It has become a sort of ritual for me to take a last look at the list of those who have passed on during the year. Some I knew, and others were unexpected, but in every case, I find an opportunity to reflect on them and the contributions they have made.
We always hope that the next year will be better than the last, but it is never done without looking back to see where we have been, and this past year is no exception. As expected, we lost some memorable people in 2011. For some, their name and their legacy will live on. Others will pass by us for the last time. Some have influenced us, and others have had no impact at all.
This list seems a little long, but in fact is just a smattering of the true loss we have had. Read through the list and see how many you recognize. Take the time to look up the ones you don't (I did). They won't pass your way again.
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January
• Anne Francis, 80, American actress (Honey West, Forbidden Planet, The Twilight Zone), pancreatic cancer.
• Jack Ertle Oliver, 87, American scientist, provided seismic evidence supporting plate tectonics.
• Tom Cavanagh, 28, American ice hockey player (San Jose Sharks), blunt force trauma.
• John Dye, 47, American actor (Touched by an Angel), heart attack.
• Bill Bower, 93, American aviator, last surviving pilot of Doolittle Raid, complications from a fall.
• David Nelson, 74, American actor (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet), colon cancer.
• Mississippi Winn, 113, American supercentenarian, Louisiana's oldest person.
• Susannah York, 72, English actress (Tom Jones, Superman), bone marrow cancer.
• Barney F. Hajiro, 94, American soldier, was oldest living Medal of Honor recipient.
• Poppa Neutrino, 77, American adventurer, crossed Atlantic Ocean on raft made of discarded material, heart failure.
• David Frye, 77, American satirist and Richard Nixon impersonator, cardiopulmonary arrest.
• John Barry, 77, British film score composer (From Russia with Love, Chaplin, Out of Africa), five-time Academy Award winner, heart attack.
• Eunice Sanborn, 114, American supercentenarian, oldest living person in America at the time of her death.
February
• Lena Nyman, 66, Swedish actress (I Am Curious (Yellow), I Am Curious (Blue), Autumn Sonata), cancer.
• Gary Moore, 58, Irish rock guitarist and singer (Thin Lizzy), heart attack.
• Christian J. Lambertsen, 93, American diving engineer, inventor of first SCUBA device, renal failure.
• Frank Buckles, 110, American supercentenarian soldier, last living U.S. World War I veteran, natural causes.
• Jane Russell, 89, American actress (The Outlaw, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), respiratory illness.
March
• Johnny Preston, 71, American pop singer ("Running Bear"), heart failure.
• Alberto Granado, 88, Argentine-born Cuban biochemist and writer, travel companion of Che Guevara (The Motorcycle Diaries).
• Hugh Martin, 96, American songwriter ("Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas") and film composer (Meet Me in St. Louis), natural causes.
• John Nettleship, 71, British teacher, inspiration for character of Severus Snape, cancer.
• Joe Morello, 82, American drummer (The Dave Brubeck Quartet).
• Dorothy Young, 103, American actress, assistant to Harry Houdini.
• Mayhew Foster, 99, American brigadier general, flew captured Hermann Goering to interrogation.
• Dame Elizabeth Taylor, 79, British-American actress (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Cleopatra, BUtterfield 8), heart failure.
• Harry Coover, 94, American inventor (Super Glue).
• Carl Bunch, 71, American drummer (Buddy Holly and the Crickets).
April
• Wayne Robson, 64, Canadian actor (The Red Green Show).
• Violet Cowden, 94, American pilot, member of Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II, heart failure.
• Walter Breuning, 114, American supercentenarian, world's third oldest man ever.
• Trevor Bannister, 76, British actor (Are You Being Served?, Last of the Summer Wine, The Dustbinmen), heart attack.
• Michael Sarrazin, 70, Canadian actor (They Shoot Horses, Don't They?; The Flim-Flam Man; For Pete's Sake), cancer.
• Phoebe Snow, 60, American singer-songwriter ("Poetry Man"), brain hemorrhage.
• Yvette Vickers, 81–82, American actress (Attack of the 50 Foot Woman), singer and model (Playboy). (body discovered on this date).
May
• Jackie Cooper, 88, American actor (Skippy, Our Gang, Superman) and director (M*A*S*H).
• Lawrence Johnson, 97, American boat trailer inventor and manufacturer, natural causes.
• Bill Summers, 75, American car builder (Goldenrod).
• Seiseki Abe, 96, Japanese shodo and aikido teacher.
• Joseph Brooks, 73, American Grammy-winning songwriter ("You Light Up My Life"), suicide by asphyxiation.
• Jeff Conaway, 60, American actor (Grease, Taxi, Babylon 5).
June
• Andrew Gold, 59, American singer-songwriter ("Lonely Boy", "Thank You for Being a Friend"), heart attack.
• James Arness, 88, American actor (Gunsmoke), natural causes.
• Lilian Jackson Braun, 97, American author (Cat Who series), natural causes.
• Fred Steiner, 88, American television composer (Perry Mason, Star Trek, The Twilight Zone).
• Peter Falk, 83, American actor (Columbo, Murder, Inc., Pocketful of Miracles, The Princess Bride).
• George Ballas, 85, American entrepreneur, inventor of the Weed Eater.
July
• Betty Ford, 93, American First Lady (1974–1977) and co-founder of Betty Ford Center.
• Roberts Blossom, 87, American actor (Doc Hollywood, Escape from Alcatraz, Home Alone).
• Jerry Ragovoy, 80, American songwriter ("Time Is on My Side"), stroke.
• Amelia Trice, 75, American Kootenai tribal leader and activist, leader of the last Indian war against the United States, cancer.
• Elliot Handler, 95, American businessman, co-founder of Mattel, namer of the Barbie doll, creator of Hot Wheels, heart failure.
• Linda Christian, 87, Mexican-born American actress, first Bond girl (1954 television adaptation of Casino Royale).
August
• George Devol, 99, American inventor, creator of Unimate, the first industrial robot.
• Albert Brown, 105, American veteran, oldest survivor of Bataan Death March.
• Gun Hägglund, 79, Swedish television personality, world's first female television news presenter, after short illness. (Swedish)
• Jerry Leiber, 78, American songwriter ("Stand By Me", "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", "Kansas City"), cardiopulmonary failure.
September
• Liu Huang A-tao, 90, Taiwanese activist, first comfort woman to sue Japan for compensation.
• 44 ice hockey players and coaches killed in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash.
• Cliff Robertson, 88, American actor (Charly, Spider-Man, PT 109), natural causes.
• Walter Bonatti, 81, Italian mountain climber.
• Tom Wilson, Sr., 80, American cartoonist (Ziggy).
• Wilson Greatbatch, 92, American engineer, inventor of the implantable cardiac pacemaker.
October
• Kenneth H. Dahlberg, 94, American businessman and World War II fighter ace, natural causes.
• Steve Jobs, 56, American computer entrepreneur and inventor, co-founder of Apple Inc., pancreatic cancer.
• Roger Williams, 87, American pianist (Autumn Leaves), pancreatic cancer.
• Bob Galvin, 89, American businessman, CEO of Motorola (1959–1986).
• Dennis Ritchie, 70, American computer scientist, developer of the C programming language and the Unix operating system. (body discovered on this date)
• Paul Leka, 68, American pianist, arranger and songwriter ("Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye", "Green Tambourine").
• Chuck Ruff, 60, American drummer (Edgar Winter, Sammy Hagar), after long illness.
• Edgar Villchur, 94, American inventor of the acoustic suspension loudspeaker.
November
• Andy Rooney, 92, American journalist, 60 Minutes correspondent (1978–2011), surgical complications.
• Joe Frazier, 67, American boxer, World Heavyweight Champion (1970–1973), liver cancer.
• Bil Keane, 89, American cartoonist (The Family Circus), heart failure.
• Evelyn Lauder, 75, Austrian-born American philanthropist (The Breast Cancer Research Foundation), creator of pink ribbon symbol, complications from ovarian cancer.
• Lee Pockriss, 87, American songwriter ("Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini").
• Karl Slover, 93, Slovak-born American actor (The Wizard of Oz).
• Anne McCaffrey, 85, American science fiction writer (Dragonriders of Pern series), stroke.
• Vasily Alekseyev, 69, Russian Olympic gold-medal winning weightlifter (1972 and 1976), heart failure.
December
• Bill McKinney, 80, American actor (Deliverance, The Outlaw Josey Wales), esophageal cancer.
• Bruno Bianchi, 56, French cartoonist and animator (Heathcliff and The Catillac Cats), co-creator of Inspector Gadget.
• Pusuke, 26, Japanese dog, world's oldest known living dog at time of death, natural causes.
• Jerry Robinson, 89, American comic book artist (Batman) and reputed creator of The Joker.
• Harry Morgan, 96, American actor (M*A*S*H, Dragnet), pneumonia.
• Bonnie Prudden, 97, American rock climber and physical fitness advocate.
• Bert Schneider, 78, American film and television producer (Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, The Monkees), natural causes.
• Kim Jong-il, 69 or 70, North Korean Supreme Leader (since 1994), heart attack.
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Taking a moment to reflect
It has been nearly six years since I received my emergency surgery for my grade IV Glioblastoma multiforme. During all this time, Sue has been my rock, and I am blessed to have her by my side.
You can look this up on Wiki, where there is a pretty good write-up on them, and where I got some of this info. Cancer cells with stem cell-like properties have been found in glioblastomas (this may be a cause of their resistance to conventional treatments, and high reoccurrence rate). The median survival time from the time of diagnosis without any treatment is 3 months, but with treatment survival of 1–2 years is common. Increasing age (> 60 years of age) carries a worse prognostic risk.
Long-term benefits have also been associated with those patients who receive surgery, radiotherapy, and temozolomide chemotherapy (which I received). However, much remains unknown about why some patients survive longer with glioblastoma. Age of under 50 is linked to longer survival in glioblastoma multiforme, as is 98%+ resection and use of temozolomide chemotherapy and better Karnofsky performance scores.
Based on existing data, for someone in my age group, I had about a 4.0% chance of surviving to the five year mark. Why and how I'm managing to beat the odds is beyond me, but I am thankful for everyday I'm still here. There is so much left to do, and I have plenty of reasons to look to the future. My family ties are the bond that keeps me strong, and I want to be around and healthy for as long as humanly possible.
With a lot of love and luck, I will still be here to dance at my granddaughters wedding.
You can look this up on Wiki, where there is a pretty good write-up on them, and where I got some of this info. Cancer cells with stem cell-like properties have been found in glioblastomas (this may be a cause of their resistance to conventional treatments, and high reoccurrence rate). The median survival time from the time of diagnosis without any treatment is 3 months, but with treatment survival of 1–2 years is common. Increasing age (> 60 years of age) carries a worse prognostic risk.
Long-term benefits have also been associated with those patients who receive surgery, radiotherapy, and temozolomide chemotherapy (which I received). However, much remains unknown about why some patients survive longer with glioblastoma. Age of under 50 is linked to longer survival in glioblastoma multiforme, as is 98%+ resection and use of temozolomide chemotherapy and better Karnofsky performance scores.
Based on existing data, for someone in my age group, I had about a 4.0% chance of surviving to the five year mark. Why and how I'm managing to beat the odds is beyond me, but I am thankful for everyday I'm still here. There is so much left to do, and I have plenty of reasons to look to the future. My family ties are the bond that keeps me strong, and I want to be around and healthy for as long as humanly possible.
With a lot of love and luck, I will still be here to dance at my granddaughters wedding.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
7 Laws of Leaness
A good friend of mine puts out a periodic newsletter. This last one covered a subject I thought worth passing on. I hope you get something good from this. I sure did.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
7 Laws of Leaness
The essential rules that separate the fat from the fit!
Why do some people seem naturally thin—able to torch cheeseburgers and never gain a pound? And why do some of us—okay, most of us—sweat and diet and sweat and diet some more, and never lose enough to get the body we want? Because those "naturally thin" people actually live by a series of rules that keep them from gaining weight. And if you know their secrets, you can enjoy meals without packing on the pounds. Follow these 7 Laws of Leanness for effortless weight loss. We’ve spent the past two decades interviewing leading experts, poring over groundbreaking studies, and grilling top athletes, trainers, and celebrities for their health and fitness advice. And we’ve learned that what separates the fit from the fat, the slim from the sloppy, the toned from the torpid, is a set of rules. And what’s amazing is that none of them involves spending hours on a treadmill, eating nothing but grapefruit and tree bark, or having part of your small intestines replaced with fiberfill. Follow these simple rules and weight loss will be automatic.
LAW #1: Lean People Don’t Diet, They Adopt a Lifestyle
Lean people practice good habits and adhere to a lifestyle that allows them to be lean and stay that way. If you are caught in a spin cycle of going into overdrive to take weight off only to return to the old habits that that made you plump out to begin with (and will most certainly return you to that same state), then you are dieting, NOT practicing a healthy lifestyle.
LAW #2: Lean People Don’t Go Fat-Free
A European study tracked nearly 90,000 people for several years and discovered that participants who tried to eat “low fat” had the same risk of being overweight as those who didn’t. You need fat in your diet to help you process certain nutrients, like vitamins A, D, and E, for example. And many “fat-free” foods are loaded with sugar, and therefore have even more calories than their full-fat cousins. Even the American Heart Association says that fat-free labels lead to higher consumption of unhealthy sweets. A bit of fat helps keep you full and satisfied. Fat-free will amp up your sugar intake and send you running back to the fridge in an hour, hungry for more.
LAW #3: Lean People Slow Down, and Sit Down to Eat
In fact, the more and the longer you sit down and enjoy your food, the leaner you’re going to be. Greek researchers recently reported that eating more slowly and savoring your meal can boost levels of two hormones that make you feel fuller.
Note: researchers at Cornell University found that when people sat down at the table with plates already set up with appropriate portions of food, they consumed up to 35 percent less than they did when eating family-style—that is, by passing serving dishes around the table.
LAW #4: Lean People Know What They’re Going to Eat Next
Planning your responses to hunger may help you shed pounds faster, say Dutch researchers. They posed their subjects questions like “If you’re hungry at 4 p.m., then . . . what?” Those who had an answer (“I’ll snack on some almonds”) were more successful at losing weight than those who didn’t have an answer.
LAW #5: Lean People Eat Protein
In a recent European study, people who ate moderately high levels of protein were twice as likely to lose weight and keep it off as those who didn’t eat much protein. A New England Journal of Medicine study looked at a variety of eating plans and discovered that eating a diet high in protein and low in refined starches (like white bread) was the most effective for weight loss. Protein works on two levels: First, you burn more calories digesting it. Second, because your body has to work harder to digest a chicken breast than, say, a Ho Ho or a bag of chips, you stay fuller longer.
LAW #6: Lean People Move Around More
Simply put, fit people augment their fitness by having fun just moving around. Scientists have a name for how you burn calories just enjoying yourself. It’s called NEAT: non-exercise activity thermogenesis. Sounds complicated, like something only policy wonks at a global warming summit are qualified to discuss. But it’s pretty simple: Pick a few activities that you enjoy, from tossing a stick for your dog to bowling with your best friend, and just do them more often. The average person makes 200 decisions every day that affect his or her weight. That means you have around 200 chances each and every day to do better, to make better choices, to improve yourself, and to make progress!
LAW #7: Lean People Watch Less TV
Instead of calling it the boob tube, maybe we should call it the man-boob tube. Of those who watch more than four hours of TV a day, nearly 30 percent have a BMI that high—the cutoff line for obesity, according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. In contrast, only about 18 percent of people who watch less than two hours of TV a day have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
In a study at the University of Vermont, overweight participants who cut their daily TV time in half (from an average of 5 hours to 2.5 hours) burned an extra 119 calories a day. And a recent study of people who successfully lost weight found that 63 percent of them watched less than 10 hours of TV a week. Want more? A study in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine reported that lean people have an average of 2.6 television sets in their homes. Overweight people have an average of 3.4. Finally, researchers in Australia recently discovered that every hour in front of the television trims 22 minutes from your life. Yikes!
This is a great subject and worth evaluating in your own life.
More on this later...
+++++++++++++++++++++++
7 Laws of Leaness
The essential rules that separate the fat from the fit!
Why do some people seem naturally thin—able to torch cheeseburgers and never gain a pound? And why do some of us—okay, most of us—sweat and diet and sweat and diet some more, and never lose enough to get the body we want? Because those "naturally thin" people actually live by a series of rules that keep them from gaining weight. And if you know their secrets, you can enjoy meals without packing on the pounds. Follow these 7 Laws of Leanness for effortless weight loss. We’ve spent the past two decades interviewing leading experts, poring over groundbreaking studies, and grilling top athletes, trainers, and celebrities for their health and fitness advice. And we’ve learned that what separates the fit from the fat, the slim from the sloppy, the toned from the torpid, is a set of rules. And what’s amazing is that none of them involves spending hours on a treadmill, eating nothing but grapefruit and tree bark, or having part of your small intestines replaced with fiberfill. Follow these simple rules and weight loss will be automatic.
LAW #1: Lean People Don’t Diet, They Adopt a Lifestyle
Lean people practice good habits and adhere to a lifestyle that allows them to be lean and stay that way. If you are caught in a spin cycle of going into overdrive to take weight off only to return to the old habits that that made you plump out to begin with (and will most certainly return you to that same state), then you are dieting, NOT practicing a healthy lifestyle.
LAW #2: Lean People Don’t Go Fat-Free
A European study tracked nearly 90,000 people for several years and discovered that participants who tried to eat “low fat” had the same risk of being overweight as those who didn’t. You need fat in your diet to help you process certain nutrients, like vitamins A, D, and E, for example. And many “fat-free” foods are loaded with sugar, and therefore have even more calories than their full-fat cousins. Even the American Heart Association says that fat-free labels lead to higher consumption of unhealthy sweets. A bit of fat helps keep you full and satisfied. Fat-free will amp up your sugar intake and send you running back to the fridge in an hour, hungry for more.
LAW #3: Lean People Slow Down, and Sit Down to Eat
In fact, the more and the longer you sit down and enjoy your food, the leaner you’re going to be. Greek researchers recently reported that eating more slowly and savoring your meal can boost levels of two hormones that make you feel fuller.
Note: researchers at Cornell University found that when people sat down at the table with plates already set up with appropriate portions of food, they consumed up to 35 percent less than they did when eating family-style—that is, by passing serving dishes around the table.
LAW #4: Lean People Know What They’re Going to Eat Next
Planning your responses to hunger may help you shed pounds faster, say Dutch researchers. They posed their subjects questions like “If you’re hungry at 4 p.m., then . . . what?” Those who had an answer (“I’ll snack on some almonds”) were more successful at losing weight than those who didn’t have an answer.
LAW #5: Lean People Eat Protein
In a recent European study, people who ate moderately high levels of protein were twice as likely to lose weight and keep it off as those who didn’t eat much protein. A New England Journal of Medicine study looked at a variety of eating plans and discovered that eating a diet high in protein and low in refined starches (like white bread) was the most effective for weight loss. Protein works on two levels: First, you burn more calories digesting it. Second, because your body has to work harder to digest a chicken breast than, say, a Ho Ho or a bag of chips, you stay fuller longer.
LAW #6: Lean People Move Around More
Simply put, fit people augment their fitness by having fun just moving around. Scientists have a name for how you burn calories just enjoying yourself. It’s called NEAT: non-exercise activity thermogenesis. Sounds complicated, like something only policy wonks at a global warming summit are qualified to discuss. But it’s pretty simple: Pick a few activities that you enjoy, from tossing a stick for your dog to bowling with your best friend, and just do them more often. The average person makes 200 decisions every day that affect his or her weight. That means you have around 200 chances each and every day to do better, to make better choices, to improve yourself, and to make progress!
LAW #7: Lean People Watch Less TV
Instead of calling it the boob tube, maybe we should call it the man-boob tube. Of those who watch more than four hours of TV a day, nearly 30 percent have a BMI that high—the cutoff line for obesity, according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. In contrast, only about 18 percent of people who watch less than two hours of TV a day have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
In a study at the University of Vermont, overweight participants who cut their daily TV time in half (from an average of 5 hours to 2.5 hours) burned an extra 119 calories a day. And a recent study of people who successfully lost weight found that 63 percent of them watched less than 10 hours of TV a week. Want more? A study in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine reported that lean people have an average of 2.6 television sets in their homes. Overweight people have an average of 3.4. Finally, researchers in Australia recently discovered that every hour in front of the television trims 22 minutes from your life. Yikes!
This is a great subject and worth evaluating in your own life.
More on this later...
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Not enough weekend
So it's Sunday... it's overcast outside, making me slightly demotivated to get out back and do a little yard clean up. I'm trying to watch some football, evaluate some bokkens for a guy back in Iowa, start one of the books I just bought from Amazon, set up the new iPod Shuffle I got, because my Nano has to be sent back to Apple for a recall issue, clean up the garage, so I can take down the last baseboards to finish the wood flooring project in the family room, and find some time to relax with the time I have left. By the time Monday rolls around and it's time to go back to work, I'm wondering where the weekend went, and why I'm so tired. Ha, ha... yeah right.
I just posted a couple old pencil drawings on facebook, but I'd like to tell a little story about them first.
Back even before I joined the Navy, I became an aspiring artist.
In high school, I dreamed of becoming an architect. Frank Lloyd Wright was an early role model of mine, and I read and collected everything I could on him. I visited Taliesin West and was convinced that this was what I wanted to do as a career. Unfortunately, my dismal GPA and the ever present draft for the Vietnam War, kept me from pursuing anything close to this.
In an effort to satisfy my artistic side, I started taking commercial art classes and messing around with freehand media.
I was a huge Ed "Big Daddy" Roth fan (still am). In high school, I met him at a car show at the state fair grounds, and was so overwhelmed by it, that when I finally had the chance to talk with him, I couldn't think of a thing to say or ask.
Anyway, while I was studying art when in the Navy in 1972 at UCSD, among other things, I made numerous pencil drawings. I had a lot of free time while on the ships during our Vietnam tours' of duty, so I needed something to take my mind away from everything going on around me. These are the only two I did that survived until now. My dreams of becoming an artist were there for many years, but never quite managed to go from interested amateur, to the real thing. Life has a way of twisting your hopes toward other directions, and although I still have a mild interest, I just don't have the time to pursue it. These are just the some of the remnants of times gone by. I hope you enjoy them.
This first is one I drew of my sister. It's obvious I looked at her with a teenage outlook of a sibling. I need to give this to her. I think she'd enjoy seeing how much she has changed.
I'm not sure about the history of the second one. Vietnam was certainly on my mind, so I can only assume its impressions were strong in me.
I just posted a couple old pencil drawings on facebook, but I'd like to tell a little story about them first.
Back even before I joined the Navy, I became an aspiring artist.
In high school, I dreamed of becoming an architect. Frank Lloyd Wright was an early role model of mine, and I read and collected everything I could on him. I visited Taliesin West and was convinced that this was what I wanted to do as a career. Unfortunately, my dismal GPA and the ever present draft for the Vietnam War, kept me from pursuing anything close to this.
In an effort to satisfy my artistic side, I started taking commercial art classes and messing around with freehand media.
I was a huge Ed "Big Daddy" Roth fan (still am). In high school, I met him at a car show at the state fair grounds, and was so overwhelmed by it, that when I finally had the chance to talk with him, I couldn't think of a thing to say or ask.
Anyway, while I was studying art when in the Navy in 1972 at UCSD, among other things, I made numerous pencil drawings. I had a lot of free time while on the ships during our Vietnam tours' of duty, so I needed something to take my mind away from everything going on around me. These are the only two I did that survived until now. My dreams of becoming an artist were there for many years, but never quite managed to go from interested amateur, to the real thing. Life has a way of twisting your hopes toward other directions, and although I still have a mild interest, I just don't have the time to pursue it. These are just the some of the remnants of times gone by. I hope you enjoy them.
This first is one I drew of my sister. It's obvious I looked at her with a teenage outlook of a sibling. I need to give this to her. I think she'd enjoy seeing how much she has changed.
I'm not sure about the history of the second one. Vietnam was certainly on my mind, so I can only assume its impressions were strong in me.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Left to my thoughts
I'm sitting at the kitchen table, having taken the day off to move things back after our partial remodel, and getting ready to go see a friend I haven't seen in almost 40 years.
While I'm waiting for Home depot to open, I took the time to clean up all of the posts on this blog. I removed a pile of them posted, but not written by me. The soap box is closed for a bit, but I'm sure it will be back. I left a few tidbits worth pondering.
What is left are mostly my own... things meant to induce some sort of introspective mood. I haven't written much in a while. With the remodel of the place, a granddaughter than demands I spoil her, and assorted other distractions, I've left things like this blog to sit and wait. I intend to get back to it, but my attention is still being drawn away to pursue the follow-up list of projects that always come after a big job is nearing its end.
Writing is one of those outlets I don't do near enough. So many ideas, but so little time to get them out.
Sois sage
While I'm waiting for Home depot to open, I took the time to clean up all of the posts on this blog. I removed a pile of them posted, but not written by me. The soap box is closed for a bit, but I'm sure it will be back. I left a few tidbits worth pondering.
What is left are mostly my own... things meant to induce some sort of introspective mood. I haven't written much in a while. With the remodel of the place, a granddaughter than demands I spoil her, and assorted other distractions, I've left things like this blog to sit and wait. I intend to get back to it, but my attention is still being drawn away to pursue the follow-up list of projects that always come after a big job is nearing its end.
Writing is one of those outlets I don't do near enough. So many ideas, but so little time to get them out.
Sois sage
Thursday, February 10, 2011
May I have your attention please!
May I have your attention please! This is an important notice, that will be effective until further notice: With the current economic situation, and because of the energy crisis, the light at the end of the tunnel will be put out.
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Who we lost in the last six months of 2010
So we're reached the end of another year. It's been especially an challenging one for many of us, but we got through it and look forward to making 2011 a better one. We set aside our thoughts and look toward what great thing will come for us.
As we peer into the future, we also need to take a breath and look back at where we have been. We lost some memorable people in 2010, and although a few of their names will appear on occasion in the future, there is a good chance that most of them, except for a few that knew them intimately, will vanish into obscurity with barely a whisper. Some have influenced our lives, while others did not spark any recognition at all.
Below is the same limited selection of names I have compiled before. I am familiar with some names on this list, but was surprised to see others. It was only in their passing, that I can recognize their significance, and what contributions they made. Read through the list, see how many you know. Take a moment to look up some of the ones you don't, and honor their memory. We owe them that much.
July 2010
===============
Jul 4 - John Hampton, 103, American philanthropist, co-founder of Toys for Tots.
Jul 5 - Jim Bohlen, 84, American-born Canadian environmentalist, founder of Greenpeace.
Jul 8 - Maria Olivia da Silva, 130?, Brazilian supercentenarian and oldest citizen claimant. (Portuguese)
Jul 8 - Thomas C. Peebles, 89, American physician, isolated the measles virus.
Jul 9 - Nobuyoshi Tamura, 77, Japanese aikidoka, cancer.
Jul 11 - Stuart F. Feldman, 73, American lawyer and lobbyist, co-founded the Vietnam Veterans of America, pneumonia.
Jul 13 - George Steinbrenner, 80, American baseball team owner (New York Yankees), heart attack.
Jul 13 - Vernon Baker, 90, American soldier, Medal of Honor recipient, cancer.
Jul 14 - Seymour London, 95, American doctor, invented automatic sphygmomanometer, heart disease.
Jul 17 - Shirley Silvey, 82, American animator (The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, Dudley Do-Right Show, George of the Jungle), heart failure.
Jul 19 - David Warren, 85, Australian inventor of the flight data recorder.
Jul 23 - Daniel Schorr, 93, American journalist (CBS News, National Public Radio).
Jul 23 - Dorothy Stowe, 89, American-born Canadian activist, co-founder of Greenpeace.
Jul 29 - Zheng Ji, 110, Chinese nutritionist and biochemist, world's oldest professor. (Chinese)
August 2010
===============
Aug 5 - Jürgen Oesten, 96, German seaman, U-boat commander during World War II.
Aug 6 - David C. Dolby, 64, American soldier, Medal of Honor recipient.
Aug 8 - Patricia Neal, 84, American actress, 1964 Academy Award winner (Hud), lung cancer.
Aug 13 - Edwin Newman, 91, American journalist and newscaster (NBC News), pneumonia.
Aug 14 - Abbey Lincoln, 80, American jazz singer and actress (For Love of Ivy, Nothing But a Man).
Aug 18 - Kenny Edwards, 64, American singer-songwriter (The Stone Poneys), prostate cancer.
Aug 19 - Ahna Capri, 66, American actress (Enter the Dragon), car accident.
Aug 20 - Jack Horkheimer, 72, American public television host (Jack Horkheimer: Star Gazer), executive director of Miami Planetarium, respiratory ailment.
Aug 21 - Chloé Graftiaux, 23, Belgian rock climber, mountaineering accident.
Aug 23 - George David Weiss, 89, American composer ("What a Wonderful World", "Can't Help Falling in Love", "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"), natural causes.
Aug 23 - Marcel Albert, 92, French aviator, World War II flying ace.
Aug 26 - Walter Wolfrum, 87, German World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace.
Aug 29 - Peter Lenz, 13, American motorcycle racer, collision.
Aug 30 - Francisco Varallo, 100, Argentine footballer, last surviving participant in the 1930 FIFA World Cup.
September 2010
===============
Sep 3 - Mike Edwards, 62, English cellist (Electric Light Orchestra), car accident.
Sep 7 - Glenn Shadix, 58, American actor (Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas), fall.
Sep 8 - Allen Dale June, 91, American original Navajo code talker.
Sep 9 - Bunny Summers, 86, American actress (Re-Animator, The Last Starfighter), after brief illness.
Sep 10 - Billie Mae Richards, 88, Canadian voice actress (The Care Bears Movie, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Rudolph's Shiny New Year), stroke.
Sep 11 - Harold Gould, 86, American actor (The Sting, Rhoda, The Golden Girls), prostate cancer.
Sep 20 - Leonard Skinner, 77, American school teacher, namesake of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alzheimer's disease.
Sep 22 - Eddie Fisher, 82, American singer and entertainer, complications from hip surgery.
Sep 26 - Gloria Stuart, 100, American film actress (The Invisible Man, Titanic), respiratory failure.
Sep 29 - Tony Curtis, 85, American actor (Some Like It Hot, Spartacus, The Defiant Ones), cardiac arrest.
October 2010
===============
Oct 10 - Louis F. Bantle, 81, American chairman of U.S. Tobacco Company, lung cancer and emphysema.
Oct 14 - Benoît Mandelbrot, 85, Polish-born American mathematician, pioneer of the study of fractals, pancreatic cancer.
Oct 15 - Georges Mathé, 88, French oncologist and immunologist, bone marrow transplant pioneer.
Oct 15 - Mildred Fay Jefferson, 84, American pro-life activist, first black woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School.
Oct 16 - Barbara Billingsley, 94, American actress (Leave It to Beaver).
Oct 19 - Tom Bosley, 83, American actor (Happy Days, Father Dowling Mysteries), heart failure.
Oct 22 - Alex Anderson, 90, American cartoonist, created characters for The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show and Crusader Rabbit.
Oct 28 - James MacArthur, 72, American actor (Hawaii Five-O, Swiss Family Robinson), natural causes.
November 2010
===============
Nov 1 - Ernesto Presas, 65, Filipino martial arts grandmaster.
Nov 3 - Jim Clench, 61, Canadian bass guitarist (April Wine, Bachman–Turner Overdrive), lung cancer.
Nov 5 - Jill Clayburgh, 66, American actress (An Unmarried Woman, Ally McBeal, Dirty Sexy Money), chronic leukemia.
Nov 15 - William Self, 89, American actor and television production manager (Batman, Lost in Space, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea), heart attack.
Nov 27 - Irvin Kershner, 87, American film director (Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Never Say Never Again), lung cancer.
Nov 28 - Leslie Nielsen, 84, Canadian-born American actor (Airplane!, The Naked Gun), pneumonia.
December 2010
===============
Dec 4 - Pamela Bryant, 51, American model, actress (H.O.T.S.), and Playboy Playmate of the Month (April 1978), natural causes.
Dec 15 - Blake Edwards, 88, American film director, producer and screenwriter (The Pink Panther, Breakfast at Tiffany's), pneumonia.
Dec 17 - Captain Beefheart, 69, American rock musician and artist (Trout Mask Replica), complications from multiple sclerosis.
Dec 20 - Steve Landesberg, 74, American actor (Barney Miller, Forgetting Sarah Marshall), colorectal cancer.
Dec 21 - Ernie Tripke, 88, American police officer, first responder to James Dean crash, heart and lung problems.
Dec 26 - Teena Marie, 54, American singer and composer.
Dec 26 - Albert Ghiorso, 95, American nuclear scientist, co-discovered twelve chemical elements.
Dec 27 - Grant McCune, 67, American Academy Award-winning visual effects artist (Star Wars), pancreatic cancer.
Dec 29 - Brigitte Burdine, 48, American video game developer (World of Warcraft, Killzone 2), hit-and-run accident.
Dec 31 - Onie Ponder, 112, American supercentenarian.
As we peer into the future, we also need to take a breath and look back at where we have been. We lost some memorable people in 2010, and although a few of their names will appear on occasion in the future, there is a good chance that most of them, except for a few that knew them intimately, will vanish into obscurity with barely a whisper. Some have influenced our lives, while others did not spark any recognition at all.
Below is the same limited selection of names I have compiled before. I am familiar with some names on this list, but was surprised to see others. It was only in their passing, that I can recognize their significance, and what contributions they made. Read through the list, see how many you know. Take a moment to look up some of the ones you don't, and honor their memory. We owe them that much.
July 2010
===============
Jul 4 - John Hampton, 103, American philanthropist, co-founder of Toys for Tots.
Jul 5 - Jim Bohlen, 84, American-born Canadian environmentalist, founder of Greenpeace.
Jul 8 - Maria Olivia da Silva, 130?, Brazilian supercentenarian and oldest citizen claimant. (Portuguese)
Jul 8 - Thomas C. Peebles, 89, American physician, isolated the measles virus.
Jul 9 - Nobuyoshi Tamura, 77, Japanese aikidoka, cancer.
Jul 11 - Stuart F. Feldman, 73, American lawyer and lobbyist, co-founded the Vietnam Veterans of America, pneumonia.
Jul 13 - George Steinbrenner, 80, American baseball team owner (New York Yankees), heart attack.
Jul 13 - Vernon Baker, 90, American soldier, Medal of Honor recipient, cancer.
Jul 14 - Seymour London, 95, American doctor, invented automatic sphygmomanometer, heart disease.
Jul 17 - Shirley Silvey, 82, American animator (The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, Dudley Do-Right Show, George of the Jungle), heart failure.
Jul 19 - David Warren, 85, Australian inventor of the flight data recorder.
Jul 23 - Daniel Schorr, 93, American journalist (CBS News, National Public Radio).
Jul 23 - Dorothy Stowe, 89, American-born Canadian activist, co-founder of Greenpeace.
Jul 29 - Zheng Ji, 110, Chinese nutritionist and biochemist, world's oldest professor. (Chinese)
August 2010
===============
Aug 5 - Jürgen Oesten, 96, German seaman, U-boat commander during World War II.
Aug 6 - David C. Dolby, 64, American soldier, Medal of Honor recipient.
Aug 8 - Patricia Neal, 84, American actress, 1964 Academy Award winner (Hud), lung cancer.
Aug 13 - Edwin Newman, 91, American journalist and newscaster (NBC News), pneumonia.
Aug 14 - Abbey Lincoln, 80, American jazz singer and actress (For Love of Ivy, Nothing But a Man).
Aug 18 - Kenny Edwards, 64, American singer-songwriter (The Stone Poneys), prostate cancer.
Aug 19 - Ahna Capri, 66, American actress (Enter the Dragon), car accident.
Aug 20 - Jack Horkheimer, 72, American public television host (Jack Horkheimer: Star Gazer), executive director of Miami Planetarium, respiratory ailment.
Aug 21 - Chloé Graftiaux, 23, Belgian rock climber, mountaineering accident.
Aug 23 - George David Weiss, 89, American composer ("What a Wonderful World", "Can't Help Falling in Love", "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"), natural causes.
Aug 23 - Marcel Albert, 92, French aviator, World War II flying ace.
Aug 26 - Walter Wolfrum, 87, German World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace.
Aug 29 - Peter Lenz, 13, American motorcycle racer, collision.
Aug 30 - Francisco Varallo, 100, Argentine footballer, last surviving participant in the 1930 FIFA World Cup.
September 2010
===============
Sep 3 - Mike Edwards, 62, English cellist (Electric Light Orchestra), car accident.
Sep 7 - Glenn Shadix, 58, American actor (Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas), fall.
Sep 8 - Allen Dale June, 91, American original Navajo code talker.
Sep 9 - Bunny Summers, 86, American actress (Re-Animator, The Last Starfighter), after brief illness.
Sep 10 - Billie Mae Richards, 88, Canadian voice actress (The Care Bears Movie, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Rudolph's Shiny New Year), stroke.
Sep 11 - Harold Gould, 86, American actor (The Sting, Rhoda, The Golden Girls), prostate cancer.
Sep 20 - Leonard Skinner, 77, American school teacher, namesake of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alzheimer's disease.
Sep 22 - Eddie Fisher, 82, American singer and entertainer, complications from hip surgery.
Sep 26 - Gloria Stuart, 100, American film actress (The Invisible Man, Titanic), respiratory failure.
Sep 29 - Tony Curtis, 85, American actor (Some Like It Hot, Spartacus, The Defiant Ones), cardiac arrest.
October 2010
===============
Oct 10 - Louis F. Bantle, 81, American chairman of U.S. Tobacco Company, lung cancer and emphysema.
Oct 14 - Benoît Mandelbrot, 85, Polish-born American mathematician, pioneer of the study of fractals, pancreatic cancer.
Oct 15 - Georges Mathé, 88, French oncologist and immunologist, bone marrow transplant pioneer.
Oct 15 - Mildred Fay Jefferson, 84, American pro-life activist, first black woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School.
Oct 16 - Barbara Billingsley, 94, American actress (Leave It to Beaver).
Oct 19 - Tom Bosley, 83, American actor (Happy Days, Father Dowling Mysteries), heart failure.
Oct 22 - Alex Anderson, 90, American cartoonist, created characters for The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show and Crusader Rabbit.
Oct 28 - James MacArthur, 72, American actor (Hawaii Five-O, Swiss Family Robinson), natural causes.
November 2010
===============
Nov 1 - Ernesto Presas, 65, Filipino martial arts grandmaster.
Nov 3 - Jim Clench, 61, Canadian bass guitarist (April Wine, Bachman–Turner Overdrive), lung cancer.
Nov 5 - Jill Clayburgh, 66, American actress (An Unmarried Woman, Ally McBeal, Dirty Sexy Money), chronic leukemia.
Nov 15 - William Self, 89, American actor and television production manager (Batman, Lost in Space, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea), heart attack.
Nov 27 - Irvin Kershner, 87, American film director (Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Never Say Never Again), lung cancer.
Nov 28 - Leslie Nielsen, 84, Canadian-born American actor (Airplane!, The Naked Gun), pneumonia.
December 2010
===============
Dec 4 - Pamela Bryant, 51, American model, actress (H.O.T.S.), and Playboy Playmate of the Month (April 1978), natural causes.
Dec 15 - Blake Edwards, 88, American film director, producer and screenwriter (The Pink Panther, Breakfast at Tiffany's), pneumonia.
Dec 17 - Captain Beefheart, 69, American rock musician and artist (Trout Mask Replica), complications from multiple sclerosis.
Dec 20 - Steve Landesberg, 74, American actor (Barney Miller, Forgetting Sarah Marshall), colorectal cancer.
Dec 21 - Ernie Tripke, 88, American police officer, first responder to James Dean crash, heart and lung problems.
Dec 26 - Teena Marie, 54, American singer and composer.
Dec 26 - Albert Ghiorso, 95, American nuclear scientist, co-discovered twelve chemical elements.
Dec 27 - Grant McCune, 67, American Academy Award-winning visual effects artist (Star Wars), pancreatic cancer.
Dec 29 - Brigitte Burdine, 48, American video game developer (World of Warcraft, Killzone 2), hit-and-run accident.
Dec 31 - Onie Ponder, 112, American supercentenarian.
Friday, July 02, 2010
Who we lost in the first 6 months of 2010
I started doing this last year, as a result of losing my brother… that is, looking at the people that we lost during the first and last 6 months of the year. Many times we don’t have an appreciation for them, because they have fallen off the radar... and then they are gone with barely a whisper of recognition. We may or may not see their names one more time before they vanish into history, but they often have influenced our lives in ways we can only reflect upon after they have gone.
Below is the same smattering of names I have compiled before, of those no longer with us during the 6 months of that year. As before, I am familiar with practically every name on this list, with only a few exceptions. Now however, I am beginning to see how so many people have touched my life. There are so many more that I left off, but they are no less significant.
As you read through the list, see how many you know. I recommend that you look up some of the ones you don't . They were all special in some way. Some of them were only known to a few, but they made this list because they made a difference to someone. Get to know them. Their names may not pass this way again.
January 2010
===============
Jan 4 - Tsutomu Yamaguchi, 93, Japanese survivor of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, stomach cancer.
Jan 8 - Art Clokey, 88, American stop motion animator (Gumby, Davey and Goliath), bladder infection.
Jan 13 - Teddy Pendergrass, 59, American soul singer, complications from colorectal cancer.
Jan 16 - Glen Bell, 86, American entrepreneur, founder of Taco Bell.
Jan 17 - Erich Segal, 72, American professor, author (Love Story), and screenwriter (Yellow Submarine), heart attack.
Jan 22 - Jean Simmons, 80, British-born American actress (Hamlet, Spartacus), lung cancer.
Jan 24 - Pernell Roberts, 81, American actor (Bonanza; Trapper John, M.D.), pancreatic cancer.
Jan 27 - J. D. Salinger, 91, American author (The Catcher in the Rye), natural causes.
February 2010
===============
Feb 12 - Nodar Kumaritashvili, 21, Georgian luger, national team member for the 2010 Winter Olympics, training accident.
Feb 14 - Lee Freeman, 60, American rhythm guitarist (Strawberry Alarm Clock), cancer.
Feb 14 - Doug Fieger, 57, American musician (The Knack), lung cancer.
Feb 16 - Ronald Howes, 83, American inventor, designer of Easy-Bake Oven.
Feb 16 - Bill Gordon, 92, American inventor, designer of the Arecibo Radio Telescope, natural causes.
Feb 18 - John Babcock, 109, Canadian soldier, Canada's last surviving World War I veteran.
Feb 19 - Rudy Larriva, 94, American animator and animation director (Looney Tunes, The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show).
Feb 20 - Alexander Haig, 85, American politician and diplomat, Secretary of State (1981–1982), complications from an infection.
March 2010
===============
Mar 7 - Daisey Bailey, 113, American supercentenarian, second-oldest person in U.S. and fourth-oldest in world.
Mar 11 - Merlin Olsen, 69, American football player (L.A. Rams) and actor (Little House on the Prairie, Father Murphy), mesothelioma.
Mar 14 - Peter Graves, 83, American actor (Mission: Impossible, Airplane!), heart attack.
Mar 17 - Robert M. White, 85, American X-15 test pilot.
Mar 18 - Fess Parker, 85, American actor (Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone), natural causes.
Mar 20 - Stewart Udall, 90, American politician (Arizona), Secretary of the Interior (1961–1969), natural causes.
Mar 24 - Robert Culp, 79, American actor (I Spy, The Greatest American Hero, Everybody Loves Raymond), complications following a fall.
Mar 27 - Dick Giordano, 77, American comic book artist and editor (Batman, Green Lantern), complications from pneumonia.
April 2010
===============
Apr 1 - John Forsythe, 92, American actor (Bachelor Father, Charlie's Angels, Dynasty), complications from pneumonia.
Apr 6 - Wilma Mankiller, 64, American activist, first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation (1985–1995), pancreatic cancer.
Mar 6 - Eddie Carroll, 76, Canadian voice actor (Jiminy Cricket).
Apr 8 - Jack Agnew, 88, American soldier, member of the Filthy Thirteen, inspiration for The Dirty Dozen.
Apr 10 - Dixie Carter, 70, American actress (Designing Women, Diff'rent Strokes), endometrial cancer.
Apr 18 - Allen Swift, 86, American voice actor (Underdog, Howdy Doody), natural causes.
May 2010
===============
May 2 - Lynn Redgrave, 67, English actress (Georgy Girl, Gods and Monsters), breast cancer.
May 9 - Edward Uhl, 92, American co-inventor of the bazooka, heart failure.
May 9 - Lena Horne, 92, American singer and actress (Stormy Weather, The Wiz).
May 11 - Bud Mahurin, 91, American flying ace, complications from a stroke.
May 15 - John Shepherd-Barron, 84, British inventor of the ATM.
May 16 - Ronnie James Dio, 67, American heavy metal singer (Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Dio), stomach cancer.
May 27 - John William Finn, 100, American naval officer, oldest living Medal of Honor recipient.
May 28 - Gary Coleman, 42, American actor (Diff'rent Strokes), intracranial hemorrhage.
June 2010
===============
Jun 3 - Rue McClanahan, 76, American actress (The Golden Girls, Maude), stroke.
Jun 13 - Jimmy Dean, 81, American country music singer (Big Bad John), actor and businessman (Jimmy Dean Foods), natural causes.
Jun 15 - Phil Gordon, 94, American character actor and dialect coach (The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, Petticoat Junction).
Jun 20 - Edith Shain, 91, American nurse, subject of V–J day in Times Square photograph, cancer.
Below is the same smattering of names I have compiled before, of those no longer with us during the 6 months of that year. As before, I am familiar with practically every name on this list, with only a few exceptions. Now however, I am beginning to see how so many people have touched my life. There are so many more that I left off, but they are no less significant.
As you read through the list, see how many you know. I recommend that you look up some of the ones you don't . They were all special in some way. Some of them were only known to a few, but they made this list because they made a difference to someone. Get to know them. Their names may not pass this way again.
January 2010
===============
Jan 4 - Tsutomu Yamaguchi, 93, Japanese survivor of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, stomach cancer.
Jan 8 - Art Clokey, 88, American stop motion animator (Gumby, Davey and Goliath), bladder infection.
Jan 13 - Teddy Pendergrass, 59, American soul singer, complications from colorectal cancer.
Jan 16 - Glen Bell, 86, American entrepreneur, founder of Taco Bell.
Jan 17 - Erich Segal, 72, American professor, author (Love Story), and screenwriter (Yellow Submarine), heart attack.
Jan 22 - Jean Simmons, 80, British-born American actress (Hamlet, Spartacus), lung cancer.
Jan 24 - Pernell Roberts, 81, American actor (Bonanza; Trapper John, M.D.), pancreatic cancer.
Jan 27 - J. D. Salinger, 91, American author (The Catcher in the Rye), natural causes.
February 2010
===============
Feb 12 - Nodar Kumaritashvili, 21, Georgian luger, national team member for the 2010 Winter Olympics, training accident.
Feb 14 - Lee Freeman, 60, American rhythm guitarist (Strawberry Alarm Clock), cancer.
Feb 14 - Doug Fieger, 57, American musician (The Knack), lung cancer.
Feb 16 - Ronald Howes, 83, American inventor, designer of Easy-Bake Oven.
Feb 16 - Bill Gordon, 92, American inventor, designer of the Arecibo Radio Telescope, natural causes.
Feb 18 - John Babcock, 109, Canadian soldier, Canada's last surviving World War I veteran.
Feb 19 - Rudy Larriva, 94, American animator and animation director (Looney Tunes, The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show).
Feb 20 - Alexander Haig, 85, American politician and diplomat, Secretary of State (1981–1982), complications from an infection.
March 2010
===============
Mar 7 - Daisey Bailey, 113, American supercentenarian, second-oldest person in U.S. and fourth-oldest in world.
Mar 11 - Merlin Olsen, 69, American football player (L.A. Rams) and actor (Little House on the Prairie, Father Murphy), mesothelioma.
Mar 14 - Peter Graves, 83, American actor (Mission: Impossible, Airplane!), heart attack.
Mar 17 - Robert M. White, 85, American X-15 test pilot.
Mar 18 - Fess Parker, 85, American actor (Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone), natural causes.
Mar 20 - Stewart Udall, 90, American politician (Arizona), Secretary of the Interior (1961–1969), natural causes.
Mar 24 - Robert Culp, 79, American actor (I Spy, The Greatest American Hero, Everybody Loves Raymond), complications following a fall.
Mar 27 - Dick Giordano, 77, American comic book artist and editor (Batman, Green Lantern), complications from pneumonia.
April 2010
===============
Apr 1 - John Forsythe, 92, American actor (Bachelor Father, Charlie's Angels, Dynasty), complications from pneumonia.
Apr 6 - Wilma Mankiller, 64, American activist, first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation (1985–1995), pancreatic cancer.
Mar 6 - Eddie Carroll, 76, Canadian voice actor (Jiminy Cricket).
Apr 8 - Jack Agnew, 88, American soldier, member of the Filthy Thirteen, inspiration for The Dirty Dozen.
Apr 10 - Dixie Carter, 70, American actress (Designing Women, Diff'rent Strokes), endometrial cancer.
Apr 18 - Allen Swift, 86, American voice actor (Underdog, Howdy Doody), natural causes.
May 2010
===============
May 2 - Lynn Redgrave, 67, English actress (Georgy Girl, Gods and Monsters), breast cancer.
May 9 - Edward Uhl, 92, American co-inventor of the bazooka, heart failure.
May 9 - Lena Horne, 92, American singer and actress (Stormy Weather, The Wiz).
May 11 - Bud Mahurin, 91, American flying ace, complications from a stroke.
May 15 - John Shepherd-Barron, 84, British inventor of the ATM.
May 16 - Ronnie James Dio, 67, American heavy metal singer (Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Dio), stomach cancer.
May 27 - John William Finn, 100, American naval officer, oldest living Medal of Honor recipient.
May 28 - Gary Coleman, 42, American actor (Diff'rent Strokes), intracranial hemorrhage.
June 2010
===============
Jun 3 - Rue McClanahan, 76, American actress (The Golden Girls, Maude), stroke.
Jun 13 - Jimmy Dean, 81, American country music singer (Big Bad John), actor and businessman (Jimmy Dean Foods), natural causes.
Jun 15 - Phil Gordon, 94, American character actor and dialect coach (The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, Petticoat Junction).
Jun 20 - Edith Shain, 91, American nurse, subject of V–J day in Times Square photograph, cancer.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
You too can be a survivor
I am now 59, and have lived through what I thought was the end of my normal existence. I can't say this is over, but what is normal now, is better than anything I could have hoped for. I have many reasons and purposes for putting my problems behind me and focusing on the greater need I can give to my family. As long as I have a reason to keep going, I view this experience as just a bump in the road. You can do this too, if you choose to.
Fortunately,or unfortunately, I now view the world with a different kind of wonder, compassion, and realization, but also with a touch of intolerance and skepticism. Some of this negativity comes from knowing that people don't know what they don't know. They are unwilling to change and look for the good they can do for others, or accept that they are not the center of the universe. It doesn't have to be in a big way at all, but we all have opportunities to affect the world around us, even if it's just to show we care about more than our own little existence.
Maybe this comes from living as long as I have. Anyone this age has seen the same stuff, and different people doing the same stuff (thinking it is an original idea), over and over again. The technology has changed, but the ideas, and the words, and the resulting actions, are just a repackaging and delivery of things repeated again and again. Maybe that's why guys my age get grumpy.
The names and the people may change, but the things they do haven't, since the beginning of time... world leaders behave like children; religious fanatics are out to destroy what they do not understand; rude and selfish behavior to other people on the highway will buy you that extra 5 seconds you need; governments spend more than they have; politicians are corrupt at every level of power; addictions... whether they be to drugs, money, food, power, technology, sex, work, or to other people, are the great equalizers; and theft and murder are the ultimate problem solvers.
Is it just me, or is this just another Groundhog Day?
I am actually very happy with my life.
I just wish everyone else would just smile, be happy, and play nice.
Now I'm glad I got that off my chest, and we can return you to your regularly scheduled program... and I can go watch some football.
Fortunately,or unfortunately, I now view the world with a different kind of wonder, compassion, and realization, but also with a touch of intolerance and skepticism. Some of this negativity comes from knowing that people don't know what they don't know. They are unwilling to change and look for the good they can do for others, or accept that they are not the center of the universe. It doesn't have to be in a big way at all, but we all have opportunities to affect the world around us, even if it's just to show we care about more than our own little existence.
Maybe this comes from living as long as I have. Anyone this age has seen the same stuff, and different people doing the same stuff (thinking it is an original idea), over and over again. The technology has changed, but the ideas, and the words, and the resulting actions, are just a repackaging and delivery of things repeated again and again. Maybe that's why guys my age get grumpy.
The names and the people may change, but the things they do haven't, since the beginning of time... world leaders behave like children; religious fanatics are out to destroy what they do not understand; rude and selfish behavior to other people on the highway will buy you that extra 5 seconds you need; governments spend more than they have; politicians are corrupt at every level of power; addictions... whether they be to drugs, money, food, power, technology, sex, work, or to other people, are the great equalizers; and theft and murder are the ultimate problem solvers.
Is it just me, or is this just another Groundhog Day?
I am actually very happy with my life.
I just wish everyone else would just smile, be happy, and play nice.
Now I'm glad I got that off my chest, and we can return you to your regularly scheduled program... and I can go watch some football.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Who we lost in the last 6 months of 2009
It seems that we lost a great many people in the first six months of 2009. There were many notable people you have heard of, and many you have not. I'm finishing up what I started with a few people we lost in the last six months of 2009. It's amazing how many I knew and lost track of in the crush of getting myself through the year. A few of these surprised me by their passing.
As you read through the list, see how many you know. I recommend that you look up some of the ones you don't . They were all special in some way. Some of them were only known to a few, but they made this list because they made a difference to someone. Get to know them. Their names may not pass this way again.
July 2009
======
Mollie Sugden, 86, British actress (Are You Being Served?), natural causes.
Karl Malden, 97, American Academy Award winning actor (A Streetcar Named Desire), natural causes.
John Keel, 79, American ufologist and writer (The Mothman Prophecies), heart failure.
Steve McNair, 36, American football player (Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens), shot.
Drake Levin, 62, American guitarist (Paul Revere & the Raiders), cancer.
John Bachar, 52, American rock climber, fall.
Waldo McBurney, 106, American beekeeper, oldest worker in the United States.
Dallas McKennon, 89, American voice actor (Gumby, Buzz Buzzard, Archie Andrews), natural causes.
Gordon Waller, 64, British singer (Peter and Gordon), cardiac arrest.
Walter Cronkite, 92, American television news anchor, cerebrovascular disease.
Gidget, 15, American chihuahua, Taco Bell mascot, stroke.
August 2009
========
Corazon Aquino, 76, Filipino politician, first female President (1986–1992), colon cancer.
Charles Gaylord, 72, American martial arts grandmaster (Kajukenbo).
Riccardo Cassin, 100, Italian mountaineer.
Andy Kessler, 48, American skateboarder, cardiac arrest following wasp sting.
Les Paul, 94, American guitarist and inventor, complications from pneumonia.
Kim Dae-jung, 83, South Korean politician, President (1998–2003), Nobel Peace Prize recipient, heart failure.
Ted Kennedy, 77, American politician, Senator from Massachusetts (1962–2009), brain cancer.
September 2009
==========
Erich Kunzel, 74, American conductor (Cincinnati Pops Orchestra), cancer.
Lou Bender, 99, American basketball pioneer who popularized the sport in New York City, cancer.
Larry Gelbart, 81, American comedy writer (M*A*S*H) and blogger (The Huffington Post), cancer.
Paul Burke, 83, American actor (Naked City), leukemia.
Patrick Swayze, 57, American actor (Dirty Dancing, Ghost), pancreatic cancer.
Henry Gibson, 73, American actor (Laugh-In, Boston Legal), cancer.
Mary Travers, 72, American singer (Peter, Paul and Mary), leukemia.
Lucy Vodden, 46, British inspiration for The Beatles song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", lupus.
October 2009
=========
Günther Rall, 91, German Luftwaffe flying ace during WWII, heart attack.
René Sommer, 58, Swiss co-inventor of the computer mouse.
Dickie Peterson, 63, American rock singer (Blue Cheer), liver cancer.
Al Martino, 82, American singer and actor (The Godfather), first person to top the UK Singles Chart.
Cullen Bryant, 58, American football player (Los Angeles Rams), natural causes.
Willard Varnell Oliver, 88, American Navajo code talker.
Soupy Sales, 83, American comedian and television host, cancer.
Shiloh Pepin, 10, American girl with rare sirenomelia condition, pneumonia.
November 2009
==========
Daul Kim, 20, South Korean fashion model, suicide by hanging.
Lester Shubin, 84, American developer of the bulletproof Kevlar vest, heart attack.
Lino Lacedelli, 83, Italian mountaineer, first man to reach the summit of K2.
Ron Sproat, 77, American television writer (Dark Shadows), heart attack.
December 2009
==========
Gene Barry, 90, American actor (Burke's Law, Bat Masterson), heart failure.
Robert G. Heft, 67, American designer of the 50-star American flag.
Oral Roberts, 91, American evangelist, founder of Oral Roberts University, complications from pneumonia.
Dame Victoire Bennett, Lady Ridsdale, 88, British politician, World War II intelligence agent, inspiration for Miss Moneypenny.
Roy E. Disney, 79, American entertainment executive (The Walt Disney Company), nephew of Walt Disney, stomach cancer.
Chris Henry, 26, American football player (Cincinnati Bengals), blunt force trauma after fall from vehicle.
Alaina Reed Hall, 63, American actress (Sesame Street, 227), breast cancer.
Arnold Stang, 91, American actor (Top Cat, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World), pneumonia.
Brittany Murphy, 32, American actress (Clueless, King of the Hill, 8 Mile), cardiac arrest.
James Gurley, 69, American guitarist (Big Brother and the Holding Company), heart attack.
Robert L. Howard, 70, American soldier, Medal of Honor recipient (1971), pancreatic cancer.
As you read through the list, see how many you know. I recommend that you look up some of the ones you don't . They were all special in some way. Some of them were only known to a few, but they made this list because they made a difference to someone. Get to know them. Their names may not pass this way again.
July 2009
======
Mollie Sugden, 86, British actress (Are You Being Served?), natural causes.
Karl Malden, 97, American Academy Award winning actor (A Streetcar Named Desire), natural causes.
John Keel, 79, American ufologist and writer (The Mothman Prophecies), heart failure.
Steve McNair, 36, American football player (Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens), shot.
Drake Levin, 62, American guitarist (Paul Revere & the Raiders), cancer.
John Bachar, 52, American rock climber, fall.
Waldo McBurney, 106, American beekeeper, oldest worker in the United States.
Dallas McKennon, 89, American voice actor (Gumby, Buzz Buzzard, Archie Andrews), natural causes.
Gordon Waller, 64, British singer (Peter and Gordon), cardiac arrest.
Walter Cronkite, 92, American television news anchor, cerebrovascular disease.
Gidget, 15, American chihuahua, Taco Bell mascot, stroke.
August 2009
========
Corazon Aquino, 76, Filipino politician, first female President (1986–1992), colon cancer.
Charles Gaylord, 72, American martial arts grandmaster (Kajukenbo).
Riccardo Cassin, 100, Italian mountaineer.
Andy Kessler, 48, American skateboarder, cardiac arrest following wasp sting.
Les Paul, 94, American guitarist and inventor, complications from pneumonia.
Kim Dae-jung, 83, South Korean politician, President (1998–2003), Nobel Peace Prize recipient, heart failure.
Ted Kennedy, 77, American politician, Senator from Massachusetts (1962–2009), brain cancer.
September 2009
==========
Erich Kunzel, 74, American conductor (Cincinnati Pops Orchestra), cancer.
Lou Bender, 99, American basketball pioneer who popularized the sport in New York City, cancer.
Larry Gelbart, 81, American comedy writer (M*A*S*H) and blogger (The Huffington Post), cancer.
Paul Burke, 83, American actor (Naked City), leukemia.
Patrick Swayze, 57, American actor (Dirty Dancing, Ghost), pancreatic cancer.
Henry Gibson, 73, American actor (Laugh-In, Boston Legal), cancer.
Mary Travers, 72, American singer (Peter, Paul and Mary), leukemia.
Lucy Vodden, 46, British inspiration for The Beatles song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", lupus.
October 2009
=========
Günther Rall, 91, German Luftwaffe flying ace during WWII, heart attack.
René Sommer, 58, Swiss co-inventor of the computer mouse.
Dickie Peterson, 63, American rock singer (Blue Cheer), liver cancer.
Al Martino, 82, American singer and actor (The Godfather), first person to top the UK Singles Chart.
Cullen Bryant, 58, American football player (Los Angeles Rams), natural causes.
Willard Varnell Oliver, 88, American Navajo code talker.
Soupy Sales, 83, American comedian and television host, cancer.
Shiloh Pepin, 10, American girl with rare sirenomelia condition, pneumonia.
November 2009
==========
Daul Kim, 20, South Korean fashion model, suicide by hanging.
Lester Shubin, 84, American developer of the bulletproof Kevlar vest, heart attack.
Lino Lacedelli, 83, Italian mountaineer, first man to reach the summit of K2.
Ron Sproat, 77, American television writer (Dark Shadows), heart attack.
December 2009
==========
Gene Barry, 90, American actor (Burke's Law, Bat Masterson), heart failure.
Robert G. Heft, 67, American designer of the 50-star American flag.
Oral Roberts, 91, American evangelist, founder of Oral Roberts University, complications from pneumonia.
Dame Victoire Bennett, Lady Ridsdale, 88, British politician, World War II intelligence agent, inspiration for Miss Moneypenny.
Roy E. Disney, 79, American entertainment executive (The Walt Disney Company), nephew of Walt Disney, stomach cancer.
Chris Henry, 26, American football player (Cincinnati Bengals), blunt force trauma after fall from vehicle.
Alaina Reed Hall, 63, American actress (Sesame Street, 227), breast cancer.
Arnold Stang, 91, American actor (Top Cat, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World), pneumonia.
Brittany Murphy, 32, American actress (Clueless, King of the Hill, 8 Mile), cardiac arrest.
James Gurley, 69, American guitarist (Big Brother and the Holding Company), heart attack.
Robert L. Howard, 70, American soldier, Medal of Honor recipient (1971), pancreatic cancer.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Christmas time again
It's been six months since my brother died, and since my granddaughter was born.
I still have trouble believing he has gone. I sometimes expect him to come up driving on his hot rod, and we would share a beer and talk about nothing. There are too many reminders of just how much his life intertwined with mine for me to so easily put away his memories.
Our little granddaughter on the other hand is such a joy to behold. She is so expressive. She appears to study everything with such intensity, and you can tell there is so much going on inside that little head, trying to make sense of a world that is so new to her. I just hope we have a world worth passing on to her.
I still have trouble believing he has gone. I sometimes expect him to come up driving on his hot rod, and we would share a beer and talk about nothing. There are too many reminders of just how much his life intertwined with mine for me to so easily put away his memories.
Our little granddaughter on the other hand is such a joy to behold. She is so expressive. She appears to study everything with such intensity, and you can tell there is so much going on inside that little head, trying to make sense of a world that is so new to her. I just hope we have a world worth passing on to her.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Tracy Golamb - 1953 to 2009
This my tribute to my brother Tracy. I've reduced the size. I hope it is enough.
If you can see this, I hope you enjoy the effort and love with which it was made.
My previous posts tell his story in words.
I hope this video in pictures and music does the same.
It's a little long, but worth the time.
Thanks for giving of your time to view it.
If you can see this, I hope you enjoy the effort and love with which it was made.
My previous posts tell his story in words.
I hope this video in pictures and music does the same.
It's a little long, but worth the time.
Thanks for giving of your time to view it.
A final act of love
I made a promise to my brother Tracy's two young girls to create a small movie for DVD in slides and music, giving tribute to him and telling his life story.
I finished this about a week ago, while on vacation, and am ready to give them a copy, along with any family member that wishes to have one. I'm proud of my first attempt to do something like this, and I think it turned out pretty well. Of course, it's not as good as it could be, if I had unlimited time and resources, but not bad. I had to watch it a couple dozen times during the making, and it brings up the same emotions of loss and love every time I did. I have to admit that I am not an especially emotional person. However, I have admit that I've cried each time I watched this.
I wish I could share this with the internet community, but even in it's QuickTime movie format, it is 162Mb and about 47 minutes long, so it is not practical to upload to a site where it can be watched. It should be.
As we all do when losing someone close, I have a couple of regrets that can never be fulfilled. The first is that I didn't give all of the support I could have in Tracy's last years. In looking back, I can see that there was much I could have added to the quality of his life. The second is that I do not have any pictures of the two of us before he died. This didn't occur to me until I put this tribute together. There are pictures of almost everyone in the family but me. I was so busy with the business of my life, that I missed out on the thing that would have made a difference for both of us. Now it is too late for us.
If you are reading this, then you know how I feel. I am telling you for your own future reference, that these regrets will fill some spot in your heart. If you act on them, then you will always feel good about your last acts of love and kindness. If you do not act on them, this place in your heart will be forever empty, and there is little you can do to mend what cannot be mended.
In my case, my only hope is that the movie I made about my brother's life will live on, and his children, and one day grandchildren, can see the kind of man he was. Even though he wasn't a great statesman, athlete, or highly recognized personality, the void he left in his passing will be felt for many years by those of us who were fortunate enough to know him.
I finished this about a week ago, while on vacation, and am ready to give them a copy, along with any family member that wishes to have one. I'm proud of my first attempt to do something like this, and I think it turned out pretty well. Of course, it's not as good as it could be, if I had unlimited time and resources, but not bad. I had to watch it a couple dozen times during the making, and it brings up the same emotions of loss and love every time I did. I have to admit that I am not an especially emotional person. However, I have admit that I've cried each time I watched this.
I wish I could share this with the internet community, but even in it's QuickTime movie format, it is 162Mb and about 47 minutes long, so it is not practical to upload to a site where it can be watched. It should be.
As we all do when losing someone close, I have a couple of regrets that can never be fulfilled. The first is that I didn't give all of the support I could have in Tracy's last years. In looking back, I can see that there was much I could have added to the quality of his life. The second is that I do not have any pictures of the two of us before he died. This didn't occur to me until I put this tribute together. There are pictures of almost everyone in the family but me. I was so busy with the business of my life, that I missed out on the thing that would have made a difference for both of us. Now it is too late for us.
If you are reading this, then you know how I feel. I am telling you for your own future reference, that these regrets will fill some spot in your heart. If you act on them, then you will always feel good about your last acts of love and kindness. If you do not act on them, this place in your heart will be forever empty, and there is little you can do to mend what cannot be mended.
In my case, my only hope is that the movie I made about my brother's life will live on, and his children, and one day grandchildren, can see the kind of man he was. Even though he wasn't a great statesman, athlete, or highly recognized personality, the void he left in his passing will be felt for many years by those of us who were fortunate enough to know him.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Some parting thoughts about our visit to Korea
First I want to say that I had a terrific time. The weather cooperated - and was perfect, the food was great, and the time we were able to spend with family and friends was time well spent. We had a small list of things we wanted to do, and managed to do all of them with a little time to spare. I wish more vacations were as enjoyable as the one we just had.
And with that said, let me add a few afterthoughts, observances, etc.
I feel in fair shape, and don't look that bad here in the USA. I'm working to get my weight down, and my clothes are fitting better these days (the same goes for Sue, as well). When I go to Korea, I feel fat. People there (on the average) are in much better physical shape than we are. They look thinner, and eat better. Don't get me wrong, American fast food is having its effect, and you are seeing a greater number of overweight people, but it is the occasional thing, rather than the other way around. Although there are restaurants every 100 ft. or so throughout Seoul (only a slight exaggeration), you wouldn't know it to look at the people. The only truly fat people I saw there were Americans.
The guys, even though the majority of them don't spend a day in the gym, they have a healthier and happier look, even the older guys. You don't see the expanded middle that has become commonplace in the USA.
And the women? Well, the average woman over there puts ours to shame. They are slimmer, dress way better, and care more about their appearance. You don't see the spare tire on them, that seems to be so prevalent here, especially on our younger girls.
I never knew I was such a leg man before. Certainly the women in the USA have drawn my attention away from such a very sexy part of the anatomy. Sorry, no picture examples for compassionate reasons.
Their English on signs, etc. is better displayed than in some other countries, such as Japan, where interpretation of English seems to be an expressive art form. I do spot the occasional goof or misspelling, but I think if they just asked for a little more help, this would improve. One restaurant I passed regularly on my travels, posted the sign outside that said "Self Barbecue House." I'm not sure what they intended, but it leaves a little to the imagination.
What's Hot and What's Not
Western culture is alive and well in Seoul.
The things that are most commonly seen there are Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins, 7-11, Bennigan's, Starbuck's, Outback Restaurant, Papa John's (which is basically all delivery), Pizza Hut (ditto), McDonald's, Burger King, and The Coffee Bean. These are everywhere, and popular.Of course they have their own Korean twist to the menu, but basically they are no different than the ones here. It is comforting to find an oasis of familiarity in a sea of kimchi.
A few things that you won't see anymore are The Seoul Hard Rock Cafe, Benihana's, and the Seoul Apple Computer store. I don't know reason for the Apple store going away. They have replace it with an authorized Apple reseller, but it just doesn't have the same feel. There were plenty of people in it though. If you want to buy apple stuff in Seoul, you'll need to do it on-line.
Vehicles you won't see on America highways
75% or so of vehicles on the streets of Seoul are Hyundae. ere is no surprise in this. There are other makers of Korean vehicles, but they are less as apparent. American and European vehicles are occasional sights, but these are driven by the financially snobbish.
There are a number of vehicles I think would be good for the USA, but sadly, although they are commonplace in the Korea, these will probably not make to American shores any time soon. These are Kia Morning, Daewoo Matiz, Daewoo Damas, Kia Bongo, and the Hyundae Porter. Interesting vehicles and used a lot over there.
I suppose there are other points I meant to highlight, but this is a good swipe at them. It is nice to be back home and in our own bed.
And with that said, let me add a few afterthoughts, observances, etc.
I feel in fair shape, and don't look that bad here in the USA. I'm working to get my weight down, and my clothes are fitting better these days (the same goes for Sue, as well). When I go to Korea, I feel fat. People there (on the average) are in much better physical shape than we are. They look thinner, and eat better. Don't get me wrong, American fast food is having its effect, and you are seeing a greater number of overweight people, but it is the occasional thing, rather than the other way around. Although there are restaurants every 100 ft. or so throughout Seoul (only a slight exaggeration), you wouldn't know it to look at the people. The only truly fat people I saw there were Americans.
The guys, even though the majority of them don't spend a day in the gym, they have a healthier and happier look, even the older guys. You don't see the expanded middle that has become commonplace in the USA.
And the women? Well, the average woman over there puts ours to shame. They are slimmer, dress way better, and care more about their appearance. You don't see the spare tire on them, that seems to be so prevalent here, especially on our younger girls.
I never knew I was such a leg man before. Certainly the women in the USA have drawn my attention away from such a very sexy part of the anatomy. Sorry, no picture examples for compassionate reasons.
Their English on signs, etc. is better displayed than in some other countries, such as Japan, where interpretation of English seems to be an expressive art form. I do spot the occasional goof or misspelling, but I think if they just asked for a little more help, this would improve. One restaurant I passed regularly on my travels, posted the sign outside that said "Self Barbecue House." I'm not sure what they intended, but it leaves a little to the imagination.
What's Hot and What's Not
Western culture is alive and well in Seoul.
The things that are most commonly seen there are Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins, 7-11, Bennigan's, Starbuck's, Outback Restaurant, Papa John's (which is basically all delivery), Pizza Hut (ditto), McDonald's, Burger King, and The Coffee Bean. These are everywhere, and popular.Of course they have their own Korean twist to the menu, but basically they are no different than the ones here. It is comforting to find an oasis of familiarity in a sea of kimchi.
A few things that you won't see anymore are The Seoul Hard Rock Cafe, Benihana's, and the Seoul Apple Computer store. I don't know reason for the Apple store going away. They have replace it with an authorized Apple reseller, but it just doesn't have the same feel. There were plenty of people in it though. If you want to buy apple stuff in Seoul, you'll need to do it on-line.
Vehicles you won't see on America highways
75% or so of vehicles on the streets of Seoul are Hyundae. ere is no surprise in this. There are other makers of Korean vehicles, but they are less as apparent. American and European vehicles are occasional sights, but these are driven by the financially snobbish.
There are a number of vehicles I think would be good for the USA, but sadly, although they are commonplace in the Korea, these will probably not make to American shores any time soon. These are Kia Morning, Daewoo Matiz, Daewoo Damas, Kia Bongo, and the Hyundae Porter. Interesting vehicles and used a lot over there.
I suppose there are other points I meant to highlight, but this is a good swipe at them. It is nice to be back home and in our own bed.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Our visit to Seoul
We have been visiting Sue's family in Seoul, and have had a terrific time. We spent most of the time so far kicking back and staying close to home, and only venturing out when the reason suits us. Otherwise, It's just go slow, have some great food, and visit with the family here. Even though I have some strong things to say in the following paragraphs, I still like it here and would move back if I had the opportunity.
We have made some observations though that indicate changes in the life here, since we lived here in 2004.
• Gas over here is about $5.36 per gallon (based on 1200 won per dollar). In Arizona, we are paying about $2.50 per gallon, so the cost of fuel is about double here.
• Traffic has increased significantly here. This is the number one problem here in my mind, and like the gun issue in the USA, there will never ever be an equitable solution.
There is always a line of traffic wherever you go, and sometimes it is fairly bad. As a result, getting around here involves sitting in your car and creeping along with the rest of the crowd. This induces many people to become impatient and do things unacceptable and risky in the state of the heavy traffic and narrow streets. I've seen several times where people drove around a waiting line to turn right by entering the empty left turn lane and cutting in front of the line of cars waiting for the lane change. The tactic is common, and there are few cops to catch the overwhelming abundance of traffic violations. I have even seen city busses do this. It is basically, do what you want, because the odds of getting caught... and then pursued for it and slim to none.
From what I've seen Koreans are some of the better drivers around, but I also think they are the worst, with more emphasis on the worst. They regularly drive the way they want... (see above), and basically ignore any sort of reasonable courtesy. Like I said, the police here do not have the presence we have in the states, and with 11 million people here, it's no surprise indifference is pretty much the norm. On the other hand, I see very few accidents here. Don't ask me why. It's amazing there aren't more.
There are speed traps all over the place, and over here, there is no warning like in the states. We tell you two or three times that one is coming, and people whine and complain. They wouldn't like it here, that's for sure.
• Milk is about $5.96 per gallon (with the same won/dollar calculation). Depending on where you shop in the states, we typically pay about $1.95 a gallon for milk, making the mark-up for it, considerably higher than for gas. Maybe the cows are more costly to raise and maintain than in the states. One thing I will tell you though is that the milk here has a surprisingly better taste, making anything you use it for, taste better as well. I can't say what it is, but I like it much better than the milk at home, which doesn't have much if any of it's own flavor. I never thought I'd see milk cost more than gas.
The cost of transportation (subway, bus, taxi) has also increased slightly. We do a lot more walking here than we ever did at home. I feel about 1000% safer here on the streets than I do in the states, at any hour of the day, and the feeling seems to generally be the same with everyone you see, making the desire to just take a walk a lot more pleasurable... even for longer distances.
I had some strong things to say, but it's because I like it here very much.
America has plenty of problems that make South Korea's problems seem like a bug on a windshield, so don't get me started.
We have made some observations though that indicate changes in the life here, since we lived here in 2004.
• Gas over here is about $5.36 per gallon (based on 1200 won per dollar). In Arizona, we are paying about $2.50 per gallon, so the cost of fuel is about double here.
• Traffic has increased significantly here. This is the number one problem here in my mind, and like the gun issue in the USA, there will never ever be an equitable solution.
There is always a line of traffic wherever you go, and sometimes it is fairly bad. As a result, getting around here involves sitting in your car and creeping along with the rest of the crowd. This induces many people to become impatient and do things unacceptable and risky in the state of the heavy traffic and narrow streets. I've seen several times where people drove around a waiting line to turn right by entering the empty left turn lane and cutting in front of the line of cars waiting for the lane change. The tactic is common, and there are few cops to catch the overwhelming abundance of traffic violations. I have even seen city busses do this. It is basically, do what you want, because the odds of getting caught... and then pursued for it and slim to none.
From what I've seen Koreans are some of the better drivers around, but I also think they are the worst, with more emphasis on the worst. They regularly drive the way they want... (see above), and basically ignore any sort of reasonable courtesy. Like I said, the police here do not have the presence we have in the states, and with 11 million people here, it's no surprise indifference is pretty much the norm. On the other hand, I see very few accidents here. Don't ask me why. It's amazing there aren't more.
There are speed traps all over the place, and over here, there is no warning like in the states. We tell you two or three times that one is coming, and people whine and complain. They wouldn't like it here, that's for sure.
• Milk is about $5.96 per gallon (with the same won/dollar calculation). Depending on where you shop in the states, we typically pay about $1.95 a gallon for milk, making the mark-up for it, considerably higher than for gas. Maybe the cows are more costly to raise and maintain than in the states. One thing I will tell you though is that the milk here has a surprisingly better taste, making anything you use it for, taste better as well. I can't say what it is, but I like it much better than the milk at home, which doesn't have much if any of it's own flavor. I never thought I'd see milk cost more than gas.
The cost of transportation (subway, bus, taxi) has also increased slightly. We do a lot more walking here than we ever did at home. I feel about 1000% safer here on the streets than I do in the states, at any hour of the day, and the feeling seems to generally be the same with everyone you see, making the desire to just take a walk a lot more pleasurable... even for longer distances.
I had some strong things to say, but it's because I like it here very much.
America has plenty of problems that make South Korea's problems seem like a bug on a windshield, so don't get me started.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Tracy's marker
My sister, Tanya and I went out on Saturday to where Tracy was placed in the Arizona Memorial Cemetery. It was a lot tougher for her than it was for me, but we spent a little while talking to him and to each other, trying to still come to grips with his loss. It is still tough to believe that he has gone. I can still hear his voice and see his easy smile. Tanya still has difficulty going into his bedroom. I know it will be a while before the pain of his loss has subsided, but I will always carry the good times between us. That is the most important thing anyway.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Who we lost in the first 6 months of 2009
It seems that we lost a great many people in the first six months of 2009. There were many notable people you have heard of, and many you have not. Below is a smattering of names of those no longer with us. I am familiar with practically every name on this list, with only a few exceptions.
As you read through the list, see how many you know. I recommend that you look up some of the ones you don't . They were all special in some way. Some of them were only known to a few, but they made this list because they made a difference to someone. Get to know them. Their names may not pass this way again.
January 2009
============
Dewey Martin, 68, Canadian-born American drummer (Buffalo Springfield).
Hélio Gracie, 95, Brazilian martial artist, creator of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Bob May, 69, American actor (Lost in Space, The Time Tunnel), heart failure.
Sir John Mortimer, 85, British barrister, novelist and dramatist (Rumpole of the Bailey), after long illness.
Patrick McGoohan, 80, American-born Irish actor (The Prisoner, Braveheart), after short illness.
Rob Gauntlett, 21, British mountaineer, youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest, climbing accident.
February 2009
=============
Paul Harvey, 90, American radio broadcaster.
Philip José Farmer, 91, American writer (Riverworld).
Brad Van Pelt, 57, American football player (New York Giants), heart attack.
James Whitmore, 87, American Academy Award–nominated actor, lung cancer.
March 2009
===========
Dan Seals, 61, American country music singer-songwriter (England Dan & John Ford Coley), mantle cell lymphoma.
Lloyd Ruby, 81, American auto racing driver.
Natasha Richardson, 45, British actress, epidural hematoma.
Ron Silver, 62, American actor and political activist, esophageal cancer.
Jimmy Boyd, 70, American actor and singer ("I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"), cancer.
April 2009
=========
Hans Holzer, 89, Austrian-born American paranormal investigator and author, after long illness.
Beatrice Arthur, 86, American Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress (Maude, The Golden Girls, Mame), cancer.
Marilyn Chambers, 56, American pornographic film actress (Behind the Green Door), erotic dancer, and politician, heart disease.
Russell E. Dunham, 89, American war veteran, Medal of Honor recipient, heart failure.
May 2009
=========
Millvina Dean, 97, British woman, last living passenger aboard the Titanic, pneumonia.
Roh Moo-hyun, 62, South Korean politician, President (2003–2008), suicide by jumping.
Adolf Dickfeld, 99, German World War II Luftwaffe flying ace.
Wayman Tisdale, 44, American basketball player and jazz bassist, cancer.
Dom DeLuise, 75, American actor (The Cannonball Run, The Secret of NIMH), writer, chef and cookbook author, kidney failure.
June 2009
=========
Billy Mays, 50, American pitchman and television host (Pitchmen), hypertensive heart disease.
Gale Storm, 87, American actress (My Little Margie, The Gale Storm Show).
Farrah Fawcett, 62, American actress (Charlie's Angels), anal cancer.
Michael Jackson, 50, American pop singer–songwriter, cardiac arrest.
Ed McMahon, 86, American television host (Star Search) and announcer (The Tonight Show).
Bob Bogle, 75, American guitarist (The Ventures), non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Roger Terry, 87, American airman (Tuskegee Airmen), heart failure.
David Carradine, 72, American actor (Kung Fu, Kill Bill), hanging.
Shih Kien, 96, Hong Kong actor (Enter the Dragon).
Bob Christie, 85, American racing driver.
Tracy Golamb, 55, Diesel mechanic, father, brother, hot rod builder, complications of ALS.
As you read through the list, see how many you know. I recommend that you look up some of the ones you don't . They were all special in some way. Some of them were only known to a few, but they made this list because they made a difference to someone. Get to know them. Their names may not pass this way again.
January 2009
============
Dewey Martin, 68, Canadian-born American drummer (Buffalo Springfield).
Hélio Gracie, 95, Brazilian martial artist, creator of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Bob May, 69, American actor (Lost in Space, The Time Tunnel), heart failure.
Sir John Mortimer, 85, British barrister, novelist and dramatist (Rumpole of the Bailey), after long illness.
Patrick McGoohan, 80, American-born Irish actor (The Prisoner, Braveheart), after short illness.
Rob Gauntlett, 21, British mountaineer, youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest, climbing accident.
February 2009
=============
Paul Harvey, 90, American radio broadcaster.
Philip José Farmer, 91, American writer (Riverworld).
Brad Van Pelt, 57, American football player (New York Giants), heart attack.
James Whitmore, 87, American Academy Award–nominated actor, lung cancer.
March 2009
===========
Dan Seals, 61, American country music singer-songwriter (England Dan & John Ford Coley), mantle cell lymphoma.
Lloyd Ruby, 81, American auto racing driver.
Natasha Richardson, 45, British actress, epidural hematoma.
Ron Silver, 62, American actor and political activist, esophageal cancer.
Jimmy Boyd, 70, American actor and singer ("I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"), cancer.
April 2009
=========
Hans Holzer, 89, Austrian-born American paranormal investigator and author, after long illness.
Beatrice Arthur, 86, American Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress (Maude, The Golden Girls, Mame), cancer.
Marilyn Chambers, 56, American pornographic film actress (Behind the Green Door), erotic dancer, and politician, heart disease.
Russell E. Dunham, 89, American war veteran, Medal of Honor recipient, heart failure.
May 2009
=========
Millvina Dean, 97, British woman, last living passenger aboard the Titanic, pneumonia.
Roh Moo-hyun, 62, South Korean politician, President (2003–2008), suicide by jumping.
Adolf Dickfeld, 99, German World War II Luftwaffe flying ace.
Wayman Tisdale, 44, American basketball player and jazz bassist, cancer.
Dom DeLuise, 75, American actor (The Cannonball Run, The Secret of NIMH), writer, chef and cookbook author, kidney failure.
June 2009
=========
Billy Mays, 50, American pitchman and television host (Pitchmen), hypertensive heart disease.
Gale Storm, 87, American actress (My Little Margie, The Gale Storm Show).
Farrah Fawcett, 62, American actress (Charlie's Angels), anal cancer.
Michael Jackson, 50, American pop singer–songwriter, cardiac arrest.
Ed McMahon, 86, American television host (Star Search) and announcer (The Tonight Show).
Bob Bogle, 75, American guitarist (The Ventures), non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Roger Terry, 87, American airman (Tuskegee Airmen), heart failure.
David Carradine, 72, American actor (Kung Fu, Kill Bill), hanging.
Shih Kien, 96, Hong Kong actor (Enter the Dragon).
Bob Christie, 85, American racing driver.
Tracy Golamb, 55, Diesel mechanic, father, brother, hot rod builder, complications of ALS.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
If these walls could talk...
As you already know, I am a big admirer of the life and culture of Korea. There are so many things to envy about the country and its people. Living there gave me a real appreciation, especially since my extended family there has taken the time to show me how exceptional it can be.
Anyway, I was reading the on-line news and I ran across this article about some of Seoul's history. I found it fascinating. It's part of a series, so explore a little if it spurs more interest. Hearing about Seoul's history from my wife Sue has inspired me to delve a little deeper on my own. Check it out. I hope you enjoy it. If these walls could talk...
Anyway, I was reading the on-line news and I ran across this article about some of Seoul's history. I found it fascinating. It's part of a series, so explore a little if it spurs more interest. Hearing about Seoul's history from my wife Sue has inspired me to delve a little deeper on my own. Check it out. I hope you enjoy it. If these walls could talk...
Thursday, June 25, 2009
What's ado with North Korea
Have you been keeping up with the news about North Korea these days? I find it very interesting.
Tens of Thousands of N. Koreans Rally in Defiance of US
Tens of Thousands of N. Koreans Rally in Defiance of US
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
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