~C4Chaos

Random Obituaries: George Carlin

So long Mr. Carlin.

"George Carlin, the Grammy-Award winning standup comedian and actor who was hailed for his irreverent social commentary, poignant observations of the absurdities of everyday life and language, and groundbreaking routines like “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television,” died in Santa Monica, Calif., on Sunday, according to his publicist, Jeff Abraham. He was 71." [read more]

Thanks for making us laugh, and think.

Random Obituaries: Tim Russert

"Tim Russert, the host of “Meet the Press,” and NBC’s Washington bureau chief, has died. He was 58.

Mr. Russert was a towering figure in American journalism and moderated several debates during the recent presidential primary season." [read more]

Godspeed, Mr. Russert. Thanks to your passion for politics and journalism.

Random Obituaries: Bo Diddley

Godspeed and thank you for the beat, Mr. Diddley!

Random Obituaries: Arthur C. Clarke

via New York Times Obituaries

"Arthur C. Clarke, a writer whose seamless blend of scientific expertise and poetic imagination helped usher in the space age, died early Wednesday in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where he had lived since 1956. He was 90." ....

"The author of almost 100 books, Mr. Clarke was an ardent promoter of the idea that humanity’s destiny lay beyond the confines of Earth. It was a vision served most vividly by “2001: A Space Odyssey,” the classic 1968 science-fiction film he created with the director Stanley Kubrick and the novel of the same title that he wrote as part of the project.

"His work was also prophetic: his detailed forecast of telecommunications satellites in 1945 came more than a decade before the first orbital rocket flight." [read more]

Here's Clarke's reflections on his 90th birthday. A beautiful mind even, or especially, while nearing his final days.

Godspeed and farewell, dear visionary writer! Thanks for raising our consciousness with your compassionate and futuristic odyssey.

Random Obituaries: Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

As Super Duper Tuesday sweeps the geopolitical landscape, a famous yogi serendipitously leaves his body.

"Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the Indian guru to the Beatles and millions of meditators, has died at his home in the Dutch town of Vlodrop, a spokesman said.

"He died peacefully at about 7 p.m.," said Bob Roth, a spokesman for the Transcendental Meditation movement which the Maharishi founded and which introduced the West to a Hindu practice of mind control, once dismissed as hippie mysticism but which gradually gained medical respectability.

"Mr Roth said the cause of death was yet to be established but it appeared to be "natural causes, his age." The Maharishi was believed to be 91."

Read more.

From now on, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's death will be associated with the most memorable Super Tuesday in American history.

Godspeed Maharishi. Deep bows to all your contributions in consciousness studies and in the realm of transcendence and spirituality.

Thanks to Daily Mantra for the heads up!

Random Obituaries: Heath Ledger

I was sad to hear about Heath Ledger's death this morning.

Heath Ledger, Actor, Is Found Dead at 28

"The actor Heath Ledger was found dead in a Manhattan  apartment on Tuesday afternoon, the New York City police said."

I like the guy. Very good actor. Very promising. Another reminder of impermanence.

Thanks for entertaining us. Godspeed, dear cowboy. Godspeed.

Random Obituaries: Benazir Bhutto

"I know some people will think it was naïve [to return despite death threats]. But if you believe in a cause you have to pay the price."
-- Benazir Bhutto in quotes -- Times Online

The world is watching Pakistan. The assassination of Benazir Bhutto left a political vacuum which is causing a wave of grief and violence. Some grieving Bhutto supporters blame Musharraf and the U.S. The Interior Ministry say that Al Qaeda was responsible. This is a signature act of terror.

Bhutto's death is a tragic loss for democracy and the role of women in the Muslim world. Robb Smith, CEO of I-I, put it succinctly:

"An intellectual understanding of Bhutto's death can be easily and uniquely grasped through an integral lens: much of Pakistan's traditional value system stems from what psychologists call a conformist level of development. A woman, especially one that is a pro-democracy reformer, therefore represents a dual (female and democratic) threat to the established value structure that the conformists have established, in this case a patriarchal religiously-ordained system of cultural meaning-making and social power distribution. Moreover, when they perceive a threat, conformists can often reach quickly into their antecedent level of personal development for the archaic violence required to abolish the threat."

As for the emotional understanding, all I can feel right now is anger, grief, frustration... and acceptance that the state of the world is what it is at this very moment.

See: An interactive timeline of Benazir Bhutto's life and career.

Random Obituaries: Luciano Pavarotti

I grew up knowing only one name in opera: Pavarotti. His name is synonymous with opera. He made opera cool. Pavarotti passed away at 71. But his legacy will live on.

Godspeed, Mr. Pavarotti. Godspeed.

Random Obituaries: Kurt Vonnegut @ Ice 9

Kurt Vonnegut died on April 11. I wanted to give him a tribute on my blog. I wanted to do it with style, but I wasn't sure how. To be honest, I haven't read any of his works. But I understand how influential he was. He influenced a lot of the people who have influenced me, so I'm indebted to him just the same. So allow me to pay him a tribute, not with words, but with a rockin' out of this world music from my favorite guitar god. Here's Ice 9. Take it away Joe!

Thanks Mr. Vonnegut. Godspeed and keep on surfing...

@ Virginia Tech

It's official. It's the worst mass shooting ever in U.S. history. I don't know how to express my sadness, anger, and disbelief all at the same time. I can't even imagine how families and friends of victims are feeling right now. Let's all keep them in our prayers.

It's times like these when I wonder about God, free will, destiny, serendipity and karma. In the grand scheme of things this is all part of impermanence. Easier said than accepted of course. But before we let hatred (and politics and personal agendas) consume us and start pointing fingers, let's try to understand these 10 myths about school shootings, and hope, and pray, that this doesn't happen again.

Random Obituaries: U.G. Krishnamurti

I just learned that my favorite anti-guru mystic had passed away.

"U.G. Krishnamurti, lovingly called UG by his friends and admirers all over the world, is no more. The end came on March 22, 2007 at 2.30 pm in an apartment built for him by his friends Lucia, Anita and Giovanni in their villa in Vallecrosia, Italy. As per UG’s advice, with no rituals or funeral rites, the cremation was carried out the next day at 2.45 pm, in Vallecrosia, Italy. He was eighty-eight years old."

U.G. Krishnamurti was not my guru. I'm not his devotee. He wouldn't like that anyway. But during the time I was so over my head with the idea of enlightenment and the whole guru thing, he was there to balance my views. It was as if he had slapped me in the face to remind me that what we seek cannot be given to us by others.

Godspeed U.G. Thank you for the reminder.

R.I.P. RAW

via BoingBoing:

"Robert Anton Wilson--philosopher, author, visionary, Discordian, Fortean, and bOING bOING patron saint--died early this morning."

via RAW Data: I Don't Know

Wavy Gravy once asked a Zen Roshi, "What happens after death?"

The Roshi replied, "I don't know."

Wavy protested, "But you're a Zen Master!"

"Yes," the Roshi admitted, "but I'm not a dead Zen Master."

He sounded like an all around cool guy. Godspeed.

Random Obituaries: Steve Irwin: Wildlife Master

Steve Irwin
Uploaded by Water Tiger on 4 Sep '06, 7.29am PDT.

(via NYTimes Obituaries)

"Steve Irwin, the khaki-clad wildlife stalker who won global fame with his televised death-defying crocodile stunts and whose booming voice made “Crikey!” in a ripe Australian accent an international catchword, was killed by a stingray yesterday while filming a documentary at the Great Barrier Reef off Australia’s northeast coast. He was 44.

"Witnesses said he apparently died of cardiac arrest after the stingray attack.

"Mr. Irwin was on location in the area to film television segments, including material for “The Ocean’s Deadliest.” Witnesses on his boat, Croc One, and on a nearby diving vessel said that when he came close to a stingray, its barb pierced his chest and lodged in his heart.

In an interview with reporters in Australia, Prime Minister John Howard termed the death “a huge loss to Australia,” and called Mr. Irwin “a wonderful character.”

“He was a passionate environmentalist,” Mr. Howard added."

So long Steve. Thanks for the danger, the knowledge, the laughter, and reminding us of impermanence.

Raising a Tiger

Earl Woods died today. Godspeed Earl. (via Jon's Blog).

"I make it very, very clear that my purpose in raising Tiger was not to raise a golfer. I wanted to raise a good person," Woods told Golf Digest magazine about his book, Training a Tiger: A Father's Guide to Raising a Winner in Both Golf and Life."

This makes me miss my parents even more. I'm not a golfer, I'm not a champion, I'm no one special, but I think they did a good job in raising a good person. I hope.

I love my folks.

Random Obituaries: I Am Always Bitchy

"No More Games. No More Bombs. No More Walking. No More Fun. No More Swimming. 67. That is 17 years past 50. 17 more than I needed or wanted. Boring. I am always bitchy. No Fun -- for anybody. 67. You are getting Greedy. Act your old age. Relax -- This won't hurt."

- Hunter S. Thompson suicide note, Washington Post

Sometimes it's better to just shake yer head -- you know it's really suicidal to just give in, with people you can never really be sure....

Random Obituaries: Peter Jennings

"Peter died with his family around him, without pain and in peace. He knew he'd lived a good life," his wife and children said in a statement. - Peter Jennings Dies At 67

A good life indeed. Godspeed Mr. Jennings.

Random Obituaries: Jef Raskin

Mr. Raskin, who named the Macintosh after his favorite apple but altered the spelling for copyright reasons, played a significant role in transforming computers into friendlier machines, helping to catapult them into the commercial sphere. As the 31st employee at Apple Computer, Mr. Raskin advocated forcefully for the company to develop a computer that was easy for people to use, and he headed the Macintosh project starting in 1979.

- Jef Raskin, 61, Developer of Apple Macintosh, Is Dead

For Lori....

Last night I had a dream that I was about to be put to death by electrocution for something I did. During my waking moments I like to think that I feel indifferent about living and dying. But in that dream state I can still remember my fear. Will it hurt? What will happen to my consciousness when I die? Will it be just like passing out? I was spared in the dream. But the fear lingers.

My condolences to those people who just lost a loved one.

My sister died tonight at 8:30. She died alone in a hospice in La Mesa, California of AIDS related pneumonia. I was not there, even though she was just an hour or so away. I haven't seen or heard from her in 10 years. I am not sad for her, or for me. I am happy for her, as her 28 years of pain are over. There will be no memorial service, no funeral to fly home to. I have decided to hold one here on my blog.

Random Obituaries: Robert Frost

"If poetry isn't understanding all, the whole word, then it isn't worth anything. Young poets forget that poetry must include the mind as well as the emotions. Too many poets delude themselves by thinking the mind is dangerous and must be left out. Well, the mind is dangerous and must be left in."
- Robert Frost Dies at 88

Random Obituaries 101

Starting today I'll be blogging obituaries at random. Hopefully this would constantly remind me how fragile and impermanent the awareness of this bodymind is. I'll start with my own.