Hello, August!

by **Teena** on Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:03 pm

Donald Westlake died. He wrote the Dortmunder books, intelligent and wonderfully funny books about a guy who comes up with amazing criminal plans (non-violent, usually stealing something cool) but has the worst luck ever. The first Dortmunder book is The Hot Rock, where they steal the same emerald five (I think) times, another book is The Bank Shot where they steal the entire bank. My favorite Dortmunder book is Good Behavior, where he has to steal a nun (!) and my second favorite is What's the Worst that Could Happen? I like that one because the bad luck is sort of turned on its head and for once, Dortmunder comes out ahead, although you know it won't last.

The Dortmunder books are some of my very favorite books ever, especially the later ones (everything from Good Behavior on is awesome, some of the early ones are still good but not as good as they get), and I've enjoyed other Westlake books as well. I never could get through the stuff he wrote under the name Richard Stark (too dark for me), but otherwise... man, I'm so sad that he's gone.

by **Lola** on Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:27 pm

John Travolta's son died:

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) â?? Police in the Bahamas say John Travoltaâ??s teenage son has died after injuring himself at the actorâ??s vacation home.

Police spokeswoman Loretta Mackey says 16-year-old Jett Travolta hit his head in a bathtub Friday morning. She said he was declared dead at Rand Memorial Hospital on Grand Bahama Island.

Jett was the oldest child of Travolta and his wife, actress Kelly Preston, who also have an 8-year-old daughter.

A spokeswoman for the hospital in Freeport said she could not release any information because of privacy concerns.

by **creeksta** on Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:44 pm

Eartha Mae Kitt passed away on Christmas day.

by **Jamie** on Wed Feb 04, 2009 11:56 pm

Lux Interior died of a heart condition.

by **bonkrood** on Sat Feb 28, 2009 9:17 pm

Paul Harvey dead at 90.

by **Jamie** on Sat Feb 28, 2009 9:26 pm

Oh, shit. I have to go call Aron. He's going to be crushed.

by **Jamie** on Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:08 am

Natasha Richardson died after a ski accident. She was only 45!

by **Jamie** on Thu Apr 02, 2009 4:18 pm

Lorne died. He was only a year older than me. That sucks.

by **Adrienna** on Sun Apr 05, 2009 4:19 pm

That makes me really sad. Wonder what happened.

by **creeksta** on Sun Apr 05, 2009 11:24 pm

When I read about it the day after it happened the article had said that he had been suffering from a heart condition for the last five years and he had gone peacefully.

by **Kelly** on Sat Apr 25, 2009 4:31 pm

RIP, Bea Arthur.

by **Jamie** on Sun Apr 26, 2009 9:59 pm

This is the first I'm finding out about it. Man.

by **Lola** on Sun Apr 26, 2009 11:03 pm

I almost texted you yesterday about it, but didn't want to make you sad. I almost cried.

by **Jamie** on Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:22 pm

How have I not seen her as Carrie in SATC until now?

by **Anthony** on Tue May 05, 2009 1:36 pm

Dom DeLuise has cooked his last meal.

by **Jamie** on Fri May 08, 2009 1:26 pm

She's not gone yet, but somehow I totally missed this - Farrah Fawcett is terminal.

by **Lola** on Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:10 pm

Koko Taylor died ... "the result of complications from surgery on May 19 to correct a gastrointestinal bleed."

by **bonkrood** on Thu Jun 04, 2009 10:28 am

David Carradine died in Thailand. Apparent suicide.

by **Jamie** on Thu Jun 25, 2009 11:58 am

Ed McMahon! And I'm reading that Farrah Fawcett isn't going to make it through the day.

by **Jamie** on Thu Jun 25, 2009 11:59 am

A story, which in the 30 seconds since I posted that, was changed to say she died.

by **Lola** on Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:54 pm

Now we're hearing Michael Jackson died. All I can find online, though, is TMZ.

by **Jamie** on Thu Jun 25, 2009 7:25 pm

Oh, he died.

by **Teena** on Fri Jun 26, 2009 12:41 pm

I completely missed this yesterday and heard it from Philip in the late evening. Shows how disconnected I've been from the world.

by **Lola** on Fri Jun 26, 2009 12:56 pm

I am actually really sad about it. I've been glued to BET, consuming all the MJ videos I can. I spent all night texting with friends about our MJ memories. I get choked up even thinking about his death.

Rockin' the suburbs · by **Heather** on Sun Jun 28, 2009 9:52 pm

I heard today that Billy Mays died. He was the guy who did all the infomercials about OxyClean and all of those other cleaning products. I just saw him on Conan a couple of days ago!

by **Kayeita** on Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:00 pm

RIP Walter Cronkite

by **Kayeita** on Sun Jul 19, 2009 7:54 pm

RIP Frank McCourt

by **Lola** on Thu Aug 06, 2009 3:58 pm

John Hughes died. Only 59.

by **Jamie** on Mon Sep 14, 2009 7:23 pm

Patrick Swayze lost his battle with cancer.

by **Adrienna** on Mon Sep 14, 2009 8:18 pm

Also Jim Carrell died.

by **Jamie** on Thu Jan 28, 2010 2:01 pm

J.D. Salinger's death is ruining my day.

Rockin' the suburbs · by **Heather** on Thu Jan 28, 2010 2:48 pm

Oh no! This is the first I have heard about it, since I am in school and am out of the loop. What a bummer.

by **Jamie** on Fri Jan 29, 2010 3:17 pm

Bunch of phonies mourn J.D. Salinger.

by **bonkrood** on Fri Jan 29, 2010 9:02 pm

I loved that. Completely brilliant.

by **Jamie** on Thu Feb 11, 2010 3:27 pm

Alexander McQueen committed suicide. He was only 40.

by **tapestrygirl** on Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:12 am

Corey Haim, Lost Boys star, dead at 38. Possible drug overdose.

Rockin' the suburbs · by **Heather** on Wed Mar 10, 2010 11:52 am

Wow. I saw so many of his movies when I was younger. That's so sad.

by **Jamie** on Fri May 28, 2010 2:03 pm

Gary Coleman died.

Rockin' the suburbs · by **Heather** on Fri May 28, 2010 2:18 pm

Wow, that's crazy.

by **Jamie** on Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:45 am

And now, Rue McClanahan.

This makes me much sadder now that I've read her book!

P.S. Gary + Dennis Hopper + Rue = 3.