Tribute Thread for the Recently Passed Greats

If there's a rock and roll heaven, it just got a bit more soulful.Story here

---

Those who would sacrifice an essential liberty for a temporary security will lose both, and deserve neither. -- Benjamin FranklinWe see monsters where science shows us windmills. -- Phat

MSN | Outlook, Office, Skype, Bing, Breaking News, and Latest Videos

---

Those who would sacrifice an essential liberty for a temporary security will lose both, and deserve neither. -- Benjamin FranklinWe see monsters where science shows us windmills. -- Phat

So Richard Wright passed away over a week ago (almost two weeks!).TLS - Times Literary SupplementMusic is taking its beating again.

Mike Majerus passed awayQuoting a chunk of the PT article:

quote:

---

I am shocked and very saddened to have just gotten the news that Michael E. N. Majerus, Cambridge lepidopterist and world expert on the peppered moth and the evolution of melanism (and many other topics, e.g. ladybirds), has unexpectedly died after a short illness. This is very hard to understand, as he was quite young and in the midst of a very productive career.

​

I admit that I was interested in his work mostly from evolution/creationism angle, and there is a lot more to his life and his work than that, but I want it noted that Majerus on many occasions went out of his way to not just do good science but to help improve the public understanding of science and evolution. For example, he communicated helpfully with several of us on PT who wrote on the peppered moth issue, he wrote and talked for scientists, educators, and the public on the issue, including this great radio interview and this just-published piece in Evolution: Education, and Outreach, “Industrial Melanism in the Peppered Moth, Biston betularia: An Excellent Teaching Example of Darwinian Evolution in Action.” Google PT on Majerus for many other discussions. Finally, Majerus maintained an amazing sense of composure in the face of what was a pretty ridiculous set of attacks on the peppered moth example from the media and creationists (which resulted, I am convinced, in the peppered moth getting inappropriately dropped from several textbooks). Instead of getting mad and indignant, which would have been perfectly appropriate and understandable responses, Majerus went back to the field and gathered more data, tested the mainstream hypothesis again, and even changed the mind of some of his scientific critics.

---

Go to the source article for the links I didn't reproduce in the above quote, plus much more. THIS IS NOT A PEPPERED MOTH DEBATE TOPICMoose

quote:

---

Philip Jos Farmer, one of the most celebrated science fiction writers of the 1960s and '70s, has died. He was 91.
The long-time Peoria resident wrote more than 75 novels, including the Riverworld and World of Tiers series. He won the Hugo Award three times and the Grand Master Award for Science Fiction in 2001.

​

Farmer's first published story, The Lovers, caught the attention of the science fiction world in 1952 with one of the genre's first serious treatments of sexuality.

​

The story inspired some of the greatest science fiction writers, including Robert Heinlein, whose classic Stranger in a Strange Land was dedicated to Farmer.

---

--Associated PressEdited by Modulous, : No reason given.

I wonder who he will bump into on the River?

Sooner or later everyone.His passing has given me a little desire to reread the RiverWorld books. I wonder if they will still feel as good 25-30 years after I first read them.

http://www.heraldonline.com/opinions/story/1175613.htmlI've been a fan of Paul Harvey ever since he began his career 50+ years ago. He has been loved, admired and listened to by Americans of all ages. He has been a significant media icon to make America wise, intelligent, aware, entertained and blessed.

---

BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW.
The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.

Dave Arneson
Co-Founder of Dungeons & DragonsR.I.P. Dungeons & Dragons Co-Creator Dave Arneson, 1947-2009 | WIREDHe is at -10hp with no chance at lichdom.

I don't know if this guy (or gal) was a "great" or not, but he's dead. Only in America could a poor black boy grow up to be a rich white woman. Linky

---

People
Eating
Tasty
Animals

A 70s icon, pinup dream of many a young man, talented, multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee. Farrah Fawcett Dead at Age 62

Holy crap, from your same link! Michael Jackson is deadEdited by Hyroglyphx, : No reason given.

---

"The problem with Socialism is you eventually run out of other people's money." --Margaret Thatcher--

Yeah, its my generation's icons that are starting to go down now.(

Michael had an intense life. Much of it was disturbing, and I don't think that he ever fully confronted his inner demons, but his genius and musical expression will be remembered and immortalized forever. We all die, my Queen. We can only hope that we get a chance to fulfill our destiny and leave the world a little bit better than it was when we entered it. As I get older, I become more aware of my responsibility to positively impact those whom I come in contact with. Edited by Phat, : added message to Queen. Edited by Phat, :

I don't what his popularity was like outside of the United States, but this guy was like an infomercial superstar known for being obnoxiously loud... Well, at least he was obnoxiously loud to me.http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obit_billy_mays

---

"Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear." Thomas Jefferson