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Rolf Harris gravely ill with neck cancer, under 24-hour care, intubated: cannot talk or eat. https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/paedophile-entertainer-rolf-harris-is-gravely-ill-with-neck-cancer-can-no-longer-speak-and-is-fed-through-a-tube/news-story/3405ea6335d3b1f39d39498e0442525e

DEAD https://apnews.com/article/loretta-lynn-dies-5f1545e60e37e482faa42cbb25ae61e8?taid=633c43035486240001a0fef2&utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&utm_medium=AP&utm_source=Twitter

As a former president, Carter is a much bigger name than Kissinger is, at least here in the U.S. I share the worry that he won't see 100, but it's absolutely remarkable that this dude has lived as long as he has. The guy was a nonagenarian with brain cancer 7 years ago! George W. Bush does look very good for his age, and I thought his dad looked pretty good into old age until the effects of his form of Parkinson's really took hold. Of course both of Dubya's parents lived past 90 (92 for Barbara and 94 for HW), and given his appearance and genes, I'd say he is a good bet to see his 90's, possibly his late 90's. Clinton is already pretty frail at the age of 76; he has legitimate heart issues and I can't see him making it to 90. I'm not even sure if he'll make it for 5 more years, and I don't think he'll make it for 10 more. I'm not saying that I think he'll be DL-worthy in '23, but I think he will be a sneaky pick relatively soon, in my humble opinion. It will be interesting to see who makes it to an older age between Biden or Trump. Biden is a little over 3 and a half years older, so maybe he'll go first, but I'd give him the slight edge on living to an older age. They are both clearly in cognitive decline, if not in the same way. Biden does look like he's in better physical health, as Trump is overweight and has a horrible diet. Both had parents who made it to pretty advanced ages, so they both have that going for them. (Biden's dad died at 86 while his mother was 92; Trump's dad died at 93 while his mother was 88.) As for Obama, he seems like he's in pretty good health, but he did used to be a heavy smoker and even continued that as president for a while when he was under stress. He's quit smoking for long enough now (he apparently quit in 2010-ish) that his lungs have probably recovered, but his lung cancer risk will still be 3 times greater than that of a non-smoker. Neither of his parents made it past the age of 52, so he doesn't have that on his side, either. Still, he's had an active lifestyle and is in good shape for a man his age, so I think he'll see his 80's, at least. And with impeccable health care access, if he did come down with lung cancer, perhaps they'd catch it early.

1987: Ozzy Osbourne (1/31)  1989: Frank Bruno, Mike Ditka, Ozzy Osbourne, Brian Wilson, David Jenkins (5/32)  1990: Mike Ditka, Rex Williams, Oprah Winfrey, Terry Waite (4/42)  1991: Leo Beenhakker (1/40)  1992: Shaun Ryder (1/37)  1993: Tony Bennett, Henry Kissinger, George Lineker, Jerry Lee Lewis (4/56) 1994: Edmund White, Holly Johnson, Peter Shilton (3/50)  1995: Holly Johnson (1/50)  1996: Mr T (1/50)  1997: (0/50)  1998: (0/50)  1999: Nick Leeson, Carly Simon (2/50)  2000: Louis Farrakhan (1/50)  2001: Liza Minnelli (1/50)  2002: (0/50)  2003: (0/50)  2004: Pervez Musharraf (1/50)  2005: Hamed Karzai (1/50) 2006: (0/50)  2007: Tim Johnson, Louis Farrakhan (2/50)  2008: Russell Watson, Hamed Karzai, Charles Taylor (3/50)  2009: (0/50)  2010: Angela Lansbury (1/50)  2011: Ali Khamenei, Dick Cheney, Michael Douglas (3/50)  2012: Nigel Lawson, Henry Kissinger, Dick Van Dyke, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi (4/50) 2013: Henry Kissinger (1/50)  2014: Wilko Johnson, Dick Van Dyke, Tony Bennett (3/50)  2015: Leslie Phillips, Henry Kissinger, Jake Roberts (3/50)  2016: Prunella Scales, Jimmy Carter, Henry Kissinger, Tommy Chong, Leslie Phillips, Sandy Gall, Paul Gascoigne (7/50)  2017: Jimmy Carter, Leslie Phillips, Bob Barker, Sandy Gall, Pope Benedict XVI, Emperor Akihito (6/50)  2018: Linda Nolan, Bob Barker, Prunella Scales, Jimmy Carter, Leslie Phillips, Henry Kissinger, Dick Van Dyke, Stanley Baxter, Mel Brooks, Pope Benedict XVI, Louis Farrakhan, Ronnie Wood, Joni Mitchell, Paul Gascoigne (14/50)  2019: Jimmy Carter, Henry Kissinger, Bob Barker, Emperor Akihito, Alan Greenspan, Dick Van Dyke, Barbara Walters, Harry Belafonte, Vanessa Redgrave, Cleo Laine, Loretta Lynn, Prunella Scales, Tina Turner, Shane MacGowan (13/50) 2020: Dick Van Dyke, Emperor Akihito, Angela Lansbury, Bob Barker, Alan Greenspan, Henry Kissinger, Jimmy Carter, Leslie Phillips, Tony Bennett, Harry Belafonte, Prunella Scales, Jacques Delors, Willie Nelson, Shane MacGowan, Dick Cheney, Imelda Marcos, Joanne Woodward, David Crosby, Jean-Marie Le Pen, Pervez Musharraf, David Attenborough (21/50) 2021: Dick Van Dyke, Emperor Akihito, Loretta Lynn, Angela Lansbury, Bob Barker, Alan Greenspan, Henry Kissinger, Jimmy Carter, Leslie Phillips, Jacques Delors, Ali Khamenei, David Crosby, Prunella Scales, Tony Bennett, Rosalynn Carter, Dick Cheney, Harry Belafonte, BobNewhart, Barbara Walters, Pope Benedict XVI, Imelda Marcos, Yoko Ono, Linda Nolan, Joanne Woodward, Mel Brooks, Willie Nelson, Betty Boothroyd, Jean-Marie Le Pen, Raul Castro, Burt Bacharach, Stanley Baxter, Vanessa Redgrave, Shane MacGowan, Shannen Doherty (33/50)  Updated for Loretta Lynn.

DDP Obit for Ian Hamilton: https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23018232.tributes-paid-ian-hamilton-advocate-liberator-stone-destiny/ @gcreptile @Death Impends

Ian Hamilton, the last survivor of the attempted repatriation of the Stone of Destiny, now being reported dead:

A hypothetical 2023 list I made: 1. Henry Kissinger (2) 2. Angela Lansbury (3) 3. Glynis Johns (NEW) 4. Bob Barker (4) 5. Nigel Starmer-Smith (6) 6. Jimmy Carter (9) 7. Leslie Phillips (19) 8. Alan Greenspan (5) 9. Eva Marie Saint (NEW) 10. Dick Van Dyke (1) 11. Tony Bennett (10) 12. Mel Brooks (14) 13. Harry Belafonte (13) 14. Rob Burrow (NEW) 15. Pope Benedict XVI (-) 16. Joanne Woodward (-) 17. Jacques Delors (30) 18. David Graham (NEW) 19. Stanley Baxter (35) 20. Sandy Gall (21) 21. Gudrun Ure (NEW) 22. Barbara Walters (-) 23. James Whale (26) 24. Rosalynn Carter (20) 25. Noam Chomsky (37) 26. Jean-Marie Le Pen (24) 27. David Attenborough (17) 28. Ian Hamilton (NEW) 29. Tom Lehrer (NEW) 30. James Watson (NEW) 31. Ted Kaczynski (23) 32. Cleo Laine (27) 33. Pele (41) 34. Desmond Morris (22) 35. James Earl Jones (NEW) 36. Winnie Ewing (NEW) 37. Shannen Doherty (-) 38. Jerry Lee Lewis (29) 39. Thelma Barlow (NEW) 40. Bob Newhart (-) 41. Linda Nolan (-) 42. Yoko Ono (-) 43. Ted Turner (NEW) 44. Norman Tebbit (39) 45. Pervez Musharraf (-) 46. Jean Marsh (NEW) 47. Nigel Lawson (-) 48. Rex Williams (-) 49. Peter Tobin (NEW) 50. Vladimir Putin (NEW)

Liberator? Thieving old prick maybe.

Trump and Clinton I both expect to snuff it with very little warning at some point in the next decade or so. Clinton is what LBJ would be if he'd tried to take care of his health in the 1970s, and Trump takes less care of his health than a Glasgow addict. Bush Jr seems in reasonably good nick for his age, barring future illnesses (I do remember when Paul Newman seemed like the healthiest 70 year old in town) - I think he's around for a while yet. Biden's longevity depends on if he retires in January 2025 or not. He could easily go into a quiet long decline and wrack up the years. Even if Obama died young-ish, we're still talking not for another fifteen years plus imo. Once Jimmy Carter goes, it's a fight between Donald and Billy Boy to be next to go, I think.

I recall Trump's father suffered from Alzheimer's. His mother was also in poor health most of her life. He's obese, had a rough covid (worse than told to the public) and is rumored to suffer from coronary artery disease. Biden's health history includes two aneurysms and other health problems in the 80s, gallbladder removal in 2003, skin cancer in the past and a-fib. And at this point I agree, they're both in mild cognitive decline GWB has a history of alcoholism and both he and Obama have used cocaine, I recall they've both said they have. Bush has also had some heart problems and had coronary stenting in 2013.

That doesn't really mean anything. Even if it was given a debate, we can already write the script. The opposition parties will line up to castigate the government for its tin-eared ineptitude, its lack of accountability and call for a general election. The government will respond that convention states that parties are elected not leaders and there are various examples of precedent, from Gordon Brown to Jim Callaghan to Alec Douglas-Home of prime ministers assuming office mid-term without a general election. There will be lots of talk of getting on with the job, and even if it came to a vote, are there enough Tories like Mad Nad to have a majority for an early election? I doubt it. And even if that was the case, the power to call a general election rests back with the Prime Minister under the prerogative powers after the withdrawal of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act. And she can just say no, although in this scenario under heavy pressure I'd imagine. Of course, there is a way for the opposition to get a general election regardless, which would be to win a vote of no confidence in the government, but that would still require around 40 turkeys to vote for Christmas, and as we saw in the death throes of the Major years, they'd rather eat themselves alive than cede power early. But my point would be that considering the petition will not lead to an early election and that a mechanism already exists if there was a majority in Parliament for one. And yes, I did sign the petition if only to register my disdain for this current shambles.

If the Queen hadn't died, he'd have been delivering his mini budget within the week anyway, so it had no impact on time. She's also been odds-on to win since the start of the campaign, so if they'd had some nous, they'd already have spent some time crunching the numbers and finalising the plan, given it was so vital to "get the economy moving". It got mentioned on the BBC live text today in passing:

Well done to CaptainChorizo for guessing Loretta Lynn. Thread closed.

Figures one of the Muppet Show guest stars would die while I'm in the middle of marathoning it.

Can you see what it is yet?

Pat Courtney (IMDb) Born 1922, she is/was British, appeared in four silent films between 1926 and 1928. Looks so tough to track!

I chose my years carefully, remembering well from school the inter-war French capacity for changing leaders more often than seasons! We never heard to remember all the sods though.

True. Remember also though that France has a PM. There are 13 living former French PMs. Our history teacher at school gave us the cruel task of learning all the French PMs of the 20th century. There were 98 PMs from 1901 to 2000 – that's crazy!

The October hits have all been fascinating people thus far. I've probably jinxed it so the next five hits are cricketers!

On this day in 2019 Oscar nominated American actress and singer Diahann Carroll died from breast cancer aged 84. Born in the Bronx New York , Diahann did well academically and went on to study sociology at University. She left before she graduated to pursue a career in showbusiness but promised her father if she wasn't successful within two years she would return to University and complete her final year and graduate. Already doing modelling work as a teenager, her appetite for showbiz lead her to try her hand at entering television contests as a short cut ladder to getting her big break . In 1954 ,an impressive rendition of Oscar Hammerstein/Jerome Kerns song why was I born on the tv talent contest show Chance of a lifetime hosted by Dennis James proved to be the breakthrough she needed. Lucrative nightclub gigs and a debut supporting role in Hollywood movie Carmen Jones -starring alongside the likes of Dorothy Dandridge and DeathList alumni Harry Belafonte swiftly followed. A combination of steady acting work in film, television and stage work followed over the years Whilst never what could be called an A Lister nevertheless Carroll has a huge list of acting credits to her name for over 4 decades. Long term unemployment was a stranger to her it seems. Oscar nominated for Claudine (1974) were she starred alongside James Earl Jones, other film credits include crime drama The Split (1968), musical Porgy and Bess (1959), Samuel L Jackson directed movie Eve's Bayou (1997) and Sister Sistee (1982) with Irene Cara. Diahanns television credits were much more extensive, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Hollywood Palace, The Judy Garland Show, The Dick Cavett Show, police drama Naked City(1962), Peter Gunn(1960), Burkes Law, The Love Boat, late 80s early 90s sitcom A Different World, Greys anatomy, numerous made for TV movies and last but not least the formidable half sister of Blake Carrington in Dynasty and The Colbys (1984-1987) were she clashed regularly and brilliantly with Blakes ex wife Alexis played by her good friend offscreen Joan Collins . In her personal life Carroll was married 4 times. Firstly to record producer Monte Kay in 1956. They had one daughter together but the marriage barely lasted six years. Secondly to Las Vegas boutique owner Fred Glusman. The marriage lasted only four months with unconfirmed rumours he was physically abusive to her. The marriage however was a surprise to many in the media and was suspected to be an ill advised rebound relationship after her nearly three year relationship with British television presenter David Frost ended earlier that year. Age 39 and her third marriage was in 1975 to 24 year old managing editor of Jet magazine Robert DeLeon. Sadly after less than 2 years of marriage Robert died in a car crash. Diahanns fourth and final marriage was to american singer Vic Damone in 1987. They legally separated in 1991 after what she called a turbulent relationship. Random facts - From 1959 Diahann had a nine year affair with recently deceased DeathList alumni Sidney Poitier which resulted in contested tales of the relationship years later .Diahann claimed Sidney persuaded her to divorce her husband by promising he would leave his wife to be with her. He bottled it and never kept his part of the bargain according to Diahann where as Sidney, who did eventually divorce his first wife but not to be with Diahann, says the arrangement broke down because he wanted to live with Diahann for six months before they married as he didn't want to be seen publicly jumping straight from one marriage to another. Also rumour has it when Joan Collins episode appearances were planned to be cut down in Dynasty , partly because her appearance fee was high and the Network was being more cautious and cost saving especially as the shows ratings were well down and because Joan felt her character was becoming repetitive and she wanted to partially step aside so the character wasn't burnt out, Diahann Carrolls character Dominique Devereux was penciled in to return for the 1978 /1990 season to fill the superbitch void but alas it wasn't to be as the show was axed. In her career especially the early years in theatre and television contests etc Diahann was considered to a trailblazer as the first African American woman to be cast or achieve in some of her particular fields.

Oscar winning american actress Susan Sarandon celebrates her 76th birthday today. Former tory MP and minister Ann Widdecombe, known for her very socially conservative views, celebrates her 75th birthday today.

Robert Brown Hollywood Reporter: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/robert-brown-dead-here-come-the-brides-1235231988/ Scavvy Hunt hit @Bibliogryphon.

Obama might

This is a very selfish call She clearly doesn't want her own plans to be dismantled by a Conservative Government whereas if they are rolled back by Labour she can complain that her vision was never allowed to flourish.

This obit wins the award for most words between the deceased’s name and the announcement ‘has died’ in a single sentence. Bob LuPone, who as an actor earned a Tony Award nomination in the original run of “A Chorus Line” and played Tony Soprano’s family physician, and also helped found and lead the influential off-Broadway theater company MCC Theater for almost 40 years, has died. He was 76. SC