Lord Nazh claims he quit blogging at least for now...read here
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
RIP
My grandmother (mom's mom) passed away approximately an hour ago. Not sure how long I'll be away from posting (and I don't have any celeb's lined up to post either).
It has taken more than 90 days, 270 witnesses and a bill of £10 million to slay the obsessive conspiracy theories of one man. And in the end yesterday, a jury discarded the soft option of accidental death and placed much of the blame for the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Dodi Fayed on the shoulders of one of Mohamed Al Fayed’s own employees.
The Princess and Dodi were unlawfully killed by a combination of their drunk driver, Henri Paul, and the paparazzi who were chasing their car, the jury at their inquests decided.
It was a disastrous outcome for the owner of Harrods, whose allegations of a murder plot masterminded by the Duke of Edinburgh were rejected decisively by the coroner for complete lack of evidence. It was a damning indictment, too, of the pursuing photographers who must accept an equal share of the blame. Even the dead do not escape censure. The couple might have been alive today, the jury decided unanimously, had they been wearing their seatbelts.
TimesOnline Now maybe this poor woman can finally rest. The obsession over her death (and life) rivals that of Elvis at times over here (in the south especially) and I doubt this inquest will change the minds of some who continue to look for conspiracies wherever they can.
LOS ANGELES - Charlton Heston, who won the 1959 best actor Oscar as the chariot-racing "Ben-Hur" and portrayed Moses, Michelangelo, El Cid and other heroic figures in movie epics of the '50s and '60s, has died. He was 84.
The actor died Saturday night at his home in Beverly Hills with his wife Lydia at his side, family spokesman Bill Powers said.
Powers declined to comment on the cause of death or provide further details.
Heston revealed in 2002 that he had symptoms consistent with Alzheimer's disease, saying, "I must reconcile courage and surrender in equal measure."
With his large, muscular build, well-boned face and sonorous voice, Heston proved the ideal star during the period when Hollywood was filling movie screens with panoramas depicting the religious and historical past. "I have a face that belongs in another century," he often remarked.
Most everyone has posted on this already, I've been busy so I'll just link to a friend of mine's post on it.
[I think of the great quote: "Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." WFB was not a great mind, he was a titanic mind. Colossal. The sphere of his comprehension knew no fixed radius. He was a man of culture and letters, a sportsman and musician, a socialite and a committed Catholic -- all while leading the conservative charge for 50+ years. I began subscribing to National Review almost ten years ago, attracted primarily by his wit and wisdom. His congenial relations with his fiercest of critics is the model we should all hope to attain. God Bless you WFB. Thanks for being the embodiment of the RIGHT way of living. -Biz]
This man needs to be shot... repeatedly in the legs, arms, wherever (yes I'm upset).
Luong, 37, a shrimp boat worker who lives in Irvington, was being held without bond on four counts of capital murder. If convicted, he could be sentenced to death or life in prison without parole.
District Attorney John Tyson Jr. said Luong had confessed to throwing Ryan Phan, 3, Hannah Luong, 2, Lindsey Luong, 1, and Danny Luong, 4 months, off the three-mile-long bridge after an argument with his wife.
Luong later recanted, claiming two Asian women took the children and never returned them. But a witness saw Luong on the 80-foot-tall two-lane bridge with the children, and another saw him leave the area without the children, Cochran said Friday.
Yahoo News I hope that after the trial (in which I hope he is found guilty [if he actually is...]) they send him to death row in a non-Huckabee state (heh).
My mom's sister died last night after losing her final battle with cancer.
I have only seen her a handful of times since I moved from Tennessee in the early 80's, but she was my favorite. Staying at her house was always fun, she had 3 daughters a little older than I, but they all loved sports, so I fit right in.
She has been very bad off for awhile now and recently the doctors gave up. Late last night she finally succumbed and went to meet her maker. [* not sure on the birth year, when I get final confirmation, I'll amend it]
Three of my cousins died today - Mom and two beautiful, lovely girls...
Oh, G-d, oh, G-d... What do I say...?!
Dear G-D IN HEAVEN... WHY?
Oh Father, receive their souls, I pray... Let them enter into Your presence! Be with their father and comfort him. Uphold him in Your arms and give him Your strength and Your peace...
Merv, a household name for many in the world (especially the US) for the past few decades:
LOS ANGELES — Merv Griffin, who went from big-band era crooner to fabulously successful TV talk show host before making a fortune as the creator of two of television's most popular game shows and then parlaying that into a billion-dollar hotel empire, died Sunday. He was 82.
Griffin died of prostate cancer, according to a statement from his the family that was released by Marcia Newberger, spokeswoman for The Griffin Group/Merv Griffin Entertainment. Griffin was recently hospitalized for a recurrence of the disease, which had been treated successfully more than 10 years ago. (link)
He was an icon and one of the great entertainers of his time. Prayers go out to the family and friends that he's leaving behind.
One of the greatest football coaches of all-time has passed away:
Former Grambling Coach Eddie Robinson Dies Apr 4, 8:33 AM (ET)Email this Story
By MARY FOSTER
RUSTON, La. (AP) -Eddie Robinson, who sent more than 200 players to the NFL and won 408 games during a 57-year career, has died. He was 88.
Super Bowl MVP quarterback Doug Williams, one of Robinson's former players, said the former Grambling State University coach died shortly before midnight on Tuesday. Robinson had been admitted to Lincoln General Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
"For the Grambling family this is a very emotional time," Williams said Wednesday. "But I'm thinking about Eddie Robinson the man, not in today-time, but in the day and what he meant to me and to so many people."
Robinson's career spanned 11 presidents, several wars and the civil-rights movement.
His older records were what people remembered: in 57 years, Robinson set the standard for victories, going 408-165-15. John Gagliardi of St. John's, Minn., passed Robinson and has 443 wins. (link)
Prayers go out to all the family/friends of Coach Robinson.
Un-verified reports have placed Anna as deceased. Her lawyer reports that she collapsed and died today.
Anna Nicole Smith dies
8 minutes ago
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -
Anna Nicole Smith, the former Playboy playmate whose bizarre life careened from marrying an octogenarian billionaire to the untimely death of her son, died Thursday after collapsing at a South Florida hotel, one of her lawyers said.
Smith, 39, collapsed and was unresponsive while staying at the Seminole Hard Rock Cafe Hotel and Casino, said the attorney, Ron Rale. She was rushed to a hospital.
"She checked in Monday at 8 p.m. as a guest. She was due to check out tomorrow," said Danielle Giordaano, a spokeswoman for the hotel. (link)
Her life was a roller-coaster from the first day she hit the news. As weird as it was though, it didn't deserve this ending at only 39.
This is the amazing little boy who has literally come back from the dead after doctors switched off his life support machine.
Doctors said they didn’t hold out any hope for six-year-old Craig Boardman who was given a nil chance of survival after suffering massive injuries after being hit by a truck.
They had already switched off his life support machine once, but he had shown no sign of life so they had to switch it back on.
Miracle: Six-year-old boy wakes from the dead after being hit by truck.
So when doctors switched off the machine for the second time, no-one held out any hope - until Craig took the tinest(sic) of breaths.
Now he has made an amazing recovery and is back home in Dishforth, North Yorkshire, with his relieved parents, who thought they had lost him for ever. (link)
Remarkable and touching story of a little boy that was lost and came back. A very warm story to happen at this particular time of year. Here's hoping the little boy lives a very long and fulfilling life. Now the other way (from just up the road):
Last Updated:December 17. 2006 12:00AM Published: December 17. 2006 3:30AM
A student scheduled to receive his master's degree in business administration Friday from the University of North Alabama died at Huntsville Hospital on Thursday.
University officials declined to identify the student, but the TimesDaily has learned that Bikash Agrawal is the fifth student in the university's international program to be linked to two confirmed and two suspected cases of tuberculosis at the university.
All four students are being treated for the disease with a standard drug protocol, said Dr. Karen Landers, area health officer. She said none remains hospitalized or is contagious.
Health officials have not said, however, that Agrawal's death was a result of TB.
Landers said Agrawal's case has been linked to the other four cases. His case was determined through communication across public health areas within the state, she said.
"We are aware of the situation," she said. "But we are satisfied all appropriate action has been taken, and this death won't affect our investigation."
Landers serves a six-county region that includes Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Marion, Walker and Winston counties.
Although he had been a resident of Florence, Agrawal was living in Huntsville at the time of his death. He had taken one course on campus at UNA and another through the online degree program.
David Shields, UNA vice president for student affairs, said the student had not attended an on-campus class in the past two months. (link)
Prayers go out to this young man's family. __________ Reason balances passion
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Palestinian gunmen killed three young sons of a senior Palestinian intelligence officer Monday, pumping dozens of bullets into their car as it passed through a street crowded with schoolchildren in an apparent botched assassination attempt that could ignite widespread factional fighting.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the drive-by attack, which left the schoolbags and a small plastic bag with a sandwich covered in blood.
"I have no words. Words stop at the extent of this crime," the boys' father, Baha Balousheh, told The Associated Press. "I am a father who has lost his children."
This is as bad as sending a suicide bomber into a civilian population center. To deliberately target three young boys like that and gun them down is beyond reproach. Luckily if they find those responsible, the court system is a bit rougher than ours, so justice may yet be done. __________ Reason against EVILTM