Category Archives: Obituaries

Was he or wasn’t he?

Posted on March 20, 2008 | Comments Off on Was he or wasn’t he?

First off, it’s worth mentioning that many gay people tiresomely assume that many others are, whether they will admit it or not. Particularly famous, talented and important people. Including the late sci-fi impresario Sir Arthur C. Clarke, who died the other day at age 90. Although none of his mainstream obituaries mention the detail, some gay bloggers take it for granted. Heresy, I suppose, to his most dedicated heterosexual fans. Otherwise, just an interesting notion. The Seablogger at Fresh Bilge has an intriguing mention of it.

MORE: I left a comment over at Mouth of the Brazos to the effect that all Clarke did was foresee the communications satellite. Wrongo. 

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Posted in Obituaries, Scribbles

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WFB, R.I.P.

Posted on February 27, 2008 | Comments Off on WFB, R.I.P.

I grew up fascinated by William F. Buckley, Jr., especially watching his debating style against socialists in the rare times that he appeared on television. I went from him to Ayn Rand and Barry Goldwater. Then I turned liberal, for reasons I forget, but which probably had to do with Civil Rights, until Reagan’s second term began to bring me back to the fold. So I was ready when 9/11 made it a practical necessity. But it began with WFB. He was a great sailor, too, and wrote about it well.

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Hollyweird’s awards

Posted on February 25, 2008 | Comments Off on Hollyweird’s awards

The movies were depressing, with their usual nihilism. No wonder fewer watch the Oscars every year, and ticket buyers dwindle–though, in truth, you wouldn’t know it from all the attention the blogosphere gave and gave and gave the show. But movies are supposed to touch the heart, not merely the political affiliation. I’m filing this one under obituaries because these lefty varmints are killing themselves. Not that I care, mind you.

UPDATE:  Lowest viewership in history. Still, thirty-two million means the bottom hasn’t been reached yet.  

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Maj. Andrew J. Olmsted, R.I.P.

Posted on January 4, 2008 | Comments Off on Maj. Andrew J. Olmsted, R.I.P.

The surge is obviously working. You can tell because Iraq is no longer front page news very often, and most of the pols have stopped yammering about pulling out. But good Americans are still dying there, including this 37-year-old, Big Red One Iraqi army advisor and milblogger from Colorado Springs. Oddly enough, he left behind his own final post and this sayonara:

"I’m dead, but if you’re reading this, you’re not, so take a moment to enjoy that happy fact."

Via Instapundit

MORE: A friend who served with Olmsted at Fort Carson, CO, remembers him in this touching  tribute. And word is finally trickling out about how AJO died: a sniper got him while he was trying to talk some insurgents into surrendering.

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Posted in Iraq, Obituaries, The War, Troops

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Helping players wee-wee

Posted on November 28, 2007 | Comments Off on Helping players wee-wee

Hard as it is to imagine a football coach saying "wee-wee," that’s the legend of how the popular (nay, ubiquitous) sports drink of Gatorade came to be, according to its inventor, Dr. J. Robert Cade, who died yesterday in Florida. He was 80. The first concoction wasn’t so good, though. Native Texan Cade, who graduated from UT Southwestern medical school in Dallas, vomited.

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SPC Vincent A. Madero, R.I.P.

Posted on October 28, 2007 | Comments Off on SPC Vincent A. Madero, R.I.P.

Madero.JPG

"RANDOLPH AFB–…Word spread quickly across the base that a warrior was making his final flight home this morning…" Madero, 22, of the 1st Cav at Fort Hood, was received by his family. He left a wife and step son in Alaska.

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Pvt. Sidney William Watts, R.I.P.

Posted on October 21, 2007 | Comments Off on Pvt. Sidney William Watts, R.I.P.

David Bogner’s touching tale about a British light infantryman who died, in what is now Israel, in 1917.

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