gcreptile

This edition of Germany's most popular weekly magazine, Der Spiegel, had an article on the inventor of Pinyin, the latinized writing of Chinese, Zhou Youguang. He's 108 years old.

Huh...I just realized that I confused him with Bob Seger.

Hmm... considering that she made Hollywood history and is apparently the german actor/actress to receive the most Hollywood fame, she is virtually unknown in Germany today. She's almost from another dimension, a jewish german from before the Third Reich, in retirement for 60+ years.... I wonder if the current roster of german actors actually knows her at all. Compare that to Marlene Dietrich who never won an Oscar, yet is a legend, at least in Germany.

Huh, I got a digit wrong there, sorry...

I would guess that ex-US presidents literally get the best healthcare in the world. And that is enough to get them above the age of 90. Nixon died at 91, Reagan and Ford at 93. Carter is 89 and looking fine. Bush Sr. is at least good for another year. He might have health problems, but doesn't do bad for a 89-year old. Just look at Cheney who somehow lives on without a heartbeat and six (?) strokes. Something must have changed in the 80s about the life money can buy.

Jazz guitarist Jim Hall, dead at 83 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/11/jim-hall-dead-jazz-guitar-master-obituary_n_4424175.html

Indeed, their mother died at age 88, and their father died at age 95.

America's longest married couple celebrates their 81st wedding day: http://www.theguardi...inversary-video

Cornelius Gurlitt, 80, the man with the pictures in his attic. He's in poor health, a bit of a weirdo and apparently needs the pictures around him to live.

Lou Reed is dead - the beginning of a new era? Pop culture has become old, many big stars are in their seventies now. Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, the remaining Beatles...

Diverse conservative reporters announce the death of US Representative Bill Young (R-FL). http://wonkette.com/531919/luke-russert-kills-us-congressman http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/fox-s-gretchen-carlson-mistakenly-reports-death-of-rep-cw-bill-young-video He's only in hospital though, but still in bad condition.

Bush Jr.'s heart problems were worse than previously known: http://www.nationaljournal.com/white-house/george-w-bush-s-close-call-20131011?mrefid=HomepageRiver

I wanted to use this death to start a business people thread. There were a couple of deaths in that category lately, like the Toyota and Nintendo bosses. But now it would be a double post. However, I also can't think of a smart and witty thread title.

Also dead: Basil Dickinson, Australia's oldest olympian: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-09/australias-oldest-olympian-dies/5011616

Former member of The Icarus Line and Nine Inch Nails, and ex-Buddyhead blogger Aaron North, 34, apparently is mentally ill and suicidal but insists that it's not because of the drugs. http://m.spin.com/articles/aaron-north-nine-inch-nails-icarus-line/

Police shoot 107-year-old man in Arkansas, USA. http://edition.cnn.c...-old-man-death/ He could have been a contender...

Frustrated with Mandela... I say Vera Lynn.

Mandela. I had the feeling that he would survive one more member of the list, and that turned out to be Bernie Nolan, I was too afraid to post because I was very, very wrong when I voted for Kirk Douglas. But now it's Mandela's turn.

His soul is now a prisoner of a machine.

Good call, this thread...

Television and film director Jim Goddard is dead. http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2013/jun/27/jim-goddard-obituary

Pink Floyd stage designer Mark Fisher is dead, at 66. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/mark-fisher-rolling-stones-and-pink-floyd-stage-designer-dead-at-66-20130627

Admits that there is a "gay lobby"/velvet mafia in the Curia. Also says that he is too unorganised to do reforms.

Benedict's health still declining.

Well, I wonder if he got the virus from his wife or from someone else... And if he got it from his wife, where did she get it from?