michael tilson thomas has died. he conducted my absolute favorite verson of rhapsody in blue, with leonard bernstein at the piano. free link:

michael tilson thomas ny times obit

Edited April 23Apr 23 by wonderwoman1951

https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/06/us/ted-turner-death

7 minutes ago, reallyhateskateonlost said:

https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/06/us/ted-turner-death

Ted Turner was the best! I followed his career from the beginnings. I remember when he was a sailor and won the America's Cup sailing race. Later, he founded the original CNN which was unbiased and international and you know, actual NEWS. I know he regretted selling/merging his empire into AOL/Warner. After he left, CNN became a stupid shadow of its original. (of course CNN doesn't admit that in its obituary!).

I loved Ted Turner's conservationist/ecological mindset. One of the stations/networks he owned,TBS, broadcast annual Audubon Society specials One year the advertisers dropped out of the Audubon special due to pressure from loggers and ranchers. Ted Turner said fine, I'll just air it on TBS without commercials. I have never forgotten this.

He did a lot for international relations and donated to the U.N.

And Captain Planet!!!

I thought he was one of the most spiritual atheists! (In my opinion, true spirituality is upliftment of others, caring about the Planet, and having a wise perspective, regardless of whatever belief/unbelief you may have)

https://www.instagram.com/p/DYAtlcgkgfi/

janefonda

MY IMMEDIATE THOUGHTS ABOUT TED He swept into my life, a gloriously handsome, deeply romantic, swashbuckling pirate and I’ve never been the same. He needed me. No one had ever let me know they needed me, and this wasn’t your average human being that needed me, this was the creator of CNN, and Turner Classic Movies, who had won the America’s Cup as the world’s greatest sailor. He had a big life, a brilliant mind and a soaring sense of humor.

He could also take care of me. That was new as well. To be needed and cared for simultaneously is transformative. Ted Turner helped me believe in myself. He gave me confidence. I think I did the same for him, but that’s what women are raised to do. Men like Ted aren’t supposed to express need and vulnerability. That was Ted’s greatest strength, I believe.

He also taught me more than any other person or school classes, mostly about nature and wildlife, hunting and fishing (hunters and fishermen who follow the law are the best environmentalists), but also about business and strategy. Ted was supremely strategic. It was likely innate, but he studied the Classics in college, knew about the Peleponesian War inside and out and the strategies used by Alexander the Great and even Genghis Khan. And sailing big boats as he did further honed those strategic talents which he then brought into his businesses to much success. He could see around corners for sure.

Next to Katharine Hepburn, Ted was the most competitive person I have ever met and that was fascinating to witness. Whether it was who’d made the most ski runs at the end of the day, to acres of land owned (stewarded is the more fitting word for his relationship to land), who had the most billions, how many countries he’d made love to his prior lover in and could I match that, it was challenging. Ted was challenging, but I’ve always been up for a challenge, and with Ted it was almost always worth it. CONTINUED IN COMMENTS BELOW

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janefonda

As our friend, Ron Olson, said, “Ted was a great teacher, often by example. He challenged us to think big (he once asked me to draft a resolution for the UN and the US Congress to ban all nuclear weapons; I did) and act small (for the twenty years since meeting Ted, I too, pick up trash on my walks).”

I loved Ted with all my heart. I see him in heaven now with all the wildlife he helped bring back from extinction – the black footed ferrets, the prairie dogs, Big Horned sheep, Mexican Gray Wolf, the Yellowstone wolf pack, bison, the red cockaded woodpecker and so many more, they’re all gathered at the pearly gates applauding and thanking him for saving their species.

Five children survive him, five talented, complex kids who I had the privilege of becoming stepmother to. I had four stepmothers growing up and I know how important stepmothers can be, so we all did our best to build an extended, rag tag family, and I love them to this day. If it was complicated to be married to him, think how complicated it was being his child. And they are all doing fine.

Rest in Peace, dearest Ted. You are loved and you will be remembered.