Quite often the public blond bimbo is the facade of an intelligent woman working to get ahead on her own terms. Not all displayed equal talent, but the intelligence should probably be presumed to be present. (Jean Harlow, Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, Carol Wayne, Ann Jillian, etc.) In case no one ever read about it, her trial to get her share of her deceased husband's estate was interesting. The husband's grown son was real piece of work who was probably going to be held criminally liable for his cheating on her share of the estate had he not died last year. And when Smith went to testify before the Supreme Court last year Nina Totenberg was as professional in her coverage as on any other case. No smug reporting, this was a legitimate case before the most important court in the land.

Justifying a callous thread title by pointing at others on different topics is a non-answer. Several people have expressed their sorrow that this troubled woman, still quite young, has died suddenly. Her last few months were very difficult by anyone's standards. They've also registered a level of dismay at the colloquial announcement in the thread title. "Bites the dust." "Buys the farm." "Kicks the Bucket." It's a trite way to announce it, and I find it particularly ironic that someone who too often stands on her christian principles and connections to set herself up as a moral compass for folks here at Mudcat (and sends along scolds when she doesn't agree with subject matter) would be so insensitive regarding how she starts the obit for the early death of a still-young mother.

SRS