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Farewells of 2024, Part 2: Honoring Notable Creators and Newsmakers

Posted on February 10, 2025 | Leave a comment

Day Two of our farewells the notable persons of 2024. Today we celebrate the Creators who have enriched our lives with their craft, and the Newsmakers who both make the news and report it. So many we shouldn’t forget. If you’re unfamiliar with any of the people in these tributes, be sure to look them up, we learn so much from lives well lived. Rest in Love.

Tomorrow Musicians and Singers!

Newsmakers and Creators

  1. Jimmy Carter, 100, 39th US President, Humanitarian, The Carter Center. Natural Causes.
  2. Joe Leiberman, 82, Former US Senator, Complications from fall.
  3. Tep Vong, 93, Cambodian Buddhist Community Leader, Long Illness
  4. Peanut, 7, beloved Central Park Eastern Gray squirrel. Euthanized. 😦
  5. Falco, 13, beloved Central Park Eurasian Eagle Owl, escaped from park for a year, hit building in Upper West Side.
  6. William Anders, 90, Apollo 8 Astronaut, photographer of Earthrise. Plane Crash in his Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
  7. Alexei Navalny, 47, Russian Activist for Democracy. Murdered by Putin
  8. Ruth Ashten Taylor, 101, Groundbreaking female journalist and anchor. Natural Causes.
  9. Bob Edwards,76, beloved NPR anchor. Metastatic bladder cancer, heart failure.
  10. Ina Jaffe, 75, NPR journalist, Breast cancer
  11. Brian Mulroney, 84, Former Canadian Prime Minister, Declining health and fall.
  12. Ethel Kennedy, 96, Activist and Widow of Robert F. Kennedy Sr. Stroke.
  13. Lilly Ledbetter, 86, Activist for Equal Pay and Women’s Equality, Author. Respiratory Failure.
  14. Aziza Barnes, 32, Author, A Knight of Seven Snowfalls, Winter Snowfall. Suicide.
  15.  Warren Wilson, 90, Groundbreaking LA Broadcaster (undisclosed)
  16. Tom Watson, 55, The Daily Show writer
  17. Trevor Griffiths, 88, Dramatist, Occupations, Comedians Heart Failure.
  18. Robert Towne, 89, Director, Shampoo, Chinatown (undisclosed)
  19. Robert M. Young, 99, Independent Ground-breaking Director, Alambrista!, Triumph of the Spirit. (undisclosed)
  20. Barbara Taylor-Bradford, 91author, A Woman of Substance, Act of Will, Cancer.
  21. Tom Shales, 79, Television Critic, The Washington Post. Covid 19 and Kidney failure.
  22. Aaron Brown, 76, ABC World News Tonight, CNN Journalist. Pneumonia.
  23. Charles Osgood, 91, beloved journalist, news host. Author of 7 books. CBS News Sunday Morning. Dementia.
  24. Robert McNeil, 93, The McNeil-Lehrer Report, Natural causes.
  25. Dr. Ruth Westheimer, 96, Sex Therapist, Sexually Speaking, The Dr. Ruth Show. Natural causes.
  26. Wally ‘Famous’ Amos, 88, Cookie entrepreneur, Dementia
  27. Norman Jewison, 97, beloved producer, Moonstruck, You’ve Got Mail (undisclosed)
  28. Brian McConnachie, 81, Comedy writer and author, SNL, Caddyshack, Sleepless in Seattle.  Parkinson’s
  29. Christopher Durang, 75, Tony Winning playwright, Beyond Therapy, Sister Mary Ignatius… Logopenic progressive aphasia.
  30. Mark Dodson, 64, Voice artist, Return of the Jedi, Gremlins, Heart Attack in sleep
  31. Morgan Lofting 84, Voice artist, Spiderman,“Baroness” in G.I.Joe (undisclosed)
  32. Greg Finley, 76 Voice Artist, Robotech. Heart related causes.
  33. Janice Burgess, 72, Screenwriter, Producer, TV Director, Creator –The Backyardigans. Breast Cancer.
  34. Isabelle Thomas, 39, Documentarian, Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story, Suicide
  35. Iris Apfel, 102, Model, textile and antique fabric expert, Fashionista, Author Accidental Icon (undisclosed)
  36. Akiro Toriama, 68, Dragon Ball Z Manga and Anime, Accute subdermal Hematoma
  37. Morgan Spurlock, 53, documentarian, Supersize Me, Cancer
  38. Marshall Brickman, 85, screenwriter Annie Hall, Candid Camera (undisclosed)
  39. Michael Mosely, 67, Health Journalist, Author of Deep Calm.. Collapse while hiking in Symi, Greece
  40. Roger Corman, 98, Director and ‘The King of Cult’ low budget movies. Little Shop of Horrors, Masque of the Red Death, The Raven, The Wild Angels (undisclosed)
  41. Eli Noyes, 81, Inspirational Stop Motion Animator, Liquid Television.  prostate cancer
  42. Mark Gustafason, 63, Stop Motion Artist, Pinocchio, Fantastic Mr. Fox. Heart attack.
  43. Christopner Ciccione, 63,Visual artist, interior designer, brother of Madonna.  Pancreatic cancer
  44. Eduardo Xol, 58, Home Designer, 58, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Stabbed.
  45. Tim Sullivan, 76, Sci-Fi Author, actor, screenwriter. V, Twilight of the Dogs, Vampyre Femmes. Congestive heart failure.
  46. Ken Melton, 69, Animation Sculptor, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid ,Paranorman. dementia
  47. Alice Munro, 92, Author, and Nobel Laureate, Dear Life, The Moons of Jupiter. Cancer, dementia
  48. Bob Weatherwax, 83, Son of Rudd, second generation Trainer of Lassie COPD.
  49. Greg Hildebrandt, 85 Lord of the Rings artist
  50. Hailey Merkt, 31, Contestant on The Bachelor.  Leukemia

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I Made Captain Kirk! (Progress Gallery)

Posted on April 13, 2024 | Leave a comment

Hi Everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Easter/Spring Break and that you were lucky enough here in the States to see the Total Solar Eclipse! We had perfect weather — the day BEFORE the eclipse— but it was grey and cloudy on the actual day 😦 . However we did experience a temperature drop and moderate darkness during the eclipse which was quite extraordinary!

In other news, the past couple of weeks I have indulged in my latest hobby, and it is highly gratifying! I’ve been learning to work with polymer clay and it has truly been a rewarding and somewhat life-changing experience! Thanks to watching the polymer master “Ace of Clay” on YouTube, it’s so satisfying to see a germ of an idea I had over a decade ago finally brought to fruition and completed!

So the project actually started years ago when I was in a craft shop and spotted a cute bag of craft pom-poms that looked like little tribbles with their perfect coloring of beige, brown, and white. I thought, it would make an cute sculpture someday with Kirk engulfed by tribbles! I bought the pom-poms with great ambition.

Of course I wasn’t sure how I’d make the sculpture. I considered a fabric one, with felt to be stuffed and painted with the pom-poms glued on, but the logistics bugged me. What proportions could it be and how to keep it stable? I let the idea stew for a while, and like many of my creative dreams, the pom-poms got put aside and buried among many of my creative dreams piling up in my closet.

It wasn’t until a month or so ago when I came upon a video by Anthony, the “Ace of Clay” whose polymer clay creations just blew. me. away! I realized that this was my ticket to create my Kirk sculpture, and on March 29th I finally started it! Keep scrolling to see the gallery from start to finish!

I’m very happy with the result and I think it’s okay for my first attempt. Of course I see its imperfections, (to me he looks more like Nicolas Cage that Bill Shatner) but that’s what learning is all about! I cannot describe the marvelous gratification one can have from creating something from scratch. And I am thrilled to add it to my other creative projects (photography and digital collages) — it is just a wonderful tactile, focusing hobby that challenges not only my sculpting skills, but painting too. Good for fine motor skills, and and just basic happiness! (And it only took 20+ years or so to make!) I cannot wait to start new project ! Enjoy the gallery, and watch the captain come to life! (I’ll have to share this with William Shatner!)

March 29th, 2024. We start with armature, made from aluminum wire
Aluminum foil is added to fill out the form
Adding the base of Sculpy light, whose consistency is like working with marshmallow!
Captain in the Oven! First bake. Polymer clay stays soft until it is baked
April 4th. Shaping out manly torso and neck
Familiar neckline? Adding arms.
The trim was hard to do and broke a couple times, but I managed.
April 6. The first attempt at the head wasn’t quite right so I made a second
The second head seemed better, but I wish now the lower half was broader.
April 8,. Trim painted, but why is the badge black? Because it will make the metallic paint ‘pop’!
Fun to try my painting skills after all these years.
Shirt painted
April 9. Hair, eye whites and gold accents added
I knew my hands might be a little too shaky to paint the eyes, so I used fine markers instead.
April 10th. Let the Tribbles fall! Since there were no black tribbles, I used the black pom poms for filler.
Sorting the sizes
Left Side
Back
Right Side
Poor guy!
Tribble on his shoulder!
Ta-Daa!

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Goodnight Dearest Yeoman – Remembering Celeste Yarnall 1944-2018

Posted on October 9, 2018 | 6 comments

It is with a very heavy heart that I report today that our friend Celeste Yarnall has passed away. Surrounded by her loving family, she will never be forgotten.   She is forever remembered to us Trek fans as Yeoman Martha Landon in The Apple, but she was so much more.

Celeste and her beloved Nazim in 2013. Soulmates so happy together.

Celeste passed on Sunday night after a hellish battle with cancer which began as ovarian four years ago and evolved into lung cancer recently.  I can only imagine how awful it was when it was reported recently that she had non-stop coughing, pain, and mucus from the lung invasion.  When I read that she was in hospice, I suspected that she was soon to be on her final celestial journey.  I send my deepest condolences and comfort to her husband Nazim, daughter Cami, and granddaughter Gaby.  You were her rock and her heart.

I first became friends with Celeste through Facebook.  It was there I had learned of her cancer and I was determined to help her raise money through her cancer fund to help her with medical payments. I had sent her my interpretation of her Star Trek episode, The Apple, as a movie poster: 

She liked it so much, she printed it up big and displayed it frequently at her autograph signings!  I was so honored.  

 

Inspired, I created numerous Star Trek ‘funnies‘ depicting her in her role as Yeoman Martha Landon in The Apple with Trek characters encouraging donations, like this one:                                                                                                       I also like making artistic portraits of her as Martha the occasional collages for her business ventures like Bemer and Hemp Oil. She really enjoyed these, and was so gracious and thankful when she posted them on her blogs.   I hope they helped.

One of the first things I did after making Celeste’s acquaintance was making her a pretty peach floral pillowcase.  We often conversed through Facebook and I had the joyous fortune of several phone conversations with her, and we would talk health, family, and occasionally Elvis and Star Trek.   She was so funny and dear, and very passionate about letting people know about wellness and the promise of Immunotherapy, which helped her battle the ovarian cancer. She was comforting to me when I was going through my time with minor breast cancer,(Stage 0 – now free) which was nothing compared to hers.  But she understood my fears, and gave me comfort, which helped me through it. Forever grateful.

My only regret is that I never got to meet her personally.  I couldn’t really afford a trip to Las Vegas to see her in one of her annual appearances there.  If I had known this year’s would be her last, I’d have happily gone into credit debt to see her.  But that is life, and I am so blessed that I got to know her in these past few years.

When I heard of her hospice care, I immediately started making a photo book for her through a photo site.  It was a collection of all the funnies and posters I made for her. Sadly, although it is on its way as I write this, she’ll never see it.  But I truly hope that Nazim and Cami will take comfort in it as a memorial.   They have worked so hard for her, and I pray they know that all their efforts were not in vain.

Celeste’s last artistic request to me was for a poster that read “Keep Calm and Beam Me Up” I made the one below, and she was very pleased.  Yet I can’t help but think that she knew the end was coming, and this was her subtle way of saying goodbye. And now that she has beamed up to the celestial heavens,  I know she will be welcomed there with all the love and more that she had on Earth.  Goodnight  Dearest, Sweet Yeoman, my friend.   You are forever in my heart. ❤

 

 

 

 

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FArFri: What a Spock! “Amok Time” by Garth Glazier

Posted on July 18, 2014 | 3 comments

Hey Kids,

Thanks to Karen Bailey Wisecarver for providing the info on this great poster: the below image is a detail of a full Amok Time poster by artist Garth Glazier.  So dramatic! Below the detail is the full version, just marvelous!  — I wondered what that little necklace in the lower right hand corner was! (T’Pring’s hair and ornaments).10310528_767448319954423_2244751395672150340_n

STAR TREK_AmokTime_Poster5

Here’s the full version; Nice photo manipulation!

 

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FArFri — “Best of Enterprise” by Stumpaa

Posted on April 4, 2014 | 2 comments

Here’s a great piece by Stumpaa on DeviantArt –A little something to remind Kirk that there is no “I” in Team!   Almost mystic, yes?  I love how Uhura is playing peek-a boo.

best_of_enterprise_by_wolfself-d30mdlm

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FArFri – A Gallery of Nimoy/Spocks from Tafafa!

Posted on March 28, 2014 | 5 comments

Hey Kids!

As you seen in previous FArFri , I’ve posted the work of artist Tafafa and her gorgeous renderings of Leonard Nimoy as himself and other characters.  Tafafa has admitted on her DeviantArt page that she’s totally fascinated with  Nimoy’s features, and aren’t we lucky that she captures him so beautifully?  As a Birthday Week Special, I’m posting a bunch of her Nimoy studies– from kid to Senior — Prepare to be blown away.  Enjoy!

junior_leonard_by_tafafa-d5ug8df

Young Leonard seems to be channeling Alfred E. Neuman here!

lenny_by_tafafa-d70cifr

leonard_by_tafafa-d6q64mw

Ah, Youth!

spock_and_kirk_by_tafafa-d5srx37

They Dynamic Duo — You’ve got to check out all her stuff!

pon_farr_by_tafafa-d5f4l27

This is remarkable not just for its intimacy, but for the way it portrays the pain of Pon Farr.

nimoy_by_tafafa-d78kgs0

I love this one – it really captures his personality.

new_spock_and_spock_prima_by_tafafa-d5egron

Young and Old!

prime_spock_and_reboot_by_tafafa-d5zso3z

Just too adorable!

star_nimoy_by_tafafa-d64zkmx

With the wisdom of his years — his eyes look a little teary here. Stunning.

 

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FArFri — “Nimoy- Star” by tafafa

Posted on January 24, 2014 | 3 comments

As long as we’re in the 70’s groove this week here’s some serious funk-a riffic art by artist tafafa on Deviant art. Tafa LOVES to paint Nimoy in all the phases of his life, check out her stuff! Dig those bell bottoms!  Hmmm, wonder what he’s singing?

nimoy___star_by_tafafa-d5to60x

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FArFri – Star Trek Pop Art by Des Taylor

Posted on November 22, 2013 | Leave a comment

For this week’s fan art, I just came across these today, and they’re fantastic! Star Trek re-imagined by artist Des Taylor.   Now wouldn’t you love to see a cartoon based on these?! (This would blow the whole Filmation version out of the water!) Look how deliciously sly Kirk looks!

spencerKirkfile

Gotta love the spit curl!

spockretro

Logical and well prepared

STAR_TREK_DES_TAYLOR

She looks like a cross between Dr. Helen Noel and Joan Holloway of Mad Men! (Which is surprisingly similar to my StarTreKomic of 2011) : http://atomic-temporary-24015876.wpcomstaging.com/startrekomics/#jp-carousel-818

startrekbird

The artist really digs the uniforms, especially on the women!

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FArFri – “Main Crew – The Cage, by Gary Anderson.

Posted on September 27, 2013 | 3 comments

Here’s this weeks Fan Art:  Let’s go way way back! Here a splendid representation ofmain_crew____the_cage_by_nightwing1975-d3b06wd the original crew of the Enterprise by artist Gary Anderson.   Can you imagine how different the series would have been if this pilot sold? Note the original font for “STAR TREK” too!

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The Daily Scrapbook 10/11/12

Posted on October 11, 2012 | Leave a comment

(Sorry I’m late with this today, been busy with lots of housework!)

Here’s today’s flashback — Back in ’73, we had a new paperback by author David Gerrold, called The World of Star Trek; a thick volume with lots of anecdotes, insider notes, and best of all,  over 75 pictures! When it got too quiet around the house, I’d hear my mom or sister yell “Are you reading that book again?!”  I was obsessed, especially looking at the pictures of the Trek stars as their characters next to ‘current’ photos of them.  Seeing the real-life pictures was pretty wild (George Takei with a pageboy haircut!), but I preferred looking at the old Trek headshots, and my sister decided to practice her sketching one autumn afternoon, and she drew her versions of the Kirk and Spock pictures. I loved these.  Here they are, and I’ve cleaned them up a little since the originals had some grease stains and smudges.  She made these in November of 1973, and I must have pestered her to make McCoy too because she drew his in January! Not bad for a first attempt.  Thanks Sis! Bet you didn’t know I still had these!

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