hTTi

Scott Adams (June 8, 1957 – January 13, 2026) was an American author and cartoonist.

He is probably best known as the creator of the Dilbert comic strip.

I encountered Scott Adams twice. The first time was when, at the start of his popularity, he bought his favorite restaurant in Pleasanton, California and gave it to his favorite waitress Stacy as a gift. The restaurant's opening featured a book signing which my then-boyfriend and I attended. Afterwards we ate in the restaurant, which was indifferent. I was struck during the book signing at how shy Adams fundamentally was. It was obvious he did not enjoy being famous.

The second occasion was a paid lecture Adams gave at my former employer, a government lab. During the Q&A, someone asked if many employees at the lab subscribed to his maling list. "Of course not!" he answered. "Doing so would be misusing government property for personal purposes," he thundered.

I haven't followed the controversy surrounding Adams in recent years, R.I.P.

-- Alison

Catherine O'Hara, a Canadian gem, died suddenly. I loved her in Best in Show. She was the mom in Home Alone too.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/j ... home-alone

bethannbitt wrote: ↑Fri Jan 30, 2026 10:01 pm Catherine O'Hara, a Canadian gem, died suddenly. I loved her in Best in Show. She was the mom in Home Alone too.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/j ... home-alone

Very sad...
We've just finished watching "The Studio" which she was terrific in.
Recommended (in case anyone has not seen it yet)!

Bud Cort, US American actor best known for his role in Harold and Maude, dies at the age of 77.

James Van Der Beek, star of Dawson’s Creek, dies aged 48.

He died of Colorectal cancer at 48 after being diagnosed at 45. From my understanding Germany offer colonoscopies from age 50.

If a doctor orders one, it is covered no matter what age. Some people don't mind just self-paying for things like that. I paid for my mammograms before I was "old enough". Good thing I did.

Robert Duvall (95) passed away. Nominated for 7 Oscars. Won one. I just saw him in Godfather II on Saturday. Great movie. His famous line is “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.” in Apocalypse Now. Not many left of his generation.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3g41z58vno

Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader, dead at 84.

Neil Sedaka, singer/songwriter.

Died suddenly at 86 years of age. I grew up with his songs.