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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10838891/EDEN-CONFIDENTIAL-Queen-ditches-traditional-carriage-years-Royal-Ascot.html The Duchess of Kent makes a rare public appearance.

It’s quite clearly a culture. Sexually assaulting a minor, rape and now drink spiking, all within a short space of time. It’s a culture. Of course, if they were decent individuals maybe they wouldn’t have to commit crimes to get laid. Have been trying to investigate who this latest one might have been but nothing on Twitter or on any major news articles seems to gove away many clues about who it could be.

Without pre-empting Biblio's update, I fear I may have bad news for you on the Tebbit front... Well this is unexpectedly exciting!

Italy has 5 heads of state or government over 90 alive, but most of them seem to be hanging by a thread. 1)Giorgio Napolitano (1925): aortic dissection in 2018, initially given a very poor prognosis, has been very frail for the last few years. Hospitalised in 2021, now in ICU after abdomen surgery, though not in danger. 2)Arnaldo Forlani (1925): in ICU in 2016, frail and bedridden for the last few years. 3)Ciriaco de Mita (1928): hospitalised in 2020 and 2021, severe fall and broken hip in February 2022, stroke in April 2022. Still serving as a mayor nonethless. 4)Lamberto Dini (1931): the toad is in excellent health and still giving interviews as of May. 5)Nicola Mancino (1931): apparently in good health.

Jaakko Syrjä dead from COVID-19 at 96.

@WEP, nice to see you. But Betye Saar and Mikhail Gorbachev are busy with other things:

British songwriter Bernie Taupin , who famously has had a hugely successful collaboration with Elton John for over fifty years celebrates his 72nd birthday today. He wrote the lyrics for some of Elton John's most successful and iconic songs including rocket man, Candle in the wind, I'm still standing and I guess thats why they call it the blues. Other artists he has worked with include Alice Cooper and Starship for whom he wrote we built this city. Bernie also won a Golden Globe award for the lyrics to the song ' A love that will never grow old' for the film Brokeback Mountain.

I might be in the minority, but I still think he will die at 99. Can't really explain it but then again, there have been so many examples in recent years where "they've made it this far, surely they can last another year?" only to die before making the ton (Zsa Zsa, Billy Graham, Prince Philip, Betty White etc.) - and at that age it sure can go fast.

So they just had this list and shot it out. They aren't really curating it. Their bureaucracy must not be up to standards either.

Report of the death of mezzo-soprano Anne Howells from myeloma aged 81: https://slippedisc.com/2022/05/great-british-mezzo-soprano-dies-of-myeloma/ IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0398084/

A big day in the Campbell household, as former Lib Dem leader Menzies reaches 81, actress Cheryl reaches 73 and model Naomi 52.

This list also includes the now deceased Orrin Hatch (906).

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic is 35 today

Thurl Ravenscroft died on this day 17 years ago, aged 91. In the 1930s, Ravenscroft joined the singing group The Mellomen, and quickly achieved success as background singers for performers such as Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, and (ex-DL alumnus) Frankie Laine. In 1940, the group performed the song "Honest John" for Disney's Pinocchio- which was removed during production. However, Ravenscroft's voice remains in the film as the vocal effects of Monstro, the whale that swallows Pinocchio and Geppetto. Ravenscroft soon became the frontman of the group, and they performed in more Disney films- these included Dumbo (for the famous pink elephant sequence), Peter Pan (as the singing pirates and outdated Native American caricatures), and Lady and the Tramp (as a group of singing dogs at the pound). They would also perform songs for rides at Disney amusement parks, including Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion: In 1966, Ravenscroft sang "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" for the still-popular holiday special. Before Ravenscroft was revealed to have sung it, other guesses of the singer's identity were Tennessee Ernie Ford (of "Sixteen Tons" fame) and Boris Karloff (who provided the Grinch's voice). In 1953, Ravenscroft also became the voice of the Frosted Flakes cereal mascot Tony the Tiger, whom he would voice until his death. He voiced Kirby, the vacuum cleaner, in The Brave Little Toaster series of films from 1987 to 1998. His final role was the singing voice of I.M. Weasel on the eponymous Cartoon Network show. At that time, he was still working with Disney, with his final film role as the voice of an elephant in Tarzan.

Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson turns 78 today.

05.21.2022 The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published a list of US citizens subject to personal sanctions, including a ban on entry into the Russian Federation John Sidney McCain III number 475 https://www.mid.ru/ru/maps/us/1814243/

Giorgio Napolitano in ICU after "delicate" surgery, but his conditions are "not worrying".

New appearance. Still sharp as a tack.

Its 57 years since the death of aviation pioneer & entrepreneur Geoffrey de Havilland, aged 82, following a brain haemorrhage. His initial attempts at flying was unsuccessful, cashing on his maiden flight in December 1909; undeterred he succeeded in September the following year. He was commissioned in the RFC and briefly saw active service during WW 1 protecting shipping from U-boats. In 1920 he founded the De Havilland aircraft company which existed until incorporated into Hawker Siddely in 1953. The company designed and built the multi-role Mosquito, of which over 7,000 were produced, continuing in active service with the RAF until 1963. The company's Comet was the world's first commercial jet aircraft, which was in use from 1952 to 1997. He was also a cousin of DL alumna Olivia.

That's the neat part, it never does. (I'm not liable for this statement if nuclear war breaks out)

Two big names in british popular culture both died today in the year 2000. Firstly on this day in 2000 legendary british romantic novelist and all round aristrocratic eccentric Barbara Cartland died aged 98. She wrote hundreds of romantic novels that are very much set in a bygone era but was hugely successful. She was also latterly the step grandmother of the late Princess Diana. On this day in the year 2000 the legendary, accomplished and distinguished british actor John Gielgud died aged 96. John Gielgud was predominantly a theatre actor and he along with Ralph Richardson and Laurence Olivier dominated britis stage for much of the 20th century. The Gielgud theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue in Londons West end is named in his honour.

American professional wrestler and professional baseball player best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling Randy Savage died on this day 11 years ago, aged 58. Austrian Formula One driver and aviation entrepreneur Niki Lauda died on this day 3 years ago, aged 70. British singer, songwriter and record producer, who gained worldwide fame as a member of The Bee Gees pop group with older brother Barry and fraternal twin brother Maurice Robin Gibb died on this day 10 years ago, aged 62. American stage, television and film actress of the Golden Age of Hollywood and mezzo-soprano singer Patricia Morison died on this day 4 years ago, aged 103.

David Byrne is 70.

Not by the looks of them.