RIP thread

[Istvan]

I've only recently been introduced to The New York Dolls, though I've likely heard their music quite a lot over the years, especially with the number of bands I listen to that cite them as an influence. They've been trending high on my rotation lately. A sad day for fans of the Dolls and of punk and glam rock/hair metal in general.

Johansen was a charismatic front man and a terrific songwriter. His lyrics had much more wit than those of the pogoing punks and Spandex bands who claim The New York Dolls influenced them:

Who's the one who smokes Barefoot Contessas
Gonna tell 'em where she can roam
Who's the one who walks up Milano Street
And leaves 'em shoutin' "Yankee Go Home!"

[AFTT47]

James Harrison, blood donor whose rare plasma saved millions of babies, dead at 88

Harrison, whose plasma contained a “rare and precious antibody” known as Anti-D, donated blood more than 1,100 times, according to Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, which confirmed his death in a statement published Saturday.

That's almost beyond belief. The needles used for blood donations are large. The area of insertion eventually becomes unusable. This dude must have had scarring everywhere on his body where it was possible to tap a vein.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

James Harrison, blood donor whose rare plasma saved millions of babies, dead at 88

Harrison, whose plasma contained a “rare and precious antibody” known as Anti-D, donated blood more than 1,100 times, according to Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, which confirmed his death in a statement published Saturday.

That's almost beyond belief. The needles used for blood donations are large. The area of insertion eventually becomes unusable. This dude must have had scarring everywhere on his body where it was possible to tap a vein.

He certainly broke the safety protocols. To reach that many donations, he would have had to give blood about once every twenty days (assuming the usual one pint per donation). It’s generally acknowledged that donating more than six times per year is risky.

Amazing it didn’t kill him.

Boru

[Fake Messiah]

Selwyn Raab - American journalist who wrote extensively about the Mafia and criminal justice issues. He was also the inspiration for the Kojak tv show/ character.

[Nanny]

Roy Ayers, Jazzman, 84.

[Nanny]

George Lowe, voice of Space Ghost on Space Ghost Coast to Coast, 67

https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/t...235288224/

[Fake Messiah]

Joe Nickell at the age of 80. He was a prolific author on the topic of scientific skepticism. For example, he wrote a book on Christian magical artifacts like Shroud of Turin, Jesus' crown of thorns, etc. as well as UFOs & aliens, crop circles, ghosts, miracles, psychic abilities, and similar hoaxes.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

^That sucks. I always enjoyed his skepticism - well reasoned and very accessible.

Boru

[Rev. Rye]

This appears to have taken a darker turn.

Given that a film legend and his wife were found dead together, this was probably inevitable. Hackman was 95, it probably would have happened any day now. But people don't die in twos without something strange happening. Okay, maybe the "Happy Ending" mathematician couple, but normally, there's usually some effort on someone's part.

So, it looks like they died of different causes, neither of them self-inflicted: 

The wife died first, not of suicide, but from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, with the last day anyone can confirm she was alive being February 11. Then, Gene Hackman died, likely around the 18th, the last day anyone could detect any activity from his pacemaker. He didn't have hantavirus, but he did have heart disease and advanced Alzheimer's. Odds are, he was far enough gone that he wasn't even aware that his wife was dead. He also hadn't eaten in a while. The dog who died probably starved to death.

[AFTT47]

Pretty sad. It sounds like Hackman was a living zombie at the end.

Odd that his wife didn't seek treatment for herself. Money obviously wasn't an issue.