Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 19th Mar 2008 10:37 UTC, submitted by Oliver
Arthur C. Clarke, who peered into the heavens with a homemade telescope as a boy and grew up to become a visionary titan of science-fiction writing and collaborated with director Stanley Kubrick on the landmark film "2001: A Space Odyssey", has died. He was 90. The knighted British-born writer died early Wednesday in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where he had made his home for decades, after experiencing a cardio-respiratory attack, his secretary, Rohan De Silva, told Reuters. May he rest in peace, and I'd like to extend my sincere condolences to his family and friends. The pod-bay doors will open for the last time.
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Member since:
2005-07-28
"Rest in hell" - wasn't that a Chuck Norris line before he trashed a whole mess of bozos in that one movie?
Anyway, for anyone who cares:
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http://www.thelastoutpost.com/site/1456/default.aspx
On February 1st 1998, a British Tabloid newspaper (The Sunday Mirror) reported that Clarke, then a recent candidate for knighthood, was a pedophile and was living in Sri Lanka in order to facilitate that lifestyle. The Mirror article quoted a supposed interview with Clarke: "Once they have reached the age of puberty, it is OK... It doesn't do any harm. and "I am trying to think of the youngest boy I have ever had because, of course, you can't tell it here. I think most of the damage comes from the fuss made by hysterical parents afterwards. If the kids don't mind, fair enough.". The newspaper account also claimed that Clarke had links to well-known pedophile rings operating in Britain and Europe
On February 3rd 1998, Clarke issued a statement denying the charges and asked for a postponement of his knighthood ceremony. He said that having always had a particular dislike of pedophiles, few charges could be more revolting to him than to be classed as one. Clarke said that he had not been sexually active in 20 years, and that the reports were "nonsense, contemptuous and revolting". He also declined to speak with the media "on legal advice".to him than to be classed as one. Clarke said that he had not been sexually active in 20 years, and that the reports were "nonsense, contemptuous and revolting". He also declined to speak with the media "on legal advice".
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I would also add, that this is the website for the paper that this quote appeared in. Draw your own conclusions. I'm sure people in the UK are more than familiar with this paper, but maybe not those who aren't in the UK.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/
None of this is going to change the fact that 2001: A Space Odyssey blew my mind and, having seen it as a young age, probably impacted the way in which I view the world significantly, at least in scale. I am sad that he is dead.
Edited 2008-03-20 03:13 UTC