R.i.p. 2008

[Vodstok]

Originally Posted by urgeok2

thats very true ..

i just wish it was more common to live past 84 ... shit it seems like the magic life line. very few people make it to 90.


i want to live to be at least 200.

I know, there are so many factors these days that make it less and less likely that we will make it close to 100, stress being one of the main ones. Its ridiculous the number of people who only take vacations ever couple of years (or even less), and when they do, some are REQUIRED to make sure they have their blackberry, pager, cell phone, etc in easy reach in case they are needed.


Nothing is so important. NOTHING. Even if you are the number 1 brain surgeon on earth, out of numbers 2,3, 4, etc , ONE of them has to be available.

[neverending]

Forrest J Ackerman alive and going strong at 91, bless him!

[Vodstok]

Originally Posted by neverending

Forrest J Ackerman alive and going strong at 91, bless him!

Way to go, you probably just condemned him to death...

"They always go in 3s" the old saying goes, and there is no quicker way to jinx someone than to aknowledge their success. Way to go, killer :)

[urgeok2]

its the ultimate genetic lottery ..

even if you eat right, don't smoke, drive responsibly, do everything you can ... you still have an excellent chance of getting something later in life that takes you sooner than it should.

fucking cure cancer already !!

[Vodstok]

Originally Posted by urgeok2

its the ultimate genetic lottery ..

even if you eat right, don't smoke, drive responsibly, do everything you can ... you still have an excellent chance of getting something later in life that takes you sooner than it should.

fucking cure cancer already !!

Why should they? Treating cancer is expensive, and although Nobel prizes are the Bees Knees, they dont make you nearly as much money as say, Botox, Viagra or any of a slew of anti-anxiety and depression drugs, many of which would be unucessary if people werent worried they were going to die of cancer.

A sad reality is that way too many people become doctors because of the ridiculous amount of wealth they can amass, not out of any strong need to help or heal.

[Festered]

Originally Posted by _____V_____

This is the single biggest loss in the history of the humane side of Hollywood. Ever.


(CNN) -- Paul Newman, the legendary actor whose steely blue eyes, good-humored charm and advocacy of worthy causes made him one of the most renowned figures in American arts, has died of cancer at his home in Westport, Connecticut.

He was 83.

Paul Newman's handsome face and solid acting made him a popular and respected film star.

He died Friday, according to spokeswoman Marni Tomljanovic.

Newman attained stardom in the 1950s and never lost the movie-star aura, appearing in such classic films as "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "Exodus," "The Hustler," "Cool Hand Luke," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "The Sting" and "The Verdict."

He finally won an Oscar in 1986 -- on his eighth try -- for "The Color of Money," a sequel to "The Hustler." He later received two more Oscar nominations. Among his other awards was the Motion Picture Academy's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

"Paul took advantage of what life offered him, and while personally reluctant to acknowledge that he was doing anything special, he forever changed the lives of many with his generosity, humor, and humanness," said Robert Forrester, vice chairman of the actor's Newman's Own Foundation. "His legacy lives on in the charities he supported and the Hole in the Wall Camps, for which he cared so much."

In 1982, Newman and his friend A.E. Hotchner founded Newman's Own, a food company that produced food ranging from pasta sauces to salad dressing to chocolate chip cookies.

"The embarrassing thing is that the salad dressing is outgrossing my films," Newman once wryly noted.

To date, the company -- which donates all profits to charities such as Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang camps -- has given away more than $200 million. Newman established the camp to benefit gravely ill children.

"He saw the camps as places where kids could escape the fear, pain and isolation of their conditions, kick back and raise a little hell," Forrester said.

Today, there are 11 Hole in the Wall Gang camps around the world, with additional programs in Africa and Vietnam. Some 135,000 children have attended the camps -- free of charge.

The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps "is part of his living legacy, and for that we remain forever grateful," the association said in a statement.

"We are greatly saddened by his passing. His leadership and spirit can never be replaced. But he has left us strong and confident."

In 2007, Newman said he was retiring from acting, saying he'd lost confidence in his abilities. Still, he marveled at his own resilience.

"You can't be as old as I am without waking up with a surprised look on your face every morning: 'Holy Christ, whaddya know - I'm still around!' It's absolutely amazing that I survived all the booze and smoking and the cars and the career."

Newman, who was married to Jackie Witt from 1949 to 1957, is survived by his wife, Joanne Woodward (wife of 50 years), and five children.

Unfortunately, I've been cut off from civilization for 2 weeks, and was not aware of Newman's demise until yesterday, on a train. So I apologize for bringing it up again.

I was not an immense fan of his films, although most were of high quality. I do, however, agree with _V_'s quote, the man was a rarity in Hwood, a man of clearcut integrity, who gave much more than he got. If you say the word "phony", this guy will never come to mind. And, to me, he was somewhat of a Jimmy Stewart for my generation. He portayed decency in almost every role, even if it wasn't a decent character being portrayed. I will always remember him in 3 films. Cool Hand Luke, Hud and Hombre. Who else but Newman could make you believe a blue-eyed American Indian?

[_____V_____]

Nov 2, 2008


John Daly, the British-born producer of 13 Oscar-winning movies including “Platoon” and “The Last Emperor” who helped launch the careers of many top directors and actors, has died.

He was 71.



Daly, who was chairman of Film and Music Entertainment, died Friday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after struggling with cancer, said his daughter, Jenny Daly.

Over a career that spanned four decades, Daly helped to produce films that earned 13 Oscars for best picture and 21 Oscar nominations, as well as numerous Golden Globes and other awards.

Daly’s companies boosted the careers of directors such as Oliver Stone (“Platoon,” “Salvador”), Bernardo Bertolucci (“The Last Emperor”) and Robert Altman (“Images”), as well as actors Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves and Julia Roberts.

“John was truly a giant in the industry who changed filmmaking for the better,” Lawrence Lotman, chief financial officer and acting chief executive officer of Film and Music Entertainment, said in a statement.

Born in London, Daly joined with British actor David Hemmings in 1967 to form Hemdale, a company that managed rock bands such as Yes and Black Sabbath.

Hemdale later became a leading independent film producer and distributor in the U.K. with movies such as “Tommy,” according to a biography issued by Film and Music Entertainment.

Under Daly’s stewardship, Hemdale produced more than 100 films that grossed more than $1.5 billion.

Since 2003, Daly had been at the helm of Film and Music Entertainment. In 2004, he produced, co-wrote and directed “The Aryan Couple,” starring Martin Landau, which received awards at film festivals around the world.

He is survived by three sons and a daughter.


R.I.P. John Daly.

[MisterSadistro]

I got word earlier today that Forry Ackerman is not doing well.
Somehow the late, great Rudy Ray Moore was overlooked on here.

For those of you who aren't familiar with him, he was the legendary rapping pimp in early blaxploitation movies. You will never find more catchphrases or drinking games from any other movies which is why I take it as a personal lost.
"You gonna have to take me !" indeed. RIP....

[neverending]

For those of you familiar with the dark corners of the musical universe, Yma Sumac, the Queen of Exotica has passed away.

http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/11/3/r...of-the-xtabay/


Also news earlier today that Barak Obama's grandmother passed on.

[crabapple]

Yes, Yma Sumac and Rudy Ray Moore: both great entertainers.