All four of us went to a movie this past weekend. It’s a rare occurrence, because the boys are usually swimming, and we always seem to have twenty other things going on. It’s something that rarely occurs to us — an actual movie in an actual theater.
But we saw The Woman in Black on Saturday, and it was fun. The movie, as well as the outing. I had a great time, and was really craving some normalcy. It hit the spot; I miss spending time with the family, in a non-hectic, non-stressful way. It feels like we’re always on the run, trying to get from here to there, etc. But on Saturday everything was smoove and casual. It was a good time.
I also saw Red State — Kevin Smith’s new movie — on Netflix Instant. Thankfully I watched that one by myself, ’cause it was profane past the tipping point. I don’t personally care one way or the other, but there’s a limit to how much cursing I want to endure with the younglings in the room. Ya know? A light dusting is OK, but this was an avalanche, not a dusting.
I enjoyed the flick, though. It’s not a comedy, which is a departure for Smith, and I was intrigued. It entertained me, and was unpredictable. Have you seen it? What did you think?
And speaking of unpredictable, I find myself enjoying Netflix more since I quit the DVDs and went with streaming only. I think it might have something to do with the fact that I’m now forced to watch my second or third choice, instead of always having my first choice available. I’m discovering some good stuff, which probably would have gotten past me before.
I have a positive feeling toward Netflix now, almost like I did when I first subscribed — back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
And if you’ll excuse me for a few minutes, I’m going to go have a Miranda Cosgrove frozen meal….
OK, I’m back. I went with the chicken, broccoli, and rice. Tasty, as usual… I also emptied the dishwasher while I was away, made the bed, and shaved. I hate shaving, it’s a giant time-suck. I’m thinking about just letting it go, and going full Lord of the Rings-nerd with my facial hair. Of course, I’ll have to buy a tweed flat-cap if I do that, but it might be worth it.
Before I throw in the towel on this one, and head back to work, I thought I’d attempt to set up a Whitney Houston-themed Question of the Day.
I’m not a fan of her style of music, and therefore don’t feel a strong connection to her. But I can certainly recognize her talent. Sometimes she took it too far, I think, and sounded like a car alarm going off. But she had a hell of a voice, I know, and don’t believe too many people would argue that point. Right? Right.
But was her death really shocking? I wasn’t shocked. She’s been doing hard drugs for a couple of decades. I know it might seem insensitive, but when people say they were shocked, I just roll my eyes. Tragic, sure. But not surprising.
And so, for a Question I’d like to know what celebrity deaths ACTUALLY shocked you? I can think of two, right off the top of my head: John Lennon and Princess Diana. But I don’t have the time to dig any deeper than that. I’m going to have to leave it to you guys. Please use the comments link below.
And I’ll be back tomorrow.
Have a great day!
Now playing in the bunker
Treat yourself at Amazon: US and Canada
Booyah!
Joe Strummer…jeez
I wasn’t surprised by her death. Jacko’s either. He was such a frail little fuck, I couldn’t imagine him getting old.
I was surprised by Amy Winehouse’s death, but not like you might think. I’ve been out of the loop for a while. I downloaded one of her songs and thought she had some real raw talent. Then I started looking her up and found out she’d died months before.
I didn’t expect David Carradine to go out with a jackoff rope around his neck.
And the crocodile hunter, that was fucked up.
Heath Ledger.
I felt the same way about Whitney and was joking on FB about it almost immediately. 48 sucks, but crack? Come on.
Amy Winehouse was a little shocking just for the irony.
Phil Hartman.
Those are two I can think of that weren’t crazy into drugs and shit. Cobain was shocking but not when you really get into the details. Same with Farley, blind melon guy, etc.
Sam Kinison was shocking because after all the drugs he did he died while trying to get his life in order.
Robert Shimmel – Beat fucking cancer and died in a car wreck because his daughter can’t drive.
What made Schimmel’s death in a car wreck, with his daughter at the wheel more bizzare, was that he regularly talked about her bad driving in his routines. He joked, when his daughter had one wreck, that she told him that he didn’t have to give her an allowance for a couple months. He replied “bullshit, you’re gonna be blowing the guy at the body shop for the deductible”.
yeah T…Sam came to my mind first off. Crap…I really liked that guy. And still do.
Shocking celeb death: D. Boon. It wasn’t shocking that he died, per se; but was shocking that it was due to a car crash rather than a heart attack. (I realize most of you will need to Google him. Jeff knows, though. And so should everyone else, in a just world.)
All fat jokes aside, though, it was terribly sad that someone so young, in the artistic prime of their career, on the cusp of much more widespread success, would suddenly just croak. It still bums me out.
This guy gets it:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-rees/what-would-d-boon-do_b_12785.html
Patrice O’Neal and Bernie Mac. Also, Bob Hope and George Burns.
Scott Baio was shocking
I think you’re thinking of his career.
and I won’t be surprised when Cee-Lo (sp?) Green has a stroke and keels over
… and all religions true
…which is one of the two possible conclusions, once one learns that other religions exist. Nice to see you, Lefty.
.
I second Bernie Mac and Phil Hartman. Didn’t see those coming. All the people that off themselves either intentionally or accidentally with drugs are pretty much just ticking time bombs anyway… But of course, Keith Richards lives on. He’s probably snorting Whitney’s ashes as we speak.
The night Princess Diana died is forever burned in my memory. I was in grad school and I was on maybe my third date with my now ex-husband. We went to this house party with a bunch of my music and theater friends (ie: gay). We walk in and I’d just heard on the radio that she’d died. I told everyone and they all burst into tears and start turning the TV on. Some flaming, weeping homo walks up to my us and asks if we’d heard about Princess Di. My ex, being Mr. Sensitive that he is replies, “You mean Princess Dead?” Perhaps this should have been a sign that it wouldn’t work out between us…
Clarence Clemons
George Carlin.
Those 2 got an “Oh shit, noooooooo” out of me.
If I have to hear “And IIIIIIIIIIIIIII Will Always Love You-u-u-uuuuuuuu” one more time I’m going to go ballistic. I’m sorry she’s gone but do they have to end every friggin’ news segment with that “two-cats-fucking” screech?
Two cats fucking screech..
Thanks, madz! Now for the next week or so, whenever I hear that goddamned song (and I’m sure the number of times will be in the triple digits), I’ll be thinking “two-cats-fucking”. And I’ll chuckle, instead of having my blood pressure shoot up and my ears turn purple.
That’s my Native American name “Two-cats-fucking”
Al Davis.
We’ve had an unusually large number of employees at my company die in the past year… one guy died of a heart attack at the age of 40. Another guy died of a heart attack in his late 40s. Then we had two young people (in their 20s) die from cancer.
None of those people are celebrities, but it’s a serious reality check.
Funny thing is, we have great health insurance through the company. But almost nobody bothers to have an annual check-up with their doctor. I’m not sure that it would have helped the two people with cancer, but it probably would have helped the two guys that died from heart attacks.
We didn’t finish Red State. I followed the hype (mostly from Smith himself via Twitter) and it seemed like a good idea. Nope. We didn’t make it past the first church scene.
Surprising deaths? Hmm . . . Sonny Bono? Never knew he was such a tree hugger.
The Sonny Bono comment almost made me spit coffee on my laptop. Never thought of that, most excellent.
What do Daryl Hanna and a tree have in common? The both banged a Kennedy.
I feel sorry for the music business people who worked so hard at being dead this year, only to have Whitney come along at the last minute and steal the show.
Yeah, I agree. Maybe that’s why I mentioned Clarence Clemons. Did anyone utter his name last night? The show only opened with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band fer chrissakes.
Yes, Clarence was on the D list.
Definitely Phil Hartman. Shot by his wife in the middle of the night while he was sleeping. Harsh.
My ex took the death of “Macho Man” Randy Savage pretty hard. But then again, that’s why he’s my ex….
Macho Man is dead? Bummer…
it didnt suprise me, yeah its sad but thats what happens when your a crackhead and taking 6 different prescription drugs and drinking at the same time. big shocker!
Is it wrong that the first thing I thought of when I heard it is that she went on a crack binge and OD’d.
Stevie Ray Vaughn kicked off to early. Damn helicopters.
River Phoenix and Kurt Cobain hit me hard when I was in college, I was a big fan of both and never dreamed they would die so young. Heath Ledger too.
Natasha Richardson’s death was pretty weird too. It’s wasn’t a tree-hugging accident like Sonny Bono. It was more like I-fell-and-bumped-my-head thing.
Something similar happened to my late DFIL. Anyone who’s taking blood thinners, please be VERY careful about bumps to the head. Something seemingly minor can have MAJOR results.
I don’t mourn too much when a “famous person” passes on but I actually teared up when I found out Princess Diana was killed. The thought of seeing wills and Harry grow up without their mother was just shocking. I think I’ll remember that day always.
I think Heath Ledger is the only other celebrity death which really surprised me. No tears that time but it just seemed sad that he was in the prime of his life one day and gone the next.
Not surprised to hear that Whitney’s gone. She’d been so strung out for so long it was really only a matter of time. I really enjoyed her music back in the 90’s. I was a teenager back then and didn’t know any different. But that was centuries ago, wasn’t it??
E.T.’s death shocked the hell out of me.
Oh yeah, and Old Yeller.
When I heard of the passing of Bambi’s mother, I went to church and lit a candle.
I was so overwrought, I had venison for dinner.
E.T. died?
What I heard. Right after he phoned home and ate a midget.
I thought he choked on a Reeses Pieces.
or was it a ham sandwich?
Edward Teller?
.
No he still works with Penn Gillette.
Many celebrities seem to live lives that are train wrecks in slow motion so it’s rarely shocking when one dies. If the deaths of people like Amy Whinehouse, Hillel Slovak, Andrew Wood, Layne Staley, and even poor old Whitney shock you, you’re just not paying attention. Usually I’m more surprised that they’re still alive (eg. Lindsay Lohan, Anthony Kiedis, Iggy Pop, Shane MacGowan).
Joe Strummer was a shock, as was John Lennon, Phil Hartman, and Brittney Murphy. Heath ledger was also a surprise especially given the timing. John Belushi shocked me, but I was only 11 and his well publicized drug and alcohol problems weren’t on my radar.
What never fails to piss me off however is how we fail to use these events as cautionary tales they represent. The interwebs have been clogged with tributes to Whitney since Saturday, and I’m sure there were plenty of nice things said about her at the Grammys last night, but no one is saying anything like “See everybody: This is why you don’s take Xanax when drinking -You wind up dead.” In a few months some comedians like norm McDonald or Joe Rogan will make a few truth-laden jokes at her expense, and people will get butthurt, but the truth is that Whitney is responsible for her own fate and she did what she did knowing the risks. To think of her death as accidental is a lie. And that takes me back to John Belushi. His death has done more to keep me away from drugs than all the government pamphlets, after school specials, and intervention programs in the last 30 years combined.
That’s why I never get into the bathtub when taking Xanax with vodka.
If she’d only decided to shower on Xanax and vodka, we’d all be talking about her comeback.
Maybe if she’d just douched off, or used a warsh rag, our lives wouldn’t be so empty right now.
Thanks, T Farty. I just spat an Altoid across the room laughing out loud. At work.
Thanks T Farty.. I nearly peed my pants, then I too, would have had to have “douched off”..
lmao what i dont understand is with all these people in her room (assistant, body guard ect.) they said she went to take a bath and she was in there for over an hour wouldnt you be checking on her every 5 minutes? knowing the condition she was in, knowing all the drugs she was on?
Well, they said that she was basically broke financially, so I really doubt that she had an entourage anymore. Just family members and hanger-onners. Kevin Costner was supposedly nowhere in sight, must not have gotten paid for previous services.
Hey truth be known..I’d a fucked her…again.
Douglas Adams, The world would be funnier if he was still here….
And another vote for Joe Strummer.
When Gerald Ford passed I felt so powerless. Like the world had me by the buttcheeks, power fucking me.
Then his lovely wife Betty died in July of last year. I considered killing myself but I didn’t want to take away from pageantry of her goddamn month-long funeral.
Chuckling like a tard in a petting zoo. Thanks Jason.
I am really going to have a difficult time dealing with the death of Burt Reynolds early next year.
I’d really like to know what the heck is going on in that bunkercam photo. I mean, what the heck?
I can’t figure out if that’s an obese man on the street or a woman with hairy pits. Either way, HOT!
Wasn’t there a story (or link to a story) here a while back about a naked woman running down the street? This could be related.
Or maybe I dreamed it. If so, this picture isn’t related–all of the women in my dreams look like Betty White.
Douglas Adams and John Denver.
Gary Coleman
Who killed Gary Coleman? Brothers and sisters; it was you and me
John Ritter & Heath Ledger shocked me. I remember hearing about them & going “What the fuck?!”
Another shocker for me was Dana Reeves. Of course her husband, Christopher (Superman) Reeves was a certainty, but to read about her dying so soon after him leaving behind their child was just heart breaking. Plus it sucked because she was totally not one who deserved it. I can’t feel too much sympathy for the likes of Jim Morrisson, Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Whitney, etc., etc., etc. because they CHOSE to slowly kill themselves. It’s the people like Dana Reeves who was just living her life when she gets the Big-C and dies that completely blows.
I was also very shocked as a young teenager when Sergei Grinkov died. For those that don’t know he was the male part of the figure skating husband-wife duo of Grinkov/Gordeeva. I remember being very sad for her & her young daughter because he died so suddenly on the ice.
Yes, John Ritter – that did make me sad. That show “8 Simple Rules” was pretty funny.
The death of Barney Rubble left me feeling empty for months. I wish I could have met him just once. Fucking syphilus!
After I second Lennon & Diana, I’m totally playing the old card but Bob Crane’s death [Hogan of Hogan’s Heroes] was a total shock.
The only celebrity death that actually made me cry a little was Jimmy Stewart. He was quiet elderly but I was still saddened.
I haven’t seen Red State but I saw An Evening with Kevin Smith where he pretty much talked about it for 35% of the time. I’ll wait til my son buys it and brings it over. He did do a great tribute to George Carlin during the show.
Michael Jackson. Not Jacko, but the Englishman. Also Warren Zevon. Jon Postel, for fuck’s sake!
.
I was well known in my trumpet playing relm and I’m quite suprised I’m not dead.
From what I can see, the great trumpet players have not tended to die in a very “rock and roll” or “blues” fashion. Choking, diabeetus, stroke and friends, heart attack… haven’t found any drug overdoses or plane crashes so far. I need to research this further, but a trend seems to be emerging.
.
Wait, I’m wrong! Bix Beiderbecke died of demon rum at age 28. Don Cherry died of “liver failure caused by hepatitis”, which could be the same thing.
.
Chet Baker fell out of a third floor window in Paris. The fuck? Well…at least it was Paris and not Des Moines. Remember the band “Chase”…I knew Bill Chase. MONSTER player. His plane went down in Iowa on the way to a gig. Killed him and most band members Two trumpet players went too. Alan Ware (read the liner notes) was/is also a friend of mine. He was on the band but not on the plane. He’s still in Vegas.
Clifford Brown…Crazy gifted player. Amazing jazz player who would run notes/lines that went on forever in one breath it seemes. Creative and lyrical tup the ass. Killer! He died on the way to a gig when he fell asleep and drove off the Pennsylvaina turnpike.
My demons did not kill me as I welcomed them as nightly friends.
Bill Chase… didn’t he have a band called Chase? And didn’t they have a hit or three during the 70s? I remember them being on the radio when I was in junior high.
.
Yes yes and yes. Killer trumpet player band.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGeshSW3k10
Crank it…there’s more on you-tube.
Terry Richards is on this album as their singer. I was in St Louis and he called my room and asked if I had a spare horn his trumpet player could use. Somehow the guy fucked his up.Terry had his own band then. I said yes. Later that night we gatheret in my Ramada room after our gigs. Dude brought my spare horn back (his would be ready the next day) and we proceded to party. First time I saw anybody do ‘poppers’….amyls.I did not. I was strickly a herbal dude.
Wow. That is some awesome shit. Yes, the song I remembered from 1970s radio is “Get it On”. But let me say this about that: never underestimate the Power. Trumpets and so much more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq_Gdnq2SS8&feature=related for example.
.
And Lee Morgan was stabbed to death by a jealous husband. That’s the way a trumpet player should go out I think.
Now THAT is a proper “blues” death.
.
Actually, chill, it is quite similar because drinking and Hep C both destroy the liver. I have the Hep C version, and it is no fun. It is possible to put the Hep C into remission, but I have to get a liver transplant first. At around 2 million dollars for a liver transplant, I’m going to pass as it would max out my health insurance, and I would rather that money went to my youngest daughter with a serious heart condition.
The total bitch of the whole deal is that I got Hep C from a blood transfusion when I was a baby. What saved my life is what is going to kill me. Oh well…it’s been a good run!
Is it too late to become an alcoholic baseball great? You get a liver even when you don’t deserve one then.
I miss Maynard Ferguson. I saw him live a few times and once had a P/T job as security during college when he played. I got to see him off stage and away from the audience. He talked to the younger players like a son when he was coaching them on ad libbing and style.
Wow, Maynard… never got a chance to see him live. My college roommate was a trumpet player and introduced me to some of MF’s records. Good stuff. Even, now, his version of “I Can’t Get Started” plays in my head often enough.
.
Can you get me Grover Wasington, Jr.s autograph?
Clarence Clemons was kind of a shock, he had an almost immortal quality. Whitney Houston? Never listened to her music in any event, I put her right up there in the same screeching and warbling category musically as Stevie Nicks. I’m surprised she lasted as long as she did. But as to why they didn’t check on her sooner? She might have been a crackhead but she wasn’t Brittney Spears. Brittney no doubt expected her entourage to come in and check her out in the bathtub every five minutes. Now John Lennon on the other hand. No surprise that a guy writing stuff like “Imagine no possessions” while living in a $7 million Park Avenue penthouse got whacked by a nut without a pot to piss in. His early stuff is legendary, but his Yoko days, not so much.
JFK. He was already dead for 3 years when I was born but it still hurt.
Seriously though Cobain was a stunner. I was already past my binge drinking days but I went out that night and raised many many glasses to him.
Princess Di was pretty unexpected but I was more shocked by the reaction. I couldn’t believe how many people gave a shit.
When Scott Baio goes it will be a shock And Bonnie Franklin too. I’m holding out for them.
And fuck Custer. What a goof. He was asking for it. And If Marilan Monroe had been fucking ME…she’d still be alive.
Ronnie James Dio.
Though we had ample warning, it was the passing of one of the Gods of my yoot, and it sucked.
Same goes for Frank Zappa.
FZ being dead still depresses me.
But Bobby Brown is ok, right..?
Isn’t he the piece of garbage that punched Rhianna in the face? No? oh…
Allegedly drug related death? Grammy awards are sad…Beating up your spouse? Nah …Grammy awards are ok with that… Ladies and gentlemen – Chris Brown!!!! (twice).
Wait, what about Mr. Rogers?
Clyde Rogers, my 8th grade shop teacher?
I remember reading something funny at the time because it was right around when the world was supposed to end… again….“And with the first overall selection in the Rapture Draft, God selects Macho Man Randy Savage. Ooooooh Yeeaaaah!” …
Shit, that was supposed to be a reply to WB and Kristi..
I’m new here; cut me some slack.
And I apologise for nothing.
Anna-Nicole Smith… Before she went all Kristie Ally (sp?) was like, wow, like… geez… how you doin? But then when she was doing that old texan millionaire I kinda lost interest.
Add on Craislist.
Attractive Femaie wanted for Premature Ejaculator.
Must be 20 – 25; blond; long legs; nice breasts; cute ass; …… …….. ….. never mind.
Hilarious!!!! Choked on my Mtn Dew a little, but worf it!!!
Speaking of that, and off-topic, when did they stop spelling out “mountain”? Although I find the notion of mutton-flavored soda strangely appealing.
.
Ashley Peacock was a shocker. But then again, it is Coronation Street. With all the deaths in one small little community, you’d think it would raise an alarm based on the per capita deaths. They should send in someone like Officer Nicholas Angel (cwidt?)
I think the classic was one of my favourite posts for both Jeff and the Surfers (hey! Band name!). Lots of funny stuff by so many different people. Grinning like a pre-teen boy who just got the dirty joke the adults told.
Yes hot fuzz…Jeff and the Surfers. Very cool name. It will require a horn section however. I know this cool place in Gulfport Illinois called “Woody’s” . It would be a great break the band gig in. It actually has chicken wire enclosing the bandstand (I’m not making that up) just like the ‘Blues Brothers’ flick. I’ll pack and have my wife call my agent.
I’ll play for free… When I mentioned earlier that I did security for one of Maynard’s gigs, I forgot to mention that I got a nylon sticker that said MF crew. Guess what’s on the side of my trumpet/fluegel horn case….
I’m a little late to the Ghoul Pool Party. Work has been nothing but unnecessary chaos. Oh well…who gives a shit…
Anyway, I have to go with Princess Di. Heart breaking to see the boys walking behind her carriage. And the not on the casket stating, “Mummy”. Ugh.
I’m still not understanding how one drown’s themselves. Would not being able to take in air not wake you up with a jolt? Apparently she was on the same Rx as Michael Jackson. Must be some strong knock-yo-ass-out pills. Christ.
….the NOTE…. ugh.
Can I do the Dead Man’s Float in the Ghoul Pool?
Dead Man’s Float???
face down spread eagle
Usually demonstrated by a drunk…for usually too long for the less drunk people;s comfort level
The ed-ja-ma-cation here is priceless!
My impressions of Red State are archived on twitter and favorited by Kevin Smith Agree. Never saw it coming.
When Aaliyah (singer) died in a plane crash her movie Romeo Must Die with Jett Li was in high rotation at the compound, so that was pretty jarring.
Also Left-Eye from TLC
Dale Earnhardt – I thought he was invincible