2007 R.I.P (Part 2)As
Pakistan plunges even further into chaos in the name of ... sectarianism ... political intrigue ... ?, those of us living in Indonesia can say with only the merest scintilla of irony that, thankfully, such anarchy doesn't exist here.
Apart from fairly localised mindless actions from small groups of
F***ing Pathetic Idiots who think that to
set fire to a couple of churches is going to enable them to jump to the head of the queue for an everlasting romp in the vestal chamber. Obviously these sexually inadequate thugs are unable to meet their matches here in the now if they're more focussed on the hereafter.
There isn't much, if any, tolerance of minority interpretations of Islam from the state sponsored
Indonesian Council of Ulamas, which is somewhat strange given that the Islam practiced here by some 40% of the population
has heavy infusions of Javanese culture, and followers tend to reject a literal or dogmatic interpretation of Islamic doctrine.
One can sympathise from afar with the victims of war, floods, plagues, pestilences and disasters, both natural and man-made, but unless one loses a member of family, friend or acquaintance the grim reaper isn't so grim. My personal circle has been reduced by just one this year with the passing of a former colleague from a heart attack, probably brought on as a result of a serious motorcycle accident. He was also another victim of the illegal practices of my erstwhile employer and a potential witness in the upcoming court cases filed against them.
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Most of us have a fascination with lists and also a curiosity about the book shelves and music collections of friends and acquaintances. It is in this spirit that I bring you my selection of the
obituaries of the year. Most of these folk have impinged on my life in one way or another, although I have included a few or four because I didn't know they had.
And so it goes ... (cf. April 11th)
January--7. Magnús Magnússon, 77, Icelandic-born British television presenter (
Mastermind, 1972-1997), pancreatic cancer.
13. Michael Brecker, 57, American jazz saxophonist, leukemia.
14. Barbara Kelly, 82, Canadian-born British actress (
What's My Line?)
February
--6. Frankie Laine, 93, American singer (
Mule Train), complications of hip replacement surgery.
--9. Alejandro Finisterre, 87, Spanish inventor of
table football.
16. Sheridan Morley, 65, British broadcaster and author, heart failure
21. Keith Kyle, 81, British journalist, historian and broadcaster
25. Brett Mycles, 29, American fitness model and bisexual pornography actor, heart failure.
26. Baroness (Lena) Jeger, 91, British Labour MP for Holborn and St Pancras South and opposition spokesman in the House of Lords.
28. Baron (Charles) Forte, 98, British hotelier
March14. Gareth Hunt, 65, British actor (
The New Avengers), pancreatic cancer.
15. Sally Clark, 42, British solicitor wrongly convicted of killing two of her sons.
-----Charles Harrelson, 69, American convicted murderer, father of actor Woody Harrelson, heart attack.
22. U. G. Krishnamurti, 88, Indian philosopher.
26. Donald McPhee, 61, photographer
April
--4. Terry Hall, 80, British ventriloquist and children's television presenter.
--7. Johnny Hart, 76, American cartoonist (
B.C.,
The Wizard of Id), stroke.
--8. Neville Duke, 84, British fighter pilot during World War II.
-----Sol LeWitt, 78, American artist linked to conceptual art and minimalism.
11. Kurt Vonnegut, 84, American novelist and social critic, brain injury from a fall.
23. Paul Erdman, 74, American economist, banker, and writer.
25. Bobby "Boris" Pickett, 69, American one-hit wonder singer (
Monster Mash), leukemia
-----Alan Ball, 61, British footballer, youngest member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning team, heart attack.
May
--3. Rose Tombe, Sudanese celebrity goat, asphyxiation.
June
12. Sir Wally Herbert, 72, British polar explorer.
24. Derek Dougan, 69, Northern Irish footballer (Wolves, Northern Ireland)
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