h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

OP-wise, there are a few:

Pink (the singer/songwriter/performer). Simply for being pop/rock with some dignity and sincerity. And she's HOT. One of four female vocalists I adore (the others being Skin, Angela from Arch Enemy and Gwen Stefani back in her rock days.)

Stephen Fry I have to agree with. Mainly because I would love to know him. To converse with him would make me a happy, happy girl.

Ray Mears.

OK, here is the "scientific" version (sort of) of the Time 100 list:

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1733748_1736328_1736326,00.html

No more accurate, but it uses a LOT of numbers ...

I admire people who are not just good at their chosen profession, but who use that to try to make the world a better place.

So Anita Roddick, for upping the importance of global ethics in the business world.

Jamie Oliver for tirelessly (and possibly tiresomely!) campaigning for better school dinners.

Matthew Bourne for services to dance. (I've turned into the Queen's New Years Honours List now, haven't I?)

Terry Pratchett.

John Hume.

Louis Theroux.

Lance Armstrong.

>>OK, here is the "scientific" version (sort of) of the Time 100 list:>>

I could win that simply by calling myself 'Jesus Sex'.

Oh yes, I'm also a big fan of Louis Theroux. Apart from his style of documentary and interview, his wit, his intelligence, he's damned sexy as well. I know he's a bit geeky sometimes, but all his qualities are hugely for me. And he's quite 'pretty' and enigmatic.

Dawn French because she doesnt let her size get in the way and she looks very sexy with it.

I admire Christopher Hitchens, for his ability to say things in a well-reasoned way, irrespective of who may get offended by his views.

Some political names come to mind: Mandela, Aung San Su Kyi, Morgan Tsvangirai, Vaclav Havel, Lech Walesa, for facing up to the tyrants and not losing hope.

Richard Feynman. If you don't know why, you need to find out about him. Once you find out about him, it's impossible not to admire him.

I personally admire Agnetha Faltskog, Margaret Thatcher, Algerian freedom fighter Salima Ghezali and Gloria Steinem. Of the dead folk, I admire Martin Luther King, Horatio Nelson, the Pankhursts, Emily Wilding Davidson and Susan Brownell Anthony.

Margaret Thatcher!!!

Mark Thomas.

At a time when huge numbers of stand-up comedians were being given their own C4 shows, he obviously sat back and thought: "fame is fleeting - what can I actually *do* with this?"

And he's been doing useful things ever since.

I started this conversation saying I don't care for "celebrities". We seem to be infested with celebrities who have little talent to offer.

But I have to admit to admiration to a few celebrities who have the chops to deserve it. One is Johnny Depp, whose talent is impressive and whose range is pretty wide. "Pirates of the Caribbean" (a tip of the hat to Keith Richard), "Ed Wood", "Cry Baby" (a parody of his own teen heartthrob beginnings), "Dead Man", etc.

And sadly, possibly his best work never got finished - in the documentary "Lost in La Mancha", about an attempt to film "Don Quixote" in Spain, a few Depp scenes were amazing, like a fight with a fish. But the production got washed away, literally.

Actors with range also include Russell Crowe ("A Beautiful Mind") and Jody Foster ("Silence of the Lambs"), IMHO. No actor is sure fire success for a movie, but if one of these is in it, I'll probably give it a try.

Not too famous in the West but King Dongmyeong, the founder of Goguryeo (which later became Korea, well, pretty much so). He basically united a whole load of disorganised tribes, fought off the Chinese Han Empire and founded a nation, all before the age of 40.

There's a brilliant 81 episode Korean drama, 'Jumong - Prince of Legend' which you can find on the usual download sites (don't worry, it's been fansubbed into English). Despite being officially just a drama 'based on' the story, it's actually quite true to the tale, even down to the predictions made at the time.

A good way to watch it is get your mates to come around for a regular session of the Jumong drinking game. You pour a drink for everyone at the start of the show, but can only take a sip when someone in Jumong says 'yeah' (this happens a lot). If Jumong himself says it you take 2 sips. The time to stop is when the show makes sense without the subtitles.

Michelle, the lady across the corridor in our office block ( seperate company ) because she smiles and laughs through every difficulty and problem, and is always ready to help anyone with anything - in the past she has acted as my F1 key with Word problems. A lovely woman, and very feminine with it.

Oh and Cate Blanchett...huge talent

Novo

hmm. A famous person I admire?...

I agree with someone earlier who mentioned John Simpson, but personally I feel Fergal Keane is an amazing journalist. No matter where he is he manages to make events relevant to us (even if they are so far away we feel disconnected) and he doesn't sensationalise but manages to maintain the humanity in his reporting (some reporters are so unemotional about things it seems cold). And he leaves us to make up our own minds. I read a comment in the Radio Times not so long ago accusing him of "emotional hand-wringing" which I think missed the point.

Why has no one mentioned Douglas? I admire him hugely, firstly for having the foresight to launch this place, which is fantastic, for writing stuff which makes us think and makes us laugh. He had the confidence to explore important issues, and concern for the environment.

David Attenborough, because he cares so much for the environment and remains in awe of it and respectful even though he knows so much about it. I admire his dedication to putting the information out there to get people to change their ways to combat climate change.

<< I feel Fergal Keane is an amazing journalist. No matter where he is he manages to make events relevant to us (even if they are so far away we feel disconnected) and he doesn't sensationalise but manages to maintain the humanity in his reporting (>>

Absolutely! He's amazing...

Vicky

Homer Simpson.

My hero.

RF

Sorry... I'll get me coat...

Interesting item in the Houston Chronicle today. According to a poll by Marketing magazine in the UK, the most loved celebrity is Paul McCartney (15% of the vote), and the most hated is Heather Mills (28% of the vote). The columnist suggested a "Howard Cosell Award" for "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell, who was in the top five on both lists.