R.I.P. George Jones

American country singer George Jones, best known for many, many songs including "He Still Loving Her Today", "The Race Is On" and "Why Baby Why", finally left the music business for good last Friday at age 81.

He will be missed.

R.I.P. Jewel Akens

American singer Jewel Akens, best known for the 1964 single "The Birds and the Bees", finished his last tune on March 1 of this year at age 79.

He will be missed.

R.I.P. Sammy Johns

American singer and songwriter Sammy Johns, best known for the 1975 single "Chevy Van", parked his last vehicle on January 4 of this year at age 66.

He will be missed.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Penélope Cruz!

AKA Penélope Cruz Sánchez.

Born April 28, 1974.

Beloved Spanish actress best known for the 1997 sci-fi flick Abre Sus Ojos -- AKA Open Your Eyes -- and the 2006 adventure film Bandidas. Plus she was in the 2001 film Blow but I don't really want to remember Blow.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Carolyn Jones!

AKA Carolyn Sue Jones.

Born April 28, 1930. Died August 3, 1983.

American actress best known for playing Morticia Addams in the TV sitcom The Addams Family and Marsha, Queen of Diamonds, in the campy TV series Batman. As you might guess, the above photo is not taken from The Addams Family.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Mi Mejor Amiga!

Mi mejor amiga has been sick for about two weeks but hopefully she is feeling better today so that she can celebrate her birthday in a proper mood.

I suppose that I could consider mi current girlfriend/novia to be mi mejor amiga as well but I rather not confuse the two at this point. After all, I have known the original a lot longer. Plus she saved my life once.

Moreover, mi novia's birthday is in November so be sure to tune in for that.

Pop Song of the Week: "Pleasure and Pain"

In honor of the late Christina Amphlett.

Movie Quote of the Week

It's only very stupid people who think the law is stupid.
--Daniel Craig, Layer Cake (2004)

TV Quote of the Week

The prosecutor’s charged Ms Levine for violating our community standards. This is Boston. Home of the Tea Party. Home of the people and the spirit of freedom that literally created this country. Our community standard is that we won’t be silenced by the King of England, much less the District Attorney! Our community standard is that we speak the truth to power. And if those in power don’t like it, too bad.
--Candice Bergen, Boston Legal, "Breast in Show"

The Invention of Lying and the Myth of America

I once rented the 2009 movie The Invention of Lying from the local library, and one of the first things that came to my mind while I was watching it was the notion that this imaginary world where the movie is set -- a locale where no one can say anything but the harshest and bluntest of truths -- was supposed to be a fictional version of America. Or at least a fictional version of America as it must have seemed to English actor/writer Ricky Gervais when he first came over to this country from his homeland.

After all, Americans tend to take pride in being more honest than the English, more direct than the English and less likely to shade the truth with diplomatic white lies than the English.

So while the latter half of the film can be seen as a religious satire, the original inspiration might have been the temptation to poke fun at us "straight-talking" Yanks in such a way that most of us wouldn't catch on.

Of course, if you don't like that theory, I have others... but I like this one best.

As for the religious aspect of the movie, I found the premise of the movie to be a lot kinder and sympathetic toward religious people than I expected even though I found its idea of religion being just another form of lying to be more than a bit questionable.

Then again, the most questionable part of the movie was the part that expected me to believe that a woman who looked like Jennifer Garner could ever fall in love with a guy who looked like Ricky Gervais. After all, Gervais is not exactly famous for playing likable characters in his native England, let alone romantic heartthrobs. And though his character in this movie is a lot more sympathetic than, say, the character he played in the UK version of The Office, the romance between his character and Garner's still seemed less than convincing.

Then again, when I look upon some of the more unlikely real-life relationships I have witnessed since this movie was first released, it seems more and more believable. Or at least as believable as one might expect from a movie about lying.

Movie Song of the Week: "The Sound of Music"

In honor of Earth Day, the recent Easter holiday, the start of spring and in order to forget last week's chain of abysmal events, I'm posting the most cheerful song that I have yet to post.

Besides, we could always use a little Julie Andrews in our life at some point, right?

Spanish Song Titles

(All titles are direct translations unless marked by a single asterisk, in which case they are the Mexican, Latin American or Castilian Spanish version of a particular title.)

“A la Izquierda del Centro” -- “Left of Center”.
“Amor Extraño” -- “Strangelove”.
“Amor Prohibido” -- “Forbidden Love”.
“Aprendiendo a Volar” -- “Learning to Fly”.
“Cabeza Como un Agujero” -- “Head Like a Hole”.
“Como una Virgen” -- “Like a Virgin”.
“Conejo Blanco” -- “White Rabbit”.
“Cuentos del Valiente Ulises” -- “Tales of Brave Ulysses”.
“Cuero” -- “Leather”.
“Cumbres Borrascosas” - “Wuthering Heights”.
“Dama Oscura” -- “Dark Lady”.
“Daño Cerebral” -- “Brain Damage”.
“Debes Estar Conmigo” -- “You Belong with Me”.
“Días Lluviosos y Lunes” -- “Rainy Days and Mondays”.
“El Amor Es una Rosa” -- “Love Is a Rose”.
“El Barco de Cristal” -- “The Crystal Ship”.
“El Diablo Bajó a Georgia” -- “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”.
“El Hombre de Negro” -- “The Man in Black”.
“En Aquellos Días” -- “Those Were the Days”.*
“Enciende Mi Fuego” -- “Light My Fire”.
“Enfermedad Industrial” -- “Industrial Disease”.
“Es un Pecado” -- “Es un Pecado”.
“Escalera al Cielo” -- “Stairway to Heaven”.
“Hombre del Sur” -- “Southern Man”.
“Jinetes en la Tormenta” -- “Riders on the Storm”.
“La Noche Que Tomaron Dixie” -- “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”.
“Loca” -- “Crazy”.
“Londres Llamando” -- “London Calling”.
“Me Odio por Amarte” -- “I Hate Myself for Loving You”.
“Mestiza” -- “Half-Breed”.
“No Me Gustan los Lunes” -- “I Don't Like Mondays”.
“¿No Sería Genial?” -- “Wouldn't It Be Nice?”.
“No Siempre Puedes Tener Lo Que Quieres” -- “You Can't Always Get What You Want”.
“Paloma Negra” -- “Black Dove”.
“Pintarlo de Negro” -- “Paint It Black”.
“Porque la Noche” -- “Because the Night”.
“Rapsodia Bohemia” -- “Bohemian Rhapsody”.
“Rumores Blasfemos” -- “Blasphemous Rumours”.
“Sacudírmelo” -- “Shake It Off”.
“Simpatía por el Diablo” -- “Sympathy for the Devil”.
“Todas las Chicas Jóvenes Les Encanta Alice” -- “All the Young Girls Love Alice”.
“Una Noche en Bangkok” -- “One Night in Bangkok”.

Spanish Art Titles

(All titles are direct translations unless marked by a single asterisk, in which case they are the Mexican, Latin American or Castilian Spanish version of a particular title.)

Allá Cuelga Mi Vestido -- My Dress Hangs There.
Almuerzo sobre la Hierba -- Luncheon on the Grass.
Gótico Estadounidense -- American Gothic.
El Juicio de Paris -- The Judgement of Paris.
El Mundo de Cristina -- Christina's World.
El Sueño de la Razón Produce Monstruos -- The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters.
La Columna Rota -- The Broken Column.
La Maja Desnuda -- The Naked Maja.
La Maja Vestida -- The Clothed Maja.
La Monstrua Desnuda -- The Naked Monster.
La Monstrua Vestida -- The Clothed Monster.
La Ninfa Sorprendida -- The Surprised Nymph.
La Primavera -- Allegory of Spring.
Las Meninas -- The Maids of Honour.
Noctámbulos -- Nighthawks.*
Venus del Espejo -- Venus at Her Mirror aka The Rokeby Venus.

Spanish New Movie Titles (2000-Present)

(All titles are direct translations unless marked by an asterisk, in which case they are the Mexican, Latin American or Castilian Spanish version of a particular title.)

Alocada Obsesión -- All About Steve (2009).*
Arturo Navidad -- Arthur Christmas (2011).
Bailando en la Oscuridad -- Dancer in the Dark (2000).*
Batman: El Caballero de la Noche -- The Dark Knight (2008).*
Camino hacia El Dorado -- The Road to El Dorado (2000).*
Casi Famosos -- Almost Famous (2000).
Dame 10 Razones -- 10 Items or Less (2006).*
Dan en la Vida Real -- Dan in Real Life (2007).
¿Dónde Estás, Hermano? -- O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000).*
El Arte de la Seducción -- Art School Confidential (2006).*
El Centro del Mundo -- The Center of the World (2001).
El Descanso -- The Holiday (2006).*
El Luchador -- The Wrestler (2008).
El Origen de los Guardianes -- Rise of the Guardians (2012).*
Entre Mujeres -- In the Land of Women (2007).*
Espanglish -- Spanglish (2004).*
Hermosa Locura -- Crazy / Beautiful (2001).*
Indiana Jones y el Reino de la Calavera de Cristal -- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).
La Idiocracia -- Idiocracy (2006).
La Casa de Cristal -- The Glass House (2001).
La Liga Extraordinaria -- The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003).*
La Mentira Original -- The Invention of Lying (2009).*
La Notoria Bettie Page -- The Notorious Bettie Page (2005).
La Propuesta -- The Proposal (2009).
Lars y la Chica Real -- Lars and the Real Girl (2007).
Los Increíbles -- The Incredibles (2004).
Los Juegos del Hambre -- The Hunger Games (2012).
Los Simpsons -- La Película -- The Simpsons Movie (2007).
Marley y Yo -- Marley & Me (2008).
No Es Otra Tonta Película de Yankis -- An American Carol (2008).*
Pequeña Señorita Sunshine -- Little Miss Sunshine (2006).
Persecución Inminente -- Crossing Over (2009).*
Poseidón -- Poseidon (2006).
Pregúntale al Polvo -- Ask the Dust (2006).
Premonición -- Premonition (2007).
¿Qué Se Está Cociendo? -- What's Cooking? (2000).
Realmente Amor -- Love Actually (2003).
Un Beso Más -- The Last Kiss (2006).
Un Día Sin Mexicanos -- A Day Without a Mexican (2004).*
Una Noche en el Museo -- Night at the Museum (2006).*
Una Vida Mejor -- A Better Life (2011).

Spanish Neoclassical Movie Titles (1970-1999)

(All titles are direct translations unless marked by an asterisk, in which case they are the Mexican, Latin American or Castilian Spanish version of a particular title.)

Abre los Ojos -- Open Your Eyes (1997).
Amanecer Rojo -- Red Dawn (1984).
Aventuras en la Gran Ciudad -- Adventures in Babysitting (1987).*
Brasil -- Brazil (1985).
Capricornio Uno -- Capricorn One (1978).
Casada con la Mafia -- Married to the Mob (1988).*
Como Agua para Chocolate -- Like Water for Chocolate (1992).
Cómo Flotas, Tío -- Cheech and Chong's Next Movie (1980).*
Con los Ojos del Corazón -- Music from Another Room (1998).*
Conan el Bárbaro -- Conan the Barbarian (1982).
Corre, Lola, Corre -- Run, Lola, Run (1998).
Danza con Lobos -- Dances with Wolves (1990).*
Días Extraños -- Strange Days (1995).
12 Monos -- 12 Monkeys (1995).
El Artista del Ligue -- The Pick-up Artist (1987).*
El Candidato -- The Candidate (1972).
El Cantante de Jazz -- The Jazz Singer (1980).
El Despertar de Sharon -- The Rapture (1991).*
El Expreso de Chicago -- Silver Streak (1976).*
El Golpe -- The Sting (1973).*
El Gran Gatsby -- The Great Gatsby (1974).
El Gran Lebowski -- The Big Lebowski (1998).
El Hombre Elefante -- The Elephant Man (1980).
El Padrino -- The Godfather (1972).
El Verdugo de Dragones -- Dragonslayer (1981).*
El Violinista en el Tejado -- Fiddler on the Roof (1971).
Escape al Futuro -- Time After Time (1979).*
Estados Alterados -- Altered States (1980).
Estrella Solitaria -- Lone Star (1996).
Furia de Titanes -- Clash of the Titans (1981).
Gente Como Uno -- Ordinary People (1980).*
Harold y Maude -- Harold and Maude (1971).
Hombres de Negro -- Men in Black (1997).
Howard el Pato -- Howard the Duck (1986).
Indiana Jones y el Templo de la Perdición -- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984).
Jesucristo Superestrella -- Jesus Christ Superstar (1973).
La Aventura del Poseidón -- The Poseidon Adventure (1972).
La Bella y la Bestia -- Beauty and the Beast (1991).
La Dama de Rojo -- The Lady in Red (1979).
La Escuela del Vicio -- Dangerous Minds (1995).*
La Gran Aventura de Pee-wee -- Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985).
La Increíble Verdad -- The Unbelievable Truth (1989).*
La Señora Parker y el Círculo Vicioso -- Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994).
La Tumba del Mojado -- The Tomb of the Wetback (1985).
Lady Halcón -- Ladyhawke (1985).
Las Aventuras del Barón Munchausen -- The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988).
Los Blancos No Saben Saltar -- White Men Can't Jump (1992).*
Los Cazadores del Arca Perdida -- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).
Los Gringos -- High Risk (1981).*
Los Guerreros -- The Warriors (1979).
Los Tres Días del Cóndor -- Three Days of the Condor (1975).
Mente Indomable -- Good Will Hunting (1997).*
Mi Familia 1995 -- My Family (1995).
Nicolás y Alejandra -- Nicholas and Alexandra (1971).
Nuestros Años Felices -- The Way We Were (1973).*
Nueve Semanas y Media -- Nine and a Half Weeks (1986).
Ojos Bien Cerrados -- Eyes Wide Shut (1999).*
Pescador de Ilusiones -- The Fisher King (1991).*
Poder Que Mata -- Network (1976).*
¿Qué Se Le Dice a una Mujer Desnuda? -- What Do You Say to a Naked Lady? (1970).
Quédate conmigo -- The Waterdance (1992).*
Shakespeare Apasionado -- Shakespeare in Love (1998).*
Todo Está Muy Duro -- Things Are Tough All Over (1982).*
Todo por un Sueño -- To Die For (1995).
Trama Macabra -- Family Plot (1976).
Un Pícaro de Los Ángeles -- Born in East L.A. (1987).*
Vaselina -- Grease (1978).

Spanish Classical Movie Titles (1900-1969)

(All titles are direct translations unless marked by an asterisk, in which case they are the Mexican, Latin American or Castilian Spanish version of a particular title.)

A la Hora Señalada -- High Noon (1952).*
Al Compás del Amor -- Shall We Dance (1937).*
Al Este del Paraíso -- East of Eden (1955).*
Alicia en el País de las Maravillas -- Alice in Wonderland (1951).
Amanda -- Carefree (1938).*
Amor Sin Barreras -- West Side Story (1961).
¿Ángel o Diablo? -- Fallen Angel (1945).*
Arabesco -- Arabesque (1966).
¡Arriba las Mujeres! -- Up with Women! (1943).
Ave del Paraíso (1932) -- Bird of Paradise (1932).
Baile, Muchacha, Baile -- Dance, Girl, Dance (1940).
Bola de Fuego -- Ball of Fire (1941).
Bonnie y Clyde -- Bonnie and Clyde (1967).
Cantando bajo la Lluvia -- Singin' in the Rain (1952).
Cara Cortada -- Scarface (1932).*
Cara de Ángel -- Angel Face (1952).
Casada por Azar -- No Man of Her Own (1932).*
Cena a las Ocho -- Dinner at Eight (1933).
Ciudadano Kane -- Citizen Kane (1941).
Como Triunfar en los Negocios Sin Realmente Tratarlo -- How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967).
Cumbres Borrascosas -- Wuthering Heights (1939).
Charada -- Charade (1963).
Demasiados Secretos para un Hombre Solo -- The President's Analyst (1967).*
Desayuno en Tiffany's -- Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961).
Desde Rusia con Amor -- From Russia with Love (1963).
Desfile de Candilejas -- Footlight Parade (1933).
Desfile de Pascua -- Easter Parade (1948).
Dos Hombres y un Destino -- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969).*
Dulce Evocación --- Beyond Tomorrow (1940).*
El Amor Que Tú Me Diste -- The Luck of the Irish (1948).*
El Bazar de las Sorpresas -- The Shop Around the Corner (1940).
El Bosque Petrificado -- The Petrified Forest (1936).
El Camino de la Felicidad -- On Our Merry Way (1948).*
El Cantar de los Cantares -- The Song of Songs (1933).
El Capitán de Castilla -- Captain from Castile (1947).
El Embrujo de Manhattan -- Romance in Manhattan (1935).*
El Estado de la Unión -- State of the Union (1948).
El Graduado -- The Graduate (1967).
El Gran McGinty -- The Great McGinty (1940).
El Gran Robo -- The Big Steal (1949).
El Increíble Hombre Menguante -- The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957).
El Juicio de Nuremberg -- Judgment at Nuremberg (1961).
El León en Invierno -- The Lion in Winter (1968).
El Libro de la Selva -- The Jungle Book (1967).
El Mago de Oz -- The Wizard of Oz (1939).
El Mundo en Peligro -- Them! (1954).*
El Mundo Está Loco, Loco, Loco -- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963).*
El Planeta de los Simios -- Planet of the Apes (1968).
El Salvaje -- Bordertown (1935).*
El Secreto de Vivir -- Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936).*
El Señor Smith Va a Washington -- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939).
El Tesoro de la Sierra Madre -- The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948).
En Alas de la Danza -- Swing Time (1936).
Enfermeras de Noche -- Night Nurse (1931).*
Entre Esposa y Secretaria -- Wife vs. Secretary (1936).*
Gigante -- Giant (1956).
Hombre de Dos Mundos -- I'll Never Forget You (1951).*
Horizontes Perdidos -- Lost Horizon (1937).
Incidente en la Frontera -- Border Incident (1949).*
La Alegre Divorciada -- The Gay Divorcee (1934).
La Bella de Moscú -- Silk Stockings (1957).*
La Calle 42 -- 42nd Street (1933).
La Carrera del Siglo -- The Great Race (1965).*
La Estrella de Variedades -- Lady of Burlesque (1943).*
La Loba -- The Little Foxes (1941).*
La Locura del Dólar -- American Madness (1932).*
La Malvada -- All About Eve (1950).*
La Máquina del Tiempo -- The Time Machine (1960).
La Novia Vestía de Negro -- The Bride Wore Black (1968).*
La Sal de la Tierra -- Salt of the Earth (1954).
La Sombra de una Duda -- Shadow of a Doubt (1943).
La Ventana Indiscreta -- Rear Window (1954).*
La Venus Rubia -- Blonde Venus (1932).
Las Aventuras de Robin Hood -- The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938).*
Las Cruzadas -- The Crusades (1935).
Las Siete Caras del Dr. Lao -- 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964).
Las Tres Noches de Eva -- The Lady Eve (1941).*
Laurel y Hardy en el Oeste -- Way Out West (1937).*
Lo Que el Viento Se Llevó -- Gone with the Wind (1939).*
Los Olvidados -- The Forgotten (1950).
Los Paraguas de Cherburgo -- The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964).
Los Pecados de Teodora -- Theodora Goes Wild (1936).*
Los Tres Caballeros -- The Three Caballeros (1944).
Mamá Soltera -- Bachelor Mother (1939).*
María Antonieta -- Marie Antoinette (1938).
Milagro en la Calle 34 -- Miracle on 34th Street (1947).
Morena y Peligrosa -- My Favorite Brunette (1947).*
Música y Mujeres -- Dames (1934).*
Negocio de Vacaciones -- Holiday Affair (1949).*
Noche Nupcial -- The Wedding Night (1935).
Noches de la Ciudad -- Sweet Charity (1969).*
Nosotros los Pobres -- We the Poor (1948).
Pacto de Sangre -- Double Indemnity (1944).*
Pacto Siniestro -- Strangers on a Train (1951).*
Pasaporte a la Fama -- The Whole Town's Talking (1935).*
Planeta Prohibido -- Forbidden Planet (1956).
Primera Plana -- The Front Page (1931).
Qué Bello Es Vivir -- It's a Wonderful Life (1946).*
Siete Novias para Siete Hermanos -- Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954).
Sobre las Olas -- Over the Waves (1933).
Sólo los Ángeles Tienen Alas -- Only Angels Have Wings (1939).
Tarántula -- Tarantula (1955).
Tarzán y Su Compañera -- Tarzan and His Mate (1934).
Tiempos Modernos -- Modern Times (1936).
Tráfico de Muerte -- Borderline (1950).*
Tres Padrinos -- Three Godfathers (1948).
Un Alma Atormentada -- This Gun for Hire (1942).*
Un Día en Nueva York -- On the Town (1949).*
Un Hombre de Dos Reinos -- A Man for All Seasons (1966).*
Una Chica Afortunada -- Easy Living (1937).*
Una Mujer Endiablada -- The Girl from Mexico (1939).*
Ustedes los Ricos -- You the Rich (1948).
Vampiresas de 1933 -- Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933).*
Vampiresas de 1935 -- Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935).*
Vampiresas de 1937 -- Gold Diggers of 1937 (1936).*
Vivir de Ilusión -- The Music Man (1962).*
Vivir para Gozar -- Holiday (1938).*
Volando a Río -- Flying Down to Rio (1933).
Vuelve a Mí -- The Barkleys of Broadway (1949).*
...Y la Cabalgata Pasa -- Meet John Doe (1941).*

R.I.P. Allan Arbus

American actor Allan Arbus, most famous for playing Dr. Sidney Freedman on the TV series M*A*S*H, took his last bow last Friday at age 95. He was also famous for being the first husband of the late photographer Diane Arbus, whom he divorced in 1969.

He will be missed.

R.I.P. Christina Amphlett

Australian singer Christina Amphlett, lead singer of the Australian group Divinyls who was most famous for such hits as "I Touch Myself" and "Pleasure and Pain", sang her last note the day before yesterday at age 53.

She will be missed.

R.I.P. Elaine L. Konigsburg

American writer Elaine L. Konigsburg, best known for winning the 1968 Newbery Medal for her novel From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, finished the last page of her autobiography last Friday at age 83.

She will be missed.

R.I.P. Jonathan Winters

American actor/comedian Jonathan Winters, best known for his role in the 1963 movie It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and his role as Mork's son Mearth on the ABC sitcom Mork & Mindy, finished his last improv routine last Thursday at age 87.

He will be missed.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Selena!

AKA Selena Quintanilla Pérez.

Born April 16, 1971. Died March 31, 1995.

Former queen of Tejano music whose life was ended way too early.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Sarah Michelle Gellar Prinze!



Born April 14, 1977.

American actress best known as the former star of the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and of such movies as Cruel Intentions and The Grudge. Best known nowadays as Buff -- er, Mrs. Freddie Prinze, Jr. -- which makes her a daughter-in-law of the late Freddie Prinze, Sr., and hence a honorary Latina, right?*

* Yeah, I know. Only in my dreams.

R.I.P. Margaret Thatcher

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the first female Prime Minister in British history, lost her final election yesterday at age 87.

She will be missed.

R.I.P. Annette Funicello

American actress Annette Funicello, former member of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse Club who was best known for starring in such movies as Beach Party and Beach Blanket Bingo, threw in the towel for the last time yesterday at age 70.

She will be missed.

R.I.P. James Herbert

English horror writer James Herbert, best known for such novels as The Survivor -- which inspired a movie of the same name -- and The Rats, which did not inspire such a movie, finished his last story on March 20 at age 69.

He will be missed.

R.I.P. Alan Ryan

American writer and editor Alan Ryan, best known for such novels as Panther! and Cast a Cold Eye, finishing editing the last page of his life on June 3, 2011 at age 68.

He will be missed.

R.I.P. Hugo Chávez

Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías, president of Venezuela since his election in 1999, was announced dead on March 5 at age 58.

He may or may not be missed.

R.I.P. Roger Ebert

American film critic Roger Ebert, former co-host of the TV series Sneak Previews (aka At the Movies), left the theatre for good yesterday at age 70. Here's hoping that wherever he ends up next, Gene Siskel is already saving him the aisle seat -- and plenty of popcorn.

He will be missed.

R.I.P. Malachi Thorne

American actor Malachi Thorne, best known for playing Robert Wagner's boss on the ABC TV series It Takes a Thief and a villain on the ABC TV series Batman, finally retired on March 13 at age 84.

He will be missed.

R.I.P. Frank Thornton

English actor Frank Thornton, best known for his role as Captain Peacock in the long-running British sitcom Are You Being Served? and its sequel Are You Being Served Again, left the floor for the last time on March 16 at age 92.

He will be missed.

R.I.P. Conrad Bain

Canadian-born actor Conrad Bain, best known for his role as Arthur Harmon on the CBS sitcom Maude and his role as Phillip Drummond on the NBC sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, joined former co-stars Dana Plato and Gary Coleman on January 14 at age 89.

He will be missed.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños, C. D. Batchelor!

AKA Clarence Daniel Batchelor.

Born April 1, 1888. Died September 5, 1977.

American editorial cartoonist who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1937 for the above cartoon. The original caption for said cartoon said, "Come on in, I'll treat you right! I used to know your Daddy."

He was also noted for his sympathy to the women's suffrage movement.