Actor Heath Ledger dead at 28

[gansky1]

The sad part of Gibson's "performance" that is making everyone wretch is that it's what these people are paid to do. They are scripted entertainers, not journalists. From the comedian Rush Limbaugh to Joe Scarborough to yes, even Keith Olbermann are all in their own descriptions, commentators (entertainers) and nothing more. Cable news has 24 hours to fill and let's face it, since the gubbernment of Bush & Co. fixes the news to suit the party line, (ex. just stop counting the dead Iraqi citizens - that will only cause trouble) there isn't enough to fill all those empty minutes so they either make it up (Fox) or glorify and stretch what they do have into the kind of dribble we see examples of here. Who the hell cares about Britney Spears and her antics anyway? Nobody is talking about the economy although signs of recession are everywhere and have been for quite some time now. Neither is anyone talking about Iraq, that trillion dollar debacle and who bears responsibility for it seems to be well in our collective rear-view mirrors.

The worst part is, we have only ourselves to blame. Our American Idol, eight minute attention span has gotten us right where the corporations and those who seek to steal the gold want us. Here is a nice, fat tax-rebate check to lull you into buying more foreign-made TV's, tennis shoes and cell phones. Everything will be fine, let us worry about the economy and remember, war is peace.

 

[sudsmaster]

Numnuts like Gibson and Coulter are why I cancelled my cable TV subscription and rely 100% on broadcast antenna reception now. Supplemented with DVD's purchased occasionally, it works out fairly well. Most of what I watch is on PBS, and with the new digital channels there's a fairly wide selection in this area of PBS stations and programming. I put some of the money saved into a DVD recorder with ATSC tuner (Panasonic) and with that I can time-shift and enjoy special documentaries etc during prime time, that aired off-hours. While the DVD recoder doesn't do HD, the broadcast HD signals are superb and look great on the 1080p LCD flatscreen (also purchased with money saved from bypassing cable). And when I do watch commercial TV (for some favorite series like LOST, Gray's Anatomy, ER, Boston Legal, etc) I don't have to pay to watch the same commercials that clog most cable channels.

 

[mrcleanjeans]

She's not as fun as The Flying Nun

It's SO true about actors being often opposite of the role they play.Take Sally Field as an example.She seemed to BE the lovable,
perky and adorable Sister Bertrille aka Flying Nun that so many of us are and were fond of.Yet Sally utterly and completely hated that show and playing that charactor.Sally is really a "free swearing" often edgy sort of a gal actually.Pity,because we like her,we REALLY like her.

 

[launderess]

Barricades Up, Police Stationed

As stated before, anyone of importance, fame, infamy, and or notice has their final arrangements at Campbell's on Madison Avenue, and Mr. Ledger will be no different. Came in from our evening walk earlier and things are well underway in readiness.

Mr. Ledger's body upon release from the medical exmainer's office, will go to Campbell's where there will be a short period of viewing then funeral. Mr. Ledger's parents have either arrived or are due to arrive shortly to NYC. The funeral in NYC will give Mr. Ledger's fans, peers and such a in the city he made home, indeed the United States, and possibly Europe a chance to pay their final respects. Afterwards the body will be taken by Mr. Ledger's family back to his home country for burial.

Promises to be a mad scene, and as several films are already filming in the area, it is going to make getting around quite a challenge. Thankfully tomorrow is Friday, and many in the area will decamp for the weekend to the country.

L.

 

[oxydolfan1]

Laundress, I don't envy you, having that pandemonium in your backyard, especially on Friday!

May he be permitted to rest in peace.

"Numnuts like Gibson and Coulter are why I cancelled my cable TV subscription and rely 100% on broadcast antenna reception now."

Oh, it's not just the cable networks and "meed-ya" anymore, unfortunately. The "conservative" blogs and particularly their military wing, are on fire with this thing.

Props to Scarborough and company on "Morning Joe", who stood up and tore Mr. Gibson a new one, before anyone else summoned up the courage.

I cannot recall an occasion where the tragic death of a young father was such an object of mockery before.

 

[twinniefan]

Fred Phelps attacks Australia!!

According to ninemsn.com.au this galoot Phelps was interviewed on channel 9's "A Current Affair", tonight (Friday),and said that death was the best thing to happen to Heath Ledger and for his family, it seems according to this cretin "death time is truth time" and he and his church of whackers consider Austrlaia to be the land of sodomy and they have a map of Australia with the word sodom written all the way across it.
I am amazed any of these fools can even spell a word with five letters in it.
Well if death time is truth time,then Phelps it would be interesting to know how you are judged on YOUR!! truth day.
You know people. I am 43 years old and so have been around for a while, yet I just find it so hard to understand why people like this Phelps can live with such venom and hatred in their lives,what a total moron.
One last thing Phelps as a proud Australian,
UP YOURS!!!.

 

[oxydolfan1]

Yeah, he's not one of God's most brilliant creations!

We have these vicious bastards here, and, mostly, out of shame, we just pray they'll shut their yaps and fall back into the inky blackness before they embarrass us in front of other nations.

Sometimes, sadly, they reveal themselves to a global audience, lol!

 

[panthera]

Stephen,

Living between the two cultures of Europe and the US, I get to see what goes on here in America then, a few weeks later, get to hear and see how my European friends react to it.

Phelps and his minion are extreme examples of something every culture has - intolerant, small minded, insecure, vicious, hate-filled people.

The difference is, in Europe (and I suspect Australia) we all like to focus on our 'culture' and modern superiority from such mental illness. Just ask any German and we will assure you that, in a very real sense, our culture goes back to the Greeks. Americans somehow lost every tie to culture when the European immigrants were on the boat...
The fact that we still have neo-Nazis and people who read BILD Zeitung (not quite as horridly graphic as the UK tabloids, but even further to the, er, shall we say, 'right'), couch potatoes who form their opinions of interpersonal relations from 'Big
Brother'...or, in my home Provence always vote for the 'Christian Socialists Union' regardless of the fact that they are neither Christian, nor Socialist...nope, none of that is considered part of Europe.
Guess what I am trying to say is, there are also people in the US who are just like the rest of the world. Phelps and his ilk have the sympathy of a few, the tacit permission of roughly 25% of the population. The rest, however, would gladly submit amicus curiae on his judgment day...on the prosecution's side.

 

[brisnat81]

All I can say, is that Freddie boy better not plan any visits downunder any time soon, as he might go back in a body bag.

I love how we're the country of sodom, but what scared me the most from that interview was the small children at the beginning that are also preaching hate.

I've attached the link to A Current Affair and the video is available on the right hand side.

May Heath rest in peace, and he family be able to ignore the crap that Mr Phelps is spreading.

http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/

 

[westtexman]

Psycho Fred Phelps . .

Said - "Phelps and his ilk have the sympathy of a few, the tacit permission of roughly 25% of the population.".

I think that 25% of the population sounds like a very high number. While Phelps claims to be "Christian", his beliefs, actions and antics certainly don't reflect those of a true Christ follower (though I suppose it's not up to me to judge that). I think you will find that most TRUE CHRISTIANS (those who actually follow Christ and not those who only stand upon certain "moral" standards solely for the sake of "morality") do not endorse nor approve of this man to spread this kind of hate.

This dude came to my town about a year ago to picket the funeral of a solder who died in Iraq, and Phelps certainly didn't get a warm reception here. A huge gang of bikers lined themselves up outside of the church during the funeral and they didn't let any of those people pass the line. When their "chanting" got too loud, they simply revved up their bikes and drowned them out with their Harleys.

Unfortunately, we live in a sick, sad world where there are many little sects of "loonies". Fred Phelps and his crew make up one of those sects, and are certainly not representative of true Christianity.

Bryan

 

[launderess]

Well It Was Not To Be

Mr. Ledger's family decided not to wish expose themselves to the "security risk" and or probable media circus in Manhattan, so the coffin was removed from Cambell's where there was to be a service (in a rather large wooden crate), and is being shipped to LA. The Ledger family has arranged a private service there, then the family and Mr. Ledger's remains will return to Perth, OZ.

 

[oxydolfan1]

I think that's probably a wise move.

Can you imagine what they must think of us?

 

[launderess]

One cannot imagine there will be any less of a scene in LA, but as the city is not as dense as Manhattan, NY guess things would be eaiser to manage.

Also consider flying all the way from OZ to NY is a long, very long trip for anyone. Since that Olsen girl and much of the Hollywood/film and that sort are in Calif, if they are going to be invited to the priviate memorial it does make sense to have things on the west coast, where most are, especially since Sundance is underway. Besides the flight back to Oz is shorter from that part of the country anyway.

Will say it is rather odd to have a family deal with their son's death and the local medical exmainer via telephone instructions, but apparently that is how Mr. & Mrs. Ledger wanted things done.

On the whole, given how the media swings from sensational story to sensational story, trailing the masses along for the ride, cannot blame the Ledgers really. Just the whiff of plans to hold things at Campbells produced a media frenzy, with persons camping out in the cold, and what not. Who wants to go through all of that when mourning?

L.