The Czar, as usual, picked up a lot of interesting mail over the weekend. Mark Spahn, he of West Seneca, New York, submitted a clever idea about using text-to-speech applications as an inexpensive and highly effective way to proofread materials … Continue reading →
Yeah, everyone needs a Zuni Fetish doll. Actress Karen Black passed away this week. While many of you don’t remember her, and indeed, Dr. J. didn’t even know her name. One Saturday afternoon in the autumn when he was somewhere … Continue reading →
The first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong, has passed away. He defines himself not as a hero or an icon, but rather a nerd: The notoriously publicity shy Armstrong was a reluctant hero. In an era of celebrity adulation, … Continue reading →
Dr. J. was saddened to hear about the death of Soul Train creator Don Cornelius this morning by what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Dr. J., as a youth, always felt that Mr. Cornelius was a cool cat. If … Continue reading →
Andy Rooney, the world’s first blogger, died at 92. And the always self-indulgent media is showering him with unflattering words like“curmudgeon,” “irascible,” and “cranky.” The media are morons, because he was none of those things. He was a guy who … Continue reading →
David Brandhorst would be about thirteen years old today. He would be back in school, catching up with friends by text message, and scrambling to finish his homework. He probably would spend a little time on Xbox Live, worry about … Continue reading →
The Gormogons are saddened to have heard of the passing of the legendary Betty Ford, who overcame adversity to become a name synoymous with recovery. In addition to this massive achievement, she remained a class act throughout the worst of … Continue reading →
‘Puter’s family lost a wonderful member today. ‘Puter’s brother-in-law’s mother (“Mrs. S”) succumbed to the effects of acute myeloid leukemia early this morning. Mrs. S discovered she had AML last year, just after ‘Puter’s grandmother’s funeral. Mrs. S received wonderful … Continue reading →
Yvette Vickers, a 1950s cult movie actress and former Playboy Playmate was found dead in her Benedict Canyon home. She kept to herself in recent years and a neighbor discovered her almost mummified body after noticing yellowing mail piling up … Continue reading →
The Czar presupposes that comparisons between Geraldine Ferraro, who passed away at the age of 75, and Sarah Palin are inevitable. But rather than compare the two women directly, the Czar most recently thought of Ms. Ferraro because of the … Continue reading →
The Czar spotted the following in The Muscovy Examiner this morning: Frank Neuhauser, winner of the very first National Spelling Bee, has died. He won the 1925 contest by correctly spelling “gladiolus.” He was 95. The Czar expects that a … Continue reading →
[The Czar is busy today, despite an adventure in which the tree outside his Muscovy neighbor’s home was struck by lightning. It scaredeth the hell out of little Sally. Not much damage to the tree. That would be the big … Continue reading →
Back in the old days when a Secretary of State worked with the President, Warren Christopher had the job. He has passed away at 85. The Czar of MuscovyБожію Поспѣшествующею Милостію Мы, Дима Грозный Императоръ и Самодержецъ Всероссiйскiй, цѣсарь Московскiй. … Continue reading →
Dread & Awful Czar, Today flags were flown at half mast in memory of Frank Buckles, the last WWI vet. When you ask the average man on the street of al Mikkeh the reason for the flags at half mast, … Continue reading →
Well, if we’re doing obits to the great Don Meredith, then we’re sure as hell doing an obit for Ron Santo. Ron was a guy that not only symbolized Chicago, but also the Cubs: no matter how bad things got, … Continue reading →
From the Dallas Morning News: Don Meredith died at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, a hospital spokesman confirmed this morning. The Meredith family’s attorney, Lisa Fine Moses, said his wife, Susan, and daughter Mary were at his side.Meredith had … Continue reading →
Thanks, Katō! Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →The Volgi just let me know that actor Leslie Nielsen has passed away at the age of 84. For once, don’t you know, the Czar is truly shocked. His money was on Gene Hackman. And let it be said, our … Continue reading →
The Gormogons are remiss in celebrating the life of Stephen J. Cannell who passed away on September 30, 2010. Mr. Cannell worked hard (in his terms he strived for “over-performance”) to advance in a rough industry that he was interested … Continue reading →
Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Tom Bosley passed away today at the age of 83. Best known as Howard Cunningham, the beloved father on Happy Days, Bosley also starred in Murder, She Wrote and Father Dowling Mysteries. He was a World War II veteran having … Continue reading →
Well, by now you have heard that Barbara Billingsley has died at the age of 94. Dunno about you, but the Czar always liked Leave It To Beaver, and frankly thinks there are two types of people in the world: … Continue reading →
Sigh. Actress Patricia Neal has died at the age of 84. Say what you will about her Oscar, and her brilliant husband/author, her complex personal life, and her many fine performances. She was in one of the Czar’s favoritest films, … Continue reading →
General Alexander Haig passed away this weekend at the age of 85. For most of us, he was the first lesson in how a strong Secretary of State could influence foreign policy for the better. President Reagan picked an extraordinary … Continue reading →
View more news videos at: http://www.nbcwashington.com/video. George Michael (1939–2009). Back in the 1980s, Washington’s WRC had the local newscast to watch, and Michael was one of the main reasons. The rest of the country knew his Sports Machine (with one … Continue reading →
WACO (December 23, 2009)—Retired Army Col. Robert L. Howard, 70, who died Wednesday in Waco, was a Medal of Honor winner who at the time of his death was believed to be the most-decorated living American soldier. … Howard, who … Continue reading →
Patrick Swayze is dead. The Czar is of three minds on this man. On the one hand, he will be forever tormented by the day Swayze walked into his roadhouse. He called himself Dalton, then, and was nice. Until it … Continue reading →
If you enjoy theatrically baroque and erudite prose, hie thee to Fr. Geo. Rutler’s “Speaking Well of the Dead.” Terrific read. No such favor was granted on July 29 [1997] in St. Matthew’s Cathedral [at the funeral of Justice Wm. … Continue reading →
’Puter, I’d instead ask for God’s mercy upon his soul, for if we ask only for justice, we may receive only justice, and even a saint would flinch at that. You might add a prayer for the repose of the … Continue reading →
Sen. Edward Kennedy died last night after losing his battle against brain cancer. May God be just to Sen. Kennedy’s soul. 'PuterAlways right, unless he isn’t, the infallible Ghettoputer F. X. Gormogons claims to be an in-law of the Volgi, … Continue reading →
And now John Hughes is dead. Frankly, the Czar never thought much of his pictures, even when he was super-popular in the 1980s. He was pretty good at exploiting pop culture, making his movies worth seeing as little slices of … Continue reading →
Two technically unrelated news stories caught the Czar’s eye today. First, we must mention that the people of Iran continue to speak. As a brutal, dictatorial regime swears in its so-called “president” after a sham election, the people of Iran … Continue reading →
The Czar has promised to be less obnoxious about celebrity obituaries going forward. This is a first attempt. Gidget, the 15-year-old star of Taco Bell commercials, has died. No, really, you insenstive asses. The poor thing died while playing with … Continue reading →
May God grant Walter Cronkite’s soul eternal rest, and may His perpetual light shine upon him. And may humanity remember a great media icon for his important contributions. But let none of us forget that Mr. Cronkite was the beginning … Continue reading →
Love him, hate him, or both, Robert McNamara died Monday at the age of 93. His life was interesting enough, but he had a massive effect on world history, from American foreign policy as well as how America and the … Continue reading →
As Hollywood continues to clean out its junk drawer, the Czar was sorry to hear that 1970s television mainstay (and award winner) Karl Malden passed away at the impressive age of 97. The Czar learned of his passing this morning … Continue reading →
The Czar offers to put NBC News up against his special “photography” wall, for their decision—in lieu of any evidence or autopsy findings—that Billy Mays clearly died as a result of luggage hitting him in the head on a botched … Continue reading →
Noooooo!! How come only the good die young?!? Who will now yell at ‘Puter throughout commercial breaks!?! From whom will ‘Puter learn of amazing new products?!? Ed, Michael, Farrah and now Billy, too? ‘Puter must go make sense of this … Continue reading →
A video and some articles for clicking through if work is slow, or if you find yourself belangoured on the weekend. On Pajamas TV, FotG David Frum continues his argument for the GOP’s forming “new majority” by presenting itself differently … Continue reading →
The Crown Prince of Whacko…dead? The Czar did not see this one coming. Wow. Wish we had chosen a nicer picture under the circumstances. The Czar of MuscovyБожію Поспѣшествующею Милостію Мы, Дима Грозный Императоръ и Самодержецъ Всероссiйскiй, цѣсарь Московскiй. The … Continue reading →
By now, you have heard that actress Farrah Fawcett has passed away, largely as expected from such serious cancer. If this is the first you are hearing this, we support your decision to get your news only from this site. … Continue reading →
A full-bird Marine colonel with 85 combat missions who taught carrier landings. Bet you didn’t know that. Let’s hope he’s gone to the Party Machine in the sky. Fast forward to 3:57 on the counter for the reference, possibly GorT’s … Continue reading →
Mike Potemra relays the news that Keith Olbermann’s mother has died. Before Olbermann became a self-important, unhinged lunatic of a newsreader, he was a self-important deadpan sportscaster of genius whose work with Dan Patrick should be taught in Sportscasting School—which, … Continue reading →
Et lux perpetua luceat eis. Grant him eternal rest, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. God bless Ron Silver. He was a man who understood viscerally the stakes in today’s struggle against evil. He was unafraid … Continue reading →
Paul Harvey was a radio great who lived long enough to entertain generations, most of the later of whom tended to cock eyebrows at his old-fashioned style, smoothly segueing through news, hokey stories, and ad copy. He was a titan … Continue reading →
David Smiley, rest in peace. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →…et lux perpetua luceat ei. Richard John Neuhaus, arguably the most important—and easily the most prolific—public intellectual on religious issues over the past two decades, is said to be on his death bed. Fr. Neuhaus (a Lutheran minister who converted … Continue reading →
Sammy Baugh is dead at 94. For those who would doubt the assertion in the subject line, consider the following (insert “arguably” if you want to be a pedant). Baugh invented the modern quarterback position. He led the league in … Continue reading →
Read Jody Bottom’s definitive obituary for Cardinal Dulles in the Times of London. Stephen Hunter’s wonderful tribute to Bettie Page, with just the right tincture of jaundice, in the Washington Post. And, yes, this post may mark the only time … Continue reading →
Be sure to check out ’Puter’s distaff Canuck soulmate in spleen, Kathy Shaidle, who’s as great on the late Ms. Page as I expected she’d be when I considered holding my obit for her post last night. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t … Continue reading →
Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., the American Church’s greatest theologian this century—indeed, made a Prince of the Church for his writings—has died at the age of 90. Requiescat in pace. First Things and America both post archives of his work for … Continue reading →
Along with Forrie Ackerman, another iconic cult figure passes from the scene. Bettie Page 1950s pin-up, Playmate, and under-the-counter-nudie-pix goddess has died at 85. When Page left the public eye in the 1960s and became a devout Baptist, a “whatever … Continue reading →
A good and, within a tiny subculture, great man has died. I hadn’t even finished the tribute issue of Rue Morgue I picked up just because of the cover with him on it. I was never a devoted FM reader, … Continue reading →
Barack Obama’s maternal grandmother has died—one day before she likely would have seen her grandson elected president. Mrs. Dunham sounds like a smart lady who married poorly [usual Sailer disclaimers apply]. She didn’t deserve to be branded a racist by … Continue reading →
The Telegraph, home of the world’s finest obituaries here memorializes John Fancy, a WWII RAF warrant officer who likely drove the German POW camp system batty with his sixteen different escape attempts. Alas, the Kommandanten proved more competent than the … Continue reading →
In a world…without Don LaFontaine (1940–2008), the multiplex will be a less entertaining place. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Wonderful piece by Martin Kramer over at MESH on the late Ann K.S. Lambton, OBE FBA, whose Persian Grammar I have not five feet from my desk. Her knowledge of Iran was such that she realized that Mohammad Mosaddegh, the … Continue reading →
Hero of the Great Patriotic War. Hero-revelator of the Gulag. Hero of literature. Lover of Russia and Her church. Gone to his reward at 89. Да упокоится съ миромъ (Pictured with Margaret Thatcher at Downing Street, 1983) Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t … Continue reading →
