R.I.P ~ Ed, Farrah & Michael

The entertainment world lost 3 greats this week with the deaths of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. Each one was great in their own field.

Ed McMahon (March 6, 1923-June 23, 2009) was a comedian, game show host, announcer, and television personality. He was most famous for his work on TV as Johnny Carson's announcer on The Tonight Show from 1962-1992 and Star Search from 1983-1995.

He was a fighter pilot in the United States Marine Corp. during World War II, serving as a flight instructor and test pilot. He was a decorated pilot (six Air Medals) and was discharged in 1946, remaining in the reserves. He had 3 daughters and 3 sons.

McMahon was the long running co-host of the annual Labor Day weekend Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. His 41st and last appearance was in 2008, making him second only to Lewis himself in number of appearances.

Ed McMahon died at age 86 on June 23, 2009, at the UCLA Medical Center in LA. No formal cause of death was given, but McMahon's publicist attributed his death to the many health problems he had suffered over his final months such as pneumonia, bone cancer and other medical problems.

Farrah Fawcett (February 2, 1947-June 25, 2009) rose to international fame when she first appeared as private investigator Jill Munroe in TVs Charlie's Angels in 1976. She was a multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee. She earned the approval of critics and was in highly rated television movies in often challenging roles. Fawcett was also a pop culture figure whose hairstyle was emulated by millions of young women and whose poster sales broke records, making her an international sex symbol in the 1970's and 1980's.

Fawcett left Charlie's Angels after only one season and Cheryl Ladd replaced her. She had several years of commercial and critical flops until the early 80's. In 1984, her role as a battered wife in the fact-based TV movie The Burning Bed earned her her first of three Emmy Award nominations. The project is noted as being the first TV movie to provide a nationwide 800 number that offered help for other victims of domestic abuse. It was also the highest rated TV movie of the season. In 1986, she appeared in the movie version of Extremities in which she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.

From 1982 until her death, Fawcett was involved with actor Ryan O'Neal. They had a son, Redmond, in 1985.

Fawcett was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006, and began treatment, including chemotherapy and surgery. In May 2007, she bought a small video camera and, with the aide of her friend Alana Stewart, she documented the highs and lows of her battle with the disease. The two-hour documentary, Farrah's Story, aired on May 15, 2009. It was watched by nearly 9 million people.

In early June, O'Neal asked Fawcett to marry him. She accepted his proposal and O'Neal said the wedding would happen "as soon as she can say yes." The two never married. She died on June 25, 2009 in the intensive care unit of Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA at the age of 62.

Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958-June 25, 2009) was born in Gary, Indiana as the seventh of nine children. He went on to become a recording artist, entertainer and businessman. Jackson debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1969, and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. His 1982 Thriller is the world's best-selling record of all time.

In the early 1980's, he became a dominant figure in popular music and the first African-American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. With stage performances and music videos, he popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced many hip-hop, pop and contemporary R&B artists. Aspects of his personal life, including his changing appearance and behavior, generated significant controversy, damaging his public image. Jackson married twice and fathered three children.

The Jackson 5 signed with Motown Records in 1968. The group set a chart record when its first four singles ("I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save" and "I'll Be There") peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1978, Jackson starred as Scarecrow in the film musical The Wiz. His album Thriller, released in 1982, remained in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 for 80 consecutive weeks, 37 at the peak. Seven singles from Thriller hit the Billboard Hot 100 top 10. It went on to sell upwards of 109 million copies, making it the best selling album of all time.

Jackson co-wrote the charity single "We Are The World" with Lionel Richie, which was released world wide to aid the poor in Africa and the US. He was one of 39 celebrities who performed on the record. The single became of the best-selling singles of all time, with nearly 20 million copies sold and millions of dollars donated to famine relief.

Michael Jackson won over 190 awards during his life-time. He won:

• American Music Awards - 22
• Billboard Music Awards - 40
• Brit Awards - 7
• Golden Globe Awards - 1
• Grammy Awards - 19
• Guiness World Records - 13
• MTV Music Awards - 13
• NAACP Image Awards - 14
• RIAA (Recording Industry Assoc. of America) Awards - 56
• World Music Awards - 12

At the time of his death, Jackson was scheduled to perform 50 sold-out concerts to over one million people at London's O2 arena.
Michael Jackson collapsed at a rented home in Holmby Hills in LA. Attempts to resuscitate him by his personal physician were unsuccessful. He was noted to have already been in cardiac arrest by the time the paramedics who attended his house. Jackson was pronounced dead at UCLA on June 25, 2009 at age 50.
Thank you for all you have done for our entertainment industry...you will be missed.

Information for this blog post was acquired from Wikipedia.com

Daybook ~ June 25, 2009

Outside my Window ... it's yet another beautiful day that I am stuck inside. My weather bug is saying it is 91...I can only look at the sun... bummer.

I am thankful for ... my job. I tend to rag on it a bunch...how I think I am underpaid, etc...but in this economy, I am very glad that I have a job...and a good job. These are great people I work for and I appreciate it.

From the kitchen ... I think we are having chicken tonight...probably some rice too. Or, we might have a breakfast dinner - I really haven't thought about it. I ate too much for lunch so I don't even want to think about it now.

I am wearing ... a green shirt and a pair of black pants (that Terrance isn't too fond of) and some green shoes my mom didn't want.

I am reading ... same thing as last week...and the week before. I actually finished a magazine - so I think I'm doing pretty good. lol

I am hoping ... to go home soon. I am tired and it has been a long day.

I am hearing ... the West Wing - Season 4. I am watching it here at work. This is the first episode of this season...looks good so far.

Around the house ... the dog is becomming the bane of my existance. He tore up the carpet by the back door yesterday. Grrr. Now we need to look into replacing the carpet - hopefully not with more carpet. I am thinking about that hardwood floor-looking stuff.

One of my favorite things ... playing Wii Star Wars in the evening after everyone else has gone to bed. I can do whatever I want - be whatever character I want - and go as slow as I want - and no one else is around to fuss.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ... a fairly slow weekend comparatively. I have a GNO Saturday night - I'm not sure where we are eating - but we are playing mini-golf...the one game that I completely...utterly...suck at - but it'll be fun! I think Jordan wants to go skating Saturday...in fact, I know she does...she told me that she hasn't been in 3 weeks and "has" to go. On Sunday, we are having an adults-only lunch for dad for Father's Day. I am looking forward to it.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you ... our carpet...or what is left of it. Again, grrrrrr.

Mindless Fact Monday ~ June 22, 2009

~ The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.

~ Being unmarried can shorten a man's life by 10 years.

~ A donkey will sink in quicksand. A mule won't.

~ The triangular shape that Toblerone chocolates are packaged in is protected by law.

~ Istanbul, Turkey is the only city in the world located on two continents.

~ In the late 1960's, Mountain Dew featured bottles with a hillbilly on them. These are now collector items worth $5-10 each.

~ To be born on Sunday was a sign of great sin during the Puritan times.

~ The most dangerous job in the United States is that of a fisherman, followed by logging, then the airline pilot.

~ In October 1973, Swedish sweet maker Roland Ohisson of Falkenberg was buried in a coffin made entirely of chocolate.

~ A British medical journal, The Practitioner, has officially designated bird watching as a hazardous activity. This is because a bird watcher that was so engrossed in watching birds that he did not notice his dangerous surroundings and was eaten by a crocodile.

Happy Father's Day 2009

Today is that special day that we recognize our fathers. To me, a dad is much more than just being a parent. There are lots of guys out there that have kids...sadly, many of them are not "true" dad's. A dad is someone who you can hang out with, talk to when times are tough, play with, someone who is sad when you are sad - and happy when you are happy...someone who puts his life on hold - for you.

Now, a little history about Father's Day... :)

The first known celebration of Father's Day was on July 5, 1908 in Fairmont, West Virginia, where it was commemorated at William Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South – now known as Central United Methodist Church. Grace Golden Clayton is believed to have suggested it to her pastor after a deadly explosion in nearby Monongah in December, killing 361 men.

It was also during a sermon in 1909 that Sonora Smart Dodd became inspired by Mother's Day. After the death of her mother, Sonora and her siblings were raised by their father William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran. Sonora wanted to show how thankful she was to her father and, because William was born in June, she worked to have the first Father's Day celebrated on June 19, 1910.

In 1924, President Coolidge recommended that Father's Day become a national holiday. President Johnson designated the third Sunday of June to be Father's Day in 1966. It was not until 1972 that President Nixon instituted Father's Day as a national observance.

Did You Know – Roses are the official flower on Father's Day, red for fathers who were still living and white for those who have passed on.
Billy Graham said, "A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society."

Happy Father's Day!!