The Wisdom of the Ant

I'm going to be honest. I have absolutely no idea what an "ant-breeding" scheme is. But it seems a bit harsh to put someone to death for being behind one. Alas, Wang Zhendong can no longer be chosen for DP 2009.

In case any of our readers are involved with ant-breeding schemes and are now scared for their lives, I have decided to write about some birthdays to help keep their minds at ease.

Today is somebody's birthday! Whose Birthday? English comedian, singer, and actor Norman Wisdom's Birthday. How Old Is He? 1,2,3,4... 93! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Norman Wisdom's name appears on "Yiz-Score: 2007 DP Champ's" and "CraigsDeathList.org's" rosters

• Wisdom is a well-known and loved cult film icon in Albania and was the only Western actor whose films were allowed in the country during the Communist dictatorship of Enver Hoxha.
  

I believe David Hasselhoff is officially jealous.

Today is somebody else's birthday! Whose Birthday? Musician Curtis Salgado's Birthday. How Old Is He? 1,2,3,4... 54! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Curtis Salgado's name appears on "Famous Last Words''" roster

• Salgado was the inspiration behind John Belushi's creation of the Blues Brothers characters in the late 1970s.

He was not, however, the inspiration behind his cocaine habit.

... And Many More!

Only a Little Bit of Wisdom Left

BBC2 will air a documentary this evening titled Wonderland: Norman Wisdom Aged 92 3/4. The film will document the difficulties in dealing with an aging parent. Wisdom, the English entertainer, has dementia that has led him to lose much of his memory. He reportedly doesn't even recognize himself in his films anymore.

"I'd go into the sitting room," says his daughter-in-law, "and he'd be reading anything he could about himself. "Reading and re-reading. He was losing his identity. I think he was trying to remember who he was."

Wisdom now lives in a private nursing home apart from mainstream society. His family feels that they've done the humane thing by moving Wisdom away. Still, the media protests that they want access to interview Wisdom before he dies.

[The media] are not inclined to believe that that isn't Norman any more. We don't have that luxury. Norman is in mental decline. We have to deal with it."

Since filming of the documentary stopped last year, Norman's health has declined steeply. He won't be watching the programme. "He wouldn't understand," Jackie says. "It would distress him."

We believe it was Ella Wheeler Wilcox who once said "The truest greatness lies in being kind; the truest Wisdom in a happy mind." With that in mind, we support Wisdom's family's decision to let the old man live the rest of his time in peace.

[Daily Mail]