Category Archives: Obituaries

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Islamophobes

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Posted on August 31, 2010 in Obituaries, Scribbles, The War

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The plastic cycle of life

Posted on August 22, 2010 | Comments Off on The plastic cycle of life

Plastic bags, which I greatly prefer to paper (which has a tendency to get wet and fall apart, dropping everything in the street) are under assault everywhere these days. Particularly in (where else) California, home of Queen Nancy, the botox pol a majority of us know and despise. So this little “mockumentary” is more affecting than even its producers realize. Plastic or paper? Plastic, of course. Have some compassion. Help those little bags get out to sea with their pals. Don’t let them die!!!

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Posted in Obamalot, Obituaries, Science/Engineering, Scribbles

The Seablogger on cancer

Posted on July 16, 2010 | Comments Off on The Seablogger on cancer

Divide and Conquer
The cells divide. The cells that will not die
divide too well and so they multiply.
They kill the host to keep themselves alive.
The blood goes bad. In vain physicians try
to purge the veins with drugs the cells defy.
The cells divide. The cells that will not die
mutate anew. The hardy few survive.
The few recruit the many teeming by.
They kill the host to keep themselves alive.
They colonize the nodes from neck to thigh.
The tumors grow, and scanners never lie.
The cells divide. The cells that will not die
stifle the very organs where they thrive.
Blind, stupid things—their purpose gone awry—
they kill the host to keep themselves alive.
Exploding through the flesh, they multiply,
but immortality eludes them. Why?
The cells divide. The cells that will not die
kill the host to keep themselves alive.

Good stuff. The fitting end to this good interview by his longtime partner. Too soon he died. Yet, as he says there, he could be proud of what he left behind.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Library, Obituaries

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Seablogger sinking

Posted on July 9, 2010 | Comments Off on Seablogger sinking

For some time now, the health of Alan Sullivan, the Seablogger, has been sinking. It seems that he is near death:

“Steve and Tim have conferred with Dr. D. this morning. He told them that there is little hope of Alan ever communicating again. Accordingly, they directed Dr. D. to discontinue ‘heroic measures.’ Father Tom is going up to the hospital to bestow a final blessing.”

Adios to a sometimes irascible, but always readable and interesting blogger whose last post was simple and compelling: “What I yearn for: Pineapple juice, orange juice, milk, oh milk.”

Via Instapundit. (Alan’s going out with an Instalanche.)

UPDATE:  It’s 9:24 p.m. Alan died earlier today. He wanted the blog sealed from comments. But there’s talk among his “rare readers” of a chat room, at least. As long as someone wants to pay the isp, I suppose… Which also applies to his blog.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Obituaries, Weather/Climate

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SWAT killers strike again

Posted on May 25, 2010 | Comments Off on SWAT killers strike again

This time they killed an innocent 7-year-old girl in Detroit. But don’t just blame the police, blame the pols who enable them.

Via Instapundit.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Obituaries

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A Canticle for Leibowitz

Posted on May 20, 2010 | Comments Off on A Canticle for Leibowitz

Powerful book, this, despite the irony that fifty years after it was first published, nothing remotely close to its apocalyptic vision of nuclear holocaust has yet occurred or even seems likely. Not even with the Iranian push for nukes.

There is another irony about this classic SciFi tale (which is only really SciFi at the end and then space opera not hard science) and that’s the lengthy and inspired Catholic discussion about how even people dying in pain should not offend G-d by taking their own lives. Then, Googling, I discover that the author, Walter Miller Jr., killed himself.

Nevertheless, his book is a wonderful read, thoughtful and challenging, from beginning to end. With plenty left to chew over (see his chin-choppers poem below) long after the last few paragraphs are done with. I love the fact that it takes place in Texas, with Texarkana, Pecos and Laredo in starring roles. Think I can see why he did not write a second one until forty years later and it never equaled the first. The lit crits must have smothered him with love. Then, being a World War II combat vet, he had PTSD guilt to deal with, also. R.I.P.

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Posted in Library, Obituaries, Science/Engineering, Scribbles, Space

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Here’s a thought

Posted on May 2, 2010 | Comments Off on Here’s a thought

“In Victorian America, death was discussed open and honestly, but the topic of sex was considered taboo.  In the United States today, it is just the opposite.” –from Widow’s Weeds and Weeping Veils.

Via TOCWOC.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Civil War, Genealogy, Library, Obituaries

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