View Full Version : Your Heroes Top 10 Thread
Oompa Loompa
2006-05-09, 11:33
I was wondering who your heroes are. I mean: people who somehow fundamentally changed who you are or how you think; people who keep inspiring you; people who are as close to your heart as for instance your parents or brother or sister. I came to adopt a lot of heroes from friends and relatives in my life; their heroes also became mine and it helped me grow up as an individual.
So please, come on, do me a favor and share your heroes! Here are some of mine (with extra information)...hopefully a good trade! ;)
1 John Lennon (http://www.johnlennon.com/site.html) - When I hear a song like 'Imagine', tears stream down my face: no kidding!
2 Martin Luther King (http://www.thekingcenter.org/) - He speaks for us all
3 Daniel Johnston (http://www.hihowareyou.com/) - His honesty is just overwhelming
4 Walt Whitman (http://www.whitmanarchive.org/) - Leaves of grass is such a thing of beauty
5 Fernando Pessoa (http://pintopc.home.cern.ch/pintopc/www/FPessoa/FPessoa.html) - His honesty, and heartbreaking poetry still is like a hammer on my head.
6 Peter Sellers (http://www.petersellers.com/) - What a beautiful man; his humor hurts.
7 John Cleese (http://www.thejohncleese.com/What-the-Hell-Are-You-Doing-Here.html) - He is so incredibly funny, I leaked wee on more than one occasion
8 Steve Jobs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs) - Wow, he's so enigmatic (handsome too!)
9 B.S. Johnson (http://www.bsjohnson.info/) - He writes like just few writers really can; he changes you.
10 Stanley Kubrick (http://kubrickfilms.warnerbros.com/) - He's a genius, and the best film-director ever!
Good Thread Idea!
Michael Palin (http://www.palinstravels.co.uk/)Not just a Python, travel writer, great social conscience.
Calvin Trillin (http://www.thenation.com/directory/bios/calvin_trillin)Makes me laugh so hard, underrated food writer.
John Coltrane (http://www.johncoltrane.com/)No one spent more time mastering his instrument.
George Harrison (http://www.georgeharrison.com/) Did what Bono does 35 years ago, when Bangla Desh charity funds were held up in a lawsuit he covered the amount.
Ernie Banks (http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/banks_ernie.htm)Let's play two, he hit grounders to me once and said my name...man.
Thelonious Monk (http://thelonious-monk.com/)My son is named after him, enough said.
Mia Hamm (http://www.miafoundation.org/)Goal Girl! The greatest example of what an athlete is and should be in my lifetime.
Joni Mitchell (http://www.jonimitchell.com/) Trail blazer, did first what many others got credit for years later....way way ahead of her time, took commercial success and used it to go somewhere new instead of the beaten path.
Joan Benoit Samuelson (http://www.uma.edu/libraries/MWHOF_Website/alibjbsamuelson.html)First woman marathon gold medal olympian, once saw her run 7 or 8 months pregnant, she came in 7th.
Emmylou Harris (http://www.emmylou.net/)Next year she'll be the sexiest 60 year old on the planet, will sing with anyone who asks her, and always make them sound better, she was best with Gram. And she rescues dogs in Nashville.
edit - Had to add my reasons!
Fun idea. I can't think of 10 famous people. Most of my heros are of the not-at-all-famous variety.
Eazy E (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eazy-E) - He got to meet Pres. Reagan. I'll never get to do that!
Marky Mark (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marky_Mark) No explanation needed.
Martin Luther King (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King%2C_Jr.) - Always thought it was a lot of hype until I read his letter from Burmingham Jail. Whoa!
Lutz Kleveman (http://www.kleveman.com/) - Amazing book.
Raymond Carver (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Carver) - Favorite Writer.
Derrek Hines (http://www.derrekhines.net/) - Best version of Gilgamesh. Ever. :p
All I can think of for now.
Brad (http://forums.applenova.com/member.php?u=61), murbot (http://forums.applenova.com/member.php?u=60), Luca (http://forums.applenova.com/member.php?u=86), FFL (http://forums.applenova.com/member.php?u=4).
alcimedes (http://forums.applenova.com/member.php?u=16),
Windswept (http://forums.applenova.com/member.php?u=121),
[/suckupmode]
:D
SECOND PLACE?
You are dead to me.
That's why they're in one line...because you're all Number 1 in my book!
[/suckupmode_v2]
:p
curiousuburb
2006-05-09, 13:21
Hmmm...
I'll try to find linkage later, but the names that leap out now (in no order) are:
Politics:
Nelson Mandela - Renounced violence and poster boy of reconciliation. Africa's most inspiring leader.
Wei Jin Sheng - once China's longest serving political prisoner (for calling for democracy in 1979) - now free. still sticking to his principles.
The Dalai Lama - the only 'religious' figure I'd consider, though part political figure due to history. brilliantly simple, yet highly complex.
Science:
Galileo - "Eppur si Muove" (http://www.scienceandyou.org/articles/ess_02.shtml). Not what the Inquisition expected.
Einstein/Hawking/Feynman - Great scientists who helped popularize Physics as well as push knowledge frontiers
Creative:
Charlie Chaplin - Comedy genius even generations later.
Orson Welles - Radio's most famous martian invasion host. Director, producer, actor of serious talent.
Georges Meliés - Filmmaking pioneer at the turn of the 20th Century. First recorded special effects, sci-fi, etc.
I'm inclined to agree with some of the other choices above... Kubrick, Sellers, Lennon, etc, but may come back to add more of my own later.
This site is becoming more like myspace everyday. :lol:
btw, I don't really have any 'heroes' per se, but I do think spider-man is pretty worthwhile.
Since several that are on my list have already been mentioned, here are some that haven't.
1. Jim (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Henson) Henson (http://www.henson.com/home.html)- Enough said.
2. Monty Python (http://www.intriguing.com/mp/_video/spanish.avi)
3. Gonzo the Great
http://muppet.wikia.com/images/7/78/Gonzocaper.jpg
4. Hayao Miyazaki (http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/)
4. Hayao Miyazaki (http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/)
Good one! (Henson too!) the John Coltrane of animation.
I didn't even think of anyone from the movies as they are all such swine.
Oompa Loompa
2006-05-09, 14:36
The Muppets are great, just great! :lol: Thanks for Calvin Trillin, SKDMC, I will check this one out! :)
curiousuburb
2006-05-09, 18:41
Chuck Jones should be on the list if we're going for Miyazaki... both geniuses of animation.
Chuck Jones should be on the list if we're going for Miyazaki... both geniuses of animation.
No not at all, it isn't a list of geniuses, it's a list of heroes, it a personal preference thing....
my two jazz choices are a good example, Coltrane & Monk were great, Charlie Parker & Miles Davis did more to advance music, but they were both assholes.
That entered into my equation anyway, I would never name my son Miles.
Windswept
2006-05-09, 18:59
I find that the 'more' one knows about *heroes*, the less heroic they inevitably become, unfortunately.
Having said that, I recall reading a book about Marie Curie when I was in 7th grade. I was SO inspired. I really wanted to be a scientist for the longest time. And my best grades were actually in science too. :)
turbulentfurball
2006-05-09, 19:03
I've had a good long think about this. Here goes...
J.K. Rowling. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J_K_Rowling) For single handedly inspiring a generation to read and enjoy books, at a time when books were no longer 'cool'. And because I like Harry Potter.
Edwin Morgan. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Morgan) My favourite poet; not afraid to tackle sensitive subject matter; male rape for example, and doing so with powerful, yet compassionate words. I also love his rather oddball work example (http://www.edwinmorgan.com/picture_poems/monster_s.gif) - This one titled, 'the Loch Ness Monster Song'
Nelson Mandela; as covered above.
Andy Murray; (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Murray_%28tennis_player%29) The current British number one tennis player; again for inspiring youngsters to get involved in sport, and for being good at tennis and being Scottish. A rare combination.
Robert Burns (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Burns); because New Year wouldn't be the same without 'Auld Lang Syne'; and for cementing Scottish literature's place in the world.
My high-school Comp. Sci. teacher, who brought the subject alive. He died half way through my final year; school was never the same.
My parents. For putting up with me and my sisters for the past 23 years, and for their unconditional support, love, and understanding, despite any errors in judgement I've made.
Edit: That's only seven
My final three are:
Chuck Norris, Chuck Norris, and Chuck Norris
Oompa Loompa
2006-05-09, 19:07
I find that the 'more' one knows about *heroes*, the less heroic they inevitably become, unfortunately.
Having said that, I recall reading a book about Marie Curie when I was in 7th grade. I was SO inspired. I really wanted to be a scientist for the longest time. And my best grades were actually in science too. :)
I agree with that, Windswept, at least if I understand you correctly. Heroes just become normal human-beings when you learn more about them (and their faults). But I think that's also a beautiful thing. I don't mind if a hero falls of his pedestal... I think even then there's much to learn from them. It makes me appreciate them even more. Well, again, curious if you thought of the same thing or if I interpreted you wrong, Windswept... let me know :)
curiousuburb
2006-05-09, 20:31
Esquire had a great piece on Heroes back in 1998. Specifically, one Fred Rogers http://kimandjason.com/escapeplan/images/mr_rogers.jpg (http://www.esquire.com/features/articles/2003/030227_mfe_rogershero_1.html)
colivigan
2006-05-09, 21:19
My final three are: Chuck Norris, Chuck Norris, and Chuck Norris
It's about time. All previous posters should prepare for the roundhouse.
James.T.Kirk - Needs no more introduction.
Doctor Who (Tom Baker) - The best Dr. Who IMHO.
Both of the above were character models in my youth.
Roger Waters - SImply the best musician and political commentator in the world.
John Cleese - Master of comedy and able to change through the years to stay relevant.
Michael Palin - Not as funny as John, but a really really nice guy.
Ridley Scott - One of the best visual directors evah!
Margaret Thatcher - First female British PM. Set England straight.
Mel Gibson - Actually a really nice guy. One of the few hollywood greats.
Jim Morrison - If I was anybody else I would want to be him.
Freddie Mercury - One of the worlds best performers evah.
Messiahtosh
2006-05-09, 21:52
1. Barry Bonds
2. Larry King
3. Don Vito
4. Arlen Spector
5. Steve Balmer
6. Benjamin Franklin
7. Mae West
8. Nolan Ryan
9. Pee Wee Herman
10. Joe Boris
Messiahtosh.. That is a joke right? God, I hope so!
It would explain quite a few things... :p
My list to come.
drewprops
2006-05-09, 22:01
Damn, Scratt's list is pretty darned excellent!!!
Messiahtosh
2006-05-09, 22:04
Messiahtosh.. That is a joke right? God, I hope so!
INDEED
SECOND PLACE?
You are dead to me.
:lol: Quote of the Week. ™
Messiahtosh, you forgot Mike Tyson, Pete Rose, Ron Artest, Oliver North, and Lt. William Calley of My Lai fame.
Brad (http://forums.applenova.com/member.php?u=61), murbot (http://forums.applenova.com/member.php?u=60), Luca (http://forums.applenova.com/member.php?u=86), FFL (http://forums.applenova.com/member.php?u=4).
alcimedes (http://forums.applenova.com/member.php?u=16),
Windswept (http://forums.applenova.com/member.php?u=121),
:lol:
OK. Who's the wise guy? ;)
In totally partial random order:
1. Oompa Loompa - Because she knows Holland will win the Cup, has an excellent sense of humor, and isn't afraid to pee herself when she laughs uncontrollably. Now that's lack of inhibition! No surprise she lives in Uninhibitor Land...water... err, marsh.
2. Famous Amos - damn good cookie.
3. Moby - cuz he's outdated and ahead of his time, simultaneously.
4. The Next President of the United States - because he/she isn't George Bush.
5. Joffrey Lupul - because it's hard to score four goals in an NHL playoff game when your name is Joffrey.
6. scratt - because he jumps out of airplanes, eats crazy Thai food and knows when the man is keeping him down... and lives to tell the tale. Also: named self after sabre-toothed squirrel.
7. Thomas Knoll - because if you single-handedly wrote and continuously updated ACR, you'd be my hero, too.
8. Rem Murray - because he defines tenacity and plays for the OIL.
9. Perfector of the CMOS / CDD camera sensors - self-explanatory
10. My Dad - because the older i get the more I realize, he is one remarkable individual.
torifile
2006-05-09, 22:35
4. The Next President of the United States - because he/she isn't George Bush.
Quoted for truth. :)
Damn, Scratt's list is pretty darned excellent!!!
Margaret Thatcher & Roger Waters on the same list is kind of.....odd.
As sappy as it sounds my mother. There is no person I have ever known/read about who has sacrificed more of themselves for somebody else than my mother. She gives so much, every single day of the year I don't know how she keeps going. If it wasn't for her either I or my dad would've killed each other years ago.
(The rest are in no particular order)
2. My brother
3. My dad
4. Muhhamad Ali
5. My old Pastor
6. My new Pastor
7. Ghandi
8. Neil Armstrong
9. The Dali Lama
10. The player who catches the last out that seals the Cub's World Series victory.
6. scratt - because he jumps out of airplanes, eats crazy Thai food and knows when the man is keeping him down... and lives to tell the tale. Also: named self after sabre-toothed squirrel.
Moogs. You are a sweetie! ;) :D
Margaret Thatcher & Roger Waters on the same list is kind of.....odd.
I am glad you like my list drewprops.. Cheers. :)
I hear you SKMDC.. Whilst Roger Waters is my spiritual guide.. Margaret Thatcher (despite exclaiming "You can't have a girl as a Prime Minister" when I was knee high to a grasshopper, on the day of her election victory) is kind of my guide to the "World of the Real.."
Besides she had the balls to actually go to war over a principal and to end that war as cleanly and as quickly as she could. Some modern leaders could take some lessons from her. She also enlisted the help of the French to screw the Argentinians who were using French bought missiles to sink our ships. Whatever the right or wrong I would want her on my side in a bar brawl! :)
1. Benjamin Franklin for too many reasons to do him justice; politics, education, business and a great story of redemption
2. Tom Kean - The Politics of Inclusion was not just his political ideal but how he governed.
3. David Sedaris - He is hysterical, and gives a different way to look at the world.
4. Emergency Services Personnel - People who do stuff everyday that most people either won't or can't are heros IMO.
5. My Grandfather - I think about how far he came in his life almost every day.
6. Steven Jobs - He has been amazingly successful three times, twice with Apple, once with Pixar. That is inspirational.
7. Milton Hershey - I'm not such a fan of his candy, but he did a lot of good.
8. The Little Rock Nine - I can't process what it must have been like to show up for school and have the National Guard stop you, only to eventually get in with the help of the 101st Airborne.
Messiahtosh
2006-05-10, 03:37
Messiahtosh, you forgot Mike Tyson, Pete Rose, Ron Artest, Oliver North, and Lt. William Calley of My Lai fame.
And you forgot Tony Soprano.
Messiahtosh
2006-05-10, 03:39
1. Benjamin Franklin for too many reasons to do him justice; politics, education, business and a great story of redemption
I wonder about this "pick" because though I know Franklin was a genius, an innovator, a diplomat, and a kind man....he was also a gluttonous whore.
I wonder about this "pick" because though I know Franklin was a genius, an innovator, a diplomat, and a kind man....he was also a gluttonous whore.
Since when are gluttonous whore and Hero mutually exclusive?
I've got Ben Franklin, Paris Hilton and Jack Abramoff on my list. (Not true, Abramoff is self serving c@nt).
Since when are gluttonous whore and Hero mutually exclusive?
Agreed.. After all James Bond is the ultimate Hero and look at him!
4. The Next President of the United States - because he/she isn't George Bush.
If the Impeachment idea gains traction, it could be Vice-President Cheney.
be careful what you wish for
I hear you SKMDC.. Whilst Roger Waters is my spiritual guide.. Margaret Thatcher (despite exclaiming "You can't have a girl as a Prime Minister" when I was knee high to a grasshopper, on the day of her election victory) is kind of my guide to the "World of the Real.."
Hey, don't get me wrong, heroes are heroes and entirely subjective to the beholder.
It's just that Waters never touched politics until the Falkland Islands invasion and he aimed "The Post War Dream" tune from THE FINAL CUT directly at her. You note him for his political commentary, and his loathing for her has diminished.
This is an interview from almost two years ago:
....That's exactly what it is. The post-war dream... we experienced the beginning of the Welfare State in 1946. The government introduced all that new legislation. At the point where I wrote The Final Cut, I'd seen all that chiselled away, I'd seen a return to an almost Dickensian view of society under Margaret Thatcher.........
I felt then, and I still feel today, that the British Government should have pursued diplomatic avenues more vigorously than they [sic] did, rather than steaming in the moment that the Task Force arrived in the South Atlantic. Some kind of compromise could have been effected, and lots of lives would have been saved. It was politically convenient for Margaret Thatcher to wham Galtieri because there's no way she would have survived another six months without the invasion of the Falkland Islands.
I wouldn't presume to take a side, I'm not a British Subject and my only recollection of that war is it took two weeks for the boats to get there and I lost interest.
I just find it fascinating that they can be two tent-poles in the same tent for someone.
duplicate post, I sneezed (literally) whist hitting return.
Hey, don't get me wrong, heroes are heroes and entirely subjective to the beholder.
It's just that Waters never touched politics until the Falkland Islands invasion and he aimed "The Post War Dream" tune from THE FINAL CUT directly at her. You note him for his political commentary, and his loathing for her has diminished.
This is an interview from almost two years ago:
I wouldn't presume to take a side, I'm not a British Subject and my only recollection of that war is it took two weeks for the boats to get there and I lost interest.
I just find it fascinating that they can be two tent-poles in the same tent for someone.
Water's comments are fair. [EDIT - And The Final Cut is an awesome, awesome album]. And to be honest at the time I was not a great fan of the War.. Not that I was really mature enough to understand all the implications of it.
I think someone else pointed out that we could have given every inhabitant of the island $1 Million and packed them off somewhere else and it would have cost a fraction of the war costs. I am sure Maggie used it to bolster up her political career at the time.. Seems to be a catching fad that one, even today!
At the end of the day no one thought we'd bother to travel that far, and defend that rock, and they miscalculated. And the UK almost lost very badly. It certainly cost us a lot, as it did the Argentinians. But at the end of the day (not wanting to go off on a patriotic rant) our Sovereign soil was invaded, even if we did nick it many years before! ;)
What you have to remember is that Maggie was our PM for a long time and did a lot more than the Falklands conflict.. The Poll tax, for example.. Which I loathed her for, and never paid.. I even became a Tin Miner (on paper) to avoid it!
Maybe it's Stockholm syndrome, because I was not a fan for a long time... And the country went through a lot of ups and downs under her.. But at the end of the day she dragged the entire country kicking and screaming into the 21st century.. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind..
I was even quite upset when she was eventually stabbed in the back by her own party when on a trip to Europe, and resigned in tears on a remote tv interview... Perhaps for the first time actually showing the feminine side people had said 'The Iron Lady' never had.
Another favorite story of mine about Maggie was that the BBC did a poll in the US at one point and asked normal people what the Queen of England's name was and many many people said Margaret Thatcher!
Perhaps I just started supporting her to piss off my Dad, who is to this day staunch Labour!
Who knows.. But, yes she is one of my tent-poles.. I will make sure I put her and Waters at opposite ends of the tent, or perhaps either side of the door each time I set up camp! ;)
I wonder about this "pick" because though I know Franklin was a genius, an innovator, a diplomat, and a kind man....he was also a gluttonous whore.
Well, yes he was but both good and bad qualities make a person. I don't know any people without faults. Don Vito might be considered a gluttonous whore. ;)
Since when are gluttonous whore and Hero mutually exclusive?
I've got Ben Franklin, Paris Hilton and Jack Abramoff on my list. (Not true, Abramoff is self serving c@nt).
You have gluttonous whores who are Hiltons on your list. I like your style AWR. :lol:
InactionMan
2006-05-10, 12:38
In no particular order:
Tommy Douglas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Douglas) - For making Canada what it is today (and for being Kiefer Sutherland's grandfather 'cos he was awesome in Stand by Me).
Pierre Burton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Burton) - For making Canadian history somewhat enjoyable (and teaching all Canadians how to properly roll a joint just a few months before his death). :smokey:
Jon Spencer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Spencer) - Kept Rock and Roll alive on his own for a good decade or so.
Franz Kafka (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kafka) - Not really a hero, I just really enjoy his books.
The Toronto Maple Leafs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple_Leafs) - Best sports franchise ever.
I actually don't consider anyone listed above as a hero. I don't really have any. Just a few that are cooler than most.
RowdyScot
2006-05-10, 13:01
1. My HS Physics teacher - He's my best friend, but he's always been there whenever I needed help. In addition to being my physics teacher, he was my hockey coach, stage crew director, help desk administrator, and the guy that made me switch to Macs a few years ago.
2. Sean Connery - The man has done so much for Scottish independence...
3. Don Cherry - Say what you will about him, but he's been one of the most inspirational people in my life.
4. Bono - Need I really say more?
5. Steve Jobs - I don't know what I'd do without him :)
6. Tie Domi - Gotta love a scrapper :) My kind of hockey
7. Ian Anderson - Marches to the beat of a much different drum, and was dedicated enough to keep following it after disaster.
8. Malcolm Jones - I expect maybe three people here to possibly know who this guy is. He's the lead guitarist for Runrig, a Scottish rock group that has lasted over 30 years, and continues to spread the Gaelic language. He's my primary musical inspiration, and one of the best guitarists in the world.
9. B.B. King - What a fantastic musician, a fantastic guy, and just all around fantastic human being.
10. Gordie Howe - Another one of my greatest inspirations on the ice, even if he played for the wrong team. What's great is playing against his son Marty, and coaching against his grandson :)
Now for the scary part. I've met 7 of these 10, and know 2 of them pretty well. A 3rd would recognize me on the street and strike up conversation, though I can't say he's more than an acquaintance.
1. My HS Physics teacher - He's my best friend, but he's always been there whenever I needed help. In addition to being my physics teacher, he was my hockey coach, stage crew director, help desk administrator, and the guy that made me switch to Macs a few years ago.
2. Sean Connery - The man has done so much for Scottish independence...
3. Don Cherry - Say what you will about him, but he's been one of the most inspirational people in my life.
4. Bono - Need I really say more?
5. Steve Jobs - I don't know what I'd do without him :)
6. Tie Domi - Gotta love a scrapper :) My kind of hockey
7. Ian Anderson - Marches to the beat of a much different drum, and was dedicated enough to keep following it after disaster.
8. Malcolm Jones - I expect maybe three people here to possibly know who this guy is. He's the lead guitarist for Runrig, a Scottish rock group that has lasted over 30 years, and continues to spread the Gaelic language. He's my primary musical inspiration, and one of the best guitarists in the world.
9. B.B. King - What a fantastic musician, a fantastic guy, and just all around fantastic human being.
10. Gordie Howe - Another one of my greatest inspirations on the ice, even if he played for the wrong team. What's great is playing against his son Marty, and coaching against his grandson :)
Now for the scary part. I've met 7 of these 10, and know 2 of them pretty well. A 3rd would recognize me on the street and strike up conversation, though I can't say he's more than an acquaintance.
I'm keen to guess the three you haven't met.....My picks are Connery, Bono, & Jobs. They're probably the least accessible of the 10.
BB always used to come out after shows and talk guitars with anyone who cared to stay and wait, he's just a tremendous guy and American Icon.
blakbyrd
2006-05-10, 13:41
My grandparents.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Steve Jobs.
Spider-Man.
Miyamoto Musashi.
Isaac Asimov.
Mel Gibson.
Kirk and Spock.
I'm just putting these in the order in which I thought of them:
1. My late grandfather.
2. Edwin Hubble (his discoveries expanded the size of the known universe from just our galaxy to basically what it is today).
3. Jeremy Clarkson, just because he's such an asshole.
4. Kirby Puckett... a childhood hero, at least.
5. Both of my parents.
6. My brother... even though he's four years younger than me, he's extremely disciplined and mature for his age, and he has inspired me to a significant degree.
7. My 7th grade history teach who was later also my 12th grade philosophy teacher, Mr. Spreeman. Truly an amazing man.
8. Arthur C. Clarke, for his constant wisdom regarding not only science, but human nature in general.
9. William Shatner, just because he seems to enjoy his work more than just about anyone I've ever seen. He really, really gets into the roles he plays. And his method of speaking (with the constant overdone dramatic pauses) cracks me up.
10. Paul Wellstone.
Meltedbutter421
2006-05-10, 17:42
Shaun White (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaun_White)
hmm who else?
Windswept
2006-05-10, 18:43
I agree with that, Windswept, at least if I understand you correctly. Heroes just become normal human-beings when you learn more about them (and their faults). But I think that's also a beautiful thing. I don't mind if a hero falls of his pedestal... I think even then there's much to learn from them. It makes me appreciate them even more. Well, again, curious if you thought of the same thing or if I interpreted you wrong, Windswept... let me know :)
I don't really have *heroes*, probably as a result of having my starry-eyed worship dashed to smithereens once or twice by the harsh facts of reality.
So instead, I have the same 'respect' for famous, talented individuals that I have for some of the amazing people that I know in real life - some of whom are even on this board. :)
In general, the people I most admire are either brilliant or adventurous, and most likely both.
Here's one:
Alan Turing
Founder of computer science, mathematician, philosopher,
codebreaker, strange visionary and a gay man before his time:
1912 (23 June): Birth, Paddington, London
1926-31: Sherborne School
1930: Death of friend Christopher Morcom
1931-34: Undergraduate at King's College, Cambridge University
1932-35: Quantum mechanics, probability, logic
1935: Elected fellow of King's College, Cambridge
1936: The Turing machine, computability, universal machine
1936-38: Princeton University. Ph.D. Logic, algebra, number theory
1938-39: Return to Cambridge. Introduced to German Enigma cipher machine
1939-40: The Bombe, machine for Enigma decryption
1939-42: Breaking of U-boat Enigma, saving battle of the Atlantic
1943-45: Chief Anglo-American crypto consultant. Electronic work.
1945: National Physical Laboratory, London
1946: Computer and software design leading the world.
1947-48: Programming, neural nets, and artificial intelligence
1948: Manchester University
1949: First serious mathematical use of a computer
1950: The Turing Test for machine intelligence
1951: Elected FRS. Non-linear theory of biological growth
1952: Arrested as a homosexual, loss of security clearance
1953-54: Unfinished work in biology and physics
1954 (7 June): Death (suicide) by cyanide poisoning, Wilmslow, Cheshire.
http://www.turing.org.uk/turing/
As a side note, it has long been my understanding that the Apple logo with the bite-out was a tribute of high esteem and honor for Alan Turing. I'm not sure, but I think he killed himself by biting a poisoned apple. I could be wrong about that. But the tragedy of such a senseless death for one of the most brilliant individuals of the 20th century... The symbolism is... just... neverending. *sigh*
curiousuburb
2006-05-10, 18:48
Ditto on Spock.
And BB King.
Met both. Impressed by both. (Although Leonard Nimoy is a terrible singer.)
Moogs. You are a sweetie! ;) :D
*cough* I uh.. prefer to be known as extra manly and unfeminine (http://forums.applenova.com/showpost.php?p=341509&postcount=33). Of course, I'm still too chicken shit to jump out of an airplane but that wasn't one of the survey questions. ;) Seriously though seems you live a pretty free and interesting life out there. A far cry from being a slave to the man. :D :lol:
Messiahtosh
2006-05-11, 12:33
1. Mom & Dad (cliché but true)
2. My 4 brothers
3. Joe Paterno
4. Chris Farley (as a performer)
5. Ray Bradbury
6. Steve Jobs
7. Phil Hendrie
8. Roger Clyne
9. Eddie Vedder
10. Dr. Ferro (high school American History teacher)
This guy is my hero right now, for showing the world you can do almost anything with beer.
Store owner thwarts robbery with beer can (http://www.madison.com/tct/news/index.php?ntid=83399&ntpid=7)
"Give me your fucking money," Boe allegedly told him, flashing a box-cutter.
"Are you serious?" Yang asked.
"Yeah, I'm serious. Give me your fucking money."
Yang plucked a can from the six-pack and held it up, as if to throw it at Boe.
"I'm not giving you any money," he declared. "You want to go?"
Hero.
colivigan
2006-05-11, 21:44
drewprops.
Olaky,
so what we have os far is that there is areubber buand
and it is goingk fasty arond the track tat at car that is dri hee!!
drivingen by dale earnthard and is goes wave at the other car in
wait
okahy I don't know about the ahosts car thing but
it is F AST
okays?
Chris Turnbull
2006-05-12, 01:45
in no particular order - the people who inspire Me™:
His Stevieness (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs), the Woz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Woz) (& any other people responsable for Apple being Apple)
Obvious Reasons
John Lennon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_lennon) - Took a stand for what he believed in. whilst I may not agree with everything this guy stood for, him standing up for it gets big respect points from me.
Vincent Kennedy McMahon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vince_McMahon), Eric Bischoff (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Bischoff), Paul Heyman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Heyman) - these three guys have led to me being entertained for the past ten-odd years.
The Corries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Corries)
great scottish folk band
Gene Roddenberry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Roddenberry), Arthur C. Clark (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_C_Clark), Ray Bradbury (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Bradbury)
great guys responsable for great sci-fi.
President Bill Clinton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton), President John F. Kennedy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F_Kennedy)
off all the presidents the USA has had (That i've read about) these two guys stand out as being really great guys. (Although i'm only a quarter-about through Bill's Autobiography!).
Vincent Kennedy McMahon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vince_McMahon)
Have you read anything about his life. I really thought about him for my list. Very interesting guy who never stopped trying. Good call.
Chris Turnbull
2006-05-12, 02:29
Have you read anything about his life. I really thought about him for my list. Very interesting guy who never stopped trying. Good call. quite, wen you consider that before he purchased the World Wide Wrestling Federation wrestling was a regional/teratory-thing lead mostly by the NWA. by taking over other terratorys and covering all of the USA (as aposed to the north east) he was able to make more money for himself and his wrestlers whilst entertaining the world. offcorse ted turner also had a hand in that but well Don't wan't to bore the memebers...
their was a few other names i was considering adding to the list but with the (10?) name limit i consolidated it down to those (plus some of them are kinda embarasing :lol: ).
At the risk or boring the other memebers, there is a lot more to McMahon's story then that. He grew up the bastard son of a wealthy business man, sought out his father, gained his trust working in the family firm and after much hard work, took on investors, bought said firm finally taking it public. I think that is worth noting.
EDIT: of course that is mostly covered in the link, but maybe some people will actually click on it now.
The really big:
Mahatma Ghandi
Nelson Mandela
Martin Luther King
Jesus
Buddha
The great:
Steve
Prince
Beatles 1 to 6
The imaginary
The Incredible Mr. Fox
James Bond
God
Hermes
The near:
A friend who was adopted and has 5 kids
A friend who has a mental disability but still manages life
A famous friend who still wrestles with his ambitions
My mother who has kept the spirit until the last moment
My complicated, yet harmonious family
My fellow band members who all differ from one another more than day and night and have worked and played together for 10 years now.
Hm sorry if the latter part seems a little dramatic... oh well...
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