Death Pool

Donald Sobel, who wrote the Encyclopedia Brown stories, has died aged 87.

I loved those books when I was a kid, and my stepdaughter read them, too. RIP.

Man, I loved those books, but even as a kid I thought some of the solutions were just BS. TVtropes is right - Bugs Meaney is gonna walk.

RIP, Mr. Sobel. Questionable detective work aside, I loved your stories. And your mirror image solution pages.

I loved the Encyclopaedia Brown books too. I remember that when thinking about clues he would close his eyes to picture it. I tried doing that about something at school one day, and when I opened my eyes a classmate was peering at me, and said "are you okay?".

Elsa Holmeland Minarik, who wrote the charming Little Bear books that Maurice Sendak illustrated.

You guys, I think I need to take a quick trip to Martha's Vineyard and wrap Norman Bridwell in bubble wrap, because my/my daughter's favorite children's authors have been dying with alarming regularity lately.

Stephen Covey, author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

Tom Davis, a writer from the early days of SNL, and former partner of Al Franken.

Jude wrote:Tom Davis, a writer from the early days of SNL, and former partner of Al Franken.

Oh, man, that sucks. I remember the Franken and Davis routines in the early SNL years, not to mention the two of them showing up in random sketches from time to time.

Son of Usher's ex-wife dies from injuries in July 6 lake accident - CNN.com. (Am I weird for thinking that the phraseology "former stepson" that everyone is using sounds weird? I know it's technically correct, but it just seems very odd.)

Simon Ward, who played Bishop Gardiner on The Tudors, has passed away. And so I read has Angharad Rees, who played Demelza in Poldark, a series I saw in re-runs a few years ago and got hooked on, and then I realised I had seen her in something before: she was in a Robin of Sherwood episode from the 1980's as well.

Simon Ward was sick a long time, according to that report, while Angharad Rees had pancreatic cancer.

Very sad to hear of their passing.

Sally Ride, first American woman in space.

Awww, I grew up near Houston, so Sally Ride was always a big hero to me. I will always think of her whenever I hear Mustang Sally.

RIP, Dr. Ride. You were a class act.

Me, too, Lurker. At her first shuttle launch, there were signs in the crowd that said, "Ride, Sally Ride!"

Sherman Hemsley, at age 71.

That's so sad...but at least he's moving on up to that deluxe apartment in the sky.

Chad Everett, another star from my youth, has died aged 75. I never missed an episode of Medical Center when I was a teenager.

That's so sad...but at least he's moving on up to that deluxe apartment in the sky.

Aww, no I loved George Jefferson, but I think I remember him just as much for being BP Richfield, Earl's perpetually irate boss on Dinosaurs, the most subversive and hilarious "kids" show that ever aired on a major network. Get up that hill, and RIP Sherman!

Maeve Binchy. There will be many sad, older women at the library tomorrow.

Jonathan Hardy, best known as the voice of Rygel from Farscape. I really liked Rygel. Really entertaining. Well done, too.

naughty zoot wrote:Maeve Binchy. There will be many sad, older women at the library tomorrow.

Ah, that's too bad. I loved her books when I was a teenager.

Instant Monkeys wrote:

naughty zoot wrote:Maeve Binchy. There will be many sad, older women at the library tomorrow.

Ah, that's too bad. I loved her books when I was a teenager.

Aw, my mom is going to be really sad. Circle of Friends was the first "grown up" book that my mom gave me to read after she finished it.

Francie Nolan wrote:

Aw, my mom is going to be really sad. Circle of Friends was the first "grown up" book that my mom gave me to read after she finished it.

Mine too! I actually just reread it this summer, for the first time in about 8 years and it definitely holds up. Sad to hear this news.

Red Wolf wrote:Jonathan Hardy, best known as the voice of Rygel from Farscape. I really liked Rygel. Really entertaining. Well done, too.

Nooooooo! Noooooo! Aw man, this breaks my heart. Also, I guess this means the Farscape webisodes are definitely not happening now.

Also, I guess this means the Farscape webisodes are definitely not happening now.

I dunno, they have enough voice archives. Really depends on what they would want him to say.

Instant Monkeys wrote:

naughty zoot wrote:Maeve Binchy. There will be many sad, older women at the library tomorrow.

Ah, that's too bad. I loved her books when I was a teenager.

I only started reading her stuff last summer and got completely sucked in to each one I read. I loved so many of them, but The Glass Lake, Light a penny candle, circle of friends, and the copper beech really stand out. There are still a few left on the library shelves that I haven't gotten to, I'll have to revisit them.

Instant Monkeys wrote:

naughty zoot wrote:Maeve Binchy. There will be many sad, older women at the library tomorrow.

Ah, that's too bad. I loved her books when I was a teenager.

Me too. Though if I'm in an airport bookstore looking for something to take with me, she's still one of my go-to authors for a reliable airplane read.