Posted on 02/17/2010 6:29:18 AM PST by Borges
I’ve never understood why writers must literally wall themselves in with books. As if you must be surrounded by knowledge to write with knowledge. I’m surprised they don’t have text etched into their clothes.
Ebert recently made fat jokes about Rush Limbaugh. Too bad Ebert doesn’t have much empathy for humans who have gone through some difficult health issues.
And especially considering that Siskel used to make fat jokes about Ebert.
Roger is a filthy leftist.
As I read the piece it sounded like a systematic destruction of a man by radiation over a thirty month period. When faced with cancer, at what point does a person decide to opt for quality of life instead?
“Too bad Ebert doesn’t have much empathy for humans who have gone through some difficult health issues.”
That’s why Ebert suffers the way he does.
regardless of his politics, a remarkable story about the human will to live, and to remain productive and engaged.
Stepehn Hawking is another.
I was watching a war correspondent video yesterday where he talked about meeting (and photographed) in Iraq, a 12 yr old Kurdish girl climbing over boulders, down a mountain, covered in freezing mud. And carrying on her back, her unconscious 4 yr old sister- she had carried the child 90 MILES seeking safety and help. Some people just go on and on. While others quit and die.
You haven’t had cancer I guess.
His quality of life is pretty damned good. Actually the quality of life even as the cancer gets bad can be pretty damned good. From the outside, people say things like what you said. What worries me is how long before people who have never had cancer begin to decide the quality is is just too bad to keep living.
Odd, I read the account and this is exactly what happened to my grandmother except she died when her carotids bled.
I went to college w/Ebert. He was 2 years ahead of me. He was the head of ADA and a girlfriend who had a massive crush on him dragged me to a couple of their weekly luncheons as a beard.
He was, then, totally full of himself and obnoxious. I begged off the forced forays into boredom after a month. I never understood her fascination and when I asked, she just said it was because he was *brilliant*. Ah, well, she and I were just 19.
However, I find myself sympathetic to his physical problems.
Ebert gained money and power and is, in his late life, alone with them and likely in massive discomfort all the time. I agree with him on nothing, but I will offer up a prayer for him, anyway.
Steak and Shake, back in the 60s, had great fast food. In the 90s, we made a detour to eat at the one I remembered from HS. Either they deteriorated badly or my memories were false. The food was terrible and I had heartburn for a couple of days afterward. But, I suppose for someone who can no longer eat real food, the memory is of ambrosia.
Poor Roger.
I don’t know if it’s about liberals/conservatives, but writers are also readers, and readers naturally collect the works they most admire. I have shelves and shelves of books, including books that I have read in paperback but later purchased in hardback.
Mr. Ebert and I don’t agree on much politically (if anything), but I admire the way he continues to plow ahead and refuses to be defeated by adversity.
I just lost someone dear to stomach cancer, and she never gave up, either, until her poor body couldn’t go any further.
God bless, Mr. Ebert - may you find eternal joy in Him.
He has my prayers.
“I don’t know if it’s about liberals/conservatives, but writers are also readers, and readers naturally collect the works they most admire.”
Yes, obviously. I question not why they have books, but rather why they must write hidden deeply within a cocoon of them. I, for instance, though not a professional writer and not in on the secrets of their craft, store my books in various places around the house. Be they on shelves or in boxes, I can get to them when I need them. Meanwhile, whatever room I’m in, I can stare at my books when I tire of looking at other things.
Writers are most likely lazy and disorganized, and don’t feel like putting things back in their place. Or perhaps they’re cramped for space because they live in New York/LA, and their wives have relegated them to some small chunk of the whole living space.
You’re all class.
“Reference material.”
No doubt. Only I like to think about my entire house as reference material. It doesn’t have to be within arm’s length to be useful. Look back to my point about laziness.
“Or just plain pleasure reading.”
I don’t particularly enjoy mixing business and pleasure. Do writers really like to spend whatever time they need to spend typing, then relax with a good book in the exact same spot?
Thanks
No I haven’t but my daughter has and she’s opting for quality of life following one surgery to remove the renegade cells. No chemo, no radiation, a very brave choice IMO. And I fully support her alternative therapies.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.