Obituaries

This really makes me sad, Rest in peace Sir.

 

Isn't it amazing how opportunistic criminals can be? I wonder what the stolen car ratio was that evening vs. the burglary rate. Don't break into a house, everybody is home, steal their car they aren't paying attention!

 

Another sad loss.

 

Be at peace, Mr. Armstrong. :S!


[video=youtube;RMINSD7MmT4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMINSD7MmT4[/video]

 

I just ran across this article from the online PopSci magazine, which highlights the times they featured Neil Armstrong in their magazine.

Goto:

Neil Armstrong in the Pages of PopSci: 1958, 1969 and 1989 | Popular Science

 

Years before Apollo landed that night in 1969, a young 5 year (me) begged his Dad to go see "Destination Moon" at the local Paramount Theater in West Texas. Well, we got there and saw the movie. For me, it set a life long course into the physical sciences and ultimately work at NASA on weather satellites as well as military space technology.

As we left the theater, we turned the corner to see a beautiful West Texas sunset in progress. I asked my Dad when will we fly to the moon? He stared at the sunset as we walked to the car. "Not in my lifetime, son".

Years later on that night of Neal Armstrong's landing, I called to remind my Dad of his prediction. He said, "Well, I'm glad I was wrong!"

RIP Neal and thanks for the all the sacrifice, blood , sweat and tears that went into your career for the human race. You will always be long remembered and never forgotten.

 

Diggers killed in 'green on blue' incident | News | NT News | Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia | ntnews.com.au

 

Could not get that link. Try Live blog: Five Aussie soldiers killed in Afghanistan - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

I spent some time with a large group of NATO troops from Afganistan on leave in Sydney... led by some Aussie Diggers. (My handle elsewhere is "digger")

Story (for those not easily offended) HERE - slow loading (video images) for those on dial-up.

 

Yeah Digger...2 more dead, i think in a seperate incident (read: Murder).

If the link doesnt work, just type in: NT News

 

The other two died in a Helicopter crash though it appears more of an accident as there was no reported enemy fire (Flying chopper's in Afghanistan is very difficult due to the hill's and how the wind get's in them.

 

Here is a link to a cosmic coincidence, there is going to be a "blue" moon on Neil Armstrong's memorial service. This isn't a real "BLUE" moon, just a rare full moon twice in a single month.

Goto:

'Blue moon' on same day as Neil Armstrong service - Yahoo! News

 

Great 'toon remembering the "good old days?"

 

Thats Just Sad The Families Of Those Soldiers Must Be Stricken With Grief Right About Now

 

very sad indeed he was truly a pioneer for space missions
rest in peace sir you will be sadly missed

 

Andy Williams dies at age 84

His variety show was a TV staple of my youth along with Dean Martin and Carol Burnett. In the late 1990s, I went to Branson with some family members and saw him perform at his Moon River Theater. At the beginning of the last song, one of the ushers asked us to follow him. We ended up backstage and were directed through a door with his name and a star. We went inside and it was like walking into someone's home. On our left, there was a grand piano with his 3 Emmy Awards. The walls were covered with beautiful woodwork and to the right there was a fireplace blazing surrounded by a sofa and matching chairs. On the far side of the room, a door opened and out walked Andy Williams. We were all at a loss as to what to say. Fortunately, Mr. Williams was incredibly kind and gracious as he introduced us to him. We ended up getting our picture taken with him before we left. He really couldn't have been any nicer.

Now he croons with the angels.

 

Excellent bit Tommy. Thanks for that.

 

Thanks guys. To add a bit to the story, my mother had the photo made into 3 8x10s and mailed them to the Moon River Theater. Mr. Williams signed them with a very nice message that I don't recall off hand.

To this day, we are still not sure why we were pulled from the audience. My favorite explanation is that, when my mother picked up the tickets at Will Call, she told the attendant that she wanted to be sure we would see Mr. Williams. My mother is a worrier and wanted to make sure that Mr. Williams was actually performing that night. The theoretical part is assuming that the attendant thought she was asking to meet Mr. Williams. Regardless of how it happened, it was a great experience.

 

Ah yes! I had forgotten about the good ol' "Andy Williams Show" we used to watch on the telly in England. Andy wasn't just a Star of Stage and small screen, he was a genuinely funny target for quite a few British comedians of the day. Benny Hill, Morecombe and Wise, and The Two Ronnies all did parodies of his act. People like Benny hill used to leave us all on the floor, sometimes literally holding our sides, with his show business impressions. Nana Miskouri was another favourite of his.

Ahhhh....English television in the seventies was so entertaining. Sunday roast with Yorkshire pud and gravy, settle back at midday to watch Brian Moore and "The Big Match". Good old Andy used to come along sometime in the afternoon after the football. Wonderful days! Television HAD to be good back then, there were so few channels, and the BBC used to take their complaints from the public very seriously in those days. You couldn't have taxpayers money wasted on inferior products, after all! Single channels used to command audiences of many millions at a time. British television was a superior product to it's American cousin in so many field, comedy, journalism, childrens programming, late night TV etc. English historical television documentaries were the most authoritive and thoroughly researched. The BBC used to take public education SERIOUSLY and make every effort to portray history in the most up to date manner.

Fond memories from me, anyway.