Archive for the 'Passings' Category

Whitney Houston Honored at 54th Annual Grammy Awards

By: alex.chrum, February 13, 2012 in Celebrities, Music and Passings. Closed Tags: , , .

This Saturday, the world was rocked with the unexpected news of music legend Whitney Houston’s death. The unfortunate accident occurred just one day before the 54th annual Grammy Awards, a ceremony that has honored the diva for her achievements numerous times. Last night, singer Jennifer Hudson and host LL Cool J led the audience in paying homage to the pop star for what may be the very last time, with a musical tribute and a heartfelt prayer, respectively.

Hudson and Houston at the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009

Saturday evening, the social media landscape was on fire with the breaking news of Houston’s death. Before most major news outlets had reported the story, Facebook and Twitter were ablaze with “R.I.P. Whitney Houston” messages. For the remainder of the evening, the cause of death eluded the public, though most were quick to assume a drug overdose due to the singer’s troubled past. By Sunday, reports had surfaced that Houston had ingested a mixture of the anti-anxiety medication Xanax with alcoholic cocktails, causing her to fall asleep in the bathtub and ultimately drown.

Today, however, a recent statement from law enforcement has been released suggesting that Houston died before she was even underwater. “It looks like it was a lethal combination of prescription drugs and alcohol, but it’s still too early to rule out other causes. That’s just what it’s looking like now,” an official told Fox News. According to the superstar’s relatives, Houston did not have enough water in her lungs to have drowned.

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Joe Paterno Dies, Nation Mourns…?

By: alex.chrum, January 23, 2012 in News, Passings and Sports. Closed Tags: , .

Joe Paterno, who served as assistant and head coach for Penn State’s football team for 62 seasons, passed away yesterday, January 22, 2012, from complications with lung cancer. Many are mourning the death of this football “legend,” despite the fact that he was fired from his coaching position in November due to child sex allegations against his assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky. Reports allege that Paterno knew Sandusky was sexually abusing children on school property, and did not report the matter to authorities. The alleged abuse started as far back as the 1990s, and at least seven people have now stepped forth to file charges against the assistant coach.

Joe Paterno (right) with assistant coach Jerry Sandusky in 1999

While I try to lead a relatively peaceful life mandating forgiveness, understanding and respect for human life, the world’s response to the death of Joe Paterno leaves me feeling betrayed, uneasy and, ultimately, very angry. As far as my personal life goes, my Facebook news feed was bombarded yesterday with “R.I.P. JoePa” statuses, thanking him for all he did for Penn State and for the sport of football at large. More importantly, every news article I read seems to idolize Paterno, focusing on his coaching accomplishments and only mentioning the scandal as if it was an unfortunate incident for which we should feel sorry for him. Most disturbing, perhaps, are the repeated claims that losing his position at Penn State perhaps hastened his death.

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Authorities Hunt for Armed Gunman in Mt. Rainier

By: alex.chrum, January 2, 2012 in Crime, News and Passings. Closed Tags: , , .

As most of us learn with age, the holiday season can often be a time of tragedy despite its promises of cheerfulness and new beginnings. Residents of Washington State experienced this firsthand yesterday, January 1, 2012, when a gunman shot and killed a ranger in Mount Rainier National Park. The woman, 34-year-old mother of two Margaret Anderson, had been serving as a park ranger for four years.

Authorities examine a vehicle believed to belong to suspected gunman Benjamin Colton Barnes

Her husband, also a Mount Rainier park ranger, was working elsewhere in the park at the time of the shooting. Around 10:20 A.M., the gunman sped past a security checkpoint making sure vehicles had tire chains for the snowy conditions. While another ranger followed, Anderson blocked the road to stop the driver. The perpetrator began firing shots, and Anderson, who should have been armed, was hit before she even left her vehicle.

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Kim Jong-il and Osama bin Laden: The World Responds

By: alex.chrum, December 19, 2011 in Government, News, Passings and Politics. Closed Tags: , .

The recent death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il bears stark resemblance to the May 2011 execution of Osama bin Laden. I personally received a heavy amount of criticism after bin Laden’s death, as I professed my discomfort with the United States’ overwhelmingly celebratory attitude regarding the event. Don’t get me wrong—I do not “side” with bin Laden. He was inarguably a cruel and ruthless man who took many lives. However, I was downright disturbed by the fact that one of the most advanced countries in the 21st century was celebrating a gruesome murder like we had won a sport’s game. No matter how many atrocities someone commits while he is alive, the loss of any human life should be regarded with respect, dignity and, in this particular instance, apprehension for the future. Instead, the United States of America responded childishly, demanding to see pictures of the dead body, making jokes about his death and going out to bars or even throwing parties to drink and celebrate. I can understand feeling relieved, more safe and secure, knowing that such a person is no longer a threat to society. However, I cannot understand reveling in the idea of the loss of human life, no matter the circumstances.

North Korean communist dictator Kim Jong-il has passed

Today, the North Korean state television officially announced that communist dictator Kim Jong-il had passed away two days ago from a heart attack at age 69. The news brings about mixed emotions, for despite his uncouth ways of leading he was regarded as by many in North Korea as the “Dear Leader” of their country. In fact, photographs from the last two days show North Korean residents overwhelmed with grief at the news of their leader’s death. Despite this country-wide reputation, however, a 2004 Human Rights Watch report named Kim’s North Korean government “among the world’s most repressive,” having roughly 200,000 political prisoners and no freedom of the press or religion. Kim’s regime barred political opposition, equal education and health care.

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Author and Visionary Christopher Hitchens Passes Away at 61

By: alex.chrum, December 16, 2011 in Literature, Passings, Politics and Science. Closed Tags: , .

“Take the risk of thinking for yourself, much more happiness, truth, beauty, and wisdom will come to you that way.” –Christopher Hitchens

Yesterday, December 15, 2011, controversial author, journalist, humanist and political activist Christopher Hitchens lost his battle with esophageal cancer. Hitchens, an outspoken atheist, was undoubtedly one of the most brilliant minds of our time.

Christopher Hitchens speaks during a debate in New York in 2005

In fact, he was voted the world’s fifth top public intellectual in a Prospect/Foreign Policy poll. While exceptionally smart, he was also remarkably accessible, writing for The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, Slate and other publications. In 2007, he published a book on atheism and the nature of religion titled God is Not Great. His central argument, which is both incredibly powerful and controversial, is that the concept of god is a totalitarian belief that destroys individual freedom. He believed that free expression and science should replace religion as a means of teaching ethics and defining human civilization. Undoubtedly, he was one of the most prophetic and brilliant minds of the century.

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Comedian Patrice Oneal has Died

By: alex.chrum, November 30, 2011 in Celebrities, News and Passings. Closed Tags: , .

Yesterday brought more tragic news for the comedy world, as it suffered the loss of yet another talented comedian and actor, Patrice Oneal. Oneal is perhaps best known for his stand-up, as well as his appearances on Chappelle’s Show, The Office and the Opie and Anthony radio show. Most recently, he delivered a side-busting critique of “The Warlock” himself on Comedy Central’s Roast of Charlie Sheen.

Oneal performing on Comedy Central's Roast of Charlie Sheen

The show aired on September 12, a little over a month before Oneal suffered his ultimately life-threatening stroke.

Matt Frost, Oneal’s long-time rep, officially announced to TMZ that the star died 7:00 A.M. Tuesday morning from complications of a stroke he suffered in October. Frost also told the celebrity news outlet that Oneal’s mother and best friend, Georgia, was at his side when he passed.

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Authorities Reopen Investigation Into Death of Actress Natalie Wood

By: alex.chrum, November 18, 2011 in Celebrities, News and Passings. Closed Tags: , , , .

Yesterday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department made quite an unexpected announcement. After 30 years, it has decided to reopen its investigation into the 1981 death of Hollywood starlet Natalie Wood. Authorities say they have received new information about the case, and have consequently decided on a cold case review of the actress’s death.

Wood passed away 30 years ago this month

Wood, who was married to actor Robert Wagner, drowned off the coast of Catalina Island 30 years ago this month. The incident was originally ruled an accidental death.

She is best known for her performances in “West Side Story,” “Gypsy,” and, as a child, “Miracle on 34th Street.” She also received Academy Award nominations for the films “Rebel Without a Cause,” “Splendor in the Grass” and “Love with the Proper Stranger.” The daughter of Russian immigrants, she was a stunning beauty and a remarkably talented actress whose unexpected death came entirely too soon.

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GWAR Guitarist Cory Smoot Found Dead

By: alex.chrum, November 4, 2011 in Celebrities, Music and Passings. Closed Tags: , , .

It’s a tragic day in the heavy metal music world, as it has unexpectedly lost one of its most talented musicians. Cory Smoot, lead guitarist of the notoriously grotesque band GWAR, was mysteriously found dead in the band’s tour bus yesterday morning. GWAR, a Richmond, Virginia-based metal band, have been playing with a rotating line-up since 1985. They are currently on Metal Blade Records, and have released 12 full-length albums to date. Their sci-fi/horror film-inspired costumes and perverse lyrics have made them a staple in the metal world, and their live performances are infamous for their morally and politically taboo themes.

"Flattus Maximus" performs on stage with GWAR

Smoot, whose stage name was “Flattus Maximus,” joined the band in in the early 2000’s. As all members keep a majority of their personal lives secret, no one is sure exactly how old he was when he passed. The cause of his death is also unclear, and funeral arrangements have yet to be made. Lead singer Dave Brockie, otherwise known as “Oderus Urungus,” released a statement saying that “at this point we are just dealing with the loss of our dear friend and brother.” He asked the public for privacy, while the group mourns the loss of “one of the most talented guitar players in metal today.” Smoot’s body was found as the band was getting ready to cross the border into Canada for the second part of their North American tour. They had just performed in St. Louis this past Tuesday.

Endangered Animals Slaughtered After Owner’s Suicide

By: alex.chrum, October 20, 2011 in Crime, News and Passings. Closed Tags: , , , , , .

An almost unprecedented tragedy unraveled this week in a rural town in Ohio when sheriff’s deputies were forced to shoot and kill almost 50 exotic animals. Terry Thompson, 62, owner of Muskingum County Animal Farm, flung open his animals’ cages late last Tuesday before committing suicide. Schools were closed and residents of Zanesville were warned to stay in their homes until Wednesday afternoon, when officers with high-powered rifles and orders to shoot-to-kill had managed to hunt down the 56 animals

Motorists in Ohio were warned to be on the lookout for animals and to stay in their vehicles

that had been turned loose from the farm. Among the animals killed were 18 endangered Bengal tigers, six black bears, three mountain lions, two grizzly bears, a wolf and a baboon. Six animals were saved and taken to the nearby Columbus zoo.

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Rest in Peace Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage

By: Zack Stovall, May 20, 2011 in Passings. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Randy "Macho Man" Savage

Randy “Macho Man” Savage died this morning, leaving behind a seemingly endless legacy of wrestling moves, Slim Jim commercials and fantastic Halloween costume ideas.

The former wrestler and icon suffered a heart attack while driving with his wife this morning, causing the car to cross the median and run head-on into a tree. His wife, Lynn, to whom he had been married for nearly a year, suffered very minor injuries during the collision.

Savage was best known for his trademark phrase “OOOOHHH YEEEAAAHHHH” during his wrestling heydays. His contemporaries included Hulk Hogan and a host of other wrestlers from the WCW and WWF (now collectively the WWE) of old. He had a brief role as the wrestler “Bonesaw” in the first Spiderman film staring Tobey Maguire, and won the award for “Most Likely To Steal the Show For People Who Like Wrestling More Than Comic Books”, one of the loftier awards in film today.

He was 58. Snapping into a Slim Jim will never be the same again.