Last week, Coolio died, (Artis Ivey), singer of the majestic "Gangsta's Paradise", which was a smash round the world, and showed the more melodic side of rap. 59 years old, too young.
A friend on Facebook posted that Brother Andrew, the Bible smuggler, has died.
I must admit I was surprised to read that he had died so very recently. I suppose I was presuming he was the same generation as Corrie Ten Boom, although, giving it some thought, it wasn't likely.
I have been re-listening to the audiobook of Corrie's The Hiding Place recently, co-written by the authors of God's Smuggler. The preface refers to many anecdotes of Corrie told by Brother Andrew. Seems that they had a wonderful working relationship.
A friend on Facebook posted that Brother Andrew, the Bible smuggler, has died.
I must admit I was surprised to read that he had died so very recently. I suppose I was presuming he was the same generation as Corrie Ten Boom, although, giving it some thought, it wasn't likely.
I have been re-listening to the audiobook of Corrie's The Hiding Place recently, co-written by the authors of God's Smuggler. The preface refers to many anecdotes of Corrie told by Brother Andrew. Seems that they had a wonderful working relationship.
Both a great loss to the world.
I must've read both of their Spire Christian Comics about a dozen times each. They were somewhat less wackadoodle than a lot of the other titles in that series, and God's Smuggler was actually pretty exciting, eg. Andrew and his Russian contact exchanging Bibles during a rainstorm in the middle of Red Square.
As a free-speech absolutist, I fully support anyone who breaks asinine laws against the importation of written work. I'm guessing that alot of Brother Andrew's supporters wouldn't extend the same courtesy to stuff they disagree with.
Ian Hamilton has died, aged 97. He was the last survivor of the group which removed the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey.
I wasn't aware any of them were still alive - though I did discover this summer that one of the school teachers at Gairloch (our summer hol destination) had been Kay Matheson.
Don't think I ever watched a single episode of Murder, She Wrote. I remember my dad liked it, and it always seemed like something his generation(Silent) would enjoy.
That said, she was great as the villainous mother in The Manchurian Candidate. I think that's the only thing I've ever seen her in; as a kid I had some sorta combination picture book/LP that was cross-marketed with the Disney flick Bedknobs And Broomsticks, but I don't think I ever saw the movie.
She was great in “Gaslight,” and she was 17 when she filmed it. But to me, she’ll always be a stage actor and singer, specially as Auntie Mame in “Mame,” or Mrs. Lovett in “Sweeney Todd.” I didn’t see her live in either one, but I’ve spent countless hours listening to the cast recordings, and have seen the performance of “Sweeney Todd” filmed for television. You can see some of her brilliance in “The Worst Pies in London” and “A Little Priest.” And I never tire of hearing her sing “Bosom Buddies” with Bea Arthur.
I always thought the ideal series finale for Murder She Wrote would be Jessica Fletcher explaining how she committed all those murders and framed innocent people for them.
I saw on Twitter (@sharpegirl) that Angela Lansbury (who also produced Murder, She Wrote), deliberately hired older actors so that they could earn the union points they needed for insurance and pensions - and she created the recurring role of the librarian for Madlyn Rhue so she could keep her health insurance while living with MS.
“Welcome to Midsomer Norton, Ms Fletcher! Have you met our other visitor, Monsieur Poirot?”
Hehe. *Lord Peter Wimsey will be arriving soon, I understand...*.
I saw a few episodes of Murder, She Wrote many years ago, and it seemed to me then that belief certainly needed to be suspended. Still, great fun, nevertheless (unless you were the victim, of course).
"Meanwhile you'll find Dr Thorndyke, Mr Fortune and Inspector French in the Orangery. Also Miss Marple MissSilver would be only too delighted if you care to join them for tea'".
Oh we have stacks of FWC. He was one of the three literary figures associated with Mr F's old school. The others were C S Lewis (left after a term) and Samuel Beckett (briefly there as a master - hated it). Croft otoh loved it and taught there for years.
Oh we have stacks of FWC. He was one of the three literary figures associated with Mr F's old school. The others were C S Lewis (left after a term) and Samuel Beckett (briefly there as a master - hated it). Croft otoh loved it and taught there for years.
I was there for a year too! I've never heard of Croft or Inspector French though. And I never realised Beckett had taught there - I'd always associated him with Portora.
"Meanwhile you'll find Dr Thorndyke, Mr Fortune and Inspector French in the Orangery. Also Miss Marple MissSilver would be only too delighted if you care to join them for tea'".
"I believe Mr Campion will be arriving later this afternoon".
Neither of my parents and only one of my grandparents made it to 72. This is perhaps unsurprising as they lived in a town with below average life expectancy (Luton) and even within that town there is an 8 year gap between the more affluent and deprived areas.
Robbie Coltrane seemed younger than 72, I’m now feeling old.
Fr Albert Nolan, the South African theologian and Dominican thinker, has died (1934-2022). His best known book was Jesus before Christianity, but he is also remembered for his work on the Kairos document and his work as chaplain to the Catholic Students of South Africa Federation. He was a great influence on many of us during the struggle to end apartheid: I recall him as a kind, humble and fearless man.
And on one of my regular wikipedia check-ups on celebrity mortality, I saw that Monkees creator and New Hollywood auteur Bob Rafelson passed away in July.
Probably best known for Five Easy Pieces, a contemplative little number featuring Jack Nicholson as a talented but troubled pianist. I've seen it a couple of times, and recommend it.
From watching only the second half or so, I'd also say The King Of Marvin Gardens is interesting, if only for Nicholson doing the ultimate anti-typecasting(*) role as a nerdy public-radio host.
Other than that, The Postman Always Rings Twice seemed like it was trying to overlay Rafelson's breezy, meandering style onto a conventional film-noir, with mixed results. (Anybody else seen it? What the hell was with that circus?)
Black Widow was another stab at noir, with a sleeker, sexier feel, very much in sync with the 80s. Blood And Wine would be interesting mostly for Rafelson or Nicholson completists. All I really remember is the excruciating bootstraps lecture Nicholson gives his stepson early on in the story.
I was never into The Monkees, and don't even know exactly what Rafelson contributed to the concept. I suppose it says something that, even if he had never made a cinematic movie, his TV would still be timelessly iconic.
(*) And yes, this was pre-Cuckoo's Nest and pre-Shining, so admittedly the "Jack" persona hadn't quite blossomed in all its manic glory.
I was never into The Monkees, and don't even know exactly what Rafelson contributed to the concept. I suppose it says something that, even if he had never made a cinematic movie, his TV would still be timelessly iconic.
I was never into The Monkees, and don't even know exactly what Rafelson contributed to the concept. I suppose it says something that, even if he had never made a cinematic movie, his TV would still be timelessly iconic.
I loved The Monkees. Still do, in fact.
Well, then, if you haven't already, you can tip your hat to the memory of their creator.
(Just for the record, I actually quite like their music, eg. Daydream Believer is a great shower song.)
I was never into The Monkees, and don't even know exactly what Rafelson contributed to the concept. I suppose it says something that, even if he had never made a cinematic movie, his TV would still be timelessly iconic.
I loved The Monkees. Still do, in fact.
Well, then, if you haven't already, you can tip your hat to the memory of their creator.
I did just that, as soon as I read your post. The show was marvelously absurd.
Meanwhile, I’m partial to “Last Train to Clarksville” and “I’m a Believer.” Maybe I’ll try “Daydream Believer” in the shower.
You know, I think the reason I might associate that song with the shower is because I occassionally used to have it in my mind when I woke up early in the morning, due to the opening lines.
Comments
I have been re-listening to the audiobook of Corrie's The Hiding Place recently, co-written by the authors of God's Smuggler. The preface refers to many anecdotes of Corrie told by Brother Andrew. Seems that they had a wonderful working relationship.
Both a great loss to the world.
I must've read both of their Spire Christian Comics about a dozen times each. They were somewhat less wackadoodle than a lot of the other titles in that series, and God's Smuggler was actually pretty exciting, eg. Andrew and his Russian contact exchanging Bibles during a rainstorm in the middle of Red Square.
As a free-speech absolutist, I fully support anyone who breaks asinine laws against the importation of written work. I'm guessing that alot of Brother Andrew's supporters wouldn't extend the same courtesy to stuff they disagree with.
I wasn't aware any of them were still alive - though I did discover this summer that one of the school teachers at Gairloch (our summer hol destination) had been Kay Matheson.
That said, she was great as the villainous mother in The Manchurian Candidate. I think that's the only thing I've ever seen her in; as a kid I had some sorta combination picture book/LP that was cross-marketed with the Disney flick Bedknobs And Broomsticks, but I don't think I ever saw the movie.
“Welcome to Midsomer Norton, Ms Fletcher! Have you met our other visitor, Monsieur Poirot?”
Hehe. *Lord Peter Wimsey will be arriving soon, I understand...*.
I saw a few episodes of Murder, She Wrote many years ago, and it seemed to me then that belief certainly needed to be suspended. Still, great fun, nevertheless (unless you were the victim, of course).
Oh we have stacks of FWC. He was one of the three literary figures associated with Mr F's old school. The others were C S Lewis (left after a term) and Samuel Beckett (briefly there as a master - hated it). Croft otoh loved it and taught there for years.
I was there for a year too! I've never heard of Croft or Inspector French though. And I never realised Beckett had taught there - I'd always associated him with Portora.
"I believe Mr Campion will be arriving later this afternoon".
Can someone write this book please?
BTW, Mr Holmes has been delayed, as has Sergeant Cuff.
Dear me - what a lot of interest we seem to have in Murder...
Full obituary can be found here.
It saddens me to read this. My parents and grandparents never made it to 72
Robbie Coltrane seemed younger than 72, I’m now feeling old.
None of my grandparents or parents made 80. My dad got the record for immediate antecedents at 78.
Particularly from his performance as Brother Boy in Sordid Lives, and especially this line.
Lt. Columbo will drop by just after he's finished asking that smug, contmptuous billionaire one last question.
Probably best known for Five Easy Pieces, a contemplative little number featuring Jack Nicholson as a talented but troubled pianist. I've seen it a couple of times, and recommend it.
From watching only the second half or so, I'd also say The King Of Marvin Gardens is interesting, if only for Nicholson doing the ultimate anti-typecasting(*) role as a nerdy public-radio host.
Other than that, The Postman Always Rings Twice seemed like it was trying to overlay Rafelson's breezy, meandering style onto a conventional film-noir, with mixed results. (Anybody else seen it? What the hell was with that circus?)
Black Widow was another stab at noir, with a sleeker, sexier feel, very much in sync with the 80s. Blood And Wine would be interesting mostly for Rafelson or Nicholson completists. All I really remember is the excruciating bootstraps lecture Nicholson gives his stepson early on in the story.
I was never into The Monkees, and don't even know exactly what Rafelson contributed to the concept. I suppose it says something that, even if he had never made a cinematic movie, his TV would still be timelessly iconic.
(*) And yes, this was pre-Cuckoo's Nest and pre-Shining, so admittedly the "Jack" persona hadn't quite blossomed in all its manic glory.
Well, then, if you haven't already, you can tip your hat to the memory of their creator.
(Just for the record, I actually quite like their music, eg. Daydream Believer is a great shower song.)
Meanwhile, I’m partial to “Last Train to Clarksville” and “I’m a Believer.” Maybe I’ll try “Daydream Believer” in the shower.
You know, I think the reason I might associate that song with the shower is because I occassionally used to have it in my mind when I woke up early in the morning, due to the opening lines.