Rollin' on a River

Ike Turner, a Rock 'N' Roll Pioneer, Dies at 76

The best I can do for a tribute is this McSweeney's bit. If only our country's foreign policy was this advanced...

OK, America, you done fucked up again. Things got a little out of hand, and you went and blew up another country. Now you got everybody all mad at you, and you don't know what to do. Well, don't worry, America. Ike's been down this road before, and I know exactly how to handle it. You better listen to what I'm telling you, America. Ike knows what he's talking about, and Ike's willing to help you out as long as you do exactly what Ike says and stop being so stubborn. You dig?

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What a Shitty Thing to Wake Up To

Norman Mailer, Author and Social Critic, Dies at 84

Weekend Edition Saturday, November 10, 2007 · Norman Mailer, who burst on the literary scene in 1948 and published his most recent book just last month, died Saturday at the age of 84. Co-founder of the Village Voice, the winner of two Pulitzer Prizes and the National Book Award, he was nonetheless a controversial figure who lived life large.

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Another American Institution, Gone

For all of you who knew the Rat Pack wasn't just Frank, Dino, and Sammy...

'Rat Pack' member Bishop dies, 89

Comedian Joey Bishop, the last surviving member of Frank Sinatra's 'Rat Pack', has died at the age of 89. Bishop died of multiple causes at his home in California late on Wednesday, according to his friend and publicist, Warren Cowan.

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Weather Report: Cloudy and Gray

A Look at the Life and Work of Joe Zawinul
by David Was

Day to Day, September 12, 2007 · We look back at the work of keyboardist Joe Zawinul, one of the founders of the fusion jazz movement. Zawinul died Tuesday at age 75.

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One Less Master

Jazz World Mourns Loss of Max Roach

Legendary jazz percussionist Max Roach is dead at 83. Having been associated with greats such as Duke Ellington and Dizzie Gillespie, the self-taught musician wowed audiences throughout the world.

When I was busy worshipping jazz trumpet players in college, I didn't pay too much attention to the non-trumpeters with a few exceptions. Max Roach was one of them. When I was soaking up Clifford's work, you just couldn't help being as blown away by the drumming as you'd be by anything Clifford did.

Currently listening: Clifford Brown/Max Roach, "If I Love Again"

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Confirmed.

Via Horizon, the Blake's 7 Appreciation Society

PETER TUDDENHAM
27 November 1918 - 9 July 2007

I'm sorry to have to share the sad news with you that Peter Tuddenham died on Monday 9th July after a short illness, aged 88. Dear husband of Rosemary, and much loved father of Mark, Julian and the late Jamie. We know you will all want to join us at Horizon in offering them our deepest sympathy at this sad time.

The voices of Zen, Orac and Slave are now silent, but our memories of this lovely, warm, friendly, entertaining and hugely talented man will be with us always as we celebrate a life well-lived. We will miss you, Peter.

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One Less Voice

This makes the fact that I haven't gotten around to reading SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE yet that much sadder.

Novelist Kurt Vonnegut Dies at 84
Thursday, Apr. 12, 2007 By AP/CRISTIAN SALAZAR

(NEW YORK) — Kurt Vonnegut, the satirical novelist who captured the absurdity of war and questioned the advances of science in darkly humorous works such as "Slaughterhouse-Five" and "Cat's Cradle," died Wednesday. He was 84.

Vonnegut, who often marveled that he had lived so long despite his lifelong smoking habit, had suffered brain injuries after a fall at his Manhattan home weeks ago, said his wife, photographer Jill Krementz.

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The Furthest F'ing Thing From a Chrismas Miracle

Soul Icon James Brown Dies at 73
by Renée Montagne

Morning Edition, December 25, 2006 · Singer James Brown -- one of the most influential popular musicians of the past 50 years -- has died at 73. He had been hospitalized over the weekend in Atlanta, suffering from pneumonia.

Current Music: James Brown, "The Big Payback"

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RIP AmNerd

Per the editor...

So American Nerd's just going to sit as a static site now (and it
actually still gets a surprising amount of traffic for something that
hasn't been updated for months-- people just want to read about
Chicago and beading, I guess).

I understand that this is the way of things, but it's still sad.

EDIT: The spawn of AmNerd lives on: Raketenwerfer!

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Threes

Ed Bradley's passing was sad. Hearing about Jack Palance was sad, too; this was a piece of my childhood gone this time (If I saw THE EXORCIST at 8, you don't think I would've seen SHANE?). But, now Gerald?? "Casanova" pretty much defined my love life in the late 80s.

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No They Di'int!

Aw, hell no...



From here.

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RIP Little Buddy

'Gilligan's Island' star Bob Denver dead
Associated Press
September 6, 2005

LOS ANGELES — Bob Denver -- whose portrayal of goofy first mate Gilligan on the 1960's television show "Gilligan's Island'' made him an iconic figure to generations of TV viewers -- has died, his agent confirmed Tuesday. Denver was 70.

Denver died Friday at Wake Forest University Baptist Hospital in North Carolina of complications from treatment he was receiving for cancer, his agent, Mike Eisenstadt, told the Associated Press. Denver's death was first reported by "Entertainment Tonight."

Hey, I know there are much more important things going on in the world right now. Yes, I know there are living people who rightly deserve attention. But IMO, it's when the "little things" start losing their impact that people become slowly enabled to start caring less and less about the "big things."

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