Ted was a sailor, adventurer, pioneer, conservationist, philanthropist and he won the heart of Jane Fonda, which might say the most about him. He was one of the first modern billionaires who believed you didn’t need several billion for yourself, and he urged other wealthy people to donate to causes. He once donated 1/3 of his wealth to the UN and other causes.
Nobody is perfect, and certainly there are times when Turner made mistakes or said regrettable things. But he was brave, and when he found enormous success, he tried to help others. RIP, Ted Turner.
Speaking of so-called "good" billionaires, I'd be mighty interested in a dip into Bill Gates and his bullshit. It seems like Melissa was the real good Gates, but I simply don't have all the information. I know he was amoral and ruthless in business (at best) and obviously now it's come out that he's scum personally- but I do wonder if he cares at all about the good work the Gates Foundation does, or if it's more about saving his reputation & legacy. (Plus, I want to hear more about Melissa!)
Melissa has her own foundation now. She and Bezos’ ex are giving all their money away.
My last tiny bit of respect for Bill died when we found out he tried to slip Melissa antibiotics without her knowledge because he got an STD from Russian hookers.
No mention of Captain Planet and the Planeteers, the cartoon Turner created? Not a great show, but at least it tried to educate kids about environmentalism.
No mention of Captain Planet and the Planeteers, the cartoon Turner created? Not a great show, but at least it tried to educate kids about environmentalism.
Ta, Erik. I went to a wedding event (four days!) at Flathead Lake in Montana, the largest body of freshwater west of the Mississippi. It was a dude ranch with dude ranchy events (square dance, rope pull), but my favorite was getting to sail an America's Cup boat. That thing was FAST.
As a child of the 80s, I grew up watching a lot of shows from the 60s: Star Trek, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeanie, Gilligan’s Island, etc. I watched them because they were always on in syndication during hours when I didn’t have to negotiate for a later bed time.
I also remember when I discovered CNN and, a naive kid, I actually thought Crossfire was a great idea. People representing both sides debating the issues of the day. Sounds so high brow. Sadly, this was also the era of Mort Downey Jr so more often than not, debates were won by whomever could shout over their opponent the loudest.
Jon Stewart’s greatest service to humanity was destroying that show once and for all.
Sure looks like 1860 to me. The klan governments of the New Confederate States of America are rallying around the stars and bars. If this attempt to steal the election really is a dummymander, and the voting goes against them in November, will the lawlessness of Hair Führer roll through the traitor states, ending your experiment in democracy?
My friend worked at one of his local stations on a show called “Nice People” (or something to that effect. She won and Emmy. Before that she was on some other show (she was co-anchor) that was fun an irreverent and she was great at that too.
Growing up about 4 hours from the big city of Hotlanta, Turner was a legend and was said to be a legendary asshole. But, unlike Rump and his regime, he seemed to have had some redeeming qualities given his love and preservation of flora and endangered fauna, his belief in bettering our energy possibilities not connected to coal, and believing in universal healthcare. Bless him.
MIT had a 10-watt FM radio station with call letters WTBS (Technology Broadcasting System). The first regularly airing punk rock radio show in America, The Demi Monde, started there in 1976. In 1978 (or thereabouts), Ted Turner approached MIT to buy the call letters. A deal was struck, the station became WMBR and bought a new transmitter with 20x the power, and it's still there today.
I did regular shows there from 1987 into the '90s, had a second stint between 2015-2024, and I'm on the governing board to this day - with Oedipus, who produced The Demi Monde and has some great stories.
Your version of his life was somewhat more readable and informative than that published in the NY Times. You didn't manage to get all the most meaningful warts: "Ted's Montana Grill" - was it mentioned or did I miss it. MSNOW is our only hope in the news world - I'm still a bit partial to the midlife CNN when they were just about all we had. If MSNOW is an outgrowth of the CNN concept then we owe that credit to Ted.
"This is without question the nicest obituary will ever have about a billionaire, except maybe for Warren Buffet." Don't forget George Soros, the bane of right wingers everywhere.
“TCM is a national treasure, one of the greatest things about this largely terrible country.” Truth.
Ted was a sailor, adventurer, pioneer, conservationist, philanthropist and he won the heart of Jane Fonda, which might say the most about him. He was one of the first modern billionaires who believed you didn’t need several billion for yourself, and he urged other wealthy people to donate to causes. He once donated 1/3 of his wealth to the UN and other causes.
Nobody is perfect, and certainly there are times when Turner made mistakes or said regrettable things. But he was brave, and when he found enormous success, he tried to help others. RIP, Ted Turner.
I'm pretty sure I saw Ted Turner, and Reverend King in a coffee shop talking about how they were going to vote for Trump.
Well, I saw Ted Turner walking with Reverend King.
Doing the Werewolves of London.
When cowlicks ruled the earth...
Speaking of so-called "good" billionaires, I'd be mighty interested in a dip into Bill Gates and his bullshit. It seems like Melissa was the real good Gates, but I simply don't have all the information. I know he was amoral and ruthless in business (at best) and obviously now it's come out that he's scum personally- but I do wonder if he cares at all about the good work the Gates Foundation does, or if it's more about saving his reputation & legacy. (Plus, I want to hear more about Melissa!)
Melissa has her own foundation now. She and Bezos’ ex are giving all their money away.
My last tiny bit of respect for Bill died when we found out he tried to slip Melissa antibiotics without her knowledge because he got an STD from Russian hookers.
For a Few Rubles More...
No mention of Captain Planet and the Planeteers, the cartoon Turner created? Not a great show, but at least it tried to educate kids about environmentalism.
No mention of Captain Planet and the Planeteers, the cartoon Turner created? Not a great show, but at least it tried to educate kids about environmentalism.
Ta, Erik. I went to a wedding event (four days!) at Flathead Lake in Montana, the largest body of freshwater west of the Mississippi. It was a dude ranch with dude ranchy events (square dance, rope pull), but my favorite was getting to sail an America's Cup boat. That thing was FAST.
May his memory always be a blessing.
As a west coast type I think it's "rope tug".
As a child of the 80s, I grew up watching a lot of shows from the 60s: Star Trek, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeanie, Gilligan’s Island, etc. I watched them because they were always on in syndication during hours when I didn’t have to negotiate for a later bed time.
I also remember when I discovered CNN and, a naive kid, I actually thought Crossfire was a great idea. People representing both sides debating the issues of the day. Sounds so high brow. Sadly, this was also the era of Mort Downey Jr so more often than not, debates were won by whomever could shout over their opponent the loudest.
Jon Stewart’s greatest service to humanity was destroying that show once and for all.
Sure looks like 1860 to me. The klan governments of the New Confederate States of America are rallying around the stars and bars. If this attempt to steal the election really is a dummymander, and the voting goes against them in November, will the lawlessness of Hair Führer roll through the traitor states, ending your experiment in democracy?
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tennessee-redistricting-lawmakers_n_69fce12de4b0cb033e5082fe
My friend worked at one of his local stations on a show called “Nice People” (or something to that effect. She won and Emmy. Before that she was on some other show (she was co-anchor) that was fun an irreverent and she was great at that too.
Growing up about 4 hours from the big city of Hotlanta, Turner was a legend and was said to be a legendary asshole. But, unlike Rump and his regime, he seemed to have had some redeeming qualities given his love and preservation of flora and endangered fauna, his belief in bettering our energy possibilities not connected to coal, and believing in universal healthcare. Bless him.
MIT had a 10-watt FM radio station with call letters WTBS (Technology Broadcasting System). The first regularly airing punk rock radio show in America, The Demi Monde, started there in 1976. In 1978 (or thereabouts), Ted Turner approached MIT to buy the call letters. A deal was struck, the station became WMBR and bought a new transmitter with 20x the power, and it's still there today.
I did regular shows there from 1987 into the '90s, had a second stint between 2015-2024, and I'm on the governing board to this day - with Oedipus, who produced The Demi Monde and has some great stories.
This was an Oedi product: https://www.discogs.com/release/3501076-DMZ-2-Lyres-Radio-Demos-Lyres-Live-At-Cantones
We have a crap-ton of other in-studio recordings from those days and subsequently. Not as much lately. The kids don't want no rock & roll.
Your version of his life was somewhat more readable and informative than that published in the NY Times. You didn't manage to get all the most meaningful warts: "Ted's Montana Grill" - was it mentioned or did I miss it. MSNOW is our only hope in the news world - I'm still a bit partial to the midlife CNN when they were just about all we had. If MSNOW is an outgrowth of the CNN concept then we owe that credit to Ted.
The man in full, warts, glories and all. Well done!
My Dad died from Lewy Body - it’s a cruel, cruel ending.
Isn't that what Robin Williams had as well?
Yes.
LB has features of both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and often advances more quickly than both of those diseases.
My MIL did as well. It was absolutely horrible. I’m so sorry that you had to go through that.
My sympathies to you and your husband as well. I wouldn’t wish it on a dog.
I'm really glad we have TCM.
"This is without question the nicest obituary will ever have about a billionaire, except maybe for Warren Buffet." Don't forget George Soros, the bane of right wingers everywhere.
Yes,exactly. Took words out of my fingers!
Bet that smarts.