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On a far happier and less controversial note hopefully, Joey has pointed out that with my non-email focus on picks rather than teams, I had missed the return of another old school DLer to the DDP: Ali's back again!

I think my few hours in the lead on new year's day means I've led the DDP in eight different years. Also thrilled that after failing to pick a unique pick for the first time ever last year, my only one this year dropped dead within hours of the new competition starting. Finally I must be getting soft in my old age... I know about a terminally ill young poet who will get an obit, but I thought she was so lovely I couldn't bring myself to pick her. Fortunately no one else has either. The Living End of a decade ago would have jokered her without giving it a second thought. Thank you committee for your efforts .

It is with great pleasure that I can announce that the winner of the Hares Pool 2020 is ...... JiromeonKimura A magnificent performance which highlights the importance of the late hit in this pool. 5 other players had more hits, but 9 of JKs hits came in the second half of the year, with the all important hits of Vasquez and Aucoin in December. That gave a new record of 3083 points, and the much sought-after Hares title. WINNER JiromeonKiruma (3083 points) 14 hits [Alex Trebek, Bob Gibson, Boris Klyuyev, Chitetsu Wantabe, Derek Aucoin, Frankie Benali, Genesis P-Orridge, Joseph Hanneschlager, Judy Dyble, Michael Gauthier, John Lewis, Lone Dybkjaer Steve Blackmore, Tabare Vasquez] RUNNER-UP Etushispushingupdaisies (3033 points) 16 hits [Alex Trebek, Armen D., Bob Gibson Cullan Brown, Daniel Arap Moi, Frankie Benali, Genesis P-Orridge, Jay Allen, John Andretti, Lee Kerslake Kirk Douglas, Pat Smullen, Roger Scruton, Tabare Vasquez, Terry Jones, Vasily Kulkov] The unlucky runner up is Etushispushingupdaisies. Despite taking the lead late on (6th December) with a then record score, Etush just couldn't hold on and was caught with 5 days to go. 16 hits just didn't yield enough, with 7 of those coming by March 17th. THIRD PLACE Grim Up North (2888 points) 17 hits [Alex Trebek, Chris Doleman, David Hagen, Dennis Goldberg, Frankie Benali, Genesis P-Orridge, Howard Finkel, John Andretti, Judy Dyble, Kirk Douglas, Lee Kerslake ,Liz Clarke-Saul, Nobby Stiles, Pat Smullen, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stirling Moss, Vera Lynn] Filling the last of the podium spaces is long-time leader Grim Up North. Of small consolation is a new record of 17 hits. However the hits dried up after November 8th allowing others to catch up. The real deal-breaker however was that joker Tom Smith refused to go. Of the 17 hits, 13 would have given Grim the title had they been selected as the joker. GOOD, BUT NOT QUITE THERE: the over 2020 points club John Key (2621 points) 14 hits [Alex Trebek, Bob Gibson, Chris Doleman, Frankie Benali, Ged Stokes,Genesis P-Orridge, Henry Gray, John Andretti, Kirk Douglas, Lee Kerslake, Qaboos of Oman, Roberta McCain, Ruth Bader Ginsburg , Sam Lloyd] The Unknown Man (2550 points) 15 hits [Alex Trebek, Chris Doleman, Daniel Arap Moi, Everton Weekes, Frankie Benali, Genesis P-Orridge, Javier Perez de Cuellar, John Andretti, Kirk Douglas, Lee Kerslake, Nobby Stiles, Olivia de Haviland, Sam Lloyd, Tabare Vasquez, Terry Jones] Nantonian2013 (2524 points) 10 hits [Alex Trebek, Everton Weekes, John Hume, Kamala, Little Richard, Nobby Stiles, Roberta McCain, Roger Scruton, Sumner Redstone, Tabare Vasquez] Banana (2460 points) 14 hits [Alex Trebek, Bob Gibson, Chris Doleman, Derek Aucoin, Frankie Benali, Greg Lewis, Henri Richard, John Lewis, Joseph Hanneschlager, Lee Kerslake Ruth Morrissey, Steve Blackmore, Terry Jones, Tom Belso] CaptainChorizo (2355 points) 17 Hits [Alex Trebek, Bernard Ebbers, Bernhard Pinera, Bob Weighton, Chitetsu Wantabe , Dennis Goldberg, Frankie Benali, Genesis P-Orridge, Hugh Downs, John Lewis, Johnny Harris, Lee Kerslake, Raymond Allen, Roger Scruton, Terry Jones, Toby Dawson, Tom Belso] An Fear Beag (2307 points) 13 hits [Alex Trebek, Bob Gibson, Bob Weighton, Chris Doleman, Daniel Arap Moi, David Hagen, Frankie Benali, Genesis P-Orridge, John Lewis, Kirk Douglas, Pat Smullen, Roberta MCCain, Terry Jones] drol (2293 points) 14 hits [Alex Trebek, Bob Gibson, Daniel Arap Moi, David Hagen, Dennis Goldberg, Genesis P-Orridge, John Andretti, Lee Kerslake, Majek Fashek, Qaboos of Oman, Pat Smullen, Roger Scruton, Shin-Kyuk-ho, Sumner Redstone] Prophet (2272 points) 12 hits [Alex Trebek, Bob Gibson, Daniel Arap Moi, Frankie Benali, John Andretti, Kirk Douglas, Lee Kerslake, Nobby Stiles, Olivi De Haviland. Roger Scruton, Vera Lynn, William Frankland] the_engineer (2257 points) 12 hits [Alex Trebek, Arnold Spielberg, Chris Doleman, Dennis Goldberg, Jill Gascoigne, John Andretti, Kirk Douglas, Lee Kerslake, Nobby Stiles, Olivia De Havviland, Roberta McCain, Roger Scuton] Death Impends (2189 points) 12 hits [Alex Trebek, Diana Sera Carey, Earl Cameron, Javier Perez de Cuellar, John Hume, Lyon G Tyler Jr, Mad Mike Hoare, Pearl Carr, Roberta McCain, Stirling Moss, Sumner Redstone, William Frankland] Joey Russ (2181 points) 15 hits [Alex Trebek, Chitetsu Wantabe, Daniel Arap Moi, Genesis P-Orridge, Jill Gascoigne, Kirk Douglas, Lee Kerslake, Little Richard, Nobby Stiles, Roberta McCain, Roger Scruton, Stirling Moss, Terry Jones, Tommy DeVito, Vera Lynn) The Old Crem (2116 points) 11 hits [Alex Trebek, Jill Gascoigne, John Hume, John Lewis, Kirk Douglas, Nicholas Parsons, Nobby Stiles, Olivia de Haviland, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stirling Moss, Vera Lynn] Torva Messor (2108 points) 10 hits Alex Trebek, [Diana Sera Carey, Frankie Benali, Genesis P-Orridge, Hugh Downs, Nobby Stiles, Olivia de Haviland Kirk Douglas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Vera Lynn] msc (2067 points) 11 hits [Chuck Yeager, Earl Cameron, Freeman Dyson, Kirk Douglas, Nicholas Parsons, Olivia de Haviland, Peregrine Worsthorne, Ronald Atkins, Sumner Redstone, Vera Lynn, William Frankland] MIDDLE OF THE ROADERS markb4 (1849 points) 9 hits [Alex Trebek, Christopher Tolkein, Chuck Yeager Javier Perez de Cuellar, Kirk Douglas, Nicholas Parsons, Roberta McCain, Ruth Bader Ginsburg Vera Lynn] The Quim Reaper (1715 points) 11 hits [Javier Perez de Cuellar, Kirk Douglas, Lee Kerslake, Little Richard, Nicholas Parsons, Nobby Stiles, Olivia de Haviland, Stirling Moss, Terry Jones, , Valery Giscard D’Estang, Vera Lynn] LizLemon (1651 points) 8 hits [Alex Trebek, Jerry Stiller, Kirk Douglas, John Lewis, Olivia de Haviland, Roberta McCain, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sumner Redstone] gcreptile (1643 points) 11 hits [Alex Trebek, Bob Gibson, Bob Joers, Danny Oosthuizen, Frankie Benali, John Jhairo Valezquez, Karen Simpson, Lee Kerslake, Pat Smullen, Peter Bonetti, Todd Portune] theoldlady (1635 points) 10 hits [Alex Trebek, Daniel Arap Moi, David Prowse, Ennio Morricone, Henry Gray, Javier Perez de Cuellar, Kirk Douglas, Nobby Stiles, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stirling Moss] RadGuy (1548 points) 10 hits [Alex Trebek, Frankie Benali, John Andretti, Lee Kerslake, Michael Robinson, Nanci Ryder, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sam Lloyd, Terry Jones, Tom Long] Sean (1427 points) 10 hits [Alex Trebek, Everton Weekes, Javier Perez de Cuellar, John Hume, John Lewis, Kirk Douglas, Nicholas Parsons, Olivia de Haviland, Terry Jones, Vera Lynn] Etib80 (1421 points) 6 hits [Alex Trebek, Kirk Douglas, Olivia de Haviland, Pierre Cardin Valerie Giscard D’Estang Vera Lynn] Sir Creep (1329 points) 12 hits [Balbir Singh Sr, Daniel Arap Moi, Deanne Sutherland, Frankie Benali, Henry Gray, Ignatio Trelles, Jay Allen, John Andretti, Kirk Douglas, Henri Richard, Paul Rutter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg] Fixed Business (1323 points) 7 hits [Alex Trebek, Daniel Arap Moi, Genesis P-Orridge, Kirk Douglas, Lee Kerslake, Nobby Stiles, Sean Connery] The Mad Hatter (1296 points) 12 hits [Daniel Arap Moi, David Dinkins, Genesis P-Orridge, Ian Holm, Jimmy Heath, John Andretti, John Hume, Kirk Douglas, Little Richard, Olivia de Haviland, Roger Scruton, Terry Jones] Great Uncle Bulgaria (1198 points) 7 hits [Alex Trebek, Daniel Arap Moi, Kirk Douglas, Roberta Mc Cain, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stirling Moss, Vera Lynn] Wormfarmer (1173 points) 9 hits [Daniel Arap Moi, David Stern, Frankie Benali, Genesis P-Orridge, James Randi, Kirk Douglas, Lee Kerslake, Majek Fashek, William Frankland] YorkshireBanker (1161 points) 9 hits [Alex Trebek, Bobby Brown (rangers), Daniel Arap Moi, Freeman Dyson, Henry Gray, Johnny Beattie, Katherine Johnson, Vasily Kulkov, Vera Lynn] YoungWillz (1023 points) 5 hits [David Prowse, Earl Cameron, Geoffrey Palmer, Nicholas Parsons, Philip Latham] Toast (1000 points) 7 hits [Ian Holm, Judy Dyble, Michael Lonsdale, Michael Medwin, Pearl Carr, Stirling Moss, Vera Lynn] MUST TRY HARDERS JoeMoneyPenny (894 points) 6 hits [Everton Weekes, Genesis P-Orridge, Hau Pie-tsen, Manolis Glezos, Stanley Ho, Vera Lynn] GraveDanger (862 points) 6 hits [Chris Doleman, Genesis P-Orridge, Lee Kerslake, Jill Gascoigne, John Andretti, Nobby Stiles] Pedro67 (845 points) 5 hits [Jackie Stallone Kirk Douglas, Nanci Ryder, Ronald Atkins, Terry Jones] Clorox Bleachman (843 points) 6 hits [Chitetsu Wantabe, David Hagen, Irene Sinclair, Lee Kerslake, John Andretti Thuy Thuanh Trong] Whoaml (813 points) 8 hits [Jean Kennedy Smith, John Andretti, John Lysak, Katherine Johnson, Kirk Douglas, Marge Champion, Olivia de Haviland,Terry Jones] Predictor (790 points) 5 hits [Ben Cooper, Francisco Jose Cox, Joey Image, Kevin Thompson, Shirley Abrahamson] Skinny Kiltrunner (777 points) 7 hits [Bernard Ebbers, Bob Watson, Chris Doleman, Frankie Benali, John Andretti, Nobuhiko Obayashi, Sumner Redstone] THE "ALL THAT WORK AND SO LITTLE REWARD"-ERS Book (604 points) 4 hits [Gotthilf Fischer, Hannelore Minkus, Michel Picolli, Sonja Ziemann] Bibliogryphon (287 points ) 1 hit [Herbert Kretzmer] And finally ...... THE "INVENTED THE GAME BUT IS STILL CRAP AT IT" AWARD (formerly held by the English football team) Deathray 0 points A fitting end to 7 years of hosting the pool, I'm sure you would all agree. Its what he would have wanted. Well, if you do insist on picking Keith Richards in a deathpool, what do you expect? A few other mentions and awards: CAPTAIN CHORIZO also beat the previous record of hits, and jointly hold the record of 17. Ultimately undone however by a combination of no joker hit, and not enough big scoring late hits. AWARD FOR MOST POINTS PER HIT (MIN 5 HITS): NANTONIAN2013. 10 hits 2524 points - a remarkable 252.4 points per hit THE "CAME TOO SOON" AWARD FOR FEWEST POINTS PER HIT: WHOAM. 8 hits, 5 of them in JAN/FEB. 813 points - 101.6 points per hit

American lawyer Fred Levin dead from COVID at 83. Would list some of his achievements here, but you need to click on his Wikipedia page as it is an all time HoF-er for "he clearly wrote his own Wiki".

Philip Tartaglia, 40th successor of St Mungo and 8th Archbishop of Glasgow since reintroduction, reportedly dead:

Okay, as often, after the game goes online, people check for errors, and sometimes a team goes missing, or there is a misunderstanding and such. And today, we have to add another team that didn't make it into the game. That team has picked Jerry Lee Lewis, which means he has now been picked one more time than Paul Gascoigne. So Paul Gascoigne doesn't make it into the Drop 40 anymore, because we have a clean cut at 35 picks to make it. Just for your information, the rest should remain unchanged, I hope. But it's possible that someone loses a unique pick, because that new team picked the person as well. I haven't checked all 20 picks but it might happen.

Agreed that they're all opportunists who just tack to the prevailing wind but the reason it's important is that if McConnell says he should be impeached it provides political cover to other moderate Republicans who might be feeling that way. More importantly, McConnell still controls the business in the Senate until Inauguration Day next Wednesday, so if the House passes the Article of Impeachment, a Senate trial could potentially be expedited and held before Trump leaves office if McConnell decided to. Not that it really matters, the main aim of this impeachment, aside from sending a message that you can't incite a mob to invade the Capitol (which apparently needs spelling out), is the possibility of disqualifying Trump from ever running for office again.

So she does - not obvious from the spelling why the already existing 19 ref celeb wasn't picked up so looking at files now but quite obviously same person, same DOB everything. EDIT: Ah Deathray has called her Lady and my google of Mendelsohn in the database has not found her (perhaps I misspelled her name when searching). Then when my good fellow committee members have been filling in details on the Celebs file one of them has corrected her spelling to Nicola so now the two records appear identical. Kevorkian Clinics entry on tab 3 just needs changed to Nicola @gcreptile and the new 021 record deleted. Thanks YW

Almost as if 2021 couldn’t get any worse. Luckily the Tower still has 7 ravens left.

Report of the death of Grace Robertson, photographer and daughter of the Scottish journalist Fyfe Robertson:

German-American physicist and nobel laureate Jack Steinberger died at 99 years already last month, but now one month later obit from Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jan/11/jack-steinberger-obituary

Facebook post reporting the death of Mark Goodwin who was Lonnie Donegan’s drummer for several years. Cancer and COVID given as the cause.

Not an act I covered in the UK Singles Chart thread owing to the fact that they merely backed Adam Faith and were pretty trivial but Peter Thorpe of The Roulettes died at the start of January according to this FB post:

Didn't know he was that old, sad news. Will be remembered very fondly by Horse Racing fans for his famous pink and green silks that Enable and Frankel won on.

Colin McDonald, Aussie batsman, has died aged 92. Top scored for Oz in the match where Jim Laker took 19 wickets (32 & 89).

Sir David Barclay dead aged 86.

In a stable condition with COVID-19.

The winner of the 2020 Hares Pool is JiroemonKimura

Celia Humphris of British folk band Trees (wiki) has died according to this.

I fail to see why it would alter any opinion considering the fact they have changed the rules as well as their allegiances to suit their own agenda for much of the past 5 1/2 years. The McConnells and Grahams of the Republican Party have u turned on fundamentals to the extent they have now come full turn.

Luckily most of them are too fat to be a cause for concern.

Even though all the new threads are annoying I don’t think the above is the solution at all

That's a shame if true, was hoping to see him ton up in a couple of years. It's still only Norman Gordon of South Africa who's made it to three figures so far. And Eileen Whelan from the women.

My view is that if people don't want such arbritary decisions on fame they should stop picking some wankeringly stupid picks. Its quite enough as it is co-running a 500+ plus team deadpool without having to worry about the fame levels of every single sibling/mum in the world. Each one picked was deliberated over, some at considerable length. If you don't like the decision, get to fuck, basically. If it weren't for some of you and your unending addiction to picking 20 year old female nobodies with 2 kids and 1 fatal cancer, none of this would be applicable now.

For those of you looking for even more late drama, these are the picks that could give one last twist to this competition and give a late leader at the 11th hour. ANY DAY Anastasia Zavorotnyuk - Etush Bill Turnbull - Etush Brandon Sorenson - Etush Doddie Weir - Etush George Alagiah - Etush Gianluca Vialli - - Etush Jimmy Carter - Etush Michael York - Etush Bernard Tapei - Grim Ernie Moss - Grim Greg Gilbert- Grim Sinisa Mihahojvic - Grim Tom Smith - Grim 30th or 31st Kane Tanaka - Captain Chorizo 31st December Desmond Tutu - John Key Joni Mitchell - John Key Leon Spinks - John Key Morrissey - John Key Prince Phillip - John Key Eve Marie Saint - Unknown Man Georgio Napolotino - Unknown Man Isabel Peron - Unknown Man Jean Louis Trintingent - Unknown Man Abdullah the Butcher - Nantonian Andrew Romanov - Nantonian Bob Barker - Nantonian Bob Dole - Nantonian Brian Cowen - Nantonian OJ Brigance - Nantonian Clarissa Eden - Nantonian David Butler - Nantonian Katherine Jackson - Nantonian Michael Jopling - Nantonian Pope Benedict - Nantonian Lots of good names there- this ain't over yet!