Obituary: ... there they go !

Robert Mueller, who died on March 20, 2026, was a Marine combat veteran, longtime federal prosecutor, and Republican-appointed FBI director whose reputation for discipline and integrity made him the obvious choice to lead the Justice Department’s special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and Donald Trump’s campaign. A Bronze Star recipient for valor in Vietnam, he went on to prosecute powerful figures like Manuel Noriega and John Gotti before unanimously winning Senate confirmation as FBI director just days before 9/11. As special counsel, Mueller documented that Russia attacked the 2016 election “in sweeping and systematic fashion,” secured dozens of indictments and several convictions, and laid out multiple episodes of likely obstruction of justice by Trump while making clear his report did not exonerate the president.

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Dave Mason dies – Photos of the Rock Hall legend and Traffic star's career​

April 22, 2026, 9:24 a.m. ET
Traffic, from left to right: Stevie Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason on Oct. 19, 1967. @ https://www.usatoday.com/picture-ga.../89730049007/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

I'm not sure I qualify as a Traffic fan. I've got their John Barleycorn Must Die and enjoy all but the morose title track.
Their style? Post boheme?

Anyway Dave, enjoy eternity brother. I'll be w/ you soon enough.
 

Barney Frank, a liberal congressman and trailblazer for gay rights, dies. He was 86​

The Associated Press / May 20, 2026, 10:28 AM

"Everybody wants to go to Heaven, but nobody wants to die. ... People want the public services. We can't have the public services without some level of taxation." United States House of Representatives Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank
 

Marcia Lucas, Oscar-Winning ‘Star Wars’ Editor, Dies at 80​


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Marcia Lucas, the film editor who won an Oscar for editing “Star Wars,” directed by her former husband George Lucas, and shaped several influential films of the 1970s, died Wednesday in Rancho Mirage, Calif. She was 80.

The family’s attorney confirmed she died of cancer.

“Marcia will be remembered as a brilliant storyteller, a trailblazer for women in film, a loving mother and grandmother, a generous host, and a loyal friend whose humor and sparkle filled every room she entered. Her influence on film is indelible, but those who knew her best will remember the way she made life feel .....

 
Dennis the Menace.
{...
Jay Waverly North Jr. was an American actor best known for playing Dennis Mitchell on the CBS sitcom Dennis the Menace (1959–1963). He later starred in films like Zebra in the Kitchen and Maya, voiced characters in animated series including The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show, and became a corrections officer. A child star advocate, he spoke openly about the challenges of early fame before his death in 2025 at age 73.
Born:
Aug 3, 1951 (Hollywood, Los Angeles)
Died:
Apr 6, 2025 (Lake Butler, Florida, U.S.)
...}
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Sir John Swan, Bermuda’s longest-serving premier, has died.

 
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1,200-year-old Robin Hood oak tree in Sherwood Forest has died, group says​

CBS/AP Updated Thu, June 18, 2026 at 6:29 AM GMT-5

A massive ancient oak tree linked to the legend of Robin Hood may have been loved to death.

The 1,200-year-old Major Oak in Sherwood Forest is believed to have died after it didn't sprout leaves this spring, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said Thursday.

Visitors over the past two centuries who viewed the tree's gnarled limbs and sprawling canopy in Nottingham compressed the soil, making it difficult for rain to reach its roots, the conservation group said, despite the immediate area around the massive oak being fenced off.

The forest has been under threat for years and the tree had been rumored to have died in the past — only to have the group confirm it was still alive.
That is no longer the case.

"The tree's failure to produce leaves this year is heartbreaking for everyone," Hollie Drake of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said in a statement announcing the death.
 
View attachment 5391

1,200-year-old Robin Hood oak tree in Sherwood Forest has died, group says​

CBS/AP Updated Thu, June 18, 2026 at 6:29 AM GMT-5

A massive ancient oak tree linked to the legend of Robin Hood may have been loved to death.

The 1,200-year-old Major Oak in Sherwood Forest is believed to have died after it didn't sprout leaves this spring, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said Thursday.

Visitors over the past two centuries who viewed the tree's gnarled limbs and sprawling canopy in Nottingham compressed the soil, making it difficult for rain to reach its roots, the conservation group said, despite the immediate area around the massive oak being fenced off.

The forest has been under threat for years and the tree had been rumored to have died in the past — only to have the group confirm it was still alive.
That is no longer the case.

"The tree's failure to produce leaves this year is heartbreaking for everyone," Hollie Drake of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said in a statement announcing the death.

Most oak trees only live around 300 years, with some living around 1000 years.
So it seemed time.
Although I am surprised they did not create walkways for people, to prevent soil compression?
 
"Most oak trees only live around 300 years, with some living around 1000 years." R5 #192
I've puzzled over why some trees go about 70 years & then poop out, while the giant sequoia can go more than ten times that. Telomeres?

"Although I am surprised they did not create walkways for people, to prevent soil compression?" R5 #192
I suspect a £budget issue.
 
I've puzzled over why some trees go about 70 years & then poop out, while the giant sequoia can go more than ten times that. Telomeres?


I suspect a £budget issue.

{...

Telomeres are protective structures located at the ends of chromosomes, composed of repetitive DNA sequences. They play a crucial role in safeguarding genetic data, allowing cells to divide without losing important information, and preventing the ends of chromosomes from sticking together WikipediaWikipedia+1. Telomeres are also linked to aging and cellular health; as cells divide, telomeres shorten, which is associated with aging and increased risk of diseases like cancer Medical DailyMedical Daily+2. Maintaining telomere length is considered important for longevity and overall health Medical DailyMedical Daily.
...}
 
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