A month ago, I wrote about Henry Allingham, who celebrated his 113th birthday, and becoming the world’s oldest man, with a glass of champagne. Henry died this morning at the age of 113.
He was Britain’s last surviving veteran of World War I, a preacher of peace and the author of a memoir.
Read last month’s blog post here and today’s story here.
[Posted by Kathleen]
Filed under blogging, celebrities, education, history, news, pop culture, random, RIP, thoughts
It is the end of an era. Really, it is. Total Request Live, MTV’s show aimed at the 12-15 crowd (so that means you start watching when you’re 10, and stop when you’re 14…and occasionally turn it on when you’re 16 or 17…just because it’s on) is ending it’s 10 year run in November. WAHHHHHHH. I feel my post-college depression kicking in yet again. And like last time, when they changed the game of Clue, Cheez-Its will soothe my pain.
So what are we really losing? Here is how TRL is described on the MTV Web site:
At TRL, we bring you the latest, greatest music videos, bangin’ live performances and the hottest celebs. First, we combine your online votes, with the top songs and artists from all the places you go for music — mtv.com, downloads, music charts, ringtones, radio and more — to create the hottest, most all-inclusive music countdown.
Wowie, this is serious. This show is important. People are enfranchised, there are great music videos, hot celebs, and of course we can’t forget the banging’ live performances. And an opportunity for girls to act like this when the Jonas Brothers come to town. Okay, I just love this picture and want to use it all the time.
Here’s the thing–I haven’t watched TRL since the Backstreet Boys (sigh. Why are you such a screw up, Nick Carter? We were supposed to get mawwwied!) but I’m still kind of sad. And Carson Daly hasn’t been on the show mimicking not only the clothing style of whoever his guest was, but also the verbal style, since 2003. Now I’m all sappy and reminiscing. Remember when Carson dated Tara Reid?! 
Sick. Oh and another scary thought, Carson is 35 years old now.
I’m just sad that future generations won’t be able to talk about TRL the way my friends and I can. It’s sort of like when we talk about how good MTV’s Undressed was, my brother has no clue what we’re talking about. At least I hope he doesn’t. That show was wayyy inappropriate for him at the time. Me too, I guess.
Anyway, I leave you with a music video, circa 2000, that is the only proper way to end this post and bid farewell to TRL:
Bye Bye Bye, TRL.
[Posted by Kathleen]
Filed under celebrities, music, news, pop culture, random, RIP, TV, Uncategorized, YouTube
Last year, Professor Randy Pausch gave his final lecture at Carnegie Mellon. Pausch, a computer science professor, had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given just a month or so. He died on Friday. Here is the video of his moving last lecture, titled, “Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”. This lecture became an internet sensation, a book, and Pausch even made an appearance on Oprah.
While over 400 people attended his original lecture and millions have since heard his speech, he said his message was ultimately for his three children. He wrote in his book:
“I was trying to put myself in a bottle that would one day wash up on the beach for my children.”
How eloquent is that?
RIP Randy Pausch, thank you for your wisdom. He said, “If I don’t seem as depressed or morose as I should be, sorry to disappoint you.” You didn’t disappoint, Randy, you inspired.
[Posted by Kathleen]
Filed under news, random, RIP, Uncategorized, YouTube
The “World’s oldest blogger”, 108-year-old Olive Riley, died on Saturday.
I was just perusing her blog and I cannot even believe how cool this woman was. If you want to know what it was like growing up in WWI and WWII, you should read it. She saw a lot in her lifetime. Plus, she was all about singing happy songs and so am I.
Olive, you have totally inspired me. I want to blog until I’m 108 and make you all read what I have to say (and never get a real job! AHHH). But seriously, she was pretty amazing and I wanted to acknowledge that.
[Posted by Kathleen]
six words to change the world. 