Farewell Marq

Thanks to a kindly correspondent, I’ve just learned that Mark H. Smith, known to Wo’C readers as the irrepressible commenter “marq,” passed away on Christmas Day.

Mark occasionally alluded to his chronic health problems, but always in a blithe and fatalistic manner, and his unfailing humor and enthusiasm made it difficult to think of him as ill. He never failed to goose a thread with some outrageous comment, but the astringency and irreverence was always leavened with a profound empathy. I think I can speak for most of us who knew him, if only through his contributions here, when I say that his sunny wit, well-timed sensitivity, and general devil-may-care ballsiness will be sorely missed.

Farewell, Mark.

Posted by scott on Wednesday, January 16th, 2008 at 12:57 am.

Oh, no. Oh, Marq, we’re going to miss you…
Damn. Just, damn.

Left by D. Sidhe on January 16th, 2008

Aw fuck.
Marq, kick the devil in the balls and run for the pearly gates, ya hear?

Left by Mentis Fugit on January 16th, 2008

Mentis, even if he hadn’t earned his way in already, there must be a rule that people who die on Christmas go to heaven automatically. I hope St Peter is hot, though.
Sitting here remembering that Marq loved dogs. He enjoyed a good round of “What’s the deal with liberals and cats” as much as anybody.
Who’s up for a drink? Maybe a lot of them…

Left by D. Sidhe on January 16th, 2008

I hope Marq passed peacefully and finds much more.

Left by Gappy on January 16th, 2008

That’s really sad news. But people who love dogs get access in heaven to one of the best imaginable dog parks, and all their dogs will be there.

Left by Clif on January 16th, 2008

Bye, Marq. There’s no more pain now. Please say hi to my dog for me.

Left by Thorlac on January 16th, 2008

damn, that sucks. RIP, marq.

Left by merlallen on January 16th, 2008

*speechless*

Left by Tracy on January 16th, 2008

Oh, I’m so, so, so sorry. He was one of the good ones, and will be missed.

Left by AnnPW on January 16th, 2008

What everyone else said.
He will indeed be sorely missed.My sincere sympathies to his family and friends.

Left by Suezboo on January 16th, 2008

So sad. People come and go on the intertoobz, and I’d just been thinking about some of the folks I haven’t noticed around much lately, and he was one of them. Always the insoucient wit. Happy trails, Marq.

Left by Candy on January 16th, 2008

The only thing I can add is  .

Left by Vivek on January 16th, 2008

Marq, may you be in heaven before the devil trolls this thread

Left by preznit giv me turkee on January 16th, 2008

Godspeed, man.

Left by Doghouse Riley on January 16th, 2008

Thanks for the smiles, Marq.
I’ll not forget.
God is nigh…
mikey

Left by mikey on January 16th, 2008

A voice both wise and humourous will be missed.
I pray he did not go gently into that good night, but complained to St Peter about the seats on the plane.

Left by actor212 on January 16th, 2008

Goodbye, Marq. I’ll miss you.

Left by J— on January 16th, 2008

Bye, Marq.

Left by Heydave on January 16th, 2008

damn. He’ll be missed (and Doughy Pantload is still around? Ain’t no justice)

Left by Woodrowfan on January 16th, 2008

damn. He’ll be missed (and Doughy Pantload is still around? Ain’t no justice)
Left by Woodrowfan
Only the good, man…only the good.

Left by actor212 on January 16th, 2008

I got my internet service back today, and this is what I….
fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck
fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck
fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Was that enough? I can keep going. If he’s capable of haunting people, maybe he can stop by
a few wingnuts and scare the World O’Crap out of ‘em..

Left by Bill S on January 16th, 2008

What horrible news, his comments will be missed.

Left by Colleen on January 16th, 2008

Wow, never the right time for the good people. I will definitely miss his wit, which apparently over rided whatever he suffered.

Left by kate on January 16th, 2008

I hope his family is OK.
Godspeed, Marq

Left by julia on January 16th, 2008

damn. He’ll be missed (and Doughy Pantload is still around? Ain’t no justice)
Left by Woodrowfan on January 16th, 2008
And soonest with thee our best men do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.
John Donne

Left by Anon for this on January 16th, 2008

He enjoyed a good round of “What’s the deal with liberals and cats” as much as anybody.
Damn, I thought I was the only one who brought that up. Marq sounds like he was a good guy. May he RIP.

Left by Me on January 16th, 2008

I am so sorry to hear this. I was always on the lookout for Marq’s comments. He could be hilarious! I guess because in the comments section he was always such a “life of the party” I never really remembered or thought of him as being ill, so this is a nasty shock. My sympathies to his friends and family. I know you will miss him dreadfully.

Left by Trixie Belden on January 17th, 2008

I was wondering where Marq was, with the blog looking all rejuvenated.
We’ll all miss ya, Mark.

Left by Randall on January 17th, 2008

I don’t want marq to be dead. Make it stop. Sometimes I can’t stand this.
I’m going to take Zoie the dog for a walk now. There are little waterfalls and everything is really green. It’s January in northern California. Marq marq marq.

Left by larkspur on January 17th, 2008

Ah  Oh my gosh, shocking.
RIP, Marq.

Left by annejumps on January 17th, 2008

Wow, that is awful news. Marq was always good for a thoughtful, well written and probably insiderish comment.
He will be missed.

Left by LACJ on January 19th, 2008

We’ll miss you, Marq. I promise to smack down a troll in your honor.

Left by Dorothy on January 20th, 2008

Fuck. I saw someone comment on the next thread “I wish marq was here” and I thought that meant he was on vacation. I guess it’s a very long vacation. I’ll miss him.

Left by Hysterical Woman on January 27th, 2008

Rittenhouse Square Goes Dark

As you may already know, if you visit blogs whose proprietors either get up earlier or aren’t bowed down with the burdens of running a quadruped intensive care unit, this is a sad day for the blogosphere — Jim Capozzola has passed away.

Jim was a fine writer with an insightful grasp of the medium, who was somehow able to make the political personal and the personal universal, while avoiding both mirror gazing solipsism and wonkish droning. He was also uncommonly generous with his online notoriety, adopting a number of bloggy little urchins and helping them to flourish. Like Tbogg, he was one of the very first high profile bloggers to link to World o’ Crap, and did much to expose new readers to s.z.’s unique brand of gentle, but thorough snark.

Perhaps the greatest thing about blogging is how it works to amplify, rather than mute, an original voice. The immediacy of the medium preserves flaring, but fleeting passion, the daily accretion of small details creates a map of the writer’s mind, and the absence of an editorial filter leaves the writer free to improbably fold, squeeze, and twist the language like balloon animals, allowing the reader to see that the proper response to cynicism, chicanery, and malfeasance isn’t always despair; sometimes it’s a giraffe.

The blogosphere has lost a unique and irreplacable voice. And a great giraffe maker. Farewell, Jim.

Posted by scott on Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007 at 1:21 pm.

7 Responses to “Rittenhouse Square Goes Dark”

I never knew this Jim, but apparently he was someone worth knowing. It is always a shame when the irreplaceable leaves us.
This is a very odd week. So far, in the matter of 2 days I have been informed that; my daughter is pregnant (unexpectedly and pre marriage) and today this Jim is the third death (the only of someone I don’t know) I have learned of — and its only 4 o’clock. What next?

Left by kate on July 3rd, 2007

Wonderful post. I remember how exciting it was when we saw Rittenhouse had linked to the salon version of World O Crap.
First Steve Gilliard and now Jim Capozzola. I don’t like this trend…

Left by maryc on July 3rd, 2007

and by now I bet Jim knows when sz sleeps…
(it’s a long story)

Left by julia on July 3rd, 2007

My heartfelt condolences, Scott & Sheri & Mary and everyone else who knew Jim. I was not so privileged, and it sounds like I missed out on a helluva lot.
Most beautiful and poignant tribute that I think that I’ve ever seen, Scott.

Left by Anntichrist S. Coulter on July 4th, 2007

in the “love goes out the door when money comes innuendo” spirit, there’s a new group newsblog of folks from Steve’s old place

Left by preznit giv me turkee on July 4th, 2007

Well… damn. HEY, GAWD–IT WOULDN’T *HURT* TO BUMP OFF SOME REICH-WING ASSHATRIGHT ABOUT NOW!!!1! Just a li’l hint, from me 2 U, babe. I don’t care which one – I’m not picky.

Left by Marq on July 5th, 2007

It’s so much more fun if we do it OURSELVES, y’know…

Left by Anntichrist S. Coulter on July 7th, 2007

R.I.P. Gordon Scott

Actor Gordon Scott has died at the age of 80.  A former bodybuilder best known as the star of a series of mid-to-late 50s Tarzan films, he will always be remembered hereabouts as super secret agent “Bart Fargo” in the Mystery Science Theater 3000 classic, Danger: Death Ray!

 

Posted by scott on Thursday, May 3rd, 2007 at 10:50 pm.

2 Responses to “R.I.P. Gordon Scott”

Looking at his IMDB listing, I think I vaguely remember some of those Tarzan movies from my misspent youth, though they all kinda blend together. But, then again, so do the Tarzans (other than Johnny Weissmuller, natch).
And I believe I somewhat remember some of those “gladiator” movies, too.

Left by Marq on May 5th, 2007

Well, I ‘m going to watch Danger: Death Ray today in his memory.

Left by billy pilgrim on May 5th, 2007

Quote O’ The Day

From the LA Times obituary of actor Roscoe Lee Brown:

He…recalled that early in his career, a director told him that his speech sounded “white.” Browne’s response was simple and to the point: “We had a white maid.”

Posted by scott on Thursday, April 12th, 2007 at 4:12 pm.

17 Responses to “Quote O’ The Day”

It’s unfortunate timing that RLB died the same day as Vonnegut.

Left by actor212 on April 12th, 2007

Re: the Iraq war in general
(also see this post)
Ever since the months prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, there have been a few reports in the newspapers that the Central Intelligence Agency was casting aspersions on the intelligence the White House was relying on to justify the war. The CIA has never given a position on whether the war is needed or justified or said that Bush is wrong to go to war. But doesn’t it seem much more likely that the CIA is an extremely right wing organization than a left wing one? After all, even if the people working for them and at least a lot of the leadership really wanted a war for their own reasons, there are a lot of reasons for them to not want to tie their credibility to what they know is faulty information. They and their personnel, present and former, could use other means of promoting the Iraq war, and still be motivated to make the statements in the media. If the CIA got behind faulty information, they would have to make a choice between whether they would be involved in scamming the American people and the world once the military had invaded Iraq and no weapons were found- so: 1) Imagine the incredible difficulties involved in pulling off a hoax that weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq. Imagine all the people you would have to be able to show the weapons to- the inspectors from the UN / the international community, the American press, statesmen, etc. Then imagine the difficulties of substantiating that story to people who would examine it- the lack of witnesses to a production plant that made the weapons or to transportation operations or storage of the weapons during Hussein’s regime of them. 2) If the story fell apart upon inspection or the CIA tried not to hoax it at all, imagine the loss of credibility they would suffer. The CIA, it is safe to bet, does not want to be known to the American people as a group that lies to them to send them to war. Even within the CIA there could be disagreement among people about how involved they should be in promoting the war or the neo-con agenda more broadly, so the CIA would have to worry about lying to and managing its own people after trying so hard to get them to trust their superiors in the agency, and perhaps there simply might be too many people in the agency who knew enough about what was going on in Iraq to know if someone was deceiving people to promote this war.
So there is a lot of reason to be cautious against being seen as endorsing what they knew was false intelligence even if they were very strong supporters of going to war.
Granted, it’s certainly possible the CIA could have changed their minds about the war, as a lot of people have, and could now be trying to move the nation closer to withdrawal.

Left by Swan on April 12th, 2007

Oh, Saunders.

Left by John on April 12th, 2007

Just a sec, I can fix it…
…Granted, it’s certainly possible the CIA could have changed their minds about the war, as a lot of people have, and could now be trying to move the nation closer to withdrawal.
Left by Spam on April 12th, 2007

That should get it. Incidentally, sir or madam, if I spot you doing this routine on one more blog (and god forbid mine), I’m fixing you up on a date with my sister.
You’ve been warned.

Left by D. Sidhe on April 12th, 2007

[spit take]
WTF?!
Oh, and Mr. Brown’s passing is a darned shame, too.

Left by Marq on April 12th, 2007

I’ve noticed that this Spam character has been hitting ALLLL of the blogs that I visit, and I’m kinda skeered that I’ve drawn a new psycho-stalker, like Psycho Sue From CT or worse. Maybe it’s not me, maybe there’s a different common denominator, but it’s working on my last fucking nerve. Fucking parasitic waste of oxygen.
Now, back to Mr. Brown: I loved that man. He was the epitome of “droll.” Urbane, smartassed, funny as hell, and could lance an enemy to the wall with but a look. And that VOICE! Pure brilliance and esoteric grandeur.

Left by Anntichrist S. Coulter on April 13th, 2007

Roscoe Brown, Kurt Vonnegut, et al. – our loss, eternity’s gain. But I can’t help fearfully wondering if they all know something we don’t.

Left by Humbert Dinglepencker on April 13th, 2007

I still remember that AITF episode. Two acting greats shoehorned into a tiny space. There was a scene where the lights went out, and when they came back on, Browne was leering over O’Connor, who reacted in disgust; Browne’s line was something like, “What’s the matter, Bunker? Afraid of the face of the future?”

Left by gjdodger on April 13th, 2007

Vonnegut’s dead? I didn’t know that.

Left by Yaoi Huntress Earth on April 13th, 2007

hi nice site.

Left by alex on April 13th, 2007

Anyone remember when Mr. Brown did an episode of Barney Miller?
Ah, for the days when there was mature(not Adult!) sitcoms on the telly.

Left by The Dark Avenger on April 14th, 2007

Crap. I lose my Internets connection for a week (possibly longer, it isn’t back today and I’m posting this from my mom’s house), and somebody goes and dies? Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.
Mr. Brown was an excellent actor. I remember his work on “Soap”, and “All In the Family”. RIP, RLB.

Left by Bill S on April 14th, 2007

I loooooooved “Barney Miller”!
Of course, back in the ’70s, (Pre-PMRC, I might note), TV shows were still actually PRODUCED for ADULTS, instead of making everything in the fucking country Disney-Sanitized and Baby-Safe.
“All In The Family”
“Soap”
The early years of “MASH”
Pre-sanitation “Happy Days”
“Mary Hartman Mary Hartman”
“Maude”
I’m sure that I’m missing quite a few of the classics, but I was, after all, the youngest spawn (step-spawn, if you ask The Dick), and didn’t get to control the TV by any stretch of the imagination. 1970 wasn’t just a shitty year for the Tet Offensive and the Beatles.
Mr. Brown also did a few really good episodes of “Benson,” before it became a “family” sitcom, revolving around the Gold child and all things pseudo-”innocent”, back when (like, maybe the first season) it was a biting sociopolitical satire. They ruin all of the good shows — “Welcome Back, Kotter” went from being a light-hearted “Blackboard Jungle” to a stultified cliche-riddled kiddy show with the same lame-ass catch-phrases and caricatures. Just like they’ve done to “House” and “Bones” after their first seasons. They have to ruin EVERYTHING with soap-opera-y bullshit “plots” instead of keeping them about what made them good in the first place: QUALITY WRITING, GOOD PLOTS, AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.
All TV networks should be emptied of every single executive and rebuilt from scratch, keeping only the “talent” who prove that they can hack it in REAL acting/writing/producing. Same thing for “The L-Word” and “Huff”. No, I don’t have cable anymore, and Huff was cancelled, but it was a damned good show the first season, and they ruined it for no good fucking reason.

Left by Anntichrist S. Coulter on April 14th, 2007

RIP Mr. Brown! Your appearances anywhere in teevee, movies and stage were a treat.

Left by TF-MA on April 15th, 2007

Anntichrist…the “Kotter” phenomenon you refer to was also evident in the final days of M*A*S*H; I call it the “We’re All Stars and Need our Face Time” Syndrome, and it is self-explanatory. I saw a documentary on M*A*S*H, and it showed all of the cast regulars sitting in on the scriptwriting process; even if you hadn’t known that was going on, you could have guessed–the characters all lost their distinctive personnae and started mugging for the camera, constantly uttering quips instead of engaging in real dialogue. It is the price you pay, I guess, for success; I would single out Cheers as the one long-running TV sardonic comedy which resisted that urge.

Left by gjdodger on April 17th, 2007

Yep, and didn’t that ego trip work out well for Col. Blake and Trapper John (the original one, not the medi-drama)? I always liked Henry better than Col. Dragnet.
And Cheers lost a lot of their sardonic after Coach died, but Rhea Perlman kept a lot of the edge in there, until Shelley got an ego.
But Maude… Maude was a heroine of mine. Her, Miss Piggy, and Cher. My TV role models as a ’70s brat.

Left by Anntichrist S. Coulter on April 18th, 2007