Post by: David Kulka on January 19, 2011, 11:37:30 PM
You can learn much more about Roger's career and his current predicament as his site, http://rogernichols.com/ I'm sending a contribution as soon as I post this thread.
Those of us with gray hairs (or no hair at all) get rather used to these sad announcements. I didn't know Roger very well but did meet him a few times. He was always humble, friendly, and full of stories. The first couple of times that we met, the conversation centered on tech tales, and was amazed to later learn that he'd engineered the Mamas And Papas, Steely Dan, and so many others. This week I was further surprised, as long time diver, to see on his site that he was a Scuba instructor (his site has great photos including some he took with Jacques Cousteau and John Denver on the Calypso), not to mention astronomer, inventor, and so much more.
As a side note, but not really: I'm 57 and for the last year or so I have realized that I have one regret in my life. I have been lucky enough to meet and work with so many amazing people, some who were personal heroes of mine. Many of them were glad to talk with me and share things, but I was timid to ask, or it was late and I wanted to get home, or for whatever reason, I didn't realize just whose presence I was in. Many of those people are gone now. I wish that I had taken more time to talk, get to know them better, hear about their lives, learn more about them.
I really, really hope that Roger pulls through. Maybe I'll still have a chance to hang out with him and hear a few more of his stories. What an amazing man. Good luck Roger.
Post by: zmix on January 20, 2011, 12:10:38 AM
Post by: Silvertone on January 20, 2011, 07:16:06 AM
| zmix wrote on Wed, 19 January 2011 23:10 |
Thanks for posting this, David. I had heard from a friend of his that he was diagnosed with cancer...I didn't realize it was Pancreatic cancer. That is extremely tough. It's also a very sad commentary on the US that serious health problems cause so many people to go bankrupt... |
So sad to hear.
That's the same cancer that took my Mom down... that and it broke her heart that she and my Dad lost everything they worked their whole lives for just to keep her alive for 6 months in the end... it's just not right and EVERYBODY KNOWS IT.
THIS COUNTRY SHOULD BE ASHAMED THE WAY THEY LET INSURANCE COMPANIES DICTATE OUR HEATH CARE. FOR SHAME AMERICA!
I'll say prayers for Roger.
Post by: Kendrix on January 20, 2011, 07:58:25 AM
I share with him a background in Physics.
I wish him all the best in this most serious situation.
As for the health care system causing folks to go broke...I figure many will soon need to forfeit the "last six months" that can cost so very much. The alternative may become an unsustainalbe drain on our collective resources. Perhaps this is Gods way.
Post by: bblackwood on January 20, 2011, 08:10:11 AM
Thanks.
Post by: Bryson on January 20, 2011, 09:58:36 AM
This has me thinking though; What about all the well off cats he knows, and has helped become well off? Is he getting help from them, or have they already helped as much as they can?
Post by: arconaut on January 20, 2011, 10:22:41 AM
I wish I had ten billion dollars so I could give money to all the people who need it.
I've never met Roger but I sure know his work. Get better Roger!
Post by: wwittman on January 20, 2011, 11:43:01 AM
| zmix wrote on Thu, 20 January 2011 00:10 |
Thanks for posting this, David. I had heard from a friend of his that he was diagnosed with cancer...I didn't realize it was Pancreatic cancer. That is extremely tough. It's also a very sad commentary on the US that serious health problems cause so many people to go bankrupt... |
Chuck, thank you SO much for being the first with the balls to post this COMPLETELY RELEVANT AND IMPORTANT comment.
Roger, and everyone, deserves better.
| bblackwood wrote on Thu, 20 January 2011 08:10 |
Let's not force this thread to be moved to the Saloon by interjecting social / political views into the discussion - this is about RN. ... |
Brad,
no one will "force it"... but you could inappropriately decide so.
This would be far from the first time we have talked about people and things we CARE about here.
The fear of 'offending' the obviously wrongheaded is what I personally find misplaced.
Post by: Taproot on January 20, 2011, 11:54:15 AM
http://www.lustgarten.org/
She was cremated and basically had a Pauper's Funeral, for this reason and I miss her dearly. It's a rough one.
Post by: Malcolm Boyce on January 20, 2011, 12:14:28 PM
I made a donation... I at least owe him that much.
It's a shame that it comes to this, but the fact that they can so easily set something up like that paypal account and have us all give a little is one good thing about technology these days.
...and hopefully without getting us into any trouble, I agree with William.
Post by: jrmintz on January 20, 2011, 12:38:59 PM
I donated as well.
Post by: jonathan jetter on January 20, 2011, 01:03:41 PM
| David Kulka wrote on Wed, 19 January 2011 23:37 |
As a side note, but not really: I'm 57 and for the last year or so I have realized that I have one regret in my life. I have been lucky enough to meet and work with so many amazing people, some who were personal heroes of mine. Many of them were glad to talk with me and share things, but I was timid to ask, or it was late and I wanted to get home, or for whatever reason, I didn't realize just whose presence I was in. Many of those people are gone now. I wish that I had taken more time to talk, get to know them better, hear about their lives, learn more about them. |
i'm quite a bit younger (27), but i've had a similar realization over the past year. not just in terms of the handful of famous people i've worked for, but also a lot of lesser-known people, who are great musicians/engineers, great people, or both. it's really hard sometimes to block out the stresses of life and break out of the routine, but it's always really worth it to spend time in conversation with great people.
| jrmintz wrote |
I don't think it's overtly political to say that all Americans ought to have access to health care resembling that which our congressional representatives, of all parties and ideologies, and in a rare display of unity, have given themselves. It's also not political to say that it's unconscionable that the family of a person who has had a career like Roger Nichols, or any family for that matter, should have to impoverish itself to keep a family member alive. It's a moral issue out of which some people have created a political one. |
i think this says it perfectly. i was going to write something along these lines but i don't think one could improve on seth's combination of eloquence + brevity.
i can only afford to donate a small amount, but i am going to do that, and will be keeping roger in my thoughts, and wishing him a fast + full recovery.
Post by: Ross Hogarth on January 20, 2011, 01:55:57 PM
The socio political element is not fair to be co mingled.
This starts a conversation far to wide and deep here to be mixed into the struggle.
Post by: ssltech on January 20, 2011, 02:18:14 PM
-Politics I'm learning to despise... but perhaps social analysis or awareness shouldn't get thrown out with the bathwater.
Keith
Post by: Fletcher on January 20, 2011, 02:28:27 PM
| Ross Hogarth wrote on Thu, 20 January 2011 13:55 |
The socio political element is not fair to be co mingled. This starts a conversation far to wide and deep here to be mixed into the struggle. |
I fully and completely agree with Ross's thought and sentiment. We have both lost very dear and close friends in the last 12 months and this sort of "socio - political" discussion does indeed get in the way of sending positive energy to the person you care about.
I have taken the liberty to start a thread on "Healthcare in the US" in the Saloon here's a link to that thread.
Hopefully without stepping on any toes, we can discuss our frustration with the current state of healthcare in that thread, and positive energy / well wishes in this thread.
Peace.
Post by: Bubba#$%Kron on January 20, 2011, 02:28:43 PM
I sent a donation!!!
Post by: Tidewater on January 20, 2011, 03:13:45 PM
Post by: Skullsessions on January 20, 2011, 03:22:52 PM
Post by: wwittman on January 20, 2011, 03:23:49 PM
We all wish Roger well, that's probably a given.
But he's been a working valuable member of society all his life*, that it should be any question at ALL as to whether he can get needed care or not is simply criminal.
* and shouldn't matter even if he hadn't been
Post by: CWHumphrey on January 20, 2011, 03:47:52 PM
I wish him the best.
Cheers,
Post by: organica on January 20, 2011, 04:15:55 PM
| Fletcher wrote on Thu, 20 January 2011 14:28 | ||
I fully and completely agree with Ross's thought and sentiment. We have both lost very dear and close friends in the last 12 months and this sort of "socio - political" discussion does indeed get in the way of sending positive energy to the person you care about. I have taken the liberty to start a thread on "Healthcare in the US" in the Saloon here's a link to that thread. Hopefully without stepping on any toes, we can discuss our frustration with the current state of healthcare in that thread, and positive energy / well wishes in this thread. Peace. |
Agreed. This ought not be a thread for politician parakeeting.
"Positive energy tends to be less effective than chemotherapy."
Treatments of some kind are indeed important. Getting cancer is a mega game changer. Positive energy is a big deal,letting go of psychological turmoil is part of healing.
Traditional chemo and radiation doesn't work on the cancer that I have (G.I.S.T. , it's a pretty rare sarcoma). But I got lucky ,as there is a targeted med (a miracle drug called Gleevec) which seems to be a perfect match for it and so, no recurrence now for 2 years thankfully.
I've been watching Roger and his family deal with this mostly from afar for quite awhile. He'll never be the same. I wish him well and full recovery. I wish you all well.
Post by: maxim on January 20, 2011, 06:09:16 PM
my thoughts go out to roger and ALL other americans suffering a similarly unfair deal...
(holding back a full rant out of respect for mods' wishes)
Post by: eightyeightkeys on January 20, 2011, 08:21:48 PM
| CWHumphrey wrote on Thu, 20 January 2011 15:47 |
I was just digging through his article on balanced power last night. I wish him the best. Cheers, |
I remember the Balanced Power article too and many others...one article that saved my ass was his article on Data Rescue for the Mac. I saved that article in a binder of articles that I clipped out and saved for a moment I might need them.
Years and years ago, after a long, long days session, I didn't feel like backing up the files from that day.....Next day after booting the computer, that very audio drive crashed ! Nothing worked...not Tech Tool, not Disk First Aid, not Hard Drive Tool Kit, nothing. I really thought I was cooked.
Furiously searching through the binder, I found that article !...long story short Roger Nichol's article saved me that day. Data Rescue worked like a charm.
I wish Roger Nichols all of the best.
Post by: Fenris Wulf on January 21, 2011, 12:25:50 AM
| wwittman wrote on Thu, 20 January 2011 16:43 |
The fear of 'offending' the obviously wrongheaded is what I personally find misplaced. |
Maybe where you're from, all educated people think alike and agree on what kind of society they want to live in. In America that is not the case.
I think echo chambers are great but I wouldn't want to live in one.
Post by: leonardo valvassori on January 21, 2011, 09:25:13 AM
Please do not take this as political or negative, it's only how I feel, but it is very difficult to have watched so many of my American friends have their lives end early and the lives of their loved ones compromised to the point of ruin by the cost of being made well when the only reason I can sit here and write these words is because of a gov't health care system that valued me enough to cure my lymphoma.
Peace, Rock and Roll and again love and compassion to Roger.
Post by: wwittman on January 21, 2011, 11:40:43 AM
| Fenris Wulf wrote on Fri, 21 January 2011 00:25 | ||
Maybe where you're from, all educated people think alike and agree on what kind of society they want to live in. In America that is not the case. ) |
If thinking that financial luck should not determine whether a colleague gets to have a shot at living is "political mudslinging" then I shall continue to be "out of place"
Where I come from educated people disagree about many things, but not that people should die because their parents aren't rich or they lost their job, etc.
Funny how almost everywhere else in the civilized western world think that's " the kind of society they want to live in"
Post by: Bill Mueller on January 21, 2011, 01:42:46 PM
Bill
Post by: Malcolm Boyce on January 21, 2011, 03:57:52 PM
Those interested and unfamiliar with his unique sense of humour should check some of these out:
http://www.rogernichols.com/DAEQ.html
| Quote: |
It just so happens that as I type this column, I am one week away from finishing the mixes for the Steely Dan live album. Well, almost live. I have mentioned before that we went into the studio and "cleaned up" a few things. C'mon now, it is a Steely Dan album, and we couldn't let any afterthought recordings of raggedy-ass playing by a bunch of old farts (besides the Eagles) out into the public, now could we? Steely Dan fans have come to expect a certain quality control that could only be achieved by spending lots of money in a recording studio. Because of the fact that we have performed some moderate "repairs" to the songs, it would probably be illegal somewhere to call the album "Steely Dan Live", even though that's how it started out. So somebody (probably Donald) came up with the idea of calling the album "Steely Dan: Alive in America". Kind of catchy, don't you think? Like how it skirts the issue? |
Post by: zakco on January 21, 2011, 06:04:49 PM
Our local music community lost an AE/studio owner to pancreatic cancer last year. It is a devastating disease.
The fact that Roger and his family have to endure the financial burden in addition to the physical/emotional burden is just plain criminal.
SO happy to live where I do.
All the best to you Roger, I wish you and your family peace.
Z
Post by: J.J. Blair on January 22, 2011, 12:49:46 PM
Post by: New Orleans Steve on January 22, 2011, 09:42:56 PM
Post by: Dusk Bennett on January 30, 2011, 12:23:38 PM
| zmix wrote on Thu, 20 January 2011 00:10 |
The fear of 'offending' the obviously wrongheaded is what I personally find misplaced. |
William,
With all due respect, we can all be angry about the current situation in our world, deservedly so, but making a moral claim (like something is "wrongheaded" or otherwise) may be fine to do in regular company, but can be taken way out of context on a newsgroup. I happen to agree with Brad. Let's not go there.
There are many political ideologies on this forum, and some folks that could care less about any American dilemma. Let's keep this thread about RN, not moral judgement calls. He deserves it.
FWIW, the school where I do alot of work at has invested heavily into the RN Digital meter suite because they are good. RN is an asset to our community and I remain confident that he will pull through this. Coming to his community asking for help is a wise move and we should do our best as a community to continue to support him because he is worth the investment.
My $.02
Post by: MikieBahamas on January 30, 2011, 10:14:53 PM
My prayers are with you. Please recover.
My uncle is undergoing chemotherapy for this same cancer. It is tough on everyone around them.
Keep the faith.
Mikie