Michael Crichton R.I.P

Surely, you have heard Michael Crichton finally expired , "battling" as the dumbasses in media say, cancer.

I never thought of him as just a writer, though he was an excellent, polished one.

To me, Crichton was a scientist. He wasn't "just a medical doctor". He worked in the Salk Institute, and did serious research in anthropology, paleontology and immunology. Also that new craze, Climatology.

He was the most eloquent, best prepared de-bunker of the religion of man-made "global warming".

Sure, he was a great director, creator and producer of "film" successes (ER, Jurassic Park, Twister to name just three) but he was a marvelous "Renaaissance Man.

At six feet eight inches, he was somewhat of a "Lurch" despite his handsomeness. He was married five times.

My favorite Crichton story is a true one from his days as a Harvard undergraduate. He believed that a certain professor was sandbagging him with unfair, depressed grades out of some personal pique.

He went to another professor--a close friend and confidante--and unveiled a plan by which he would unmask his tormentor.

Crichton found a "suitable" essay by George Orwell (1984 and Animal Farm author) and copied it on his typewriter and turned it in. This was in about 1964.

The pompous prof gave Crichton a B-minus for the work, adding superfluous critical notes.

GOTCHA !

In front of a class and some instructors, Crichton confessed his plagiarism...After he had graduated Summa cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa.

He and his "baby" brother co-authored under the name "Michael Douglas". He also had nom de plumes cribbed from the names of a famous giant and a dwarf.


Just as an after stroke, it should be noted that immediately following his baccalaureate, Michael Crighton was made a "fellow" and was called to lecture in Anthropology at Cambridge University in England.

He wrote the best "How To" book I have ever seen on programming either AppleII or IBM / PC computers.

If you've missed reading him and getting to know his mind, get cracking! NOW !