It’s time for another installment of Cosmic Grab Bag, AAA’s catchall collection of smaller stories that were skipped in real time, but deserve honorable celestial mention. In this issue we deal with a royal “first” in religion, a World Series outcome, a royal demotion, and a Supreme Court hearing.
On 30 May 2025, American actress Loretta Swift passed away at her home in New York City, at the age of 87. Best remembered for her performance as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan in the smash 1970s TV hit series M*A*S*H, Swit effortlessly grew that character from one-dimensional, strait-laced, traditionalist army nurse having an extramarital affair with an inept doctor, to a married, then divorced, fully emancipated modern woman. The metamorphosis was stunning to behold, and Swit’s character became an icon of feminism for the time. Swit won two Emmy Awards for her portrayal, appearing in all but 11 of the series’ 256 episodes, only one of two actors to appear through the run of the show, from pilot to finale (the other being Alan Alda, Captain Hawkeye Pierce).
They said it couldn’t be done, but on May 8th, 2025, a conclave of 133 Catholic Cardinals, largest in history, elected an American as Pope! 80% of those qualified to vote (only Cardinals under age 80 were eligible) had been elevated by Pope Francis, including the Vatican sweepstakes winner, Cardinal Robert Prevost. The conclave was also the most international in composition, with roughly two-thirds drawn from nations outside Europe, and 71 countries represented in total.
Late April and early May 2025 witnessed two vital democracies elect new governments, in the teeth of a tense Mars/Pluto opposition, as Canadians and Australians lined up to cast ballots for the candidates of their choice. Both countries saw foundering incumbents, once thought to be sure losers, given new life and rescued from defeat to retain power. This was, at least in part, aided and abetted by a series of poorly chosen acts and statements from US President Donald Trump, whose trade war tariffs and belligerent rhetoric aimed at these erstwhile allies tarred his fellow conservatives with a brush so toxic that voters fled into the arms of their progressive rivals. Donald Trump, Making Democracy Great Again – everywhere but in America.
The 97th Academy Awards were presented on 2 March 2025, commencing at 4 PM PST in Los Angeles, California. Thirteen of the nominees were first-time honorees, a record showing, and no more than appropriate, with a first-time host, Conan O’Brien, as well. Newbies grabbed three of four acting awards, and among the record setters were Best Actor winner Adrien Brody (first person to have two wins for just two nominations, as well as the longest acceptance speech in Oscar history), and “Anora” director Sean Baker (first to win four Oscars for the same film, scooping up Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay and Film Editing).
On Wednesday, 26 February, 2025, Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife were found dead at their Santa Fe, New Mexico home, following a wellness check by authorities. Also deceased was a German Shepherd, one of several dogs owned by the couple. Foul play was initially ruled out, but evidence at the scene was inconclusive, and police now classify the deaths as “suspicious.” Search warrants were issued for the property to resolve the cause of death, which could extend to accident or suicide, but reporting indicates that the couple may have been dead for some time before discovery.
