Recommended reading - No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality (2020):

No Time Like the Future:
An Optimist Considers Mortality

By Michael J. Fox.

Published by Flatiron Books.

Published 2020.

Hardcover.

ISBN-10: 1250265630

ISBN-13: 978-1250265630

Description:

The entire world knows Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, the teenage sidekick of Doc Brown in Back to the Future; as Alex P. Keaton in Family Ties; as Mike Flaherty in Spin City; and through numerous other movie roles and guest appearances on shows such as The Good Wife and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Diagnosed at age 29, Michael is equally engaged in Parkinson’s advocacy work, raising global awareness of the disease and helping find a cure through The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the world’s leading non-profit funder of PD science. His two previous bestselling memoirs, Lucky Man and Always Looking Up, dealt with how he came to terms with the illness, all the while exhibiting his iconic optimism. His new memoir reassesses this outlook, as events in the past decade presented additional challenges.

In No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality, Michael shares personal stories and observations about illness and health, aging, the strength of family and friends, and how our perceptions about time affect the way we approach mortality. Thoughtful and moving, but with Fox’s trademark sense of humor, his book provides a vehicle for reflection about our lives, our loves, and our losses.

Running through the narrative is the drama of the medical madness Fox recently experienced, that included his daily negotiations with the Parkinson’s disease he’s had since 1991, and a spinal cord issue that necessitated immediate surgery. His challenge to learn how to walk again, only to suffer a devastating fall, nearly caused him to ditch his trademark optimism and “get out of the lemonade business altogether.”

Does he make it all of the way back? Read the book.

George R. R. Martin, on reading:

A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen.

The man who never reads lives only one.

- George R. R. Martin.

On this day in music history - Dark Hope, by Renée Fleming (2010):

Dark Hope

Album by Renée Fleming,

released June 8, 2010.

Track list:

Endlessly; No One’s Gonna Love You; Oxygen; Today; Intervention; With Twilight as My Guide; Mad World; In Your Eyes; Stepping Stone; Soul Meets Body; Hallelujah.

On this day in television history - Justified (2010):

Justified

Season 1. Episode 13.

Episode entitled: Bulletville.

Released June 8, 2010.

Directed by Adam Arkin.

Written by Graham Yost, Fred Golan, Wendy Calhoun and Chris Provenzano.

Based on the short story Fire in the Hole by Elmore Leonard.

Music by Steve Porcaro.

Cast:

Timothy Olyphant, Nick Searcy, Joelle Carter, Jacob Pitts, Erica Tazel, Natalie Zea, Raymond J. Barry, Alexandra Barreto, M.C. Gainey, Omar Avila, David Meunier, Ray Porter, Walton Goggins, John Lee Ames, Mark Elias, Charlie Paulson, Anthony De Longis.

On this day in music history - Paradise and Lunch, by Ry Cooder (1974):

Paradise and Lunch

Album by Ry Cooder,

released June 8, 1974.

Track list:

Tamp ‘Em Up Solid; Tattler; Married A Man’s A Fool; Jesus On The Mainline; It’s All Over Now; Fool For A Cigarette / Feelin’ Good; If Walls Could Talk; Mexican Divorce; Ditty Wah Ditty.

Born on this day – Alan Scarfe:

Alan Scarfe

Actor

Writer

Director

June 8, 1946 – April 28, 2024

Credits:

A Gift to Last (1976); Alien Nation (1989); American Playhouse (1987); Andromeda (2004–2005); As Is (1986); Aka Albert Walker (2002); Babylon 5: The Lost Tales (2007); Back in Business (1997); Burn: The Robert Wraight Story (2003); C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf (1988); Cathy's Curse (1977); Cathy's Daddy (2024); Columbo Cries Wolf (1990); Counterstrike (1993); Day One (1989); DEA (1990); Deserters (1983); Diamonds (1987); Divided Loyalties (1990); Double Impact (1991); Due South (1998); E.N.G. - Created by Bryce Zabel & Brad Markowitz (1990); Earthsea (2005); For the Record (1979); Gabriel's Fire (1991); Gridlock (1996); Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice (1994); Hastings Street (2007); Heart of Darkness (1994); Heritage Minutes (1993); Hide and Seek (1984); Highlander (1994); Hunter (1989); Iron Eagle II (1988); Jake and the Fatman (1990); Jericho Fever (1993); Joshua Then and Now (1985); Keeping Track (1986); Kingdom Hospital (2004); Kingsgate (1989); Labor of Love (1987); Lethal Weapon 3 (1992); Lock Up (1984); MacGyver (1990); Mimi & Me (1991); Murder by Phone (1982); Mysterious Island (1995); Night Heat (1987); NYPD Blue (1993); Once a Thief (1996); One Life to Live (1968–2013); Overnight (1986); Pajama Tops (1983); Quantum Leap (1991); Reasonable Doubts (1991); Sanctuary (1998); SeaQuest 2032 (1993); Seeing Things (1984); Seven Days (1998–2001); Silence (1997); Star Trek: The Next Generation (1991–1993); Star Trek: Voyager (1995); Stargate: Atlantis (2004); Street Justice (1987); Tales from the Darkside (1986); The Bay Boy (1984); The Bitter Ash (1963); The Burning Zone (1997); The Execution of Raymond Graham (1985); The Great Detective (1981); The Hamster Cage (2005); The Lazarus Man (1996); The Littlest Hobo (1984); The Outer Limits (1997–1998); The Owl (1991); The Portrait (1992); The Ray Bradbury Theater (1986–1989); The Wars (1982); The Wrong Guy (1997); Tour of Duty (1989–1990); Trick or Treasure (1990); Viper (1994); Will There Really Be a Morning? (1983); Without Warning (1994).

Born on this day – James Darren:

James Darren

Actor

Director, June 8, 1936 – September 2, 2024

Credits:

53rd Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade (1984); 7 Nights to Remember (1966); Accidental Icon: The Real Gidget Story (2010); Aliens from Another Planet (1982); All the Young Men (1960); American Bandstand (1962–1977); Baffle (1974); Bandstand (1963); Battle of the Network Stars XVI (1984); Because They're Young (1960); Beverly Hills, 90210 (1996); Biography (2001); Black Sheep Squadron (1977); Celebrity Bowling Classic (1969); Celebrity Revue (1976); Celebrity Sweepstakes (1974–1977); Charlie's Angels (1977); Chooch (2003); City Beneath the Sea (1971); Dean Martin / Chevrolet Presents the Golddiggers (1972); Diagnosis Murder (1997); Diamond Head (1962); Dinah! (1976); Down to You (2000); Downey (1994); Dream Girl of '67 (1967); Elvis Forever (2002); Everybody's Talking (1967); Fantasy Island (1979–1982); For Those Who Think Young (1964); Freedom Spectacular (1964); Gidget (1959); Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961); Gidget Goes to Rome (1963); Gunman's Walk (1958); Hardball (1990); Hawaii Five-O (1978–1979); Hearts in Atlantis (2001); Here's Hollywood (1961); Hey There, It's Yogi Bear (1964); Hollywood a Go Go (1965–1966); Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The Early Years (1955-1970) (2000); Hollywood Squares (2000–2002); Hollywood: The Great Stars (1963); Honeymoon on Rhodes (1961); Hunter (1987–1991); It Takes Two (1969); It's Your Bet (1969–1973); JAG (2001); Kovacs on Music (1959); Larry King Live (2005); Let No Man Write My Epitaph (1960); Liar's Club (1969–1978); Love, American Style / Segment: Love and the Monsters (1971); Lucky (2017); Malibu U. (1967); Match Game (1974–1975); Melrose Place (1996–1999); Memories of Navarone (2000); Mooch (1974); New Dimensions (2018); Nowhere Man (1995); One Day at a Time (1983); One on One with John Tesh (1992); Operation Mad Ball (1957); P.O.P. Dance Party (1962); Pat Boone in Hollywood (1967); Pioneers of Television (2011); Plymouth Fury (1977); Police Story (1977); Police Story: Gladiator School (1988); Police Woman (1976); Portrait of a Legend (1977); Random Acts (2001); Raven (1992–1993); Renegade (1992 / 1994); Romp!!! (1968); Rumble on the Docks (1956); S.W.A.T. (1976); Sally Jessy Raphael (1991); Savannah (1996–1997); Scruples (1981); Sha Na Na (1979); Shivaree (1965); Shuttlepod Show / Podcast Series (2023); Silk Stalkings (1994–1995); Something Is Out There (1988); Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1998–1999); Star's Table (1986); Stingray (1987); Super Bloopers and Practical Jokes (1984); T.J. Hooker (1982–1986); Teen Scene (1964); Tequila and Bonetti (1992); That's Life (1979); The 31st Annual Academy Awards (1959); The 36th Annual Academy Awards (1964); The 36th Primetime Emmy Awards (1984); The 54th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade (1985); The 6th Annual American Cinema Awards (1989); The A-Team (1986); The Barbara McNair Show (1969); The Best of Hollywood (2018); The Bob Braun Show (1971–1975); The Bob Hope Show (1959–1961); The Boss' Son (1978); The Brothers Rico (1957); The David Frost Show (1971); The Definitive Elvis: The Hollywood Years - Part II: 1962-1969 (2002); The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years (2002); The Dennis Wholey Show (1969); The Dick Clark Show (1959–1960); The Donna Fargo Show (1978); The Donna Reed Show (1959–1961); The Ed Sullivan Show (1961); The Fabelmans (2022); The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen (1995); The Feather and Father Gang (1977); The Flintstones (1965); The Gene Krupa Story (1959); The Greatest Night in Pop (2024); The Guns of Navarone (1961); The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) (1972–1980); The Jim Nabors Show (1978); The Jo Stafford Show (1961); The Joey Bishop Show (1967–1969); The Jonathan Winters Show (1969); The King of Queens (2004); The Lineup (1959); The Lively Set (1964); The Lives of Jenny Dolan (1975); The Lloyd Thaxton Show (1965); The Love Boat (1981); The Love Boat Fall Preview Special (1983); The Man from the 25th Century (1968); The Merv Griffin Show (1973–1986); The Mike Douglas Show (1966–1980); The Pat Boone Show (1967); The Paul Kent Show (1999); The Real Tom Kennedy Show (1970); The Rosey Grier Show (1970); The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1959); The Tijuana Story (1957); The Time Tunnel (1966–1967); The Tonight Show (1962); The Tonight Show Starring Jack Paar (1962); The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1973); The Virginia Graham Show (1971); The Web (1957); The Woody Woodbury Show (1967); Turnover Smith (1980); Under the Yum Yum Tree (1963); Vaudeville (1975); Vega$ (1980); Vegas (2013); Venus in Furs (1969); Vicki! (1993); Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1966); Walker, Texas Ranger (1993); Werewolf (1987–1988); What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2018); Where the Action Is (1966); William Shatner's Get a Life! (2012); You Don't Say (1969).