hood, I saw something furry, and moving.
At first, I thought that it was a rat, but then I saw the ears and whiskers, so I picked her up, she fit in the palm of my hand, and she proceeded to puff herself up and hiss and spit in an attempt to intimidate me.
I took her home, and gave her a saucer of milk, and went and got some cat food.
The next day, I caught her brother, Tudza, who survives her, as they were crying to each other through the door.
She is older than my marriage, and she outlived the car under whose hood I found her so it was a good run, particularly since she survived a bout of hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver) 5½ years ago.
Both she and Tudza imprinted on me, so I guess that I am their “mommy”, though she was also my daughter Natalie’s cat.
Tudza is still alive and active, having never left his 1st kitten hood.
There is a “Kick” Pun Here, But I’ll Forgo It
Quarterback and place kicker George Blanda has died at the age of 83.
He still holds a number of records, though he is best known for his longevity, 26 seasons (!) in pro football.
Creator of the Merkava Tank Dies
Israel Tal has died at age 85.
In addition to being the moving force to creating the Merkava after the British backed out of deal to sell them Chieftain tanks, he is also rated as one of the top 5 tank commanders in history, one of two Israelis on the list, according to the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor, along with Moshe Peled.
Edwin Newman, Dead at 91
He was an old school journalist, though I best remember him for his curmudgeonly defense of the English language from those who would debase the tongue.
Spıinal Tap Drummer Syndrome Claims ELO Cellistge 62
Mike Edwards of ELO died on September 3 when a 700 pound hay bale that came down a slope and crushed his van.
My first thought was that it sounded like the demise of a drummer for Spinal Tap.*
I’ve never been a big fan of the band, and obviously, Mr. Edwards has been out of the limelight for 35 years, since he left the ELO, and my condolences go to his friends and family.
That being said, what is it with rock and rollers and bizarre deaths?
On a note closer to home, obviously none of us can be certain when death might strike, whether it’s a heart attack, or a 50 stone hay bale.
It’s something to think about this (Jewish) New Year.
*Spinal tap drummers have
- Died in a bizarre gardening accident, that the authorities said was “best left unsolved”.
- Choked on vomit of unknown origin, other than his own, because “[y]ou can’t really dust for vomit.”
- Spontaneously combusted.
- Creme Brulee commitments forced him to retire, but went on backing tambourine for tour in 1982.
- Claimed he “couldn’t take this 4/4 sh%$”; according to an MTV interview with Spinal Tap in November 1991, he disappeared along with the equipment during their Japanese tour. He is either dead or playing jazz.
- Allegedly sold his dialysis machine for drugs; presumed dead.
- Eaten by his pet python Cleopatra.
- Exploded onstage.
Normally, I Don’t Have Much to Say About Ball Players Who Retired Before I Was Born……
But I have to note it that Bobby Thompson has died, he was 86.
Who was Mr. Thompson? He (on edit)is the Hall of Fame outfielder who (/on edit) hit the shot heard round the world:
If you are an American, you should know this one even if you don’t know jack about Baseball.
I have to guess that Olbermann will comment on this tonight, after all, how can he not?
Ted Stephens is Dead
He died in a small plane crash in Alaska.
He was an SOB, and he reveled in it, though I think that he would argue that he was Alaska’s SOB.
My take on his career is that he was not a benefit to the United States, and at best mixed for Alaska, which he was largely responsible for making into a corrupt petro-state.
Additionally, I agree with Zachary Roth, that it is far too likely that we will see a full blown hagiography which ignores the fact that he was actually very corrupt, deriving significant personal benefit from his position, whether or not the government could have successfully retried him after he won a dismissal on prosecutorial misconduct.
The Last of Murrow’s Boys Dies
He was a hell of a reporter, and I always envied the fact that he made Nixon’s enemies list.
George Steinbrenner Dead at 80
Here is a remembrance.
There is a lot that I could say, but, on the theory that it’s classless to speak ill of the dead, let me just add the following:
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Why yes, I am a Boston Red Sox fan, why do you ask?
On Robert Byrd Passing
I have remarkably little to say.
He is from a generation of politicos who are 3 (perhaps 4) generations removed, and to the degree that he impinged on my consciousness, it appeared that most of his speeches were lamentations regarding an idealized past that probably never existed.
Then again, I am sure that I have a much more jaundiced view of Congress in general, and the Senate in particular than the distinguished gentleman from West Virginia.
In any case, my condolences to his family.
Lena Horne, Dead at 92
Theodore C. Olbermann, 1929-2010
Keith Olbermann’s father died this afternoon.
My condolences to the family.