Olsson's Bookstores closes its doors for good

I just learned that the local Washington DC last great bookstore, Olsson's Books and Records, has closed its doors forever and petitioned to change their bankruptcy filing from Chapter 11 (re-organization) to Chapter 7 (liquidate assets).

As a Metro DC expatriate, I have some great memories with Olsson's of G-Town. Finding some great indy CDs and taking a chance on a book based one of my favorite recommending employees (whose name escapes me 15 years later). Stores like Olsson's are becoming similar to the old Five and Dime stores of the 40s and 50s - regional stores run by locals who catered their clientele and had an appreciation for their neighborhood.

With Olsson's closing its door, the experience of going to a local bookstore has grown that much colder.

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In Memoriam - The Twin Towers and Sept. 11th

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RIP Bandit's Snowman aka Jerry Reed

I love that first Smokey movie and a big part of it was the connection between Reynolds and Reed. Just two good old boys trying to beat the Man. Unfortunately, Cletus Snow aka the Snowman has driven off the mortal highway. I'm sure he was hitting the gas singing East Bound and Down rather than When You're Hot, You're Hot.

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Hey - Wha Happened?

Of all of the weeks to take a short vacation from the keyboard. August is supposed to be the boring or "dead" month of Summer before Falls begins but this past couple of days seems to bring tons of news from all corners of the Pop Culture world. Think of when the last time these events happened in the span of a couple of days:

• The death of two highly visiable Hollywood entertainers (Issac Hayes and Bernie Mac)


• The death of so many Olympic and World Records in Beijing


• The death (and possible resurrection) of Wolfmother, an up-and-coming band that contributed to the reimmergence of rock in American music

When you count that today is Madden 09 Day and that Metallica not only announced the completion of Death Magnetic but also tour dates for the first leg of their North American tour, August has become very newsworthy.

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Larry Harmon, aka Bozo the Clown, dead at 83

Larry Harmon, the guy who made Bozo the household name he is today, passed away today at the age of 83.

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RIP Michael Turner (1971-2008)

It was announced over the weekend that artist Michael Turner, creator of such works as Fathom (pictured above) and founder of the publishing company Aspen MLT Inc, passed away from complications due to health complications. Here is the announcement that was posted on the Aspen website by EIC Vince Hernandez:

Hello all,

Unfortunately it's with great sadness that I must inform everyone that Michael Turner tragically passed away last night, June 27th at approximately 10:42 pm in Santa Monica, Ca. Turner had been dealing with recent health complications arisen in the past few weeks. More details concerning Turner's passing, and services, will be given shortly.

Anyone wishing to send their condolences to Michael Turner's family is encouraged to send to:

Aspen MLT, Inc.
C/O Michael Turner
5855 Green Valley Circle, Suite 111
Culver City, CA, 90230

Aspen also encourages anyone wishing to make a charitable donation to please send to Michael Turner's requested charities:

The American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp

Or

The Make-A-Wish Foundation
http://www.wish.org/help?s_kwcid=make%20a%20wish|917760391

Official Contact: Vince Hernandez

This is truly sad news since the guy could draw superheroes like no one's business. But his tenacity and dedication to his own vision will be what makes his legacy at Aspen MLT last. CBR's Jonah Weiland posted a great In Memoriam story of Turner which gives not only the artist's history but a glimpse into his battles with cancer as well. Hernandez also provided a heartfelt send-off to his friend and business partner. If you don't tear up after reading it, you have no heart.

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George Carlin take the final bow

A truly sad morning as word was confirmed that George Carlin, one fo the true kings of stand-up comedy, passed away last night at the age of 71. His HBO concerts are a thing of legends and his wit and timeless, perverted (in the truest sense of the word) observational humor will never be matched. And what is somewhat ironic is that he was going to be honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor; probably for saying those seven words that you can't never say on TV - many times. The laughter has definitely left the room today.

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You Damned Dirty Ape! - Charlton Heston (1923-2008)

Cinema icon and the NRA's most famous (or considered by others, infamous) member, Charlton Heston, has passed away at age 84. Most people will recognize the actor for either Ben Hur or Moses. However, to me, thanks to the Saturday/Sunday afternoon movie double feature on cable, he will always be either George Taylor or Det. Robert Thorn. No matter what you thought of his politics, the guy could flat out deliver a memorable quote, which is what I'll leave as tribute to the man who brought so many characters to life on the stage and screen. It's from Planet of the Apes:

"I'm a seeker too. But my dreams aren't like yours. I can't help thinking that somewhere in the universe there has to be something better than man. Has to be. " - George Taylor

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Jeff Healy dead at age 41

Word came out that Jeff Healy, who hit it big in the 80s with Road House and "Angel Eyes", had passed away at the age of 41. Healy was about to release his return to blues-based rock with a new CD when the cancer that took his sight at age 1, retinoblastoma or cancer of the retina, moved to other parts of his body and took his life. He was a husband and a father of two kids.

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RIP Stever Gerber (1947-2008)

Yesterday, Stever Gerber (pictured above) of Howard the Duck fame, passed away from pulmonary fibrosis. And while I am an avid reader of the medium, I can honestly say that I've never read the series that he created and that really defined him. I was just moving into junior high and didn't want to read a book about what looked like Donald Duck in a human's world since even as a 11 year-old, your allowance only went so far. As as I first hear word of his passing late yesterday, I was sad but I still thought that he was more of an icon to older people than myself.

Then I read this heartfelt post by Mark Evanier and as I was reading, I became aware of how Gerber was there during my formative years. Gerber's resume included such great cartoon shows like Plastic Man, G.I. Joe and Dungeons & Dragons; all shows were hallmarks for kids of the late 70s-early 80s. But to find out post mortem that this man was basically responsible for creating and making Thundarr the Barbarian truly hits home how influential he was and makes my initial dismissal of Howard the Duck all the more superficial. Which is why the next collections I get is the Essential Howard The Duck.

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The World's Greatest Living Daredevil Dies

R.I.P. - EVEL

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RIP CBGB Founder

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

It seems like August has been a rough month for famous people passing away. Now, add one more to the list. Hilly Krystal (pictured above with Steven Van Zandt), the founder and owner of CBGB (short for Country Blue Grass Blues), dies a couple of days ago. While I was never the right age to make my trek to the famed nightclub to see any number of punk acts in the 70s and early 80s, I always looked at the name as an iconic ideal for what was cool about rock and roll - loud, hard and brutal. The club itself burned out a few years ago but hopefully, the memory of the club or it's owner will never fade away.

Newsfeed: Associated Press

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Image of the Day for 08-22-07

(AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt, File)

Eddie Griffin, formerly of the Minnesota Timberwolves, was indentified via dental records as the horribly charred body that was involved with a SUV/Train wreck last week. JA Adande of ESPN writes a good piece on the troubled life and time of Griffin. What this pointless death has to do with me is that Griffin was so stacked in NBA Live 06 that I traded for him in two different Franchise Mode games. He was great for boards and blocks and step up wiht a double digit game in every once in a while. It's just unfortunate that they guy couldn't just be like the video game and be trouble for his opponents on the court versus get in trouble with his actions off of it.

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Image of the Day for 08-14-08

A carry-over from last night's post. This Flash commissioned sketch is from Titanstower.com. And last word on this subject, my friend and working professional, Jeff Parker, has put up some wonderful candids and added some wonderful ancedotes about Mike. It's really worth reading; if only to get a better sense of 'Ringo's affect on others.

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Mike Wieringo (1963-2007)

'Ringo doing what he did best

Just before hitting the sack after a Sunday of traveling and a Monday full of training, I decide to hit one more site (Heidi's Comics Fairplay) before hitting the sack. That was at 11:30 PM and it’s now 1:30 AM and I still can't believe what I've read tonight. Mike Wieringo passed away over the past weekend from an apparent heart attack at the age of 44. It's unfathomable that someone with such vibrancy and vitality as ‘Ringo possessed could pass away so suddenly. My overly glut of verbosity is more than compensating my inability to say something meaningful that would make the shock of this news disappear.

I just can't believe how someone as young at heart as Mike was betrayed by that very same organ. From the few times that I met him, he was extremely personable and sincere to this old-looking and socially inept person that I had to wonder if he was just humoring me. But I was wrong. He was class from the word go. And in a world where that kind of currency is becoming harder and harder to come by, hearing this kind of news makes it that much hurtful.

In the end it's hard to imagine someone passing away at 44; especially for someone who had much more to offer. When I get back to Florida, I’m gonna kiss my kids until they tell me to stop and hug my wife until my arms fall off. And before I go to sleep, I pull out those old Tellos books out of the longbox and re-read them. Probably with a box of tissues close by. Just in case.

And for those who would want to contribute to something in his memory, his family have made the following request (via a post on Mike's website by his brother Matt):

Though we haven’t ironed out the details of how we plan to honor
Mike, I’d like to suggest that, in lieu of cards or flowers, anyone who is so
inclined please donate to the ASPCA or the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund in his
name. I have a feeling Mike would like that.

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