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

I've just found out that Harold Pinter died on Christmas Eve. I wouldn't trouble you with this, especially as I thought he was slightly overrated, but I find this citation to be very much worth sharing.

Here it is, from the BBC at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7799708.stm


Pinter won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2005 and the citation said "in his plays he uncovers the precipice in everyday prattle and forces entry into oppression's closed rooms".


Jabs.

I wouldn't say I was a fan but his is certainly a name that will go down in drama history.

He wrote very natural 'English' and - perhaps - the citation by Toll-puddle-Tony sums him up. As a poet, he was way behind Jabs.

But - Eartha Kit also died and the Beebs orbit was cruel.

Thanks Pedantic!

I was quite a modest fan of Eartha Kitt. I haven't read past the beginning of the Beeb obit. and if it is as you say I doubt that I shall.

Both died of cancer.

R.I.P.


Jabs

A supremely intelligent and witty artist with a voice and style all her own:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=U-oEA1sK374


Jabs

And said it all
Before Luther King,
With so much style,
And so much zing.

Why does everybody have to die 'OF' something.

My mother - 90 - moved house a few days before Christmas. The following day she awoke, feeling 'tired an in pain'. She was medivac'd to the most dangerous place possible - hospital. Having failed to kill her after four days, she was shipped home as there was nothing wrong with her.

All of my elder relatives have 'just died' - mostly on their own terms and their own turf. The thing that scares the old dear most is that she won't be allowed to just stop living.

Jabs

I'm so terribly sorry, Pedantic - of course I'm applauding your verse and its sentiments, not the deaths you write about. A case of simulpost, I'm afraid.

Jabs.

I quite like Pinters plays,but,not being the sharpest knife in the draw,i probably looked at them for what they were and did not trouble my already troubed head to look for any deep and searching questions.
Dear Perdantic,everyone dies of something or other,personally,i would rather die of Aids than boredom,at least it would show i have lived a little

Sorry - don't agree.

My granny - aged 89 - went on a fishing/painting trip, with a friend to the Scottish highlands. Attempting to reclaim a trout, she fell into the stream and broke her femur.

She was shipped back - to my parent's house - and attended to by the local GP.

He explained to her - in doctorial tones - that she would no longer be able to live on her own (as she did).

The following morning, she demanded that she went to chuch and my ma and pa carried her over the road and back. She had a cup of coffee and then said, "I'm going to sleep now."

Ten minutes later she was dead.

Sorry,your nan went that way.i find it totally impossible to care one way or the other how i die,it will not matter.I am not important,i have not written anything of note and try as i will,i can not sing like Earha Kitt,i sound more like Gracie Fields on a bad day.My own grandma,had a massive stroke and remained unconcious untill i turned up. When she heard my voice,she sat up in bed then gave a very bawdy version of the song,On Mother Kellys Doorstep,as she spent all her life as an eastend publican,i did not expect much else,but,she did literally,die laughing

You miss the point - my gran just decided to stop. She lived on her own and never wanted to be dependent on anyone. She just died - on her own terms. The odd thing is that her husband,daughter and son did (more or less) the same. My mama - the last of an endagerd species - is terrified that she won't be able to. She is not frightened of death - just worried about life.

I did not miss the point,perhaps,i did not explain myself properly,life is much more scary than death,when you decide that it all has to stop,you have an option,either put up with it,or, press the edject button.I speak to my mother on the phone (she lives a couple of counties away) ahe is 90yrs.old and is still,in her veiw,having a pleasant life. She has always said,that when she can not win her bridge games anymore,she will fold the cards.I am sorry if i upset you,no offence was intended.

I don't think that life or death are that bad really. Life's O,K. if you don't worry about things too much, or let yourself get depressed, The worst is doing things, that you really don't want to do.When you realize that you can cope with most things that the world throws at you, you can survive fairly happily. Death must be a lovely break. Others dyeing is pretty hard. Imagine the worst, when you see it in perspective and realize you can get though [with the right attitude] and learn never to expect perfection from life,- then it's all quite good really.

Re the last but one post - no offence taken whatsoever and I certainly never thought any was meant and fully agree with the idea of stopping when you start losing at bridge. The problem of those of my generation (in my family) is that the previous two have set an extraordinary record of dying of absolutely nothing (other than extreme old age) more or less on their terms. Granny was the best though as she had always said that she never wanted to live other than on her own and when the doctor told her that she wouldn't be able to, she died the following day.

Having had a very close encounter with death (A20000232 )I haven't the least fear of it and I don't think any of the family have. However - we all have a terror of losing our marbles and having to be looked after.

Well said Vi! I think it's important to live in the "now". Although we should probably learn from it, the past is gone and we can't change it. And the future? Well, we will probably infuence it by what we do now but nonethless it's yet to come. So that leaves now and that's what is most important. Whether this is the only innings we get or if there's something to follow it makes sense to make the most of how we spend our time here. Be true to ourselves, make a difference, be prepared to love those we come into contact with. And if there's 2nd helpings, believe it will be good whatever it is.

I do agree,that living the now,is important,but i have been living the now for almost sixty four years and i get very cross with myself! All the things i wished to do are slipping away from my grasp,i used to throw bricks at the american embassy in the sixties,that was a waste of time.I worked in the Sudan for some time,trying to help,i am sure i made little or no impact as the mess is still there.I seem to be chasing rainbows.Going back to what this thread was originally about,it must be wonderful to be a genius like Pinter.Get up,write a play,pop down the pub for a beer and now you are going to be on the A-Level exam paper for as long as Shakespeare.Some people have it and some,do not.

Harold Pinter had a wide ranging tributes ranging from politicians, to comedians and actors. Here are a few selection of tributes from the BBC website:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7799837.stm