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Tribute to Mark...

by discrat
30 replies
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i hate to say it but i believe Mark is no longer with us. As Mark S. told me it would be a minor surprised miracle if he showed up on this thread. We could only hope that would be the case.

Anyway, i truly came to admire and really like Mark . And considered him a really good friend!! It wasn't always that way as we would debate about very serious topics that we tended to disagree on.

But like i said most of that stuff passed and we had the utmost mutual respect for each other.

i hope Mark is in a better place. Who knows maybe he is getting on Kay's last nerve with his clever puns in some other dimension . We can only hope.

RIP good man !!
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
    I'm generally not one to get emotional; it's just not in my DNA. This one, however, hurt.

    Mark and I talked outside of the forum. We shared an interest in technology and music, and we'd have long talks about both. Mark, being English, would jab me about American customs and I would jab back. I'd also rarely acknowledge his puns as I knew it got under his skin. It was a running gag.

    Mark was a musician. Just prior to his passing, he and I were working on using AI to refresh some of his old song recordings. I got busy and kept thinking I'd get back to it, and now he's gone. That leaves me feeling a little hollow, like I failed him somehow.

    Let it be known that Mark was a good man, even if he was English.

    He was my friend.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jamell
      You never know when and if you will see certain people again hence why it is good to reach out and show them love whilst they are alive .

      I am not saying that this is the case with you .

      God bless you
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post


      Mark was a musician. Just prior to his passing, he and I were working on using AI to refresh some of his old song recordings. .
      i never would have guessed that. iam a drummer since age 3, and iam interested to know what instrument he played , Dan ??
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
        Originally Posted by discrat View Post

        i never would have guessed that. iam a drummer since age 3, and iam interested to know what instrument he played , Dan ??
        He was a keyboardist. He may have played a little guitar.
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        Raising a child is akin to knowing you're getting fired in 18 years and having to train your replacement without actively sabotaging them.

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        • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
          Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

          He may have played a little guitar.
          Wouldn't that be a ukulele?



          (Sorry - but I think it's what Mark would have wanted).
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          • Profile picture of the author Princess Balestra
            Fearo's puns made my eyes switch sides.

            But that was mostly OK, bcs at least I could see regulah sumtimes.

            Prahblem was when one ended up in my mouth an' anothah in my ass.

            It was clear he had real challenges ... but he would always show ... always make with quips could shrivel tails from donkeys.

            Like evrywan here, ima miss the guy.

            QUOTE=Frank Donovan;11849973]Wouldn't that be a ukulele?

            (Sorry - but I think it's what Mark would have wanted).[/QUOTE]

            Mods hijackin' posts!

            Tsch!

            It is a miracle they ain't banjo.
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          • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
            Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

            Wouldn't that be a ukulele?



            (Sorry - but I think it's what Mark would have wanted).
            I walked right into that.
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            Raising a child is akin to knowing you're getting fired in 18 years and having to train your replacement without actively sabotaging them.

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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
    If the recent declassification of UFO footage hasn't brought Mark back to the forum, I suppose we have to fear the worst.

    Dammit. I'll miss him.
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  • Profile picture of the author zakkk
    i dont know who this man is but may he rest in peace seems he was loved
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Originally Posted by zakkk View Post

      i dont know who this man is
      originally from Great Britain, where exactly not sure ?? Maybe Frank D. or Dan might be able to elaborate .

      i know currently he lived in Baytown, TX. right outside Houston
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
        Originally Posted by discrat View Post

        originally from Great Britain, where exactly not sure ?? Maybe Frank D. or Dan might be able to elaborate .

        i know currently he lived in Baytown, TX. right outside Houston
        He told me but I forget. All those towns sound like "Benedict Cumberbatch" to me. His sister, I believe, lived in a quaint oceanside town - I can't remember if that was where he was from, too.

        Frank will know. That's kinda his thing, knowing things.
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        Raising a child is akin to knowing you're getting fired in 18 years and having to train your replacement without actively sabotaging them.

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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
    All I know is that as a kid, Mark used to holiday on the Isle of Wight, which suggests he grew up in the south of England.

    He said his sister lived in Slough, a town about 20 miles to the west of London, famous for being the location of the original "The Office" TV show, and for the John Betjeman poem that starts: "Come friendly bombs and fall on Slough! It isn't fit for humans now".

    Understandably, she was looking to move down to the coast.
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      wasn't Mark retired from some sort of job on a college campus ??
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
        Originally Posted by discrat View Post

        wasn't Mark retired from some sort of job on a college campus ??
        Yes, he was.
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        Raising a child is akin to knowing you're getting fired in 18 years and having to train your replacement without actively sabotaging them.

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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
    I never participated downstairs much except for a couple of things like the college football annual thread so I didn't really know Mark.

    The only way I knew him was he was driving us crazy with his never ending Claude jokes. We were like we need a thread just for Claude jokes. And he apparently had the attention span of a fruit fly because Kay would pull him into the "principal's office" and the very next day he'd be back with more jokes.

    Since he's been offline I've actually missed the Claude jokes. Funny how we start to enjoy some of the things we once despised.

    Mark
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Originally Posted by Mark Singletary View Post

      I never participated downstairs much except for a couple of things like the college football annual thread so I didn't really know Mark.

      The only way I knew him was he was driving us crazy with his never ending Claude jokes. We were like we need a thread just for Claude jokes. And he apparently had the attention span of a fruit fly because Kay would pull him into the "principal's office" and the very next day he'd be back with more jokes.

      Since he's been offline I've actually missed the Claude jokes. Funny how we start to enjoy some of the things we once despised.

      Mark
      Mark used to message me about financial matters. Although I appreciated that he thought I could help him, it was always a little out of my area.

      It's strange how you never hear a voice or meet a person....but you get to believe you know them just from their postings.

      Mark drove me a little crazy with his relentless posts about "The Mandela Effect". But through it all I could tell a few things...

      Mark was a good person. He never lied to us that I know of. He was sincere. He could deliver jokes and insults...and take them in return.

      And I enjoyed his Claude jokes. He thought of us as his friends...and we thought that way about him.

      Whateverpedia, Kay, Big Frank, Sal, now Mark...and I'm sure a few others really made this Forum more fun. I know we feel richer for knowing them.

      I hope he was with people that loved him when he passed.
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      “Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise; seek what they sought.” - Matsuo Basho
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      • Profile picture of the author discrat
        after being here on this Earth for 58 yrs i have come to the conclusion that death really sucks
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        • Profile picture of the author Monetize
          Originally Posted by discrat View Post

          after being here on this Earth for 58 yrs i have come to the conclusion that death really sucks

          Have you tried to message him?
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          Monetization Skool
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        • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
          Originally Posted by discrat View Post

          after being here on this Earth for 58 yrs i have come to the conclusion that death really sucks
          On the Stephen Colbert show, Keanu Reeves was ask "What do you think happens when we die?" and he said something like "I think the people who loved us will miss us".

          I thought it was the best answer ever.

          And it applies here to those we've lost. Knowing that there re people that really care about you makes tragedy so much easier to bear, I find.

          And Mark would have enjoyed knowing that I had to look up whether it was "bare" or "bear".

          And....the reason I didn't start this thread (after a suggestion from Robert) was that I was sure that there were others here that knew more about him, and were more in contact with him than I was,
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          • Profile picture of the author discrat
            Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post


            And it applies here to those we've lost. Knowing that there re people that really care about you makes tragedy so much easier to bear, I find.

            And Mark would have enjoyed knowing that I had to look up whether it was "bare" or "bear".,
            i think Mark would definitely have a kick looking at a thread that was solely about him. I think he would have been touched about it but even more so he would have gotten a little giggle out of
            it knowing him
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          • Profile picture of the author Princess Balestra
            Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

            On the Stephen Colbert show, Keanu Reeves was ask "What do you think happens when we die?" and he said something like "I think the people who loved us will miss us".
            Sum would argue Keanu Reeves owes his early fame to bare-faced cheek.

            Cut to now, it is more bear-faced chic.

            Yeah, butchyoo right, Claude.
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          • Profile picture of the author discrat
            Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post


            And....the reason I didn't start this thread (after a suggestion from Robert) was that I was sure that there were others here that knew more about him, and were more in contact with him than I was,
            Btw, did anyone know Mark's last name ???
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            • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
              Originally Posted by discrat View Post

              Btw, did anyone know Mark's last name ???
              I had to rummage through old emails, but I found it. Then I found this:

              https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/courier/name/mark-ridgwell-obituary?id=60231133
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              • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
                Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

                I had to rummage through old emails, but I found it. Then I found this:

                https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries...ry?id=60231133
                Damn.

                After a few minutes of profound sadness....

                My first real thought was that I could have been nicer...more understanding ...when he talked about the Mandela Effect, and other ideas he had.

                I hope he wasn't in pain.

                He's one of several here...some are no longer with us....that I would have traveled to meet in person for a Forum get together.
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                “Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise; seek what they sought.” - Matsuo Basho
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  • Profile picture of the author DWolfe
    Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

    If the recent declassification of UFO footage hasn't brought Mark back to the forum, I suppose we have to fear the worst.

    Dammit. I'll miss him.
    Originally Posted by Monetize View Post

    Have you tried to message him?
    I think someone tried a couple of months back. The thing is, we may never know. Growing up, my parents had an accountant who suffered a major stroke. He spent several months in the hospital and then rehab. After the stroke, he lived for several more years, but he could not communicate or drive. It was sad to see him, because he tried so hard to talk, then well up into tears. This is not the only situation I have seen in my lifetime. Where you think someone has passed, however, they were still alive.

    Mark was good at going back and forth with Big Frank over Apple vs. Windows. They used to rib each other all the time. Mark was also good at helping people out with Tech questions. he also had a decent sense of humor. I wonder if his ex-wife knows?
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
    Thanks, Dan. That's that, then.

    RIP Mark.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
    RIP Mark. You are missed.

    Mark
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      yeah i was hoping for a miracle and that i was wrong but it just wasn't meant to be.

      thanks Dan , what a wonderful obituary. Captured Mark perfectly!!

      RIP brother
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  • Profile picture of the author DWolfe
    Well, that sucks! I never pictured Mark as a Hawaiian shirt fan. Thanks for posting the link, Dan.

    Rest in Peace, Mark. Condolences to your friends and family.
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  • Profile picture of the author johnsmith2244
    Sorry to hear this. It's clear from your words that Mark was respected by many, even by those who didn't always share the same views. Those kinds of relationships are often the most meaningful.

    Wishing comfort and strength to everyone who knew him. Rest in peace, Mark.
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