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Syrian Air Force pilot and cosmonaut with the Soviet Interkosmos space program Muhammed Faris, died at 72 years: http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-041924a-syrian-cosmonaut-muhammed-faris-obituary.html He was the second Arab and the first Syrian citizen to travel to space.

Bit late to this conversation, but yes Portillo was seen as the next leader by most political commentators- on YouTube you can watch the election result and there's a really interesting discussion at the beginning between Portillo and Paxman where it's clear Labour will get a landslide and that Major wouldn't survive. Taxman really presses Portillo on if he expected to be the next leader - the answer he dodges but clearly Portillo is thinking about it. Of course - it all goes belly for Portillo and again after his result he's interviewed. Now he's relaxed, gloves are off and he says "well at least no more questions about becoming leader". We got Hague, a guy I like but was never PM material and it's important to bear in mind the next leader is very unlikely to be PM as the pendulum has swung for at least 2 elections IMHO. Mordant no chance of survival but I want to be up for the Rees- Mogg - that will be the moment hopefully!!!

Bram Stoker died on this day 112 years ago, aged 64. - "Bram" was a nickname for his real name, Abraham. His older brother Thornley was the first and only Baron of Hatch Street. - Stoker was initially a theater critic who reviewed plays, and he became known for the quality of his articles. Stoker ended up becoming the manager of the Lyceum Theatre and would often collaborate with the actor Henry Irving. - Stoker's literary career began with short stories that were published in periodicals- among their titles were "Crystal Cup" and "The Chain of Destiny". His first novel was 1875's The Primrose Path, though it was not until 1890 that he became a full-time writer. - Dracula was released in 1897, and Stoker did not name him after Vlad "Dracul" the Impaler- he saw the word in a book while on vacation in Romania, and believed it meant 'devil' (it actually means 'dragon'- his final novel was 1911's The Lair of the White Worm, actually about a dragon). - Stoker died from 'locomotive ataxia' that was likely a result of untreated syphilis. His death, however, was overshadowed by the sinking of the Titanic less than a week prior (the inquiry into the sinking began the day he died).

The year is 2040. AI Trump rules half the world, Clorox is running the msc memorial Deadpool, and James Whale is still saying he's only got one more Christmas this time.

April 20th at 504am 83 Jeff Buckley — Hallelujah +4 35 Adele — Chasing Pavements 34 Taylor Swift — Love Story 33 James Morrison ft. Nelly Furtado — Broken Strings 31 Kings Of Leon — Use Somebody 29 Rihanna — Russian Roulette 26 La Roux — In For The Kill 22 Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys — Empire State Of Mind 13 Sam Sparro — Black & Gold 06 Britney Spears — Piece Of Me -6

Elias Chavez Alvarez dead at 95 or 115.

Sat 20 Apr 79 Jeff Buckley — Hallelujah 37 Adele — Chasing Pavements 34 Taylor Swift — Love Story 33 Kings Of Leon — Use Somebody 31 James Morrison ft. Nelly Furtado — Broken Strings 30 Rihanna — Russian Roulette 27 La Roux — In For The Kill 24 Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys — Empire State Of Mind -6 18 Britney Spears — Piece Of Me +4 11 Sam Sparro — Black & Gold

Johnny Tillotson is 86.

On this day 3 years ago, American vice president Walter Mondale, who served his term from 1977 to 1981 as well as the 1984 Democratic presidential nominee, passed away at the age of 93.

20/04/24 79 Jeff Buckley — Hallelujah 37 Adele — Chasing Pavements 33 Kings Of Leon — Use Somebody +4 31 James Morrison ft. Nelly Furtado — Broken Strings 30 Taylor Swift — Love Story 30 Rihanna — Russian Roulette 30 Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys — Empire State Of Mind 27 La Roux — In For The Kill -6 20 Britney Spears — Piece Of Me 11 Sam Sparro — Black & Gold

Sigh...right and wrong once again. Anti-war protest votes were likely to go to the Lib Dems, true. But flipping to the Lib Dems is exactly what gave the Tories more seats. Their vote went up by 0.7% compared to 2001. Labour was down 5.5%. The Tories gained 33 seats. And what has George Galloway got to do with anything? If anything, the most prominent anti-war voice was Charles Kennedy, who led the Liberal Democrats to their best ever result in a general election, so was plenty popular enough. It's not about who was making the arguments, it's simply the fact that the public believed we had gone without justification, authorisation or a plan for victory, but simply to back up Bush and the neo-cons. Blair pledging "we're with you" straight after 9/11 put us on a collision course and meant Labour's focus changed. Blair became seen as Bush's 'poodle', the Daily Mirror ran a "Days without WMD being found" that just kept climbing and the bodies kept returning to Wootton Bassett. You're being contrary just for the sake of it now, aren't you?

Next year, he'll be saying this may be his last century.

I’m impressed she’s made it this long honestly. Her alcohol abuse was prodigious.

@Ulitzer95The Alfred Hoffman who died in 2021 seems to have been born in 1923 so I don't think it's the same one. I'm lay in bed presently so unable to use my laptop, but will confirm anything needed by you and @Gisooo tomorrow.

Hope all is going as well as can be with yours.

As someone currently undergoing chemotherapy, about 80% (if not more) of the patients I see at chemo (including myself) still have their hair. Not all chemo drugs cause hair loss, and even if they do, for some cancers (not leukaemia or lymphoma, I believe) you can opt to wear an ice cap during treatment if maintaining your locks is important to you. The chemo = bald image is outdated. Also, you can be normally mobile/feel fine even with widely metastatic cancer.

So Karen has rigor mortis and Kirsten Schwalbe Dead Soon.

Her name sounds like "rigor mortis" !

For the young 'uns who don't recall the TV show Shameless this bizarre kidnapping (which was faked) part of the inspiration was taken from the TV drama set in Manchester and in a bizarre twist much later, during the last series of Shameless there's a discussion between two characters, one of whom is local gangster Shane McGuire about the stupidity and likely lack of success if you fake a kidnapping.

He retired from his post at Northeastern this week. Only really of note because it could be time to start using Kitty on your lists:

It will be a laugh if Jimmy calves this week