that one hurts, I'd had an odd experience with the Earthsea books, gave them a go when I was around 10 and really didnt get it, nowhere near enough pewpew fireballs and violence, gave them another go about 10 years later off something either Gaiman or Sir Terry said and totally fell for them, and in hindsight a lot of Granny Weatherwax seems very Earthsea inspired
Feeling mournful today over Le Guin. She produced really deep novels which deal with nuanced social and political themes, yet without moralising, without forcing it into your face, whilst still being very enjoyable novels with great characterisation. I would strongly recommend The Left Hand of Darkness, it was my favourite all time novel in my 20s and among my top five nowadays.
My favourite MES story involves Badly Drawn Boy. BDB stops his car when he sees Mark E Smith leaving some building. MES waves him down, presuming it's a taxi, gets in the backseat and orders BDB to take him home. Which he does, without question.
There's even a statue of Beetle Bailey on the University of Missouri's campus. I remember seeing it a lot. RIP Mort Walker, and my condolences to his family and friends.
One of my favourite things about The Fall was just how varied their sound could be. Ghost in my House is really quite different to the glorious cacophony of 'It's The New Thing'.
To steal a quote I'm ashamed to say I don't know the true origin of....'My Idols are dead, and my enemies are in power'
Not so much politically (these things pass), but the state of the music industry. All creativity seems stifled and codified - the anarchy of the Punk and New Wave era has been cast out in favour of autotune and standardisation.
He played Major Charles Emerson Winchester III on M*A*S*H, as well as the voice of Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, and even guest starred in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, among other things.
This is a sad one for me, as despite my relatively young age I love M*A*S*H. My condolences to his family and friends.
He played Major Charles Emerson Winchester III on M*A*S*H, as well as the voice of Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, and even guest starred in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, among other things.
This is a sad one for me, as despite my relatively young age I love M*A*S*H. My condolences to his family and friends.
Oh no
I'm also a huge fan of M*A*S*H. When Larry Linville left the show, they made an amazing choice with replacing Burns with Winchester. He was a much more 3 dimensional character and Stiers brought a perfect combination of aloofness, wit and even compassion to the character.
There have been few people in life who so perfectly demonstrate how you can overcome the limitations of your physical shell if you have the imagination and determination to do so.
Hawking was a great physicist who could not only grasp some of the most complex ideas we currently grapple with, but could also find ways to try and share those ideas with everyone, so that everybody's horizons could be expanded by realising what an incredible universe we live in.
May he rest in peace.
Professor Stephen Hawking wrote:Although I cannot move and I have to speak through a computer, in my mind I am free.
Just saw the news.
Definitely created an iconic character in Full Metal Jacket.
Gunny Hartman is legendary among veterans.
He also made appearances in a lot of TV shows, and was
even the voice of the Professional Bull Riders for a few years.
He will be missed.
He had a small part in ‘Seven’as a police captain, where he sits down at a desk to discuss the case with Pitt and Freeman and the phone rings, he picks it up and says “This isn’t even my desk” and hangs up, then tells them to continue.
I do that all the time on in-house calls when I’m at work at one of my employees stations. 10+ years and only 1 dude got the reference.
I saw her dozens of times behind home plate at Houston Astros games with George Bush sr when I had partial season tickets. They were great sports on the kiss cam for the crowd.
Oh, gak. The Christopher Reeves Superman movies were the best. They had good chemistry on screen, but I know she had a lot of issues. Sad to see her follow CR into the afterlife. Yes, I realize it’s years later. But she wasn’t that old.
Clint Walker, star of TV's Cheyenne, has passed today at age 90. He also starred in the movie The Dirty Dozen, one of my all-time favorite WWII movies (perhaps second only to Kelly's Heroes).
All I can say is that that one famous Dark Knight quote comes to mind when it comes to TB. He used to be my idol and a paragon of journalism and he spent the last two years throwing it away to grovel and pander to a clique that within seconds of his death were smearing him with "-isms" because he stood up for ethics. Give an Inch and they take a Mile. If all journalists could be like 2014 TB, gaming would be in such a better place.
He was sounding weaker with every Co-Optional Podcast which came out. Checking his Twitter feed its pretty sad as he'd just came out of surgery and things were looking positive. However, the cancer was terminal by this point, and he knew that he didn't have long left.
I only found this out today whilst checking out someone's Twitter. I guess I just don't follow enough Gaming youtube channels, or maybe people are just in too much of a mess to have something up yet. Phillip De Franco mentioned the terminal state of his illness a while ago, but hasn't followed up on it.
Wyrmalla wrote: I only found this out today whilst checking out someone's Twitter. I guess I just don't follow enough Gaming youtube channels, or maybe people are just in too much of a mess to have something up yet. Phillip De Franco mentioned the terminal state of his illness a while ago, but hasn't followed up on it.
Same here. Let the black bell toll.
For Ultramar and for duty,
For past and for future,
For Terra and the Emperor,
No brother falls forgotten.
---Last rites of the Ultramarines
BaconCatBug wrote: All I can say is that that one famous Dark Knight quote comes to mind when it comes to TB. He used to be my idol and a paragon of journalism and he spent the last two years throwing it away to grovel and pander to a clique that within seconds of his death were smearing him with "-isms" because he stood up for ethics. Give an Inch and they take a Mile. If all journalists could be like 2014 TB, gaming would be in such a better place.
I actually agree. Maybe twitter is just an awful place but it was strange some were claiming victimization from the dude and similar just shortly after his death. I mean i don't think he did hurt on the levels claimed but he obviously tried to cater more to certain people during the last 2 years or so. I dunno i just think when somebody dies you should focus more on the people most effected like the dude who died and his family.
I'd never wish cancer on anybody after watching my mom die that way or at least i don't know anybody cruel enough that'd deserve it. He wasn't always good and i do think politics can show the worst sides of groups and people. Perhaps he did have a darker side to him but dying the way he did is pretty tragic and i still feel pretty bad for him and his family. Maybe i didn't watch too much of it but what few interactions i saw between the two i think he could've been nicer to his wife.
Ouze wrote: Man that was a surprising and sad one. As Red once said, that's no age.
I loved watching his shows, he always seemed very authentic in how he dealt with everyone he came across. But his face always had that mix of happiness with sadness buried beneath the surface.
ALEX JONES (HOST): I'm here, ladies and gentlemen, covering undoubtedly some of the most dangerous information I've ever covered on air.
...
Anthony Bourdain, Tony Bourdain is one of the most popular TV hosts in the world. He's the only successful thing on CNN. He dominated Netflix. He has a little nine-year-old daughter. He just got remarried. And then he dies in a crappy hotel room in Paris, and CNN's Brian Stelter is the first to tell us that he died of suicide hanging himself.
Now, I knew he'd been critical of Hillary. Said that she shouldn't have basically defended [Harvey] Weinstein, said it was shameful. I knew he talked about -- joked about feeding Trump hemlock. And I thought a lot of these rich, powerful Hollywood folks commit suicide, and maybe he did commit suicide. But I said the fact that he had a lot of powerful enemies, it should at least be investigated, I said that in a tweet.
I got a call from my source who is even willing for me to now say who he is. But he was very emotional and he had already let me in on this a few months ago, and he's actually even already talked about this on air. But I'm just not going to do that at this point.
...
Here's the bottom line: I was told several months ago that a bunch of other big people were going to start going public. And then, of course, you saw Kanye [West]. And then a few weeks ago, we said that even more big cultural icons, some of the biggest ones in media, some of the biggest people in culture were going to be going public. And so, this morning when I woke up and I had seen that Tony Bourdain had committed suicide supposedly, I went, "What is it about that? What was it in the news?" So I was sitting there, search engining for like an hour, "Well, what was it -- why was it [unintelligible] Bourdain?"
And then, all of a sudden, the producer calls me about an hour ago, right after I got off air with you guys and said, "You have got to call this source, he is really upset right now." And I went, "Oh my gosh, he's talked about it on air." Ladies and gentlemen, Bourdain was a powerful cultural figure, and Bourdain had learned about the big awakening that was happening, and he had met with Elon Musk, who he's already very good friends with, in Morocco, in Marrakesh at a big solar farm, experimental farm, and I'll just leave it at that. And they had taped an eleven and a half minute episode of the upcoming TV series that he was wrapping up in Paris. This was two months ago, nobody knows this, and I'm laying these facts out so people understand. He was in Morocco on a big vista at a wind farm, and I'm going to leave it at that, and I've talked to folks that were there. In fact, I've been authorized to even tell you more. Maybe I just should, but I'm going to stop right there for now.
And Musk and them had a Kanye West event. And Bourdain was planning to basically do a Kanye West, but just about the whole global awakening, everything that was about to happen, and it's believed that this is a message directly to Elon Musk, who's been coming out talking about the mainstream media, the globalists, how they're planning an AI technocracy takeover. So I can tell you, without getting into too much specifics, but I've specifically been on the phone with SpaceX and individuals at the center of the Musk operation in the last hour. So, I'm authorized to say that at this point, and I told folks, I said, "We have to go public with part of this, we're all in danger." And there's a lot of stuff behind the scenes, some sabotage and stuff going on as well that we've become aware of, even inside of Infowars right now, they're making big moves right now, ladies and gentlemen. And I want everybody to understand that this is real, this is for all the marbles, and it is just unbelievable. I mean, I've got like five, six pages of notes here.
...
CNN and the parent company that sold it to him, his company, they're now looking for pressure from the Zero Point Zero [Productions] company to not release the new series, but to make it a retrospective looking back on Bourdain. All so they do not have to release not just this episode, but once he decided to do this with Elon Musk -- this was two months ago, they shot dozens and dozens of other segments -- that he then began working in the whole awakening around the world, and Bourdain had decided to go the Kanye West route. That is 100 percent from people there with him, meeting with him, Elon Musk, the whole nine yards. Elon Musk is in complete danger right now. Again, if he hangs himself, it's murder, ladies and gentlemen. Or if his jet crashes, it's murder.
...
The media will spin it and say -- or try to ignore it probably and say, "Oh, Jones claims that Musk was murdered, oh look here's Jones again" -- not Musk, "Jones will say that Tony has been murdered, Bourdain." This is how they operate, and it is just insane to be here at this moment. My wife just walked in here. Honey, I just got contact from SpaceX, just talked to them all on the phone. They definitely killed Tony Bourdain. That's what they think, it's a message to Musk. He's going to go public, just like Kanye West.
That babbling pile of steaming horse gak from this Alex guy...wow. I THINK there was a single coherent sentence in there? Maybe? I mean, I assume somewhere in there he said he hates Kanye. Me too. But I couldn’t follow anything else he said. I don’t speak “lunatic dumbass crazy-pants”. What the serious hell was that?
I remember seeing him at a Hugo awards ceremony cursing the fact that he outlived his peers.
Automatically Appended Next Post: For those who don't know who he was, he wrote many award-winning short stories, including "A Boy And His Dog" (which the movie is based on), as well as a famous screenplay for I, Robot, and episodes for Outer Limits, Babylon 5, and Star Trek. His Star Trek episode, City on the Edge of Forever is considered one of the best episodes of the whole series. It was also the center of his highly public falling out with Gene Roddenberry and a sore spot that haunted him for the rest of his life. He also sued James Cameron over The Terminator because it bore a slight resemblance to two of his stories, with the end result that the credits to The Terminator now "acknowledge" the works of Harlan Ellison.
He was seemingly a bitter, bitter old man. He had a reputation as a real A-hole. He would berate his colleagues and audience when on stage. However, when I would see him on the floor at conventions and helped him set up his booths, he always came across as more of a professional grump, where it was a persona he wore in public while being much kinder when you dealt with him in private. I much preferred working with him than other authors who had nicer reputations. Whatever the truth, he was highly influential and a legend in the genre.
For those who don't know who he was, he wrote many award-winning short stories, including "A Boy And His Dog" (which the movie is based on), as well as a famous screenplay for I, Robot, and episodes for Outer Limits, Babylon 5, and Star Trek. His Star Trek episode, City on the Edge of Forever is considered one of the best episodes of the whole series. It was also the center of his highly public falling out with Gene Roddenberry and a sore spot that haunted him for the rest of his life. He also sued James Cameron over The Terminator because it bore a slight resemblance to two of his stories, with the end result that the credits to The Terminator now "acknowledge" the works of Harlan Ellison.
He also sued CBS and the Writers Guild of America over City royalties, in the case of CBS, and failure to protect his interests, in the case of WGA; winning some undisclosed settlement.
For those who don't know who he was, he wrote many award-winning short stories, including "A Boy And His Dog" (which the movie is based on), as well as a famous screenplay for I, Robot, and episodes for Outer Limits, Babylon 5, and Star Trek. His Star Trek episode, City on the Edge of Forever is considered one of the best episodes of the whole series. It was also the center of his highly public falling out with Gene Roddenberry and a sore spot that haunted him for the rest of his life. He also sued James Cameron over The Terminator because it bore a slight resemblance to two of his stories, with the end result that the credits to The Terminator now "acknowledge" the works of Harlan Ellison.
He also sued CBS and the Writers Guild of America over City royalties, in the case of CBS, and failure to protect his interests, in the case of WGA; winning some undisclosed settlement.
Sounds like he got rough treatment by the film and television industries. That would make me a grump, too.
Sounds like he got rough treatment by the film and television industries. That would make me a grump, too.
Video games too. There once was an (award winning) adaptation of I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream. It was censored so heavily in the European release that the 'best' ending was inaccessible to most people.
Barry Chuckle, half of the comedy duo the Chuckle Brothers, has died aged 73.
The entertainer, whose real name was Barry Elliott, starred in ChuckleVision with his brother Paul on the BBC between 1987 and 2009.
Paul said: "I've not just lost my brother, I've lost my theatrical partner of many, many years and my very best friend."
Earlier this year, the brothers returned to the small screen with a new show, Chuckle Time, on Channel 5.
Manager Phil Dale said: "It is with great sadness that the family announce that Barry passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his wife Ann and all his family.
"The family would like to express their thanks to the many people who have been fans of the Chuckle Brothers and they know that they will share in part the great, great loss they feel."
The duo had started their careers as The Chuckles on ITV talent shows Opportunity Knocks in 1967 and went on to appear on New Faces in 1974.
Big Finish were saddened to learn that Jacqueline Pearce, star of Blake’s 7 Doctor Who and Hammer Horror movies, has died today aged 74.
The striking actress will be best remembered for playing Supreme Commander Servalan, the glamorous but ruthless villain in the popular BBC science fiction series Blake’s 7, which retains a keen cult following to this day. Initially appearing in a supporting role for a single episode, the character proved to be so popular that she was invited back for more. Servalan became a recurring villain, appearing regularly throughout the series’ four seasons, from 1978 to 1981 (with Pearce ultimately billed as second lead after Paul Darrow's anti-hero Avon). She would later recall, with delight, how she received numerous fan letters from young men whose passions had been awakened by her sexually charged performance as Servalan.
Jacqueline Pearce trained as an actress at RADA alongside Anthony Hopkins and John Hurt. She appeared in TV roles in the mid-1960s, including episodes of Danger Man, The Avengers and Man in a Suitcase. She starred in two horror movies for Hammer – she played the titular creature in The Reptile, and was beheaded in Plague of the Zombies. In 1968, she co-starred with Jerry Lewis, Terry Thomas and Bernard Cribbins in the comedy, Don’t Raise the Bridge, Lower the River, and also appeared in the Carry On film Don’t Lose Your Head.
Later TV work, often cast as the villain, included a guest role in Doctor Who in 1985 opposite Colin Baker’s Doctor; the children’s dramas Moondial and Dark Season – the latter written by Russell T Davies; The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles; and Casualty. Film appearances included White Mischief with John Hurt; How to Get Ahead in Advertising with Richard E Grant; and Princess Caraboo with Kevin Kline. Her theatre work included West End appearances in Harold Pinter’s Otherwise Engaged (Queen’s Theatre) and JB Priestly’s Dangerous Corner (Garrick Theatre); Shadowlands; Tom Stoppard’s Night and Day (Belgrade Theatre, Coventry) ; and her one woman show A Star is Torn.
After relocating to South Africa for several years, initially to care for orphaned monkeys, Jacqueline returned to the UK in 2015. Her unflinching autobiography From Byfleet to the Bush was published in 2012.
Jacqueline Pearce, aged 74, died of lung cancer at her home in Lancashire on 3rd September 2018. Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies was among those paying tribute, saying “It was a joy, working with Jacqueline on the first drama I ever wrote, Dark Season. She was glorious, vivid, passionate, filthy and the most wonderful company. And underneath the style and the laughter, a truly fine actor.”
Producer and friend John Ainsworth said, “Jacqueline always stood out from the crowd – both as an actor and in life. She exuded warmth, glamour, and charm like a Siren and people couldn’t help but be drawn to her. She had a unique talent and was a unique human being.”
Super bummed to hear about Jacqueline Pearce's death... Servalan was one of the most interesting characters on Blake's 7, and she was a direct inspiration for Commandant Grayza from Farscape's latter seasons.
I know last few years have been a bit crazy but I think the existence of an afterlife being proven by Burt Reynolds would be a bit of a showstopper eh ?
Burt Reynolds was an icon, but whenever I try to think of him I end up remembering Norm MacDonald's impression of him on those Celebrity Jeopardy skits.
She is so strongly associated in my mind with Carry On films that it is a surprise to find she was only in two of them. I think that's because she was also in several of the Doctor films.
There was a radio bio of her on Radio 4 a few weeks ago. She still had the voice!
Part of me wonders if it's entirely coincidental that the latest Strontium Dog story has Wulf's son taking over as Jonny's sidekick, given that Carlo's son has previously done some art duty on SD.
2000 AD is profoundly saddened to confirm that artist Carlos Ezquerra has passed away at the age of 70.
One of the all-time greatest comic book artists, the Spanish illustrator was one of the titans of 2000 AD.
Originally from Zaragoza, Carlos began his career in Barcelona, drawing westerns and war stories for Spanish publishers. Breaking into the UK market on romance titles like Valentine and Mirabelle, he was head-hunted for the new IPC title Battle Picture Weekly where he drew Rat Pack, Major Eazy and El Mestizo.
In 1976, he was asked to create a new character, the future lawman Judge Dredd, for a new weekly science fiction comic called 2000 AD. Thanks to his enduring partnership with John Wagner, Dredd was to become one of the world’s most recognisable comic book characters, with Carlos there to apply his inimitable style to some of the biggest stories in the strip’s history, such as The Apocalypse War, Necropolis and Origins.
Thanks to Dredd as well as his co-creation of Strontium Dog, created for Starlord in 1978, his adaptation for 2000 AD of Harry Harrison’s Stainless Steel Rat, and thousands upon thousands of comic book pages, Carlos was lauded by readers and creators alike.
Modest and unassuming, Carlos was nonetheless a legend whose contribution to the global comic book industry cannot be understated. His distinctive style - characterised by breathtakingly dynamic, high-energy storytelling and the distinctive ridged thick inking that outlined so many key moments - was instantly recognisable.
Despite a brush with lung cancer in 2010, he continued to work and, although the cancer returned this year it was believed he was recovering well. His sudden death is a profound loss not just to 2000 AD but to the comic book medium.
A statement on behalf of the staff at 2000 AD:
“It is difficult to put this into words, but we have lost someone who was the heart and soul of 2000 AD. It is no exaggeration to call Carlos Ezquerra one of the greatest comic book artists of all time, and his name deserves to be uttered alongside Kirby, Ditko, Miller, Moebius, and Eisner.
“Yet this doesn't really do justice to someone whose work was loved by millions and has had an influence far beyond the comic book page. From Judge Dredd to Strontium Dog, from Rat Pack to Major Eazy, Carlos has left us with a legacy of stunning and distinctive work that was and always will be 2000 AD.
“He has been one of the pillars, producing the same dynamic, enthralling and arresting art we always loved him for. We thought we had many more adventures to come from the master, so we are devastated to discover we were wrong.
“Our most profound condolences to his family, his friends, and to the generations of readers who knew instantly they were reading a Carlos Ezquerra comic book.”
Matt Smith, editor of 2000 AD, said: "Carlos’s artwork spoke to me as soon as I saw it.
"I only started reading 2000 AD in 1985, but four progs after my first Strontium Dog story ‘Big Bust of 49’ began, and I was immediately hooked – powerful, clear and concise in its storytelling, full of energy and humour, and effortlessly cool, his distinctive linework soon became instantly recognisable to this newbie Squaxx whenever he worked on a strip, and he fast became a favourite. The Apocalypse War, Portrait of a Mutant, The Killing, Necropolis… so many great, great stories that came to life under his pen.
"Amazingly, seventeen years later, I became editor of 2000 AD, and had the absolute pleasure of working with the man himself, and he was as pleasant, generous and unprepossessing as he was talented. It’s hard to believe that his work will no longer grace the prog, since he played such a formidable part in what makes the comic so special, but his legacy will live on, for future generations to enjoy."
Jason Kingsley, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Rebellion, said: “It is hard to put into words the influence Carlos’s work has had on me over the years. He may be physically gone from us, but the huge legacy of his creative abilities lives on. My personal condolences to his family.”
I quit the show shortly before his character was killed, but he was a highlight for the early seasons of Walking Dead.
Another great loss in the horror community as Scott Wilson, who played Hershel on “The Walking Dead”, has passed away at the age of 76.
Wilson also made notable appearances in The Ninth Configuration, Dead Man WalkingandMonster, as well as The Exorcist III, The Host andBehind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. He also appeared on the 1986 “The Twilight Zone” (ep. “Quarantine”), “The X-Files” (ep. “Orison”), and “Damien’s” first and only season.
The official “The Walking Dead” Twitter account paid tribute tonight with the following statement:
“We are deeply saddened to report that Scott Wilson, the incredible actor who played Hershel on #TheWalkingDead, has passed away at the age of 76. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Rest in paradise, Scott. We love you.”
THR reports that at New York Comic-Con 2018, “Walking Dead” showrunner Angela Kang announced that Wilson would reprise his role as Hershel in season nine, though offered no word on the timing of his appearance, how many episodes he was slated to appear in, or whether he had already filmed his appearance. The announcement was made little more than an hour before news of Wilson’s passing spread on social media.
We send our thoughts and prayers to all of his friends and family.
Definitely a highlight during his time on the show. Saw him at a convention a few years ago. Very kind genuine guy who had all the time in the world for fans. RIP.
Greg Stafford Gen ConThe shock and grief the Chaosium family felt at the news of the passing of our beloved and revered company founder, Greg Stafford, cannot be measured. Greg died yesterday in his sweat lodge at his home in Arcata, CA. Mercifully, his passing was painless and quick. He died as he lived, on a spiritual quest of enlightenment.
there's more to the tribute in the link at the top
Massively influential in the expansion of RPGs with Chaosium, a real loss
Somehow during all this it was causally breezed past that Norm Breyfogle, prolific artist for DC, Marvel, several independent comics AND several Ultraverse books including Prime, died on September 24th of heart failure.
Yoachim Ronneberg, who led the Telemark raid in Norway during WW2, which destroyed the Germans' heavy water plant and halted their nuclear programme, has died age 99.
After the raid the commandos escaped by skiing 200 miles to Sweden, pursued by 3,000 German soldiers.
Mr Ronneberg described this as the best skiing weekend he had ever had.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Also, just how much do we owe that man?
The Nazis already had long range weapons. Single nuke on London, and we could be living in very different and very scary times.
Even without the Telemark raid, the Germans were a long way away from developing an atomic bomb. It is extremely unlikely that they would have succeeded in developing a working atomic bomb before the end of the war, even with the heavy water to enable plutonium production. Quite simply, due to Nazi policy, they did not have the brainpower required. The Nazis had effectively chased away a lot of their brainpower (either jewish or influenced by jews in their eyes) or conscripted them into the army and installed people into high positions within their research sectors based on party allegiance rather than aptitude.
For example, even without heavy water they could still have produced plutonium in a reactor by using graphite as a neutron inhibitor. They tested it and it didn't work and so stopped pursuing it but the only reason it didn't work was due to impurities in their graphite. Graphite was used by the allies and then the post-war USSR as a neutron inhibitor in reactors until it was phased out (especially after the Chernobyl fire, pure carbon tends to burn very well).
Of course, at the time, we didn't know this and so it was much safer to assume they could. So, that doesn't take anything away from those involved in taking out heavy water production. It was an exceptional piece of sabotage that stands up there alongside the St Nazaire Raid as an example of incredible courage and grit by a small number of men and I have no doubt it still serves as inspiration for special forces commandos to this day.
Kilkrazy wrote: Yoachim Ronneberg, who led the Telemark raid in Norway during WW2, which destroyed the Germans' heavy water plant and halted their nuclear programme, has died age 99.
After the raid the commandos escaped by skiing 200 miles to Sweden, pursued by 3,000 German soldiers.
Mr Ronneberg described this as the best skiing weekend he had ever had.
Joachim Rønneberg was honored after his passing by both the king and various present and former members of various political and many members of the Norwegian familiy. he was while he lived a keen and clear voice in several debates in Norway post war and up til the present day. With his passing Norway now has nearly no living witnesses to the horrors of the world war, and the vital lessons neeeded to be taugth to the comming generations here in my beloved Norway.
And regarding the skii trek he had to Sweden, he was acctualy pursuide for a long distance by a single german ski trooper, but since he went faster up hill, and the german went faster than him downhill it sort of fizzeled out and ended with the two men firing their pistols at each other but missing each other totaly. Thus the German gave up and Joachim contiuned
Automatically Appended Next Post: Also, just how much do we owe that man?
The Nazis already had long range weapons. Single nuke on London, and we could be living in very different and very scary times.
Even without the Telemark raid, the Germans were a long way away from developing an atomic bomb. It is extremely unlikely that they would have succeeded in developing a working atomic bomb before the end of the war, even with the heavy water to enable plutonium production. Quite simply, due to Nazi policy, they did not have the brainpower required. The Nazis had effectively chased away a lot of their brainpower (either jewish or influenced by jews in their eyes) or conscripted them into the army and installed people into high positions within their research sectors based on party allegiance rather than aptitude.
For example, even without heavy water they could still have produced plutonium in a reactor by using graphite as a neutron inhibitor. They tested it and it didn't work and so stopped pursuing it but the only reason it didn't work was due to impurities in their graphite. Graphite was used by the allies and then the post-war USSR as a neutron inhibitor in reactors until it was phased out (especially after the Chernobyl fire, pure carbon tends to burn very well).
Of course, at the time, we didn't know this and so it was much safer to assume they could. So, that doesn't take anything away from those involved in taking out heavy water production. It was an exceptional piece of sabotage that stands up there alongside the St Nazaire Raid as an example of incredible courage and grit by a small number of men and I have no doubt it still serves as inspiration for special forces commandos to this day.
British intelligence found, to their horror, post war, that the Nazis were frighteningly close actually. On hearing of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, his colleagues asked Heisenberg if it were even possible.
He stood up, went to a chalk board, and drew the Little Boy's internal mechanisms in detail. I'd call that pretty damn close. We should all thank our lucky stars that many German scientists realized what they'd have handed Hitler with a working atom bomb.
Also, feared Mob Boss James 'Whitey' Bulger has died in prison, in what is believed to be a homicide.
British intelligence found, to their horror, post war, that the Nazis were frighteningly close actually. On hearing of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, his colleagues asked Heisenberg if it were even possible.
He stood up, went to a chalk board, and drew the Little Boy's internal mechanisms in detail. I'd call that pretty damn close. We should all thank our lucky stars that many German scientists realized what they'd have handed Hitler with a working atom bomb.
Also, feared Mob Boss James 'Whitey' Bulger has died in prison, in what is believed to be a homicide.
There is a very large gulf between knowing how the bomb will work and actually building one. Nazi Germany didn't have the raw materials required, didn't have the scientists pushing for it to enable it to get those materials and didn't have the unlimited money and manpower that the US devoted to the project.
The germans never achieved man made criticality in a uranium pile as theirs exploded due to oxygen causing a chemical reaction. 6 months later the US had man made criticality. And after that it still took 3 more years for the US, with its massively larger workforce, funding and access to resources to develop the atomic bomb.
My understanding was that the German scientists had miscalculated the neutron capture cross-section, or something like that, and had estimated that they'd need an order of magnitude more Uranium than they would in actuality. Initially they didn't believe the USA had dropped a bomb; it was only after they were convinced it had happened that they managed to deduce how it had been done.
Werner Heisenberg apparently claimed that the miscalculation was deliberate to sabotage the German bomb project, but I don't think that stands up against the conversations between German nuclear physicists secretly recorded when in British captivity.
Well Stan certainly has a HHHUUUGGGGEEE influence on my life, as with many as you. Him, George Lucas, and whoever created GI Joe pretty much defined my childhood. And it’s Marvel that I still enjoy today.
Super Heros are like our modern version of ancient mythology. Where a lot of cultures around the world have stories of hero’s that are hundreds of years old, our’s are less then a hundred. And a thousand years from now I am sure there will still be some version of Peter Parker and his spidey suit.
KTG17 wrote: ... and whoever created GI Joe pretty much defined my childhood.
Most of the credit for GI Joe would go to Larry Hama who wrote the characters and the file cards that came with the action figures. He's still writing them today. Heck of a guy.
Ah true... I do know about him, but I was really thinking of the actual toy designers. I actually didn’t know about the GI Joe comic until about 2 years after I started getting the toys.
Stan Lee was just about the most influential guy on my life growing up. I woke up this morning KNOWING today something rough was going to happen. Damn. Stan, you will be missed! Thank you for the incredible universe you created. Your work was incredible, your vision beyond amazing. Thank you for all you’ve done. You’ve made mine Marvel!
I physically bumped into Stan Lee at a con in a rush to get back to my booth as I was almost late for my shift. I didn't see who it was, I just said "Terribly sorry, sir." as I walked on. All he saw was an athletic build in normal street clothes with a Captain America ball cap on backwards. There was no mistaking who said "That's okay, True Believer!" behind me. I was frozen for a second. I was late, but this was Stan Lee. I had to get to the booth, but this was STAN fething LEE!!!!!!!!. Responsibility won out and I hustled to the booth, and I relayed the story. Nathan, the person I was replacing, said "You idiot!!! GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I legit ran back to that point, but he was gone.
I just caught the news about Stan Lee in a bizarre way. Welp. For once I actually don't feel that sad. I mean it sucks sure. I like Turnip's quote. I feel like Lee achieved everything he could want to achieve in his life. Not the worst way to go out in the end.
I physically bumped into Stan Lee at a con in a rush to get back to my booth as I was almost late for my shift. I didn't see who it was, I just said "Terribly sorry, sir." as I walked on. All he saw was an athletic build in normal street clothes with a Captain America ball cap on backwards. There was no mistaking who said "That's okay, True Believer!" behind me. I was frozen for a second. I was late, but this was Stan Lee. I had to get to the booth, but this was STAN fething LEE!!!!!!!!. Responsibility won out and I hustled to the booth, and I relayed the story. Nathan, the person I was replacing, said "You idiot!!! GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I legit ran back to that point, but he was gone.
I'm glad that Stan lived to see Marvel come back from the edge, he poured his life into the company and comics were in a huge slump for a while. I'm glad that he was able to push through that and see so much of his work hit the big screen. He was incredibly passionate about comics and his fans which is something unique and incredibly inspiring, you could just hear it in his voice that he just truly enjoyed it. I never got tired of hearing him talk or narrate things, he had a great voice that projected all of his passions and love for life and that's the part I'm going to miss the most. As much as I've always enjoyed his work I was an even bigger fan of who he was beyond all the comics and that he could bring so much hope and joy to the world. He had a wonderful 95 year run but it's still sad to know that his light has finally left this world. I've been tore up all day, he was a truly inspiring person and touched the lives of so many people.
Deeply disappointing to see parasite trying to cash in on Stan Lee's passing.
FB feed is full of suspiciously new groups like 'Stan Lee Fans', 'Marvel Fanatic' and 'Stan Lee's True Believers', all trying to hawk shoddy t-shirt designs.
I want to pay cash to commemorate him, I'll look into any charities he may have supported, founded or been patron of. Give to something that mattered to him. Not to some random tat seller just looking to make a quick bundle.
Princess Bride was one of my childhood favorite movies. The man had a masterpiece. Hopefully he’s hanging out with Andre the Giant and having “rhyme wars”.
In a spooky* coincidence there is a showing of the film at my local cinema in the New Year, shall definitely be raising the glass of wine in front of me to the man, peanuts may also be involved
* spooky is everyone bombarding the cinema club organiser with demands right ?
Radio 4 had a bit of an interview with him this evening. It was recorded in 1988.
He told his daughters he was going to write them a story and what did they want it to be about? One said princesses, and the other said brides. So he said it will be called The Princess Bride.
He went on to say he didn't want people to think it was auto-biographical, but there was a lot of him in the book. It starts with names like Buttercup and Humperdink, because these are childish names and it's a story for children, but it develops a more serious side.
Amazing to think it will not be out of copyright until the 22nd century!
It's hard to believe the book is for children considering how cynical and mean spirited the novel is. It's pretty much an angry parody of the movie,* except instead of a grandpa reading to his grandson the book is bookended by a jerk in a loveless marriage trying to cheat on his wife.
*yes, the book was written before the movie, which raises questions about Goldman's intentions writing the screenplay.
American magician and actor Ricky Jay has died of natural causes in Los Angeles, his manager has confirmed.
A 1993 profile of Jay in the New Yorker described him as "perhaps the most gifted sleight-of-hand artist alive", able to baffle even fellow magicians with his skills.
The performer also appeared in films like Boogie Nights, Magnolia and Tomorrow Never Dies.
Tributes have already begun to flood in from fellow magicians and actors.
Penn Jilette, of magic duo Penn & Teller, described him as "one of the best who ever lived", while How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris called his death a "profound loss"
Born Richard Jay Potash in Brooklyn, Jay did not publicly discuss his childhood, and his date of birth is not exactly known, ranging from 1946 to 1948.
He reportedly first performed in public at the age of four, and played a number of comedy clubs and nightclubs - thought to be one of the first magicians to do so.
Jay was also well known for his card throwing ability. In shows, he was able to throw cards into the rind of a watermelon from 10 paces.
Guinness World Records once reportedly listed Jay as throwing a playing card 190ft (58m) at 90mph (145km/h).
uh huh
