Obituaries

[Tintin]

John Pilger very sadly passed yesterday December 30th

He was a total legend, almost peerless, absolutely brilliant and very humane. He'll be greatly missed

Guardian UK news story here

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by Tintin (here)
John Pilger very sadly passed yesterday December 30th

He was a total legend, almost peerless, absolutely brilliant and very humane. He'll be greatly missed

Guardian UK news story here

It's a huge loss. John Pilger had unimpeachable integrity, and was one of the few remaining giants of modern journalism.

[Tintin]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)

Posted by Tintin (here)
John Pilger very sadly passed yesterday December 30th

He was a total legend, almost peerless, absolutely brilliant and very humane. He'll be greatly missed

Guardian UK news story here

It's a huge loss. John Pilger had unimpeachable integrity, and was one of the few remaining giants of modern journalism.

Absolutely I have to say there are few who had his ability to practise 'educare' - the ability to draw out from his interviewees just exactly what he sought. Very gifted and if anything an inspiration to any would-be journalists in the art of how to deliver your questions for maximum return

[arwen]

Fully agree Tintin and Bill. He was an outstanding human being on all counts - a brilliant journalist and scholar, with heart, integrity and compassion - a very rare beacon of sanity and wisdom to the world. He will indeed be sorely missed.

As an indicator of the widespread respect for him, even the BBC did a decent write-up of him.

[Brigantia]

Sad news from Ireland, from Thomas Sheridan; Fintan Dunne has passed. Fintan's website and forum is still up, for how long remains to be seen. He had done some very interesting interviews in the past that can still be accessed on his website. https://breakfornews.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=1

"Fintan Dunne - Slán Leat...go fóill
The Recent Loss of One of Ireland's Legendary Independent Journalist
Dec 31

I was saddened to hear that Fintan Dunne of BreakforNews passed away. He was one the first people to interview me when I was starting out. One of Ireland best independent journalists."

[Ewan]

Posted by Tintin (here)
John Pilger very sadly passed yesterday December 30th

He was a total legend, almost peerless, absolutely brilliant and very humane. He'll be greatly missed

Guardian UK news story here

The word legend often gets overused, but Pilger definitely qualifies as a worthy recipient of the title. I personally credit John Pilger with being the man that set me on the road to awakening. Twenty six years old and about to board a long haul flight to Australia I saw this book called "Tell Me No Lies" and bought it on a whim. It was read cover to cover twice long before I got to Melbourne.

I do hope all his works get archived securely, they're important.

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
Our dear dear John Pilger has left us. He was one of the greats. A consistent ally of the dispossessed, John dedicated his life to telling their stories and awoke the world to the greatest injustices. He showed great empathy for the weak and was unflinching with the powerful. John was one of Julian’s most vocal champions but they also became the closest of friends. He fought for Julian’s freedom until the end.

“We are all Spartacus if we want to be”, he wrote in his last published piece. This was John, challenging us until the end. Let’s always seek to rise to the challenge. Thank you, dear friend.

https://consortiumnews.com/2023/11/0...are-spartacus/


https://x.com/Stella_Assange/status/1741424632371020052

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/RealScottRitter/status...79550582751338

[Bill Ryan]

A most wonderful tribute was paid to John Pilger in the opening 4 minutes of his video update today by Alexander Mercouris, speaking so eloquently as he always does, without any notes or text.

[Tintin]

Posted by Ewan (here)

Posted by Tintin (here)
John Pilger very sadly passed yesterday December 30th

He was a total legend, almost peerless, absolutely brilliant and very humane. He'll be greatly missed

Guardian UK news story here

The word legend often gets overused, but Pilger definitely qualifies as a worthy recipient of the title. I personally credit John Pilger with being the man that set me on the road to awakening. Twenty six years old and about to board a long haul flight to Australia I saw this book called "Tell Me No Lies" and bought it on a whim. It was read cover to cover twice long before I got to Melbourne.

I do hope all his works get archived securely, they're important.

Bless you. That was a lovely share. As a slightly geeky librarian type perhaps we can make that happen

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/flakyfarseer/status/174144319504350846

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=5mDuxFnn2RY

[grapevine]

BREAKING: Kate Garraway's husband dies after long battle with health complications

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=NyyRGt3pkuM

Derek Draper, former political adviser and husband of TV presenter Kate Garraway, has died after several years of serious health complications, This will probably mean more to UK readers, but Derek's continued health battle has been well publicised in the UK press since he contracted Covid 19 at the beginning of the pandemic, from which he never recovered.

[Inversion]

David Soul best known for Skarsky & Hutch died at age 80.

dailymail

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=RW1uvPg07Hc

[Open Minded Dude]

FRANZ ("THE KAISER") BECKENBAUER

Germany has lost the 'Kaiser' (King, Emperor) of football.

I am not that old to remember a lot from his World Cup win as a player in 1974 but of the second win as a coach in 1990 I have a lot of fond memories, it was a legendary tournament with many great games. Still part of my childhood's and youth's treasured memories.

He also was a true 'gentleman', a really nice guy. Highly likeable everywhere. Almost no big scandals.

Therefore besides 'Kaiser' they also called him the 'Lichtgestalt' (Shining Light) of the German football. He was loved around the world as a great sports ambassador for Germany being and making friends with everyone everywhere.

Really sad he left us.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=VOnhXvTVhyk

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=EEHKSKtAbsw

[Brigantia]

A sad day for sport, I was sorry to read this morning of the passing of Franz Beckenbauer, one of the greats.

It also brought the news of the passing of JPR Williams, one of rugby's greats who was captain of the Wales team. From the BBC:

"Wales and British and Irish Lions rugby legend JPR Williams has died at the age of 74.

The former London Welsh, Bridgend and Barbarians full-back was synonymous with Wales and the Lions' glories of the 1970s.

Williams captained Wales and Bridgend, winning 55 caps for his country.

During historic triumphant Lions tours to New Zealand in 1971 and 1974 in South Africa, Williams accumulated eight Test caps.

A statement from the Williams family said: "JPR died peacefully today at the University Hospital of Wales surrounded by his loving wife and four children, after a short illness, bravely battling bacterial meningitis.

"The family request privacy at this difficult time."

Williams won three Five Nations Grand Slams - in 1971, 1976, and 1978. He stepped away from international rugby in 1981, but continued to play rugby on occasion before finally retiring in 2003.

Williams' death was announced by Bridgend Ravens - formerly known as Bridgend - on social media.

"Bridgend Ravens are devastated to announce the passing of JPR Williams," they said.

"One of Bridgend's most decorated-players and an icon of world rugby, JPR served the club most recently as club president. Our thoughts are with JPR's family and friends at this sad time."

Former Wales captain Jonathan Davies described Williams as an "absolute legend".

"Not many people can go by their initials and he was known as JPR," he told BBC 5 Live Sport.

"I remember watching him growing up. He was an absolute rock in defence with the tackles he made.

"If you wanted anybody behind you at full-back, I could not think of anybody better.

"When he was with the 1974 Lions in South Africa, when the fights broke out, he kept running in from full-back to punch the forwards. He was perhaps the most competitive bloke I have ever come across.

"He was ferociously competitive. It is very sad, he was just a great rugby player and an incredible character.

"Whenever you mention who were the greatest full-backs in any era, you hear about the greats like Serge Blanco and Christian Cullen, JPR is always in the mix."

The British and Irish Lions called Williams "one of the greatest ever" players to wear their shirt and "a man who inspired so many"."

[Brigantia]

British radio legend DJ Annie Nightingale has died, she was such a presence in my youth and female DJs were a rarity back then.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-67955757

"BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Nightingale, the station's first female presenter, who went on to become its longest-serving host, has died at the age of 83.
Nightingale joined the station in 1970 and remained the only woman on the line-up for 12 years.
She was known for her passion for a wide range of music, championing everything from prog rock and punk to acid house and grime.
She remained on air until late last year with Annie Nightingale Presents.
Nightingale was also known for co-hosting BBC Two music show The Old Grey Whistle Test."

[arwen]

Gonzalo Lira has died

US journalist jailed and 'tortured' by Ukraine has died – family

RT
12 Jan, 2024 17:54



Extract:

Chilean-American blogger Gonzalo Lira has died in a Ukrainian prison, his family said on Friday.

“I cannot accept the way my son has died. He was tortured, extorted, incommunicado for 8 months and 11 days and the US Embassy did nothing to help my son. The responsibility of this tragedy is the dictator Zelensky with the concurrence of a senile American President, Joe Biden,” his father Gonzalo Lira Sr. wrote in a note published by The Grayzone.

Lira Senior also reached out to X host Tucker Carlson, confirming the death of his son in Ukrainian custody. He had spoken to Carlson about the case in early December.

His son Lira, 55, used to live in Kharkov and blog as ‘CoachRedPill,’ but switched to YouTube commentary after the conflict with Russia escalated in February 2022. He was arrested by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) last May and accused of “discrediting” the Ukrainian leadership and the military.

Lira resurfaced in late July with a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), revealing his torture in jail and attempts of the SBU to extort him for money. He said he was trying to flee to Hungary and seek asylum. Then he disappeared again.

Two days later, a source confirmed to RT that Lira had been caught and imprisoned by Ukrainian authorities. He has not been heard from since.

According to a handwritten note Lira’s sister received on January 4, he had severe health problems caused by pneumonia and a collapsed lung, which began in mid-October. The prison authorities only acknowledged the issue on December 22, and he was supposed to undergo surgery. The note was provided to The Grayzone by Lira Senior.

(Full article embedded in title link above)

[Sue (Ayt)]

Melanie, singer-songwriter at Woodstock and on 1970s hits, dies at 76
Melanie Safka, who won sudden fame as a 22-year-old folk singer playing for hundreds of thousands of people on the first night of the Woodstock Festival in 1969 and followed it up with a string of heartfelt and sometimes quirky hits, died Jan. 23 at 76.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/obitu...obituary-died/

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=hlp3wmE4bbI

[thepainterdoug]

she made the world a better place

[Johnnycomelately]

Posted by Sue (Ayt) (here)
Melanie, singer-songwriter at Woodstock and on 1970s hits, dies at 76]

I had never heard of Melanie, so I searched and found a vid of her singing at Woodstock. Song was Birthday of the Sun. Not much music moves me nowadays, but that had lots going on. Reminded me of the ‘greats’ (Zeppelin, Beatles, Hendrix and the others) mastery of song structure, key changes, rhythm that breathes.

It wasn’t a YouTube vid, so can’t embed. I confess I didn’t notice/get the lyrics, was focussed on the overall sound.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/peop...ck/vi-BB1hdeqe

I’ve missed Wayne Gretzky’s whole career, Nirvana and John Prine and other sounds until way late, lots of stuff. But it’s sure nice to find great stuff that I missed.

Am thankful for her example, little as I know now/yet. Same class of messenger IMO as that band that played on the J. Hendrix flick Rainbow Bridge, soundtrack to the ‘hippies’ clips.

Not RIP, because that expression is heavily weighted, but how about DIP? “Divert In Peace”, yeah? We’ll all get together again, one day.